Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of April 1st -
District Goals 2018-2019
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moe's like customer service for internal and external community.
- Strengthen the structure and quality of communication both internally and externally.
- Promote a work and learning environment where students and staff feel safe physically, emotionally and socially.
DFES Goals 2018-2019
- Exceed family expectations in our communication, follow through, and sharing student progress.
- Strengthen grade level data team processes to accelerate student growth and achievement in mathematics.
- Implementation of student-led conference across all grade levels (as identified in DFES strategic plan).
DFES Beliefs
- We believe all people deserve to feel safe, valued, and loved.
- We believe all children are naturally curious about the world around them.
- We believe learning is a social process.
- We believe inquiry fosters an environment of noticing and questioning.
- We believe in learning from multiple perspectives.
- We believe in learning from authentic primary and secondary sources.
- We believe in encouraging learners to be risk takers.
- We believe reflection should lead to change and growth.
- We believe learning should lead to social action.
- We believe our actions should be aligned with our beliefs.
Shout Outs
- M. Reid has taken on the role Jessica's position while also maintaining her regular duties and responsibilities. We commend her for doing both while maintaining a pleasant smile, attitude, and willingness to support both students and staff.
- Our literacy team. These colleagues on a daily basis live into our first 2 district priorities in support the growth of readers and collaborating with homeroom teachers to support their efforts as well.
- S. Clemens. As you all know end of the nine weeks requires a lot attention and details on behalf of our classroom teachers. This is exemplified for school registrars during this process. Appreciation for her efforts as what is required of her that most never realize.
- K teachers, assistants, and our small ichthyologists for the completion of their ichthyology unit (study of fish). They closed out this study with the annual release of trout in the Saluda River last Monday. Great display of learning in school that matches learning in the real world.
Reflection from Forest Hills Elementary Incident
As most of you are aware Forest Hills Elementary School in Colleton County received national attention after a classroom fight that ultimately led to the death of a ten year old. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, school, and community.
I am grateful for the attention and detail taken to ensure the safety of our Fox Cubs. The tragedy at Forest Hills is a reminder for us all to be ever so vigilant with supervision of our students. We are all expected to be fully engaged and present during morning duty, within our classrooms, transitioning throughout the building, recess, lunch, and afternoon duties.
Finally the incident heightening the awareness of school stakeholders regarding bully prevention, policies, and efforts. The document below outlines a comprehensive plan that our school uses to address the aforementioned.
Fifth Grade Field Study (Jefferson/Hale)
Monday, Apr 1, 2019, 09:00 AM
Challenger Learning Center, Barhamville Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Fifth Grade Field Study (Drayton/Ybarra)
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2019, 09:00 AM
Challenger Learning Center
Tuesday's PD
The first two goals as a district include focusing work decisions around strategic plans and identifying areas of achievement to improve.
On Tuesday we will spend time with our grade levels looking at our Read to Succeed Reflection Tool. This tool is directly connected to school read to succeed plans and outlines exemplary practices with literacy instruction.
Knowing our PD centered around data teams, instructional strategies, and math this past year it is necessary for our grade level teams to look at this tool to assess where we are as school regarding literacy instruction and identify areas of focus and professional development for the 2019-2020 school year.
Second Cup of Coffee
2nd Cup of Coffee was originally scheduled to take place this coming Wednesday at our regularly scheduled time. It will be necessary for us to reschedule. We will notify family of this change through various mediums this week.
Scott Out of Office Wednesday
Early Release Day
Thursday, Apr 4, 2019, 07:30 AM
DFES
Annual Title I Stakeholders Meeting
As a Title I school (more than 40% students received free lunch) we have a responsibility of hosting an annual stakeholders meeting. This meeting is intended to give families/parents and staff an opportunity to identify school needs and help identify how Title I funds should be allotted for the upcoming school year.
Thursday, Apr 4, 2019, 12:30 PM
Media Center
1st-5th Grade Tag Ceremonies
In effort to accomodate our visitors we ask our staff to utilize rear parking. We will make an announcement over the airway if necessary Friday morning for cars to be moved so that our visitors can park closer to the building.
Sunday, Mar 31, 2019, 09:00 PM
Mini Theater
PBIS Set Visit
We are a PBIS school system. As such each year all D5 schools participate in in a PBIS Set evaluation. During this time we typically have our district PBIS leads that visit each site to determine the implementation and effectiveness of PBIS at each school.
During the the set evaluation the visitors will talk with certified staff, support staff, and students (unannounced and inquire about PBIS at that respective school. No matter your position at DFES please be sure to reorient and re-familiarize yourself with how PBIS works at our school.
What are the school-wide expectations?
- L - Live and Learn Safely
- E - Effectively Communicate
- A - Act Kindly and Respectfully
- F - Focus on Learning
https://sites.google.com/lex5.k12.sc.us/dfes-pbis-site/why-pbis?authuser=0
2. Have those expectations been taught to students this year?
- We taught expectations school-wide in our Expectations Rotation on August 22nd & January 24th
- Media Center
- Cafeteria
- Bathroom/Hallway
- Mini Theater
- Playground
- Expectations have also been taught in classrooms.
3. Have you given out any LEAF Bucks in the past week? / When was the last time you issued a LEAF Buck to a student.
- The answer should be YES. Shruti S. Poulsen, Ph.D. stated that there should be 5 positive interactions per 1 negative.
4. What types of student problems do you or would you refer to the office?
- Major Office Referrals. Please refer to the Disciplinary Ladder of Behavior
5. Is there a team in your school that addresses school-wide behavior support systems?
- YES. Our PBIS Team.
https://sites.google.com/lex5.k12.sc.us/dfes-pbis-site/why-pbis?authuser=0
6. Does your team use discipline data to make decisions?
- YES. Discipline data is shared monthly with all, and it is used to determine Hot Spots as well as determine which students may need additional supports.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oxV_U7hezZYXAMHUYYrZGtXuMFr3iY8n6EdMpkboLYg/edit?usp=sharing
7. Has your team taught/ reviewed school-wide program with staff this year?
- YES. On August 14th, we had a reorientation to PBIS PD.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fKl1b3ICD59UAh1ZzTBQLHop6R_YcESj6MeNrP2-OLs
8. Who are the team leaders/ facilitators?
- Sara Beckman & Brandon Gantt
Please let me know if you have any questions, and please find the url for the PBIS site below.
https://sites.google.com/lex5.k12.sc.us/dfes-pbis-site/home?authuser=0
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2019, 08:00 AM
DFES
We develop students who care care about the world we live in and express critical thinking through natural curiosity and wonder.
Email: jscott@lexrich5.org
Website: www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork/cfm/
Location: 7900 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: 803-476-3901
Twitter: @dfes_principal