Detroit Merit

Charter Academy

Detroit Merit Academy

Our Goal: College Readiness

Rigorous academic expectations

Individualized instruction
Accountability from all stakeholders
Consistent school-wide behavior system
Positive student/parent relationships

We are looking forward to an awesome year!

The Team Approach

Administration
Juan Ferreiro - Dean

Sally Kennedy - Dean

Sandra Martin - Principal
Brian Socia - Dean
Ann VanDyke - Dean

E-mail us with questions: 45.jferreiro@nhamail.com,

45.skennedy@nhamail.com, 45.smartin@nhamail.com,
45.bsocia@nhamail.com, 45.avandyke@nhamail.com

Our behavior system can help us live up

to our expectations
I am a Merit student
I strive to achieve academic excellence
I exemplify high moral character
I strive to realize my potential
I work diligently to prepare for the future

The Color System

Designed for students to be able to self
monitor/regulate their behavior
Created as a management and
communication tool
Four colors: Green, yellow, blue, and red
Utilized K-8
Paired with a social contract and CHAMPS
Does not work without your support!

What happens when colors

are not working?
After an accumulation of 10 blue or red
instances in a 4 week period, your child
will be placed on a behavior plan
OR if deemed necessary and helpful

Behavior referrals may come home for

serious actions referrals could result in a
variety of consequences ranging from a
phone call home to suspension/expulsion

Positives

Positive behavior choices will be

reinforced by teachers, staff, and parents

K-5 Uniforms
Black, navy or white socks
must be worn
Navy, light blue or white
sweaters no hooded
sweatshirts
Belts must be worn if bottoms
have loops
Solid, long sleeve white/blue
shirts under uniform shirts in
cold weather months
Boys/girls may wear ties (in
uniform colors)
No piercings allowed for boys,
girls earrings must be smaller
than a quarter

Girls/boys
navy bottoms
(pants, skirts,
jumpers,
shorts

Girls/boys
white, navy
or light blue
shirts

Girls/boys shoes black, navy, tan,

brown, burgundy solid with no
markings, strips, stitching, logos, or
other colored soles

6-8 Uniforms
Black, navy, white or tan socks
must be worn
Navy, light blue, tan, khaki, or
white sweaters no hooded
sweatshirts
Belts must be worn if bottoms
have loops
7-8 grade boys/girls may wear
ties (in uniform colors)
Solid, long sleeve white/blue
shirts under uniform shirts in
cold weather months
No piercings allowed for boys,
girls earrings must be smaller
than a quarter

Girls/boys
navy, white
or light blue
shirts

Girls/boys
tan or khaki
bottoms
(pants, skirts,
jumpers,
shorts
Girls/boys shoes black, navy, tan,
brown, burgundy solid with no
markings, strips, stitching, logos, or
other colored soles

Gym Uniforms & Pride Shirts

Solid gray or black bottoms
Red shirts (no writing)
Students may wear any DMA t-shirt,
including their pride t-shirts to gym class
Gym shoes
DMA hoodies may be
worn with the gym
uniform (or during the
week)

Things to Avoid

Brightly colored headbands

Large hair clips/bows
Purses
Shoes with white soles (Chucks)
Sandals with no back straps
Low cut or revealing clothing
Clothing that is too tight
Boots that your pants cannot cover
Leggings without a shirt long enough to cover
your bottom*

Improper Uniforms

Teacher does uniform checks

Color change to blue
Teacher will send note/call home
No participation in privileges (dress down,
snacks, etc.)
FULL uniform is expected on September
8th, 2015 (the first day of school)

Cell Phone Policy

No phones should be used before,
during, and after school as well as
at school events
Phones should be left at home and
not seen in pockets or book bags
1st time parent is contacted
2nd time phone is confiscated and parent must
retrieve it
3rd time phone will be kept until the end of the
school year
Caveat depending on the circumstance, we may skip any steps

