Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of September 9th -
Superintendent's Priorities
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moe's like customer service for internal and external community.
- Strengthen the structure and quality of communication both internally and externally.
- Promote a work and learning environment where students and staff feel safe physically, emotionally and socially.
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 an 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.
Shout Outs
- Cafeteria staff and PTO board members for their efforts as today's Grandparents and Grand-friends day was a huge success. Plenty of smiling faces and laughter.
- S. Clemens (registrar) for ensuring that all things involved with enrollment, 10 day count, verification, and class assignments just to name a few are complete. This time of year for all registrars is exceptionally demanding. We would like to thank her for making it look easy.
- K. Kirkindoll and A. Berkeley have hit the ground running to ensure that the media center is ready for classes all while assisting with ID making and technology needs (and assisting with MAP testing).
- Michelle Jordan (Speech Language Pathologist) has accepted the position of Lead Speech-Language Pathologist with neighboring Richland School District Two. DFES has been her home for nearly 12 years. Michelle is the consummate professional who has been a model of consistency regarding excellence in her craft, meeting the needs of students/families, and a colleague that has worked for the greater good of our school. While her absence will create a void for sure we are extremely thrilled about the opportunity she has to lead and positively influence others. Please join me in congratulating Michelle with her appointment. We anticipate her transition within the next two weeks.
Our goal is to recognize the work that each of you do. Not all will be done through shout outs. However I will continue to encourage you to share any shout outs worth making public and we will include in our staff newsletter.
PTO Sponsored Grandparents Day
Turnout out was great as expected for grandparents day this Friday was a great experience for families and their favorite Fox Cubs. Our process will be the same on Monday as it was today.
We will use the back parking lot and the field to accommodate our visitors. This includes leaving the church lot open, the first grade lot open, and the cafeteria lot open. Our visitors expressed thanks for this consideration.
Given the gate nearest the cafeteria is locked shortly after school starts the parking behind the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade building can be used by our staff (visitors won't have access to this). Your attention to this is greatly appreciated.
Monday, Sep 9, 2019, 10:30 AM
DFES Cafeteria
Feedback from 2nd Cup of Coffee
We held our first 2nd Cup of Coffee Wednesday, September 4. We had more than 20 parents in attendance.
We shared celebrations to begin the new year. Parents/families were commended the efforts our school takes to communicate with them via school newsletters, class newsletters, and Remind text messaging.
On our agenda was a space to hear parent/family insight on how we might best help them in supporting their children at home as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, social scientists. There were to two topics in particular that resonated during this time together. They were:
- Spelling/word study/phonics
- meeting the diverse need of a divers group of learners
S. Somerall, our school's reading coach, will join us to discuss the topic of spelling with families at our next 2nd Cup of Coffee event scheduled for October 2nd.
As we approach our curriculum night let's be intentional to share efforts we take and plan for meeting the diverse needs of students.
We are grateful for parent/family interest for this event. Below is a picture from our 2nd Cup of Coffee held this past Wednesday.
First Grade Field Study (Knowles, Moore, and half of Walker)
Tuesday, Sep 10, 2019, 08:30 AM
Richland County C&D Landfill Drop-Off Center, Caughman Road North, Columbia, SC, USA
Professional Development and Priority 2
The second Tuesday of each month will be focused on ELA and will be led by S. Somerall (reading coach).
On August 14th Sally led professional development with 1st-5th grade teachers about my expectations and process for learning about readers during the first six weeks of school. A copy of Sally's presentation is attached below not only as a reference for our classroom teachers but so that all who work in our building have a clear idea of what we are seeking to accomplish.
Homeroom teachers bring evidence and notes from your first three reading conferences, along with the class summary sheet created using literacy profile cards with you Tuesday. We will meet in the cafeteria at 3:15.
School Improvement Council Meeting at 7 am Wednesday, September 10th
DFES to host District Magnet Meeting
DFES will host an all district magnet meeting Wednesday, September 11th from 1:30 - 3:00. This meeting is designed for every magnet school in our system.
The meeting will be held in our media center. Please join us in welcoming our peers. The cafeteria parking lot will be open to accommodate those attending this meeting. Please plan accordingly for those who typically park in this space to utilize another lot on our campus.
Superintendent Priority #2 and Data Teams
Priority #2 is focusing our work around academic areas to improve. As a school all grade levels are focusing on math for data team purposes. Each team will go through a process of examining teacher practice to grow students academically. The first 3 Thursday's of each month is dedicated to this priority. This time is protected without equivocation.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2019, 08:00 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
First Grade field study (Creech, Rivers, and half of Walker)
Friday, Sep 13, 2019, 08:30 AM
Richland County C&D Landfill Drop-Off Center, Caughman Road North, Columbia, SC, USA
Birthday Wishes!
- 9/13 S. Graham
- 9/13 P. Martin
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