Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of September 19 -
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 naming.
- We believe in learning from multiple perspectives.
- We believe in learning from authentic primary and secondary sources.
- We believe in encouraging learners to take risks.
- We believe reflection should lead to change and growth.
- We believe learning should lead to social action.
- We believe our actions should be aligned with our beliefs.
Shout Outs
- Z. Vowles (4th grader) and his family have trained and will be participating in a 5K marathon this coming weekend.
- J. D. Moorer (5th grader) will be featured at the Auntie Karen's Young Entrepreneur Conference at Benedict College in October. J. D. is being recognized as a visual artist.
- S. Knowles and J. Garrett received funding from the Reflex Educator Grant Program. Reflex is a web based program that helps students of all ability levels develop fluency with their basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
- For the past 10 years-ish Pete Stewart has volunteered one morning a week to share his love of reading with our students by reading a book with each first grade class. Mr. Stewart has recently retired from his volunteer work. During his time here he mentored some of our older students and encouraged their interest in science by sharing his life experience as an aeronautical engineer. The redbud tree in our Secret Garden was a donation from his family. Mr. Stewart was always complimentary in his remarks about the kind and caring atmosphere here at DFES. We thank him for his dedication.
- Literacy Team (K. Andes, M. Reece, C. Rhodes, and S. Somerall) used the speed dating format to have RtI progress monitoring conversations with grade level teachers. Teachers involved and interventionists met for 4 minutes and 45 seconds to discuss a student and their data for Tier I identification so plans could be made to support the growth of these readers. Below are scenes from the speed dating.
Hallway Display of Student Learning
In January of 2016 our homeroom teachers explored the topic of displaying student learning after taking a gallery walk of our building. Based on their input we decided upon the following expectations to be included for hallway display of student learning:
- Title, Explanation, and Purpose
- showcasing learning from across the day across various content areas
- Representative of authentic data collection/conversation
- Represents evidence of student growth
- Up to date and tidy
Those expectations will serve us throughout this year as well. Please consider how you are currently displaying student learning and take actions to match what is outlined as necessary by the end of next week.
FYI...this shouldn't require extra work. Many of you have excellent examples already inside of your classrooms that could be used in the hallways.
Vertical Team Curricular Conversations w/Heidi MIlls
Monday, Sep 19, 2016, 08:15 AM
Sally Somerall's Space
District Leadership Team Meetings/DFES Tier I PD
District leadership team meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Each elementary school sends representatives attend ELA, Math, Science, SS, AGP, and Related Areas meetings. Information has been sent previously regarding DFES leadership team reps. Reps are expected share content area information with their designated grade levels.
We will meet with all remaining homeroom teachers not on district leadership teams Tuesday at 3:15 in the media center and will be creating Tier I plans for students. For students we agreed would benefit from a formal Tier 1 plan, please bring those few literacy profile cards with you along with data you think will be helpful. Finally please bring a laptop.
Tuesday, Sep 20, 2016, 03:15 PM
Various D5 Schools
K-2 Curriculum Night
5 minutes for transition. Parents will be in classrooms from 6:20 7:15. The same format will hold true for the 3rd-5th night as well.
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2016, 06:00 PM
DFES
3rd-5th Grade Curriculum Night
Thursday, Sep 22, 2016, 06:00 PM
DFES
Scott Out of Office Wednesday
Early Release Day
Our first release day is scheduled for this coming Thursday. Lunch is provided on all early release days. There is also an abbreviated related areas schedule. Dismissal announcements will begin at 11:35 pm.
We are scheduled receive completely new furniture in the cafeteria after dismissal on the early release day. This should provide an easier process for students as they sit and exit tables. We will also have four 60" round tables. This will allow us to accommodate seating for any students, staff, or visitors requiring wheel chair accessibility during lunch.
It may be a good idea to review the map with your team and definitely with your students so they some perspective on the changes. We anticipate the layout featured below may be tweaked once in place. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thursday, Sep 22, 2016, 11:30 AM
DFES
Connect ED Support Session (MATH) 9/22/16
If you need help creating classes, assigning content or anything else with ConnectEd, you are invited to attend a support session in the computer lab here at DFES with Dian Alston on Thursday, September 22nd from 12:30-1:30. Be sure to bring a class roll and your login information to the session.
Thanks!
DFES Spirit Night
We are excited about our first PTO spirit night. Should you or families from your respective classes attend let Pelican's know that you are with DFES. A percentage of proceeds will be given back to the school.
Thursday, Sep 22, 2016, 05:00 PM
Pelican's SnoBalls NW - Ballentine, Dutch Fork Road, Irmo, SC, United States
Green Apple Day of Service
Friday, Sep 23, 2016, 08:30 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, United States
Interim Reports go home Friday 9/23/16
D5 Magnet School Booths @ The Okra Strut Festival
The annual Okra Strut Festival is scheduled for this coming Saturday. Our district has reached an agreement with planners of this event for our magnet schools to have booths and information available. This allows the word about our programs to continue to spread throughout our community. Each magnet school is expected to have representatives on this day to spread the good. We would like two representatives to fill one hour slots from:
- 10:00-11:00
- 11:00-12:00
- 12:00-1:00
- 1:00-2:00
- 2:00-3:00
Please let me know if you are interested and available or sign up on the following google doc. Thanks.
Saturday, Sep 24, 2016, 09:00 AM
Okra Strut Festival, Eastview Drive, Irmo, SC, United States
Birthday Wishes!
- 9/18 B. Poore
- 9/19 A. Umberger
- 9/20 N. Jefferson
- 9/20 T. Sadler (formerly Sumpter)
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, United States
Phone: 803-476-3901
Twitter: @dfes_principal