Bear Essentials
09/11/2020
A Message from Mr. DiFilippo
It's hard to believe we have already completed over four full weeks of school! We have now welcomed back all of our digital and in-person learners. I have loved seeing their smiling faces whether it be in-person or via zoom. Over these past weeks, I have witnessed our students and teachers engaged in meaningful learning in both digital and in-person formats, and I am truly in awe of what we have been able to accomplish together so far. Parents, you are a huge component to our students' success, and I want to thank you for all of your support, patience and encouragement.
I would also like to take a moment to publicly acknowledge the amazing staff we have here at Dyer. I have always been grateful for our wonderful faculty, and their commitment to excellence but these past few months they have demonstrated a passion for our students' education and safety that is unsurpassed. Each day they are faced with new opportunities for growth, and they face them head on, with a positive attitude! I am honored to work alongside this group of professionals. Please join me in taking a moment to personally thank a staff member this week. Whether it be a classroom teacher, a friendly face in the car-rider line, or someone answering a question on the phone, I encourage you to express your appreciation for them via our new Dyer Parent Shout Out form. This is something we do within our staff and I think it would be wonderful if we were to open the opportunity up to our parents and community. You can acknowledge an individual or a group, whether you know their name(s) or not. I look forward to sharing your kind words with our staff at our weekly faculty meeting.
On another note, I'd like to take a moment to encourage you to take a a look at the Gwinnett County Public Schools website--specifically the "Return to Learning Hub" which will walk you through a number of pertinent communication pieces sent out by GCPS and by Dyer Elementary. There, you will find information about parent/student support and resources for the digital environment, in-person learning, Covid guidelines/reporting protocol, and so much more!
You can find a link to this Hub at the bottom of our DES website. Here you will find important announcements and other information updated regularly.
Thank you for your support!
Michael DiFilippo
Proud Principal, Dyer Elementary School
Attention 1st, 2nd & 5th Grade Parents!
Dear Parents,
Your child will be participating in the 2020 administration of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) which measures students’ verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities. The results of this test will help assess how well your child is performing and assist with plans to meet your child’s academic needs.
The administration will be delivered as follows:
- Tuesday, September 15, 2020: 1st Grade
- Wednesday, September 16, 2020: 2nd Grade
- Thursday, September 17, 2020: 5th Grade
Thank you for making sure your child is present and on time on their testing days. Our staff wants to provide your child with the best opportunity to be successful. Once testing has begun each day, no child will be allowed to enter the classroom tardy.
Although no studying or preparation is necessary for this test, the following recommendations should help your child do his/her best each day:
- Get plenty of rest
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Be at school on time
- Be prepared (glasses if needed)
Thank you very much for encouraging and supporting your student during testing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sally Armstrong at 770-963-6214.
Sincerely,
Sally Armstrong
Assistant Principal
Dyer Elementary
Dyer Media Center Curbside Book Pickup for Digital Learning Students!
Many fun books are available for Dyer students to read through the Media Center. There are two options:
Capstone eBooks and Follet eBooks for students to read online on a computer or portable device
Physical books that can be picked up using curbside pickup
For curbside pickup, parents must fill out the Curbside Pickup form by midnight on Sunday to alert the Media Center staff that they would like to pick up books on their assigned day of Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. (Assigned days are based on the last name of students, see below.) Staff members will pull books based on a student’s holds in the Destiny catalog and the reading interest survey on the google form. No books will be pulled for a student that week if a Google form was not submitted by Sunday.
The Curbside Book Pickup Form can be located in the Media Catalog, on the Media Center webpage, and on the Dyer Media Center eClass course page.
Checkout Limits :
Kindergarten and 1st Grade: 3 Books
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade: 4 Books
(Length of checkout for all students is 4 weeks.)
In order to have more popular books available for more kids, we will limit the number of popular books that can be placed on hold checked out at a time.Students may only hold and check out 2 of the following popular books at a time:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, Dork Diaries, all graphic novels
How It Works:
Students may place up to 5 books on hold. (Students may only put 2 popular books on hold at a time. If there are more than 2 on hold, the other popular books will be deleted to free them up for other students.) Alternatively, students can list their reading interests on the Curbside Checkout google form. Mrs. Langford and Mrs. Burnette will look at the reading interests and pick out books that match up with the interests.
Pick up day and time assigned by the student’s last name:
Tuesday: 10:45 am - 11:45 am - Last Names: A - H
Wednesday: 10:45 am - 11:45 am - Last Names: I - P
Thursday: 10:45 am - 11:45 am - Last Names: Q - Z
When you pull up, you will hold up a piece of paper with your child’s name written in big letters. The staff members will check out the books and bring them to you.
Returning Books: Books may be returned during Media Center Curbside pick-up days.
If you have any questions and concerns, please e-mail Mrs. Langford at Shirley.Langford@gcpsk12.org
GCPS to provide meals free of charge to students and to children 18 and younger
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted additional waiver extensions that allow school districts to offer meals at no charge through December 31 through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). This extension, paired with guidance received from the Georgia Department of Education, will allow Gwinnett County Public Schools to offer meals at no charge at school sites to all students. These meals are provided at no cost to the individual through the federal School Nutrition Program.
Students Attending School In-Person
Those attending school in-person will receive meals free-of-charge during their school’s scheduled meal times.
Curbside Pick-up for Digital Learners
Digital learners may pick up meals through the curbside pick-up programs at Dyer, Monday through Thursday, between 10:45-11:45. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch with Thursday’s pick-up including meals for Friday. Families should check with their local school for specific curbside pick-up times and the location of the pick-up program. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals. (Click here for a list of the 132 schools offering curbside pick-up.)
Curbside Pick-up for Others 18 Years of Age or Younger:
As part of the Seamless Summer Option, curbside pick-up meals also will be available at no charge to anyone 18 years of age or younger, even to children who are not a GCPS student. Please check with your local school for curbside pick-up times and the location of the pick-up program. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals.
Gwinnett County Public Schools encourages families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application to ensure meal benefits continue when this waiver expires. The application is available on the GCPS website or at https://www.nlappscloud.com/.
September Dates:
15th - Curbside Book Pick-Up for Digital Learners Begins!
18th - College Spirit Wear Day
23rd - Bruster's Blue Ice Day
24th - Virtual Open House
29th - 30th - IOWA Testing for grade 2
Dyer Elementary School
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/dyeres
Location: 1707 Hurricane Shoals Road, Dacula, GA, USA
Phone: 770-963-6214
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyerES/