|
|
and our Facebook Page, for updates on school activities and events. |
|
|
Calendar At a Glance |
|
Monday, January 21 - NO SCHOOL - MLK Day
Thursday, January 24 - Author David Sargent visits DES
Friday, January 25 - Theme Day - PAJAMAS!
Thursday, January 31, 5pm - PTO Membership Meeting
Thursday, January 31, 5:30pm - 4/5 and DES Singers Music Program
See all these events and more on the Dunwoody Elementary PTO Gmail Calendar |
|
|
From our Principal
Greetings and Happy New Year to all our Dunwoody families! Our students and teachers have returned to school well rested and ready to tackle new academic challenges!
Recently, we held our school Spelling Bee with 16 contestants - Hannah Brett, Sam Wassell, Mansi Gupta, Cole James, Catalina Martinez, Devin Ruben, Rachel Park, Kristin Crespo, Khalil Becoat, Sophia Edwards, Claire Chen, Jaimee Murphy, Andrew Hudson, Nandini Ahuja, Cate Pickering, and Ameya Kulkarni. The students all demonstrated excellent sportsmanship and a real mastery of spelling! Our school winner is Claire Chen and the first runner-up is Andrew Hudson. Both students represented their fifth grade classrooms well, and Claire will continue to the district Bee in February.
The Dunwoody Staff sends a huge thank you to our supportive PTO! Each staff member enjoyed the $100 provided at the holiday. With all the budget cuts and furlough days, the money expressed a huge message of gratitude and support that was heartfelt by all.
Each teacher also finalized the spending of $150 per person for classroom instructional supplies. Since so many of our teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of pocket to support their students, the PTO money is a nice way to acknowledge and support both the teacher and the students.
Our PTO has also been very supportive in the area of professional development. Our teachers returned on Monday, January 7 to an inspiring conference with keynote speaker, Ron Clark. The PTO provided part of the funding for the Ron Clark conference as well as funding for our teachers to attend other local area conferences. During the first semester, we were able to send teachers to the Georgia Technology Conference, the Media Conference, a PE and Health Conference, and a BER Math Conference. Teachers return from the conferences feeling energized and inspired.
Second semester also offers new opportunities for our students. Mrs. Katy Grubbs, ESOL teacher, has agreed to serve as the site coordinator for Girls on the Run, and we have had several teachers attend training. Girls in grades 3-5 may learn more and register to participate by going on-line to www.girlsontherunatlanta.org. One of the program goals is for the girls to complete a 5K race on April 27.
Mrs. Grubbs is also sponsoring our Student Council which begins meeting this semester. Our students are excited about their new leadership roles and are eager to leave a lasting footprint at Dunwoody Elementary!
Students in fifth grade may see an increase in expectations for the second semester. Our fifth grade teachers met with Peachtree Middle School sixth grade teachers to get the "scoop" on academic and work habit expectations. Our teachers want to give our students an advantage in sixth grade by helping them understand the level of independence and self-discipline required for a middle school student.
Our CogAT and ITBS scores are back for students in grades 1, 3, and 5. The scores are used to determine Gifted eligibility. The score report for ITBS was sent home with the report card, but you will need to request the CogAT scores via email from your child's homeroom teacher. Thank you to those parents who were able to attend the Principal's Coffee to learn more about our eligibility process.
As a final note for January, I do have exciting personal news. My husband and I are expecting our first child in April. I will begin a leave of absence following Mrs. McCoy's return, and a former DeKalb County Principal will fulfill my end of year duties through June. I will be able to return to work during the summer allowing me to prepare for the opening of school. Arrangements will be made so that the last month of school is as smooth as possible. Dunwoody Elementary is my heart and my priority. I assure you that your students will continue to receive the "best" in my absence, and I look forward to continuing our great programs next year.
Jennifer P. Sanders
Principal
Dunwoody Elementary School
|
|
From the PTO Co-Presidents
Last week was a busy week here at Dunwoody Elementary. We want to thank those parents who came out for the Principal's Coffee on Tuesday for our discussion about testing and our Discovery program. We also had another successful Chick-Fil-A Spirit night Tuesday and would like to thank all of you who braved the rain to support our school. Our Prospective Parent night was also a great success and we appreciate all of you who spread the word to your friends and neigbors so that any new parents in our community, as well as those who will have children attending DES in the fall, had a chance to come out and see what our school has to offer. We also want to acknowledge Robert Apple, chair of our All Pro Dad program. Robert offers this well-received program once a month for dads and their children. These monthly events are funded by your Tiger Fund contributions. Thank you Robert and thank you DES families for helping support All Pro Dad!
