Youree Drive Middle Advanced Placement Magnet

The YDMS Spirit Wear Store is back OPEN! 🛡️ Grab your short sleeves, long sleeves, sweatshirts, and fleece jackets before orders close!

🎨 Multiple color options available across all styles

⏰ Order Deadline: Wednesday, Aug 26th

📦 Distribution: Sept 16th

👉 Order online: www.youreedrive.com (Click Local Level)

#SpartanPride #YDMS #SpiritWear

At our Friday in-service, Principal Edwards made sure our teachers and staff felt supported, valued, and ready to take on the new school year. We had a meaningful discussion about teacher mental health and burnout and learned simple chair yoga techniques that we can use throughout the day to pause, recenter, and focus on our own well-being. A special thank you to the Daniel Education Group and Ms. Tanesha Craig for spending time with us and providing such a meaningful and engaging session! Our teachers are truly the best, and we are excited, refreshed, and ready for a great school year! 💛🖤

🚗 Youree Drive Middle School Carpool Guidelines & Map 📍

Hey Spartan Family! To help ensure drop-offs are smooth, safe, and efficient for everyone, please review our carpool policies and map details before heading to campus:

🛑 Important Drop-Off Rules:

- No Early Drop-Offs:Students cannot be dropped off before 7:30 AM.
- Main Road Restrictions: Students may not be dropped off directly on Youree Drive / Hwy 1.

⏰ What Happens at 7:30 AM:

Carroll St. Entrance Opens: Accessible for parent drop-off traffic.
- Note: Before 7:30 AM, this entrance is strictly reserved for staff parking.
Front Circle Loop Opens: Accessible for parent drop-off traffic.
- Note: Before 7:30 AM, this loop is strictly reserved for buses.

🚗 Carline Lineup & Traffic Flow:

- Before 7:30 AM, the carline begins lining up on Carroll St.
- When exiting either drop-off loop onto Youree Drive, traffic is Right Turn Only.

⚠️ Drop-Off Zones & Student Safety:

- Designated Drop Zones: Please refer to the green checkmarks on the map for the approved drop-off loops.
- Caution Area (Carroll St.): Drop-off is permitted in the right lane of Carroll St. Students dropped off here must proceed using the sidewalks along Carroll St. and Youree Dr., and should not cross through the parking lot.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our Spartans safe! 💛🖤

Friendly Reminder: Pick Up Your Preordered Spirit Wear & EPI Supplies Today! 🎒👕

Have you picked up your student's preordered spirit wear or EPI supply kit yet? If not, today is the day!

📍 Location: YDMS School Office

🗓️ Date: Friday, August 7th

⏰ Time: Until 4:00 p.m.

Swing by the office before 4:00 p.m. today to grab your gear and get ready for a great school year! 🏫✨

Preordered EPI school packs and spirit wear items are ready for pickup TODAY, Thursday, August 6th! 🎒👕

⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

📍 Location: School Cafeteria

See you there, Spartans!

Today’s the day! 🎒

✨ Is your child entering 6th grade at Youree Drive Middle School? Set them up for success at Spartan Camp!

Incoming 6th graders will tour campus, meet classmates, learn the YDMS routine, and step into the new school year with total confidence.

📅 When: Thursday, August 6 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
👧 Who: Incoming 6th Graders ONLY
💵 Cost: $30

📝 How to Register:
1️⃣ Go to www.youreedrive.com
2️⃣ Click the Local Level link to secure your spot!

⚠️ Note on shirts: Late registration is open! Students registered after July 20 are fully included in all camp activities; their t-shirts will arrive by August 31.

We can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2033 to Sparta! 💛🖤

Electronic Devices Policy for the 26-27 School Year

All electronic devices should be turned off and stowed away in backpacks prior to entry at the front doors into campus for the instructional day. Devices are not considered “stowed away” in students’ pockets, hands, purses, or visible locations. If the electronic device is visible outside of the backpack, it will be confiscated. Students may use electronic devices at the end of the instructional day after dismissal at 3:25 p.m.

Full policy can be found in our students handbook at www.youreedrive.com.

Attention Spartans! 📣

Preordered EPI school packs and spirit wear items have arrived! 🎒👕

You can pick up your items this Thursday, August 6th, from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM in the school cafeteria.

See you there! 💛

🚨 LAST CHANCE! MONDAY is the FINAL DAY to guarantee your Spartan Camp shirt on Camp Day! 🚨

⏰ Register by Monday, July 20 at 11:59 PM to make sure your incoming 6th grader receives their Spartan Camp shirt at Spartan Camp on August 6!

🎒✨ Calling All Future Spartans! ✨🎒

Is your child heading into 6th grade at Youree Drive Middle School? Kick off their middle school adventure at Spartan Camp! They’ll explore the campus, meet new friends, learn the ropes, and start the school year with confidence.

📅 Spartan Camp: Thursday, August 6
⏰ Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
👧👦 Who: Incoming 6th Grade Students ONLY
💵 Cost: $30

📝 Register Online:
➡️ Visit www.youreedrive.com
➡️ Click the Local Level link to sign up!

