Dunstan Newsletter
January 12th
Letter from the Principal
January 12, 2024
Happy New Year 2024! I hope everyone had a good break! We are glad to be back and working with your students! This last week was positive and productive for students and staff. Teachers began the week by reviewing what learning will be accomplished this semester and also reviewing expectations for student learning and behavior.
Here is a link to the 8th Grade slidedeck that was used during our grade level renorming assembly on Wednesday. 6th grade had their renorming assembly during Advise on Thursday morning and 7th grade on Tuesday morning. Spring semester is usually a time in which we enjoy forward momentum and greater maturity on the part of the students.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Qy3F_vocTCv_xiH4sT3sKja5XGTlKBkh2ZQNulNJBR0/edit?usp=sharing
This newsletter includes information about the upcoming Regional Career Fair at Dunstan February 27, 2024 in our Gym. This is an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians of Dunstan and Green Mountain students to showcase the variety of careers! If you can be here on February 27th, we would love to have you here! Please see the Google Form in this newsletter for more information.
This newsletter also includes information about our upcoming Panorama Surveys from Jeffco. These include our Family Partnership, Student, and Staff Survey. If you want to see the questions that this addresses, please take time to review it. Should you want to opt your child out of the survey, please send an email to Leslie.Pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us.
During the next few weeks I will be working on our budget and staffing for next school year. Fortunately, Dunstan continues to maintain strong enrollment and has yet to experience the cuts in staffing that many other schools are experiencing! We are truly blessed by your ongoing support! We also continue to balance some of our numbers by accepting some choice enrollment students. I will provide a detailed overview of our budget and staffing at the next SAC/Accountability Meeting on Wednesday, January 24 from 5:30-7:00 in our Library. Please feel free to join us.
Our next PTA Meeting is next Wednesday, January 17th in our Library at 5:30. Josh Shallard, the Principal of Green Mountain High School will join us. Together, Mr. Shellard and I are working to smooth out the transition for 8th graders to high school. Mr. Shellard is a dynamic and dedicated Principal and it is a joy to work alongside him! Please feel free to join us!
I am pleased to announce that our PTA raised enough funds to purchase several Mimio Boards for classrooms at Dunstan! Thank you for your donations to Colorado Gives on behalf of Dunstan! We want to continue to add new technology to our classrooms and the student learning experience.
In the next few months we are encouraging our families of 8th grade students to please watch PTV and keep up on information about the end of this school year and registration for high school. High school counselors will be here on Feb. 14th to talk about class registration with students. Then they will return February 28th to collect registration information from each 8th grade student. Many PTV episodes will carry critical information about high school. These episodes will be posted on our website. Parents of 8th grade students, please prepare to discuss this process with your students.
Thank you for your ongoing support and love.
With much love and respect,
Jen Pennell
Monday, January 15th
- NO SCHOOL for MLK Day
Tuesday, January 16th
- Enroll Jeffco closes
Wednesday, January 17th
- PTA meeting (in-person and virtual) from 5:30-6:30 PM
Monday, January 22nd
- On/Off Track letters go out to students
Wednesday, January 31st
- Final day for students to be On Track for the field trip with an appeal
Monday, February 5th
- On Track Field Trip permission slips go out
Monday, February 12th
- On Track Field Trip permission slips DUE
Thursday, February 15th
- Alternative schedule for GMHS Elective Fair
Friday, February 16th
- NO SCHOOL for students (Teacher PD Day)
Monday, February 19th
- NO SCHOOL for President's Day
Wednesday, February 21st
- 6th Grade On Track Field Trip
Thursday, February 22nd
- 7th Grade On Track Field Trip
- TSA Competition
Friday, February 23rd
- 8th Grade On Track Field Trip
- TSA Competition
Monday, February 26th
- On/Off Track Letters go out
Tuesday, February 27th
- 6pm: DMS Band Concert @ DMS (Gym)
Wednesday, February 28th
- 6pm: Choir Concert @ DMS (Gym)
Thursday, February 29th
- 5th and 6th grade Orchestra Concert @ DMS (Cafeteria)
Important Crosswalk Information
As we returned for the first week of school following the holiday break, we noticed some students were not properly utilizing the crosswalk on the way to and from school. We want to ensure all students are crossing the street and getting to school safely.
Please inform your students when crossing the street, they must use the crosswalk. During drop-off and pick-up, there can be many vehicles maneuvering through traffic. So, if you drive your students to school, please use the loop in the school parking lot (pictured below). Walking in the middle of the street puts students at risk as vehicles are driving through. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!
Supplies Needed
Panorama Student Survey Information
Dear Families:
Panorama Education is a company who conducts student and family surveys in schools and districts across the country. Dunstan Middle School will be giving students the Panorama student survey in the coming months.
Content. The Panorama student survey gathers information on the following:
School Belonging
School Climate
School Engagement
School Teacher-Student Relationships
School Rigorous Expectations
School Safety
Math Identity
You may review the survey questions by visiting this link.
The results are compiled into aggregate-level school climate reports. These reports are used by district leaders and school staff to help maintain the positive aspects of our schools and to address individual student needs.
It is Voluntary. Your child does not have to take the student survey. Students who participate only have to answer the questions they want to answer and they may stop taking the survey at any time.
