The Dunwoody Springs Dispatch
A Project Based Learning School
September 12, 2018
Ivy Goggins, Principal
Dr. LesiaGriffin, Asst. Principal
Tomorrow night is Curriculum Night! 5:30 - 7:00
FREE dinner will be offered between 5:00 - 5:25.
First session will begin promptly at 5:30 and will repeat again at 6:30
New this year- student-led conferences will be a part of Curriculum Night. Students are eager to share their beginning of the year assessment data and goals. We look forward to seeing all of our parents there.
Wednesday September 26th is Picture Day!
International Night
Please mark your calendars!
There is no school on Thursday Oct. 4, Friday Oct. 5, or Monday Oct. 8
Oct. 4 - Teacher work day for DSES, Sandy Springs MS, North Springs HS.
Oct. 5 - Fulton County teacher workday, all schools
Oct. 8 - Columbus Day
***********Important Announcement********
Superintendent Jeff Rose this month recommended a change to the district’s 2018-2019 School Year Calendar. At its August meeting, the Fulton County Board of Education voted to approve that recommendation.
This school year, November 6, 2018 (Election Day) has been changed from a regular school day, to a teacher work day. March 8, 2019 has been changed from a teacher work day, to a regular school day.
The decision alleviates safety concerns raised by some parents and staff, allows for additional staff training on safety protocols, and maintains instructional time for our students. Additionally, the Fulton County school board has expressed interest in addressing a long-term solution through the legislative process.
Upcoming Events
- 9/13 Curriculum Night 5:30-7:30 pm (Dinner served 5:00- 5:30 pm)
- 9/26 Picture Day
- 9/27 Title I Annual Parent Meeting 12:00-1:30 pm & 5:00-6:30 pm
- 10/3 International Night 5:30-7:00 pm
- 10/4- 10/5 No School (Teacher Workdays)
- 10/8 No School (Columbus Day)
- 10/22- 10/26 - IOWAS testing grades 3-5
- 10/26 Monster Mash Dance 5:30-7:00 pm
Start Smart!
Traffic in our area can be quite a challenge. We ask that you plan accordingly to get students to school by 7:35 so they make it to their classrooms on time. Tardy students start the day behind, miss directions and begin their day feeling rushed and anxious. They also negatively impact the class by causing the teacher to stop and repeat directions to bring your child up to speed. Please help our children to learn good habits and responsibility by arriving each day on time and ready to learn.
Classroom Counseling
Classroom Counseling classes have begun! K-2 classes are called, "Integrity Time," and are learning our "ABC's of Integrity!" They end the lesson practicing these skills in the fun Career Cooperation Stations! In September, 3rd-5th grade classes will be learning about Growth Mindset, goal-setting and leadership skills! Ask your child about what it means to have a "Bubble Brain!"
Cafe' Corner
Join with many countries around the world to celebrate annual World School Milk Day on Wednesday, September 26th!
Breakfast For Lunch
In September, the café has an exciting BREAKFAST FOR LUNCH week planned, that the students will LOVE!
Join us for lunch on September 20th and see how awesome our breakfast choices are!!
Guideline For Special Diets
Who can receive a special diet?
Allergies
- -Intolerances
- -Special Medical Needs
- -Physician/Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner Order
Who cannot receive a diet?
- Parent Orders
- Religious Preferences
- Cultural Preferences
Volunteers
Your Dolphin Café is looking for volunteers to help with lunch! This is an excellent chance to mingle with the students while serving nutritious & delicious food. Hairnets, gloves, and training will be provided for all eager volunteers! If interested please contact Café Manager Veronica Quarrels at 470-254-9302 or quarrels@fultonschools.org.
Change of Transportation Update & Forms
Transportation changes will only be accepted in writing via fax using this form (http://school.fultonschools.org/es/dunwoodysprings/Documents/TRANSPORTATION%20CHANGE%20FORM.pdf) or via email to 981transportation@fultonschools.org by 12:30p.m. on the day of the change. Last minute changes will not be accepted. If you have questions regarding the changes, please contact the front office.
Reserved Parking Spaces
The five new reserved spaces are designated for families who joined PTA at the $500 Platinum Level. These funds will be used to support all of out students. Please do not park in or block any of these spaces.
Please let us know if you'd like to join at the Platinum Level.
Picture Day
PICTURE DAY IS COMING! WED. SEPT. 26th, 2018
- We will once again use Strawbridge Studios for Fall/Spring Individual & Class Pictures.
- One of the benefits of using Strawbridge Studios for pictures is that they make it easy. You get to see your pictures before you pay for them! If you are satisfied with your pictures, they use the "honesty policy" for payment or returns.
- Students do not have to wear their uniforms on picture day
- More details to come about pricing.
School pictures are a fundraiser so please be sure to support our school and enjoy those great memories of your child.
We appreciate our Business Partners!
Thank you to...
F45 Sandy Springs for providing lunch for teachers on our recent work day.
Sandy Springs Education Force for supplying volunteers for the Reading Buddies program again this year and for funding our STEM Club.
Carl Francois, vending machine owner, for providing breakfast to our staff during pre-planning.
GreenSky Credit for planting and sharing our thriving school garden.
City National Bank for donating backpacks and school supplies.
North Atlanta Church of Christ for donating tons of school supplies.