⚠️ Don’t miss the shirt deadline! Students registered after July 20 are still welcome to attend Spartan Camp, but their shirts will be ordered separately and delivered by August 31.

We can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2033 to Sparta! 💛🖤

#SpartanProud #WeAreSparta

Hello, everyone! My name is Anthony Simoneaux, and I am excited to be joining the Youree Drive Middle School family as a Math teacher. I have seven years of experience teaching middle school math and look forward to helping students build confidence in mathematics, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and achieve success in the classroom. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Youree Drive community and look forward to working alongside the outstanding students, families, faculty, and staff. I am excited to begin this new chapter and can’t wait to meet everyone.

Hello. I’m a science educator at Youree Drive Middle School with over twenty years of combined experience in education, military medicine, and healthcare. My background in patient advocacy and medical training shapes the way I support students, while my love for space, geology, and creative visuals helps make science engaging, clear, and connected to real life.

Parents and Students of Youree Drive Middle School, it's time to get ready for 2026–2027! 📚

Here is our comprehensive Uniform Policy to help you prepare for the upcoming year.

Please refer to the graphic below for a clear visual guide to all approved tops, bottoms (specifically khaki and navy colors for pants, shorts, and skirts), and outerwear options. Our policy is designed to create a focused and respectful atmosphere for all students.

Important Points to Remember:
School IDs: Mandatory and must be worn at all times.

Outerwear & Headwear: Outerwear must be a solid color—NO hoods or ski masks are permitted on campus at any time.

Footwear: Crocs and slides are NOT permitted.

Length Check: Skirts, skorts, and shorts must be no shorter than 4 inches from the top of the knee.

Logos: Any non-YDMS logos on tops or outerwear cannot be larger than 2 inches.

Thank you for helping us ensure all Spartans are dressed appropriately and ready to learn. We're looking forward to a fantastic year!

#YDMSFamily #YoureeDrive #UniformGuide #ReadyToLearn

Spartans! Just a quick reminder about our school supply list.

Only basic, corded earbuds are permitted for use in classrooms. Please remember that all other headphones, including Beats (even with a cord) and AirPods, are not allowed at school.

Let's make sure we're all prepared for a great day of learning!

Spartans are prepared!

Roshonda Richardson is a graduate of Grambling State University, a retired Flight Attendant from Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and a dedicated Special Education (SPED) Inclusion Teacher serving middle school students. Reared in Michigan with family roots in Louisiana, she is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments that empower all students to achieve academic and personal success. Roshonda’s diverse professional background reflects her commitment to service, education, and lifelong learning.

Hello! My name is Ellie Pennington. I’m so excited to be joining the Youree Drive community as an Art teacher. This will be my first year teaching after receiving my degree in Film and Television from SCAD. I am a Caddo Magnet graduate and Talented Arts Program alum. I can’t wait to be able to share my love for creating with the students and staff at Youree Drive.

In my free time I love to oil paint, read, bake, watch scary movies, play with my dogs, and eat all the great food my husband cooks (once he gets home from working in Antarctica). I hope to be a useful resource for all the future artists, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, and students who just need to use art as a form of meditation.

My name is Naïma Longeon and I am delighted to be joining Youree Drive Middle School as a French teacher through the CODOFIL program.

I come from Lyon, France, a city renowned for its rich history, culture, and gastronomy. Although I have visited the United States several times as a tourist with my family, this is my first time in Louisiana, and I am thrilled to be here!

I have been teaching English as a Foreign Language to students of all ages, and I truly enjoy helping them learn and grow. I also enjoy engaging them in international projects that allow them to communicate with peers from other countries, broaden their perspectives, and discover new cultures through authentic exchanges.

I am excited to experience life and education in Louisiana, share my language and culture with the students at Caddo Middle Magnet and Youree Drive Middle School, and learn from all of you as well.

I look forward to working together, getting to know the students, staff, and families, and becoming an active member of your school community.

I can't wait to meet you all!

Hello, my name is Robert Herndon, and I am excited to join the Spartan family as an IBCA teacher this year. Both of my children attended Youree Drive, so I have felt like a member of the Youree Drive family for several years. Now, I am excited to be joining the teaching side.

This will be my 13th year as an educator, but it will be my first year teaching middle school. I am thrilled to begin this new chapter of my career at Youree Drive and look forward to working alongside this outstanding team to prepare students for future success, just as they did for my own children.

Hello, my name is Mr. Anthony Ashley. I have been with Caddo Parish Schools for more than three decades. I truly enjoy working with students, helping them to excel to their full potential as it relates to education. This year, I am super excited to be the music teacher, helping to develop young voices to their full potential. I have been teaching piano and vocal lessons my entire life. I currently serve as the Director of Music for the Pleasant Grove and Mount Paran Baptist churches. I am looking forward to having a great year joining this wonderful team of educators.