How do I contact the school via phone?

During school hours, call 781-861-2460 x0. Someone from the main office will answer and help answer your question or direct your call.

For questions about academics, programming, and social adjustments to middle school, caregivers are welcome to reach out to their child’s school counselor. Each student has a school counselor assigned to them, and families can view counselor assignments in Aspen or can email Joanne Boyle, Counseling Admin Asst, for further assistance. More information can also be found on the Counseling Website.

What are the school’s hours?

When school is in session, the school day begins at 8:00am and ends at 2:40 pm. On early dismissal days, the school day ends at 11:30am.

If I drive my child to school, when should I drop them off?

Parents and caregivers should drop their children off between 7:30 - 7:50am. Students coming for breakfast may enter the back door (Sedge Rd side) starting at 7:30am and remain in the cafeteria. Except in inclement weather, students are not allowed in the cafeteria unless they are eating breakfast. No students are allowed anywhere else in the building until 7:50am. Homeroom begins at 8:00am, and students arriving to homeroom after 8:00am will be marked tardy.

Please allow extra time for dropping off students in the morning, especially on days with inclement weather. Access via the back entrance (30 Sedge Rd) is typically easier.

NOTE: There are no u-turns when entering the Diamond Middle School campus from the Hancock Street circle.  When parents choose to drop off their children close to the entrance and then make a u-turn, this creates a dangerous situation for our students and has caused accidents in the past.  Furthermore, making the u-turn also interrupts the flow of traffic and blocks the school buses that are attempting to exit.  

How do I report absences, late arrivals, or early dismissals?

Please submit the Attendance Form to report your child’s absence, late arrival or early dismissal as early as possible.  Our Attendance Form can also be found on the Diamond website under Quick Links.

If you do not submit the Attendance Form by 9:45am and your student is absent, you will receive an automated call.

Please be sure to include the reason for your child’s absence, late arrival, or early dismissal.

What is the difference between an “excused” and “unexcused” absence?

The absence policy is outlined in the Student Handbook. While all absences should be approved by a parent/guardian, some are classified as “excused” and others are classified as “unexcused.” 

An Excused Absence/Tardy includes:

  • Documented illness or injury

  • Bereavement/family funeral

  • Major religious observations

  • Extraordinary family circumstances (excused at the discretion of the principal)

An Unexcused Absence/Tardy is any absence or tardy that is not covered by the aforementioned definition of “Excused Absence/Tardy.” Examples of an unexcused absence may include, but may not be limited to: 

  • Repetitive or chronic absence or tardiness due to illness or injury not documented by a doctor or other medical professional.

  • Cutting class

  • Truancy

  • Family vacations

  • Undocumented absences

  • Non-emergency family situations

At the middle school level, there is little impact when an absence is categorized as “unexcused,” as long families are in communication with administrators about the nature of the absence. In rare cases where families request an attendance report for purposes such as private school applications, we can provide additional documentation explaining the reasons for the absences.

What if my student is late (tardy) to school?

Students should arrive by the front door only (99 Hancock St).

Caregivers can drop off their student; there’s no need for caregivers to walk students into the building.

Please be sure you have already submitted the reason for the late arrival on the Attendance Form.

Students will sign in at the main office upon arrival and will be given a pass to class.

How do I pick up my student early, before 2:40 pm?

First, fill out the Attendance Form.

Pick up from the front door only (99 Hancock St). 

If you have completed the Attendance Form, you can pull up out front and we will send your student out.  If your student will walk or bike, please be sure to indicate that on the Attendance Form.

We can only release your child to your designated contacts. If you need to send someone else to dismiss your child, please be sure to indicate the individual’s name and phone number on the Attendance Form; they must come to the office and show their government-issued ID.

Early dismissals must be in writing; if you are unable to complete the Attendance Form, you will need to sign your student out at the main office.

