DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
March 18, 2019
Spring is in the air! Longer days and warmer temperatures have arrived. Wishing everyone a great Sunday and wonderful week ahead!
Kindly,
Jay C. Norton, Principal
*Don't forget to read through the entire update... there are always more dates in the Upcoming Events Section. If you have any questions/ concerns- please don't hesitate to contact me/ the office.
GENERAL REMINDERS
A reminder that school doors open and our staff begins duty in the morning at 8:50AM. Any students who are waiting outside of the building prior to 8:50 are expected to be supervised by a parent/ guardian. In addition, cars/ vehicles should not be passing the vans/ busses that are parked and waiting to drop off students.
We realize that mornings are very busy and that there is a lot of traffic near and around the building; however, student safety is the priority. Please maintain patience when on Davis Hill grounds. Students are everywhere.
GENERAL STUDENT BEHAVIOR:
Last week we observed a general increase in school-wide reports of unkind, silly and/ or hands-on behavior. While this may be in part due to the time change (I know my three children struggled with the time change), or the excitement of the Book Fair, we typically do see an increase in this type of behavior as the spring arrives. We would appreciate your support as we move forward in regard to reminding your children about the importance of being kind, keeping their hands to themselves and generally following directions/ demonstrating respect for others/ self and the school. Our staff thanks you for the support!
UPCOMING EVENTS THIS WEEK
FIFTH GRADE BOYS AND GIRLS NIGHTS
Thank you to the Davis Hill PTA for sponsoring this year's Boys and Girls Nights! Boys and Girls Nights are scheduled for 5th Grade students and their parent(s)/ guardian(s). The discussion is centered on adolescence.
-5th Grade Girls Night will be held on March 18 from 6:30-7:30. The speaker will be Phyllis Shea.
-5th Grade Boys Night will be held on March 25 from 6:30-7:30. The speaker will be Elmer Ream.
5TH GRADE YEARBOOK DEADLINE FOR PHOTOS!!
Please help out our Yearbook Volunteers!
We are setting a deadline of FRIDAY, MARCH 22 to send along the requested pictures.
Your help is appreciated!
-A few points for clarity: Yearbook is seeking the following pictures for each student:
1. Baby Picture
2. An individual memory picture (i.e. candid from a school event)
3. Group pictures/ candids/ through the years (i.e. wax museum/ Dragon Dash, Ice Cream Social/ Fall Festival).
-Please note: Not all pictures will be used in the yearbook.
-Sign up genius no longer needed (tasks have been assigned).
Send Pictures to: davishillyearbook1.0@gmail.com
BOOK FAIR
MCAS SCHEDULE (Grades 3-5)
Once again, this year our students will be taking the MCAS on the computer. This is the second year that students will be using computers for the assessment. Last year was our first year using the computers and our staff did a wonderful job preparing our students and they did an awesome job! We expect more of the same this year.
For more information on MCAS, please see the link from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Link: DESE Information on Student Testing
GENERAL NOTES ON MCAS ASSESSMENT:
It is understood that standardized testing can create anxiety for some students. The Massachusetts Statewide Parent Information and Resource Center has provided the following list of guidelines for parents to help prepare their child for the testing:
Make sure your child is well rested and eats breakfast.
See that your child arrives to school on time and is relaxed.
Encourage your child to do the best work possible and to have a positive attitude.
Dress comfortably!
Remind your child to read all test taking directions carefully and listen to the teacher’s directions.
Encourage your child to take his/her time and check work for accuracy.
To help reduce anxiety:
Talk about the test in a positive way.
Encourage best efforts rather than perfection.
Encourage your child to focus on his/her strengths, such as good memory.
Assure your child that the test is only one measure of academic performance.
Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person’s worth.
At Davis Hill, our message to students reinforces the following:
-Be confident and ‘relax’! It is an opportunity to ‘Show What You Know!’.
-You are prepared and ready!
-The MCAS does not define who you are as a student and/ or a person.
Our hope is that at the end of the MCAS assessment, Davis Hill students will feel a sense of pride in themselves that they have put forth their best effort and feel proud of themselves for meeting the challenge.
*Please note the following re: MCAS:
Students are not allowed to have electronic devices (cell phones/ SmartWatches) during assessment. If your child owns/ wears a SmartWatch to school, they will have to take it off during the assessment.
If you have any questions/ concerns regarding MCAS, please contact your child’s classroom teacher and/ or administration.
MCAS SCHEDULE CHANGES
Provided our responsibilities in regard to the MCAS assessments, there will be some schedule changes (recess/ lunch and special changes) that will be taking place for some grade levels on the listed assessment days.
Thank you!
Please note... all grades will also be doing a practice/ trial assessment on the computers in the next few weeks to help get ready for MCAS.
PARENT/ COMMUNITY INFORMATION
PARENT ARTICLE
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
3/18-PTA Girls Night (Open to 5th Grade Girls and Parents/ 6:30/ Library)
3/25-PTA Boys Night (Open to 5th Grade Boys and Parents/ 6:30/ Library)
3/26-Mt. View Orientation for Parents (6:30PM/ At Mt. View)
3/28-SIMCO Meeting (4:00/ Community Room)
3/28-Principal's Coffee (6:00/ Community Room)
3/28-PTA Meeting (6:30/ Community Room)
3/29-Art and Science Night (5:30-7:30)
4/3-Food Pantry Donation Day (Be FOOLish.. dress goofy, nerdy, silly, inside out...have fun!)
4/3-Quarter 3 Closes
4/5-School Store Open During Lunch
4/10-Report Cards Available Via PowerSchool Parent Portal (4:00PM)
4/15-April Vacation Begins (4/15-4/19)
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011661587115
Twitter: @DHPrincipal