Dunstan Newsletter
December 15th
Happy Holidays from all of us at Dunstan!
Principal's Letter
December 15, 2023
Have a very happy holiday! I hope you and your loved ones are able to relax and enjoy some time together in the next few weeks!
This letter includes some staffing updates. As you know our beloved Office Manager, LaVon Whipple is retiring. Our Enrollment Secretary, Karen, Kruschinski, accepted the position of Principal’s Secretary. This creates an opening for an Enrollment Secretary, which we interviewed for yesterday evening. We will announce this after Winter Break because we had several excellent candidates!
Mr. Romero is also retiring and we hired Mr. Andrew Reynolds from Addenbrooke Classical Academy. He will start with us after Winter Break but attended a shadow day at Dunstan last week. We are excited to welcome Mr. Reynolds to the Dunstan and greater Green Mountain community!
Our school is hosting a Regional Career Fair on February 27th in our Gym. This is an excellent opportunity for the Green Mountain Area to showcase the incredible variety of careers that exist in our area. Many students are unaware of the variety of careers and classes that could lead to work in a specific field. Please consider signing up to educate students about your career and spark ideas in our student’s heads about potential future careers.Breakfast and lunch are provided to all presenters. After Winter Break we will send a Google Sign-up Form for parents and other interested people to enter their information. A table will be provided but presenters are expected to bring information regarding their career to the Career Fair.
Prior to Winter Break we enjoyed several concerts including Band, Orchestra, and Choir. Our student involvement in our arts is strong and it is joyful to not only see them at concerts to celebrate their learning, but also to have follow up conversations when I see them in the hallways and at lunch/recess! Thank you for your ongoing support of our arts programs!
Respectfully,
Jen Pennell
Monday, December 18th
- On/Off Track Celebration @ school
Tuesday, December 19th
- Early release schedule
- Pep rally
- End of Quarter 2 report cards
Wednesday, December 20th-Friday, January 5th
- NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
- Wednesday, January 3rd-Friday, January 5th
- No school for students due to staff Professional Development
Panorama Student Survey Information
Dear Families:
Panorama Education is a company who conducts student and family surveys in schools and districts across the country. Dunstan will be giving students the Panorama student survey in the coming months.
Content. The Panorama student survey gathers information on the following:
School Belonging
School Climate
School Engagement
School Teacher-Student Relationships
School Rigorous Expectations
School Safety
Math Identity
You may review the survey questions by visiting this link.
The results are compiled into aggregate-level school climate reports. These reports are used by district leaders and school staff to help maintain the positive aspects of our schools and to address individual student needs.
It is Voluntary. Your child does not have to take the student survey. Students who participate only have to answer the questions they want to answer and they may stop taking the survey at any time.
It is Confidential. No students will be identified in any public reports or publications. Individual student information (name, student number, school and grade) will be uploaded into the Panorama system. District staff will have access to the data file. Responses are confidential and identifiable. Individual student data may be shared with school staff to provide instructional and social emotional support.
Timing: The survey will be administered January 16 - February 23, 2024. It will take about 30-45 minutes.
Opt - Out: If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you may contact Jen Pennell at jennifer.pennell@jeffco.k12.co.us by January 12, 2024.
Attention 6th Grade Families
It was wonderful to see so many of you for our recent family info nights for Outdoor Lab. For those who couldn't be there, we wanted to make sure you have access to all of the information we reviewed. Here is the Outdoor Lab Parent Presentation that was discussed at that meeting. Inside the presentation, there is lots of very important information to get the process started and to start preparing your child for this amazing adventure. Please talk to your child about which group they are in and go to their Advise Google Classroom to fill in the Consent Form that is due by January 16. We want ALL 6th graders to participate, and we will work with every family to ensure that they can. For financial questions, please reach out to Beca Barnhart, our financial secretary, at Beca.Barnhart@jeffco.k12.co.us. If you have any other questions about Outdoor Lab, please reach out to Mark.Fabian@jeffco.k12.co.us, Megan.Devitt-Haggstrom@jeffco.k12.co.us, or Leslie.Walker@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Holiday Community Resources 2023
Hunger Free Colorado
- 720-328-1284
- https://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/
- National Hunger Free Hotline: 1-855-855-4626
- Referrals to holiday food resources, food programs and pantries
The Action Center
- 303-237-7704
- https://theactioncenter.org/
- 8745 4th Ave., Lakewood, CO, 80215
- The Holiday Gift Shop
- Please check website to register for Holiday Gift Program
- Please keep in mind this event is for those experiencing financial hardship that are Jefferson County residents or those experiencing homelessness
- Open to children ages birth to 12
- No children are allowed at Holiday Gift Shop. If they must come, another adult must wait with them in the lobby while you shop.
Kenzi’s Causes- Toy Shop
- 303-353-8191
- www.kenziscauses.org
- National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216
Volunteers of America
- 303-297-0408
- 2660 Larimer Street, Denver, CO, 80205
- https://www.voacolorado.org/holidays
- Christmas Dinner Baskets
- To receive a Christmas Dinner Basket, you must sign up on the website
- Families and individuals are eligible
- Baskets must be picked up by the person listed on the signup
- Call for more information.
- Santa Shop for Teens
- Every year VOA gives out over 6,000 gifts at the Santa Shop during our Holiday Dinner Basket Give Out and every year we run out of gifts for teenagers first
- Call for more information.
