Wolf Watch
Dates to Remember
November 21
School-wide Digital Citizenship
November 26 - 28
No School
December 2
Evening Band Concert - 6pm
December 4
Evening Strings Concert - 6pm
December 16
Piano Recital - 4pm
December 17
Choir Concert - 6pm
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As we dive into the season of giving thanks, it’s important to reflect on the shared responsibility we all hold in helping our students grow into thoughtful, responsible, and compassionate individuals. At Patch Middle School, we are excited to introduce our new PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) focus: Problem-Solving. This critical skill is not only essential in the classroom but also in our daily lives. Whether students are working through challenges with friends, managing schoolwork, or navigating tricky situations outside of school, problem-solving empowers them to think critically and act with confidence. As parents and educators, we can all help by encouraging our students to approach problems with a positive attitude, asking questions, and exploring solutions together. By reinforcing these habits at home and in school, we create a collaborative environment that supports students in developing their problem-solving skills.
The past month and a half have been filled with exciting activities that have brought our school community together. From celebrating Red Ribbon Week with a fun daily dress-up theme to the incredibly talented performances at our annual Talent Show, we’ve seen our students shine in so many ways. Parent-teacher conferences allowed for meaningful conversations about student growth, and in December, we are looking forward to even more wonderful events, including band, strings, choir, and piano concerts. Additionally, our Junior Leadership Seminar students will embark on a leadership camp, further building their skills for the future. As we prepare for the holiday season, we wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, reflection, and joy. We look forward to all the exciting moments ahead as we continue to work together to support our students' success!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Gamble and Mr. Myrga
At Patch Middle School, both Aspen and Google Classroom play important roles in keeping families informed, but each serves a different purpose. Understanding the difference helps parents and students stay on top of learning and grading.
Aspen – The Official Gradebook
Aspen is the only official record of student grades. Final assignment grades and overall course grades are entered and maintained in Aspen. When you want to know a student’s current standing in a class, always check Aspen first—these grades are the ones that count toward report cards and transcripts.
Google Classroom – The Learning Platform
Google Classroom is where teachers share assignment details, instructions, resources, and—when appropriate—provide a place for students to submit work digitally. While teachers may post feedback and scores in Google Classroom, these numbers are intended for communication and guidance only. They do not represent official grades.
Key Takeaway
Think of Aspen as the gradebook and Google Classroom as the classroom workspace. Both are important, but only Aspen contains the grades that appear on report cards.
Patch Middle School – Front Office & Attendance Updates
Our front office team is ready to help students and families, but we need your support to keep things running smoothly. With two fewer permanent office positions, it may take a bit longer to reach our team. Thank you for your patience and support as we work hard to meet the needs of our school community.Â
Please take note of these important reminders:
Student Absences
We kindly ask that you do not call to report absences. Please email all absence notifications to patchms.attendance@dodea.edu.Â
Item Drop-Offs
To limit classroom interruptions, we only accept urgent items for delivery.
- Urgent examples: forgotten lunch or glasses.
- Not urgent: forgotten homework or other non-essential items.
Emergency Messages
If you must call with an emergency message for your student, please do so before 1:00 p.m. (by 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays). Messages received after these times cannot be guaranteed for same-day delivery.
Front Office Contacts
- Registrar: Mary Jeffcoat
- Secretary: Rachel Donaldson
Office Hours
Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
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School Procedures
DoDEA School Dress Code
Students MUST wear:
- Tops with sleeves (sleeveless tops/dresses are permitted for school sponsored formal events such as prom)
- Solid clothing (not transparent or translucent) that fully covers the top and bottom from armpit to mid-thigh
- Shoes (shoes must be safe for the school environment)
- Bedroom slippers shall not be worn, except for school activities approved by the principal
- Open toe shoes with a strap across the heel are allowed
Students CANNOT wear clothing with:
- Language or images promoting violence
- Language or images that depict, promote, or advocate the illegal use or sale of drugs, alcohol or tobacco products; violent conduct; curse words; pornography; that contain threats or expressions which are violent, discriminatory, lewd or obscene; or that advocate or promote any other illegal item or activity or the use of same
- Derogatory speech and/or imagery that targets groups based on race/color, ethnicity/national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law.
- Headgear that obscures the face (except as a religious observance or health purpose); clothing items with hoods attached can be worn but must not cover the head
* Teachers/courses can require certain attire as part of the curriculum (for example: physical education, culinary) that may include specific dress
* DoDEA issued athletic uniforms and athletic practice attire outside of the DoDEA school dress code is permitted when worn by participants during athletic practices and sports events
Applicable DoW Policies
School Administrators
Contacts
| Name | Position Details | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance | Attendance | |
| Registrar | Registrar | |
| Aprile Evans | School Counselor | |
| Cheytoria Hickey | School Webmaster | |
| Robin Stworzydlak | School Nurse | |
| Tikeira Roundtree | School Counselor |