You should have seen information in your child's TIP folder this week about David Sargent, our next visiting author, who will be at DES on Thursday. Please make sure to fill out the form and return it to your child's homeroom teacher tomorrow if you wish to pre-purchase David Sargent's book for your student.
 Friday is Pajama Day at DES and you won't want your child to miss it! All of our teachers and staff as well as our students will be decked out in their favorite PJs. Pajama Day is always a fun day, so make sure to get those pajamas and slippers ready to go for Friday! Should your child choose to wear their slippers on Friday, please send a change of shoes so that they can enjoy recess and P.E. on that day as well.
Please remember that there is NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 21st in observance of Martin Luther King's Birthday.
We hope you enjoy your long weekend and we look forward to a terrific week,
Amy LeVasseur and Shari Wassell
amylevasseur@gmail.com
shariwassell@gmail.com PTO Co-Presidents |
|
Visiting Author
Author David M. Sargent, Jr. will be coming to Dunwoody Elementary School.
 On Thursday, January 24, your child will have the opportunity to meet and hear Ozark Publishing's author, Arkansan David M. Sargent, Jr. Now speaking to students all over the United States, David shares his experiences of being a responsible dog lover and of how he became an author. His highly interesting and informative talks are sure to teach your child the importance of being able to read and how to use that ability to receive the highest education possible.
David and his books are sure to touch the hearts of many. He shows students that anyone can be an author...that authors are real people, just like them. David manages to stimulate the children's story writing ability using the universal love of animals.
David is wonderful with children in the kindergarten through fifth grade level, and your child is being given the chance to meet and speak with him through the Tiger Fund contributions of our parents.
 David's books will be on display and we are offering you the chance to pre-purchase his signed books. A form went home in this past Thursday's TIP folders. Please complete the form if you wish to purchase one or more of David's books, return it to the school with your payment no later than Wednesday morning. We cannot guarantee signed books on late orders.
For questions, please contact Shari Wassell at shariwassell@gmail.com. |
|
PCMS Informational Coffee for Rising 6th Grade Parents
Peachtree Charter Middle School invites all parents of 5th graders to an informational coffee to learn more about PCMS and what you need to know to prepare a rising 6th grader who might attend PCMS.
The informational coffee will be on Sunday, February 3 at 2pm at PCMS.
The coffee will be 1 hour including a school tour. Meet in the PCMS Media Center. You will receive information about the summer bridge program offered to 6th graders, typical 6th grade schedules, band/orchestra/choral offerings, daily PE information, and the accelerated math program.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to ask questions to the school's principal and teachers.
Tours of PCMS are offered to parents by appointment if you are not able to attend during this time. |
 Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run After School Program - Registration is Now Open! (Space is limited!)
We're excited to announce that DES is starting two Girls on the Run (GOTR) teams. GOTR is an organization determined to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The teams will meet after school two days a week for fun lessons and training runs for the GOTR 5K in late April.
 Meeting Times:
Team 1 - Mondays and Thursdays from 3-4:30 pm
Team 2 - Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-4:30 pm
Register Online: http://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org
Space is limited, register early! First come, first served basis.
For more information, contact: Ms. Grubbs at DES krgrubbs@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us |
|
2013-2014 PTO Officers Nominating Committee
The time has come to choose our PTO Officers for the next school year. At a very brief PTO meeting in the cafeteria on Thursday, January 31 at 5pm, we will take names of those PTO members wishing to serve on the Nominating Committee. This committee will create a slate of officers for the PTO Executive Committee for 2013-2014. Any member of the PTO who is in good standing and has paid their dues can take part in this process by suggesting someone to serve on the Nominating Committee or volunteering him/herself to serve. We will vote on 7 members and 1 alternate for the committee. Please take time and consider serving or nominating another PTO member to serve in this very important role. |
|
Carpool Thank You
Hello, all!
Welcome to 2013! The transportation committee would like to thank everyone for all the help this past semester in Carpool. Thanks to the volunteers that signed up and those who jumped in. Thanks to the parents for being patient and listening. Thanks to the teachers that come and help, and special thanks to all the 5th graders that come out every day, no matter the weather! Our kids don't get into school safely and on-time without you!