Enroll Jeffco
Use the School Finder tool to learn more about our school, programs offered, data and more. We hope to see you next year!
Events and Opportunities
From our P.E. department
December MVPA Leaders:
Leeburg:
December Leaders for MVPA:
P.1 Jaidyn Scott 160 minutes
P.2 Brodie Hacker 156 minutes
P.4 Dawson Charlton 141 minutes
P.5 Tobin Peck 184
P.6 Ava Dolan-Stevens 34 minutes (This class does not wear their tech as often!)
Fall Semester Leaders for MVPA:
P.1 Jaidyn Scott 1,024 minutes
P.2 Axel Lasinski 927 minutes
P.4 Dawson Charlton 1,181 minutes
P.5 Ashton Scheppers 1,169 minutes
P.6 Ava Dolan-Stevens 472 minutes
Fabian:
Period 1: Dominic Ingle 191 mins
Period 2: Talon Clements 189 mins
Period 4: Brendan Schwartz 208 mins
Period 5: Mason Miller 178 mins
Period 6: Dale Abad 176 mins
Fall Semester:
Ahmad Almustafa 1480 mins
Eli Isaacson 1338 mins
Kylo Ticobay 1336 mins
Talon Clements 1191 mins
Mason Miller 1176 mins
Social Emotional Learning at Dunstan
Hello!
Over the next few weeks before break, our students are focusing on ways to give back to members of our community in a positive way. Advise classes are using their time to create holiday cards and decorate paper placemats for senior living residents at Applewood Our House and Eaton Senior Living. These are two facilities in the Green Mountain area that are very excited, and grateful, to be receiving cards and pictures during the holiday season!
Leslie Pruitt, Social Emotional Learning Specialist
leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-9439
Click the Picture to Access Past Editions of Dunstan's Patriot Post
The Patriot Post is Dunstan's online newspaper established in the 2022/23 school year. Mr. Orthun facilitates the creation of each edition through his Media Literacy elective. The Post is back again this year, and will be better than ever. Clicking the picture will take you to past editions and we encourage you to check them out. Thank you all so much and we hope you enjoy our future editions!
Watch D.O.G.S. and M.O.M.S.
Welcome back Dunstan students! AND....
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students)!!!
DADS, MOMS, any parents, guardians, family members - are all welcome and encouraged to sign up and participate.
Sign up to volunteer between 11:00 am - 1:15 pm to cover lunch and recess. Monday - Friday.
If you want to help cover the crosswalk before or after school also, just add that in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
PS - more dates will be added to fill out the school year.
The Watch D.O.G.S. program was established nearly 25 years ago. A program to help get fathers and father figures into our children's schools. Moms and mother figures have always been allowed, but the focus has been to purpose fathers and father-figures, not traditionally found on school campuses as much as the moms and female counterparts. Last year, in 2022, the national Watch DOGS program wanting to continue to engage fathers and father figures and add our M.O.M.S.
My name is Steve Clayton. Please feel free to email if you have any questions about our program. WatchDOGS is a national program that has been in our local schools for over a decade. You can email Steve at: dunstanwatchdogs@gmail.com
Looking for an Idea to Show Gratitude for a Dunstan Staff Member this Holiday Season?
Here is a link to a list of Teacher's and Staff's Favorite Things -
Please come out and support Dunstan on January 3rd. This is a great way to meet and connect with other Dunstan familiies.
Help Dunstan Create a Zen Den for Students
The PTA would like to help support the ZEN DEN at Dunstan led by Ms. Hyrup.
The ZEN DEN stemmed from a Cap Stone project started by a GMHS Senior, a room dedicated as a tool to help teach self-reflection, redirection, emotional regulation, and many other life skills.
We would like to help supply the ZEN DEN with the remaining items needed to create this space and we need your help. The ZEN DEN is in need of Mental Health Posters, Journals, Fidgets, Counting Blocks, Emotional Regulation tools and Small Creative learning projects or kits.
We have included the Amazon Wishlist link below, of suggested items:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12K9US8GWW9VY?ref_=wl_share
Donations may be dropped off at the office, there is a box labeled ZEN DEN.
Are you interested in being more involved in health and wellness in Jeffco Schools?
Jeffco District Health Advisory Council (DHAC) is looking for additional community members. DHAC works to elevate family/parent and community voices regarding wellness in schools and is responsible for the development, implementation, and review of the Jeffco School Wellness Policy. The group meets three times per year on Wednesday mornings. Email healthyschools@jeffco.k12.co.us to learn more.
Looking for an easy way to support Dunstan at no cost to you?
In the second quarter of 2023, Dunstan PTA earned $471.06 through the King Soopers Community Rewards program. Linking your King Soopers card to the Dunstan PTA is an easy way to support our school - at no cost to you! Simply log in to Community Rewards and search for us: https://bit.ly/2R6y1mk.
Thank you for your support!
Sign-Up to Bring Treats for Teachers and Staff
Hello Dunstan Middle School Families! Let's show our appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff by keeping their break room stocked this year. Please review the available slots below and contact Dunstan PTA (ptadunstan@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Treats can be dropped off to the front office during open hours.
Here is the link to sign up.
Join the PTA
Click here to find out what PTA does and how you can be involved