Dunstan Newsletter
January 26th
Congrats Max Boryenace on being the Sertoma Essay Winner
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)
Dear Parents of Dunstan Students,
When picking up your student(s) after school, please tell them to use the designated crosswalk. In the past few days, we have had a couple of students nearly get hit by moving cars on Wright Street. Some parents are waving their kids across the street - not at the crosswalk. Drivers anticipate students at the crosswalk but not darting between cars on Wright Street. Several parents called and expressed concerns for the safety of the students.
At my last school, which was an elementary school, a student was hit by a car. He had a broken leg as a result of the hit. I can still remember his name and the scene in my mind. The parent who drove the car that hit him felt awful as this is an experience they will never forget! The parent of the student who was hit was upset and also felt awful because she waved him across the street where there was no crosswalk.
Please take a few more minutes to pick up your student. Please tell/direct them to use the crosswalk. Students practice what we reinforce as adults, when we are present, and when we are not present. If students are encouraged to not follow basic safety expectations, they won’t in the future when they are in places with larger crowds and more traffic. When students use designated crosswalks, this behaviorally reinforces obeying expectations for pedestrians and increases the likelihood that students will do this in the future - in situations when they are with and without their parents.
Thank you for taking the time to help prevent a student from being hit by a car. When a student is hit, it is a very unfortunate memory that is etched in the brains and hearts of all involved! I have asked Jeffco Safety and Security for more assistance, but they cannot provide daily help. I reached out to the Lakewood Police Department to ask for cars that are pulling u-turns and going through the crosswalk when people are in the crosswalk to be ticketed. If you are interested in volunteering to help with our traffic, please email or call me 303-982-9270.
Respectfully, but also concerned,
Jennifer Pennell, Principal of Dunstan
School Values Awards
Last week we honored students who were nominated by teachers for displaying our school values - Engage - Empower - Inspire
Each month, teams will nominate 3 students who each demonstrate one of the school values.
Summit Jeffco
Join us at Summit Jeffco: Empowering Dunstan Families for Student Success!
We encourage you to attend this event that promises to empower and equip you with valuable insights to support your student's educational journey. Join us at Summit Jeffco hosted by Jeffco Public Schools on Saturday, March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Summit Ridge Middle School.
Summit Jeffco is a unique gathering where families can connect with district and school staff, as well as experts in various fields, to explore important topics that impact our students. Discover how you can play an active role in improving your student's educational experience and foster their growth.
Summit Jeffco Event Details:
Date: Saturday, Mar 2, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Summit Ridge Middle School
We believe that strong collaboration between home and school is essential for our students' success. Summit Jeffco provides the perfect platform to strengthen this partnership and embark on a journey towards educational excellence.
Don't miss out on this opportunity as we partner to help students thrive! We look forward to seeing you there!
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
Events and Opportunities
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Hello!
This week during Advise, students created "I am From..." poems a way to get to know each other and learn from each others' culture experiences and history. Please click the link HERE to see the format of the I Am From poem and please feel free to create your own to share with your students! Please ask your students to share theirs with you as well.
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
Please sign up to help feed Dunstan Staff during Parent/Teacher Conferences
The PTA is providing a baked potato bar for Dunstan staff on the evening of conferences, Tuesday, February 13. Please sign up to contribute items to feed our hardworking teachers, or volunteer to help out by clicking here
Show the Dunstan Staff how much we appreciate all their hardwork
Let's show our staff some LOVE in February! Choose a staff member/s to recognize at least once during the month of February. Doing something around Valentine's (Wed., Feb. 14) would be especially great, but not required. You do not need to spend a lot of money to make someone feel appreciated! You might be surprised how much a card, with a note from a student, means to our staff. Click here to sign up for a staff member
Let someone else do the cooking for you on February 28
Noodles & Co. is hosting a fundraising night for Dunstan Middle School! Join us 4-8 pm at the location on 2nd and Union and use code GIVING25 for in-person or online ordering.
Looking for an easy way to support Dunstan at no cost to you?
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 your King Sooper's digital account by clicking on this link. Once you log in, you can go to your account and find the tab "Community Rewards". From there you can search for Dunstan PTA.
Thank you for your support!
Sign-Up to Bring Treats for Teachers and Staff
As you're doing your grocery shopping, why not grab a box of granola bars, a bag of individually wrapped candy, a case of fizzy water, or a selection of small chip bags to help fuel our hard working teachers? Here is the link to sign up.
Treats can be dropped off at the front office during normal school hours.
Join the PTA Board
It’s time to start thinking about how you can get involved with the PTA next school year! We need volunteers for PTA President/Administrator, Fundraising Chair, Reflections Chair and Social Media/Website Coordinator.
Here is a highlight of the Reflections Chair position from the current chair Joanne Sarazin:
After 3 years proudly working on Reflections at Dunstan I am looking for a parent interested in volunteering for this position for the 2024-25 school year!
Reflections has been growing at Dunstan over the last 3 years and students’s have appreciated this important program as a way to express themselves in the arts through Film, Literature, Dance, Music and Visual Arts. We have had students move forward to the state level and even a student last year who received an honor award at state! Dunstan student’s find this program a great way to share their work with the school and community and sharing their successes!
Please feel free to contact me if interested or if you know anyone that is interested - having computer skills helps and you don’t need to have experience in the arts!
I have gathered all materials and documented steps needed to continue a successful Reflections program at Dunstan and very willing to answer questions to help with this transition!
Joanne Sarazin: joannesarazin0@gmail.com
Learn how this and other PTA roles support our community at https://sites.google.com/view/dunstanpta/about-us
Dunstan Spirit Wear
Dunstan Spirit Wear!
Outfit the whole family in Dunstan Patriot t-shirts or sweatshirts! Use this form to place your order. You will need to log in to your google account to access this form. If you do not have a google account and wish to order, please email treasurerdunstanPTA@gmail.com.
Is your New Year's resolution to listen to more podcasts?
A Podcast for Parents, by Parents
PTA is working to ensure our public schools provide a high-quality and equitable education for every child to reach their full potential. Notes from the Backpack is a PTA podcast designed for millions of parents and the decisionmakers they influence.
Through the unique combination of expert, parent and educator guests, each episode features engaging conversations that offer real-life advice and ideas on how to support children’s learning and development—all in parent-friendly language.