Updated Middle School Resource Guide

TABLE

IMPORTANT CONTACTS 1

DIVISION HEAD BIO 1 MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNICATION 2

UPDATING IMPORTANT FORMS 4 Blackbaud 4 Magnus Health Student Medical Record 4

CLASS PLACEMENT 4

SCHOOL SUPPLIES 4

ACADEMIC AND HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS................................................................................................4

CARIINA PARENT – ATTENDANCE AND TRANSPORTATION REPORTING 5

IMPORTANT DATES 7

SCHOOL-WIDE AND MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENTS 8

DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE 9

Boys’ Middle School Daily Wear ..........................................................................................................................9

Girls’ Middle School Daily Wear 9

Hats and Head Coverings 10

Vendor Recommendations 10

Constant Closet 10

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 12 School Counselor 12 School Nurses 12

NUTRITION AND DINING 13 TECHNOLOGY 14

New Student Laptop Checklist: Windows OS 15

New Student Laptop Checklist: Mac OS 17

ATHLETIC PROGRAM 18 SQUASH PROGRAM 19 HOMEWORK CLUB 20

MUSIC LESSONS 21 TRANSPORTATION 23

ON-CAMPUS TRAFFIC/ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL 24 Pick Up and Drop Off 24

PARENTS ASSOCIATION OVERVIEW 25

CAMPUS STORE 25 ADVISORY 26 TUTORIAL 26

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE 26

MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEKLY SCHEDULE 27 CAMPUS MAP 28

Important Contacts

Todd Fawcett

Head of Middle School tfawcett@dextersouthfield.org

Heather Nappi Academic Dean hnappi@dextersouthfield.org

Matthew Lauranzano Dean of Students (Boys) mlauranzano@dextersouthfield.org

Lena Doten Dean of Students (Girls) ldoten@dextersouthfield.org

Division Head Bio

Name: Todd Fawcett

Title: Head of Middle School

At Dexter Southfield Since: 2019 Education: University of Maine – B.S. Harvard University – A.L.M.

Background: Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of Middle School, International School, Science Department Chair, Class Dean, Dorm Parent, Classroom Teacher

Years in Education: 25 years

Favorites:

> Dexter Southfield Tradition: Public Speaking

> Place on Campus: The Garage

> Meal at Dexter Southfield: Enjoying a cookout lunch with hamburgers in the Amphitheater

What You’re Currently Reading/Listening to: Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

MIDDLE

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE

Middle School Communication

1.Dexter Southfield Website & Parent Portal:

From the homepage of the School’s website, parents can access the Login button to the parent portal. The parent portal includes the following information:

> School calendar, with the ability to filter by class or topic and set up email or text message reminders and subscriptions

> PDFs of Resource Guides and Handbooks

> Links to resources and recent emails

> Parents Association information and upcoming events

> Virtual event library

> Additional links and resources

For questions on the parent portal or assistance setting up calendar notifications, please contact the Marketing & Communications Office

2. Blackbaud:

Blackbaud Education Management is the school’s platform for student information and learning management. Blackbaud is accessed by logging in to the parent portal and selecting the red “Access Blackbaud” button.

As a parent of a middle school student, you also have access to this part of your student’s academic experience, including viewing rights to their daily schedule, assignments, and course details. Blackbaud is a time management tool for students to view upcoming homework assignments and assessments and plan accordingly; it will not provide you access to grades. Your student’s advisor will continue to be your best point of contact for questions. To access Blackbaud, log in to the parent portal and select the red “Access Blackbaud” button. From there, select your child in the upper lefthand corner. Academic information can be viewed by scrolling down on the “Progress” tab. Please contact Todd or Heather if you need assistance navigating the system.

The platform also includes the following:

> Contact cards, where parents can update profile information, including email and physical address

> Parent directory

> Resource Board links to pickAtime (conference scheduling), Magnus Health SMR (health forms), and FACTS Tuition Management (billing)

> School forms

Please confirm or update your contact information in Blackbaud. This will ensure that the School and other Dexter Southfield families are able to contact you.

LOWER SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE

3. Middle School News & Notes & Email Notices:

It is important to keep your preferred contact information updated in Blackbaud to ensure timely receipt of information. The School frequently communicates important information via email. As the parent of a middle school child, you can anticipate receiving a biweekly email from Todd outlining important information, upcoming dates, and community events. The Parents Association also sends a monthly email sharing ways you can be involved with the School.

4. Communication with Advisors & Teachers:

During the school year, you are encouraged to contact your child’s advisor directly with any questions or concerns. The middle school day is busy, and once students arrive, teachers seldom have time to check email messages. If you are sending time-sensitive information, please also email Todd or a dean. Given the nature of a typical school day, and to receive the most timely response, we recommend initiating contact through email, which will allow a follow-up phone call to be scheduled as needed.

5. Social Media:

To follow daily life at Dexter Southfield and activity from all three divisions, be sure to follow Dexter Southfield on social media.

dextersouthfield

Dexter Southfield @DXSF_Athletics

Updating Important Forms

Blackbaud

Please confirm or update your contact information in Blackbaud. This will ensure that the School and other Dexter Southfield families are able to contact you.

Magnus Health Student Medical Record

Permission to treat, annual physical exams, and other forms need to be updated in the Magnus Health portal each year.

For technical support, please contact support@dextersouthfield.org

Class Placement

Advisors and class schedules will be released via Blackbaud in the summer. Families will receive an email notification when this information is available. Please contact Todd Fawcett or Heather Nappi with questions.

School Supplies

Please make sure your child comes to school with a backpack and fully charged computer on the first day (see more information about Technology on page 14). We provide notebooks, tablet paper, dividers, and pencils. We recommend children consider how to organize their lockers. If they are unsure, it is perfectly fine to wait and see how others set up that space. Homeroom is also a great resource to help your child navigate this type of organization. All new students will also receive a Dexter Southfield backpack.

Academic and Homework Expectations

At Dexter Southfield, middle school is a time of mindful exploration where your child will deliberately develop courage, independence, self-advocacy, and critical thinking. The academic curriculum is structured with the goal of each student developing a mastery of content, which happens both in the classroom and at home. As such, your child can expect about 10 minutes of homework per grade level (e.g., 60 minutes for Class 6, 70 minutes for Class 7, and 80 minutes for Class 8). Expectations and workload will vary based on time of year and curriculum, and you and your child are encouraged to contact the advisor with any questions or concerns regarding academic rigor and workload.

Cariina Parent – Attendance and Transportation Reporting

Dexter Southfield uses the Cariina Parent mobile app to streamline daily attendance and transportation communications. You use Cariina to:

> Report absences.

> Notify the School if your children are arriving late or leaving early due to an appointment or have a change to their normal daily transportation method (for example, a child who typically rides the bus is being picked up by a parent).

> Register your children for Homework Club.

> View enhanced GPS bus tracking updates.

> Receive push notifications when your children board or depart the bus.

Please note, Carriina is intended for parent use only.

It is important that you download the Cariina Parent app and complete the enrollment process as this app will be used for both daily attendance reporting and for managing our transportation program. Additional instructions about how to download and set up Cariina Parent will be shared later this summer.

Please see page 22 of this guide for additional information about transportation at Dexter Southfield.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE

Important Dates

AUGUST

Monday, August 29: Upper School Fall Sports Pre-Season Begins Wednesday, August 31: School Opens (11:45 a.m. PreK pick-up optional for Aug. 31 & Sept. 1)

SEPTEMBER

Friday, September 2: No School Monday, September 5: Labor Day (No School)

OCTOBER

Friday, October 7: No School for LS & MS Students (Lower school and middle school parent-teacher conferences)

Monday, October 10: Columbus Day (No School)

NOVEMBER

Thursday, November 10: No School for US Students (Upper school parent-teacher conferences)

Friday, November 11: Veterans Day (No School) Wednesday, November 23Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

Monday, November 28: Professional Development Day (No School)

DECEMBER

Thursday, December 15: Last Day for US Students

Friday, December 16: Last Day for LS & MS Students (Class 8 students dismissed at 12:00 p.m.)