TAG Talk
FOR GIFTED SERVICES
The consideration for gifted services may be reported or automatic as defined by the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services. The Fulton County School System screens all students for eligibility for gifted services twice a year and uses a systematic approach to identify highly capable students who may qualify for gifted services.
The gifted teacher routinely reviews available data to refer students for further assessment. Students meeting either the automatic screening OR the classroom screening criteria AND have supporting data gathered from test history, products, and/or advanced content levels are referred for additional testing to determine gifted eligibility.
I. Automatic Screening- identifies students who score at specified levels on a norm-referenced test as defined in the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services, for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted services. At the beginning of the school year, TAG teachers review existing test data.
Standardized Tests
Students must have minimally a combination of scores that include > 85th percentile and > 90th percentile in two of the three areas on a standardized, nationally norm-referenced achievement test: Total Reading, Total Math, and Complete Battery.
FastBridge Assessment – (Fall 2018 Assessment)
Grade K- Students must score 90% or greater on system’s FastBridge assessment for Math and Reading.
No supporting data is needed.
Grade 1- 8: Students must score 90% or greater on system’s FastBridge assessment for Math or Reading. Supporting data is needed.
Acceleration Assessments- Students must score 80% or greater on system’s Acceleration Assessment in:
Grades K: English/Language Arts and Mathematics. No additional supporting data is needed.
Grades 1-3: English/Language Arts or Mathematics. Supporting data is needed.
Georgia Milestones End of Grade Assessment-
Grades 3-8: Students must score at the Distinguished Learner achievement level (4) for English/Language Arts or Mathematics. Supporting data is needed.
Grades
Grades 10-12 -students must have an overall cumulative average of 95 or greater. Supporting
data is needed.
II. Classroom Screening- Local schools select a two-week period from January-February to review all
students in the school (Grades K-11).
· Classroom teachers use the Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students (CISS) to identify students with superior abilities in five or more of the following areas: motivation, interests, communications skills, problem-solving abilities, memory, inquiry, insight, reasoning, creativity, and humor.
Students who meet either the automatic screening OR classroom screening criteria AND who have supporting data gathered from test history, products, and/or advanced content levels are referred for gifted placement testing.
Once referred to testing:
§ Parents receive the Parent Notification for Testing Consent Form.
§ Student is tested for the gifted program.
§ Parents receive test results.
§ Staffing meeting is held with parents of eligible students (Elementary only)
§ If state eligibility is determined, students are placed in the gifted program with parental consent.
III. Reported Referrals- All reported referrals (parent, teacher and/or administrator) are completed through the two system- level screening and referral processes each year. All referrals are first reviewed by the local Eligibility Team to consider if existing information warrants a formal testing for eligibility.
Parents may request to view their child’s screening results. For more complete information regarding Fulton County Schools Gifted Services, please visit the Advanced Studies page at : http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/acd/learnteach/Pages/TAG.aspx
Dads At Dunwoody Springs
Thank you to all the dads that attended the Doughnuts for Dads event last Friday. We had an amazing turn out and look forward to engaging our dads in events throughout the year.
For any additional dads who couldn't make it and would like to become members of the dads club, please contact Coach Dennis Walsh at walshd@fultonschools.org
Our first Friday with dads event will take place on Friday, October 12 at 7:10 am. Be on the lookout for an email from Coach Walsh for details.
CHESTATEE COUNSELING CENTER
We are very fortunate to be in partnership with Chestatee Counseling Center who provides therapeutic counseling services for students during the school day. They are a Medicaid provider accepting Amerigroup, Centpatico and Wellcare. Contact Stacy Wolff, LCSW, directly for more information. 706-429-6335 or stacywolff@me.com
Counselor's Corner
Small Group Counseling: Does your child need help with classroom behavior, anger management, academic motivation or social skills? These are just a few areas in which the school counselor can lend a hand! Just as a student who struggles in math may work in a small group for extra support, a school counselor works with students to improve interpersonal and school success skills. If you're interested in this service for your child, contact Mrs. McLane at 470-254-4067 or mclaness@fultonschools.org or complete this permission form. Small groups are starting now so contact her soon!
Discipline
Fulton County Schools Code of Conduct
Parents are asked to review school system rules and submit an acknowledgement signature form at the beginning of each school year.
The updated 2018-2019 Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook web link is listed below. A copy may also be obtained in our school office.
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/acd/supportserv/Pages/StudentDiscipline.aspx
Teachers will be reviewing the Code of Conduct during the first two weeks of schools. It is important that parents also discuss the Code of Conduct and potential consequences with their children.
After you have reviewed the Code of Conduct parents are requested to submit the Acknowledgment of Electronic Receipt by clicking on the link below. A hard copy can be obtained at our school office.
English Handbook: https://www3.fultonschools.org/codeconduct
Spanish Handbook: https://www3.fultonschools.org/codeconduct/home/indexspa
Our school is required by the State and our School System to obtain either an electronic receipt or a signed receipt by September1, 2018. We ask that you submit this electronic form by next Friday, August 17th.
Look for the next Dispatch edition on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.
Dunwoody Springs Elementary Project Based Learning School
Email: gogginsi@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/dunwoodysprings/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 8100 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, United States
Phone: 470-254-4060
Twitter: @DunwoodySprings