DAIS Newsletter 2nd Marking Period
Keep Calm & Share Happiness
Revised School Calendar
To view the revised 2015-16 Calendar-at-a-Glance visit http://www.dallastown.net/cms/lib6/PA01000011/Centricity/Domain/50/2015-16%20Calendar-at-a-Glance-SNOW%20REVISED-Jan%2027-16.pdf.
· The closure on Monday, January 25, will be made up on Thursday, February 11.
· The closure on Tuesday, January 26, will be made up on Monday, March 28.
Please note that additional inclement weather cancellations may result in make-up days being added to the end of the school year.
CURRICULUM CORNER
Science
Grade 4 students are wrapping up their discovery in the life sciences with hands-on opportunities like studying crayfish and bess beetles. These discoveries are included in the FOSS life science modules for all grade 4 students across DAIS.
Grade 5 students continue studying topics of ecology such as biomes and ecosystems. Students recently discovered the niche of an owl through the dissection of owl pellets. See website below for virtual dissection link at home.
Grade 6 students just finished their first STEAM activity creating their own glue compound and are continuing to learn about forces and motion with many hands-on experiences and tests. Teams across DAIS are continuing to work through the K’Nex car challenge and look forward to the school wide challenge this spring.
Owl pellet dissection: http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/html5/v1/fullscreen.html
Social Studies & English Language Arts
We would like to present an interactive PDF to provide insight to the integration of Social Studies and English Language Arts at DAIS. You may access the PDF to access the links to student work. Our ELA and Social Studies Subject Area Leaders, Mr. Keys and Mrs. Haun, collaborated utilizing the Screencastify Google application to create a virtual presentation.
Math
Fifth grade math students have been adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals. They have also been studying patterns and coordinate grids. Next, our fifth graders will be transitioning to adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.
Our sixth graders started the second marking period focusing on integers, coordinate planes and multiplying and dividing fractions. Next, our sixth grade math students will be studying expressions, equations, functions and inequalities. Our higher level math skills require our students to regularly practice their basic facts to ensure their success as they travel the road to math fluency.
Visit https://drive.google.com/a/dallastown.net/file/d/0B3bELWDbddTtVXBYVV85N2dNNGM/view for information on how to access My Math/Glencoe Math lesson tutorials, lesson animations, virtual manipulatives, and extra practice for your child to review and reinforce his math lessons.
Guidance
The Dallastown Area School District Guidance Departments' and Social Services Coordinator's collaborative giving efforts involved the Dallastown community, school families, faculty, and students in assisting 233 families and 350 children during the last year and up through this season of giving. This included the distribution of food baskets, gift cards, books, toys, and clothing.
We extend a Wildcat thank you to everyone for helping to make a difference in the lives of others.
The Guidance Department assist students in small groups. During the second marking period the school counselors facilitated groups for students in all three communities. Topics this marking period consisted of social skills, divorce, coping, and confidence and grief. Guidance groups meet during the school day one time per cycle for a seven week period. Referrals to group can be made by teachers, parents and students.
iLibrary & Technology
DAIS fifth and sixth grade students have been busy exploring research databases in iLibrary! We have been using Power Library, and learning how to use the databases, Explora and SIRS Discoverer, for nonfiction research. We’ve been looking at how these databases use articles from all types of media to inform us on many different subjects. Students also use the many database features to explore current events, history, biographies, and other interesting topics.
All grades have been using True Flix by Scholastic, and exploring the content modules inside each category. Students have been viewing the videos, reading the interactive ebooks, and using the additional resources available in this great database from Scholastic. We will be moving on to Freedom Flix and Science Flix in the weeks to come!
Our students have been using their iLibrary station to hone their keyboarding skills, using Typing.com and Nitrotype. Students are encouraged to practice at home. They may access these sites via the Symbaloo on the DAIS Library website.
We continue to use Destiny to find great books in the library! Fourth grade students are becoming very proficient using Destiny to search a book, and using the call number to locate the book on the shelf. We just learned how to do a Power Search, to refine our results and find the specific type of book we want.
Fourth-grade students continue to receive direct classroom instruction on how to best use Chromebooks and Google apps for 21st century learning, while fifth and sixth-grade students incorporate Chromebooks into their independent iLibrary work. Check out the iLibrary Symbaloo at http://dallastown.net/domain/550.
Due to an increase in the number of overdue books, library fines are being reinstated. Students will once again be charged 10 cents per book, per day when not returned within 3 weeks of checkout. No items may be borrowed until overdue items are returned and fines are paid.
