Bear Essentials
Dyer ES Newsletter
December 20, 2018
Bears Make A Difference
Mountain View Athletic Association has begun a sports program for children with mental, physical and multiple disabilities. The league's focus is to give players a chance to participate in organized sporting events among friends and family. Our program is designed for our participants and their families to have FUN, establish new FRIENDSHIPS, and enhance SELF-ESTEEM. The emotional and physical benefits for the players, their families, peers, and the community are tremendous.
Please follow the survey link below if you'd like to provide input into the design of this new program. We'd love to hear from families with special needs children as well as those wanting an opportunity to volunteer for this amazing program.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ8XM6Z
Kids Heart Challenge
We are excited to partner with The American Heart Association this year by participating in The Kids Heart Challenge at Dyer Elementary. We will be learning all about how to take care of heart, how we can use our heart to set a good example for others and how we can give from our heart and help to save lives. Please help support our school and the mission of The American Heart Association.
Help Your Child Make A Difference:
We've made it fun and easy to raise donations using our online tool! You can help your child set-up a customize web page with a photo or video and email it to friends and family asking for their support. Donations are made directly to your child's web page – it’s that easy and something the family can do together! Help your child join his/her school team online and your family will be one step closer to being Heart Heroes helping to save lives!
Calling All Shutterbugs!
Our Yearbook creator and editor is looking for pictures of our Bears on their first day of the 2018-2019 school year! If you have any photos to share, please add them to our dropbox (link below). If you have photos of other events from the school year, feel free to share those too! The dropbox is private, and only our Yearbook Editor can access it. Thanks in advance for your help!
Important Message from Our School Counselor, Mrs. Garner!
IMPORTANT MEETING! Thurs., JANUARY 10TH, 5:30 to 7:00 PM
REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION
We all share a common goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. Related to that goal, school counselors are required to present annual personal safety lessons designed to prevent sexual abuse. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, classroom posters, role playing and corresponding activities. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from abuse and exploitation. A committee of professional school counselors reviewed the program and selected components that were developmentally appropriate for elementary students and developed lessons around those concepts. Due to the importance of this topic, I want you to know when and how you may preview the materials and when the counselor will be presenting this information to your child's class. Please join me for previews on Thurs., January 10th 5:30 to 7:00 PM. We will meet in the Media Center. If you have seen this curriculum in the past, there is no new material except for 4th grade. The preview takes an hour for K-5 parents and an additional 30 minutes if you have a 5th grader and would like to view the video Breaking the Silence (30 minutes) that 5th graders will see in February. If you cannot attend, you may want to contact your child's counselor, Dawn Garner at 770-338-4782 if you would like to schedule a preview or if you have any questions or concerns. The materials will be available for preview from Jan 3rd to January 10th during the day as well if you would like to set up an appointment. All parents who attend the preview night or schedule a preview will get a homework pass for future use for their students! In Jan. and Feb., the school counselor will offer the sexual abuse prevention and safety lessons to all K-5 students.
You can also learn more about the detailed lesson plans and research behind this program at www.childluresprevention.com. Please be aware that more information is provided on the website than is actually used in Gwinnett County. The plan for Gwinnett includes the key concepts taught at all grade levels; each grade reviews what was learned in the previous grade(s) and then learns additional lures. Specifics are provided below:
If you prefer that your child not participate in the sexual abuse and safety prevention lessons, please write and sign a note indicating your preferences and send it to your child’s teacher or school counselor. As always, the counselor is available to discuss any concerns you might have. Unless written documentation is received, your child will participate in the sexual abuse prevention and safety lessons.
Dear Families,
Welcome to the Six Flags® Read to Succeed Six Hour Reading Club!
Your child’s school is participating in an exciting program that encourages students in grades
K through 6 to read for fun. Read to Succeed is a free program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before the school’s deadline listed on the bottom of this page is eligible for a free admission ticket, valid at the participating Six Flags Theme Park that the school has selected.
Students will develop a greater appreciation for books when they see that you think reading is important too. You are sure to have fun as you investigate the world of reading together!
Here's what you need to know:
• Only students in grades K through 6 are eligible to participate.
• Review the reading log (link below). Your child will use this reading log to record what and how long he/she reads.
• Your child must complete 6 hours, or 360 minutes, of recreational reading.
• Please initial each entry and then sign the reading log to verify that the 6 hours, or 360 minutes, of reading has been completed.
• Your child can read books, magazines, newspapers, or comic books (digital or hard copy). Reading for homework or a class assignment does NOT count.
• Students can read silently, aloud, or with an adult—you can read to your child, or your child can read to you.
• Remind your child to return the reading log to his/her teacher by the due date that the teacher has written on the reading log. Your child’s school will submit your child’s information and hours read.
• Late entries will NOT be accepted.
About the Tickets:
• Tickets will be awarded to students by their teacher/school coordinator in May. Please make sure your child’s teacher has awarded the ticket to your child by the end of the school year.
• The ticket is valid for admission to ONE Six Flags theme park on SELECT DATES ONLY during the 2019 season. Park name and valid dates will be printed on the tickets. Please understand that the school can only select one Six Flags Theme Park. The ticket will only be valid for the park that is listed on the ticket. The valid dates will not be announced prior to the ticket award date in early May.
• Tickets are valid for students in grades K-6 only and are not valid for anyone over the age of 13. No exceptions.
• Each ticket is valid for one free student admission only.
• A Season Pass upgrade offer will be available during the ticket valid dates. The upgrade offer information will be printed on the ticket.
• Tickets are NOT for resale and are nontransferable.
• They cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.
We hope that you and your child enjoy this free program and spend time reading together. If you have any questions about the program or have ticket questions, you will need to contact Mrs. Frates before the school year is over.
Happy Reading!
The Six Flags® Read to Succeed Team
School Deadline, please return the reading log to Mrs. Frates by Thursday, January 31, 2019!
In Case of Inclement Weather...
Just a friendly reminder that in the event of inclement weather, Gwinnett County's school calendar has two (2) make-up days built in, but the county could opt to use a Digital Learning Day instead. In the event that the decision is made to use a Digital Learning Day, Dyer Elementary School will alert you through electronic communication. This information will also be posted on Gwinnett County Public School's website. Please find the flyer below with more detailed information regarding Digital Learning Days and the use of eCLASS.
Sign Up for PTO Text Reminders!
"Be in the know with the Dyer PTO! Join the Remind text messaging or email system. Simply text "@dyerpa" to 678-321-6459 OR email "dyerpa@mail.remind.com"
Birthday Wishes in Big Lights!
****Special Notice**** The deadline to add December birthdays to the marquee was Friday, 12/7. We will begin processing orders for the new year on January 2nd.
We will continue our PAWS program school-wide. The goal of this program is to not only notice positive behavior, but also to reward that behavior. You can help support the funding of this program, and wish your child a happy birthday on our school marquee at the same time. It's a win-win! For a $5 contribution, a Happy Birthday message along with your child's first name and last initial will be displayed on our marquee for three days during the week of your child's birthday. Summer birthday? Not a problem, We will display summer birthday messages during the last week of school and during their birthday week. NOTE: Your child's name will be displayed on their birth date as well as the day immediately before and after. Orders can be placed via Mypaymentsplus.com under the School Events tab. Please note, requests will be processed the next business day.
Looking to January
10 - Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum Parent Preview
11 - Report Cards Issued
16 - Bruster's Blue Ice
21 - MLK Jr. Day - No School
22 - Five Spot Cafe Spirit Night
23 - RFL - Pajama Day
31 - Six Flags Reading Logs Due
Dyer Elementary School
Website: http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/DyerES/home.html
Location: 1707 Hurricane Shoals Road, Dacula, GA, USA
Phone: 770-963-6214
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyerES/