Dogwood Dispatch
October 2021
Dear Dogwood Families,
It’s hard to believe that September is behind us and we are soaring into October! I happily welcome in Autumn, one of my favorite times of the year. I just love the clean, crisp smell of the air and the changing colors of the leaves!
Our teachers and students have spent time over this first month of school getting to know one another, building their classroom communities and focusing on positive expected behaviors and routines for success. When our students know our expectations and routines, and when they feel safe and comfortable in their classroom, all can work to their potential. We thank you our parents for your support with our efforts.
The DEL PTA and our staff continue to work together in all areas to help make the start of the school year go as smooth as possible despite the unique times we are dealing with. We are better when we work together! The PTA, our teachers and I have been collaborating on ways to provide our students with enriching experiences that will serve to enhance student learning. Most recently our PTA Cultural Arts programs have been scheduled for the school year. We are excited to bring back a variety of programs for each grade level that build upon the grade level curriculum.
Read on in this newsletter to learn about more upcoming events for October such as Picture Day, Red Ribbon Week, Unity Day and our Big Apple Crunch! We are working diligently to bring a sense of normalcy to our school and to reimplement our beloved traditions for our students and community. Thank you to all our PTA volunteers who have stepped up to help organize and chaperone events. We will be sure to share photos of events with you on our DEL Twitter Page. If you haven't followed Dogwood on Twitter yet, please consider doing so! (@SCSD_DEL)
As the Autumn season is upon us, and the green changes to shades of orange, gold and red, we look forward to our journey through the school year and the exciting times ahead of us at Dogwood!
Sincerely,
Renee Carpenter
Red Ribbon Week! Let's show some school spirit! (UPK-5th Grade)
Dogwood Elementary PTA Red Ribbon Week
The theme for 2020 is “Be happy, be brave, be drug free!”
Monday October 25th through Friday October 29th is Red Ribbon Week. This week raises awareness of the dangers of drugs, alcohol and bullying, at an age appropriate level.
To reinforce how important it is to take a stand against drugs and bullies, the children can participate in daily themes as follows. Let's join in on this fun and make it a positive experience for our students!
Monday – “Synergize- We are a TEAM, no need for drugs.” WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
**Wear a shirt, jersey or hat from your favorite team or Dogwood spirit wear.
Tuesday – “Seek First to Understand then to be Understood- Stop Bullying”
**Everyone is unique and should be treated with respect. Wear your clothes mismatched and backwards, wear your hair crazy…Be Different!!
Wednesday – UNITY DAY- “Think Win Win- We work collaboratively to stop bullying”
**Wear orange to take a stand against bullying.
Thursday – BIG APPLE CRUNCH DAY- Bring in your favorite type of apple to eat for snack as all of Dogwood “crunches” together to inspire healthy eating.
**Wear the color of your favorite apple; will it be green, yellow or red?
Friday – “Begin with the End in Mind- Follow your Dreams, Say No to Drugs”
**It’s Pumpkin Patch Day! Dress in costume!!!
PICTURE DAY! IT’S TIME TO SMILE NICE FOR THE CAMERA! (K-5th Grade)
Picture Day: October 7, 2021
Your child’s picture will be taken during the school day. Due to social distancing we will not be taking a group, class photo but the photographer will create a class composite for each class.
Pictures must be ordered ONLINE.
Please use this link to to set up an account to order your pictures online or visit www.classactphoto.com, click Shop and enter the following code: DOGWOOD21
*PLEASE NOTE:
If you are a parent of a fully remote DEL student, please contact our Main Office and we will arrange a time for you to have your child's picture taken on Picture Day.
To take advantage of the family discount (applies to those with 3 or more children), please call Class Act to set up your order at 718-338-2322.
Should you have any questions/concerns; please feel free to contact Class Act Photographers at (718) 338-2322.
Thank You,
Picture Committee Chairs
Katherine Gilligan (516) 967-9339
Pam Bruckbauer (516) 445-0346
Fall Celebration on October 29th (UPK-5th Grade)
At Dogwood, for a fall celebration, our students traditionally dress up and go outdoors to “pick a pumpkin” in our “pumpkin patch.” This is sponsored by our PTA. Each class has a time slot to visit the Pumpkin Patch during the day. We will be sure to take pictures and post them on our DEL Twitter page for your enjoyment.
Our Fall Celebration will be held on October 29th. Our PTA will be supplying students with pumpkins to take home. We thank the PTA for organizing this event. All children are invited to wear costumes to school for the entire day, providing they meet the following safety requirements:
The costumes should be such that the child can comfortably and safely participate in all of the day’s routines, including physical education class and getting on and off the bus. They must be able to put their costume on by themselves.
Your child (including kindergarten children) must be able to use bathroom facilities by himself/herself.
No props or accessories resembling weapons or capable of harming another child will be permitted – this includes toy guns, swords, broomsticks, etc.
Please do not send your child to school with make-up to be applied – any makeup should be put on at home prior to coming to school. Please test the make-up beforehand to make sure your child is not allergic. Keep makeup to a minimum, since over the course of the day, it may become uncomfortable for the child.