Need a reminder for book selection weeks? Sign up for DAIS Library Remind text notifications by texting @af7ceb to 81010.
Health & Physical Education
The students are currently participating in 5 winter units: Floor Hockey, Badminton, Bowling, Wii Room/Game Room, and Interactive Fitness. It is always great to see the students getting their heart rates up on the treadmill, elliptical, rower, bikes, JumpQ, Heavy Ball, and rock wall and enjoying some fun competition during the game units. These units help the students learn lifelong fitness activities, and show them exercising can be fun!
Art
We are looking east to the Art of Asia! This school year DAIS artwork is centered around a multicultural theme, Asian art. We are learning about people of different Asian countries and cultures, and how they use art forms to preserve and pass down their family traditions and history. The variety of Asian animals and their significance, play a large role in the Arts and Culture of Asia. Using our imaginations we create art and make connections to the world around us!
Grade 4 will explore the genre of expressionism and the artist Wassily Kandinsky and Rene Magritte. We will experiment with printmaking and collage as media.
Grade 5 focuses on American artists Andy Warhol and Grant Wood. Fifth graders will be weaving traditional baskets and making papier mache and copper relief sculptures.
Grade 6 highlights include the Expressionist artists Jackson Pollock and Edvard Munch, yarn painting, and mask making with plaster craft. All ggrades will sculpt a ceramic project and glaze it.
We welcome volunteers!
Do you have an extra morning or afternoon each week or once a month? Would you enjoy decorating and creating art displays around the DAIS building?
Send an email to: Jennifer.Bell@dallastown.net (Yellow 4, 5, 6 and Red 5, 6) or michelle.eberly@dallastown.net (Blue 4 ,5, 6, and Red 4).
Save the Date: Art Show May 18th and 19th!
Music
The music classes at DAIS have been singing, moving, playing, creating and composing. Since instruments and materials are shared, the classes in each community are not doing these at the same time, but within the year all students have the same opportunities using drums, ukuleles, guitars, keyboards and homemade instruments as well as exploring other musical topics. All of the music classes prepared for a fun time in the gym at the annual Holiday Sing-along on December 23.
The choruses showed amazing musical growth and maturity as they performed three times on December 8 for the Holiday Chorus Concerts. It is always astounding what these chorus students can do with so few rehearsals! We have much to be proud of in our music programs.
Spring choruses have started to meet. Their performance will be on May 17, 2016 at 9:30am, 1:30pm, and 7:00pm.
DAIS Yearbooks & Spring Pictures
Our second yearbook sale has begun! Flyers were sent home with students who have not yet ordered a yearbook. Yearbook orders should be returned to homeroom teachers by February 10. Yearbooks may be purchased online at any time, from now until February 10, 2016 at www.ybpay.lifetouch.com, using yearbook ID 12601316. Please note, the deadline to order yearbooks is February 10, late orders will not be accepted. If you have any questions regarding yearbooks please contact Lifetouch at 800-743-8997.
Save the Date: Spring Pictures on February 16. Spring Picture Day order forms were sent home with students on February 1.
We are currently seeking volunteers for picture day, to sign up visit www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0C49A5A923A57-dais3.
Girls on the Run
Every season, Girls on the Run is asked to do a community service project. This year, one of the teams made ornaments for young cancer patients. This video link highlights a young lady named Mia from Chandler, Arizona. Mia was was born with a rare form of marrow failure, Diamond Blackfin Anemia, and has to get blood transfusions every 30 days. Girls on the Run made her an honorary team captain and she will distribute the ornaments to other sick kids that she receives her infusions with. To view the video, visit https://youtu.be/GE9hrv5mbEU.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE!
We would like to congratulate all of the DAIS students on their efforts in raising donations for the DAIS PTO Fun Run. Job well done!
Due to their amazing efforts and your support, the $35,000 goal was met! Meeting this goal meant that students would get to send the Principals to spend the night on the roof! To celebrate, we will be hosting a DAIS Family Fun Night on May 26 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.
For more information, visit https://www.smore.com/app/pages/preview/0fed3.
Penny Wars
Penny Wars is part of the Dallastown Foundation Scholarship program (formerly known as Dollars for Scholars). Each graduating class has an account set up through the school district. Money raised through Penny Wars is deposited into these class accounts. When your child’s class reaches graduation, the money is available to students through scholarships.
1, 2, 3, 4 it’s time to start a Penny War (Feb 22 - Feb 26)! Collection jars will be located in the cafeteria. Students, place pennies into your grade’s jar. Place nickels, dimes, and quarters into the other grades’ jars.
