Dixon Elementary
November Newsletter
KINDERGARTEN NEWS
In November kindergarten will continue to review all of the 7 Habits of Happy Kids but we will put a focus on Habit #2- Begin With the End in Mind. In literacy we will begin to focus on the retelling of stories through the reading of many different fairytales. We continue to stress the importance of getting your kindergartener on Reading Eggs website and reading sight words every night to help build reading fluency. This month we will begin informational writing and continue to learn correct sentence structure. We continue to practice counting to 100, 2D and 3D shapes and their attributes, building sets to 10, and subitizing to 10. In social studies and science we will be learning about the election process, turkeys, and Thanksgiving. We look forward to Thanksgiving celebrations!
FIRST GRADE NEWS
November is so much fun in first grade! We are going to kick off this month learning all about the election process and focus on our nation’s leaders, past and present. We will even learn about our current presidential candidates and discuss what matters to us as first graders. I wonder which of the 7 habits our future president will use to be a successful leader. I bet our first graders can tell you! After the election we will begin preparing ourselves for our field trip later in the month to Old River Farms. It’s very interesting to learn where our food comes from and the roles a farm plays in our community. Please make sure all permission slips and trip dues are returned no later November 7th.
SECOND GRADE NEWS
Second grade will be visiting Northside High School on November 17th to watch a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream presented by the Richmond Ballet Company and sponsored by the Onslow County Arts Council. Our students will also be researching topics of interest and writing informative pieces. We are excited about the addition of Reading Express as a language arts curriculum support. Our second graders will be participating in mock elections and learning about the importance of our veterans.
THIRD GRADE NEWS
Third Graders are becoming multiplication mavens this November as they continue to learn new multiplication strategies and properties. They are also collecting, displaying, and interpreting data on charts and graphs. In science, they are continuing their study of the human body systems. Slim Good Body visited us at the end of October for a hysterically entertaining, but also very informative presentation. In social studies this month, third grade students will learn about how historical figures and events shape our communities. We have begun reading portfolio passages in ELA where we are putting our text-detective skills to the test. We will also be learning about describing characters this month. In other event news, our students recently returned from an opera performance of "The Tortoise and the Hare" at Northside Highschool, where they learned how beginning with the end in mind and putting first things first lead to success. We are looking forward to seeing family at friends at the Fall Festival on November fourth, as well as another fantastic month of learning at DES.
FOURTH GRADE NEWS
As we embark on the second nine weeks students will create goals based on their progress so far this year. Look for this to come home with their report cards on November 7th.
We enjoyed a wonderful celebration last week for the students who showed leadership for the first nine weeks. We plan to hold another celebration on Friday, January 20th. Those who earn it will have to follow the criteria below;
Leadership Celebration Criteria for the 2nd nine weeks-
Office referral is an automatic disqualification from celebration
More than 5 missing homework assignments in a nine weeks is a disqualifier
If you have 35 or more missing leadership stars you are disqualified
All classwork assignments must be completed
We plan to have a global rotation this month where students will travel to each 4th grade classroom and learn about how each of our European countries celebrates Thanksgiving or if they have other fall celebrations. The students will have created passports to travel with.
As part of AVID each year 5th grade takes a field trip to a college campus so they can begin working with an end in mind. They are exposed to what a college campus experience looks like and consists of. They learn what it takes to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. In 4th grade this year we decided that it would be a great idea to take our kids to Cape Fear Community College to show students that you can also earn a license or certificate in a field to show students that there other many options for career paths in their future. We are currently working to plan this field trip prior to Thanksgiving break. More to come….
WAVE Days for the month of November : 3rd, 15th, 28th
FIFTH GRADE NEWS
There are such exciting things happening in fifth grade! We have had a great 1st quarter. Students are learning to check their own grades online and keep track of any work they may be missing. Please encourage your child to be proactive in keeping up with their academic progress.
We will be having a DC Field Trip Registration Night on November 7th from 4-6pm in the Media Center. We will have laptops set up and you are welcome to come by for help with the registration process! (No money is needed to register). The 5th grade team will also be there to answer any questions you have about the trip. Mrs. Carrie Yopp, our parent coordinator, will be there as well for fundraising information!
In combination with instilling the Leader in Me habits in 5th grade, we have also began a "Choose Positivity" themed display in our hallway to focus on creating positive influences throughout the grade level. Students have been encouraged to wear tee shirts that promote positive messages such as "Greatness Happens Here" or "Be True to Yourself". If your child has a tee shirt that has a inspiring message, please encourage them wear it and be photographed for our display!
3RD GRADE PRESENTATION: Slim Good Body
3RD GRADE PRESENTATION: Slim Good Body
3RD GRADE PRESENTATION: Slim Good Body
JumpStart Read for the Record
JumpStart Read for the Record was a great success again at Dixon this year! A special thanks to Anya Boujie, Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Hardison for enhancing our students’ interaction with The Bear Who Ate Your Sandwich!
THANK YOU, JONES ONSLOW!
A huge “thank you” to JOEMC for again supporting Dixon by supplying flashlights for our StoryWalk to held outside the third grade wing at Friday’s Fall Festival. Students and parents were able to experience a great book ~ LIVE!
On November 15th , from 5:30-6:30 we will be having the Opening of the “I am a Masterpiece” Art Gallery. This gallery was funded through a generous Bright Ideas Grant from Jones Onslow EMC. Along with the six talented student artists who will be featured in the gallery we will also have special guests from JOEMC and local painter and artist Sherry Thurston. Ms. Thurston will be sharing some of her paintings and encouraging the children to set and achieve their goals in life!
DIXON COMMUNITY OUTREACH
This November Help Support Dixon Schools CHEW! Program and
Onslow Community Outreach Christmas Cheer! The class that collects the most items will get a pizza party December 2nd!
- Pop Tarts
- Oatmeal
- Instant Grits
- Cereal
- Complete Pancake Mix
- Canned Soup
- Ravioli/SpaghettiO’s
- Peanut Butter/Jelly
- Crackers
- Canned Fruit
- Beans
- Canned Vegetables/Stews
- Spaghetti/Sauce
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Canned Meats
- Boxed Meals
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Holiday Meal Items
***Please NO GLASS and check expiration dates***
SUPPORTING THE LEADER IN ME INITIATIVE
SUPPORTING THE LEADER IN ME INITIATIVE
We are often asked how parents can support their school’s leadership initiative. Each time we are asked we give the same answer “Use the 7 Habits language at home.”
As the school year unfolds, the children are learning the language and meaning of the 7 Habits. By hearing the same language at home and at school, you send the children a strong message of what you believe is important and that we are all on the same team—the team that wants to help succeed. When parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit!
Below is a summary of each of the habits:
Habit 1: Be Proactive (You’re in Charge)
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind (Have a Plan)
Habit 3: Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)
Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Everyone Can Win)
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)
Habit 6: Synergize (Together Is Better)
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Balance Feels Best)
IMPORTANT DATES
November 7 - Report Cards Go Home
November 10 - ERPD
November 11 - Veterans’ Day - No School
November 23 - Workday
November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - No School