HERMAN E. DUMMER NEWSLETTER
February, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. FORD
Love Conquers All
Covid stinks and it doesn’t play fair,
It’s here, it’s there, and it’s everywhere!
It messes up plans and wreaks havoc for sure;
How much longer must we endure?
We’re wearing our masks and are following the rules,
We’ve even learned to use all the technology tools.
The isolation is about driving us mad,
And when looking around, it seems everyone’s sad.
We crave each other and what used to be.
It’s opened our eyes so we can clearly see,
That it’s not the things in life or the money you possess,
It’s the interactions, the kindness, and the love that we miss.
So take this time to make every second count,
Treat others with love in endless amount!
Make every day special without complaint or regret,
And build those memories you don’t want to forget.
It’s up to us how we face each day.
Will we fuss and complain or find a positive way?
Be strong and courageous and know others are there
To walk with you, help you, and show you they care.
No one is perfect, no not one,
So be forgiving and humble until this is done.
Make every day count and put a smile on your face,
For your purpose is here for this exact time and place.
Things are not easy but Covid won’t win,
Because LOVE conquers all and will triumph again!
Remote Learning Help for Parents/Guardians and Students
Just a reminder that there is technology help and tutorials for parents/guardians and students
on our Sandwich430.org website under the “Parents” tab and then click on “Remote Learning
Help”. You will find many helpful tutorials and instructions for our technology and programs.
There is also a tab to click if your student is having trouble with their Chromebook.
NEWS FROM DISTRICT #430
The week of May 10th, Sandwich School District will be conducting an external review with a team of Cognia evaluators. Cognia (formerly AdvancED) is a nonprofit, third-party organization that assists schools and districts in their continuous improvement efforts to improve teaching and learning. External reviews take place every five years and are conducted by a team of enthusiastic educators from around the nation. During our five-year improvement cycle, Sandwich Schools have been focusing on the following six improvement priorities:
Utilize data from a variety of sources to drive purposeful professional development at the district and building level.
Work continuously to create and formalize a process to document and track our improvement efforts at the district and school levels.
Create a formal student improvement plan (MTSS) based on a comprehensive evaluation of student support services and programs.
Evaluate, revise, update, and communicate grading policies and practices throughout the district.
Work with a safety consultant to continuously improve upon processes and practices at the building level to ensure our students, staff, and stakeholders' safety.
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop and implement a blended and remote learning plan for the 2020-2021 school year based on guidance from the CDC, ISBE, and IDPH.**Priority added Spring of 2020
ATTENDANCE POLICY
All students must complete attendance everyday between the hours of 7:15 am and 3:15 pm. Attendance and work completion is required on a daily basis, Monday thru Friday, whether at school or at home.
You can find the District attendance policy in our Handbook (located in the front of your student’s planner) on pages 6 and 7:
Reporting an Absence:
To report an absence, parents or guardians are to call the school (815-786-8498) between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. (An answering machine will take calls before 7:00 a.m.) NOTES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR A STUDENT’S ABSENCE. If a phone call is not received by 10:00 a.m., a reasonable attempt will be made to contact a parent or guardian. If contact cannot be made, the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH INFORMATION
Until the end of the school year, free food is available through the USDA's "Free Meals for Kids" program.
Each morning that your student is in attendance he/she will be offered a “Grab and Go” bagged breakfast. Each day your student will also be able to order a bagged lunch “Grab and Go” which will be consumed in the cafeteria. If you would like your student to receive school breakfast/lunch on their remote learning day, it will need to be ordered while in person. For example, if your student attends school on an "A" day and you would like them to receive a breakfast/lunch for the next day while they are learning remotely they will need to order the remote day food while at school the day prior. Your student would then be sent home from school with bagged breakfast and lunch. If your student's last day of in-person learning for the week is Wednesday, they will be able to take home Grab and Go breakfast/lunch for Thursday and Friday. If the last day is Thursday, they can take home breakfast/lunch for Friday and Monday.
If your student is a full remote learner, meals will also be available for weekly pick up. Meals will distributed on Monday and Thursday between the hours of 8:30 am until 10:00 am. Meals should be picked up in the back of the Middle School, kitchen door #27. Monday you will receive 3 breakfast and lunch meals, Thursday you will receive 2 breakfast and lunch meals. All meals will need to be pre-ordered Thursdays by 12:00 pm for Monday meal pickup and Wednesdays by 12:00 pm for Thursday meal pickup. To pre-order please call 815-786-8881 or email: sandwichschoollunch@gmail.com. Please enter the back of the Middle School through the main parking lot and head north.
If you have any questions regarding the food service program, please contact Linda Alvarez Food Service Director lalvarez@sandwich430.org or by phone 815-786-8881.
