Paws & Stripes Newsletter
Important Dates
- April 6: Students Return/Start Q4
- April 6: StuCo's Student Egg Hunt
- April 6: MoMC AM Clap-In!
- April 6-10: StuCo's SPRING Door Decorating Contest
- April 7: 7th EOY Testing - ELA (1 day; tent.)
- April 9: Talent Show Auditions (see Ms. Barrett for info)
- April 10: StuCo Door Decorating Contest Judging (after school)
- April 13-16: MoMC MilKid Week
- April 15: Purple Up Day!
- April 16: Bulldogs Talent Show! 1730-2000
- April 17: No School - Teacher Training Day
- April 24: SpCx Bonfire & PTSA Community/Family Event
- April 27: Purple Up Lunch with my Service Member/Parent - save the date!
- April 27/28: 6th Grade EOY Testing - ELA (2 days)
- May 1: No School - Teacher Training Day
- May 4/5/6: 6 & 7th EOY Testing - Math (3 days)
- May 6: Fine Arts Extravaganza (Art, Chior, Band)
- May 11-15: StuCo Spirit Week
- May 8: 6 & 7th EOY Testing - Make Up Day
- May 15: Drama Production (more to come)
- May 22: No School - Holiday
- May 25: No School - Holiday
- May 28: Q4 SAC Meeting (1515)
- May 29: 8th Grade EOY Celebration
- June 1: EOY Awards (1315-1430)
- June 2: Field Day
- June 4: EOY 6th-8th Class Trips
- June 9: Last Student Day/End Q4 & Sem2
- June 10: Summer Holiday Begins for Students!
- June 10: Teacher Work Day
Principal's Update
Bulldog Families,
Welcome to 4th Quarter – Let’s Finish Strong! 💜
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve officially entered the final quarter of the school year! This is a powerful time for our students to reflect on their growth, stay focused, and finish the year strong. We encourage all families to stay engaged: please check ASPEN regularly, keep in close communication with teachers, and ensure assignments and assessments are completed on time. Small actions now make a big difference in how the year ends.
April also brings one of our most meaningful celebrations—Month of the Military Child. We are incredibly proud of our military-connected students, who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and strength every single day. Throughout the month, we will have opportunities to recognize and celebrate them—thank you for helping us show just how valued they are in our Bulldog community.
As we move through this final stretch, End-of-Year (EOY) activities and assessments will be here before we know it. Please keep a close eye on school emails and newsletters for important updates, key dates, and opportunities to celebrate your student’s success.
Let’s make this last quarter our strongest yet - together.
Upcoming Important Dates:
- April 6: Students Return/Start Q4 -- B
- April 6: StuCo's Student Egg Hunt (keep your ears open during morning announcements!)
- April 6: MoMC AM Clap-In! Parents/Families welcome! Please arrive NLT 0730/0740; see below.
- April 6-10: StuCo's SPRING Door Decorating Contest (winners earn prize!)
- April 7: 7th EOY Testing - ELA (1 day; tent.)
- April 9: Talent Show Auditions (see Ms. Barrett for info)
- April 10: StuCo Door Decorating Contest Judging (after school)
- April 13-16: MoMC MilKid Week
- April 15: Purple Up Day!
- April 16: Bulldogs Talent Show! 1730-2000
- April 17: No School - Teacher Training Day
- April 24: SpCx Bonfire & PTSA Community/Family Event (more info to come soon!)
- April 27: Purple Up Lunch with my Service Member/Parent - save the date! If your parent is deployed, Ms. Adams has a seat saved for you at her table <3
- April 27/28: 6th Grade EOY Testing - ELA (2 days)
- May 1: No School - Teacher Training Day
Month of the Military Child Celebrations/Activities
Monday, April 6 – All families welcome!
Join us as we celebrate our Bulldog students during the Month of the Military Child! We’re also excited to welcome Col. Lutmer, CMSgt Trent, and CMSgt Russell to this special event.
📍 Location: MS Main Entrance
⏰ Arrival Time: Please arrive between 7:30–7:40 AM
🎉 Event Ends: NLT 8:00 AM
Let’s send our Bulldog pups into the 4th quarter feeling celebrated and supported! Feel free to bring noise makers, posters, ribbons, balloons—anything to show your pride and appreciation for our military-connected students.
The louder the love, the better. Let’s make it count. 💜
Monday, April 27 – Purple Up Lunch with My Service Member/Parent
Save the Date!
We’re excited to celebrate Month of the Military Child with a special Purple Up Lunch! Students are invited to bring their service member or parent to join them for lunch and share this time together.
If your parent is currently deployed, you are absolutely not alone—Ms. Adams has a seat saved just for you at her table 💜
🐾 SpMS RE-REGISTRATION SY26-27🐾
Need Help? Registrar: Mr. Bachmann 📧 Timothy.Bachmann@dodea.edu
Current %age of students NOT currently re-registered: 42%
Re-Registration Deadline was March 28.
We're still missing some families and need your help if you have not completed this task, yet.
REQUIRED for all SpMS current students...
- Complete through ASPEN portal
- Yes, even if PCSing ; you will have an opportunity to indicate this
- Yes, for current 8th graders too; registration will transfer to HS
- Please update contact info, DEROS/orders, proof of address (if moved)
As always, thank you for your partnership in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for our students!
Bulldog Proud,
Communication Channels:
Quick Access
Reminders
- New to Spang? Please stop by our Main Office to complete registration.
- PCSing or recently arrived? Let us know ASAP!
📧 Contact our registrar at spangdahlemmsregistrar@dodea.edu
Attendance: SpangdahlemMSAttendance@dodea.edu
Registrar: SpangdahlemMSRegistrar@dodea.edu
Secretary: Ms. Patricia Ayala-Omega, MaPatricia.Ayala@dodea.edu
Counselor: Mr. Jed Weyland, Jed.Weyland@dodea.edu
Nurse: Ms. Shannon Burrous, Shannon.Burrous@dodea.edu
Principal: Ms. Stefanie Adams, Stefanie.Adams@dodea.edu
NO COST group tutorials available to you at home! Build your foundation in Math, ELA, ASVAB/AFOQT and Student Success skills. Log into your account at tutor.com/military for the full descriptions, dates and times.
Spring 2026 topics include:
Introduction to Algebra
Fractional Expressions & Problems
Writing Mechanics
Spatial Awareness for ASVAB & AFOQT
Linear Equations and Real-World Problems
Word Knowledge
Time and Attention Management
Study and Note-Taking Skills
Want to attend a session but it's offered at a time that doesn't fit your schedule? Sign up anyway! You'll get the recording to watch at your convenience!
Learn more: https://go.tutor.com/MILtutorials-spring26
Forgot your Chromebook at home?
- Option 1: Students can call home in the front office to ask a parent to bring their computer in from home.
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Option 2: If option 1 is not viable, students need to go to the front office to check out a 'rental' for the day so they can fully participate in their learning ('rental' Chromebooks are due returned to the front office at the end of the school day and do not go home).
Buses
- All bus-riders are REQUIRED to have their bus pass on them every day. Bus drivers will submit bus referrals to the Student Transportation Office/School if students do not have their valid pass with them, along with any other procedure/behavior discrepancies.
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Thank you for your patience as the Student Transportation Office finalizes routes. Please reach out to the STO with any questions or concerns: EMAIL EIFEL.SBO@DODEA.EDU or PHONE DSN: 324-406-6649, COMM: +49 631 7106 6649.
Communication
- You are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns! We always tell our students that communication is key, and this applies to our adults too :)
- At SpMS we support communication through the chain-of-command. Please first start with your child's teacher.
- Please reach out to your student(s)' teachers to clarify any misunderstandings or questions you might have.
Attendance
- DoDEA Attendance Policy: Parents/Sponsor/Guardians are required to report...
- Planned absences no later than the day before absence.
- Unplanned absences must be reported by 1000 on the day of the absence.
- Absences that are 3+ days require an Extended Absence Form to be completed (signed by administration and teachers, noting work that will be missed). This form is to be completed as soon as the absence is known so we can appropriately plan for the student.
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Reporting: EMAIL spangdahlemmsattendance@dodea.edu or PHONE DSN: 324-483-6640, COMM: +49-063171066640.
Join the PTSA!
Please consider joining the PTSA this year to help us support the students, teachers, and staff all year with fun events like the Monster Bash, Valentine's Dance, and with fun treats like popcorn and ice cream. These things take money, and help to execute and we want your support.
- Use the QR code to activate your membership - you can now select the Family membership and order your Bulldog swag all at the same time!
- Become a member and participate, or become a member to simply donate! All funds and hours go directly to our Bulldogs' awesome experience this year!
- Contact: EMAIL SpangMS.PTSA@gmail.com
- PTSA Store - Purchase Spirit Wear: https://epta-00030202.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true
Counselor's Corner
On Deployments
As the mission grows and provides new experiences for your child, we want to make sure that they are supported at home and at school.
Ms. Bridgewater, our amazing MFLC (Military Family Life Counselor) is here to support the unique challenges that our military affiliated children face. She helps by instilling ways to:
- Communicate
- Resolve Conflict
- Work through emotions
- Handle deployment/separation
- Increase self-esteem/confidence
If you are deploying at any point this school year, please consider allowing your child to speak with our MFLC and help them work through any and all emotions they might have. Permission slips are located in the front office.
Nurse's Notes
Medication During the School Day
Students are NOT allowed to carry any medication with them unless approved by the nurse/administration. ANY medication - including prescription, over the counter (Tylenol/Ibuprofen, cold medication, etc.), or supplements that is given to a student during the school day or a school-sponsored event must have a physician's order.
If you would like your student to have access to medications during school hours or events, please have your physician fill out the medication form. Once the form is completed by your physician, bring the form and the medication to the nurse's office.
FLU Vaccine
As per Army Regulation 40-562/BUMEDINST 6230.15A/AFI 48-110_IP/CG COMDTINST M6230.4G, "Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases," October 7, 2013, it is mandatory for children attending DoD-sponsored primary and secondary schools to be up to date on age-appropriate immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) unless there is documentation of previous immunization, religious exemption or medical contraindication. Parents and sponsors must provide schools with a copy of their dependent’s official proof of immunization upon initial registration and when requested by school officials to verify compliance with this requirement.
All students enrolled in DoDEA schools are required to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine annually. Other administrative exemptions will be granted on an individual basis, as in cases of documented vaccine shortages at local medical treatment facilities (MTFs). ⚠️ DoDEA mandates a 1 December deadline to receive the flu vaccine⚠️
If you have any questions - please reach out to Nurse Shannon at Shannon.Burrous@dodea.edu
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School Procedures
School Administrators
Contacts
School Open for Students: 0730 - 1530 |
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|---|---|---|
| Grade | Regular Hours | Wednesday Hours |
| 6 - 8 | 8:00 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) | 8:00 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. (Early Release for Students) |
| Teachers | 7:40 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. (Mon - Fri) | |
| Office | 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Mon - Fri) | |
| It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to notify the school every time a student is absent (NLT 1000): SpangdahlemMSAttendance@dodea.edu |
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