Dicken Family Newsletter
9.30.22
Principal's Corner
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, October 3 - Picture Day
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DICKEN DASH SPIRIT WEEK!
- Monday, October 3: Silly Socks / mismatched shoe day
- Tuesday, October 4: Animal-dress like one/animal print or bring a stuffed animal
- Wednesday, October 5: Neon/Rainbow
- Thursday, October 6: PJ Day - rest up for the Dash!
- Friday, October 7: Team spirit day (Ex. Dress like an athlete, Wear team colors, Dress to match your team name)
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- Friday, October 7 - Dicken Dash (1:30 - 3:30 pm)
- Sunday, October 9 - Dicken 5K (8:45 am - 10:45 am)
- Thursday, October 20 - Early Release Day, 1:18 Dismissal
- Friday, October 28 - Pumpkin Patch (5 - 7 pm)
- Monday, October 31 - Halloween Parade (1:45 pm)
- Monday, November 14 - Picture Re-Take Day
Library News from Ms. McHale
We have been very busy in Library over the past few weeks rolling out devices to students and beginning our first book checkouts of the year. Students have been taught how to properly care for our library books, following our Library Procedures, as well as the rules for using our school technology, following the AAPS Acceptable Use Policy. The following slides are used to teach the acceptable use policy to Young 5s-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade, emphasizing that our devices are not personal devices, but school devices that are being loaned out (much like a library book) for school work and to learn. Just like we would not put stickers, add pictures, or alter library books in any way, we should not be doing those things to our school devices. This includes using devices to access websites that are not school sanctioned in Clever, Schoology, or otherwise provided by a teacher for additional learning. We thank you for your support in helping our students follow these same rules and procedures at home!
Lunch Hour Volunteers
We are in need of a few more parent volunteers for lunch if you have interest in joining us once or twice a week. The time we are in most need is 11:30 - 12:20. Please reach out to Heather if you are interested.
Washtenaw County CDC Covid Level
As of today, September 30, Washtenaw County is in the CDC MEDIUM/YELLOW Community Level.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Fall 2022 Covid Guidance is available here. The Ann Arbor Public Schools will always remain a mask-friendly environment.
Fall 2022 Guidance on masking in AAPS schools:
Masks are strongly recommended indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘HIGH’- RED
Masks are encouraged indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘MEDIUM’ - Yellow
Masks are welcomed indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘LOW’ - Green
Heather
PTO News
Message from the PTO President
It has quickly become fall, and tomorrow it'll be October. What a great first month of the school year we've had!
We are starting to gather names for this years Dicken Elementary Family Directory. Families opt-in to share contact info - you can use this to contact parents or guardians for other kiddos in your classes to arrange get togethers, send out birthday party invitations, and more. The directory is entirely optional. Please click here to fill out the Family Directory form.
Additionally, the PTO has taken on some exciting projects:
- Laminator purchase - we fulfilled a grant request from staff and purchased a new laminator for the Dicken staff (the previous machine had lasted over 15 years!) for $2,100. See photo below of the fancy new laminator!
- The PTO has been working to renovate the very outdated teacher's lounge and Dicken and we'd love your help to finish the job! The priming is done, but we need help for Sunday when we finish painting! Even if you can just come for an hour, more hands would be greatly appreciated! Can’t wait to see how the space is transformed at the end of this project - please consider joining us! Thanks!
- As we look forward to new projects, we need community feedback on school improvements! Please fill out the PTO Spending Survey that we emailed about last week if you haven't yet.
Thanks to everyone who has signed up to help at the Dicken Dash. It's hard to believe it's just a week away! Hopefully the weather will cooperate and give us a super fun community event to enjoy.
—Jenifer Miller, Dicken PTO President
Click here for the Dicken Elementary Parents Facebook group
Find information about events, meeting minutes, and more on the PTO website at www.dickenpto.com
Photos below:
- The new Dicken staff laminator.
- Improvement to the staff lounge - primer done, paining to be completed on Sunday!
Upcoming PTO Meeting Dates
Thursday, October 27 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, November 17 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, December 15 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
To see all Dicken school & PTO events in one place, click here for our PTO Google Calendar.
Another helpful link: the AAPS School Calendar.
LAST CALL: Dicken Spirit Wear Orders due *THIS SUNDAY* October 2!
The Dicken Spirit Wear sale closes Sunday, October 2!
Many lovely Dicken-branded items are available for purchase via Dexter Print & Embroidery.
Place orders now through October 2nd! Orders will be ready (& delivered to the school!) the week of October 17th (please select "I'll pick it up myself" at checkout).
Dicken Dash & the Dicken Run!
DICKEN DASH - GET READY TO DASH!
Friday, October 7 - 1:30 - 3:30 pm
(see full schedule here)
The 10th Annual Dicken Dash is officially underway!
Dash FUNdraising Update:
Thank you so much to all the families who have already started their fundraising efforts for the Dash. As of Friday morning, we are 43% of the way towards our reaching our goal of $25,000. These funds will help the PTO do all the activities that we do throughout the year, like paying for field trips, assemblies, community events (like the Pumpkin Patch, Super Science Day, The Winter Walk and Ice Cream Social), purchasing books for each student during March is Reading Month, funding teacher grants, yearbooks, academic achievement and much more.
The PTO could not engage in all the wonderful things we do here for our Dicken Dolphins without your monetary support. Please know that no amount is too small. Your ongoing backing and support are both truly appreciated. There is also the option to donate to the general Dicken fund without specifying an individual student by donating directly here.
The Dash Numbers:
Total Raised: $10,734
Total Participation Rate: 22%
Class that has raised the most money: Mrs. Kairys' first graders have raised $1,800
Classes with the highest participation: Mrs Kairys and Mrs. Rossi's classes are both at 41% participation, (Ms Miller and Mrs Harris' classes are close behind!)
Quick Links from last week:
1. Watch this amazing video to get you and your dolphin hyped about the dash (link to video)
2. Learn more about the Dash and get all your questions answered with this awesome Dicken Dash Handbook.
3. Start FUNdraising now!
4. Consider volunteering on the day of the event.
THE DICKEN RUN IS ON
Sunday, October 9 - 8:45 am
Along with the Dash, we’re happy to bring back the Dicken Run 5k after a two year hiatus! Our fast, fun, family-friendly 5k is a great way to cap-off our fundraiser week and enjoy a wonderful fall day to run. Open to all (so invite your family and friends), Prizes for top overall finishers and age-group awards from young to old. Come join us and find out what a “Dicken” is!
More information and registration at http://dickenrun.com
Pumpkin Patch
Mark your calendars! Our annual Pumpkin Patch event will take place on Friday, October 28th from 5-7pm outside at Dicken.
1. Calling all haunted house fans! We are looking for one or two volunteers to organize the haunted house for the pumpkin patch. We will ONLY have the haunted house if someone volunteers to organize it (including setting it up, supervising during the event and cleaning up after). There will be volunteers available to assist the organizer.
2. DJ Dicken! We would like to have music (and possibly a dance floor!) during the pumpkin patch.
If you are interested in organizing the haunted house or playing the music, please contact Libby (libbycrawforth@gmail.com).
Please join us for a fun evening of food, games, and prizes! More details, including volunteer opportunities, to follow in the coming weeks.
Celebrating what makes us UNIQUE!
One of the most satisfying ways to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage is through food.
No time to cook? Check out these Amazing Local Restaurants!
Or try a new recipe: Tio Mario's Famous Chili Con Carne Colorado-Style Burritos
This recipe can be found in the memoir of Celebrity Chef Aarón Sánchez,
Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef.