Principal's Message
Terriers,
It is with the utmost PRIDE that I welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year. As I begin year four as the Principal at DeLand Middle and year 26 in Volusia County Schools, I have never been more excited for a school year to begin. We have so many great plans for our students and families. The last couple of years have been extremely hard on our families, our teachers and staff, our school, and our community. However, we learned invaluable lessons from it and have created a better DeLand Middle for everyone!
During the 2022-2023 school year, we are re-booting DeLand Middle; we are going back to our roots! We are going back to what middle schools were designed to be. We will have three teams per grade level. Students will be assigned to a team and will rotate between four core teachers (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies). These core four will meet regularly to discuss how to best support your son or daughter. Because students share the same four core teachers, teachers have collaborated on policies and procedures which will make the day smoother and more consistent. Instead of seven different teachers with seven different sets of rules, they will see one set of rules and procedures. Eventually, we hope to add academic and behavioral competitions to our campus which will give students an extra reason to want to succeed. I cannot think of anything more exciting for our Terriers…
As your Principal, I want you to do three things for me this year. If WE do these things together, as Team Terrier, I guarantee we will have a successful school year. I guarantee that you will be set on a path for success in all you do 3, 4, 5 years from now.
1. Take PRIDE in your school, yourself, your schoolwork, your extra-curricular activities (both on and off campus), your teachers, your community, and your family. We are DELAND MIDDLE and WE cannot hide that Terrier PRIDE!
2. Be COMMITTED to your school, yourself, your schoolwork, your extra-curricular activities (both on and off campus), your teachers, your community, and your family. Your commitment to these things will unlock doors for you that you do not even know exist at this time.
3. Expect EXCELLENCE from your school, yourself, your coaches, your teachers, your community, and your family. If you expect excellence, you will achieve excellence! I warn you; excellence does not happen overnight… Excellence takes time and effort. You cannot directly control the amount of time it will take you to achieve excellence, but you can control you and what you do to achieve excellence.
I am looking forward to a great year with you and your families!
In Terrier Pride,
John R. DeVito
Principal, DeLand Middle School