NOTES FROM the OFFICE
1/8/20
DUNNING STUDENTS ARE RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, & READY TO LEARN
Traduções para todos os "Anotações do Office" estão disponíveis rolando até o final de cada newsletter e clicando na barra preta "Traduzir".
All previous Notes From the Office are available by using this LINK.
Flat Stanley Dunning K-3 Chorus Sign-Up
ATTENTION ALL K-3 FAMILIES!
If your child would like to be part of the Flat Stanley chorus, please use the link below to review the details and sign up by January 21st. Please note: sign up is limited to 40 students.
third grade Wampanoag visit
Aa part of the social studies curriculum, our third graders have been learning about the Wampanoag Native People.
The Wampanoag lived in what is now known as Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the early part of the 17th century. The name means “easterners” and at one point, their population was 12,000. Among the more famous Wampanoag chiefs were Squanto, Samoset, Metacomet, and Massasoit.
For a culminating activity our third grade classes were visited by Mr. Tim Turner, a Native American representative from Plimouth Plantation, who shared how life was for the Wampanoag people and how they survived in the 1700s.
It was a hands on exploration of Mr. Turner's artifacts. Students asked amazing questions!
Please use this LINK to access pictures from Mr. Turner's visit.
quick survey
Families,
Happy New Year! We have created a survey to better understand what families are interested in learning about through our segments in the weekly Notes from the Office. Please take a moment to complete this 4 question survey so that we may better serve you!
Warmly,
Brett (the literacy coach) and Lauren (the math coach)
La Cantina Dine Out Fundraiser
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 starting at 4 PM
La Cantina will give 20% of the proceeds back to Dunning Elementary School.
Dine in only. Reservations taken for large parties only.
Children and Media Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
This article is longer than what we usually include in the Notes From the Office, however it has some very pertinent information.
The following health and safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety in any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.
In a world where children are "growing up digital," it's important to help them learn healthy concepts of digital use and citizenship. Parents play an important role in teaching these skills. Here are a few tips from the AAP to help families manage the ever-changing digital landscape.
- Make your own family media use plan. Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting style. When used thoughtfully and appropriately, media can enhance daily life. But when used inappropriately or without thought, media can displace many important activities such as face-to-face interaction, family-time, outdoor-play, exercise, unplugged downtime and sleep. Make your plan at HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan.
- Treat media as you would any other environment in your child's life. The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children's friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, what sites they are visiting on the web, and what they are doing online.
- Set limits and encourage playtime. Media use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Unstructured and offline play stimulates creativity. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority, especially for very young children.
- Screen time shouldn't always be alone time. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens - it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your kids. It's a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Watch a show with them; you will have the opportunity to introduce and share your own life experiences and perspectives, and guidance. Don't just monitor children online, interact with them - you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
- Be a good role model. Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Because children are great mimics, limit your own media use. In fact, you'll be more available for and connected with your children if you're interacting, hugging and playing with them rather than simply staring at a screen.
- Know the value of face-to-face communication. Very young children learn best through two-way communication. Engaging in back-and-forth "talk time" is critical for language development. Conversations can be face-to-face or, if necessary, by video chat with a traveling parent or far-away grandparent. Research has shown that it's that "back-and-forth conversation" that improves language skills—much more so than "passive" listening or one-way interaction with a screen.
- Limit digital media for your youngest family members. Avoid digital media for toddlers younger than 18 to 24 months other than video chatting. For children 18 to 24 months, watch digital media with them because they learn from watching and talking with you. Limit screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just 1 hour a day of high-quality programming. Again co-viewing is best when possible and for young children they learn best when they are re-taught in the real world what they just learned through a screen. So, if Ernie just taught the letter D, you can reiterate this later when you are having dinner or spending time with your child.
- Create tech-free zones. Keep family mealtimes, other family and social gatherings, and children's bedrooms screen free. Turn off televisions that you aren't watching, because background TV can get in the way of face-to-face time with kids. Recharge devices overnight—outside your child bedroom to help avoid the temptation to use them when they should be sleeping. These changes encourage more family time, healthier eating habits, and better sleep.
