Denn John Middle School

Please take a moment to review our updated DJMS Student Dress Code for the upcoming school year. Our expectations are designed to create a safe, respectful, and distraction-free learning environment where every student can thrive.
Thank you for partnering with us in ensuring our Dragons arrive at school ready to learn each day.
🔥 Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.
Focus • Integrity • Respect • Engaged in Learning
Because at DJMS...
🐉

The DJMS Leadership Team launched the school year today at our Leadership Welcome Back Retreat! We activated our Blue Flame!

We discussed our current data, previewed our SIP, discussed our challenges, expressed how we will activate our Blue Flame, AND strongly promoted AVID! We are ready!

Check us out!!

The House of Dragons is excited to welcome Ms. Juanita Peña Plasencia as our new ESOL Educational Specialist!
Ms. Peña Plasencia joins our Dragon Family with a passion for empowering multilingual learners and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. We are also proud to welcome her as a member of our Leadership Team, where she will help lead, support, and inspire excellence across our campus. ❤️🐉

Dragons! 🐉 🔥 DJMS has 1 instructional vacancy! Only 1! We are looking for a STRONG ELA candidate who prioritizes student engagement activities!

If you’re interested, contact Marc Hernandez at DJMS!

Dear Rising 6th Grade Parents and Guardians,

On behalf of the entire Denn John Middle School family, welcome to the House of Dragons! We are thrilled that your child will be joining us for the 2026-2027 school year, and we look forward to partnering with you during this exciting transition to middle school.

Our school theme this year is "Activate the Blue Flame." A blue flame burns hotter, brighter, and with greater purpose than any other flame. It symbolizes excellence, determination, resilience, and limitless potential. At DJMS, we believe every student has a Blue Flame within them, and together, we will ignite their passion for learning, leadership, and personal growth.

You may have noticed that we will not be hosting a traditional summer 6th Grade Orientation this year. Due to budget constraints, we made the difficult decision to forgo a separate orientation event. However, please know that this decision was made with careful planning, and we are excited about the comprehensive transition experience we have designed for our newest Dragons.

During the first two days of school, all sixth-grade students will participate in a structured orientation during the regular school day. This experience has been intentionally designed to help students become comfortable, confident, and connected before fully transitioning into their academic routines.

During these two days, students will:

Become familiar with the DJMS campus and practice navigating the building.

Learn daily routines, expectations, and school procedures.

Meet their teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff.

Learn our PBIS expectations and what it means that Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.

Receive guidance on lockers, class transitions, technology, and organizational skills.

Participate in team-building activities designed to help build friendships and confidence.

Begin activating the Blue Flame by learning what it means to be a Dragon both inside and outside the classroom.

Our goal is simple: We want every sixth-grade student to feel welcomed, prepared, and excited to begin middle school.

As a reminder, here are a few important details:
School Hours

Doors Open: 9:00 a.m. (Student supervision begins at this time.)
School Begins: 9:15 a.m.
Dismissal: 4:23 p.m.

Free Meals
All DJMS students receive free breakfast and lunch each day.

We also encourage every family to stay actively involved throughout the school year. Your partnership plays a vital role in your child's success. Please monitor grades regularly through FOCUS, attend school events, communicate with teachers, and stay connected through our website and social media pages.

At DJMS, we live by our school credo:


And we challenge every Dragon to breathe F.I.R.E. every day:

F – Focused
I – Integrity
R – Respect
E – Engaged in Learning

The transition to middle school is a significant milestone, and we recognize that it can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Please know that our faculty and staff are committed to making this a positive experience for every student and family. We are confident that, together, we will create a year filled with growth, achievement, and unforgettable memories.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. We cannot wait to welcome our newest Dragons and officially Activate the Blue Flame on the first day of school.

Welcome to the House of Dragons!

🐉📅 Mark Your Calendars, Dragon Families! 📅🐉
The countdown to an incredible school year has officially begun! We are excited to welcome our Dragons back to campus and have several important dates you won’t want to miss.
Be sure to save the dates for:
💻 6th Grade Laptop Pick-Up
📚 Student Schedules Available in FOCUS
👋 Meet the Teacher
🎉 First Day of School
These events will help ensure your Dragon is ready for a successful start to the 2026–2027 school year.
📲 Check out the flyer below for all the important dates and times, and be sure to share it with family and friends!
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the House of Dragons!
🐉 Dragons Breathe F.I.R.E.
🔥 Focus
🔥 Integrity
🔥 Respect
🔥 Engaged in Learning
💙 Activate the Blue Flame
📚

With F.I.R.E & Gratitude,

Last day of Admin Institute! The DJMS Admin is ready for 26-27!!

This year, ALL dragons will activate the Blue Flame!!

DJMS would like to welcome Ms. Diana Beachy as our new ESE Resource Compliance Specialist and to the Leadership Team! With many years of experience in ESE, she’s ready to lead this department!

Let’s give her a burning 🔥 Dragon 🐉 Fam welcome! She’s ready for

The DJMS Admin attended the 2026 SDOC Admin Institute today! It was a great day filled with learning as we get ready for a STRONG 26-27 school year!

We continue to demonstrate that !

🐉🔥 HISTORIC GAINS. A BRIGHTER FUTURE. 🔥🐉
Today, we celebrate more than a school grade—we celebrate the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of our entire Dragon community.
Denn John Middle School has earned its highest school rating and greatest academic gains in over FIVE years!
📈 School Grade: 54%
⭐ High-Rated C School
⬆️ 8-point increase from last year (46% → 54%)
🎯 Only 3 points away from becoming a B-rated school!
Our students and staff demonstrated remarkable growth across nearly every accountability measure:
📚 ELA Achievement: +5 points
📚 ELA Learning Gains: +4 points
📚 ELA Low 25: +1 point
➗ Math Achievement: +5 points
➗ Math Learning Gains: +15 points
➗ Math Low 25: +2 points
🧪 Science Achievement: +15 points
🏛️ Civics Achievement: +9 points
🚀 Acceleration: +12 points
These results are a testament to the commitment of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, the support of our families, and the leadership of our school community. While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, we’re even more excited about where we’re headed.