November Newsletter
DeWitt Elementary School
From the Principal's Office
This month, much of the focus around the building has been on being thankful. Sharing our talents and gifts with others fits so well with the theme of the holiday season. Giving to others has been proven to not only make you feel good, but actually have a positive impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. The school community took some time to give back in our whole school meeting as we celebrated our bus drivers for their continued support. Our amazing PBIS student leaders introduced each of our drivers and shared with the school some interesting facts about each driver. Watching the students cheer for their driver was awesome. Our PTSA also gave back to our community with the DeWitt Gives Back Night. Families in our school gathered to eat pizza and make items to support local organizations. By partaking in these types of activities, we hope that giving back to others and showing our gratitude becomes a lifestyle for our students. Speaking of giving thanks, we are also thankful for our wonderful community of learners that continue to give back every day, our PTSA that supports our school throughout the year, our parents that volunteer daily to enrich our students, and our staff for their continued dedication to our students. DeWitt is a special place because of the many people who give back every day. We wish you joy and happiness throughout this holiday season.
Best,
Mark Schichtel
World Kindness Day
Our Scholastic Book Fair was a hit
DeWitt Gives Back
Upcoming Events in December!
- Nov. 27-29th - PTSA Holiday Shoppe - Please contact your child's teacher with questions regarding this nice event.
- Dec. 3rd - Miss Berrigan/Mrs. Byrne's field trip to the Challenger (9:15-12:15)
- Dec. 4th - Miss Reich's field trip to the Challenger (9:15-12:15)
- Dec. 5th - Mr. Pratt's field trip to the Challenger (9:15-12:15)
- Dec. 6th - International Hour of Code Day - Check out: https://hourofcode.com/us
- Dec. 6th - Mrs. Connor's field trip to the Challenger (9:15-12:15)
- Dec. 10th - PTSA Meeting in the library (6:30pm)
- Dec. 10-21st - Annual DeWitt Road Hat and Mitten Drive
- Dec. 17th - Square 1 Art Pickup (3:30-8:30) Please pick up your child's masterpieces after school!
- Dec. 18th - After school chorus rehearsal (Contact Mr. Heary with questions)
- Dec. 19th - After school chorus rehearsal (Contact Mr. Hear with questions)
- Dec. 19th - Grade 2 field trip to the Webster Library (9:45-11:20)
- Dec. 20th - Morning assembly for our students
- Dec. 20th - Evening concert 7-8:30 - 4th/5th grade chorus and 5th grade band/orchestra
- Dec. 21st - Whole school morning meeting in the gym
- Dec. 24-Jan. 1st - No school for December Recess
New From Around the Building
Kindergarten
Things are gearing up in kindergarten as we build our stamina for literacy centers. The kindergartners are learning how to form their letters and numbers, put their thoughts into writing and to add with numbers up to five. We look forward to December and all things gingerbread!
1st Grade
First grade just enjoyed some time together as “family” learning about the true meaning of Thanksgiving. We learned how the Native Americans and pilgrims came together to celebrate the food they harvested for the first Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to some learning about computer science with a visit from a robot friend, Dash. He will teach the students the basics of computer programming.
2nd Grade
Second graders are looking forward to our field trip to Webster Public Library on December 19th. In math, we are working on adding with regrouping/new groups. It’s been a great month!
3rd Grade
Third grade is continuing to work hard on learning multiplication and division facts. In unit 2 students will learn to identify types of word problems and the operation needed to solve it. In ELA students are reading nonfiction and learning to write informational paragraphs.
4th Grade
We are continuing to work on methods for multiplication, and will soon apply these methods to long division! Fourth graders are enjoying reading Love That Dog, and we are looking forward to writing “inspired” poems.
5th Grade
Our 5th grade students are looking forward to visiting Mars during our Challenger field trip in December. To prepare for our trip, students completed 4 different STEM tasks to learn more about the mysterious planet, Mars.
Special Areas
Students in P.E. have been working on their strength and conditioning, cooperation, essential skills and manipulative skills this month in deck tennis, volleyball, basketball, bowling, tossing, catching, using paddles and climbing. They have been doing a great job doing their best, learning from their mistakes and being positive!
The Fall Season has been busy in the music room this year. Chorus students began their concert season with a Halloween Informance following the Halloween Parade. On November 19th, several boys from the chorus sang in the annual Night of 1000 Men Concert at Thomas High School. Now chorus students are preparing for our Winter Concert which will be held at Thomas High School on December 20th. Also performing in this concert will be the 5th grade band and orchestra. Notes about additional chorus rehearsals should be coming home soon. Students in all music classes have been using many of the percussion instruments found in our room. Kindergarten students are learning about our instruments and exploring ways they can be used in class. First and second grade students have been reviewing the instruments and using them to play beat and rhythm patterns. Third, fourth, and fifth grade students have created rhythm compositions and performed their pieces on selected percussion instruments. In the coming weeks, students will be learning about Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. Finding various versions of the Nutcracker story may be a fun activity to share with your child during the month of December.
Art class has been filled with masterpiece after masterpiece. Square 1 Art will be ready for pickup in December! Also, art needs styrofoam egg cartons. Send them in if you can! Thank you so so much.
Our DeWitt Road Learners are loving reading each day they are in library. Thank you for helping your child find books, series, and authors that they love and remember to read, read, read!
From the Main Office:
We are finding that many winter items are being dropped off. To be sure we get items to the correct student, please put your child's name and teacher on items that you are dropping off.
Also, just a friendly reminder that if you will be stopping by the building with a holiday gift for your child's teacher, the gift should be left in the main office. We will happily deliver them to the classrooms for you. Your child is gift enough to our teachers and our building. We are so appreciative of your continued help and support day in and day out. Especially during this busy holiday season.
DeWitt Road School
Email: mark_schichtel@webstercsd.org
Website: http://www.websterschools.org/dewitt.cfm
Location: 722 Dewitt Road, Webster, NY, United States
Phone: 585-671-0710
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dewittcares/