It is Confidential. No students will be identified in any public reports or publications. Individual student information (name, student number, school and grade) will be uploaded into the Panorama system. District staff will have access to the data file. Responses are confidential and identifiable. Individual student data may be shared with school staff to provide instructional and social emotional support.
Timing: The survey will be administered January 30 - March 3, 2023, most likely the week of February 6. It will take about 30-45 minutes; students will be taking it during one of their core class periods.
Opt - Out: If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you may contact Leslie Pruitt (Social Emotional Learning Specialist) at leslie.pruitt@jjeffco.k12.co.us
Attention 6th Grade Families
It was wonderful to see so many of you for our recent family info nights for Outdoor Lab. For those who couldn't be there, we wanted to make sure you have access to all of the information we reviewed. Here is the Outdoor Lab Parent Presentation that was discussed at that meeting. Inside the presentation, there is lots of very important information to get the process started and to start preparing your child for this amazing adventure. Please talk to your child about which group they are in and go to their Advise Google Classroom to fill in the Consent Form that is due by January 16. We want ALL 6th graders to participate, and we will work with every family to ensure that they can. For financial questions, please reach out to Beca Barnhart, our financial secretary, at Beca.Barnhart@jeffco.k12.co.us. If you have any other questions about Outdoor Lab, please reach out to Mark.Fabian@jeffco.k12.co.us, Megan.Devitt-Haggstrom@jeffco.k12.co.us, or Leslie.Walker@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Enroll Jeffco
It’s time to enroll, Jeffco! Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is now open. It’s helpful to let us know you’re coming back next year, so that the district can prepare for next year’s staffing, budget, resources and more for our school. Visit www.enrolljeffco.org to learn more.
New this year: There is a limit on the number of applications for families. You can choose to apply for up to three schools outside of your projected school. Preschool families have the option to apply for up to five preschool sessions.
Completing enrollment is not just a task to mark off your to-do list; it's an important step that helps our district plan for next year's staffing, budget, student resources and more. Let us know if you'll be returning next year by visiting www.enrolljeffco.org!
Visit www.enrolljeffco.org to let us know that you’re coming back for the 2024-25 school year. The earlier we know, the easier it is for the district to provide our school with all the tools and resources we need to provide a thriving experience for our students.
Events and Opportunities
Jeffco Career Fair (Click Photo to Sign up)
Green Mountain Boy Lacrosse Clinic
South Jeffco Coyotes Football Evaluations
Beginning September 19th
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Hello!
Welcome back from winter break! We had a great week back with students. Throughout the week, each grade level had an expectations presentation from our administrative staff. During Advise, students also worked on goal setting for second semester, including short- and long-term goals. Please follow up with your student and ask them what they are looking forward to this semester, as well as what they would like to work on.
As always, if you have any questions about Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan, or how we can best support your student, please reach out and let me know.
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.
Dates are added through the rest of the school year!!!!! Click on the sign up genius link below.
(I do apologize for not having dates last fall. I figured out what I did and it looks like the link is working)
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.
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
PTA Meeting on January 17th
Please join us for the first PTA meeting of the year. The meeting will be held in the library and will be from 5:30p-7p. For those of you that can't make it in person, a link to attend virtually will be sent via email next week. Dr. Pennell will be there to provide a school update and Green Mountain High School's principal, Josh Shellard, will be there to speak and answer questions. Please join us!
Thank you to Everyone who donated during Colorado Gives Day!
We are so pleased to announce that we raised $10,951 for Dunstan on Colorado Gives Day! Thank you so much to everyone who donated. With your donations, we were able to provide $1,000 in gift cards for Dunstan families in need over the holiday season, fully fund the choreographer for the spring musical, , and support general PTA programs for the remainder of the year.
Any teacher who raised $100 or more, will receive 25% of the amount raised by their advise class. Those teachers that raised less than $100 will receive $25 to order classroom supplies.
Congrats to the top winners in each grade:
$922.55 6th Grade Advise - Bohn - For the third year in a row!
$986.00 7th Grade Advise - Fisher
$487.95 8th Grade Advise - Boucher
Help Feed the Teachers!
We want to make sure our teachers are fed and happy leading into the parent/teacher conferences on February 13th so the PTA is hosting a dinner. Please sign up to help or donate food items by clicking here
Help Dunstan Create a Zen Den for Students
The PTA would like to help support the ZEN DEN at Dunstan led by Ms. Hyrup.
The ZEN DEN stemmed from a Cap Stone project started by a GMHS Senior, a room dedicated as a tool to help teach self-reflection, redirection, emotional regulation, and many other life skills.
We would like to help supply the ZEN DEN with the remaining items needed to create this space and we need your help. The ZEN DEN is in need of Mental Health Posters, Journals, Fidgets, Counting Blocks, Emotional Regulation tools and Small Creative learning projects or kits.
We have included the Amazon Wishlist link below, of suggested items:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12K9US8GWW9VY?ref_=wl_share
Donations may be dropped off at the office, there is a box labeled ZEN DEN.
Looking for an easy way to support Dunstan at no cost to you?
In the second quarter of 2023, Dunstan PTA earned $471.06 through the King Soopers Community Rewards program. Linking your King Soopers card to the Dunstan PTA is an easy way to support our school - at no cost to you! Simply log in to Community Rewards and search for us: https://bit.ly/2R6y1mk.
Thank you for your support!
Sign-Up to Bring Treats for Teachers and Staff
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.
Join the PTA
Click here to find out what PTA does and how you can be involved