HERMAN E. DUMMER NEWSLETTER
January, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. FORD
Let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season. I hope you enjoy your time with family. This is a great time to reconnect with your children and take time to get updated on how their young lives are going. I’m sure some of their stories are pretty amazing! Hopefully we are all rested and ready to start fresh when school resumes on Monday, January 6, 2020
Wow! We really got a bang for our buck in December. We had only 15 days of school, but we packed a lot in. Character Counts Club, Magazine Club, Art Club and Yearbook Club were able to meet this short month. Classes visited the younger grades to help write Santa letters, and the fifth-grade band performed in the holiday concert at the high school. Great concert! Thank you to Mr. Aska for directing and the parents/guardians for showing their support. The final school store for 2019 was open for business while the parent group hosted another Winter Workshop. Other events are currently being planned by our Dummer Parent Group for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Thanks to the parents and the difference they are making. Parents/guardians are always welcome to join or come to a meeting. We would love to see you there! The students did a great job participating in the annual Lions Club food drive. Much food has been donated to help those in need this holiday season. Thank you!
We have a lot going on upon our return in January as well. Progress reports will be sent home on Friday, January 10. Our 2nd Trimester Reading Incentive continues until February 21st. Keep encouraging your children to read; it opens doors to so many wonderful things! Our clubs will continue to be up and running and we will be doing our benchmark testing mid to end of January. The results from these assessments help us to meet the needs of your children through the process of this data collection. I hope you are keeping up-to-date on your child’s grades by accessing Tyler, our online education portal. Teachers are to upload grades on a regular basis so you have access to the most updated report. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or you may also call the office at (815) 786-8498. January 20th is a non-attendance day for Martin Luther King. Jr. Day and to wrap up the month of January, we will be having our first district One School, One Book event. Please look for information coming home with your child. We are very excited about this! Dummer Family Game Night will take place on February 7th and the Mobile Dentist will also be at Dummer School on February 28th. As always, your child’s teacher will have the most up-to-date information in your child’s Take Home folder or in their assignment notebook. We all make a great team!
During the winter, drop-off and pick-up in front of our school can get a little crazy! Our utmost importance is keeping our children safe, so there are some rules that we ask everyone to follow. You need to drop off on the east side of the street (Dummer side) north of the sidewalk that leads to the front doors. No drop-off is allowed on the west side of the street (Open Door) and police may issue a ticket. You may not park where the curb is painted yellow. The busses need room to turn and cars cannot see the students using the crosswalk if cars are parked in this area. Talking on cellphones is against the law while driving. Please drop off then move on so the next car may pull up. Always stop to let pedestrians cross the road, and always be prepared for the unexpected. Thank you for your cooperation.
A new year brings many new resolutions, goals, and a wish for do-overs! Although we cannot go back to the past, we can make a positive change for our future. As we look at our past mistakes, let us remember we have been given another day to choose to be happy, to choose to help others, to choose to change our lives for the better. Today is the day!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
SANDWICH EDUCATION FOUNDATION
SANDWICH 430 IS PREPARING A NEW METHOD OF COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES
Parents & Guardians,
Sandwich CUSD #430 is preparing to rollout SMS or text messaging notification for reminders, emergency and other notifications. Prior to using this method of communication, the district will be sending an email to parents containing instructions for sending an Opt-In text message to a Group code.
The Opt-In must be done from the mobile device that is to receive these messages in order to begin receiving them. Also, the number for this mobile device must be included in your child’s parent profile in the Tyler Parent portal. Please contact your child’s attendance center for updating this information.
Sandwich CUSD #430
SANDWICH #430 WELLNESS NIGHT
Mark your calendars! Sandwich CUSD #430 will be having its first Wellness Night on Thursday, February 20 at the Sandwich Middle School from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Many wellness-related vendors are expected and we are excited to share this information with our community. All are welcome. More information will be coming home at a later date.
NURSE NEWS
Asthma, Inhalers, and Medications
Winter has arrived and with it comes an increase of weather related illnesses such as asthma. Just a reminder that any medication brought to school, including inhalers, must have a school medication form completed and on file in the main office. We have had several students with breathing problems and no inhaler was available for them to use at school. In addition, a new law was recently passed requesting any student with asthma to have an Asthma Action Plan on file with the school. Your child's doctor should be able to provide one, if not, the school has sample plans that your doctor can complete. If you have any questions regarding medication at school, please contact the School Nurse, at 815-786-8498.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
HEALTH TIPS
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with flu will have a fever)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
Guidelines to follow when ill with the flu:
- Stay home when sick. Students should be kept home if they have a fever greater than 100 degrees F along with a cough and/or sore throat. Students should stay home for at least 24-hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
- Follow basic health hygiene practices to limit the spread of illness, like the 3 C's (Clean, Cover and Contain).
- Clean - wash you hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs
- Cover - your cough or sneeze with your elbow or sleeve
- Contain - students should stay home if they're sick.
- We also ask that when you call your student in sick, please indicate if they have a fever greater than 100 degrees F along with a cough and/or sore throat.
We at Sandwich School District #430 are working hard to promote a safe and healthy learning environment. We understand that children can't learn if they are sick.
ATTENTION PARENTS OF CURRENT 5TH GRADE STUDENTS
6th Grade Health Requirements for 2020-21 School Year
It’s not too early to start planning for next school year. Below is a list of health requirements for entry into 6th grade. The physical exam and immunization record are due by the first day of school.