- Don't use technology as an emotional pacifier. Media can be very effective in keeping kids calm and quiet, but it should not be the only way they learn to calm down. Children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions, come up with activities to manage boredom, or calm down through breathing, talking about ways to solve the problem, and finding other strategies for channeling emotions.
- Apps for kids – do your homework. More than 80,000 apps are labeled as educational, but little research has demonstrated their actual quality. Products pitched as "interactive" should require more than "pushing and swiping." Look to organizations like Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) for reviews about age-appropriate apps, games and programs to guide you in making the best choices for your children.
- It's OK for your teen to be online. Online relationships are part of typical adolescent development. Social media can support teens as they explore and discover more about themselves and their place in the grown-up world. Just be sure your teen is behaving appropriately in both the real and online worlds. Many teens need to be reminded that a platform's privacy settings do not make things actually "private" and that images, thoughts, and behaviors teens share online will instantly become a part of their digital footprint indefinitely. Keep lines of communication open and let them know you're there if they have questions or concerns.
- Warn children about the importance of privacy and the dangers of predators and sexting. Teens need to know that once content is shared with others, they will not be able to delete or remove it completely and includes texting of inappropriate pictures. They may also not know about or choose not to use privacy settings, and they need to be warned that sex offenders often use social networking, chat rooms, e-mail, and online gaming to contact and exploit children.
- Remember: Kids will be kids. Kids will make mistakes using media. Try to handle errors with empathy and turn a mistake into a teachable moment. But some indiscretions, such as sexting, bullying, or posting self-harm images, may be a red flag that hints at trouble ahead. Parents must observe carefully their children's behaviors and, if needed, enlist supportive professional help, including the family pediatrician.
Media and digital devices are an integral part of our world today. The benefits of these devices, if used moderately and appropriately, can be great. But, research has shown that face-to-face time with family, friends, and teachers plays a pivotal and even more important role in promoting children's learning and healthy development. Keep the face-to-face up front, and don't let it get lost behind a stream of media and tech.
winter warm up family night
SAVE THE DATE - JANUARY 16, 2020, 6:00 - 7:15PM
Dunning Families and Students are invited to join us for a winter celebration of our Dunning writers and mathematicians.
The Evening will include:
- Math Games
- Writing on Display
- Pizza Dinner
- Read Alouds
January’s character theme is ACCEPTANCE. Our read alouds will focus on this theme.
We will provide dinner, but would love for families to bring a special family dessert to share.
Please click on the links below for the RSVP form or RSVP using THIS LINK.
dunning movie night
January 24th, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Bring your sleeping bag, PJs and pillow, and join your friends for another fun movie night at Dunning. This is a FREE PTO event for all, but requires an RSVP.
Please use this LINK to complete the Google Form to RSVP or download THIS FORM and return it to school.
This is NOT a drop-off event.
january character trait - Acceptance
RESOURCES:
coffee with Ms. Schecter & Mrs. Lasky
You are cordially invited to our first coffee with the Principal and Assistant Principal. Come to our media center, fill up on a warm cup of coffee, and receive the latest news and information about upcoming events at Dunning. It is an opportunity to engage in informal conversations about our school. It is also a time to ask questions and/or share concerns that will positively impact student academic achievement.
Our first coffee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15th, 8:00 - 8:45. This is a parent only event. We will schedule additional coffees throughout the year at different times during the day, after school, and early evening to accommodate parent schedules.
Kindergarten information night
Click here for additional information and to register.
kindergarten pre-registration - class of 2033
Online Pre-Registration is Open for Framingham Public Schools Class of 2033!
Parents can now begin the registration process for the incoming Kindergarteners for the 2020-2021 school year.