JANUARY

Monday, January 2: New Year’s Day Observed (No School) Tuesday, January 3: School Reopens

Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

FEBRUARY

Monday, February 20: Presidents’ Day (No School)

Tuesday, February 21: Winter Holiday (No School)

MARCH

Friday, March 10: Spring Break Begins (School closes at 3:30 p.m. for all students)

Monday, March 27: Professional Development Day (No School) Tuesday, March 28: School Reopens

APRIL

Friday, April 14: No School for LS & MS Students (Lower school and middle school parent-teacher conferences)

Monday, April 17: Patriots’ Day (No School)

MAY

Monday, May 29: Memorial Day (No School)

JUNE

Friday, June 2: Last Day of School Saturday, June 3: Graduation Monday, June 19: Summer Camp Opens

School-wide and Middle School Events

Please check the website calendar for a comprehensive schedule of events and additional information about dates, times, and locations.

You may also customize your calendar experience by subscribing to one or more calendars and setting event and calendar reminders. Additional details can be found on the calendar section of the Parent Portal

Dexter Southfield Day (PreK-Class 12)

Join parents, students, families, and alumni for Dexter Southfield Day! This beloved School tradition in cludes athletic contests, a BBQ lunch, family-friendly activities, and school pride.

Middle and Upper School Family BBQ

New and returning middle and upper school families are invited to campus prior to the first day of school for a BBQ dinner. This informal event is a great way for parents and children to get to know each other before classes begin.

Middle School Back to School Night

During this event, middle school parents will hear about the middle school experience from Head of School Todd Vincent, Head of the Middle School Todd Fawcett, and their children’s teachers.

Public Speaking

An essential part of a Dexter Southfield education, the Public Speaking program is designed to build confidence, character, communication skills, and leadership. In a progression from Kindergarten though Class 12, children annually perform a speech before an audience of parents, students, faculty, and friends of the School. A full schedule of the year’s Public Speaking events will be shared at the beginning of the school year.

Dress Code and Appearance

At Dexter Southfield, each division has its own dress code appropriate for the age of its students and marks a student’s progression from division to division. The Dress Code reflects purposefulness and the School’s belief that personal appearance positively impacts respect and attitudes in a community.

> A necktie or bow tie

> Blazer or sport coat

> Sweaters or quarter-zip pullovers may be worn under blazer or sport coat.

> Dress khaki, corduroy, or flannel pants with a belt. No cargo pants.

> Dexter Southfield sweatshirts and other athletic tops such as team jackets may be worn to/from School, but not during the school day.

> Dexter Southfield baseball and winter hats may be worn to/from School, but not during the school day. Shoes and Footwear:

> Dress shoes, loafers, casual shoes, and boat shoes are acceptable. Socks and shoes must be in good condition and conservative in color. Highly branded shoes, athletic shoes, and high-top sneakers are not allowed during the academic day. During inclement winter, weather boots may be worn outside.

> Shirt or blouse with a collar or turtleneck (tucked in)

> Gray “mid-length” pleated skirt (see vendor recommendation)

n Skirts should be within a finger length of the kneecap. This length approximates the length at which a student can sit comfortably in public, walk upstairs, and not feel the need to pull down for coverage.

> Navy blazer with optional Dexter Southfield shield embroidered on pocket (see vendor recommendation)

> Sweaters or quarter-zip pullovers may be worn under blazer

> Stockings, tights, ankle socks, or knee socks may be worn.

> Optional bike shorts or leggings may be worn under skirts, depending on the season.

> Dexter Southfield sweatshirts and other athletic tops such as team jackets may be worn to/from School, but not during the school day.

> Dexter Southfield baseball and winter hats may be worn to/from School, but not during the school day.

