Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of April 9
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 and 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.
DFES 2017-2018 Goals
- Excellent customer service.
- Effective use of small group instruction.
- Building teacher capacity with environmental education content.
Shout Outs
- I would like to give a shout out to our faculty/staff and students for positively spotlighting PBIS efforts during our PBIS set visit on March 27th. A huge thanks to Mr. Gantt for sharing and sending our information to help us all adequately prepare for the visit. Additional shout out to members of our PBIS team for their work as well in helping us to rebrand PBIS this school year.
- Shout out to all who contributed to our most recent Fox Fun Friday. As always our students had a great time.
Meeting with Director of Elementary Education
Please see S. Beckman if needed during that block of time.
3rd Grade Habitat Touchstone with Benedict College
Please join us in welcoming our guests.
Tuesday, Apr 10, 2018, 08:30 AM
Mini Theater
April 10th PD with Robin Cox
There are insights for instructional practices for the lower grades to consider.
School Improvement Council Meeting - Wednesday, April 11 @ 6:00 p.m.
District RtI Meeting
Thursday, Apr 12, 2018, 09:00 AM
The Center for Advanced Technical Studies, Mount Vernon Church Road, Chapin, SC, USA
Math curricular conversations with Dian Alston
Thursday, Apr 12, 2018, 09:00 PM
Conference Room
1st-5th Tag of Honor Ceremonies
Friday, Apr 13, 2018, 08:00 AM
Mini Theater
4K/5K Tag of Honor Ceremonies
Monday, Apr 16, 2018, 08:00 AM
Mini Theater
Envirofest 2018
Week 4/16-20 EARTH DAY WEEK
Vision-Engage students and families in practical ways to take environmental action to make our world a better place.
Goals-Entire staff to participate. Families to learn and take Action. Students to be engaged in environmental sciences along with their families and to connect those experiences to Earth Day.
HISTORY OF EARTH DAY-We only have one earth, so we need to take care of her. That's what Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin believed. He was disturbed that an issue as important as our environment was not addressed in politics or by the media, so he created the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended festivities that day. It was a truly astonishing grassroots explosion, leading eventually to national legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. For the many people who care for the environment, Earth Day became the first opportunity they had to join in a nationwide demonstration to send a big message to public officials--a message to tell them to protect our planet.
DFES CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY: We will be participating in experiences this week that celebrate our earth that include Envirofest on Tuesday, April 17th and a community service project to our school.
Service Projects Needed for our School: ALL outdoor spaces need work (nature trail, secret garden, Kenny’s & Little Sprouts gardens, and Little Farm (see Mrs. Umberger for specific projects), Palmetto Pride Litter Pick-Up--can be done here at the school (see Mrs. Umberger for specific project details). Before signing up for a project, please look at what other grade levels are doing first so that we can cover as many of our areas possible that need attention.
Engagements & Experiences-
All students will teach families how we try to recycle and compost our food waste during lunchtime
Classes will plan specific engagements at a scheduled time during the school day that will be planned around RA and lunch schedule. Time: 8:00-12:00
Exhibitors-Set up in mini-theater or breeze-way
Schedule for vendors 9:00-12:00
Scavenger hunt for parents as they go around the tables
Raffle for parents that visit exhibitors
Dinner Date
Communication-Grade Level Invitation Style Flyer (electronic and hard copy)
PERSONAL INVITATION FROM TEACHER(S) for Envirofest April 17th
-Information to include:
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. *Grade Level Specific
-Exhibitor time (9:00-12:00)
-Classroom Engagements (times TBD by grade level)
-Guided Nature Trail Tours (9:30-10:00) or (10:30-11:00) leave from Exhibitor Area
-Related arts and lunch (Cafeteria Waste Stream in Action)
Service Project
-Description
-Date
-Time
-RSVP to help (can sign up in the Exhibitor Hall on the Day of Envirofest)
history and purpose of Earth Day (see above description)
Share grade level flyer with Umberger by Tuesday 3/27 (Umberger to send home hard copies as well)
Flyers to be sent out by Thursday 3/29
RSVP’s due by April 13th
-EXHIBITORS-(Farm to School, Project Learning Tree & the SC Forestry Commission, Back to Eden, Solar Power, 4-H, Healthy Hands, Cooking, Richland County Stormwater, Keep the Midlands Beautiful, SMART Recycling, Midlands BeeKeeper Association, CATE Center Lex Rich 5, Selected 5th Grade students to share Environmental Science Fair Projects, 1st Grade Seed & Compost Sale, Carolina Wildlife Center)
-RSVP for participation (so that exhibitors will know how many parents to prepare for) & Raffle opportunity for Dinner Date
-Compost and Seed Sale (1st Graders) Parents are invited to buy compost and non-GMO seeds for Spring & Summer planting
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. *Grade Level Specific
-Exhibitor time (9:00-12:00)
-Classroom Engagements (times TBD by grade level)
-Guided Nature Trail Tours (9:30-10:00) & (10:30-11:00) leave from Exhibitor Area
-Related arts and lunch (Cafeteria Waste Stream in Action)
Service Project
-Description
-Date
-Time
-RSVP to help (can sign up in the Exhibitor Hall on the Day of Envirofest)
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2018, 08:00 AM
DFES
Inquiry Matters Conference
This is more than just serving as a host site. It is an honor for DFES teachers to have their work with students illuminated and now inspiring other educators and peers. The Inquiry Matters Conference is bright spot for both DFES and our school district.
There is work we are doing behind the scenes to prepare for this event given we anticipate 250 - 300 visitors. We also need help from everyone in our school to make sure that our building looks great. All teachers are asked to evaluate student work outside of your hall. Please be sure the information is:
- up to date
- reflects student learning
- share purpose/standards
- is tidy and presentable.
Please see the program below for presentation sessions.
Saturday, Apr 21, 2018, 08:00 AM
DFES
Birthday Wishes!!!
- 4/14 L. Wilcox
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