Freeport Public Schools

Welcome to J.W. Dodd Middle School

25 Pine Street
Freeport, NY 11520
Tel: (516) 867-5280
(Grades 7 and 8)
7:45 AM - 2:35 PM

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of John W. Dodd Middle School is to provide a challenging academic curriculum for our diverse student population in a caring and moral atmosphere.  We are committed to building the skills necessary for high academic achievement with all of our students in order to foster a community of lifelong learners.  This will be accomplished in a safe environment that addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of our students.  Parents and community members are encouraged to partner in the educational process and assist in the development of productive and responsible citizens who will contribute to our changing global society.

Principal's Message:

Welcome to J. W. Dodd Middle School, which houses all of the 7th and 8th grade students from the Freeport community.   Our diverse school family celebrates a variety of cultures, nationalities, and languages from throughout the world.  Our students’ talents are exhibited through artistic, literary, musical, and sports performances that demonstrate students’ educational prowess and aspirations.   

Our comprehensive curriculum is aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards.  Our students have the ability to challenge themselves with an advanced course of study that will enable them to enter the high school with high school credits after passing at least two Regents examinations.  Instructional areas are supplemented by an extensive list of clubs and service organizations, including the Art Club, the A.M. Announcement Club, the Jazz Ensemble, the Dodd Respect Club, the Environmental Club, Mathletes, Select Chorale, Select Orchestra, and the Science Club.  Additional clubs and service organizations offered include Odyssey of the Mind, Future Problem Solvers, Service Corps/Future Corps, the Dodd Yearbook, Peer Mediation, Student Council, the Ladies of Dodd, and the National Junior High School Honor Society.

Learning is a shared responsibility amongst teachers, parents, students of the J. W. Dodd Middle School community.   Communication between school and home is of utmost importance to the monitoring of student progress towards planned objectives.  Both scheduled and “as needed” Parent/Teacher conferences allow for up-to-date discussions of student progress.  The home and school partnership along with our comprehensive curriculum ensure that all scholars reach their summit of excellence.

Attendance
Presence in school and in class is the first step to achieving academic success. At J. W. Dodd Middle School, we create a welcoming, safe, and academically-driven school environment in which students’ intellectual, social, emotional, and physical needs are met. We require all of our students to attend classes daily and on time. All students are expected to be in their seats at the sound of the bell. Our school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. Students participating in the Breakfast Program may enter the building at 7:05 a.m. Enrichment and intervention takes place between 2:27 p.m. and 2:35 p.m. A bagged breakfast is available to each student as they enter the building. The Academic Enrichment Program takes place from 2:35 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.

Early Dismissal Policy/Procedure
We would like to gently remind parents that all health-related appointments for students should be scheduled before or after school hours.  We understand that, at times, there is a need for appointments to be made during instruction time; during these emergencies, the following procedures are important for both the safety of our students and staff and for minimal disruption of instruction time:

• Please write a note requesting your child to be dismissed at a particular time. The note should include the date, time, and reason for early dismissal.

• Have your child bring the note to the Main Office prior to the beginning of school.  Your child must be picked up by you or a person designated by you on the white emergency card that was completed at the start of school.  Students may only be released to a parent or designated individual with proper ID. We will call your student down at the end of the period for minimal disruption of instructional time.

• If your child is not feeling well during school hours, they must see the school nurse who will make the determination as to whether they need to be sent home.  A call will be made to the parent/guardian on file from the nurse’s office, at which point the student may be dismissed only to an individual listed on the white emergency card with proper identification.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. These easy steps will help to make early dismissal run smoothly for both you and the school. Any questions, please contact the Main Office

Dodd Middle School and Freeport High School’s winter arts festivals celebrate creativity

The Freeport Public Schools’ Performing Arts Center was full of incredible creativity as Dodd Middle School and Freeport High School hosted their annual Winter Festivals of the Arts. The performances, held on Dec. 9 and 10, respectively, showcased the remarkable artistic and musical talents of the students bringing the community together in a celebration of fine arts prior to the winter holidays. 

Dodd Middle School’s Winter Festival of the Arts kicked off with a visual arts presentation, setting the stage for an evening of exceptional performances. The concert began with the concert band’s performance of “A Hero’s Return,” by D.A. Richard. Next, the mixed chorus gave a beautiful rendition of “Carol of the Bells,” under the direction of Ms. Sherill Spruill.