As we get back into our routine, please remember that carpool drop off only occurs along the center island walkway. This strip holds a volume of cars that can be fed easily out onto Womack after drop off and does not create a blockage. Parents should not drop off their children along the sidewalk on the west side of the island. If in doubt, follow the carpool volunteers' instructions.
 We do still need more help in carpool. To sign up, please go to the Sign-Up Genius link. It would be fantastic if you would be willing to do one day a month. The link is: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C044DA8AB2DA57-carpool. For those new to carpool, instructions are there on the web page.
Also, remember that carpool is done at 7:40am. At that time, volunteers put out the sign ending carpool. After this, parents will need to park and walk their students in. Thank you so much for all you do!
Ana Garcia and Liz Dallas
Transportation Committee Co-Chairs |
|
Lunch Bunch Needs You!
Help with opening juice boxes, ketchups and cleaning up spills! Great way to pitch in at DES and see your child in middle of their school day!
 You will also help with our recycling efforts by collecting the students' drink pouches and putting them in the appropriate container, thereby earning a small profit for the school and helping save our environment.
Go to the following link and sign up for as many dates and times as your schedule allows:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ACAD22A57-deslunch
Remember to log your volunteer hours after each shift worked. You can do this through the DES PTO website or in the front office. |
|
DES Recycling
We're Helping Save the Earth - One Bag at a Time
 Thank you to all our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students for collecting recyclables over the holiday break. We were able to collect 7 huge bags of items that have been turned in to our recycling center as well as recycled some of the paired shoes within our DeKalb County school family. For some of the items, DES will even receive a small profit while other items we are recycling as a service to our school community.
Our Recycling Center is set up inside the school next to the doors to the gymnasium. Students and parents can drop off their ink cartridges, batteries, paired shoes, pop tops, plastic bags, drink pouches, cell phones and plastic or aluminum containers at anytime.
Thanks for helping DES save the environment. |
|
Media Center Volunteer Opportunity
Looking for a way to get involved in school a few hours a month? Come help out in the Media Center. Our primary role is to help Ms. Gurin, the media specialist, with the re-shelving of books. Due to DeKalb County budget cuts, she no longer has an assistant this year, so our help is vital to keeping the media center running smoothly. She needs help for 1 hour each day. Typically, you will help from 11:30 AM- 12:30 PM, but we can be flexible with the time. 
Please visit our Sign Up Genius site: http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/409094EACAC29A13-daily or contact Jill Rosen at jillrosen@hotmail.com
Remember, we are still asking for 10+ hours for all parents. Those that have already acquired these, will get stars on their puzzle piece for each additional 10 hours. These will equate to raffle tickets for a drawing at the end of the school year. |
|
Merchant Rebates
As you stock up on school supplies and groceries for the upcoming
second semester, please remember our valued merchants who provide rebates to DES for your purchases. Thank you, in advance, for thinking of DES when you shop!
 Remember to present your Publix Partner card to the cashier when you shop at Publix grocery stores. Cards, which can be attached to your keychain, can be obtained in the front office if you do not already have one. Every time you use your card, DES receives a percentage of your total receipt.
All of these products have Box Tops on them! Clip them, send them to school, and earn cash for DES. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents! Place all Box Tops in the collection box in the lobby.
 The next submission deadline for Box Tops is February 15th. Prizes will be awarded for top earners. To be eligible for prizes, please do the following:  Clip your valid Box Tops and place them in a baggie.- Label the outside of the baggie with your child's name, teacher, grade, and # of Box Tops.
- Place baggies in the Box Tops school house in the lobby near the couches at anytime. If you submit multiple bags, they will be included in your total for prizes.
- Collection sheets will be accepted, but labeled baggies are much easier to count.
Remember, this is EASY money for our school. We have earned over $1,600 for DES this school year alone. Keep them coming! eBox Tops can also be earned at www.boxtops4education.com by playing online educational games, or shopping the Box Tops marketplace and Reading Room.
If you are a Target Credit Card, Target Visa Credit, or Target Debit Cardholder, go to:
https://www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/home, and enroll your card in the Take Charge of Education program. Target donates 1% of your card purchases made in store and at Target.com; 1/2% of purchases made outside the store with the Target Visa Credit Card. Please enroll and make your purchases support our school! Search DES by zipcode or by our School ID: 152367.
