Dunstan Newsletter
February 16th
GMHS Electives Fair for our 8th Graders
Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, February 16
- NO SCHOOL for students (Teacher PD Day)
Monday, February 19
- NO SCHOOL for President's Day
Wednesday, February 21
- 6th Grade On Track Field Trip
Thursday, February 22
- 7th Grade On Track Field Trip
- TSA Competition
Friday, February 23
- 8th Grade On Track Field Trip
- TSA Competition
- Deadline for Family/Community Survey deadline
Monday, February 26
- On/Off Track Letters go out
Tuesday, February 27
- 6pm: DMS Band Concert @ DMS (Gym)
Wednesday, February 28
- 6pm: Choir Concert @ DMS (Gym)
Thursday, February 29
- 5th and 6th grade Orchestra Concert @ DMS (Cafeteria)
Tuesday, March 5
- Course Request Cards handed out to 6th and 7th grade students for the 24/25 school year.
Tuesday, March 5
- Outdoor Lab Groups 1 & 2
- Musical Class Field Trip to Arvada West HS 9:30-2:00 PM
Wednesday, March 6
- Outdoor Lab Groups 1 & 2
- PTA Meeting 5:30-6:30 PM (in-person and virtual)
- GMHS Musical Field Trip (8th Grade and Musical/Theatre classes)
Thursday, March 7
- Outdoor Lab Groups 1 & 2
Friday, March 8
- Outdoor Lab Groups 1 & 2
- 7th Grade 24/25 Course Cards Due
Monday, March 11
- On/Off Track Letters go out
Tuesday, March 12
- Outdoor Lab Group 3
- DMS Orchestra Concert @ 6:00 PM (GMHS Auditorium)
Wednesday, March 13
- Outdoor Lab Group 3
Thursday, March 14
- Outdoor Lab Group 3
Friday, March 15
- Outdoor Lab Group 3
- Symphonic Band Field Trip, CBA Festival, Englewood HS
- 6th Grade 24/25 Course Cards Due
Monday, March 18 - Friday March 22
- NO SCHOOL (SPRING BREAK)
Monday, March 25
- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS (Professional Learning Day for staff and paraprofessionals)
Tuesday, March 26
- On/Off Track letters go out
Friday, March 29
- Spring Assembly
8th Graders Attend 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Dear Dunstan 8th graders and families,
Green Mountain High School has extended an invitation to all 8th grade students to attend their spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 during the day. This annual field trip has been a long-loved tradition as a collaboration between our schools. It builds community and gives students a taste of the performing arts available to them at GMHS. They are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity, and we are excited to go!
We will be leaving Dunstan by bus at 9:30 AM and will return no later than 12:20 PM to enjoy the performance. Lunch will be at Dunstan as usual. This field trip is free. We will be holding classes as usual on this date. Students who are going on the trip will attend Periods 4, 5, and 6 after lunch. Students who do not attend the field trip will stay with an 8th grade teacher during Advise, and Periods 1, 2, and 3 with an alternate activity.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a heartfelt musical tale of six quirky middle schoolers who compete for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of words and redefine what it means to be a winner.
We want to be transparent about the content of this musical as you consider your child’s participation, as the musical that GMHS has chosen is more mature than one that might be chosen at a middle school level. If this were a movie, it would most likely be PG-13. If you give your student permission to attend, they will be hearing some mild coarse language, anatomically correct verbiage for male and female reproductive organs, references to puberty-related changes to the human body, and irreverent depictions of religious figures/symbolism. Additionally, there is innuendo used to foster comedic misunderstanding.
If your student has your permission to attend the musical, please complete the attached permission slip and return it to the school no later than FRIDAY, March 1 You must fill in ALL sections with the *.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Megan Devitt-Haggstrom
Assistant Principal and Field Trip Organizer
303-982-9817/mhaggstr@jeffco.k12.co.us
CMAS Testing Information
Families, please be aware that our CMAS dates and times have been set. It is important for students to attend at these times so that they do not miss additional class time at a later date to make up the section(s) they miss. Please try to schedule appointments around these dates and times. Thank you for your support with this!
With the exception of 8th grade science, students will take one section of CMAS each day and will be attending several regular classes as well. Class schedules have been balanced so that the time spent in each class over these testing days is as equal as possible. Please contact Megan Devitt-Haggstrom with any questions you may have about our CMAS testing: 303-982-9817 / mhaggstr@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Students will be testing on:
- Tuesday, April 2 - 1:00-3:55 - Reading CMAS, Part 1
Wednesday, April 3 - 1:00-3:55 - Reading CMAS, Part 2
Thursday, April 4 - 1:00-3:55 - Reading CMAS, Part 3
Wednesday, April 10 - Science CMAS - Only 8th graders will attend on this date.
There will be no classes for 6th/7th grade students on Wednesday, April 10.
