Dutch Fork Elementary
Academy of Environmental Sciences - Week of November 5th -
District Goals 2018-2019
- Focus our work decisions on/around our district strategic plan.
- Identify areas of achievement to improve.
- Provide Chick-Fil-A and Moes like customer service for internal and external community.
- Strengthen the structure and quality of communication both internally and externally.
- Promote a work and learning environment where students and staff feel safe physically, emotionally and socially.
DFES Goals 2018-2019
- Exceed family expectations in our communication, follow through, and sharing student progress.
- Strengthen grade level data team processes to accelerate student growth and achievement in mathematics.
- Implementation of student-led conference across all grade levels (as identified in DFES strategic plan).
DFES Beliefs
- We believe all people deserve to feel safe, valued, and loved.
- We believe all children are naturally curious about the world around them.
- We believe learning is a social process.
- We believe inquiry fosters an environment of noticing and questioning.
- We believe in learning from multiple perspectives.
- We believe in learning from authentic primary and secondary sources.
- We believe in encouraging learners to be risk takers.
- We believe reflection should lead to change and growth.
- We believe learning should lead to social action.
- We believe our actions should be aligned with our beliefs.
Shout Outs
- Gental Htoo, 4th grader in Ms. A's class, earned the highest possible score on the SC Ready math test as a third grader. Please join me in recognizing this brilliant mathematician.
- Sharon Clemens daughter, Alexis Clemens, earned a position as a 2019 Spring/Summer Co-Op Engineer. Bracalente, located in Pennsylvania, provides precisions machining solutions globally. Alexis is a District Five graduate who is attending college at RIT in New York.
- Custodial Staff. Taking care and cleaning our facility brings about a fair share of challenges. A recent string of "not so ideal" cleanups in one section of our building that I would like to thank them for taking care of and to express appreciation for their work.
- The 4th grade team. M. Reece has been out of the building the last week recovering from an incident that required medical attention. Our colleagues have filled in the gap and thoughtful ways to support learners in Marti's class.
- Ms. Beckman sends a shout out to P. Finney for implementing a multi-tiered incentive system in her classroom. She recognize individual, small group and whole class efforts towards learning how to work together and reaching agreed upon behavior goals. She has taken our Essential Eight themes and school-wide expectations to a higher level, and students are responding positively. Ask her about her whole class loop incentive, individual sticker charts, team points and LEAF personal goals chart.
The Essential Eight (A Curriculum of Caring)
Over the last couple of years feedback has been provided to me on the need for us integrate character education in our curriculum. This rings true not just for our work here at DFES but is needed in our society given the current state of affairs.
Our goal was to be more intentional with the work of the essential eight this year in meaningful ways that are shared experiences for small learners, tall learners, and families.
The Essential Eight theme for November is RESPONSIBILITY - taking ownership of my thoughts, words and actions. (dependability/commitment/work ethic/personal best/organizations/trustworthiness).
We have purchased and expect our teachers to access the following texts as we unpack this month's theme:
- K-1 Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
- 2-3 Christopher Nibble by Charlotte Middleton
- 4-5 Here We are by Oliver Jeffers
Finally there are three quotes in the link below regarding responsibility. One in particular quote I felt compelled to share by Robert Brault and it reads,
- "Never point a finger where you have never lent a hand."
Reading this quote resonated with me and instantly made me think about my leadership and opportunities for growth as principal.
4K/5K Tag Ceremonies
Monday, Nov 5, 2018, 08:15 AM
Mini Theater
Scott Out of Office Monday
PTO Fall Fundraiser Pick Up
The delivery of the fall fundraiser items will necessitate that we serve bag lunches Monday and for all homerooms to eat in their respective classrooms.
This will also require us to make adjustments during dismiss. Kit Klub students will need to go to the gym. Day care students will need to go to the mini theater. Thanks to your attention to both.
Monday, Nov 5, 2018, 03:00 PM
Cafeteria
Student/Teacher Holiday/Election Day
Tuesday we are granted an opportunity to vote for leadership of our state's highest office, both branches of our state legislature, county and city leadership which also includes our local school boards. Please exercise your rights as our local and state races directly influence our personal and professional lives.