Note: You do not need to notify the office regarding changes to regular dismissal procedures (pick up student at 2:40 vs taking the bus); however, if you need to communicate the change to your student, please call the office, and we will get the message to them.

What if my student is ill?

We have two school nurses: Jenny Torrice and Kristen Manning. They are available via phone by dialing 781-861-2460 option 2.

Caregivers should use this daily checklist to determine if their child is healthy enough to attend school that day:

  • Fever or feeling feverish (temperature greater than 100 degrees prior to medication administration) and/or chills

  • Sore throat

  • New cough (not related to a chronic condition)

  • New nasal congestion (not related to seasonal allergies)

  • Muscles aches

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Shortness of breath

  • GI Symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, caregivers should keep their child home and report their absence to the school.

Here are some additional helpful tips from our nursing staff:

  • Use a thermometer to accurately measure body temperature, not the back of your hand.

  • For people who are awake during the day and asleep at night, the body temperature is lowest upon waking and gradually increases throughout the day (not usually over 100F), a good time to check for fever when ill is 4:00 - 5:00pm.

  • Children do not usually wake with a headache; if your child wakes with a headache, a fever may be present, please check temperature.

  • Avoid sending your child to school after administering a dose of Tylenol or Ibuprofen “to get through the day." Children are poor learners when they are ill.

  • Wash hands frequently.

  • Do not share food, eating utensils or drinks with family members that are sick.

  • If you are not able to stay at home with your sick child, please have a backup plan ready to avoid sending a sick child to school.

What is the school’s cell phone (and other devices) policy?

At the middle school level, students are allowed to bring cell phones to school but must keep them in their lockers during school hours. Students who wear smartwatches can use them for telling time purposes only. Cell phone use may be permitted on occasion by teachers for educational purposes and by our counseling and nursing staff as a medical aid. Staff confiscate phones when being used in violation of the policy; when students repeatedly violate the policy, school administrators work with their caregivers to make appropriate arrangements in order to support improved compliance with the policy.

What if my student forgets something at home?

We have set up a drop-off table by our main office. Please understand that we can only interrupt class for forgotten eyeglasses, chromebooks and lunches. Students will need to stop by the office between classes if they believe homework, gym clothes, etc., have been dropped off. Students will be paged in between classes to pick up any items on the drop-off table.

How do I get in touch with my student during the day?

Cell phones are not allowed at Diamond, so please do not message or call your student’s cell phone. Please call the office and we will be happy to relay your message to your student. For emergencies, please call, and we will connect you to your student’s counselor who can call your student from class if deemed necessary.

How do I update my contact information with the school?

To be sure we can reach you and keep you informed, families should periodically review and update their contact information, found in the ASPEN Family Portal. Here families can view and update email addresses, phone numbers and emergency contacts, as well as other functions. 

  • Directions for viewing current contact information listed for your student(s) can be found here.

  • If you need to make contact information changes, here's how. The workflow should ONLY be initiated if changes are necessary.

Please note, this workflow does not make the changes automatically. All changes are reviewed and updated by district personnel. During times of high volume, updates are made in the order they are received. 

Should you need assistance with account information, changing contact information, information about the status of your contact change request, or should you have any other ASPEN questions, you can email familyportal@lexingtonma.org. You can also visit our website here. 

WHAT ARE THE DIAMOND DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS?

Daily Announcements are made to the students over the PA system each morning and afternoon. As a service, the PTA emails a recap of those same announcements daily to parents who have donated to the PTA and provided their email address to the directory team (see page 2 of this newsletter for more information). They are also posted on the Diamond website.

HOW DOES MY CHILD REGISTER FOR AFTER SCHOOL ATHLETICS?

Diamond offers after school Varsity, JV, and intramural sports every semester. Information will be available on the Diamond website in late August regarding fall sports offerings, including what is required prior to participation, user fees, and the registration process.

WHEN DO AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS START AND HOW LATE DO THEY GO?

