Greetings Parents and Community Members

Welcome to our last Clark's Corner together for the 2011-2012 school year. It is very difficult for me to imagine how this year has already come to an end. It seemed like just yesterday we were greeting new families and children for the first time to DES. I hope this message finds you and your family well and enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend. This is a short four day week and a shorter farewell version of Clark's Corner.

Highlights from Mr. Clark

• Field Day - We had an outstanding time on both of our field days this year! The kids had a blast competing in the events, and we finished our days off Friday afternoon with a friendly competition between the staff members. I had never competed in the dizzy bat race but would like to tell you first hand it is more difficult than I had imagined. A great time for all. I know many people had a lot of hands in the mix volunteering and setting up events. I would like to thank all of you who participated and helped make these days great for the children. I would like to specifically thank Coach Pafford and Coach Kaminsky as well Mrs. Casey for their efforts and energy.
• General Information - We have a short week this week with only four days left. Please make sure you help your child return all materials to school that they need to return such as text books, library books, and any lunch fees, etc. that may need to be completed for the end of the school year. Also, please get any of your child's belongings such as lunch boxes, jackets, instruments, etc. that may have been left at school. We have our upper grades honors days Monday, and you should have received information from your homeroom teachers in TIP last week. We will receive the CRCT results soon for our students in grades 3, 4, and 5, and you will be able to pick those up after school gets out for the summer. A notice should have gone home last Thursday in TIP. Also we have our end of the year celebrations on Thursday. It is different to end the year mid-week, but a gentle reminder that we do not have school on Friday. As we look ahead for next year, we are posting our supply lists, summer reading activities and other information for parents. Please keep reviewing our web page for these updates and communications from the school over the summer. These items will be posted to our DES website, and we will continue to use Constant Contact.
• Farewell for Summer - As I mentioned above, it is very hard for me to believe we are almost through with the year. We have spent a lot of great time and energy building, evolving, and working together this first year to make a truly wonderful school for your children and the community. I am extremely excited for the future of Dunwoody ES and how we can reflect on the events and activities of this year and continue to improve upon them and build our culture. To think that in this year we have added 820 new students, over half of the staff is new to DES, and most of our traditions and operations had to either be created or revamped from old and adjusted for the new population. It is amazing to me that the students, teacher, staff, parents, and community were able to come together and build all that we have this year. All in all I am very pleased with what we have accomplished this year and hope you are as well. One can always improve, but I think we can look back at this year and be very proud of our efforts. I hope all of you have a fantastic summer if I do not get to see you before the last day of school.

Have a great week and summer vacation!

I hope you find this information helpful and useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me or the appropriate school personnel if there is anything we can do for you. Take care and have a great week and summer vacation!