Pennies will count as one cent each but silver coins and paper money will count AGAINST that grade. Example: A 4th grade student places 25 pennies into his class jar, 5 dimes into the 5th grade jar, and 2 quarters into the 6th grade jar. The student will earn 25¢ towards his class total. The 5th & 6th grades will each lose 50¢ from their class totals.
Winning Penny Wars is a big deal.
The grade with the highest total (or the lowest negative balance) will receive a trophy! The trophy might be plastic and hey, a pinch smaller than you’d expect, but it’s still a trophy and to the victor go the spoils!
Strengthening Families
Strengthening Families is a FREE seven week family workshop series filled with fun and learning for ALL families who have children aged 10-14. Single or married parents, blended families, grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers are encouraged to attend!
WE MAKE LIFE EASY! Each week we provide a family-style meal, award prizes for participation, and offer FREE childcare during the classroom sessions for families who have children who are too young yet to attend.
Parents Learn New Ways To:
- Talk & Listen to Their Children
- Keep Calm During Stressful Times
- Help Their Kids Stay Out of Trouble
- Support Their Children’s Goals
Kids Have Fun While Learning New Ways To:
- Appreciate Their Family
- Discover Their Dreams & Reach Their Goals
- Understand The Importance of Rules
- Deal With Peer Pressure
For more information visit: http://dallastown.net/cms/lib6/PA01000011/Centricity/Domain/511/DASD%20Strengthening%20Families%202016.pdf
Box Tops
Don't forget to bring in your box tops and soup labels. The new contest is starting and all box tops turned in by February 16 will count as DOUBLE for your team! For more information visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/.
CALENDAR ITEMS
2/8/16 Girls on the Run (2/8/16 - 4/29/16; Every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm)
2/9/16 Parent Program - Chrome: The Student Experience (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm - SNOW DATE: 2/16/16)
2/10/16 SEALS (10/28/15 - 2/24/16; Every Wednesday from 3:20 pm - 4:20 pm)
2/11/16 Spirit Day - Healthy Heart Day (Wear exercise clothes and get that heart moving)
2/11/16 SCHOOL IN SESSION: Inclement Weather Make-Up Day)
2/12/16 Winter Break - No School
2/15/16 Holiday - No School
2/16/16 Spring Pictures
2/17/16 SEALS (10/28/15 - 2/24/16; Every Wednesday from 3:20 pm - 4:20 pm)
2/17/16 Grade 4 Field Trip to The Whitaker Center (9:00 am - 2:30 pm)
2/17/16 PTO Meeting (9:00 am)
2/19/16 Spirit Day - No Hate Day (Wear black or anything that supports No Hate)
2/22/16 Penny Challenge (2/22 - 2/26/16)
2/23/16 Strengthening Families Program (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
2/24/16 SEALS (10/28/15 - 2/24/16; Every Wednesday from 3:20 pm - 4:20 pm)
2/26/16 Spirit Day - Pajama Day (Wear your favorite PJs - Shoes or sneakers must be worn)
2/29/16 Spirit Day - Polar Bear Day (Let's celebrate winter by wearing all white)
3/1/16 Elementary PTO Performing Arts: Violon Rocks with Geoffrey Castle (9:30 am: GR3/GR5-1st; 10:45 am: GR6; 1:30 pm: GR4/GR5-2nd)
3/1/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
3/2/16 Elementary PTO Performing Arts: Violin Rocks with Geoffrey Castle (9:15 am: GRK; 10:30 am: GR2; 1:00 pm: GR1)
3/3/16 Grade 5 FBLA Cyber Safety Program (1:50 pm - 2:35 pm)
3/7/16 No School
3/8/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
3/15/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
3/16/16 PTO Meeting (7:00 pm)
3/22/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
3/25/16 Spring Break/Holiday - No School
3/28/16 SCHOOL IN SESSION: Inclement Weather Make-Up Day
3/29/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
4/1/16 Half Day In-Service (End of MP3)
4/4/16 Grade 6 MS Transition Parent Meeting (7:00 pm at the MS)
4/5/16 Strengthening Families Program (2/23 - 4/5/16; Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
4/7/16 Special Education PEP Musical
4/7/16 JROTC Lunch Visit for Summer Camp Information (10:55 am - 1:05 pm)
4/11/16 PA Core ELA PSSA Testing Window (Student Absences Prohibited)
4/12/16 Report Card Distribution