The concert orchestra impressed with the first movement of the “Brandenburg Concerto No. 5” by J.S. Bach, while the select chorale delighted the audience with a vocal rendition of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” arranged by J. Funks. Adding to the evening’s magic, the mariachi ensemble performed three stunning pieces, including “Cielo Azteca.” The chamber orchestra closed the performance with a showstopping rendition of “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24,” the holiday hit from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The artistic excellence continued at Freeport High School the following evening with the high school’s Winter Festival of the Arts that featured a variety of performances that captivated the audience.

The event started with a fine arts presentation, where pieces were also on display in the lobby for live viewing. The performances kicked off with the mixed chorus singing “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” and “Joy to the World.” The first performance from the new vocal jazz ensemble was “Winter Wonderland” and “The Christmas Song” was also a highlight of the show. The concert band played two pieces, including the lively and festive “Santa the Barbarian” by R. Standridge with narration by Mr. Warner. The select chorale, under the direction of Monique Retzlaff, delivered a remarkable performance with three exquisite pieces, including “Soon Ah Will Be Done.” Their talent and artistry truly shined, adding a special touch to the evening.

Next, the wind ensemble closed the performance with a combined instrumental and choral finale, “Christmas on Broadway,” a medley of Christmas classics. The event also included the combined strings ensemble, mixed chorus and sinfonietta.

Both events underscored the district’s commitment to encouraging artistic expression and providing platforms for students to shine.

   

Dodd Middle School thrills audiences with ‘Shrek the Musical Jr.’

The performing arts center at Freeport High School was transformed into the “big, bright beautiful world” of Duloc as Dodd Middle School presented its annual drama company production of “Shrek the Musical Jr.” on Dec. 6 and 7. The performances brought a talented cast and crew of middle school students together to deliver a heartwarming and hilarious rendition of the beloved children’s story.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film and book by William Steig, “Shrek the Musical, Jr.” follows the journey of Shrek (played by Jace Saballos), a lovable ogre, who, alongside his loyal and witty sidekick Donkey, (Joel Phillips-Clarke), sets out to rescue Princess Fiona, (Anabela Petris-Anderson). Along the way, audiences were introduced to the colorful cast of characters including Lord Farquaad (Jacob Rodriguez), Pinocchio (Amelia Lopez), and the lively Three Little Pigs (Corey Barrett, Trevor Byfield, Jr. and Nathaniel Shimon).

Directed by Ms. Vashti Burke and produced by Renson Delos Santos, the production offered unique opportunities for students to cultivate their musical theater skills. From acting to singing to choreography, the middle school performers brought passion and energy to every aspect.

Highlights included “Big Bright Beautiful World,” “I Know It’s Today,” and “Freak Flag,” each of which showcased the talents of the cast.

“This production of ‘Shrek the Musical, Jr.’ truly demonstrated the incredible talent, creativity and dedication of our students,” said Burke. “They embraced the vision for the production and brought such heart and humor to the stage that was nothing short of magical.”

The performance not only entertained but also reminded the audience of the importance of celebrating our uniqueness and fostering inclusivity.

    

Dodd Peer Mediation Team holds oath ceremony

Freeport Public Schools’ J.W. Dodd Middle School peer mediation team successfully completed 16 hours of professional training with Gregg Scheiner of EAC Network and took the mediators oath on Dec. 3. The ceremony was officiated by the Honorable Anthony W. Paradiso, with Principal Christopher Porciello and peer mediation team adviser Christine Meloni present to congratulate the students for their leadership skills.  

One goal of the peer mediation program is to help the student volunteers develop relationships and communication skills that will transcend to other areas of their lives. As peer mediators, this team has learned to listen without taking sides and to help their classmates look for a solution and reach an agreement. 

Peer mediation is a form of conflict resolution in which trained students, under adult supervision, help their peers talk out and resolve interpersonal conflicts. Student mediators do not take sides or make decisions for their peers; instead, they help them create their own resolutions to conflicts. Dodd students are on call to mediate student conflicts in teams and they look forward to working together to resolve everyday disputes.