Dear Middle School Students and Families ~ 

I want to highlight a few things for you as our 2019-20 school year comes to a close.

Someone once told me “Every storm ridden through makes us better captains of our souls.”  Students, teachers, parents and principals have definitely ridden through a storm these last two months of school.  Yet, as I write to you this final message of the year, I am proud of what we have accomplished together!  

First, please make sure your child has checked their Google Classrooms, Campus/Parent Portal and emails and have completed all of the work for their classes.  Things are starting to wrap up and final projects are underway.  Our grading system will be very similar to what was used at mid-quarter.  Students who have completed all of their assignments at a high level will be given their typical letter grade.  Students who may have struggled due to a multitude of factors, but have engaged at some level may receive a “P” for a passing grade.  Students that have not engaged, even after multiple emails, messages and parent calls will receive an “F” as their final grade for the fourth quarter.  Our plan is to have your child’s grades posted by Monday, June 8th.

Second, as you may have heard me say before ~ Be GREAT!  The 2019-20 school year maybe didn’t finish how we all anticipated but there were many GREAT students that rose to the top and did their very best in an unpredictable situation!   Hundreds of DCMS parents/families did GREAT things and stepped up and supported learning at home..even when they are not trained educators and maybe even worked outside of the home during their regular day!  It hasn’t been easy and I know the daily challenges of doing school remotely has been difficult at times.  Although, I have been reminded many times to be GRATEFUL.

We often forget to be GRATEFUL when things get difficult or seemingly impossible!  I am incredibly grateful for how our students, families, staff and community have stepped up during this pandemic.  It has challenged our patience, made us crazy, frustrated us in many realms and maybe even made us cry, but we have come out stronger on the other side!  For all of YOU, I am GRATEFUL for what you have done to make your home a successful location for learning during a pandemic!  To each and every one of you I say “THANK YOU!”  I greatly appreciate the effort you put in and for the support you provided to our staff.  

Lastly. as of now, we are hopeful for a normal start to the 20-21 school year.  We will keep you updated if there are any new developments.  May you have a relaxing and healthy summer.

Successfully navigating with you in education~

Alisa Johnson

4/9: Students, HANG ON TO YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS!  
Yesterday, you received an email asking you to send them back on April 13th.  Today, we are asking you to hold onto them and not send them back.

Parents, we appreciate your patience as we work to do our best and try to keep with an ever-changing way of life right now.  At this time we will not be to accept library books back nor are we able to rent them out.  Please disregard yesterday's email.  When/if we are able to do so in the future, we will be sure to let you and your students know.

The school is not collecting any materials back via bus delivery or curbside drop off.  Library books should be held onto and classroom assignments should be turned through Google Classroom or by taking a picture of the assignment and texting/emailing the teacher.  Please do not send them back on the bus.  School staff are unable to receive any packages from homes.

4/3: Deliveries will be on MONDAYS for that week's materials.  

Deliveries will be made to each student's assigned bus stop and will be 4 hours later than the assigned bus pick-up time.  Ex. if your student would normally get on the bus at 7:15 am the instructional material delivery time will be 11:15 am.

If your student open enrolls and does not use district transportation, please contact Nicole Carlen at 320-286-4105 to schedule a pickup location. 

March 29, 2020

Regarding: Dassel Cokato Middle School  Distance Learning Updates

Hello Dassel - Cokato Middle School Families ~ 

We are ready and excited to support our Dassel and Cokato Middle School students starting March 30th through May 4th, 2020 with great Distance Learning opportunities. Our teachers know that the classroom experience is the most valuable for our students, yet have taken this new opportunity of Distance Learning to create continued, current, engaging and appropriate activities to help support learning with your child at home. 

Each teacher and grade level team has created activities and a plan to best meet the needs of their students. Much of the learning can be found on our website and will focus on core learning objectives throughout each week. Teachers will be responsible for continued communication with students and families and any changes/updates in learning opportunities. 

Following the Executive Orders from Governor Walz to close schools to create Distance Learning Dassel - Cokato Middle School will provide the following:

How will I know what to do: Check out website www.isd466.org - and choose Dassel - Cokato Middle School.  Students can also log into their Google Classroom for more specific instructions. Some teachers may also send out printed instructional materials one time a week, first delivery being April 1, 2020. 

Staff Office Hours: Staff will be available from 8:00-10:00 and 12:30-2:30 to answer questions via email or by phone. If you are unable to reach the teacher directly, please leave a voice message. The other time will be for staff to work together with their teams and prepare continued learning opportunities for students and have lunch. 

Teachers Contact Information: Phone numbers and email addresses can be found on the website www.isd466.org.

Learning/Grading: Staff will work to assess materials in a variety of ways from online work to posted discussions and/or allowing students to take pictures and send information directly. Teachers will continue to modify and adjust grading opportunities each week. 

Distance Learning Attendance: Students are expected to attend school each day during Distance Learning. They will have required learning opportunities to complete each day and can follow their regular schedule of math, reading, social, science, music, physical education, art, health, etc. Teachers will take attendance each day. Student’s attendance can be counted in various ways  including: a Google Document, email verification, phone call, or Google Classroom. Parents should continue to call the school if your child plans to NOT ATTEND Distance Learning for the day to do any work. Our school secretaries will communicate this information to the teacher(s).  If we learn a child is not engaged in Distance Learning, the teacher or staff will work to make contact with the parent(s) to help us understand the reason for the absence.

