Good afternoon DCS!

This month, our school-wide theme is empathy. We’ll be reminding students to have empathy, identify their own and others’ feelings, notice and respect same and different feelings, and show compassion. Compassion involves saying kind words or doing something helpful to show you care how another person feels. When students can identify, understand, and respond in a caring way to how someone else is feeling, it helps create a positive and accepting school climate.

Second Step lessons specifically teach about empathy.

Please tell your child’s teacher if you have any questions about how you can help your child learn to identify feelings and show empathy and compassion at home.

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Please keep up with information regarding the school buildings project, which directly impacts improving DCS. Check out the, specifically the 8/25/22 link webpage. Also, you can review the stage 2 application here. Check out the flyer here. It is question #4 on the ballot.

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Other Standard Reminders:

Check out the WPS digital backpack!

Please send your child to school each day with a refillable water bottle so they may access our water filling stations.

Please do not send cupcakes and other nonhealthy treats for birthday celebrations. This is per policy.

Remember to go directly to your child's teacher for any questions, concerns, positive feedback, or for information about the school day.

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We will be using #dcsanchors all over social media. Look for it on twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Morrone, Proud Principal of DCS!

Vison: All students will make a year or more growth in all curriculum areas.

My story for behind the vision:

My vision for all students fosters taking on each individual child at their “entry point” and growing them in the areas of math, reading, and writing. We are here for 100% of our students and I am confident we all want this for each of our students.

While sitting in countless meetings, visiting the classrooms, and talking to students, we have the capacity to better understand our students’ needs to support their growth and development academically and emotionally.

Our staff will work tirelessly and together to ensure success. Success can be defined for each child differently.

Given all of this we can make progress towards the vision!

We also can be a five star school and a national blue ribbon school if we all stay focused and keep the vision alive! This is my goal and I hope it is the goal each of you believe in because that is my purpose and your purpose!

Attendance Update

The realistic goal is to have less than 5% chronically absent, but ultimately 0%. Chronically absent is defined as being out 10% of the days in school. This data impacts our STAR rating. Once a student is out at 10% of the year to date then the school team including attendance officer will be contacting you per WPS school committee policy. Currently, 11% of DCS is consider chronically absent. We are ranked #28 in the state!

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-a-yes-vote-on-question-4-is-the-right-thing-to-do/article_3064719e-59b8-11ed-877f-bb415ec4c22a.html

Audrey Faubert - SSS

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-state-st-school-in-desperate-need-of-rebuild/article_c74ae364-59b7-11ed-91b3-2b4bed711bb0.html

Susan Martin - SES

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-it-s-time-to-vote-yes-for-westerly-schools-project/article_cb0fc604-565b-11ed-95f7-434cc3bf578b.html

Click here!

The BOKS Burst Weekly Activities, found in the November Fitness Calendar, are meant to get you and your kids up and moving throughout the day. Studies show that daily movement breaks increase focus, improve mood, and have many added health benefits. Let's all get moving this week with the below bursts!

Please click here to see the November Calendar. If you click an activity on the calendar, it will bring you to a YouTube video explaining the activity.

HealthSource RI: Information about health insurance plans, including RIte Care.

www.healthsourceri.com

1-855-840-4774

Rhode Island Legal Services: RILS is the State's major law firm for low-income people with civil legal problems.

www.rils.org

401-274-2652

TeethFirst!: Information and resources about children's oral health.

www.teethfirstri.org/parents-families