Dutch Fork Elementary
Faculty Newsletter - Week of September 23rd, 2019 -
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 to our beliefs.
Shout Outs
- Beverly and Doreen (cafeteria) for stepping up during the absence of two members of their team this past week. With three 3 people they feed nearly the entire student body (minus those who bring home lunches).
- Candy Lee (4th grade long term sub) for being remarkable. Candy recently retired from Richland 1 and has a wealth of proven experience as an educator and those talents have been on full display.
- Homeroom teachers for design and planning towards engaging evenings for curriculum night this past Tuesday and Thursday.
- A. Umberger for overall planning and organization of Green Apple Day of Service. Additional appreciation for classroom teachers, students, community volunteers, and parent volunteers for their contributions.
DFES Leadership Team updates and BOY conversations
the following in place for school improvement:
- Structures for improvement
- Strategies for improvement
- Consistency - examining and ensuring alignment with structures and strategies across grade levels and our school.
Structures, Strategies, and Consistency will be our mantra for the 2019-2020 school year moving forward and will be referenced across multiple contexts and efforts.
During our meeting with the leadership team grade levels were asked to have data available to talk around the following:
- ELA - MAP Reading report, Class Summary Sheet, DIBELS 8 data, Burke Reading Interviews, anecdotal notes
- MATH - MAP Math report, data team evidence, anecdotal notes
Leadership team members signed up for a planning period for each team. Mr. Gantt will spend just 10 minutes meeting individual with teachers. Please see the doc below and sign up for a time slot.
Math PD Tuesday
Our PD Tuesday, September 24th will focus on math updates and vertical/alignment and will be co-facilitated by Erika Cartledge (Instructional Specialist for Elementary Mathematics) and J. Sparkman.
We will meet at 3:15 in the mini theater.
Social Studies Observations
Melony will visit our school Wednesday, September 25th. She will conduct non-evaluative walk-through's during social studies blocks of time.
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2019, 08:00 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Curricular Conversations with Heidi MIlls
With student led conferences on the horizon all newly hired staff will meet with Heidi during planning. There is an invitation for those that have been here beyond one year to attend (again not mandatory).
Meetings will be held in the conference room during planning. See Heidi's letter below.
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2019, 08:00 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbons Schools Awards Ceremony
A group from SC will be on hand for this ceremony to include District 5 (Dr. Melton, A. Umberger, J. Scott), representatives from DHEC and the SC Department of Education. This recognition is because of the collective efforts of our faculty/staff and student population but also epitomizes our school mission.
More details to come.
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2019, 02:00 PM
Washington D.C., DC, USA
Early Release Day
It has been our tradition to have lunch together as a staff given we have limited opportunities where we are all together once the school year begins.
Lunch is on us as we are providing Chick-Fil-A for you our faculty and staff. The luncheon will begin at 12:30.
Planning/related arts info to be shared Monday.
Thursday, Sep 26, 2019, 07:15 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Birthday Wishes!
- 8/28 K. Donald
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