Dunstan Newsletter
August 25th
Dear Dunstan families,
Back to school night will be Tuesday, August 29th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Then from 7:05 - 7:30 pm Dr. Pennell’s presentation - optional in the gym.
Please make sure and have a digital copy of your student's schedule. You will be following your student's schedule for the evening and then if you would like to stay for Dr. Pennell’s presentation will start in the gym at 7:05 pm.
Tuesday, August 29th
- Back 2 School Night
- 5:00 - 7:00 PM: Back to School Open House with Teachers
- 7:00 - 7:30 PM: Dr. Pennell - Presentation
Wednesday, August 30th
- MAP testing (Math)
Monday, September 4th
- Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)
Tuesday, September 5th
- On/Off Track Letters handed out to students in Advise
- MAP testing (ELA)
Thursday, September 7th
- Shakespeare in the Parking Lot - Romeo & Juliet
Monday, September 18th
- On/Off Track Letters handed out to students in Advise
Wednesday, September 20th
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Thursday, September 21th
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Friday, September 22th
- NO SCHOOL for Students (PD Day for Teachers)
Picking Up Your Student Early?
With our new start times, we know that schedules have to shift; however, we do ask that you please try to avoid picking up your student early, if possible. If you do need to pick your student up early, please feel free to call ahead and let us know that you’re coming. This way, we can send a pass to your student so they are downstairs and ready to go. When you pick your student up, please have your ID ready and feel free to wait in your car for your student to come down. We also ask for your patience, as it can be up to 20 minutes for us to get your student out of class. During 6th period last week, our office TA’s ran up to 25 passes for early dismissal, which makes things run a little slower than usual. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let us know! Thanks for your flexibility and attention!
Important information
Picture Day for all students will be Friday, August 25th. The week of September 4th after Labor Day Holiday, your students will be receiving their ID cards. It is very important that they keep a hold of their ID’s. Starting the week of September 11th students will have to show their ID for lunch. Jeffco has this replacing the keypad where students enter their school ID number to receive lunch.
MAP Testing for Fall
As we welcome students back to school and begin the work of meeting each student where they are in their learning continuum, one of our most important data points is the MAP score that students begin the year with. This helps us assess what students already know and can do as well as what appropriate next steps are to continue to challenge them academically. MAP will be taken three times this year: Fall (now), Winter (December) and Spring (May). This is so that we can also celebrate their growth in learning as we see their progress throughout the year.
Students will be taking their first MAP tests during their regular math and language arts classes on the following dates:
Math - Wednesday, August 30
Language Arts - Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6
We appreciate your help in making sure students are here on those days so that they do not have to miss instructional time to make up the tests later. If you have any questions or concerns about your child taking these assessments, please contact Megan Devitt-Haggstrom, Assistant Principal, at 303-982-9817 or mhaggstr@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Events and Opportunities
Beginning Sep 19th
Open to any student in the Green Mountain area needing FREE help in math & Science. Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 pm in the library at Green Mountain High School
Oktoberfest
Parent Drop-off
Dear parents and caregivers,
We thank you in advance for you patience and kindness to all during parent drop-off and pickup. Dunstan is a school with only one main street for drop-offs and pickups and with over 800 students, which presents us with a unique challenge. While this is not ideal, we usually get into a good flow as the year gets started. Some reminders below....
- We are going to continue providing crossing guards at the student crosswalk.
- Make sure handicap spots are properly used and not blocked.
- Teachers end their work day at 4:05 PM. This means, during dismissal, teachers are navigating the parking lot as well. We ask for you to please be patient with our teachers who are leaving around the same time as our students.
- Remember we are all doing our best as parents, staff, and community members.
School Meals
What Meal Service Will Look Like in the 2023-24 School Year
- Students will go through the line and eat in the cafeteria.
- Students will scan their District ID card; middle and high school students’ name badge will serve as their ID card. Elementary students will be provided ID cards at their school.
