Dolphin News
Francis A. Desmares School - December 2023
A Note From Mr. Masessa and Mrs. Custy
Dear Desmares Families,
We hope you enjoyed every moment of the Thanksgiving holiday and look forward to the exciting time ahead with the holidays fast approaching. At Desmares School, we are proud to celebrate the many different holidays our students celebrate at home, and we encourage you to communicate with the classroom teacher and homeroom parents during classroom holiday party time to bring those traditions into the classroom. Most importantly, we want you to mark your calendar for our Conference dates - December 5th-8th. Please know that ONLY J.P Case and RFIS have an Early Dismissal on Monday, December 4th. Desmares will have early dismissals Tuesday through Friday, December 5-8th.
Parent-Teacher Conference scheduling was done through the use of Pick-a-Time. You should have received a confirmation email regarding your date and time. If you need assistance, please call the main office. Parent teacher conferences are a special time for you to privately meet with the teacher and develop a partnership with your child’s learning. If you have a conference that needs to be translated, that conference will be held virtually with a translator who will be on the computer using Google Meet or Zoom. During conference time, our PTO will be selling Pencil Grams to parents. This is a nice way to share a kind message with your child.
There are some very important dates to keep in mind, as we have special holiday activities for kids through our PTO. The Holiday Shop will be open for students during recess from December 11th - 15th. Children get to shop for family members and friends. Winterfest Kids Night Out is on Monday, December 18th. Please refer to the Membership Toolkit or our PTO website for more information on volunteering and the schedule of upcoming events.
Academically speaking, our students are developing new strategies for reading comprehension and learning more about writing about their reading. We are excited for you to see this work at your parent-teacher conference and to learn more about how you can support your child at home. The new Bridges Math program is amazing! Students are solving more complex equations and word problems using advanced vocabulary in class. Just like real mathematicians they are being taught to grapple with mathematical ideas and relationships. Talk to your child about their Numbers Corner activities today!
Absenteeism continues to be a focus as our students are beginning to develop greater stamina to maintain focus all day. That said, every day counts and attendance really matters as we enter the most critical time of the school year beginning in January.
As we close out 2023, we wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.
~ Mr. Masessa and Mrs. Custy
WINTER RECESS
Whenever possible, students will be going outside for recess. When the weather is particularly cold, students will have a “fresh air recess,” which will include a brief time outdoors. It is important to ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, including a warm jacket.
To help minimize lost items, please label your child’s jackets, mittens, hats, and scarves with their first and last name.
Parent and Teacher Conference Tips
This year, conferences will be held December 5-8. Conferences offer parents the opportunity to meet with teachers, gaining insights about your child’s growth and development in school. The Desmares staff is looking forward to partnering with you to support your child’s academic and social-emotional well-being. Below are a few suggestions to help you prepare for your upcoming conference.
Before conferences:
Talk with your child about their school experience.
Ask your child if there is anything they would like you to discuss with their teacher.
Prepare a list of questions for your child’s teacher.
During conferences:
Share what is working well for your child and any challenges your child may be experiencing.
Ask for clarification of anything you don’t understand.
Ask how you can support your child’s learning at home.
After conferences:
Talk to your child about the conference.
Celebrate your child’s accomplishments.
Share any plan you and the teacher developed to support your child.
LOST AND FOUND
Please check the lost and found in the Desmares foyer during conferences. There are many unclaimed jackets and sweatshirts. All items remaining at the end of December will be donated.
Please take a moment to write your child's name on their belongings so they can be easily returned when misplaced.
School Counseling Corner
On November 13th, we celebrated World Kindness Day. We are very proud of all the students, staff, and parents who participated in the index card activity: take it or read it if you need it. Our bulletin board displays how we can show kindness and turn someone’s difficult day around.
The character traits for December are Caring and Compassion.
Caring means that you are kind and demonstrate concern for others.
Compassion means we care about others, treat them with kindness, and feel a great need to help people.
Compassion and caring go together. We want to share this book that helps you to understand better these two words:
I Am Love: A Book of Compassion
Yo soy amor: un cuento de Compasión
The school counselors wish you a safe and healthy holiday!
~ Mrs. Moncada & Mrs. Monks
School Nurse News
Library News
Students celebrated Veterans Day in November by learning more about the national holiday and writing letters to veterans. These were dropped off at the VFW in Flemington and were greatly appreciated!
Students are also practicing how to find “just right” books for them to encourage a habit of reading and an excitement for learning. Students are also participating in activities such as sequencing, making connections to stories through writing, and team scavenger hunts to help them gain independence in using the library catalog to find books.
Check out these books for some fun holiday reads: Simon and the Bear: a Hanukkah tale by Eric Kimmel, The Little Owl & the Big Tree: a Christmas story by Jonah and Jeanette Winter (based on a true story!), and Seven Spools of Thread: a Kwanzaa story by Angela Shelf Medearis.
~ Mrs. Gale
Attendance
Important Dates
- December 1 - Author Visit - Lindsey Stansfield
- December 5, 6, 7, 8 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- December 14 - Trimester 1 Report Cards Available
- December 21 - Winterfest Kids Night Out - PTO Event
- December 22 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Winter Break
- December 25-January 1 - SCHOOLS CLOSED - Winter Break
- January 2 - School Open
HELPFUL LINKS
Francis A. Desmares Elementary School
Nurse's Office - Ms. Dausch: 908-284-7545
School Counselor - Mrs. Monks: 908-284-7542
Bilingual School Counselor - Mrs. Moncada: 908-284-7553
Email: firstname.lastname@frsd.us
Website: https://www.frsd.k12.nj.us/Domain/284
Location: 16 Old Clinton Road, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-284-7540
Twitter: @desmaresschool