Dutch Fork Elementary
Faculty/Staff Newsletter Week of December 9th
superintendent's Priorities
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moe's like customer service for internal and external community.
- Strengthen the structure and quality of communication both internally and externally.
- Promote a work and learning environment where students and staff feel safe physically, emotionally and socially.
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 questioning.
- We believe in learning from multiple perspectives.
- We believe in learning from authentic primary and secondary sources.
- We believe in encouraging learners to be risk takers.
- We believe reflection should lead to change and growth.
- We believe learning should lead to social action.
- We believe our actions should be aligned to our beliefs.
Shout Outs
- PTO board and volunteers for the holiday store.
- Third and 5th grade teachers and students. We experienced power/electricity issues this past Tuesday impacting the 3rd/4th/5th grade portion of the building. All classrooms and students remained engaged in spite of issues with lighting.
Winter 2019 MAP Testing Window
- Grades 1st through 5th will participate in Winter MAP Testing.
- The Media Center will be closed on the mornings of December 10th through 12th and December 17th through 19th.
- The Media Center will be available on Monday and Friday as well as Tuesday through Thursday after 12:00 pm.
- Contact Media Center regarding times students can visit.
- Related Arts will run the same throughout the duration of testing.
- Test Session Codes and Passwords will be provided the morning of testing.
- If a student is dropped from the test, please CALL whomever sent you the Test Session Code and Password.
- If a student is dropped from the test, they will have to completely close out of the test and login again. The original login and password will still be used.
- Students who are kicked out of the Chromebook testing more than two times will be placed on the make-up list.
- Chromebooks will be distributed the day prior to testing for all grades except 4th grade (3rd grade tests before 4th grade).
- WEEK ONE
- Monday, December 9th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 3rd grade classrooms.
- Tuesday, December 10th (following 3rd grade testing) - 3rd grade Chromebook carts will be delivered to 4th grade classrooms.
- Tuesday, December 10th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 5th grade classrooms.
- Wednesday, December 11th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 1st grade classrooms.
- Wednesday, December 11th (afternoon) - 2 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 2nd grade planning (extra)
- WEEK TWO
- Monday, December 16th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 1st grade classrooms.
- Monday, December 16th (afternoon) - 2 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 2nd grade planning (extra)
- Tuesday, December 10th (following 3rd grade testing) - 3rd grade Chromebook carts will be delivered to 4th grade classrooms.
- Tuesday, December 17th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 5th grade classrooms.
- Wednesday, December 18th (afternoon) - 5 Chromebook carts will be delivered to 3rd grade classrooms.
- Thursday, December 19th (following 3rd grade testing) - 3rd grade Chromebook carts will be delivered to 4th grade classrooms.
- All teachers need to use the following link of what to say to students prior to MAP testing. We would like as much consistency as possible: Student Introduction to MAP Testing.
- For the Reading Test: Teachers cannot read the test to students. You might say, "OK, you're stuck, try out what we learned to do, read it carefully, and then select an answer, and move on."
- For the Math Test: You can pronounce any word the child requests, including words around tables, charts, and graphs. You cannot explain a symbol, tell them (student) what the words mean, or help them with the content.
- Every child needs to have a piece of scratch paper and a pencil for showing their work.
- You can collect the scratch paper for your personal data.
- Alternative Testing Environment: Small group and Individual testing will be held in multiple locations within the building. Small groups consist of no more than 7 students. Teachers will be contacted no later than Friday, December 6th regarding their students receiving small group accommodation.
Winter 2019-2020 Data Conversations
Superintendent Priority 2 is centered around identifying academic areas to improve. We spend time reviewing mid year data to continue to support the growth of readers and mathematicians. Please see the link below.
ELA PD led by S. Somerall
PD Tuesday will be a follow up to the curricular conversations we had November 12th. Please come prepared to share bring artifacts of what you tried over the last month in regards to small group instruction.
We would like our interventionists and SPED teachers to join us for this discussion.
All Magnet Meeting December 11th
I will be out of the building Wednesday to attend a meeting for all district magnet schools Wednesday from 1:30-3:30. Please see Mr. Gantt in my absence if needed.
School Improvement Council Meeting Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
RtI Core Meeting
I will be out of the building to attend a district RtI Core Meeting from 9:00-12:00 and then 1:00-2:00. Please see Mr. Gantt in my absence if needed.
Scott Out of Office Friday
I will be out of the office for the second half of the day Friday. Please see Mr. Gantt in my absence.
Birthday Wishes!
- 12/08 K. Kirkindoll
- 12/12 T. Geurkink
We develop students who care about the world we live in and express critical thinking through natural curiosity and wonder.
Where Wonders Grow!
Email: jscott@lexrich5.org
Website: www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork/cfm/
Location: 7900 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: 803-470-9544
Twitter: @dfes_principal