· Complete physical exam: Please note that a sports physical does not meet the requirement for the 6th grade physical.
· Up - to - date immunizations to include: Tdap, 2- varicella doses, hepatitis B series, and meningococcal vaccine. Please check with your health care provider to be sure these immunizations are included on your child’s 6th grade physical exam.
* Exemption Forms: Renewal of Religious Exemption Form or Medical Exemption, if applicable.
· Dental exam: due by May 15, 2021
The 6th grade health packets will be sent home, with your child, in January after winter break. Health forms may also be found on the district website or picked up in the main office. If you have questions about any of these requirements you may contact Mrs. Meyer, School Nurse at 815-786-8498.
SMILE DENTIST IS COMING TO DUMMER ON FEBRUARY 28, 2020. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR THE REGISTRATION FORMS.
FANTASTIC 4TH GRADE
Past…
Throughout the month of November students have been working diligently on factors/multiples, working with fractions, creating endangered animal posters, starting to write a realistic fiction story, and reading realistic fiction texts.
We also had our Parent/Teacher Conferences. This is not the only time you can join us at school or have a conversation with your student’s teacher. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your student’s teacher.
In addition, we completed the first trimester!
Present…
In reading, students are reading more fiction stories. In writing, students are continuing to work on their realistic fiction stories. In math, we are working hard on fractions. In social studies, many classes will be continuing to study Illinois and beginning regional studies. In science, we will continue to work on a variety of topics including: soil, rocks, waves, energy, and STEM activities.
Our annual Winter Workshop was a great success! Thanks again to the Parent Group for all of your hard work.
Winter Break begins Friday December 20th at 1:10pm and students will return Monday January 6th.
Future…
The beginning of 2020 will be here before we know it! We have lots of wonderful things planned including the start of our One School, One Book program! This year we will be combining with Kindergarten through 5th Grade so all elementary schools will be reading the same book. Our Family Night is scheduled for Thursday January 30th from 5-7pm, mark your calendars it is going to be incredible!
MRS. MITCHELL - CAN YOU GUESS WHICH MOVIE CHARACTER SHE IS PORTRAYING?
FABULOUS 5TH GRADE
With snowflakes flying and temperatures dropping outside, the students are very busy inside the school. Students are participating in activities such as: band, Art Club, Magazine Club, Character Counts Club, and some students are even participating in Wrestling.
Right now, in math, most students are working on applying their understanding of multiplication to multiplying fractions. Students are using models to represent their thinking, multiplying a whole number by a fraction, a fraction by a whole number, two fractions, and mixed numbers. We will also be working on area of rectangles, scaling, and problem solving (making sense and persevering). The current topic in social studies revolves around the colonists’ fight for independence, otherwise known as the American Revolution. In addition, we will be talking about how the colonists tackled the big job of starting a new government. In science, students are learning about Space and Gravity and Living Systems. We are making our way through our “piloted” reading series. At the present time, we are in Unit 3: Reflections. Some of the genres included in this unit are Realistic Fiction, Legend/Drama, and Poetry. The focus of writing is Opinion Writing.
As you can see, this will be a busy month! Our fifth grade team wishes all of our students and their families a wonderful holiday season filled with plenty of memory-making time with family and friends. Enjoy!
BAND AND MUSIC NEWS
Fourth and Fifth Grade have been working hard on playing two part holiday tone chime songs. Students have had to focus on their parts and use elements of teamwork to play a song together! As we wrap up this last week before break, we have been playing Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and Let it Snow. Additionally, students have been working on their remixes on BandLab to enter in the first remix contest that will happen the first week after the break. Students will score each remix, which will be anonymous, and whoever has the most points wins!
The fifth grade band just had their winter concert on the 15th and all of the kids did a fantastic job. They played four songs for their portion of the concert. The finale featured all bands 5-12 playing “Holiday Bells Are Ringing.” Our next performance will be in February with more details to follow. After winter break, we will be using Essential Elements Interactive, a practice and recording app. This app is free to all students with a band book and is accessible on computers and mobile devices.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH AND CHARACTER COUNTS
4TH GRADE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Back Row: Bailey Brummel, Liza Goodbred, Ashlyn Behringer, Bella Forth, Kennedy Smith, Delaney Gauer
Not Pictured: Elijah Libner
5TH GRADE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Back Row: Frankie Barajas, Reid Komarowski, Jillian Freemon, Kayla Kressin, Brayden Wachowski, Joeseph Dungan
CHARACTER COUNTS
FAMILY GAME NIGHT IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020. THIS IS A FUN NIGHT THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS! SIGN UP FORMS WILL GO HOME WITH YOUR STUDENT, AFTER WINTER BREAK.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
January 8th - Art Club 3-4 pm
January 10th - Progress Reports Go Home
January 16th - Character Counts Club 3-4 pm
January 20th - Martin Luther King Day - No School
January 22nd - Magazine Club 3-4 pm
January 24th - 11:10 am Dismissal
January 30th - 4-1 & 4-4 to Hoover
January 30th - One Book, One School Family Night 5-7 pm
JANUARY LUNCH MENU
HERMAN E. DUMMER SCHOOL
Email: jkruswicki@sandwich430.org
Website: sandwich430.org
Location: 422 S Wells St, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 815-786-8498