Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of February 12th -
DFES Beliefs
- We believe all people deserve to feel safe, valued, and loved.
- We believe all children are naturally curious about the world around them.
- We believe learning is a social process.
- We believe inquiry fosters an environment of noticing and questioning.
- We believe in learning from multiple perspectives.
- We believe in learning from authentic primary and secondary sources.
- We believe in encouraging learners to be risk takers.
- We believe reflection should lead to change and growth.
- We believe learning should lead to social action.
- We believe our actions should be aligned with our beliefs.
DFES Beliefs
- Excellent customer service.
- Effective use of small group instruction.
- Building teacher capacity in environmental education content.
Shout Outs
- C. Trevett (reading interventionist) for being selected as our 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year and Sharon Clemens (registrar) for being selected as our 2018-2019 Support Employee of the Year.
- N. Jefferson's homeroom class for inspiring learners tall and small during Friday's learning celebration. They shared how they've analyzed poems to build empathy, perspective, and supporting others. They also recommended several texts for the audience to consider.
- Healthy Hands and A. Umberger for planning engagements for 4K-2nd grade students to take on the identify of chefs. Students used the language and tools of chefs to make rice cake faces and stir fry. Students were encouraged and inspired to be risk takers by eating fruits and vegetables they may have never considered trying.
- PTO board members, parent volunteers, and DFES teacher volunteers for their respective roles in the 80's themed Father/Daughter Dance. The dance was EPIC. Additional thanks to Mr. Bud and Mr. Joe for helping with clean up efforts.
- 5th grade science fair students that earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as those earning honorable mention. Students competed in our district science fair on Saturday, February 10.
Staffing Updates
- J. Pittman will be out an additional 6-8 weeks on FMLA. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts for a successful recovery.
- Given J. Pittman is retired at the conclusion of this year we were granted the opportunity to finding a replacement through interview. We interviewed a couple of candidates today and will interview more candidates next week. We will keep you all updated on this process.
- Keep J. Garrett (5th grade) in your thoughts in the passing of her grandmother.
- Keep C. Sommers in you thoughts as well. Her mom, a former Lex5 teacher, was taken off dialysis this past week. Cindy and her family are working with hospice during this critical juncture of life. This will require Cindy to take time away from school as needed to attend to family matters.
Scott out of office Monday
4th Grade Field Study
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2018, 08:30 AM
Koger Center for the Arts, Greene Street, Columbia, SC, USA
RtI Conversations
Dear Teachers,
We will host the 5th round of RtI Progress Conversations on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 13. Reading Intervention book clubs will not meet on Tuesday. Students selected books they can and want to read for reading in the classroom.
Please consider placing a child on the agenda if you want to communicate reading concerns about a student and work together to align instruction across both settings to accelerate a child's growth. Let me know so I can work with Shirley to figure out the schedule. (If you have a concern about a fourth grader, we can work with your schedule--due to the Field Trip.)
Please be prepared to share artifacts from Core Instruction and classroom interventions, responses from communication with families, and we will come prepared to share artifacts from reading interventions and communications with families.
Thanks,
Sally
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2018, 08:30 AM
Professional Development Room
PD Tuesday
In recognition of Earth day, for the past few years, we have hosted Envirofest. Many of our business partners (organizations affiliated with environmental sciences across industries) were on campus with family engagements. In the past this event was held during the evening hours.
We are making a shift this year in that Envirofest 2018 will occur during the school day. As a magnet school it seems appropriate to do this so that our entire school community can be included (similar to schools hosting a leadership day or STEM/STEAM day).
As we did for our magnet school open house in January we will spend Tuesday planning for Envirofest (April 20th). Homeroom teachers please bring the PLT manuals and any additional resources you use for environmental science planning. Additionally please bring one laptop per grade level.
We also want to include SPED and related areas in our planning for this event. More details to come.
Parent/School Communication Survey
Last week we sent a 5 question survey home to our 4K - 4th grade families. The purpose being to further enhance and live into effective customer service. We asked for all surveys to be completed and returned to the front office by Tuesday, February 13th.
Popsicles will be provided to students during lunch that have submitted their surveys. Feedback will be shared with our School Improvement Council, you our staff, and families to include actionable items we may take based on their feedback. We will send another survey at the conclusion of the 3rd and 4th nine weeks.
Early Release Day
We will have S. Cope send the lunch and related areas schedule Monday to reflect modifications that we made last month due to the environmental science fair. All classes will eat in their respective homerooms.
Our staff luncheon will begin at 12:30 featuring Chick-Fil-A.
Thursday, Feb 15, 2018, 11:45 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary
Delta Kappa Gamma Meeting
DFES will serve as the host site for these advocates of our public schools. FYI.
Thursday, Feb 15, 2018, 04:00 PM
Dutch Fork Elementary
Spring 2018 Picture Day
Friday, Feb 16, 2018, 08:30 AM
DFES Mini Theater
Vertical Team Curricular Conversations with Heidi Mills
Wednesday, Feb 21, 2018, 08:30 AM
Professional Development Room
LexRich 5 School Board Meeting
We will host the February 26th board meeting. Certified staff members are expected to attend as this is a practice of all hosting schools.
Once our school is highlighted, which is early on the agenda, staff members may leave.
Monday, Feb 26, 2018, 07:00 PM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
We develop students who care about the world we live in and express critical thinking through natural curiosity and wonder.
Email: jscott@lexrich5.org
Website: www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork/cfm/
Location: 7900 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: 803-476-3901
Twitter: @dfes_principal