Annual Acknowledgements & Info Review

Each fall, returning students' parents and guardians must review their contact information and acknowledge receipt of important policies. As of fall 2022, this process is done directly in PowerSchool. You need a parent access ID & password to set up an account; you need a student access ID and passkey to add them to your parent account. if you did not receive an email with this information or you have any difficulty completing the process, please contact your student's building office. Here are detailed directions to complete this annual review: Annual Student Info Review.

The following policies and forms are referenced during new student registration and/or during the annual back-to-school review.

BAck to School Forms and Student Info Updates

Back-to-School Info Review and Forms FAQ

Each year, parents and guardians of all must complete an information review and acknowledge receipt of the handbook and district policies. Emails with instructions to complete back-to-school paperwork online will be sent to families by mid-August. It is important that you complete this process as soon as possible. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

What if I didn't get an account email to review my student's information? Check your spam folder and then contact your child's school office for further assistance. (School offices open August 13, 2024)

The formatting looks weird on my phone, how can I fix this? We have found that it is difficult to complete these forms on a phone. We suggest you use a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. You can do this at the library or school offices if you don't have access to those devices at home, just let us know and we will have a device ready for you.

How do I know when I am done? When you click on Forms on the left side of your screen, then click on the All Forms tab in the window that opens, check that all the items in the Returning Students list and the All Students list have either a green leaf (submitted) or a yellow leaf (submitted but awaiting approval). If there's a blue leaf (empty), the form still needs your attention. We will send reminders out to families who do not complete all the forms.

How can I upload supporting documents? I am having trouble doing it in the system. If you have difficulty uploading documents directly into your parent account, you can email them to registrar@dexterschools.org, send them directly to your building secretary, or bring them in to your school office. Changes of address won't be complete without supporting documents.

How long will it take for pending forms to be approved? It may take a few days during the busy season. Please contact your school office if you have urgent information that you want to make sure is up-to-date.

Where can I get my student's PowerSchool ID Number to pay for school lunch, etc.? Your class placement letter will have it or your school building can provide it.

Why can't I list myself as emergency contact or pickup person for my own kid?! Parents and guardians are by default the first people we contact for those issues (unless there is legal paperwork indicating otherwise.) Emergency contacts and school pickups are permissions for people OTHER THAN PARENTS AND GUARDIANS to be able to be back-up for students. You may see old indications of yourself as an emergency contact for one kid or not another - we are working to clean up this data. When parents are listed as emergency contacts, it can interfere with the system's ability to send confidential information because we don't send that to emergency contacts.

Parent Forms

Child Custody

Required Notification Regarding Child Custody

As per State and Federal Law (MCL 722.30 & FERPA), please be advised, Dexter Community Schools recognizes the equal rights of parents and guardians as indicated on a certified birth certificate or legal court order.

In cases where parents/guardians are legally separated, divorced, and/or those parents who simply have ongoing custody issues between them, the parental rights of both parties will be equally recognized by your child's school, unless and until a parent/guardian has a legal court order that specifically restricts or denies the non-custodial parent's access to the child at school, the child's school records, or other protective order.

To accommodate a custodial parent's request to deny a non-custodial parent's rights to access or information on a child, the school must have a copy of the most recent court order or file that indicates one parent's access and information rights are inhibited. Otherwise either parent with proper identification may have access to the child at school, request and receive information, and be included in the child's educational process.

Parents receive this notification during the enrollment process and sign off to indicate they have read and understand it.

Student Acceptable Use Policy

Use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. The Dexter Community School District’s Internet connection is provided for educational purposes only. Unauthorized and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of this privilege.

The Dexter Community School District has implemented technology protection measures which block/filter Internet access to visual displays that are obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors. The District also monitors online activity of students in an effort to restrict access to child pornography and other material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors. Nevertheless, parents/guardians are advised that determined users may be able to gain access to information, communication and/or services on the Internet which the Dexter Community School District has not authorized for educational purposes and/or which they and/or their parents/guardians may find inappropriate, offensive, objectionable or controversial. Parents/Guardians assume this risk by consenting to allow their students to participate in the use of the Internet. Students accessing the Internet through the school's computers assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for unauthorized or inappropriate use of the Internet.