Costumes with gore or frightening qualities are not permitted so as not to scare our younger students.
Please make sure that the length of your child’s costume is short enough to prevent tripping.
In addition, in support of the District’s Health and Wellness Committee, and to protect students with allergies, please remember that goodie bags are not permitted. Please do not send them in and put us in the position of having to send them home with you or your child. We will do our very best to make the day enjoyable for all our students!
Class parents are working with teachers to organize a holiday party. Please do not send in any food for the party unless you are asked to do so by the class parent or teacher. We have strict guidelines for food and wish to ensure our children with allergies are not around any food items in the classroom that may be harmful to them.
Unity Day! (UPK-5th Grade)
We are asking students to wear ORANGE this day! Students will work together to make a class pledge and share it with the school! Pictures will be posted on our Twitter page @SCSD_DEL
BIG APPLE CRUNCH at DOGWOOD! (UPK-5th Grade)
Students are encouraged to bring an apple to school that day to participate in a school-wide crunch and wear the color of their favorite apple (red, yellow or green)!
"Lace Up for Kids" Campaign
September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and is globally represented by the color gold. We are so proud of our students and school community for stepping up to show support. Everyone here at Dogwood swapped out their shoelaces for gold laces. Students wore gold to come together showing support and love for those in need.
Pop, Pop Pop! What a delicious treat!
Popcorn Thursday!
Parent Portal
Please remember to update your emergency information utilizing our Parent Portal if you have not already done so. For those of you who have not yet logged on to our Parent Portal this year, please feel free to log on in the upcoming days to make any necessary additions or adjustments. After you have made your entries, you must hit submit in order for your information to be updated. If there is no change, simply log on to the portal and hit submit. You may call Mrs. Hunstein our Main Office secretary at 382-4255 or Mrs. Richardson in the Health Office at 382-4261 if you need assistance.
The district uses an automated School Messenger system in the event of an emergency to convey important information which must reach our Dogwood parents. Providing complete contact information is essential in helping us keep you informed.
Dogwood on Twitter
Join Dogwood on Twitter to check out the "inside scoop" on teaching and learning! @SCSD_DEL
Dogwood Elementary Webpage
Dogwood PTA on Facebook
Academic Intervention Services Informational Parent Meeting
The annual Academic Intervention Services Orientation will take place on October 18th at 9:45. If you have children who are receiving AIS (Academic Intervention Services) for the first time, you will be receiving an invitation. The reading teachers will conduct this informational presentation via a virtual meeting. Parents of AIS students will receive an invitation including directions on how to join the meeting.
Emergency Closing
In the event of a school closing or early dismissal during the school year the District will be contacting you via the School Messenger system. In the event of an early dismissal, the system will send a message to each of your listed contacts. For a school closing your primary contact will be receiving the message. It is extremely important for the Parent Portal to reflect your up-to-date phone numbers (home, work, & cell) for both parents in the event that we have to reach you in an emergency.
School Attendance
If your child is absent for any reason, please contact the Health Office at 382-4260 and leave a message on the voice mail, which is available 24 hours a day. To help ensure the safety of our students, we will have to call you regarding an absence if you do not contact us. An absence note must be sent in with your child with the date(s) and reason for absence when he/she returns to school.
Arrival and Dismissal
Dismissal is running terrific due to your help! Thank you for adhering to the following guidelines for dismissal:
If you are a parent of a kindergarten through fifth grade student who will be picked up via car for dismissal, please do not come to the school or park on Dogwood Drive until 3:15pm.
We need to keep Dogwood Drive clear for parents of the UPK SCOPE program to pick up their children before our K-5 dismissal can begin.
Please send in a note to your child's teacher each day if your child will be going home as a walker (picked up via car or via door by our front turf/gate).
If you need to reach the Transportation Department please call 631-382-4100. For calls after 4pm please call Town Bus Company at 631-862-2019 for big buses and Suffolk Transportation for the mini buses at 631-737-0695 ext. 16.
Thank you for your help with making our dismissal run smoothly.
Important Dates
10/1 Class Parent Meeting @ 10:15 am Virtual
10/7 School Photo Day : Pictures taken while students are in school.
Note: Remote students can have their picture taken - we will reach out to them.
10/8 SIT mtg. @ 8:45 am Virtual
10/11 Columbus Day – school closed
10/12 BOE mtg. @ 8 pm
10/14 Family Connect Night- No Homework on this night! Spend time with your family.
10/19 PTA mtg. @ 7 pm Virtual
10/21 Popcorn Thursday
10/25 - 10/29 DEL Red Ribbon Week
10/26 BOE mtg. @ 8 pm
10/27 Unity Day – Wear orange to take a stand against bullying!
10/28 Big Apple Crunch Day – Bring an apple to school for a healthy snack and dress the color of your favorite apple.
10/29 DEL Pumpkin Patch! Students may come to school dressed in their costume.