Dunstan Newsletter
September 15th
Principal's Letter
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences 2023-24 Information
Dunstan is excited to welcome you to fall conferences. We are hosting drop-in Parent-Teacher Conferences. Teachers will be located in the doorway of their classrooms. They are prepared to have 5 minute conferences with each family. Please come well in advance as lines consistently occur for some content area teachers, especially Language Arts and Math.
Oftentimes conferences at the secondary level require parents to prioritize which content area to visit. Please look at your student’s grades and have conversations with them regarding which 2-4 content areas should be prioritized, i.e. for my own child, we prioritized math and science because those are the content areas that present the greatest challenge for her. If your student is earning Cs or lower, please prioritize those classes first.
Each student has used some of their Advise class time to prepare slides for each class that indicate what is going well and what they could improve. Please review these slides prior to attending conferences. Please bring your student so they can be a part of this conversation.
Should you want to meet with a grade level counselor and/or our Social Emotional Learning Specialist, they will also be available in the main entrance.
2022-23 CMAS score reports will be available for you to pick up in the main entrance when you arrive.
Our conferences occur from 4:30-7:30 PM on Wednesday, September 20th and Thursday, September 21st. Please arrive no later than 6:30 as teachers will leave promptly at 7:30.
During conferences we have a few families who need an interpreter. At this time Jeffco has very few interpreters who can help schools. Other schools are also conducting their parent/teacher conferences on the same days. We are asking that the interpreters and families will be allowed to have a fastpass like at Disneyland so they can help all the families in need at multiple schools these two nights. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Thank you to our wonderful PTA for providing dinner for our staff the first night. The office staff is providing dinner the second night. Sign-up sheets to provide food for the staff are located on the PTA website.
We are looking forward to seeing you at conferences.
Monday, September 18th
- On/Off Track Letters handed out to students in Advise
Wednesday, September 20th
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 7:30 PM
- Sweet Cow food truck will be available for ice cream purchases (see picture below)
Thursday, September 21th
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Friday, September 22th
- NO SCHOOL for Students (PD Day for Teachers)
Wednesday, September 27th
- Warren Tech Field Trip (8th grade)- 9:00-11:00 AM (see information below)
Friday, September 29th
- PE Bike Field Trip to Box of Rock @ GM- 8:00-11:30 AM
Wednesday, October 4th
- 6th Grade On/Off Track Field Trip
Thursday, October 5th
- 7th Grade On/Off Track Field Trip
Friday, October 6th
- 8th Grade On/Off Track Field Trip
Sweet Cow will be available for purchase on Wed September 20th for families
Information about Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent- Teacher conferences will be on Wednesday (9/20) from 4:30-7:30 PM and Thursday (9/21) from 4:30-7:30 PM.
- Open House style format. Individual teachers will be available for “drop-ins” (no need for appointments). Please limit your conversation with teachers to 5 minutes MAX.
- Please come prepared with specific questions and concerns that you would like addressed.
- Please plan to arrive no later than 6:45 PM. Conferences will end promptly at 7:30 PM.
Families of students with Cs or below are strongly encouraged to attend. If your student has As or Bs, attendance is not required.
Your student should have a slideshow they created, which outlines their grades, missing assignments, and strengths in each class. Please ask your student to show you their slideshow and review with them at home.
Please limit aerosols , perfume, and body sprays students bring to school. We have some students who have compromised immune systems and/or allergies. Please limit the number of perfume, aerosols, and body sprays students bring to school to help other students avoid allergic reactions and breathing problems. It is fine and appropriate for middle school students to have stick deodorants in their lockers and backpacks. Thank you for your understanding. Please contact our administration and/or clinic aide, Sam Majeres if you have any questions.
Attention 8th Grade Parents and Guardians
Dear Awesome 8th Grade Parents!
On Wednesday, September 27th, your student will be taking a tour of Warren Tech High School’s central campus.
Warren Tech is an extension of every Jefferson County high school and offers academic, career and technical training and education in 36 different programs. These programs prepare high school students with academic, career and technical skills for college, employment and potential careers. Culinary Arts, Forensic Science, STEM, Cybersecurity and Automotive Technology are just a few of the amazing programs offered!
Most students at Warren Tech are high school juniors and seniors as students must be 16 in order to attend. Programs range in length from two to four semesters. Credits earned at Warren Tech count toward graduation and qualify as academic credits and electives under the Colorado Commission on Higher Education College admission requirements. Most of Warren Tech’s programs also provide the opportunity for students to earn college credit through the Colorado Community College System.
It is recommended that interested students talk to their counselors early in their high school careers regarding attending Warren Tech. Careful course planning will ensure that students can meet high school graduation requirements and also take advantage of Warren Tech’s opportunities.
8th grade students received their permission slips on Tuesday the 5th during advise, and they are due back to their advise teacher by Thursday, September 14th. If your student accidentally misplaced their permission slip, you can find it here. WT Permission Slip Please just print it, fill it out, and send it back to school with your student. If you are REALLY concerned that it may not find its way out of your student’s locker or backpack, please print, sign and email the slip back to me.