The Dexter Community School District has the right to monitor, review and inspect any directories, files and/or messages residing on or sent using Dexter Community Schools’ computers/networks. This also encompasses the District’s Google Apps for Education on and off the Dexter Community Schools’ computers/networks. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Parents and must complete the Student Network and Internet Acceptable Use Agreement annually in PowerSchool as part of the back-to-school forms.

Transportation Rules

Dexter Community Schools codes of conduct and all school rules apply to all students using DCS transportation. You can review these in the Parent-Student Handbook. In addition, the following rules apply to students who are being bused, waiting for a bus, or being dropped off at a bus stop. [Click here for a printable copy of these rules.]

Each student shall ride designated buses ONLY. We cannot accommodate changes for playdates, babysitting, etc.
Each student shall be at the designated bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled time and ready to board the bus. At drop off time a responsible person must be there to receive students in grades Y5 – K-2. The driver is responsible for the maintenance of this schedule and cannot wait for tardy pupils.
Students shall remain at least 10-20 feet well back from the roadway while waiting for the bus.
Students who must cross the street at a bus stop shall not do so until they receive a signal from the bus driver. When crossing a street is necessary, it shall always be done at least 10 feet in front of the bus so that the driver may adequately observe them. This means that the student/parent should be able to see the face of the bus driver. The driver shall hold the bus with warning lights flashing (red lights) and stop sign out until the crossing has been completed.
Students shall enter the bus in an orderly fashion, go directly to their seats and remain seated until the destination is reached (bottoms on seats, feet in front of you on the floor, not in the aisle).
All students will have assigned seats. The bus driver may move students as needed.
Students shall keep their hands, arms, and heads inside the bus in their own personal space.
All articles such as athletic equipment, books, laptops, musical instruments, etc., must be kept out of aisles.
Students shall observe all behavior rules related to safety and the well-being/respect of others.
Students are not to touch other student's belongings or other student's body parts in any way.
There shall be NO eating on the school bus. Students may drink water.
There shall be NO shouting, roughhousing or throwing things on the bus or at the bus stop.
Personal audio devices including cell phones must have headphones to listen to music/videos.
There shall be NO taking of pictures or video by students on the school bus at any time.
Students must identify themselves to the bus driver when requested.
Students shall remain seated until the bus has come to a complete stop before attempting to get off the bus.
Students may leave the bus only at the consent of the driver.
The emergency exits must be used for emergencies only. Students are not to touch safety equipment on the bus unless directed by the driver to do so.
Students must comply with driver and monitor directions at all times. If a parent/ student has a concern about transportation policies, it should be addressed with the Transportation Department.

Safety is our number one priority. Disruptive or otherwise inappropriate behavior during busing may lead to discipline such as verbal and/or written correction up to and including suspension for up to ten days or revocation of bus privileges for the remainder of the school year.

PERMISSION TO SHARE IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION

Consent for Disclosure of Immunization Information to Local and State Health Departments

Immunizations are an important part of keeping our children healthy. Schools and State and Local health departments must monitor immunization levels to ensure that all communities are protected from potentially life-threatening diseases and, if necessary, respond promptly to an emerging public health threat. It is important that disease threats be minimized through the monitoring of students being immunized. Sharing immunization and personally identifiable information including the students name, Date of Birth, gender, and address with local and state health departments will help to keep your child safe from vaccine preventable diseases. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, requires written parental consent before personally identifiable information from your child’s education records is disclosed to the health department. If your child is 18 or over, he or she is an “eligible student” and must provide consent for disclosures of information from his or her education records. You may withdraw your consent to share this information in writing at any time.

As part of the DCS Annual Acknowledgements form completion, parents and guardians indicate their preference regarding release of this information to MDHHS. Alternatively, you may complete this form to opt in at any time.

Athletics Handbook & Concussion Protocol

Change of Address

You can change your student's home address using the Student Address Change Form in PowerSchool. In order for this to be processed, you will need to provide proof of residence at the new address. In PowerSchool, you will need to sign in again to upload documents, using your full email on the account and your account password. If you have any difficulty attaching the documents within PowerSchool, you can email them to registrar@dexterschools.org or bring them to the school office in person. (In summer, bring to Bates attn. Superintendent's Office).

list of documents that can be used to establish residency