The Dunwoody Springs Dispatch
A Project Based Learning School
January 11, 2017
Ivy Goggins, Principal
Denise Haltrecht, Asst. Principal
Upcoming Events
- 1/11-2/3 Dunwoody Springs Reads Frindle
- 1/16 Martin Luther King, JR. Holiday - NO SCHOOL
- 1/17 PBL Release Day - NO SCHOOL
- 1/20 New Parent Coffee 7:45 a.m.
- 1/26 New Parent Open House 8:00AM and 6:00PM
- 2/9 PTA Fun Run
Change of Transportation Update & Forms
Transportation changes will only be accepted in writing via fax or this form (http://school.fultonschools.org/es/dunwoodysprings/Documents/TRANSPORTATION%20CHANGE%20FORM.pdf) by 12 noon on the day of the change. Last minute changes will not be accepted. Transportation changes will no longer be accepted via phone, email or text. If you have questions regarding the changes, please contact the front office.
Survey
Every year, the state rates schools based on several data points. One of these data points is a survey that all staff, students, and parents complete about our school. You may complete the survey using your personal computer, smartphone or tablet. If you do not have access to the Internet, you are welcome to take the survey at DSES. We encourage all parents to take the survey because the data will be used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. No parent participation or low parent participation will negatively impact our school's School Climate Star Rating from the state. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Results from the survey will not be available to the public and will not be posted online. We greatly appreciate your time and effort!
CLICK BELOW FOR THE GEORGIA PARENT SURVEY LINK:
http://apps.gadoe.org/schoolclimate/parents.nsf/Survey.xsp
Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 take their portion of the survey at school and it is called the Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0. Federal law requires that the student survey questions be made available for review by all interested parties. Parents can opt out of the survey for their student. If you do not want your child to take the survey, please send a hand written and signed note to your child's teacher by Friday, November 11th. If you do not respond by this date, we will assume that your child can take the survey. All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will take the survey at some point between November 14th -November 17th .
Dunwoody Springs Reads - Frindle
Dunwoody Springs Elementary is proud to present a unique opportunity to our students and families. After the winter break, we will ALL be invited to participate in reading and sharing copies of the same story. Our school community will be reading the book Frindle by Andrew Clements.
What is it? In short, all families and staff will be given a copy of the same book. The schedule listed below will guide your family as you read the book over the coming weeks. Daily events here at school will have students discussing the book, including but not limited to, a kick-off assembly, trivia, and classroom/school activities. We will also have special events and other ways for families to go beyond just reading the book! More information to come!
What does this mean for me as a parent? Our school is asking that whether your child is a kindergartner or a fifth grader that you read every word out loud as a family. For a few short weeks we will ask you to make reading this book an extra special nightly event in your home.
Why? Readtothem.org shares that, “The benefits of reading aloud are remarkable! Studies have shown that reading to children helps them to listen better and longer, build better vocabularies, understand concepts better, feel positive about both books and learning, and more. When an entire school reads the same book, the buzz and excitement around the book being read increases these benefits, and there is the added joy of building community in the school family” This is not to mention the added benefit of spending real quality time with your children while simultaneously promoting the benefits of reading and school!
The big question! How can a fifth grader and kindergartner read the same book? The simple truth – they can’t all read it – but if it is read to them, they can all enjoy a good story.
We look forward to sharing in this fun and educational program with our families and students.
Frindle Schedule:
1/11 Wednesday - Introduction and kick-off activities
1/12 Thursday - Read chapters 1 & 2
1/13 Friday - Lesson/activity - Frindle Friday - Dress in tropical clothing
1/16 Monday - Martin Luther King JR. Holiday - No school
1/17 Tuesday - Read chapters 3 & 4
1/18 Wednesday - Lesson/activity
1/19 Thursday - Read chapters 5 & 6
1/20 Friday - Lesson/activity - Frindle Friday Special Surprise
1/23 Monday - Read chapters 7 & 8
1/24 Tuesday - Lesson/activity
1/25 Wednesday - Read chapters 9 & 10
1/26 Thursday - Lesson/activity
1/27 Friday - Read chapters 11 & 12 Frindle Friday - New Word Contest
1/30 Monday - Read chapters 13 & 14
1/31 Tuesday - Lesson/activity
2/1 Wednesday - Read chapter 15
2/2 Thursday - Culminating activity
2/3 Friday - Make-up reading time if needed & Frindle Friday - Dress In Clothes To Represent Your Future Career
Project Based Learning Buzz
What’s been happening lately with PBL at DSES? If your children have not come home buzzing about all the excitement with their 2nd PBL, just ask them! There are so many exciting projects happening and small presentations occurring all over the halls and classrooms here at Dunwoody Springs.
Students have been hard at work designing and building their own Tiny Houses based on real architectural renderings. Our smallest customers are deciding between hand soaps and hand sanitizers to really get that icky grime off their hands and surfaces.
Moving down to the B hall, students have been hard at work designing new and improved Native American villages for the Creek and Cherokee Tribes in Georgia. Fast forward to modern day and we have students that are learning about how to be business entrepreneurs.
Mark your calendars for our second and final PBL Showcase on March 23rd. We are thinking about a different format so that all students can present to an audience. More details to follow!
As you can tell there really is a BUZZ about PBL at Dunwoody Springs!
What is the Dunwoody Springs School Governance Council??
Have you heard of the School Governance Council and wondered what it was all about? Do you want to have your voice heard in the decision making here at DSES? Can you give yourself one 45 minute meeting a month to find out?
It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. Parents or guardians of students who will be attending our school during both the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years are eligible for the parent/guardian SGC positions.
Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. Specifically, the School Governance Council has the following powers:
Approve the school strategic plan and updates
Manage the Request for Flexibility process
Manage Seed Fund requests
Approve the annual budget recommendations and related allocations
Participate in the hiring of the principal, in the case of a vacancy
Provide annual feedback to the Area Superintendent on principal performance
We are very excited about the work and value-add of our SGC. Please consider adding your name to our growing list of possible parent candidates. More information will be posted both on our school website and the Dunwoody Dispatch. Any other questions please, contact Richard DiBartolo at dibartolo@fultonschools.org.
TAG Corner – Talented and Gifted Activities
Brainstorming - Quantity is the key word here. When you brainstorm, you are trying to generate as many ideas as possible, no matter if they seem improbably, impossible, or downright silly.
Judgement is withheld until later
Generate as many ideas as possible
List the ideas or record them in relation to each other
Combination and improvement of ideas is sought
Try a few of these activities to boost creative thinking skills:
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/busadmin/entre/teacher/creative/brain/act2.htm
Not Just for Breakfast
Place a box of ready-to-eat cereal (like Cheerios or Trix) on a table. Ask your child to generate as many uses for the product as they can in two minutes (Some of the more creative suggestions your child might come up with might be something completely out of the ordinary, such as using the cereal as fertilizer or a component in jewelry).
New Devices
Work in groups of three (bring in other family). Each group member will draw a picture of someone doing something. The ideal subject will be someone caught mid-movement. After all the drawings are complete, study them and try to create a device that will support the position shown in a steady state. Explain that the devices they create can be made of paper, wood, plastic, or metal. What the students will end up with are various forms of furniture, but they will have designed their creations without limiting themselves to their prior knowledge of furniture. The object of the exercise is to show the value of ambiguity in stimulating creativity.Café Job Openings Here - At Dunwoody Springs
FOR INFORMATION:
Contact
School Nutrition Area Supervisor
Julie Knight-Brown at knightbrown@fultonschools.org or call 404.791.4772.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Family Twitter Night #DSESFamilyNight
Dunwoody Springs will once again be participating in #DSESfamilynight on Twitter. These special nights throughout the school year will allow you as a family to spend time together with NO HOMEWORK to increase family engagement time! The only thing we ask is that you “TWEET” about it on Twitter, use the hashtag #DSESFAMILYNIGHT and tag our school @DunwoodySprings with your pictures of the fun you are having!
*TWEET ABOUT A FRINDLE ACTIVITY
The remaining DSES Twitter nights are: January 18th, February 15th, March 15th, April 12th and May 17th. All families that participate will be entered into a drawing for a prize!
Sandy Springs Middle School Prospective Parent Program & Tour
You're invited to come back to middle school!
January 12, 2017
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Please come to Sandy Springs Charter Middle School to learn about our dynamic programs, challenging teachers, and our newest tech facilities. Our principal, Mr. Charles Gardner, along with academic and administrative staff, will be speaking and answering your questions about your neighborhood school. Stay for refreshments and a tour after the program.
Prospective Parent Program is a great way to get the latest information about the great changes in our school!
Online Food Service Account Access
January's Farm Fresh Harvest: Cabbage
FARM FRESH CABBAGE FACTS
Farm:Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable
Location: NormanPark,Georgia About 200 Miles south of Fulton County
Main Crops: Cucumbers,bell peppers, squash, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes
Did You Know?
•Cabbage is a great source of fiber, folate, manganese, and vitamins C, K and B6! •Cabbage is one of the oldest vegetables in existence. •There are at least 100 different types of cabbage grown in the world, but the most common types in the US are Green, Red, and Savoy varieties.
The Joyful Notes Children's Choral Group
The City of Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department offers an Afterschool Children’s Choral Group for Dunwoody Springs Elementary students in Grades 1-5!
● Learn music notations & symbols
● Learn about various music styles and instruments
● Learn about pitch, rhythm, tempo, and articulation
● Learn age-appropriate and beginner songs, to be sung in unison
● Prepare a presentation for family and friends
Min/max: 10/25
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
For registration forms please see Paula Geiss at Dunwoody Springs Elementary School Clinic or contact Deb Strycula
Sandy Springs Recreation Manager
770-206-2039
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS
MEETING DAY/TIME:
MONDAY 2:30-3:30
(GRADES 1-5)
FALL TERM (8 WEEKS):
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19-NOVEMBER 14, 2016
(NO CLASS OCTOBER 10)
WINTER TERM (8 WEEKS):
MONDAY JANUARY 23-MARCH 20, 2017
(NO CLASS FEBRUARY 20 AND MARCH 13)
SPRING TERM (8 WEEKS):
MONDAY MARCH 27-MAY 22, 2017
(NO CLASS APRIL 3)
FEE: $35.00 PER TERM (8 CLASSES)
INSTRUCTOR:
RICARDO HURTADO
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Clinic Corner
It’s cold & flu season. Always remember to WASH YOUR HANDS! It is the best way to prevent germs from spreading.
CHESTATEE COUNSELING CENTER is here throughout the School Year!
We specialize in supportive counseling and provide services at home as well as at DSES throughout the school year and over the summer. If you are interested in receiving counseling services, please call 706-344-8462 or 678-948-8390 and/or email sandee.chestateecounseling@gmail.com. We are a Medicaid Provider and accept Amerigroup, Centpatico and Wellcare at no cost to you.
We look forward to the opportunity to help you!
Dunwoody Springs Elementary Project Based Learning School
Email: gogginsi@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/dunwoodysprings/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 8100 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, United States
Phone: 470-254-4060
Twitter: @DunwoodySprings