Sunday, Nov 4, 2018, 08:00 AM
DFES
2nd Cup of Coffee
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2018, 07:30 AM
Media Center
1st Grade Field Study
Sunday, Nov 4, 2018, 08:30 AM
Lexington County Collection and Recycling Center
Scott Out of Office Wednesday
DFES Spirit NIght
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2018, 05:00 PM
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Data Team Thursday
Our first, second, and third Thursday of each month is dedicated for data teams. Based on feedback we will allow these meetings to take place on respective grade classrooms rather than our professional development room. Facilitators please send me and the instructional team an email by Tuesday informing us of which rooms we will meet in.
Scott Out of Office Thursday
DFES will be hosting the Inquiry Matters Conference on April 27, 2019. Our collaboration with USC ior this conference is being expanded as their will be a parallel conference for D5 secondary schools as well on this same date. Further details to come.
I will be attending a planning meeting for the Inquiry Matters Conference Thursday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Please contact Mr. Gantt in my absence if needed.
District Magnet Fair
Our district's first magnet fair is scheduled for this Thursday. The magnet fair is designed for current and existing D5 families to learn more about magnet programs in our system.
It is a great time to tell the ways in which are school is uncommonly good at those things we are commonly offered. Representing DFES will be Gantt, Umberger, Walker, Gibson, Sazehn, Goforth, and Ybarra.
During the district magnet fairs prospective families are interested in paying a visit to our school. Please consider the space wall outside of your rooms. Be sure that the student work displayed outside your room is current and provides an idea of how students are learning as readers, writers, scientists, social scientists, and activists.
Thursday, Nov 8, 2018, 05:30 PM
CrossRoads Intermediate, Saint Andrews Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Cafeteria Waste Stream Program
During the previous segment I referenced Dr. Stephen Hefner, recently retired D5 superintendent, who said is credited for the premise of being uncommonly good at those things commonly offered.
As an environmental sciences school we took up recycling, composting, and disposing landfill items properly. Over the last couple of years we have diverting more than 100 tons of food waste that would have otherwise gone to our local landfills.
We have worked with SMART recycling during this ame period and are food waste is sent to Charleston where it has been processed to become compost over time.
Our contact with SMART Recycling has given us feedback that our school efforts are compromising their work at their recycling plant potentially threatening our continued partnership.
Given our school's theme I believe we a responsibility to take actions to protect our environment and discontinuing our waste program is not an option for us.
A reminder for the following:
Landfill Buckets: Landfill items are to be collected in black buckets at the tables only with the exception being when we have Styrofoam trays.
Recycling: If a student has yogurt or applesauce, clean out uneaten food with eating utensil and put it on the tray for composting. Items that have #1 through #7 should be listed on the item, then recycled. If the # is not there, it goes in the Landfill Bucket.
Composting: Landfill items re not to be be included with the SMART recycle cart.
Homeroom teachers will be relieved of sitting with students each Friday during lunch beginning 11/9.
Veteran's Day Celebration
Friday, Nov 9, 2018, 08:00 AM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
3rd-5th Grade Learning Celebration
Friday's learning celebration will be led by K. Donald's third grade class. We look forward to learning from these small teachers.
Friday, Nov 9, 2018, 01:45 PM
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
DFES to host Oakdale Elementary Staff
Oakdale Elementary is a steam magnet school in Rock Hill, SC. These newfound colleagues attended the Inquiry Matters Conference this past April and wanted to return. They will bring about 15 of their staff members and their assistant principal and friend of DFES Derek McQuiston.
There schedule for the day is as follows:
- *Arrive at Dutch Fork Elem. at 8:30 a.m.
- *Classroom visits 8:30-10:45 a.m. (break into teams)
- *Lunch 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. off-site
- *Classroom visits continued 12:00-2:00 p.m. (break into groups)
- *2:00-2:30 p.m. debrief with admin and instructional team
- *Depart 2:30 p.m.
The Oakdale team is interested in magnet theme integration. Their visit will not require change in your respective plans for the day. Should you have any questions please let me know.
Monday, Nov 12, 2018, 08:30 AM
DFES
We develop students who care about the world we live in and express critical thinking through natural curiosity and wonder.
Email: jscott@lexrich5.org
Website: www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork/cfm/
Location: 7900 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC, USA
Phone: 803-476-3901
Twitter: @dfes_scott