Shoes and Footwear:

> Dress shoes, loafers, casual shoes, and boat shoes are acceptable. Socks and shoes must be in good condition and conservative in color. Highly branded shoes, athletic shoes, and high-top sneakers are not allowed during the academic day. During inclement winter, weather boots may be worn outside.

> Dress shirt with collar (tucked in)

BOYS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL DAILY WEAR GIRLS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL DAILY WEAR

MIDDLE

Dress Code and Appearance (continued)

Hats and Head Coverings

Head coverings honoring religious or cultural traditions may be worn. Hats, bandanas, visors, etc. are not acceptable in academic buildings. During inclement winter weather, winter knit hats may be worn outside.

Vendor Recommendations (see links below)

Gray “Mid-Length” Pleated Skirt

> Lands’ End “School Uniform Girls Solid Box Pleat Skirt Top of Knee” in Gray Navy Blazer

> Lands’ End “School Uniform Girls Hopsack Blazer” in Navy

> Lands’ End “School Uniform Boys Hopsack Blazer” in Navy

LAND’S END

Constant Closet

Constant Closet is an effort spearheaded by the Parents Association to provide a permanent on-campus space where families can drop-off, exchange, and obtain uniform pieces during the summer and school year. Constant Closet aims to create convenience for our community members and reduce uniform costs and waste. We welcome the following items that your children have outgrown or no longer need and are clean and ready to wear:

> Girls’ navy jumpers

> Girls’ school gray skirt

> Boys’ and girls’ navy blazers

> Dexter Southfield sweatshirts

> Dexter Southfield ¼ zip shirts

> Dexter Southfield fleeces

Constant Closet is located just off the Clay Center Lobby. To leave items, you may send them in with your child (marked for the Constant Closet) or drop them in the bins in the Clay Center Lobby when you are on campus next. If you would like to take an item from the Constant Closet, please stop by the Clay Center Lobby!

Questions about dress code can be sent to Head of the Middle School Todd Fawcett: tfawcett@dextersouthfield.org

Health and Wellness

School Counselors

At Dexter Southfield, we are committed to supporting your child’s social and emotional well-being as much as their academic success. To foster the emotional health and well-being of the school community, school counselors are available to children in PreK-Class 12. School counselors are valuable resources for children, families, and faculty, and they work together with teachers, advisors, deans, the nurses, and academic support staff to facilitate integrated plans for children who may need additional support.

In addition, they can facilitate a referral to outside resources when the need arises. Your child may sign up for an appointment or just drop in. Information shared with the counselors is private and treated with confidentiality within the limits of safety and the law.

School Nurses

Our nurses assess and treat ill and injured children, administer medications and other physician-ordered treatments, assist children with chronic disease management, and ensure that all health interventions performed for the benefit of children are conducted within current Massachusetts state laws and Department of Public Health regulations.

Each year, you will be asked to update your child’s medical record through Magnus Health, a HIPAA-compliant electronic medical system used by the School.

Questions for Head of School Counseling Carla Ko can be sent to: cko@dextersouthfield.org

Questions for Head of Health Services Sara Pozner can be sent to: spozner@dextersouthfield.org

Nutrition and Dining

At Dexter Southfield, we are committed to providing your child with a quality school dining experience through a healthy, delicious, interactive, and enjoyable lunch and snack program. Our philosophy centers on offering simplified options with high-quality ingredients that allow children to be more engaged with their food choices. Dexter Southfield’s food service provider is SAGE Dining Services, and together we design meals (using locally sourced foods when possible) with a focus on simplicity, seasonality, and freshness.

Our school nurses, family physicians, parents, and dining services team work together to meet the needs of children with food allergies as practically as possible so that plentiful snack and lunch choices are available to all children. Dexter Southfield is a nut-free campus.

Your child will have an assigned seat at lunch, which rotates regularly during the school year and includes outdoor seating options, weather permitting. Faculty members, including advisors and homeroom teachers, are integrated into the rotating table assignments. This ensures that no child will ever be without a place to eat lunch. Throughout the year, your child will also have the opportunity to take on leadership positions at lunch.

