Parents,
We have had a fantastic start to the 2026-2027 school year. It is energizing to see the smiles on students’ faces as they see their friends and teachers these first two weeks. Your students have come ready to learn, lead, and belong, and our teachers have worked tirelessly to empower them to do so. I know that our educators’ efforts will result in our students reaching new heights this year. Here are three important messages we have for you this week:
Updated Dress Code:
We have been working to clarify North Davis Jr. High's dress code these first two weeks. We have received input from teachers, staff, and parents in our efforts to create a dress code that will ensure our students and employees can focus on learning. Our updated dress code will be as follows:
No article of clothing or accessory may promote or contain messages, images, or symbols that are sexually explicit, objectively offensive, violent, gang-affiliated, or that promote drug culture.
Shoes must be worn at all times.
Clothing or accessories that could reasonably be considered dangerous are not permitted.
Clothing or styles that are excessively distracting to the learning environment are not permitted, including clothing that is excessively revealing.
Underwear must be completely covered, including bra shoulder straps.
Bare backs, visible bra straps, and uncovered torsos are not permitted.
Sunglasses may not be worn inside the school building unless they are required for a documented medical condition.
Ski masks, face coverings, and hoods may not be worn inside the school building.
Pants may not be excessively baggy, sagging, or revealing.
Shorts must be mid-thigh length or longer.
Updated Building Door Opening: Beginning Tuesday September 8th, the doors to North Davis Jr. High will open to students at 7:30 AM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and at 9:30 AM on Wednesdays. Previously, the doors have been opening at 7:00 AM each day. We have made the decision to open the doors later for one important reason: student safety. We do not have adults in the building early enough to appropriately supervise the students who are in the building that early. Our employee's hours do not contractually require them to be in the building that early. In addition to lack of appropriate supervision, over the previous years, there have been many negative incidents that have occurred in the morning due to students being in the building with too much unstructured time. The safety of our students is our highest priority, and we feel that this change will help us better meet that priority.
Elections for Community Council:
We have some vacancies on the North Davis Jr. High School Community Council for the 2026 -2027 school year. We are seeking volunteers/nominations for interested members from our community. Members of the Community Council must meet the following criteria as outlined in policy and in Utah Code:
Community Council parent members must have a student attending the school at least one of the two years of their term of service (Fall 2026 – Spring 2028).
Members are elected to 2-year terms - Community Council members have no term limits as long as they have a student who is attending North Davis Jr. High School during the 2-year term.
Community Council members will meet approximately 8 times per school year. Community Council meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, at a time to be determined by the newly elected council. Meetings normally last approximately 60 minutes. The Community Council typically meets at least once during the months of September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and April (with meetings in August and May, if necessary).
The primary responsibility of the school community council is to help allocate Trust Lands funds in a manner that will improve student academic performance. However, members may fill a variety of roles. An outline of potential responsibilities include:
Participate in training about council responsibilities, collaboration, student, and school assessments, and how to participate in preparing and editing school action plans. Council members will also help allocate school trust lands funds, implement the School LAND Trust Plan, and research programs to direct the money to be spent on areas with the greatest academic need.
Attend school community council meetings and actively participate.
Serve as an officer on the council or nominate capable candidates to fill those roles.
Represent the needs of all students at the school and promote goals and activities of school parent groups and families in the school community.
Encourage parent input into school community council issues and decisions and encourage parent involvement in task forces and sub/committees, including requests made of councils by the local school district.
Be well informed and seek answers to questions and concerns before a vote is called for.
Provide feedback to district boundary committee when school is up for boundary realignment.
If you are interested in joining or nominating another parent, please send an email with a short personal bio (used to share for voting, no more than 90 words total) to Principal Eric Castro (ercastro@dsdmail.net). Or you may also bring a copy to the main office at North Davis Jr. High. Nominations must be received no later than 3:15 pm on Friday, September 11th, 2026. An election, if necessary, will be held online through MyDSD September 23rd to 28th.
Thank you for trusting North Davis Jr. High to educate and take care of your most important possessions—your children. We are committed to helping each of your students learn each day. We still have lots of school days left in the year, but if these first seven days have been an indicator of what is to come for the rest of the year, I know that we are going to have an amazing school year. Thank you and have a great weekend! We can’t wait to see your kids again on Monday!
Eric Castro
Principal
North Davis Jr. High