Tardies & Absences

8:00AM ALL students should be in their
seats ready to start the day
Absences and tardies should be called
into the office NO later than 8:00AM!
Provide documentation for illness upon
return to school
Breakfast is served from 7:45AM-7:55AM
and is FREE for all students

Attendance
Your childs academic success is in your hands
they need to be here each day on time
Reading is taught first thing in the morning
Hands-on activities, lessons, and experiences
cannot be re-created
Excessive absences and tardies may result in
consequences including: corrective action plan,
failure of academics, referral to social services,
expulsion

Absenteeism
Chronically absent is 10% of the time (about 18
days) includes excused and unexcused and
any time missing due to suspension
10 days absent is considered truancy
Poor attendance produces more dropouts than
all other reasons combined. National Center for children
in Poverty; Haywood

Absences affect all students, as teachers spend

more time reviewing concepts for children who
missed the lessons

2020 Goal
90% of students who have
been with us for 3 or more
years will meet or exceed
college readiness thresholds
in both Math and Reading

Dismissal
K-8 dismisses at 3:00PM
ALL students should be picked up by
3:15PM
See handout for dismissal layout and
carpool/sibling sign up
Students may not be picked up after 2:30PM
and before 3:00PM this is a safety issue!

Arrival & Dismissal

DO

DONT

Put your car in park

Stop in the middle of the street

Drive one way on Ashland enter

through Jefferson, exit through
Kercheval

Get out of your car we will bring your

child to you!

Obey the crossing guard

Tell your child to go somewhere

different each day to meet you

Keep music low

Tell your child to go somewhere or do

something that is against school
procedures

Stay off of phones

Block arrival or dismissal lanes

Communicate with your childs teacher Call your childs phone

when someone other than you is
picking up
Have patience

Enter the building until 3:15PM

Kindergartners need to be dropped off outside like all other students

do not walk them into the building.

Safety

Emergency operating plan

Staff trained in first aid and CPR
AED onsite
Emergency backpacks
Emergency classroom packs
Doors locked after arrival (classrooms too)
Limited early dismissal and extra people in the
building
Lobbyguard ALL visitors must wear a badge!
Perimeter cameras

Volunteers & Visitors

We welcome volunteers and visitors
ALL must:
Make an appointment
Check in through Lobby Guard
Wear their ID badge from LG
Keep teaching/learning time sacred

Understanding
Scoring Scales,
Report Cards,
and CCSS

Grade Translation Chart

Our focus is on the Scoring Scale Score
Score

Grade

4.0

A+

3.5

A+

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Letter grades will not appear on assessments

You will see a score ranging between 0.5 and
4.0

The Report Card

Student Name

Score for mastery

Score for effort
Shows tardies and
absences

Common Core State Standards

Establish higher educational standards for K12 students in English and math (college and
career readiness)
Heavier emphasis on real-world application of
English and math
More informational text and non-fiction books
Longer reading passages
More writing make a claim, provide support,
evidence, explain rationalize, etc.

M-STEP
M-STEP (former MEAP) will be given
in April and May
Online test
5th & 8th grades will take social
studies
4th & 7th grades will take science
3rd-8th grades will take ELA and math
Testing CCSS - challenging!

Instructional Grouping
Standardized testing: NWEA-MAP &
M-STEP
Teacher assessments and observations
Attendance
Work habits
Students are grouped for both math and
reading
Groups are fluid in some cases there are
2 classes of one grouping

Review of Changes

Uniform Policy
Cell Phone Policy
Reading Street
Dismissal
Doors open and breakfast times
Medication distribution laws

As a Parent I Should

Ensure your child is here each day and on time

Sign the agenda
Partner with the teacher
Help with homework
Volunteer
Merit Market
Play games with students
Read a story
Attend school events
Ask your child what they learned at school today
Make sure you child is reading each night and ask about their
AR books and tests

Consistency is the key

We have to partner
together to
ensure success!