Teacher Response Time: Dassel Cokato Middle School staff will make consistent effort to respond to emails and phone calls during their regular office hours each day when questions arise. If there are questions outside of staff office hours, we will attempt to respond within the next 24 hours. Please reach out to secretaries or the principal if you do not understand something and take advantage of a teacher’s time during their scheduled office times. 

Student Expectations: Students are expected to adhere to the student handbook and internet/device policy (Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy #524) during Distance Learning just as if they were in the school setting. 

Technology Issues/Concerns: If you are having a technology/website issue or concern, please first reach out to your school Media Center Specialist (Jennifer Schmidt ext. 1637) or Dassel-Cokato Technology Department at 320-286-4100 ext 1884. 

Distance Learning is a very new method of study where teachers and students do not meet in a classroom, but use a variety of resources to provide continued learning opportunities for ALL students. Please know, our Dassel Cokato Middle School teachers and staff have developed great plans for Distance Learning for our students. Together, we will provide opportunities for success for ALL students during this time! 

Yours in providing a quality education,
Mrs. Alisa Johnson

Alisa Johnson and the Dassel - Cokato Middle School Staff

Friday, March 20, 2020

Greetings from the Dassel - Cokato Middle School,

We hope this letter finds you enjoying something fun as a family!  We have been working diligently this week preparing for “Distance Learning” which is anticipated to start on Monday, March 30th.  We realize these are challenging times for all of us, especially our families that are now faced with managing your daily lives while supporting your child’s education at home.  What is this going to look like for your middle school student?  Each of our teachers has developed learning plans in a variety of formats including the internet, email, paper/pencil materials and other resources for students to continue their learning at home.  

As we embark on this new journey together, we realize there will be challenges and unexpected circumstances that may arise. Communication between home and school will be crucial.  We plan to communicate regularly and in a variety of ways including weekly phone calls, Campus emails, Google Classroom, deliveries on bus routes and postings on our district website (www.isd466.org).  Your child’s success continues to be our greatest focus!  

Starting Date: After Spring Break ~ Monday, March 30th

Attendance/ Engagement: Our vision is to ensure student engagement with this new style of learning.  If concerns arise with a lack of participation, we will reach out.  We are still required to deliver education and ensure students are educated, as well as monitoring attendance to the best of our ability.  If you have concerns with your child’s level of engagement/participation, please contact the Middle School Office.   

How will I know what to do: Students should check their Google Classroom sites for each class. Teachers will also send out printed instructional materials once a week, if necessary. 

Daily Schedule: These graphic organizers can be used to view what your child’s daily schedule looks like:  5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

Teacher Availability:  8:07-3:05 ~ during regular school hours

Phone #’s and email addresses can be found on our website.          

Technology/Media Center: Students and parents can call our media center for help with computer questions such as signing into Chrome, accessing accounts, programs, or other questions with digital assignments ~ Media Center 320-286-4100 ext. 1640 or Jennifer Schmidt, (jennifer.schmidt@dc.k12.mn.us) Media and Digital Learning Specialist 320-286-4100 ext 1637.  Here are instructions for logging into chrome from a device at home: Chrome At Home.  Just a reminder that students are also able to take Reading Counts quizzes from home (but must be logged in to Chrome in order to do so).  

Mental Health and Well-being: The stress of preparing for COVID-19 and school closure can increase the worry and anxiety with families.  If you are in need of resources for your child’s emotional health please contact our school social worker: Beth Steinleitner (Miss Beth) beth.steinleitner@dc.k12.mn.us or (320) 286-4100 ext. 1606.  

An Additional Resource: National Alliance of Mental Health- Minnesota

https://namimn.org/support/mental-health-support-and-information-on-covid-19/

Our community and country is experiencing something we’ve never seen before which is causing stress for all of us.   As our DCMS Motto states, Together we are better!  As always, we will work collaboratively to make the best decisions to provide a sustained, high-quality learning experience under these challenging circumstances! 

DCMS is a GREAT place and we are GRATEFUL to work with all of you.  Please watch for continued communication from all of us and remember the website as a resource for district updates and information (www.isd466.org).  As we work through these unpredictable times please reach out to us with questions and we will do our best to solve them.  Your child’s well-being is always our priority!  

Working together in education,

Alisa Johnson and the entire Dassel - Cokato Middle School Staff

Cokato Elementary students and/or caregivers should click the link below to access each grade's instructional materials.  Materials will be updated weekly online.  Teachers will send out printed instructional materials one time per week as well and will be delivered based on bus routes and bus stops.  Please contact your student's teacher with any questions. 

Cokato Elementary's Distance Learning Plans

Dassel Elementary students and/or caregivers should click the link below to access each grade's instructional materials.  Materials will be updated weekly online.  Teachers will send out printed instructional materials one time per week as well and will be delivered based on bus routes and bus stops.  Please contact your student's teacher with any questions. 

Dassel Elementary's Distance Learning Plans

Teachers will post the day/week's activities and assignments in Google Classroom. Teachers will also send out printed instructional materials once a week if necessary. Students should check their Google Classroom for each class.

Dassel-Cokato Middle School's Distance Learning Plans

DC High School and ALC (day program) students are responsible for completing their attendance daily and following the distance learning plan as set forth on the High School's homepage.

Teachers will give students directions regarding daily expectations.  Lessons will vary in time, learning activities, delivery and duration just like they do when students are present within the classroom.

The daily schedule and class etiquette expectations can be found on the High School's homepage - click here.

Click here for the DAILY SCHEDULE *updated 4/3/20

Click here for the WEEKLY SCHEDULE *updated 4/3/20