Options available during middle school lunch include salads, sandwiches, pasta, soup, a vegetarian option, and a main meal. Yogurt, apples, and bananas are always available, and additional fruit and dessert options are offered daily. Links to daily menus are located in the “Student Life” area of the Dexter Southfield website.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Technology

Technology is an integral part of the academic program. All students in classes 6-8 are required to have a laptop device and accidental damage plan. To best prepare for your child’s first day of school, please complete the setup instructions included in this guide and have your child restart their computer so all updates are properly installed. Your child should come to school with a fully charged device each day.

Additionally, we provide Office 365 Professional software for up to five personal devices for your child and access to 11TB of storage on OneDrive for Business. Since Microsoft Office works on PC, Mac, iPad, and Android systems, your child will be able to access their documents in their OneDrive folder on multiple devices.

Purchasing Recommendations for Classes 6-8:

> Mac (OS X 10.15/Catalina or newer)

> Windows (Windows 11 OS)

> Intel i5 processor

> 13-15” Screen

> 8 GB or great RAM memory

> 256 GB or greater (Solid State Drive) SSD Hard Drive

> Accidental Damage Coverage Plan or AppleCare coverage

> Protective Case – Optional

> It is strongly recommended that families NOT to buy Microsoft Office 365 from laptop manufacturers or vendors. The DXSF IT makes Microsoft Office 365 available to all students

For more information, please contact : support@dextersouthfield.org

Technology (continued)

New Student Laptop Checklist for WINDOWS OS (to be completed before the first day of school) When you are setting up a new device for your child for the upcoming school year, you will be prompted with several screens that are a part of completing your computer setup (for example: Language, Country, Keyboard Layout, Network, etc.). There are two main prompts that we would like you to pay close attention to:

1. Let’s add your account

When you reach this page, you have two options. The first option is to create an Outlook email address for your child if they do not already have one. The second option is to add your email address to get the computer up and running and then later create a separate profile on the computer for your child.

If you choose the second option, here are the steps: Start menu > Settings > Accounts > Family and other users > Add account > *Blue hyperlink* I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > *Blue hyperlink* Add a user without a Microsoft account.

2. Your device is even better with Microsoft 365

You can skip this. Dexter Southfield provides the full Office suite for classes that require devices.

3. Pre-Registration

Once you have completed the initial pages and your screen looks like the figure below, you can then proceed to register the device with Dexter Southfield.

Technology (continued)

4. Registering the Device

Here are the steps:

Start menu > Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Add work or school account > Connect

This is where you will enter your Dexter Southfield email address. Once that is entered, it will take you to an other page where you will again enter your Dexter Southfield credentials (see figure below).

Technology (continued)

New Student Laptop Checklist for MAC OS (to be completed before the first day of school)  This checklist is to assist parents and students with preparing for the start of the new year at Dexter Southfield. You have already received the student’s login information to move forward with these steps.

1. Install Office 365

> Log in to http://o365.dextersouthfield.org; from there, you can install the Office 365 program needed for the school year

> In the top left corner, click on the wording “Office 365.” This will bring you to the install page

> Click on “Install Office” and follow the prompts

2. Make sure your new device is set to automatically do Apple updates

3. Apple operating systems should be at the most current version

As of spring 2022, Monterey is Apple’s current operating system.

MIDDLE

Athletic Program

There is an unmistakable sense of pride that is felt when our student-athletes put on the Dexter Southfield shield. We value the importance of a competitive environment while understanding that athletics offers an equally valuable outlet for your child to develop their confidence. Our teams conduct themselves with the utmost integrity, displaying teamwork, sportsmanship, and humility to coaches, peers, opponents, and officials.

A comprehensive list of our middle school athletic teams can be found on the School’s website under “Athletics.” For middle school students, representing the School in interscholastic sports competition is a co-curricular requirement, and students typically participate in all three seasons.

Faculty and staff coach our middle school athletic teams. Athletics occur at the conclusion of the academic day, and practices are completed in time to allow your child to take advantage of the afternoon bus transportation. Games are scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays.

The following competitive athletic programs are offered to students in Classes 6-8:

> Fall: cross-country, field hockey, football, soccer, volleyball

> Winter: basketball, ice hockey, squash, swimming

> Spring: baseball, lacrosse, softball, track, tennis

Your child will also have the option of choosing strength & conditioning for a maximum of two seasons each school year.

Your child will wear School-issued Dexter Southfield gear for all practices and games. They will receive these items at the start of the school year or new season. Appropriate items will be billed to your child’s account. In order to properly participate in athletics each day, we ask that your child keeps the following at School:

> non-marking gym sneakers (without cleats)

> team practice clothes – pants, shirt, sweatshirt, shorts, etc.

> change of socks

> appropriate seasonal athletic clothing and equipment; specific needs will be communicated by the coaches

Our student-athletes have access to a full-time strength and conditioning coach and certified athletic trainers, who are available to address questions and concerns.

More information about our athletic schedule and times can be found on page 25

For more information, contact Brian McColgan at: bmccolgan@dextersouthfield.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Squash Program

Squash lessons are available on a private or group basis and take place on campus at the Dexter Southfield Squash Center. Sessions are available after-school and on evening and weekends, running on a semester schedule. Depending on the day selected, between nine and 18 lessons are scheduled per semester. This variation occurs because certain days fall frequently on holidays and some semesters are longer than others. Registration and payment is online through the Squash Program.

For more information, please contact Squash Program Director Dan Roberts droberts@dextersouthfield.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE

Homework Club

Students in the Middle School are invited to attend Homework Club on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the Clay Center Dining Room.

This study period is supervised by middle school faculty in a library-like setting. It is designed to specifically meet the learning needs of middle school-aged students as they complete their homework assignments independently.

This extracurricular opportunity is voluntary, and your child may choose to attend as many or as few sessions as desired. Interested families can register on the Cariina Parent app. Registered families will receive additional scheduling details, including dates that the Homework Club will not meet.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE

Music Lessons

Music lessons are available for voice, piano, violin, cello, trumpet, flute, saxophone, and bassoon. Lessons take place on campus and run on a semester schedule. Lessons are available after school, and middle school students may also sign up for lessons during tutorial blocks. Lessons are 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

Depending on the day selected for lessons, between nine and 18 lessons are scheduled per semester. This variation in the number of lessons occurs because Monday lessons are significantly fewer due to holidays and because the spring semester is longer than the fall semester.

Music lessons are billed to your child’s account.

For more information please contact Director of After School Lessons Tina DiMonda at: tdimonda@dextersouthfield.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Transportation

Dexter Southfield, in partnership with an outside bus company, operates a fleet of approximately 20 school buses, each of which is overseen by a faculty or staff bus monitor. Seeing these familiar faces on board helps new students adjust to the School, develops student-teacher relationships, and encourages safe and appropriate conduct.

The bus is an extension of the Dexter Southfield community. It’s a source of school-wide friendships where older children look out for younger children—developing connections that stretch beyond the ride to and from School and continue on campus throughout the day. Students are expected to use proper manners, behavior, and language at all times in and around the buses. Older students should serve as good role models by speaking and acting appropriately. They should also remain ready to help younger students, monitors, or drivers should there be any such need.

While Dexter Southfield is unable to provide pick-up points in every town, centralized stops in Boston and more than 20 communities in the Greater Boston area provide families with convenient access to bus service. Assembling in groups at specific pick-up areas allows routes to be as direct as possible, reducing the length of trips for most children to approximately 30 minutes.

Additional information about selecting a bus route/stop and communicating transportation changes will be shared in the summer.