We are looking for approximately 8 parents to accompany us on this trip, and the time commitment will be from 8:45am to 11:30pm. Transportation will be provided on the school bus. If you are interested in spending a couple hours with us to see this amazing school, please contact Jen Baker at jemsmith@jeffco.k12.co.us or 303-982-9219.
Thank you!
Jen Baker
8th Grade Counselor
SSIS-SEL
Parents/Guardians/Families,
The Dunstan community works together to ensure high levels of learning for all. This includes not only being attentive to academic growth, but also recognizing that the social and emotional growth of students is critically important. Current research indicates a direct connection between students’ emotional well-being and their academic performance. We are dedicated to creating academic and social-emotional support linked directly to the assessed needs of our students. We now have the opportunity to systematically screen the social and emotional skills of all our students. We will be using the Social Skills Improvement System™ Social-Emotional Learning Edition Screening/Progress Monitoring Scales (SSIS SEL). to screen students' social-emotional competencies. There are 3 windows throughout the year in which students are screened. The first screening of students will take place during our staff meeting on Monday, October 16th.
SSIS-SEL Information: The SSIS-SEL Edition Screening/Progress Monitoring Scales is a strength-based tool for screening and progress monitoring social and emotional competence. Teachers will be asked to score each student in their class in the eight following areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, motivation to learn, reading skills, and mathematics skills.
How will the data be used? The screener and scoring information for individual students will remain at Dunstan and all information will be kept confidential. The information acquired through the screener will guide our development of school-wide, small group, and/or individual social-emotional interventions. You will be notified if your child is invited to join a small group or individual intervention.
Need more information? We would be happy to provide a copy of the screener to you. If you have questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact:
Leslie Pruitt (Social Emotional Learning Specialist) at 303-982-9439 or at leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
Prefer your child not be screened? Please respond by sending an email to Leslie Pruitt at leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us by October 1st. You do not need to respond if you are okay with your child being screened. If you opt your child out, this will not affect the relationship between the school and you and your child in any way.
Events and Opportunities
Beginning Sep 19th
Open to any student in the Green Mountain area needing FREE help in math & Science. Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 pm in the library at Green Mountain High School
QPR for Parents
Click the picture to register
Oktoberfest
Helping Kids Thrive
Summit Jeffco
Date: Saturday, September 23
Time: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Green Mountain High School, Lakewood, Colo.
Click the photo to register for this event
Transportation & Construction Girl Day
Executive Function Summit
Enrollment closes Friday, September 15th. Click the picture for more information and registration.
Teens Group
School Meals
What Meal Service Will Look Like in the 2023-24 School Year
- Students will go through the line and eat in the cafeteria.
- Students will scan their District ID card; middle and high school students’ name badge will serve as their ID card. Elementary students will be provided ID cards at their school.
- Menus will be posted on School Café, as well as in the schools.
- On School Café, you may also place restrictions on your student's account regarding what and/or how frequently they may purchase a la carte items.
- Contact Erika Edwards, Director of Operations, Food and Nutrition Services at 303-982-6678 with questions about meal service.
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Hello!
During the next few weeks, students will be working on creating a student-centered conference slideshow during Advise. This slideshow contains information about their current grade for each class, any missing assignments, as well as strengths and areas for growth. Please ask your student to share this with you so it can be reviewed together at home.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Leslie Pruitt, Social Emotional Learning Specialist
leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-9439
Click the Picture to Access Past Editions of Dunstan's Patriot Post
The Patriot Post is Dunstan's online newspaper established in the 2022/23 school year. Mr. Orthun facilitates the creation of each edition through his Media Literacy elective. The Post is back again this year, and will be better than ever. Clicking the picture will take you to past editions and we encourage you to check them out. Thank you all so much and we hope you enjoy our future editions!
Watch D.O.G.S. and M.O.M.S.
Welcome back Dunstan students! AND....
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students)!!!
DADS, MOMS, any parents, guardians, family members - are all welcome and encouraged to sign up and participate.
Sign up to volunteer between 11:00 am - 1:15 pm to cover lunch and recess. Monday - Friday.
If you want to help cover the crosswalk before or after school also, just add that in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
PS - more dates will be added to fill out the school year.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program was established nearly 25 years ago. A program to help get fathers and father figures into our children's schools. Moms and mother figures have always been allowed, but the focus has been to purpose fathers and father-figures, not traditionally found on school campuses as much as the moms and female counterparts. Last year, in 2022, the national Watch DOGS program wanting to continue to engage fathers and father figures and add our M.O.M.S.
My name is Steve Clayton. Please feel free to email if you have any questions about our program. WatchDOGS is a national program that has been in our local schools for over a decade. You can email Steve at: dunstanwatchdogs@gmail.com
From the Dunstan PTA
Support Our Staff During Fall Conference with a Meal
At 4pm on Wednesday, September 20, we will have a build your own sandwich bar with fixings and sides for the staff. Click here help out by signing up to either help or contribute.
Treats for Teachers and Staff Sign-up
Hello Dunstan Middle School Families! Let's show our appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff by keeping their break room stocked this year. Please review the available slots below and contact Dunstan PTA (ptadunstan@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Treats can be dropped off to the front office during open hours.
Here is the link to sign up.