We are looking forward to serving your student!
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR AND MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 1, 2021. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Any Chromebook that is returned for damage beyond repair, will result in an automatic fee of $240.00. This fee must be paid as soon as possible, since the student is using a loaner device and taking it home. If you do not want to pay the fee, the student may not take a loaner Chromebook home. They may only use a loaner at school.
Also, for replacement power cords (due to damage or loss), a $25.00 replacement fee will be charged to the student's account.
NURSE NEWS
ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF CURRENT 5TH GRADE STUDENTS
6th Grade Health Requirements for 2021-22 School Year
It’s not too early to start planning for next school year. Below is a list of health requirements for entry into 6th grade. The physical exam and immunization record are due by the first day of school.
· Complete physical exam: Please note that a sports physical does not meet the requirement for the 6th grade physical.
· Up - to - date immunizations to include: Tdap, 2- varicella doses, hepatitis B series, and meningococcal vaccine. Please check with your health care provider to be sure these immunizations are included on your child’s 6th grade physical exam.
* Exemption Forms: Renewal of Religious Exemption Form or Medical Exemption, if applicable.
· Dental exam: due by May 15, 2022
For students who are attending in person, the 6th grade health packets will be sent home, with your child, in the near future. For students who are remote learning, the 6th grade health packets will be mailed home. Health forms may also be found on the district website or picked up in the main office. If you have questions about any of these requirements you may contact Mrs. Meyer, School Nurse at 815-786-8498.
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
Here are some links to ways your family can increase their daily heart-healthy activities:
Motivating Kids to be Physically Active
From KidsHealth.org - Tips for motivating school-age kids to be physically active.
From U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services - An interactive way to meet the goal of 60 minutes of daily activity for kids ages 6-17.
FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
REMEMBER:
- Brush and floss your teeth every day
- Eat nutritious food
- Choose healthy snacks and drinks
- Visit your dentist regularly
- Make mouth guards a part of any sport activity
The State of Illinois requires all children enrolled in Kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, and 9th grades to have a dental exam on file with the school by May 15, 2021. Any 2nd or 6th grade student not meeting this requirement may have their final report card held. Any questions, please contact your school nurse.
FANTASTIC 4TH GRADE
Fourth Graders are continuing to move between in person and online learning. When the students are not in the classroom on a school day, they should be “in class” on their Chromebook learning. Please be sure to check the district A/B schedule for school days and off days. Snow Days are no longer no school days as we will be learning online with our Chromebooks.
Reading class is focusing on the earth science topic of earthquakes with various reading selections. Students will be reviewing many skills we have learned so far and will continue to write opinion pieces during the month of February. Keep working on Lexia to improve your reading ability daily for at least 30 minutes.
In Math, students will be working on fractions in their many forms. Students will find many resources online in their google classrooms and while in class at school. Keep working on your basic math facts as they will help make learning about fractions a little easier. The computer program, Reflex is a great way to keep learning and practicing the basic facts.
Social Studies topics continue to be regions of the United States, while Science continues to focus on Energy in its many forms. The second trimester comes to a close at the end of the month, so any missing assignments should be completed by then. Thank you to all our Fourth grade parents for your continued support.
FABULOUS 5TH GRADE
At long last, we have settled into a routine of sorts, as is typical this time of year. Students are adjusting to the hybrid schedule of working independently at home three days per week and coming to school two days per week. That being said, we are very happy to have them back in the school, even if it is only part-time. Right now, in math, most students are working on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. There are many steps to this process and it is encouraging to see the students beginning to develop this understanding. Soon we will begin working on multiplying fractions. In reading and writing, we have been working on quoting accurately from a text to summarize events, main ideas and details. Our writers are learning to state their opinion and support those opinions with evidence. The overall theme of this unit has been courage and how these courageous individuals respond to inequality and injustice. We started working on R.A.C.E. responses in order to help the students expand/elaborate on their writing. The R.A.C.E. rubric involves restating the question, answering the question, citing evidence from the text, and explaining how their evidence supports their answer. The subject of our current science unit is the Watery Planet. The students are learning about this important natural resource and how difficult it can be to control it.
Please encourage your student to complete his or her work every day. This will require approximately five or more hours of schoolwork each day, Monday-Friday. Reach out to your teacher if you have questions or concerns.
BAND AND MUSIC NEWS
PRE-K SCREENING INFORMATION
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
February 11th - Picture Retakes - B students 12:30-2:45; Remote students 3:15-4:30
February 15th - No School
February 16th - No School
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
FEBRUARY BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS
Herman E. Dummer School
Email: jkruswicki@sandwich430.org
Website: sandwich430.org
Location: 422 South Wells Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 815-786-8498