The Discovery News
September 2016
From Mrs. Bates
Dear Parents,
September was a wonderful first month of school at Discovery Ridge! Your Stars are shining brightly! Students have completed their “Space Mission”, during which they reviewed the expectations in each area of the school. They have worked with their teacher and classmates to establish classroom norms which describe what their caring classroom family will look like and feel like. Students have also been diligent in their academic learning, including narrative writing and place value work. This week students also had an opportunity to build relationship with their cross-age buddies and begin a supportive friendship as they learned more about each other.
Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night to learn more about your child’s curriculum this year and how you can be a partner in their learning. We look forward to seeing you again at the October 26th and 27th Parent-Teacher Conferences. Mrs. Stratman, Mr. Kasten and I also greatly appreciate your attendance at the revised report card presentations. The new learning scales will be an effective communication tool through which we can more accurately share your child’s growth and progress. Following is a link to the parent presentation Revised Report Card Presentation.
Discovery Days is next week, October 3rd-7th! We hope to see you at this annual school community event which celebrates science and space. Throughout the week students will be engaged in authentic learning including visits from the ARCH helicopter, Monsanto, and Mad Science. On Friday evening, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. we will hold our family PTO/school event! Food trucks, the Washington University MySci truck, the Bubble Bus, school book fair, St. Louis Science Center activities and more will be available!
The staff and I thank you for your continued support as together we make Discovery Ridge a caring community dedicated to excellence in learning!
Laura Bates
Welcoming Isabella Lanzara
Upcoming Dates
October
October 3-7 Discovery Days
October 5-6 5th Grade Camp
October 27-30 No School
October 3 Discovery Days Dinner Forms Due
October 3 Dress up Day: “Walk Like An Alien!” – Wear crazy socks
October 3 Book Fair Begins
October 4 Dress up Day: “Sleeping Under the Stars” – Wear pajamas (no slippers)
October 5 Dress up Day: “American Pride” – Wear Red, White & Blue to show your pride for our country’s armed forces and aviation accomplishments.
October 6 Dress up Day: “Be a Scientist!”-Dress up as a scientist or wear a science shirt
October 7 Dress up Day: “Discovery Shows Spirit!” – DRE spirit wear or navy & silver
October 7 Discovery Days Family Night 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Astronomy Viewing at Brommelsiek Park at 7:30 p.m.
October 11 Picture Retake Day
October 12 End of Quarter 1
October 14 Early Release, dismissal 1:35
10/21 PTO Trick or Trunk
10/26 Canned Food Drive Begins (through 11/18)
10/26 Otis Cookie Fundraiser Begins (through 11/11)
10/26 Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:00 p.m.
10/27 Parent Teacher Conferences, 10:00-8:00 p.m.
10/27 No School
10/28 No School
10/31 Bully Prevention Week
10/31 K-2 Fall Harvest Parties 12:45-1:45
3-5 Fall Harvest Parties 2:20-3:20
Congratulations DRE Stars!
Update on Boundary Committee 2016
Two draft boundary scenarios have been posted along with a locator tool so stakeholders can enter their address and see which elementary school their child could attend based on each scenario. To view the locator tool for Scenario A, click HERE. To view the locator tool for Scenario B, click HERE. The Boundary Committee has been working since March on these scenarios and they will reconvene in October to review the scenarios based on public input and the latest enrollment data.
Please remember these are still DRAFT scenarios and changes will likely be forthcoming based on both feedback and updated enrollment, but the committee would like to hear from you, our stakeholders, as to their progress on these two drafts. You can share your comments by visiting this forum site. You will need to create an account in order to log in and post a comment.
***Please note, the locator tool appears to have some discrepancies with middle and high school boundaries, particularly in the area of the Bainbridge subdivision. If you currently live in FMS/LHS boundaries, SMS/THS boundaries, or WMS/HHS boundaries, that WILL NOT change with the new boundaries for 2017-2018 which will only affect our elementary buildings for grades K-6.
UPDATED TIMELINE:
September 2nd - October 2nd: Online Tool launched and shared so public can weigh in on the two draft scenarios;
First week of October - we verify our official enrollment numbers and share with our demographer to analyze with regard to the draft scenarios;
October 18th OR 25th: tentative date for next Boundary Meeting to examine drafts with regard to new numbers and review online comments/suggestions;
November: Boundary Committee meets to finalize a scenario the committee wants to recommend to the Board of Education;
December 15th: Admin presents committee’s boundary recommendation to the Board for approval;
December/January: Demographer applies new projections to approved scenario to complete demographic study.
SISK12: Student 360
Earlier in September, the Parent and Student Portal in SISK12 had a new and updated look designed to improve functionality and ease of use. When parents and students log in to the new Student 360, they will have a simple dashboard that is mobile friendly so they can find information or make meal payments quickly and easily. There is also an app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for mobile devices.
A website has been created to help parents and students with the transition.
https://sites.google.com/wsdr4students.org/student360
Fall Harvest Parties
Fall classroom parties will be held on Monday, October 31 at two separate times. Kindergarten through second grade will have parties from 12:45-1:45. Our third through fifth grade parties will be held on the same afternoon following at 2:20-3:20. Room parents will be checked in advance of the party, with class helpers and visitors to follow. Please remember to ensure that all food items have been reviewed and approved in advance. Please contact your child's teacher to learn more how you can help.
Homeside Family Projects
Library & QR Code Experiences
Wentzville Rotary Class Library Donation
Kindergarten Art With Mrs. Bayless
First Grade Number Bonds
Buddy Class Activities
Contact us today with your questions, celebrations, or to volunteer!
Kelly Stratman, Assistant Principal
Ken Kasten, Administrative Intern
Email: kellystratman@wsdr4.org
Website: http://wentzville.k12.mo.us/course/view.php?id=13
Location: Discovery Ridge Elementary School, Sommers Road, O'Fallon, MO, United States
Phone: 6365612354
Twitter: @discovery_ridge