The #DexterParkPride
Every Child. Every Day.
The Dexter Park Innovation School
Vision
At the Dexter Park Innovation School we celebrate each other’s differences and strive to meet the needs of all students through collaboration among staff, family, and community. By providing an inclusive, welcoming environment and sustainable instruction carried out with fidelity, we will nurture the whole child and meet individual needs. We believe all students can find success.
Mission Statement
The Dexter Park Innovation School will strive to provide an inclusive environment with instructional practices designed to meet individual needs. All students will be provided with differentiated educational opportunities to increase achievement. Our mission is for all students to gain skills, both academic and social, in order to be successful in the future.
Core Beliefs
We believe that all students who attend The Dexter Park Innovation School:
Can learn
Have a right to feel:
Safe
Welcome
Respected
Successful
Adult Community Guidelines
We will strive to recognize and respect the perspectives and ideas of all staff, while assuming we all have positive intent for our students.
We will work together to create an adult learning community in which all members feel valued and respected.
We will communicate our ideas, concerns, or needs for support openly, honestly, and respectfully.
We will help each other identify root causes of problems and consequences without judgement to problem solve as a team.
We will work together to create and protect time in our schedules to share, discuss, and collaborate with fellow educators.
Practicing Gratitude @ Work
-do you tend to look at problems or work to find solutions?
-do you "look with kindness" towards others and have empathy?
-are you someone who looks for the good in a situation?
I challenge all of us this month and moving forward to find small ways to practice gratitude, for ourselves and our organization. The culture of our school relies heavily on the actions and attitudes that we, the adults, come in with each day and if we focus on what is good and right, the problems seem small and solutions are found more easily. According to the article below, you will also find yourself to sleep better, be happier and more productive. It's all about energy- let's fuel our bus!
This Week at Dexter Park
Our North Star
November Read Aloud
I'm taking this on. Join me?
Positive Behavior Support Update
Our Dexter Park Promises
Positive Phone Calls Home
Current phone call count= 18
We Want to Hear from You
Staff Book Study
Get Staff Updates to Your Phone!
Upcoming Events
November 17th: Curt Bates Coaching
November 22nd: Early Release (11:30)
November 23-24th: Thanksgiving Break
Quotes to Ponder (I have the full article if you'd like it)
“What I’ve learned as a parent is it’s very hard to make your kids happy in the short term and keep their long-term well-being in mind. Those two goals conflict.” Jean Twenge
“The sweet spot for mental health and happiness is having that phone but not using it to excess.” Jean Twenge (ibid.)
“As teachers, it should be our goal to provide productive struggle for our students.” Raja Herold-Blasius
“Argue as if you’re right, but listen as if you’re wrong.” Adam Grant
“The skill to get hot without getting mad – to have a good argument that doesn’t become personal – is critical to life.” Adam Grant (ibid.)
“Not only do we need to ensure that a black girl from a low-income family has access to a higher education; we must also ensure that a white boy from an affluent family has the option to get his hands dirty in an auto mechanics class. Class bias can work both ways and should never limit a child’s access to his or her dreams.” Joan Richardson in her editor’s letter, Phi Delta Kappan, November 2017 (Vol. 99, #3, p. 4), www.kappanmagazine.org
“We must avoid overpraising for mediocre work. Students perceive this as a sign of lower expectations and another reason not to trust feedback.” Matt Utterback
Need Some Information?
About Us
Email: christopherdodge@orange-elem.org
Website: http://dexterparkprincipal.blogspot.com/
Location: 3 Dexter Street, Orange, MA, United States
Phone: 978-544-6080
Facebook: facebook.com/dexterparkinnovationschool
Twitter: @PrincipalDodge1