Dunstan Newsletter
October 6th
Pics from our On/Off Track Field Trips to Skate City
Monday, October 9th
- On/Off Track letters go out to students
Wednesday, October 11th
- Musical Audition Workshop from 4-5:05 PM
Thursday, October 12th
- Picture re-take day from 9:40-11:15 AM
- DMS Band Concert (DMS Gym) @ 6:00 PM
Friday, October 13th
- GMHS Homecoming Parade @ 10 AM
Monday, October 16th
- Musical Auditions 4-6:30 PM @ DMS
Tuesday, October 17th
- Musical Auditions 4-6:30 PM @ DMS
Thursday, October 19th
- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS (Fall Break)
- Professional Development Day for staff
Friday, October 20th
- NO SCHOOL (Fall Break)
Monday, October 23rd
- On/Off Track letters go out to students
- On/Off Track eligibility for field trip (Permission slips for On Track students go out)
Tuesday, October 24th
- Articulation area Accountability meeting- 5:30 PM @ DMS
Wednesday, October 25th
- Trick or Treat Street @ GMHS from 6-8 PM
Thursday, October 26th
- Choir Concert- 6PM @ DMS (Gym)
Friday, October 27th
- On/Off Track Field Trip Permission slips DUE
Picture Re-take Day
Dear Dunstan families,
Picture retake day will be Thursday, October 12th from 9:40 – 11:15 am only. We will call students down by grade level. If they were absent on picture day or if they have there prints with them and want to retake there picture your students should come down when there grade level is called. Please make sure if you are doing retakes and purchased pictures that your student brings there pictures to return.
To order pictures for retake day only please go to:
Mylifetouch.com with your Student ID# or Picture Day ID# EVTKHKG4C
If you have any questions please call the office at 303-982-9270.
Information regarding drop off and pick up
Dear Dunstan families,
We have noticed that families are wanting to either drive behind the north end of the building to drop off their students and have been parking in the bus lane to either drop off or pick up.
We have Park and Ride dropping off a limited number of students behind the north end of the building. We would deeply appreciate if you have been dropping off your student that you, please pick an alternate place. Please do not park at any time in the bus loop.
Thank you so much for your understanding and kindness.
Calling on Crafters!
The Dunstan Theatre Department needs YARN! We need to make a whole lotta of pom poms for Seussical! If you have any leftover yarn, especially in bright colors (but we'll take it all!), please consider donating it to the Dunstan Theatre Department. You can drop it off for Ms. Waterhouse anytime this semester.
Thanks!
Events and Opportunities
Helping Kids Thrive
GMHS Craft Fair
November 11th from 10:00-4:00 PM in the commons
Beginning September 19th
Attention 7th grade parents
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We are happy to share information about a new program starting at our school and throughout Jeffco Schools for students in grades 5-12. It’s called Signs of Suicide (SOS) for Students and includes classroom lessons and check-ins with our mental health professionals, based on student request. Youth suicide is a public health issue affecting many youth across the nation, including students in the Jeffco community. According to the most recent statewide Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 22.8% of participating Jeffco Middle School and High School students anonymously reported considering suicide in their lifetimes. Through SOS for Students we will discuss suicide prevention and teach students about warning signs and risk factors for suicide, as well as the lifesaving measure of seeking adult help.
Over 1.5 million students throughout the US receive SOS lessons annually. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts. Students report that after taking the SOS lesson, they are 64% less likely to make a suicide attempt.
Through the program, students learn:
that depression is treatable and they are encouraged to seek help
how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult)when there is a suicide concern
who they can turn to at school for help, when needed
Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what steps to take when you have a concern about suicide. Following the discussion, students will complete exit slips and specify if they’d like to speak with an adult about a concern. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student who asks for support. These discussions will take place during 7th grade science classes on Monday, October 23rd and Tuesday, October 24th. They will be presented by our 7th grade counselor, Ryan Cole, and our Social Emotional Learning Specialist, Leslie Pruitt.
We encourage you to visit the SOS Parent & Guaridan Site for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn.
We are including:
An infographic (Spanish) with ACT
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation, or would like your child to opt out of this program, please contact Leslie Pruitt at 303-982-9439 or leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Hello!
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This week, 6th and 7th grade students started the Bullying Prevention unit in Second Step. Please visit Stopbullying.org for more information about bullying prevention in middle school and what parents can do to help. Due to the Warren Tech field trip last week, 8th grade worked on identifying their trusted adults in the building.
- For 6th grade students:
- In this week’s lesson, your child discussed different types of bullying, and increased their awareness that bullying can look and feel different in each situation.
- Ask your child if they have experienced bullying or negative jokes recently. Encourage them to tell you how it made them feel and let them know you’re there to support them.
- For 7th grade students:
- In this week’s lesson, your child learned how to recognize harassment and tell how it’s different from bullying.
- Talk to your child about an example of harassment you heard about, or—if you’re comfortable—something you experienced. Ask your child how this is different from bullying.
As always, if you have any questions about Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan, or how we can help best support your student, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Leslie Pruitt, Social Emotional Learning Specialist
leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-9439
Click the Picture to Access Past Editions of Dunstan's Patriot Post
The Patriot Post is Dunstan's online newspaper established in the 2022/23 school year. Mr. Orthun facilitates the creation of each edition through his Media Literacy elective. The Post is back again this year, and will be better than ever. Clicking the picture will take you to past editions and we encourage you to check them out. Thank you all so much and we hope you enjoy our future editions!
Watch D.O.G.S. and M.O.M.S.
Welcome back Dunstan students! AND....
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students)!!!
DADS, MOMS, any parents, guardians, family members - are all welcome and encouraged to sign up and participate.
Sign up to volunteer between 11:00 am - 1:15 pm to cover lunch and recess. Monday - Friday.
If you want to help cover the crosswalk before or after school also, just add that in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
PS - more dates will be added to fill out the school year.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program was established nearly 25 years ago. A program to help get fathers and father figures into our children's schools. Moms and mother figures have always been allowed, but the focus has been to purpose fathers and father-figures, not traditionally found on school campuses as much as the moms and female counterparts. Last year, in 2022, the national Watch DOGS program wanting to continue to engage fathers and father figures and add our M.O.M.S.
My name is Steve Clayton. Please feel free to email if you have any questions about our program. WatchDOGS is a national program that has been in our local schools for over a decade. You can email Steve at: dunstanwatchdogs@gmail.com
From the Dunstan PTA
The Next PTA Meeting is November 8th
Please join us for the next PTA meeting. It will be held both in-person and virtually on November 8th from 5:30-6:30p
Click on the Picture Below to Join the PTA
Dine for Dunstan is on October 26th
Sign-Up to Bring Treats for Teachers and Staff
Hello Dunstan Middle School Families! Let's show our appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff by keeping their break room stocked this year. Please review the available slots below and contact Dunstan PTA (ptadunstan@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Treats can be dropped off to the front office during open hours.
Here is the link to sign up.
Looking for a New Podcast?
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Through the unique combination of expert, parent and educator guests, each episode features engaging conversations that offer real-life advice and ideas on how to support children’s learning and development—all in parent-friendly language.