Thursday, April 11 - 8:55-11:30 - Math CMAS, Part 1
Tuesday, April 16 - 8:55-11:30 - Math CMAS, Part 2
Thursday, April 17 - 8:55-11:30 - Math CMAS, Part 3
Summit Jeffco
Join us at Summit Jeffco on Saturday, March 2, 8:30 am - 2:30 p.m. at Summit Ridge Middle School.
Connect with district and school staff as well as experts in various fields, to explore important topics that impact our students. Discover how you can play an active role in improving your student's educational experience and foster their growth.
Jeffco Family/Community Survey
Panorama Education is currently conducting Jeffco's annual family survey. We encourage you to complete this anonymous survey about your experience with your student(s) school. Results will be used to improve our district and student(s)' learning environment.
The survey closes on Friday, February 23.
Visit https://surveys.panoramaed.com/jeffco/family to complete the survey.
Events and Opportunities
Dunstan Middle School Career Fair
We invite community members who are passionate about their work to share with our students on February 27, 8 am - 3 pm at Dunstan. One of the best career exploration activities is for them to hear about what people do for work, what kind of skills and training it takes to work in any given field, and what you find rewarding about your work.
Social Emotional Learning
This week, in honor of Kindness Week, students were asked to write a note of gratitude to someone and send it via email. Our amazing science teacher, Heather Bohn, also found a link for students to send digital Valentines Day cards to St. Jude's hospital patients!
We are committed to creating a culture of kindness, belonging, and inclusion at Dunstan. Our students are joining us in this commitment and it's been lovely to see all the kind and caring things they're doing for each other.
As always, if you have any questions about Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan, or how we can best support your student, please let me know.
Leslie Pruitt, Social Emotional Learning Specialist
leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-9439
Patriot Post
NEWEST EDITION DROPPED 2/14
The Patriot Post is Dunstan's online newspaper created by Mr. Orthun's Media Literacy elective class.
Watch D.O.G.S and M.O.M.S.
Sign up to volunteer between 11:00 am - 1:15 pm to cover lunch and recess. Monday - Friday. If you also want to help cover the crosswalk before or after school, add that in the comment section.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program was established to help get parental figures into our children's schools.
Community Resources
View GMHS 23-24 Major Events Calendar
Learn about what's going on at the high school.
Foothills Foodies is a community resource located at Foothills Elementary that offers free food, clothing and services to families in need.
They are always looking for volunteers and donations. Sign up to volunteer or reach out to katje.steenrod@jeffco.k12.co.us with questions.
Dunstan PTA News
Thank You for Feeding Our Teachers!
Thank you to everyone who contributed items to and volunteered for the teachers' conference dinner. They really appreciated being able to grab a warm meal before meeting with parents.
PTA Rewards Top Fundraising Classes
The PTA hosted a donut party for Mrs. Fischer's 7th grade Advise class and a pizza party for Ms. Bohn's 6th grade Advise. These classes raised the most money during the Dollars for Dunstan/Colorado Gives Day Campaign. Ms. Ivy's 8th grade Advise will celebrate with donuts next week.
We have also ordered items that teachers requested using their individual class funds. From electric pencil sharpeners to basketballs, human anatomy board games to handheld video game design consoles, the teachers found fun and engaging items to help improve their classroom instruction and engagement.
Stay tuned for more information about the school-wide funding project we're working on!
Dining for Dunstan at Noodles & Co on 2/28
Take the night off from cooking on February 28 and join us at a Noodles & Co. fundraising night for Dunstan PTA! Stop by any time between 4-8 pm at the location on 2nd and Union and use code GIVING25 for in-person or online ordering.
King Soopers Community Rewards
In the 4th quarter of 2023, Dunstan PTA earned $500.52 from the King Soopers Community Rewards program. Linking your King Soopers card to the Dunstan PTA is an easy way to support our school - at no cost to you!
Simply log in to Community Rewards and search for us: https://bit.ly/2R6y1mk.
Sign Up to Bring Treats for Teachers and Staff
As you're doing your grocery shopping, why not grab a box of granola bars, a bag of individually wrapped candy, a case of fizzy water, or a variety pack of small chip bags to help fuel our hard working teachers?
Sign up to help stock the teacher's lounge at https://bit.ly/PTAteachersnacks
Join the PTA Board!
We are looking for volunteers to fill important roles on the Dunstan PTA next school year.
The Social Media/Website Coordinator regularly updates the Dunstan Middle School Facebook page, Facebook group, Instagram, and the PTA website. Basic knowledge of Meta Business Suite and Google Sites is helpful but not required.
Learn how this and other PTA roles support our community at https://sites.google.com/view/dunstanpta/about-us
Dunstan Spirit Wear
Outfit the whole family in Dunstan Patriot T-shirts or sweatshirts! Use this form to place your order.
Email treasurerdunstanPTA@gmail.com with any questions.