Dake Junior High School
NOVEMBER 2022
FROM THE INTERIM PRINCIPAL
Greetings Dake Families,
We are closing in on the end of the first marking period. With fall sports behind us, our students have settled into a routine of learning, socializing, and enjoying their junior high experience. Fortunately our weather gave us a boost of sunshine and warmth before the cold weather moves in for the next six months or so. As busy as October has been, November and December look to be even busier with our fall musical, evening concerts, winter sports and more. I have tried to provide you with as many important dates during these months as possible, so you don’t miss anything.
Staff meetings have been filled with reviewing department/building goals along with going over our student data dashboard and making sure that students are getting the supports they need to be successful. We participated in whole school building data reviews in ELA and Math and made sure students were receiving the necessary support outside their classrooms. Thanks to the work of many, we have a pretty robust data dashboard to review each student’s progress this year. I have been impressed since my first day at Dake how much information we have on every student and all the instructional supports and structures that are in place to help all students be successful.
Be Well,
Dave Dunn
DAKE CONTACT INFORMATION
Interim-Principal: David Dunn | david_dunn@westiron.monroe.edu
Asst. Principal: Joyce Akwaa - Grade 7 | joyce_akwaa@westiron.monroe.edu
Asst. Principal: Nicholas DiMartino - Grade 8 | nicholas_dimartino@westiron.monroe.edu
Main office: 585-342-2140
Fax: 585-336-3034
Secretary: Cindy Schmidt | cynthia_schmidt@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: https://dk.westirondequoit.org/
Health Office: 585-336-2964
- Nurse: Bonnie Morrison
- Health clerk: Paula Seeger
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
November
- 3 - BOE Study Session - 7:00 p.m.
- 6 - Marking period ends
- 8 - WICPTSA Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
- 10 - NO SCHOOL - K-12 Conference Day
- 11 - NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day - Leaf raking event 9:00 a.m. - Noon
- 15 - Principals Forum - 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
- 17 - BOE Meeting
- 17 - 20 - Dake Musical - The Lion King Jr.
- 23-25 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess
- 27 - Report cards available this week
- 28 - Modified sports begin
December
- 1 - Dake Jazz Ensemble / 7&8 Band - 7:00 p.m. - IHS
- 5 - Dake 7/8 Orchestra - 7:00 p.m. - IHS
- 7 - Dake Treble Choir / Sound Crowd - 7:00 p.m. - IHS
- 9 - Dake Parent / Principal hour - 2:00 p.m.
- 15 - Incoming 9th grade parent orientation - 6:00 p.m. - IHS
- 15 - BOE Meeting
- 26-30 - Holiday Recess
LION KING JR. MUSICAL TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
See the attached for information on the upcoming Lion King Jr. musical! Key details are in the graphic above! Tickets are NOW ON SALE via this link. Shows are:
- Friday, Nov. 18th: 7 PM
- Saturday, Nov. 19th: 2 PM and 7 PM
- Sunday, Nov. 20th: 7 PM
SYSTEMATIC, COMPREHENSIVE READING INSTRUCTION
To foster strong foundational literacy skills is critical in the West Irondequoit K-6 instructional program. Our goal continues to be equitable access for all students to instruction that is rooted in the science of reading.
Our program is designed to engage students systematically and comprehensively in instruction that adheres to the Simple View of Reading. That formula articulates that, in order to truly be a reader, it is essential to be able to recognize words and understand language; if a student is missing either component, they will not be able to read effectively.
At the K-2 level, our approach is to provide systematic literacy instruction to develop word recognition skills. That is implemented alongside our locally developed standards-aligned humanities curriculum, which supports language comprehension. At the K-2 level, mastering foundational literacy skills is so essential and requires specific and exact instruction, so we adopted a new literacy resource called CKLA Skills Strand (version 2.0). Delivered during a 40-minute block, teachers provide students with the science-based literacy instruction they need. The humanities curriculum complements this learning by engaging all students in grade-level and beyond learning around comprehension, social studies, vocabulary, speaking, listening, and writing projects.
