Dike-Newell School Newsletter
March 8th, 2024
DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 8th - End of 2nd Trimester
March 10th - Spring Ahead for Daylight Savings!
March 15th - Professional Development Day - No School for Students
March 20th - Report Cards Come Home
March 21st - Parent Teacher Conferences
March 21st & 22nd - 1/2 days for Students
March 25th - RSU1 School Board Meeting
A Message from RSU1 - Air Quality Results at DNS
Sevee and Maher Engineeers, Inc/Environmental Safety and Hygiene Associates, LLC was retained by RSU 1 to conduct a targeted indoor air quality study within the Dike Newell School.
The IAQ study was conducted to assess several classrooms within the building for airborne mold spores, readily visible surface mold growth, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and relative humidity.
Visual observations or readily visible and accessible areas and surfaces within the study areas did not reveal any signs of significant water damage or any visible mold growth.
No elevations or airborne mold spores were detected in any of the areas assessed. The air quality testing for carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide did not reveal any elevations of either parameter. The relative humidity levels in all areas were seasonally low, which is typical for this time of year. The percentage range for relative humidity levels fell within the average range for this time of year and for this region. Prolonged exposures to seasonally low humidity levels can cause dry irritated eyes, sore throats, nose bleeds, chest congestion, dry skin, and an increased risk of illness
News from the Nurse
Sick Day and Absence Reminders
Please keep your student home for any of the conditions listed below. If your student needs to stay home because they are sick, notify the Main Office or school nurse.
If your student becomes ill at school, it is expected that a parent or emergency contact will pick up your student from school as soon as possible.
Students need to stay home if they have:
➔ A fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher);
➔ Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea;
➔ An unexplained/undiagnosed rash;
➔ Discharge from the eyes that is green or yellow;
➔ Uncontrolled coughing;
➔ Sore throat with a fever, stomachache, or red and swollen tonsils
Students may return to school once they are fever free for 24 hours, without the help of fever reducing medications, and free of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours. If you have questions about keeping your student home from school or about returning to school after an illness, reach out to Ms. Dill, Dike-Newell School Nurse.
Pie-in-the-Face Fundraiser for the Author Visit!
Which staff member will get a pie to the face? DNS is collecting spare change as a fundraiser to help fund our Spring Author Visit with Peter Brown, the author and illustrator of many books loved by our students at DNS, including his recent book The Wild Robot Protects. So bring in your change and add it to the jar of your choice. The staff member with the most money in their jar will get a pie to the face at our next community meeting!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick
Could Your Child Benefit from Mentoring?
When it comes to our children's future, we’re in this together. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick pairs screened positive mentors with youth to create a community where all children achieve success.
We offer school-based mentoring, in which your child is matched with a trained adult volunteer who meets with them weekly at their school for lunch and recess. We also offer community-based mentoring, in which your child and their Big meet to do fun things together on a schedule that works for them.
All our programs are free! Contact your school counselor for more information or visit bbbsbathbrunswick.org.
Lines from the Library
Students have been learning about Read Across America during this week's library classes. Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. While originally this event celebrated the March 2nd birthday of author Dr. Seuss, it has over time evolved to become more focused on raising awareness about the importance, value, and fun of reading and sharing diverse books
We read two Dr. Seuss books as well as a biography about the author. We then read and examined three recent Geisel Award winning books, and discussed why we thought each had won the award. The Geisel award is given each year for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in english in the United States during the preceding year. Winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. The award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006.
This is what we read this week!
"Dr. Seuss" By Jennifer Strand
"Fox at Night" By Corey R. Tabor
"I Did It!" By Michael Emberley
"See the Cat: Three Stories About A Dog" Written by David LaRochelle, Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
"What Pet Should I Get?" By Dr. Seuss
"What Was I Scared Of?" By Dr. Seuss
A Letter from Mr. Carter
We just kicked off our school’s Kids Heart Challenge! Students and staff are excited to get going on helping kids with special hearts and learning how to take care of our own. If you haven’t already, JOIN OUR TEAM at heart.org/schools or by downloading the AHA Schools app. Once you’re on the team, be sure to complete Finn’s Mission. That’s where you’ll learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR, which when given immediately can double (even triple) a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Other missions will help you raise funds for kids with special hearts and learn the warning signs of a stroke. As always, our students will have the opportunity to earn thank-you gifts for themselves and funds and equipment for our school. Join us today! Click here to register for Dike-Newell Elementary School.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?company=Dike-Newell+Elementary+School&company_id=453984&pg=company&fr_id=9739&et=09oZ0RCIkNpkywN6VURl6q4fGocelPE7L2of3l_t-o30oy9lq4Gbcg
PTA Information and Updates
Join us in person for our next meeting on March 13th from 6-7:15 at Fisher Mitchell School!
Parent's Night Out is at Fisher Mitchell School, March 15th from 5:30 to 7:30. Cost is $5.00 per student. This is open to all DNS and FMS students. Want to join in the fun for Parents Night Out? Please use below signup genius to sign up your child for the fun!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A48ABAD28A7FE3-48367456-parents
Volunteering in RSU1
Are you interested in being on a list of eligible volunteers? Visit the RSU1 website to learn more and to sign up: https://www.rsu1.org/page/volunteer-information. At site preference, scroll down to select DNS and be sure to click Submit after the form is complete and signed. Please allow one week prior to a field trip or event for processing.
Dike-Newell School Information
Email: kwalker@rsu1.org
Website: https://dns.rsu1.org/o/dike-newell-school
Location: 800 High Street, Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207)443-8285