Principals Update Welcome Mrs. Sustaita

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Principals Update - Welcome Mrs. Sustaita!
August 31, 2007 12900 Dessau
Rd. Austin, TX 78754 Phone [phone] Fax 512
594-2605
Rattler News
Welcome Back to School !!
Library Update Library Orientation through
Language Arts classes begin September 4.
Students will be checking out 2 books, or 1 book
and 1 magazine. Please help your child keep
track of library materials and turn them in on
time, as there is a 0.10/day overdue fine. Feel
free to contact Ms. Dominquez, contact
Welcome back Diamondbacks! We have had an
extremely successful first week of school. I
have been so pleased with our students' behavior.
They have certainly proven that they can be PROs
(Prepared, Respectful, and On-Task). More
importantly, they are walking through our halls
of learning with Dessau PRIDE (Preparation,
Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Effort).
our Librarian, if you have questions at 594-2671.
Back to School Beach Party Dance Come join us as
the PTO sponsors the first school dance on
Friday, September 7, 2007. This years theme
will be Back to School Beach Party. The 6th grade
dance will be from 530 -700pm and the 7th 8th
grade dance will be from 730 -930pm. NJHS will
be selling advance tickets during the lunch hours
for 3.00 beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
through Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. Admission at the
door will be 5.00.   PTO will be selling
t-shirts (10), hoodies (20), pom-poms (0.50)
power bands (0.50) during the dance.
We are looking forward to meeting you on
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 at 630 p.m. for Open
House. Please remember that we will host a PTO
meeting at 600 p.m. in the cafeteria and we
encourage all parents to attend. After the PTO
meeting, we will have a short general session in
the cafeteria and then we will release parents to
visit teachers and classrooms. I hope that you
have noticed that we are working hard to keep the
lines of communication open therefore, we are
doing our best to keep the website up to date.
In addition, I am sending bi-monthly ListServ
messages and we are posting messages on the
school marquee. However, if you still have a
question or a concern about something, please
feel free to call the school. An office staff
member may be able to answer your question or
they can refer you to your grade level
principal. I will close with a funny quote about
the first day of school It was Junior's first
day of school, and when he got home his mother
asked, "Did you learn anything today? "No," he
replied in disgust. "I have to go back
tomorrow." Enjoy the long weekend! Sincerely, D
iana Sustaita
Upcoming Events for the Year 9/7 Back to
School Beach Party Dance 530 700 - 6th
Grade 730 930 - 7th / 8th Grade 9/13 PTO
Meeting All Members 600pm 9/13 Open House
630 800 10/13 Fall Festival / Silent
Auction 200 600 10/31 Teacher Appreciation
Day 11/13 PTO Meeting All Members 630 12/1
Arts Crafts Bazaar 900
200 12/20 Teacher Appreciation Day 1/14 PTO
Meeting All Members 630 2/14 Teacher
Appreciation Day 5/30 Field Day
Open House Come meet the teachers during the DMS
Open House to be held on Thursday, September 13,
2007, from 630-800pm. This will be another
opportunity for you to join the DMS PTO and buy
your school gear t-shirts (10), hoodies (20),
pom-poms (0.50) power bands (0.50). PTO will
also host concession on this night.
Visit us online at www.pflugervilleisd.net/DMS/
index.html
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Dessau Middle School D-Back Newsletter
August 2007

• Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) News
• 2007-2008 OFFICERS
• The DMS PTO would like to welcome each and every
  one of you to DMS. We are looking forward to
  having a great and exciting school year. PTO is a
  fun and involved group of parents that enjoy
  helping the school and students throughout the
  school year.
• PTO Membership
• Support is needed. The PTO officers would like
  to invite you to become a member of the PTO.
  Membership dues are 5.00 per family. We are
  looking to build a strong organization to help
  make our kids experience at DMS an enjoyable one.
  Our first membership drive was held during 6th
  grade Transition Camp. If you were unable to
  join at that time, there will be many more
  opportunities during the school year. If you are
  not sure what you can do to help our PTO, please
  contact the PTO President, Alexandra Young at
  alexyoung2_at_aol.com. There is always something we
  can fit into your schedule.
• PTO Meetings
• PTO recognizes how valuable your time is and this
  is why we will be hosting bi-monthly meetings on
  the following dates September 13, 2007 _at_ 600pm
  (prior to the Open House) November 13, 2007 _at_
  630 pm.
• PTO Volunteers Needed
• Volleyball season starts in September and the
  PTO will be hosting concession duty on Wednesdays
  starting September 13th. We need volunteers to
  help out at the concession stand at each game.
  The shifts are from 500-630pm and 630-745pm.
  If you are available and can fit a date or two
  into your schedule, we would greatly appreciate
  it. Sign-up sheets with dates times will be
  available during the PTO meetings and via email.
  You will receive a reminder with the date time
  that you are signed up for.
• PTO will provide a thank you gift for all
  members that work at least three concession
  duties and one volunteer event.
• PTO will be hosting their 3rd Annual Fall
  Festival Silent Auction on Saturday, October
  13, 2007, from 200-600pm.
• PTO will be hosting their 4th Annual Arts
  Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 1, 2007, from
  900am to 300pm.
• PTO will sponsor two Teacher Appreciation Days
  this semester October, 31, 2007 December 20,
  2007. We will be asking for volunteers to donate
  goods, etc. for these events.