At third and fourth grade, as we slowly shift the focus from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” we continue to apply the Simple View of Reading to our humanities curriculum. Alongside the language development and social studies content learning supported by the humanities curriculum, teachers use a variety of tools to support phonics instruction, including a newly adopted program, Amplify Reading and Skills Boost. Students read rich texts that will build language and vocabulary, as well as reinforce foundational literacy skills.
In fifth and sixth grade, the humanities curriculum focuses on deepening students reading comprehension skills, writing skills, speaking and listening skills, and social studies conceptual understanding. Foundational literacy skills are reinforced through vocabulary and other reading instruction, as well as through intervention. Our goal is to solidify foundational skills at the early elementary level, so that in later elementary grades, students can focus on critical thinking and extension.
This is an opportunity on Tuesday, Nov. 15th at 8:15 a.m. for parents to spend some time with the Dake Administration and hear about some of the great things that are happening at Dake. I will make arrangements for some refreshments. This is also a great time to bring any questions or concerns that you have about your junior high student. One of he many goals for having this parent meeting is to connect you with other parents that might be having the same concerns with their child that you are. Come check it out!
Students will have an opportunity to sign up to leaf rake for our West Irondequoit Veteran's on Friday, Nov. 11 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon. This is a day off from school. There will be a sign-up sheet right outside the main office for any students interested in raking leaves for our West Irondequoit Veterans. I have made arrangements for students to be transported to various homes in the Dake Jr. High catchment area and will rake leaves for approximately 10 Veteran's. Students must supply their own rakes (put your names on them). Students will need to sign-up and return a permission slip before they are allowed to get on the bus on the morning of November 11th. A pizza lunch will be provided to all rakers when we return back to school at Noon. Further morning annoucements will be made on November 1st about permission slips.
This is a great community service activity for our students and an excellent opportunity to give back to the community by helping our Veterans.
Each week the library sponsors three challenges:
1. Muscle Math presents students with a math problem created by 7th and 8th grade math teachers.
2. Humaniteasers requires students to read a brief article and answer five questions. Readings center around Heritage Month themes. November is Indigenous Peoples' month, therefore readings will be about Native Americans.
3. Library Detective guides students through various activities to help them hone their library skills.
For each challenge the students engage in, and are successful, they receive a chance in a monthly drawing for a $10 gift card to the business of their choice.
Our Book Bucks program picks up as rankings begin to be posted outside the library. Book Bucks is a reading incentive program that rewards students by paying them one book buck for every one-hundred pages read. Students read any book of their choice, complete and submit an online book bucks form, and earn bucks. The library keeps track of all pages read, book bucks received, and in March an auction is held where students may bid on items as large as laptop computers, televisions, and other electronics, to smaller items like bags of candy, gift cards, board games, sporting equipment and hundreds of other items. The Book Bucks program runs from July 1st, 2022 to February 12th, 2023.
A celebration of students who have read six or more books for the library’s summer reading program will be held during 9th period in the library. Students will receive certificates, enjoy pizza and soda with their peers, and participate in a trivia game involving the titles read during the summer. Students who are to be celebrated will receive an invitation from the library.
S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Club meets in the library every other Friday. We will be attending the Rochester Student S.T.E.A.M. Fest held at the Rochester Convention Center on Friday, November 18th. Students will participate in various activities related to all aspects of S.T.E.A.M.
There are five active book clubs that meet once a month in the library, breakfast book club, after school book club, and three lunch book clubs. Students choose the books they want to read, the library obtains the books, and provides food and beverages. Book clubs meet approximately, once a month.
Students participating in our library makerspace have been using the Cricut cutter to make stickers and emblems for t-shirts. In November, students will begin learning various techniques for painting on glass jars as we prepare to paint cake jars for December for Mrs. Armstrong’s class to make and sell for the holidays.
Do you:
Have a new cell phone number or email address?
Have a new work phone number?
Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep your child's school informed of any changes to your phone numbers or emergency contact information. Update info directly on the Parent Portal, or send in a note with your child. Thank you!