Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences
Welcome back from our Superintendent
Superintendent
August 1, 2014
Dear Colleagues,
I hope that you are having a great summer! As the final days of summer break wind down, I am sure that you - like me - are looking forward to the beginning of a new and exciting school year. Last year, we had many great successes. These successes were made possible because of your extraordinary work.
Please know that your excellent work is valued, appreciated, and respected.
But, we cannot rest on our successes in the past. As Babe Ruth famously said, "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." Our challenge is to continue to get better every day. We have all the ingredients for the greatest accomplishments ever in 2014-2015.
We will celebrate last year's successes and prepare for the coming school year with our annual Back to School Kick-Off on Wednesday, August 13 at Irmo High School. The event will start at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast and the program will begin at 8:30 a.m . Each school will be given instructions on transportation to the kick-off.
Please enjoy the remaining days of summer break. Best wishes to each of you for your very best year
ever in 2014-2015!
Sincerely yours,
Stephen W. Hefner,
Superintendent
August 12
The staff and rangers at Saluda Shoals have designed a program for us (DFES) to experience life as scientists ourselves. It will give us insight into how Saluda Shoals will partner with us to enhance the learning experience for our students. So we will meet at the Red Bud Shelter (Saluda Shoals Campus) on our first day back. Please be sure to dress comfortably for the occasion.
PTO will provide a catered breakfast for us beginning at 7:45 a.m. Our time together will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. Enjoy the reminder of your summer vacation and look forward to seeing each of you in a couple of weeks.
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014, 07:45 AM
Saluda Shoals, Bush River Road, Columbia, SC, United States
An Invitation to a 24-hour Inquiry
"...the criterion for judging the success of any educational process must be its effect on the actual life of the student; its ultimate value depends on its assimilation into the very marrow of personality" (Louise Rosenblatt)
To begin, think about something you would like to learn to do or know about, and talk with a friend or your family about this topic.
Next, commit to one 24-hour period in which you spend as much time as you can learning about your topic.
(This means that some people will have a lot of time in their 24 hours while others will have only a little. This is understood and expected. What matters is not how much time each person has to give to this endeavor, but that each person uses the time well.)
On August 12, we will share knowledge-in-process! Please bring any artifacts/photographs/notes you uncover or create (if this is part of your inquiry).
New Faculty and Staff
Stephanie Shealy Resource Teacher
Christina Paparella Second Grade Teacher
Amy Umberger Resident Scientist
Kendall Donald Fourth Grade Teacher
Kaela Gardner Long Term Spanish Substitute
Nancy Dixon Kindergarten Assistant
Calendar information for the Week of August 12
- (7:45 am-12:00 pm) Saluda Shoals
- (12:00 pm -1:20 pm) lunch on your own
- (1:30 pm) Work in rooms for remainder of the day
Wednesday, August 13
- (am) Superintendent/District Kickoff Meet at DFES at 7:00am to ride the bus.
- (pm) Lunch on your own/Work in your room
- Info Expo 4:00-7:00 p.m. All faculty and staff expected to attend. More information to follow.
Thursday, August 14
- District PD day
- (8:00 am - 12:00 pm) District Sessions
- (12:00 pm - 1:20 pm) lunch on your own
- (1:30 pm - 3:30 pm) District Developed PD at home school
Friday, August 15
- School directed activities. More details to come.
Monday, August 18
- Teacher unencumbered work day. All faculty and staff will meet at 2:30 pm in the mini theater.