- Menus will be posted on School Café, as well as in the schools.
- On School Café, you may also place restrictions on your student's account regarding what and/or how frequently they may purchase a la carte items.
- Contact Erika Edwards, Director of Operations, Food and Nutrition Services at 303-982-6678 with questions about meal service.
Get to Know the School Counselor
Hello 6th grade families! My name is Leslie Walker and I am the 6th grade counselor at Dunstan for the 2023-24 school year. I wanted to introduce myself to you and share a little about what school counselors do to support students, including an activity that I will be doing with 6th graders in the first few weeks of school.
I began my career in education as an elementary school counselor in Virginia in 2013, and since moving to Colorado in 2017, I have been a Social Emotional Learning Specialist as well as a middle school counselor in Jeffco. I am so excited to be working with this year’s 6th graders and look forward to getting to know them through their middle school years!
School counselors support students in three main areas: social/emotional development, academic skills, and postsecondary/college/career readiness. These areas can be supported in a variety of ways in a school counseling program, including school-wide or grade-level activities, individual counseling, group counseling, and working with students’ families and other educators. We also adhere to the ethical standards and professional guidelines of the American School Counselor Association.
One of my favorite activities to do with students at the beginning of the school year is Mini Meetings. Basically, I meet with every student on my caseload for 2-3 minutes and ask them some “get to know you” questions. A main goal of this activity is to have a face-to-face conversation with every student to ensure they know who I am and that I am here as a support for them. It also helps me understand whether students are feeling connected at school and like they belong. I ask questions about friends, trusted adults both inside and outside of school, and questions about what they are excited or nervous about for the school year. I will be working with the 6th grade teachers to determine when I will begin meeting with students from their Advise classes over the next couple of weeks. If you would like more information about the Mini Meetings, please feel free to reach out to me at leslie.walker@jeffco.k12.co.us or 303-982-0502.
I look forward to getting to know your students and you this year!
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Dunstan Patriot Parents and Guardians,
We want your child to be successful in school, and that means supporting and encouraging their whole development. While excelling in academic classes is important, students also need skills for learning challenges, making good decisions, handling strong emotions, and getting along with others.
Next week, we’ll begin Second Step® Middle School, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management, impulse control, problem solving, and empathy. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help students both in and out of school. These include:
- Mindsets and Goals: Students learn how to develop a growth mindset and apply research-based goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives
- Recognizing Bullying and Harassment: Students learn how to recognize bullying and harassment, stand up safely to bullying, and respond appropriately to harassment.
- Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn how to recognize strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts, and apply strategies to manage their emotions and reduce stress.
- Managing Relationships and Social Conflict: Students learn strategies for developing and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective-taking, and dealing with conflict.
If you have any questions about Second Step® Middle School, please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community.
Sincerely,
Leslie Pruitt, Social Emotional Learning Specialist
leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-9439
Dunstan Middle School Cross Country
Hello and welcome to Dunstan Middle School Cross Country!
For those of you I have not met, my name is Robbie Jordano and I am the Middle School Sports supervisor for the City of Lakewood Recreation under Ray Hilger, the Sports Programmer (rhilger@lakewood.org | 303.987.5404).
Please see the attached document which includes more detailed information on practice, meet schedule, equipment, uniforms etc.
Practices:
The team's first practice is Monday, August 21st and the season will conclude on October 11th. Practices will be on Mondays/Wednesdays before school from 7:15am-8:45am. On days of meets, there will not be morning practice.
Meets:
Meets will also be on Monday/Wednesdays after school at various locations around Jefferson County. Once the league releases the meet schedule, I will send that out to the team. Meets will alternate having the boys or girls race first. That will be indicated on the schedule once it is released as well.
*With the new release times for Jeffco Public Schools, there may be meets that need early release of students. This decision will be up to the parents/guardians, who will need to call the school for their student to be released.
Parent/Coach/Student Contract: At practice, players will receive a code of conduct form to review, sign, and return to their coaches. Please be on the lookout for those during the first week or two of practice.
