Easing the transition from Alden to Middle School

52DMS is DSU’s signature event —a re-engineered, rebranded, and more relevant version of the DMS annual “Boys & Girls Night Out”, introducing all 5th graders and their parents to life at Duxbury Middle School.

Topics include: 

  • Digital wellness
  • Self care and managing life goals
  • Healthy nutrition to thrive
  • The real deal from 6th & 7th grade DSU CEOs on what to expect in middle school.

Students and parents who attend 52DMS leave the event feeling a little more confident, inspired, and excited for life in middle school.

52DMS Resource Guide

Middle School is all about test driving independence and responsibility and it comes with constant tweaking, success, failure, and resilience to get back up and try again. 

Below you’ll find some of DSU’s favorite resources for parents, tweens and teens.  Download the Resource Guide PDF.

Resources for Tweens & Teens

American Girl: The Smart Girl’s Podcast (Spotify and Apple)

This Teenage Life (Spotify and Apple)

Inside Out 

Soul

Becoming

Say it out Loud – a game to play to understand mental health, and respect for all. 

DSU Digital Citizenship Jeopardy game 

Boston vs. Bullies practical guidance and strategies to stay strong against bullies.

At DMS – Art, Aquaculture, Writing, Drama, Games, Gender & Sexuality Alliance, Global Citizens, Homework, Music (various), Respect all People RAP, and Student Council.

Community – Churches, Scouts, various youth sports, DSU camps.

Nat Enough: A Graphic Novel by Maria Scriven

Good Different by Meg Edan Kuyatt

Buzzing: A Graphic Novel by Samuel Sattin

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Running on Empty by S.E. Durrant

Superpowered: Transform Anxiety into Courage, Confidence, and Resilience by Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary

Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis

Resources for Parents

DSU’s CEO Program – helps students build academic and life skills with a model of accountability and academic independence.

Let Grow – Leading the movement for Childhood Independence 

Making Caring Common Project – Raising kids who care about others and the common good.

Nourished not Famished – real life healthy changes, made healthy and delicious

Care Solace – link in your school newsletter. This is a schoolwide resource to help find a mental health professional. 

Think:Kids – Our Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) approach is proven to reduce challenging behavior, teach kids the skills they lack, and build relationships with the adults in their lives.

Facebook Group – Parenting in a Tech World

Better Screen Time – Am I ready for Social Media? 

Connectsafely

Common Sense Media

DSU Digital Citizenship Jeopardy Game 

Boston vs. Bullies practical guidance and strategies to stay strong against bullies.

Self Care Action Plan 

The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic on Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. 

Flusterclux with Lynn Lyons: For Parents 

Good Inside with Dr. Becky

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. 

Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media by Donna Jackson Nakazawa

 

CALM app – $69.99 per year

52DMS May 2024

Pictures from past 52DMS events

Duxbury Student Union

Community Youth Center & After School Programming, Duxbury, MA