by Clinton Bowman
Close to 1668 school kids will have their extended summer come to an end on Monday morning, August 17, when a new 2020-2021 will get underway throughout the Denver City school district.
Estimated totals for each campus range from nearly 800 on the two elementary campuses, 335 in the junior high, and another 482 at the high school.
It was six years ago when the Kelley/Dodson Elementary campus was divided into two separate campuses now known at Kelley Elementary and Dodson Primary. Lori Alexander will be starting her sixth year as the principal of Kelley while Elizabeth Calk will be starting her second year as the principal at Dodson Primary.
Assistant principals Zack Duncan will be starting his second year at Kelley Elementary while Michelle Horton will be starting her first year at Dodson Primary.
The same tenure holds true for junior high principal Billy Moore as he is starting his eighth year as principal while Kristi Ivy is also starting her eighth year as the assistant principal.
Rick Martinez will be starting his seventh year as the high school principal. Beau Raines, the assistant principal, will be starting his fifth year.
Each principal has released beginning of the school year via a Facebook video from each campus. Below is that information from each campus:
Dodson Primary – Elizabeth Calk, Principal, Michelle Horton Assistant Principal
Just like last year, students will be dropped off and picked up after school along the island on the north side of the school. Once the student has been dropped off in the morning, they will go to the playground until the bell rings allowing them to go to their classrooms. A teacher will be present to assist with this procedure. A few changes this year will include students eating their lunch in their individual classrooms. No drop off lunches will be allowed and no parents or other family members will be allowed to eat with their child. Student desk will be spread out in the classroom so each student will be meet the safety distance as recommended by health officials. For questions you may call the office at 592-5920.
Kelley Elementary – Lori Alexander Principal, Zach Duncan Assistant Principal
Drop off for the various grades will be as follows: 3rd grade students will be dropped off and picked up on the small playground on the south end of the campus; 4th grade students will also be dropped off and picked up on the south side of the campus; and 5th grade students will be dropped off and picked up on the playground located on the southwest corner of the campus. Like in the Primary school all student desk will be separated to meet the safety distance recommended by health officials. All meals will be in the cafeteria and no parents or other family members will be allowed to eat with their child. There will also be no lunch drop offs. Students at Kelley Elementary will given a choice if they want their schooling to be face to face or virtual learning by way of a laptop computer. A special wavier must be filled out and signed by the parents who wish their child to be schooled via the virtual learning. A student must remain in their choice of education for at least the 9-week grading period.
Gravitt Junior High – Billy Moore Principal, Kristi Ivy Assistant Principal
On the first day of school all 6th graders will meet at the tennis courts on the south side of the building, 7th grade students will enter the building through the northwest doors of the gym with the boys staying in the north gym and the girls going to the south gym, and 8th grade students will enter the building through the main doors on the east side of the building. No lockers will be assigned this year and students will be required to carry their books and other supplies in a backpack. The campus will be a closed campus and all students will be required to eat in the cafeteria. Lunch from the home will be allowed and may be taken to the cafeteria, but no drop off lunches will be allowed after school begins. There will also be no visitor allowed during the school hours. Students may make a choice between face to face instruction or virtual instruction by way of a laptop computer. The virtual instruction will be much more rigid and structured then what was used last Spring and will not be taught by DCISD teachers. Safety for your child will be the main concern of our staff.
High School – Rick Martinez Principal, Beau Raines Assistant Principal
On the first day of school Senior students will enter the school through doors #1 and #2. Once inside they will go to the skylight area and wait for the first bell to ring; Juniors will enter through door #9 which is on the north side of the building close to the library. Once inside they will go to the PE gym; Sophomores will enter the building through door #10. Once inside they will turn to the right and wait in the band foyer. And freshman will enter the building through doors #15 and #16. This is outside the JW Jones auditorium. Once inside they will maintain social distancing waiting for the bell to ring. Like in the junior high there will be no lockers issued and all students will carry their books and other school supplies in a backpack. Water bottles will be allowed as no water fountains will be used. The campus will remain an open campus for lunch. Once they come back from lunch, they will reenter the building through the same doors they used in the morning. Safety for our students and staff will be our most important issue.
As of Tuesday, August 11, 157 students have signed up for the virtual learning. This is approximately 9% of the total enrollment noted on the last day of school in March.
For more information you may contact the principal at the respected campus.
