Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of August 27th -
District Goals 2018-2019
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moes 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 Goals 2018 - 2019
- Exceed family expectations in our communication, follow through, and student progress.
- Effective use of science kits and probe ware to enhance environmental science instruction
- Strengthen grade level data team processes to accelerate student growth
- Implementation of student-led conference across all grade levels (as identified in DFES strategic plan)
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 with our beliefs.
Shout Outs
Please feel free to email me or Shirley any shout outs that you would like to be included in our weekly staff newsletters. Typically I include 5 shoutouts based on what is submitted.
- A sincere thanks for your respective contributions as we completed our first week of school. I typically seek to avoid generic shout outs but opening the school year successfully requires contributions from every single member on staff.
- We saw dramatic improvements from day 1 dismissal and day 3 dismissal. Homeroom teachers and K teachers thanks for your attention to details. We appreciate feedback and input that improved our processes.
- M. Ridgeway, S. Sheely, and D. Dabenport for their many efforts to ensure that technology needs and tickets have been addressed. All three have worked feverishly to ensure there colleagues were good to go.
Staffing Updates
- Due to higher than anticipated enrollment numbers we had 1 full time employment (fte) position that could have been used to add a teacher in first, 4th, and 5th grade. An obvious dilemma. I made the the decision to add the position to 4th grade with Marti Reece (reading interventionist) filling the position. Marti successfully taught fourth grade here at DFES upon my arrival 8 years ago. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve her class and 4th grade collectively. We have split students from Hill, Finney, and Wilchenski's class to form Marti's role. Marti will spend this week making preparation with September 4th as the first official day with her students.
- Iliana Castillon-Brown is our new Spanish itinerant teacher. She will be with us each Friday.
Expectations for Homeroom teachers
- Class schedules should be posted outside of your classrooms. This provides insight for observations (admin team and district instructional staff) as well as colleagues, families, and visitors.
- Use of "I Can" Statements. It is my expectation that all homeroom teacher post "I Can" statements visibly on your white boards each day beginning this week. This provides predictable structure for students, helps to define learning intentions, and provides visitors with an idea of what students are expected to learn and do as a result of lessons across content areas.
- Use of SMORE for classroom newsletters. SMORE is the platform that is used to send our weekly staff newsletters. Returning homeroom teachers have accounts and Mrs. Newman touched base with our new staff about their accounts. Class newsletters should be shared with parents at a minimum of twice a month and should include upcoming events/dates but also how students are learning as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and social scientists. Additionally please be sure to include me, Mr. Gantt, and S. Cope with the newsletters that are sent to parents.
DFES and USC Science Collaboration
Dr. Thompson will also collaborate with K. Hill (4th grade) and have planned engaged for students in her classroom. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Thompson and his students.
Fall 2018 MAP testing and connecting the dots.
Mr. Gantt previously sent the MAP schedule last weekend. We deem it necessary to connect dots with returning and new staff. Last year we were 1:1 (Chromebooks in in grades 3rd-5th) which allowed us to finish testing within a shorter time period.
We are now a 2:1 (150 Chromebooks in grades 3rd-5th). This change requires a slightly different approach to MAP testing and sharing of devices. Here what you expect:
- Chromebook carts will be placed in the 5th grade planning center Monday given 5th grade will test Tuesday. The Chromebooks will be charged and ready for use. At the conclusion of testing Tuesday we will need 5th grade teachers to assure that all devices are properly returned to the carts, plugged, and returned to your respective grade level planning center.
- S. Sheely and M. Ridgeway have colored coded, numbered, and labeled each cart with its corresponding Chromebook.
- S. Sheely and M. Ridgeway will pick up Chromebook carts at the conclusion of each day and place them in the grade level planning center for the team testing the following day.
- On the day of testing Chromebooks should be distributed to all students including those in small groups by homeroom teachers.
- Students tested for small group will be picked up by their small group proctor 5 minutes prior to the start time for testing. Those students will be returned to respective homerooms by their proctors.
- Homeroom teachers can expect to receive the finalized list of students receiving small group and oral administration from Mr. Gantt tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018, 08:00 AM
DFES
Senate 20 Primary Election Runoff
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018, 07:00 AM
DFES Science Lab Hallway
Certified Staff Meeting
Each Tuesday is designated for professional development. As a system all certified staff are asked to avoid scheduling appointments on Tuesday's unless it is impossible to do and this is considered district time.
The 4th Tuesday in each month is a designated for data team purposes. Certified staff should be prepared to be in the cafeteria and ready to begin at 3:15. With Tuesday being the 5th day of school we will be sure that duty teams will be relieved if necessary.
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018, 03:15 PM
Cafeteria
Joint PTO/SIC meeting
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2018, 06:00 PM
DFES Cafeteria
Start of 4K (half of each class)
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2018, 07:15 AM
DFES
Boy Scout Recruitment
Thursday, Aug 30, 2018, 06:00 PM
Cafeteria
The Cub Reporter
The Cup Reporter is our school newsletter that is sent to parents electronically via email. The Cup Reporter will be sent home twice a month on Thursdays beginning August 30th.
Jessica Reed oversees information faculty/staff/PTO wish to include in the school newsletter. Beginning in September she will send an email to faculty and staff members requesting information to be included within a defined timeline. For our new staff should you have any questions about The Cup Reporter feel free to send Jessica questions you may have. Thanks!
PBIS Celebration
Friday, Aug 31, 2018, 08:00 AM
Mini Theater
Upcoming Calendar Dates At a Glance
- 9/03 Student/Staff Holiday
- 9/05 Second Cup of Coffee
- 9/06 Grandparents Day
- 9/07 Grandparents Day
- 9/13 District Magnet Meeting at DFES (media center)
- 9/14 PBIS Store
- 9/18 K-2 Curriculum Night (pizza to be served)
- 9/20 3-5 Curriculum NIght (pizza to be served)
- 9/20 PTO Fall Fundraiser Kickoff (pm)
- 9/21 Vision/Hearing Screening
- 9/26 Early Release Day
- 9/28 Green Apple Day of Service
- 9/28 Fox Fun Friday
- 9/28 Interims Go Home
- 9/20 Green Apple Day of Service
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) Technical Conference and Visitors
For the first time in its history Columbia, SC will serve as the host site for the Fall Technical Conference to be held Thursday, October 4th. Conference attendees will visit magnet in Richland School District 2 and two schools in LexRich 5 (DFES and Springhill HIgh School).
Considering the date (not too far away) you can expect to that we will have discussions about planning for this day. You can anticipate that we have 2 classrooms per grade level that will be open to visitors. Considered we recently hosted the Inquiry Matters Conference this past April we will follow a format similar to that event. The goal will be to give visitors an insight learning at DFES that make us unique.
It is an humbling for our school to represent our our district but also an opportunity to showcase our work. Further details and a timelines to come.
Thursday, Oct 4, 2018, 08:00 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Birthday Wishes!!!
- 8/26 J. Doloughty (kindergarten assistant)
We develop students who care about the world we live in and express critical thinking through natural curiosity and wonder.
Email: jscott@lexrich5.org
Website: www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork/cfm/
Location: 7900 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: 803-476-3901
Twitter: @dfes_principal