SECRETARY ADELE CLORE PARENT LIAISON SYLVIA
HARRIS TEACHER LIAISON VACANT PRINCIPAL DIANA
SUSTAITA
PRESIDENT ALEXANDRA YOUNG VP OF FUND RAISING
FAITH WRIGHT VP OF MEMBERSHIP CAROLYN
MEDINA TREASURER PEDRO MEDINA
6th Grade Team Update
We are off to an EXCELLENT start! We have an
awesome group of students in 6th grade. Please
ask your 6th grader to review the topics
discussed at our TEAM assembly today and make
sure they had you read sign the Grade 6 parent
letter. Please check their DMS agenda to see
what they learned this week. If your child has an
overloaded backpack, please help him/her to leave
the extra supplies at home until needed. Thank
you for your continued support.
7th Grade Team Update
The 7th graders had a great first week. We are
so proud of them. The students were prepared and
ready to work. We're going to have an awesome
school year!! We are looking forward to open
house. The 7th grade packet is going out next
week in English class. We have our 7th grade
letter, media form, and a copy of the supply
list. The students need to bring back their
signed media form. Keep it up 7th grade! GO
D'BACKS!
8th Grade Team Update
The 8th Grade students and teachers look forward
to a productive year. We are all motivated to
send the high schools dyulajdfalksj
students who are prepared and eager to learn.
Classes are challenging and students need to
practice being a PRO to insure their success. 8th
grade rocks at Dessau!
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Dessau Middle School D-Back Newsletter
August 2007
Athletics News
Girl's Volleyball Try-outs - Aug. 30 - Sept.
6 7th grade 715 a.m. through 1st
period 8th grade 6th period until 515.
First volleyball tournament "A" team Sept. 8th
Cross country Coach - Mrs. Lewis. Practice
begins Tuesday, September 4th at 700a.m. until
800a.m. First cross country meet Wed., Sept.
12th
Football Practice begins on September 4th. 7th
grade is to report to school at 730am and 8th
grade will stay after school until 5.  The first
game is set for September 18th.
Counselors Corner
Resources for Parents All grade level TAKS
study booklets are available in all content areas
and may be printed from the following site
http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/taks
/booklets/index.html. Middle School course
guide////////////////////////////////////
http//www.pflugervileisd.net/KLMS/documents/
MSCourseGuide07-08.pdf
We want to keep schedule changes to a minimum
therefore, at this time we are only considering
the following reasons with respect to schedule
changes 1. Into Athletics 2. Into Band 3. Into
or out of PreAp classes 4. Into or out of High
School Credit Courses However, if you have a
concern with your child's schedule, please
contact his/her grade level counselor.
Also we will be starting the following counseling
groups in September 1. Social Skills 2. Anger
management 3. Dealing with grief 4. Divorce 5.
Bullying 6. Self-esteem 7. Dealing with family
changes If you want your child to participate,
please contact his/her grade level counselor.
Permission slips and more information are forth
coming.
Reminders and Notices
Pick-up and Drop-off Info When you pull onto the
side street from Dessau Road, continue straight
ahead to the north side (back) of the school
building.  You will make a right-hand turn at the
back of the building and follow through the bus
loop to the drop-off point which will be at the
back entryway.  Students will then walk through
the back doors located by the cafeteria and into
their hallway (indicated above) or cafeteria if
they are eating breakfast.  You will need to pick
your child up through this bus loop in the
afternoon as well. For everyone's safety, please
do not make any U-turns on campus. Making a left
turn as you exit DMS before 830 a.m. will result
in a ticket being issued by the Travis County
Sheriff's Department.   The front loop is for
buses, employees and visitors.  If you have
business to take care of in the school, you may
park in the front parking lot.  However, please
do not drop your students off in the front.  Use
the back bus loop instead.
Attention Visitors In an effort to ensure
student safety on all PISD campuses, visitors are
asked to sign-in at the school office. You may be
asked to wear a visitors ID badge.
Lunch Money Never have to worry about your
child's lunch account again!  Enroll FREE in My
Lunch Money.com - create an account (NEED your
child's I.D. number) and then you can add money,
monitor what they eat, and even set spending
limits!  Go to  www.MyLunchMoney.com
Newsletter Will be posted on the website on the
following dates - August/September will be
posted on August 31, 2007. - October/November
will be posted on October 5, 2007. -
December/January will be posted on December 7,
2007 Paper copies are also available in the front
office. Please contact Sylvia Harris (
sylvia_harris_at_dell.com ) with issues youd like
to see addressed in the newsletter.
Bus Info Bus transportation is provided by
Durham Transportation. Bus routes and schedules
are available at the front office. Contact
Durham Transportation at 251-3511 with bus
related questions.
Together we will
chart the course with a clear picture of what
Dessau Middle School can become. A school where
students, staff, and parents . . . .
Depend on one another to - Become a
family of learners Achieving high academic
standards, by building a Community that
fosters Kindness, spirit, and pride in a
Safe and civil learning environment.
Administration Diana Sustaita - PrincipalLisa
Coston - 6th grade Assistant PrincipalCharles
Hunt - 7th grade Assistant Principal Kevin Bryant
- 8th grade Assistant Principal Raquel Landeros -
8th grade CounselorLaShanda Lewis - 7th grade
CounselorAlma Rodriguez - 6th grade Counselor
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