Cardinal Connection
Duncan Creek Elementary
November/December 2019
Dear DCES Families,
It’s hard to believe that November is over, and December is here. These months are packed with many different exciting events and activities for our Duncan Creek students, staff, and families.
On November 1st, the students participated in our Fun Run. Huge thanks go to all the parent volunteers and our PTA Board who organized everything and spent endless hours preparing for the run. I want to express my appreciation to everyone who contributed to the Fun Run. You make a difference! We have done an amazing job, and all the proceeds will remain at Duncan Creek.
The PTA Bingo Night on November 7th was enjoyed by all. I know the students were pretty excited. Many thanks to our PTA folks for organizing this event.
We hope you have opportunity to attend the wonderful 1st Grade Musical on December 5th. The songs and performance are very entertaining. I hope you will also join us on December 17th for our Cardinal Choir Performance at Mill Creek High School. We are very grateful for the hard work and talents of Mr. Cypert and Ms. McTeer.
You are invited to join your child for a festive holiday luncheon December 10 (grades 1 and 4), December 11 (grades K and 5), or December 12 (grades 2 and 3). Our menu for the luncheon will be turkey or ham and all the trimmings. A special lunch schedule has been arranged to accommodate parents and students in the cafeteria on these days. Please refer to classroom newsletters and teacher websites for specific lunch times. Parking is available at the front and side of our building. For safety reasons, we ask that visitors refrain from parking along the driveway, bus lot and in the fire lane.
Winter parties will also take place in December as follows:
December 17: 1st grade 10:00-11:00, Kindergarten 1:30-2:30
December 18: 3rd grade 9:30-10:30, 5th grade 1:00-2:00
December 19: 4th grade 10:00-11:00, 2nd grade 1:30-2:30
I am thankful for the fantastic students, staff, parents, and community of Duncan Creek Elementary. Have a wonderful winter break and holiday season!
Sincerely,
Carrie Yougel
Principal
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Duncan Creek Elementary is looking for Cafeteria Monitor Substitutes. If you are interested in being called upon in the event that one of our Cafeteria Monitors is absent, please reach out to Pegge Savage at 678-714-5809.
If you were called in, the hours would be 10:30-1:30 M-F. The pay is $15.00 per hour.
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Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) 2019‐20 school calendar includes two make‐up days to address school days missed due to inclement weather. In addition to these days, GCPS also has the option of using Digital Learning Days to make up days missed due to inclement weather. Should a decision be made to cancel school, students, parents, and staff will be notified of the closing and if the day is a Digital Learning Day.
How will it work for students?
- · On the day that school has been canceled, teachers will post assignments on their eCLASS C&I course pages. High school assignments will be posted by 8 a.m. Elementary school assignments will be posted by 9 a.m. And, middle school assignments will be posted by 10 a.m.
- · Students will use the MyeCLASS student portal to log in to their eCLASS C&I course pages where they will access assignments, resources, and other materials. If the power is out, a student may access the teacher’s course page when power returns. If a student does not have access to a computer or device (tablet, smartphone, etc.), the student can get the assignment once school resumes.
- · Student work will be expected to be turned in to the teacher (either digitally or in person), using a school’s process for turning in work following an absence. For example, if your school allows students to turn in work two days after a missed day, the Digital Learning Day assignments would be due two days after classes resume.
- During the school year, teachers will share additional information with students about Digital Learning Days, including how they will support student learning during the day. (For example, some teachers may set up a discussion board while others may use online conference tools or be available via phone.)
Parents and students who need a refresher course on how to access eCLASS C&I course pages can go to the following web page for helpful resources and information:
http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/about/eclass/content/eclass-c-and-i-course-pages
MEDIA MESSENGER
· Media Center and Literacy Center Volunteers Needed:
If you are looking for a way to get involved and make an impact on our entire school community, we'd love to have your help! Contact Karen Martin, our media specialist, at Karen_B_Martin@gwinnett.k12.ga.us if you are interested. Thanks to Audra Edwards for her hard work as our volunteer coordinator and to our countless wonderful volunteers who assist us each week! We appreciate every one of you!
Current Volunteer Openings:
Media Center: Tuesday 11:00-1:00, Wednesday 1:00-3:00, Friday 11:00-1:00 and 1:00-3:00
Literacy Center: Monday 1:00-3:00
· Olympic Reading Program:
Our "Olympic Reading" program has been a huge success. We are so proud of the students who are participating each month. To encourage reading stamina, fluency, and comprehension students simply record their reading in their booklets either nightly or weekly for 20 days each month. Booklets are due on the last school day each month and students who meet their goals receive a prize. It is not too late to begin participating! Extra booklets are available in the Media Center for students who need a new one. Special thanks to Lisa Deignan, Ashley Stancil, Jessica Thomas, and Christy Grailer for their help with the booklet prizes each month!
· Holiday Book Fair
Our Holiday Book Fair is coming soon! Students will be given a chance to preview the fair and also be given the opportunity to shop. The Book Fair will be open in the Media Center from 9:00-3:00 December 10th-December 12th and from 9:00-11:00 on December 13th. The fair will be open during Holiday Lunches! This would be a great time to come and shop with your child.
counselor's corner
Things All Children Need:
· Positive Affirmations help to build a child’s self-confidence. Children need to hear “I love you,” “You’re important to me,” and “I’m proud of you” on a regular basis.
· Quality time: Give your child your undivided attention, when you can really listen and enjoy spending time together. Mark it on the calendar so it is a priority for everyone.
· Set a Positive Example: Allow your children to see you make mistakes and how you deal with them. Modeling for your children helps them to build better coping skills.
· Reframe negative events: When your child is discouraged, help him/her to focus on the positive and problem solve together to work towards improving things, when possible.
· Help your children to accept responsibility for the their actions. Our impulse as parents is to swoop in and save them, but sometimes the best lessons are learned through mistakes.