Thank you and please reach out with any questions. We are looking forward to a great season!
-Robbie Jordano
Lakewood Recreation
Program Specialist-Sports
Click the Picture to Access Past Editions of Dunstan's Patriot Post
The Patriot Post is Dunstan's online newspaper established in the 2022/23 school year. Mr. Orthun facilitates the creation of each edition through his Media Literacy elective. The Post is back again this year, and will be better than ever. Clicking the picture will take you to past editions and we encourage you to check them out. Thank you all so much and we hope you enjoy our future editions!
Watch D.O.G.S. and M.O.M.S.
Welcome back Dunstan students! AND....
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students)!!!
DADS, MOMS, any parents, guardians, family members - are all welcome and encouraged to sign up and participate.
Sign up to volunteer between 11:00 am - 1:15 pm to cover lunch and recess. Monday - Friday.
If you want to help cover the crosswalk before or after school also, just add that in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
PS - more dates will be added to fill out the school year.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program was established nearly 25 years ago. A program to help get fathers and father figures into our children's schools. Moms and mother figures have always been allowed, but the focus has been to purpose fathers and father-figures, not traditionally found on school campuses as much as the moms and female counterparts. Last year, in 2022, the national Watch DOGS program wanting to continue to engage fathers and father figures and add our M.O.M.S.
My name is Steve Clayton. Please feel free to email if you have any questions about our program. WatchDOGS is a national program that has been in our local schools for over a decade. You can email Steve at: dunstanwatchdogs@gmail.com
From the Dunstan PTA
Join the PTA
PTA is more important than ever in connecting parents, teachers, and administrators, and supporting critical school needs.
We want as many families to join PTA as possible because we can do more together! We welcome Grandparents and community members to join our PTA as well! Get the word out to as many parents, grandparents, and community members as possible to join and help support Dunstan PTA support your child, teachers, and staff.
By joining the PTA you will help:
Purchase much needed items for the classroom and school such as books, math applications, and computer monitors.
Fund health and safety needs for teachers and staff.
Host special student parties and staff appreciation events.
Joining the PTA will also:
Help to keep you informed with your child's education and provide you an opportunity to suggest changes and help make them happen.
Allow you to be an active part of the community that makes life a little brighter for Teachers, Staff and Students.
Receive access to great information on topics ranging from parenting skills, children’s academic success, suicide prevention and everything in between.
Enjoy discounts at retailers such as AARP, Code Wizards HQ, Gaiam Wholesale, Good Housekeeping, Hertz, Lenovo, MetLife, Office Depot/Office Max, Quicke Loans, Relay.
Meetings and volunteering are not required – though we would love it!
If you are interested in taking a more active role in the PTA, we have the position of Vice President open on the PTA board. If you are interested please email PTADunstan@gmail.com.
Here are the PTA board members for the year:
President - Christine Fielder
Vice President - Open Position
Secretary/Newsletter - Wendy Economou
Fundraising - Susan Adams, Leanna Marsh
Treasurer - Wendy Heywood
Staff Appreciation - Elisharae Waller
Reflections - Joanne Sarazin
Social Media - Susan Fleming
Health and Wellness - Brenda Holcomb
Below is the link on how to join the PTA by making a donation of $20.00:
Order Dunstan Spirit Wear
Our online Spirit Wear store is open through September 5th. Youth and adult sizes are available in sweatshirts, short and long-sleeved t-shirts so the whole family can support Dunstan. All orders placed now through September 5th will be processed and shipped after the store closes.
Eat out at 5280 Burger Bar on August 31st and raise money for Dunstan
Save the Date
The first PTA meeting will be held on September 13th from 5:30p-6:30p. Please join to find out what is in store for the upcoming school year. More details on how to attend will be sent out via email the week of the meeting.
Dunstan Community FaceBook Page
Support the School by Shopping at King Soopers
Sign up here - https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards