Dear Highlanders,

I have the great privilege and responsibility of leading the Highlanders of Dunedin Highland Middle School.   I enjoy serving the staff, students, and families of Dunedin and North Clearwater in educating our future generation of leaders! 

It is my personal mission to ensure that every student at Dunedin Highland Middle School finishes middle school on time and is ready to enter the high school program of their choice.  The staff at DHMS will do this by insuring a safe and respectful environment, inspiring excellence in educational practices and student achievement, and demonstrating pride in our school community.  “Respect, Excellence, and Pride” is the motto we live by here at DHMS. We realize that social and emotional learning is a key component to the middle school years and we support our students with Restorative Practices, and weekly community circles, as well as our partnerships with PACE Center for Girls and the Gulf Coast Family Partnership.  Every morning and afternoon I encourage students that if they have conflict with a peer, to seek the assistance of and adult.  We care about all of our students!

Our school has many programs to support academic excellence.  The Center for Gifted Studies is a well-established application program providing an education tailored to the unique needs of Gifted learners.  The AVID program’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success.  AVID learning strategies are evident in all of our classrooms on campus.  Our STEAM Academy offers students many options to meet their needs and interests, from our Award winning Highlander Band, to Visual Arts, Orchestra, Chorus, and Microsoft certifications in our Technology classes.  We offer STEM coding and Robotics as part of our ELP program, and have a plethora of academic competition clubs, including the World Champion Odyssey of the Mind Team. 

Finally students can become civically engaged through our many clubs and organizations, such as Model UN, the Builders Club, and our Interact Club, which is the first Middle School Interact Club to receive Rotary’s Presidential Citation. 

Dunedin Highland Middle School has much to offer your student and we hope your family enjoys spending the middle school years with us! Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

 Michael Vasallo, Principal
 vasallom@pcsb.org
 (727) 469-4112 *2005

Main Office Staff:

Tiffany Desonie, School Secretary
desoniet@pcsb.org
(727) 469-4112 *2005

Wanda Duncan, Data Management Technician (DMT)
duncanwa@pcsb.org
(727) 469-4112 *2007

Renee Chesley, Bookkeeper
chesleyr@pcsb.org
(727) 469-4112 *2006

Regina Lawrence, Family and Community Liasion
lawrencer@pcsb.org
(727) 469-4112 *2045