April Newsletter
School Updates for Families
Visitor Check-In
Parents and visitors:
When visiting the school, please note that you will have to stop and sign in at the security desk. You will also need to provide the office with a photo ID card.
Parking Lot Safety
The safety of your children is our number one concern. Please do not walk through the staff parking lot we do not want any child to become injured as vehicles are moving.
Sports Equipment
Students are allowed to bring limited sports equipment (footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs) to use during recess. However, to ensure safety of students and vehicles, using that equipment on-campus during arrival and dismissal is not allowed.
Solar Eclipse 2024
Mr. Cyril Nichols, State Representative for the 32nd District, provided Dawes school with glasses for the solar eclipse on April 8th! Solar eclipses are very rare. Following April's eclipse, there won't be another total solar eclipse visible in the United States until 2044! Check out the NASA website to learn more about solar eclipses.
Students will be able to view the solar eclipse with protective eye wear.
Family Art Night
Kite Decorating Night
The Fine & Performing Arts Committee invites you to our third annual Dawes Family Art Night! Come join us decorate kites as we Fly into Spring. Each Dawes student will get one kite to decorate. Kites can be taken home at the end of the night!
If your family would like to participate, sign up by selecting the number of Dawes students who will be attending and decorating a kite. Space is limited and will go quickly!
Click here to sign up!
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024, 04:00 PM
Dawes Elementary School, West 81st Place, Chicago, IL, USA
School Happenings
Run Like a Cheetah
Former Dawes teacher, Mary McNerney, returned to Dawes to bring her program, Run Like a Cheetah, to the students at Dawes. Run Like a Cheetah's mission is to teach children the joys of running and exercise within the context of the school day. We teach running as a fun, non-competitive, all-inclusive way to benefit a child's mental, physical, and emotional health. Our trained cheetah guides will teach the benefits and joys of running to small groups of students, in first grade through 8th grade and at the same time focus on social-emotional learning.
The small groups allow the cheetah guides to meet the needs of each student. This program can be used for students in TIER 2 of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that need additional support to meet their social and emotional goals.
All children need to acquire and apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities. In this program, we use the sport of running as way for students to learn to manage their emotions, set and achieve personal goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
Cheetah guides will provide effective, responsive, and equitable instruction for the students. They will foster a positive and supportive school environment; one that is safe and welcoming for all. Lastly, our cheetah guides will encourage fun at all times. This program aligns with the Illinois State Standards for Social Emotional Learning and the 5 Core Standards for Social-Emotional Learning.
Pre-K Family Literacy Night
Pre-k students and their parents were invited to a read aloud of the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Students and their parents completed an art activity and were able to engage with their classroom teachers.
Wax Museum Project
As part of social studies, 6th and 7th grade students participated in a wax museum Students research one historical figure from history The students read about the person, research the person and fill out a notes organizer, write an informative essay, and present a speech to their classmates and families.
ChiME - Chicago Music Education
Wow! This year Mrs. McDevitt's first grade class really enjoyed having Miss J. and Adeline (her guitar) each Tuesday to sing, learn, and enjoy music in fun ways! Thanks for bringing this great program to Dawes!
ChiME’s Classroom Music program is delivered in weekly sessions to pre-K through 1st grade classrooms throughout the school year. ChiME teaching artists engage, excite, and encourage active music making for every student. Students engage on a variety of percussion instruments while learning repertoire from a variety of diverse genres.
Celebrating Black History at Dawes
Celebrate Black History
Students at Dawes are engaging in various activities to honor Black History Month. Students 5th grade have been researching various figures in history to present on their accomplishments. Students in all grades will also be celebrating 50+ years of Soul Train with a musical celebration this month. We can't wait to share pictures of the festivities in next month's newsletter!
Black History Performances
Students worked with Mr. Reyes and the Fine and Performing Arts Team worked with the 5th grade students to put together an assembly to honor Black History Month.
Impactful People in History
Students created artwork highlighting people with significant contributions to humanity.
One class created artwork inspired by inauguration poet Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb." Read the full poem here.
Various prominent people in history were selected because of their impact in history. Some of the people highlighted were Barack Obama, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson.
Soul Train Celebration
Students learned about the impact of Soul Train on the American music and cultural scene. They were able to dress up in their best dancing costumes.
Soul Train is an American musical variety television show. After airing locally on WCIU-TV in Chicago, Illinois for a year, it aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul and hip hop artists.