Dutch Fork Elementary
Staff Newsletter Week of September 16th
Superintendent's Priorities
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moe's like customer service for internal and external community.
- Strengthen the structure and quality of communication both internally and externally.
- Promote a work and learning environment where students and staff feel safe physically, emotionally and socially.
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.
Shout Outs
- Cafeteria staff and our PTO board/volunteers for the red carpet rolled out to our visiting families.
- Seth (3rd grader in Donald's class) was chosen as our school rep for Lake Murray/Irmo Rotary September Student of the Month. Rotary's motto is Service Above Self. We were asked to identify a student who exemplifies this. Seth is currently on the SC Award Committee and is in the process of reading 120 books that will be recommended for this annual award.
- LIteracy Team for analyzing and organizing MAP data so that intervention could begin September 3.
- Lucas White for the noticeable and extremely positive energy in welcoming students during morning arrival but also for volunteering to cover duties in the afternoon so that he can build relationships with students and families.
- Melanie Westhart (Social Worker) has been extremely helpful this week in providing support for students and their respective families.
Scott Out of Office Monday, September 16th
PTO Fall Fundraiser Kickoff
- The 4K-2nd grade kickoff will take place from 1:15 - 1:35 p.m. in the mini theater.
- The 3rd-5th grade kickoff will take place from 1:45 - 2"05 p.m. in the mini theater
An announcement will be to call grade levels down. Further details are included in the additional announcements section.
Monday, Sep 16, 2019, 01:15 PM
DFES Mini Theater
Classroom Mosaic
Classroom Mosaic is the platform that our district uses to conduct teacher observations. It is our belief that observations should be built on the premise of supporting teacher professional growth.
The platform has six overarching sections that includes: lesson overview, first glimpse of instruction, instructional strategies (teacher actions), instructional activities (student centered), environment, and lesson closure. During observations Mr. Gantt and I will not focus on providing feedback for each section. We will be specific in what we are looking for and will share that with teachers. At the conclusion of the observation teachers will receive an email from Classroom Mosaic highlighting what we saw during said observations. We will leave a question (two max) for teachers to respond to within 24 hours.
Our goal to ensure there is a connection and consistency between professional development and classroom practices.
During this upcoming week Mr. Gantt and I will focus on ELA and Math instruction. We will not visit the same class twice in the same day or week (FYI).
ELA PD Tuesday, September 10
All D5 schools are expected to have an ELA goal along with a Math goal that is communicated and shared with our respective schools. We are all teachers and the growth of all students is a shared responsibility.
The second Tuesday of each month is dedicated to ELA PD being led by S. Somerall. This past Tuesday Sally provided ELA Updates and a follow up to district and school expectations to support the growth of readers. The four priorities below describe the focus and consistency of homeroom teachers over the first six weeks of school.
Reading Priority #1: I can get to know my readers as individual, including learning my readers as individuals, including learning what the child believes about him/herself.
Reading Prioirty #2: I am listening to learn more about what this reader believes about reading.
Reading Priority #3: I am conferring with the reader to find out what this child enjoys so I can ensure that I have texts available on a level that s/he can read independently and enjoy.
Reading Priority #4: I am assessing children to learn where to begin to help them become self-directed, critical readers and thinkers.
Tuesday, September 17th is Constitution Day
District Leadership Teams Meet Tuesday, September 17th
The 3rd Tuesday of each month is dedicated to district leadership teams. Each elementary school has the responsiblity of assigning two people (K-2 rep and 3rd-5th rep) for ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, AGP (gifteed and talented), related areas and special education.
Information gathered is expected to be shared with each reps respective school. The document below is intended for DFES district leadership team members to share 3 important bullet points from their meeting. This document will be included in the Friday newsletter following district leadership teams (notes to be included in Friday, September 20th newsletter0. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Mr. Gantt will meet with data team facilitators this coming Tuesday in the conference room beginning at 3:15 p.m. J. Scott with meet with our school leadership team in the professional development room (room 6 second grade hallway) also at 3:15 p.m. Team assignements are provided below.
K-2 Curriculum Night and 3rd-5th Curriculum NIght
Our curriculum night(s) are just around the corner. K-2 curriculum night will be held Tuesday at the time listed above. 3rd-5th grade curriculum night will be held Thursday, September 19, 2019.
Tthis night is intended to demonstrate or to engage families with how students are learning as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, social scientists, and community members.
K-3 grade have a Read 2 Succeed power point/presentation that is expected to be shared during this night. Teachers please review so that you are familiar with the content. Let us know if there are any questions.
This time should also be used to sign parents up for student led conferences (new homeroom teachers Dr. Mills will unpack this process when she returns Thursday, September 26th).
Student led conferences should be scheduled for the week of October 7th.
The schedule for both nights will be as follows:
- 6:00 - 6:10 pm all families will begin in the mini theater to hear a required Title I update (teachers you will not be required to sit in for this update).
- 6:15 - 7:15 - parents/families go to their child's class.
An announcment will be made at 7:15 to thank parents/families for attending and to notify them that our event has concluded.
Reminder non homeroom certifie teachers are expected to be in attendance for one of the events as we will need help providing families directions to respective classes. A sign up sheet was sent/shared previously to ensure adequate coverage. The sign up sheet is being included again and to add you name if not done previously. Thanks!
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2019, 06:00 PM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Scott/Gantt Out of office Wendesday, September 18
District RtI Meeting
Administrators out of the building Thursday
Sara Beckman will fill in our stead. Reach her if an administrator is needed in our absence.
Data Team Thursday
This time is protected. On their behalf I ask that others reframe from interuptions unless it is absolutely necessary. Thanks!
Thursday, Sep 19, 2019, 08:00 AM
DFES
Green Apple Day of Service
Friday, Sep 20, 2019, 08:00 AM
DFES
Birthday Wishes!
- 8/19 A. Umberger
- 8/21 T. Peneva
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: 803-479-9544
Twitter: @dfes_principal