Questions about transportation should be directed to Ellie Ward, Transportation Coordinator: eward@dextersouthfield.org

On-Campus Traffic/Arrival & Dismissal

Any middle school student arriving after 8:10 a.m. must be checked in by an adult in the Clay Center Main Office. Similarly, any student departing early must be signed out by an adult in the Clay Center Main Office.

Pick Up and Drop Off

Our morning and afternoon traffic flow is designed for buses and student and parent drivers to safely come and go from campus. Please plan accordingly to have your child on campus for the beginning of the school day (8:10 a.m.). For safety reasons, students must be dropped off and picked up only in designated areas on campus; students should not walk to/from Newton Street, the Arts Center, or other off-campus locations.

Parents should remain in their vehicles at all times, and all students should enter and exit the vehicle from the passenger side. When possible, backpacks and other items should be easily accessible to students as they depart the vehicle.

Between 7:45 and 8:10 a.m., the only traffic permitted behind the Kraft Fieldhouse & Arena will be school buses. Students and parents arriving during this time will be directed to the Sohier Lot for parking and drop off.

Parents are asked to abide by the directions provided by School personnel assisting with pick-up and dropoff procedures.

Parents Association Overview

The Dexter Southfield Parents Association is a parent-school partnership that fosters meaningful connections, collaboration, communication, and citizenship among the Dexter Southfield community. The Parents Association’s goal is to cultivate active parent involvement, affinity, and ambassadorship within our community to make Dexter Southfield its “Best Today, Better Tomorrow.”

Throughout the year, the Parents Association offers opportunities for families to participate in the Dexter Southfield community. These opportunities include established traditions, events, speaker series and community forums, community service initiatives, and more.

There are a variety of ways to become involved in the Parents Association, either through one-time volunteer opportunities, formal volunteer roles, or simply by attending an event.

If you are interested in learning more about the various ways to become involved, please contact Director of Parent & Alumni Relations Aimee LeBrun at: alebrun@dextersouthfield.org

Campus Store

Dexter Southfield gear is available for purchase on the 24/7 Online Gear Store. Please visit this website to view available gear, which changes seasonally, and place your order. Prior to the start of each athletic season, team-specific items will be made available for a limited time. Additional information about these flash sales, along with any on-campus pop up store events, will be communicated via email.

Advisory

The advisory program is a central part of the middle school experience at Dexter Southfield. Prior to the start of each year, your child will be assigned an advisor, who will be your main point of contact at the School. Each advisory group is single sex and made up of students from the same grade. Advisory meets twice a week, and is a time when faculty and staff advisors conduct individual check-ins, as well as group activities and discussions on timely topics. Discussion topics from previous years include personal identity, digital literacy and safety, relationships with adults and peers, and maximizing study time.

Tutorial

Tutorial block is held three days per week (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) for 35 minutes. This block is an opportunity for students to participate in middle school clubs, receive extra help from teachers, or participate in a quiet study period. Middle school faculty members are readily accessible to students during this time.

Afternoon Schedule

Clubs and regular athletic practices are held during the school day. Dexter Southfield transportation is available for middle school students.

Interscholastic games, held on Wednesday or Friday, normally extend past 3:30 p.m. and thus require parent pick up.

Students participating in the middle school play will require pick up from school as rehearsals occur after sports practice at the conclusion of the academic day.

Middle School

Schedule

9:55-10:20

YELLOW 10:25-11:30

Map

Campus Entrance

Clay Center Main Office

Hewitt Building

Gui Building

Arena Parking Deck Visitor, Admissions, and Athletics Parking

Kraft Fieldhouse & Arena Hockey Rink Basketball, Tennis, and Volleyball Courts

Main Field Cornish Field

Farm Field Baseball Field Softball Field Soccer Field

Squash Center

Lincoln Pool

Student Center

Fiske Hall/Caswell Building

Sohier Parking Lot Fiske Hall and Athletics Parking

Sohier Building College Counseling Office

A Building

Middle School Building

Sears House Admissions Office

Playscape

Art Center

Gatehouse

Flag Courtyard Amphitheater