 Remember to indicate DES to the cashier each time you make purchases at Office Depot stores. As part of their 5% Back To Schools Program, Office Depot gives back 5% of all qualifying purchases. It is important to tell the cashier that DES is your participating member school at the time you ring up your purchases.
More Ways to Help Your School like this can be found on the Raising Funds page of the PTO Website. |
|
Teacher of the Year - Ms. Tami Slaton
This is Tami's 21st year of teaching in DeKalb County. She has not only worked for Dekalb, but also matriculated through the DeKalb County School system.
She attended Clark Atlanta University for her undergraduate program and Central Michigan University for her post graduate work. Tami holds certifications in Reading Recovery, Reading Endorsement, ESOL, and Gifted. Tami also served as grade level chair. A personal note from Tami Slaton: I firmly believe that all students bring various gifts to the learning process. I enjoy watching students discover the gifts that they possess within themselves. I believe that the workshop approach to teaching allows me to be a a facilitator of learning that aids in this process of development.
In my leisure time I enjoy reading and scrapbooking. I have been married for 12 years to my husband.
|
|
Dunwoody Elite Youth Basketball Association
Registration fee required for participation in this Workout/Evaluation.
$10 online / $15 at door. Team selection is NOT guaranteed.
2-hour Workout/Evaluation
Saturday January 26th.
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Kingswood United Methodist
5015 Tilly Mill Rd.
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Register online now at: http://deyb.eventbrite.com
Support Dunwoody Youth Sports... Please spread the word!
A portion of Team Selection registration fees will be donated back to DES PTO. |
|
Marist School is offering a Parenting Course for the Community
We don't usually promote outside businesses or schools not in our feeder path, but we think this course would be very helpful for our DES families. If you are able to attend, please register with Marist at the link below.
Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!™
Instructor: Ms. Jenni Ellis
This Love and LogicŪ parenting program is designed to help parents raise respectful and responsible children. The road to raising respectful and responsible children begins well before your child enters elementary school, which is why this program was designed specifically for those who have children younger than seven years old. Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun™ will give you specific answers and actions for some of the most difficult moments as the parent of a young child.
Session 1: Handling misbehavior without breaking a sweat and teaching children to listen the first time.
Session 2: Avoiding power struggles and how creating limits is key in having happier parents, happier children, and happier families.
Session 3: What to do when your children leave you speechless!
You will learn practical skills that you can use immediately and are building a foundation that will carry your child through the rest of his or her life. Join us as we laugh, learn, and become better parents.
Cost: $100 per person
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: Marist campus
Instructor Jenni Ellis has been in education for 16 years and currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Marist School. Her years of experience with adolescents have led her to the conclusion that those children who were brought up to be responsible and resilient are the most successful. Almost four years ago Jenni became a parent herself. She began implementing Love and LogicŪ strategies when her son was 15 months old and she wish she had done it sooner. In an effort to help parents, including herself, navigate the adventures of parenting Jenni became an independent facilitator of the Love and LogicŪ Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!™ curriculum.
To register, please go to: http://maristeveningseries2013.eventbrite.com/ |
Tiger Talk Newsletters Archived Ever need to find an old newsletter to get an announcement? Tired of searching through your thousands of emails for it? All newsletters are archived on www.dunwoodypto.com. Look for "Tiger Talk" under the "news" menu, or click HERE. |
|
|
How to Send an Announcement Using Tiger Talk
Tiger Talk is the weekly e-newsletter of the Dunwoody Elementary School PTO. Every Sunday, we publish information that is pertinent to the students and parents of DES. The submission deadline for each issue is 10 p.m. on Tuesday. All announcements must be brief and sent in writing as an email to Dunwoody.TigerTalk@gmail.com. Announcements will run for two weeks prior to the event or as applicable. If you have any questions about Tiger Talk, please contact the editors at Dunwoody.TigerTalk@gmail.com. |
|
LIKE us on Facebook and Twitter!
Our school's Facebook page and Twitter account will be used to promote upcoming school events and communications. We will also allow comments from our DES community but through daily monitoring we will remove anything that is not appropriate. We're excited about this new opportunity to share all the good things happening at our school.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