Fall clubs usually begin in mid-October and run through early December. Information on the different club offerings and when they take place will be posted on the Clubs page of the Diamond website by late September. http://lps.lexingtonma.org//site/Default.aspx?PageID=221

DO I NEED TO PACK A LUNCH FOR MY CHILD? A SNACK?

Students have the option to either bring a packed lunch or purchase lunch from the cafeteria. They will use the same account/student ID code that they did in elementary school. Students do not have a snack period before or after lunch.

DOES MY CHILD NEED CLOTHING FOR GYM CLASS?

Yes, students are required to have a change of clothes for gym. Changing rooms are available for students to change before & after gym class; they store their gym clothing in their main locker. Please remind your child to bring gym clothes home regularly for washing.

How can I support Diamond’s sustainability measures?

The Diamond Green Team looks forward to each new school year and strengthening their mission of promoting sustainability and spreading environmental awareness in the school community.  The Green Team always welcomes new students during WIN and after school club time.

Composting Pilot 

Did you know Lexington Public Schools composts at every level in the district–from Preschool to Grade 12?  Did you know that 38% of Lexington’s household waste is food waste?  Composting is a very easy and effective way to reduce waste, pollution and carbon emissions while replenishing much needed nutrient rich soil to our land.  The Town of Lexington has expanded the free curbside composting program to include 4,000 households!  If you have not yet signed up, please do so today!  Composting can make a HUGE difference!  Just ask your student how easy it is and how composting has drastically reduced the amount of trash produced at school during lunchtime.  What a meaningful lesson it would be to compost from school to home!  Click here to enroll today!  Let’s fill the remaining slots with Diamond families!  

Plastic Bag & Film Recycling

Last year, the Diamond Green Team won its first bench from Trex by recycling over 2,200 lbs of plastic.  Let’s do it again!  Please bring clean, dry and empty #2 and #4 plastic bags and plastic film to Diamond to be weighed and recycled.  Common items to be recycled include shopping bags, produce bags, bread bags, case wrap around toilet paper/paper towels/diapers, bubble wrap, plastic envelope mailers, cereal bags, ziplocs and air pillows.  No frozen food bags.  Click here for what can be recycled. Place all plastic to be recycled in the bin located outside by the main office or in the Sedge Rd. side lobby.

Textile Donations

Bring your textiles to Diamond to be recycled!  Place bagged donations directly into the white bin near the bike rack on the Sedge Road side of school. For each pound of donated textiles, Diamond receives money to support the school.  Donate items such as used clothing, footwear, linens, towels, backpacks, pocketbooks and stuffed animals to Bay State Textiles.  Items may be torn or stained.  For a complete list, visit their website.  Bay State Textiles will either recycle the textiles or pass along items to charities.  

Battery Recycling

You can drop off rechargeable and single-use alkaline batteries at Diamond to be recycled. No damaged or defective batteries can be accepted.  All batteries should be placed in the bin on the table by the school's main office.  Diamond has recycled well over 300 lbs of batteries since last school year!

Crayon Recycling

Bring unwanted crayons to Diamond to be donated to the Crayon Initiative.  Old crayons will be melted down into new crayons.  These new crayons are then distributed to over 240 children’s hospitals around the United States. All crayons should be placed in the bin on the table by the school's main office. Diamond has already recycled nearly 200 lbs of crayons!

Please contact Diamond’s Sustainability Champion and Green Team Faculty Advisor, Christine Goulet, with any questions: cgoulet@lexingtonma.org.

Can my student pray in school?

While organized prayer in the public school setting has historically been deemed unconstitutional, we do provide a private space for students and staff to engage in voluntary prayer or reflection when these activities do not interfere with their daily activities and responsibilities. Our spaces are designated in various classrooms and the main office, and students or staff seeking to use this space should email the principal at least two days in advance.  The Anti Defamation League has some comprehensive information available on this practice on their website here. 

Where else can I get help?

See these useful links!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at (781) 861-2460 x0 or email the following for assistance.