Dixon Elementary
December Newsletter
Principal's Message
Have you noticed that DES has had a few environmental changes lately? We have Leader in Me bulletin boards up, posters around the school, flags from around the world outside of teachers doors and some much needed new paint (finally!) in some of the boys and girls bathrooms. Our mission at Dixon Elementary School is to provide opportunities for all students to achieve the skills necessary to become 21st century learners by providing a positive environment that encourages globally competitive thinkers. We are in the process of implementing two programs to achieve that mission: Covey’s Leader in Me for children and participation in North Carolina’s Global Ready Program. As we have freatured, the Leader in Me process many times in emails, newsletters and on the website, I’m going to concentrate on our participation in global responsive education for our students.
In September 2011, the North Carolina State Board of Education formed a Task Force on Global Education to assess the state's effort to produce globally competitive graduates ready to live, work and contribute in an interconnected world. Based on its findings, the Task Force made a number of recommendations that would help to ensure that public school students are well prepared.
One opportunity coming out of the Global Education Task Force work was the creation of criteria and a process for the Global - Ready Schools and Districts Designation. This designation is for schools and districts that provide a process and address, at the least, the following:
- K-12 world language opportunities for all students;
- Pathways for teachers, leaders and administrators to achieve State Board of Education-recognized badging;
- Career-ready employer requirements;
- Global school partnerships; and
- Local school board resolutions and plans on global education.
Dixon Elementary staff and students are working towards recognition of their efforts in this area. Each grade level is assigned a continent of study (i.e.: North America for kindergarten, Europe for fourth grade) and each classroom chose a Global Focus Country within that continent. Ideally a student that starts kindergarten at Dixon Elementary has a chance to study almost every inhabited continent before leaving for middle school—creating geographically competent citizens with the background knowledge to work in an ever-increasingly global society. Our culminating event is our Global Field Day in May, complete with an Olympics-style Parade of Nations. Ask your student today which country they are studying and what they are learning to become globally competitive citizens of tomorrow.
KINDERGARTEN NEWS
Holiday Breaks are a great time to use online resources to keep your little one learning (and busy). You can use READING EGGS for FREE. Your teacher has provided (or can provide) your child’s login and password. It has read alongs and learning games.
All Kindergarten classes will be “traveling” around North America to learn about holiday traditions. We will visit each class and have some fun while learning about their focus country.
FIRST GRADE NEWS
Happy December first grade families!
This time of year we focus on different traditions around the world and winter holidays that are celebrated. First graders study the Oceania region throughout the year and we are excited to explore and compare their traditions and celebrations to ours. At this time in the year we concentrate on nonfiction reading strategies and how to use text features to enhance our understanding of the book. Nonfiction texts are a great resource to familiarize students with different cultures and traditions around the world. Not only are students reading nonfiction but they are learning how to write informational pieces. First graders are understanding writing has a purpose and sometimes that purpose is to inform the reader. Some classes are researching facts about a topic and some are creating step by step “How To’ books. Have a safe and happy December!
SECOND GRADE NEWS
As part of our economics unit, second grade will be participating in our annual Winter Workshop. Each second grader will work in groups to develop products which will be produced and later sold to other second graders. After completing an application to determine the job that would best match individual interests and talents, our second graders will create their products over the course of several days. Each student will earn play money based upon their efforts and performance which will then be utilized to purchase the items that other classrooms have made. This culminating experience will allow students to experience firsthand economic concepts such as supply and demand, production and consumption, scarcity and value.
THIRD GRADE NEWS
Although our time at school in December is short, it is going to be full of excitement! In ELA, third graders are learning to recount stories—folktales, myths, and fables—including their central messages, lessons, and morals. We are also continuing our study of character and strengthening our identification of text-evidence skills. We are furthering our study of multiplication in mathematics by learning about properties of operations, patterns, and multiplying by powers of ten. This month in science we are wrapping up our study of the human body and moving towards the solar system/forces of motion. Finally, in social studies, we are learning about how events and historical figures have influenced communities. Third Grade Wave Days for the month of December: 7th, 15th PE 2 Days: 1st, 9th. See individual teacher newsletters for information about class holiday celebrations. We are looking forward to the month ahead!
FOURTH GRADE NEWS
4th Grade News
For the month of December our students are working on Habit 3 - Put First Things First. One of our steps in helping our students do this is by giving them access to powerschool to retrieve their grades and complete any missing assignments and to set goals for improvement.
We will continue to focus on figurative language in ELA, non-fiction reading and language skills on study island.
Students have been given a S.S. project to work on in class and partially at home. They are focusing on learning about NC's Native Americans.
In Math students should be working toward mastery of all multiplication facts up to 12.
In science students are exploring rocks and soil.
We will have global rotations on December 15th learning all about the different holidays celebrated in Europe.
Look for letters to go home about classroom holiday celebrations on the 16th.
FIFTH GRADE NEWS
Important Dates:
Dec. 6- Interims go home
Dec. 9- $1 holiday pjs,
Dec. 10- Pancake Breakfast/ TV raffle ticket Dec. 17th-Jan. 1st.
Art: 5th graders will be building dragons for the Lunar New Year so save Christmas wrap, old decorations, tinsel garlands etc for your child to use.
ThIRD GRADE FINE ARTS FIELD TRIP
DES third grade students chosen to be a part of the show on the fine arts field trip, 'Opera Express - Tortoise and the Hare'
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 in December!
- 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***
PE 2 YOGA BEGINS!
What do you do when Christmas is through; Recycle your cards to make something NEW!
The Art Department needs you to save and donate your Christmas cards! Every year we create using them but this year we don’t have enough. When you are finished with the celebrations please send them in. We’ll be GLAD YOU DID!
LEADER IN ME PARENT'S GUIDE
Welcome to The Leader in Me Parent’s Guide. This guide is based on the timeless
principles found in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Leader in Me. It
shares easy-to-understand ideas and activities, and a reading list to help you teach and model powerful 7 Habits principles to your children at home.
You are your child’s first and best teacher. You lay the foundation for the education of
your children’s mind, heart, body, and spirit. No matter what’s going on in your child’s
school, you can help your son or daughter discover the leader within and prepare for a
great life of contribution and service. If you are fortunate enough to have a school that
already supports the principles laid out in The Leader in Me, your job is simpler, but no
less important—it is to reinforce the principles your child learns at school and lives at
home becoming a leader of his or her own life.
Please click on the link below to access the Leader in Me Parent's Guide:
https://www.scribd.com/document/331559093/Parent-Guide#from_embed
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
December 6 - Interim Reports
December 8 - Christmas Chorus Concert 4th & 5th grade
December 16 - K-2 Holiday Performance
December 19 - 30 Christmas Break
* School Resumes on January 2