Families who have a child or children that will be five years old by August 31, 2020 are invited to pre-register their incoming Kindergarteners online. The Parent Information Center, located at 31 Flagg Drive – Door # 4A, has just opened the process that all families must go through before a child can begin their academic career in Framingham Public Schools.
Here is a snapshot of the Kindergarten registration process. Please visit https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/kindergartenregistration to begin registration and for additional information including detailed steps and timing.
New this year: Parents / Guardians can book their registration appointment online after completing the online pre-registration form.
- Online pre-registration (Now - April 1, 2020)
- Schedule a registration appointment with the Parent Information Center after completing step #1. (December 2019 - April 1, 2020)
- Attend the Kindergarten Information Expo (Monday, January 13, 2020)
- Tour Elementary Schools (March 2020)
- Submit School Choice Form by Wednesday, April 8, 2020)
- Receive school assignment by May 15, 2020
- Attend Kindergarten Orientation on Monday, June 1, 2020
As always, the Parent Information Center welcomes parents to call or come in to the office with any questions. They are open year round and can be reached at the following times:
- Monday: 8:00am - 6:00pm**
- Tuesday through Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
- Closed on weekends
- ** Extended hours are available on regular school days only; Please check the FPS School Calendar for holidays and school closings.
Se habla Español / Falam Português
Framingham Public Schools looks forward to welcoming the class of 2033!
school hours
School Hours 9:15am - 3:30pm
Students are welcome to begin arriving at school at 9:00 am, when teachers will be present to greet them.
Early Release Days
- Students are dismissed at 1:05pm.
- Lunch IS served.
- If your child rides the bus, you can expect them to arrive at their stop approximately two and a half hours earlier than normal.
- Early Release Thursdays: 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 12/5, 3/5, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
Half Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:30pm.
- Lunch IS NOT served.
- If your child rides the bus, you can expect them to arrive at their stop three hours earlier than normal.
- Half Days: 11/27 and the last day of school.
Please check the calendar each Notes From the Office as dates may be changed and/or added.
Wednesday, 1/15
- Coffee with Ms. Schecter & Mrs. Lasky, 8:00 - 8:45am
Thursday, 1/16
- Family Literacy and Math Night, 6:00 - 7:15pm
Monday, 1/20
- No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Friday, 1/24
- Family Movie Night, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday, 1/29
La Cantina Dine Out Fundraiser, Starting at 4:00pm
Thursday, 1/30
- District No Homework Day
Friday, 1/31
- Report Cards Go Home
Friday, 2/7
- Performance of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, 7:00pm, (Walsh Middle School)
Saturday, 2/8
- Performance of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, 2:00pm, (Walsh Middle School)
Monday, 2/17
- No School Presidents' Day
Tuesday, 2/18 - Friday, 2/21
- No School February Recess
- No School Teacher Professional Development Day
- Early release, 1:05pm Dismissal, Lunch IS Served
- Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- PTO Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm (Media Center)
- Kindergarten Discovery Museum In House Workshop
- No School - Good Friday
- No School - Patriots' Day
- No School - Spring Recess
care and share
The Jane Shapiro Care and Share began in 1995 as a Dunning School community service project. Each month a specific food item is collected at the school to help keep A Place to Turn's shelves stocked. What a great sharing and learning project! Donations are gathered up by the students and then with help from staff, they are delivered to A Place to Turn. Learn more about A Place to Turn here.
Thank you for your contributions to A Place to Turn during the year. Our monthly food collection makes a huge difference in our community, while teaching our students the importance of giving.
- January: Canned Fruit
- February: Rice
- March: Crackers
- April: Spaghetti
- May: Juice Boxes
- June: Cans of Tuna Fish
NO Homework Days
- January 30, 2020
- April 30, 2020
November Distribution Flyers
- Framingham Youth Hockey
- Nick Cerio's Kempo Karate
- StarFun Theater Camp
- Performance Art Center of Metrowest
- Framingham Parks and Recreation
- Suburban Athletic Programs
- Holiday Market Place
- Department of Public Works Open House