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 March 10, 2013

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DES News
In This Issue
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From our Principal
From the PTO Co-Presidents
Carpool Change - please read!
STEM Night Update and Raffle Ticket Number announced
School Council Survey - Don't forget to provide your feedback by Friday, March 15!
Walk to School Day Winners
UPCOMING EVENTS
Chick-fil-A Spirit Night - Tuesday, March 12
All Pro Dad's Breakfast - Friday, March 15
International Potluck Dinner - Friday, March 15
DES Book Fair coming soon!
Kindergarten Roundup - Tuesday, April 2
GET INVOLVED
Nominations for PTO Officers now being accepted
We Want Your Feedback!
Be a Spring DES Corporate Sponsor!
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Dunwoody Boys' Lacrosse Fill the Stands Night - Friday, March 15
Register now for Summer 2013 at i9 Sports

 

Calendar At a Glance

Tuesday, March 12, 5-8pm - Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
Friday, March 15, 6:45-7:45am - All Pro Dads' Breakfast

Friday, March 15 - International Potluck Dinner

Tuesday, March 19 - Principal's Coffee

Wednesday, March 20 through Friday, March 22 - DES Book Fair

Tuesday, April 2 - Kindergarten Roundup

 

See all these events and more on the Dunwoody Elementary PTO Gmail Calendar

Announcements

From our Principal
 

It seems that the end of school is within eye sight once March approaches! While we've accomplished much, we still have lots left to do! I would appreciate everyone's feedback on the School Council survey coming out this week. I already know there are things that need improving for next year, but in order to be our best, we need your input!

 

I am happy to announce that we will work on becoming a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) State certified school over the next two years. The process requires that we have all components in place prior to asking the state to conduct a site visit. The state requires sustainable  change so they want to view our progress over a two year period. Next year, we will look for ways to integrate engineering and technology into our existing curriculum. Science will expand with more use of the outdoor  classrooms, Science Lab, organic gardens, and indigenous animal habitats.

 

I invite you to attend the Principal's Coffee on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:50am to learn more about the STEM initiative. After the STEM presentation, I will be glad  to answer your questions about next year. I may not have all the answers, but I will certainly do my best to lessen your anxiety.

 

We have had several students who have achieved great success! Kennedy Kellam won second place at the District Level Science competition. Her project focused on the effects of Saccharin. Parker Apple and Curtis  Holloway will participate in the DeKalb County Visual Art Department's Annual Student/Faculty Art Exhibit March 29-May 11. Our own Mrs. Fleury-Bell will also participate.

 

Teachers have voted to honor our former Science Lab Teacher, Mrs. Evans, by dedicating the Science Lab. We will be placing a plaque outside the door in her honor.

 

Mrs. Raquel Kirkley is a long-term substitute who is filling the Science Lab position until the end of the year. Mrs. Kirkley is a certified teacher and has experience teaching Science. We are so grateful for her help, and she is doing an outstanding job!

 

Thank you to all the parents who attended the Story Character Parade in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. It was a fun day, and the students did a great job with their costumes! Also, thank you to Maria Jacobs for a great STEM night event. We had a wonderful turn-out and the activities were fun for the students.

 

As we move toward the end of school, please remember that we have Kindergarten Round-up on Tuesday, April 2. It is important to complete a preliminary registration for your child. Please remember to bring copies of your registration materials!

 

Also, we will post a Confidential Placement Form and a Teacher Feedback Form on our school website in May. The Confidential Placement Form is designed to give us an idea of the needs of your child as we make plans for next year. You may not request a teacher, but you can tell us about your child's learning style. You can also request that your child not be placed in a class with another child. We appreciate any feedback you can provide regarding your child's special needs. The ONLY way we take your requests into consideration is if you fill out the form and turn it in to the box in the front office. Emails and conference will not take the place of the form.

 

The Teacher Feedback Form will allow you the opportunity to comment on your experience this school year. Administration only will view the forms and take your concerns into consideration as we plan for next year. 

 

Please, NO parent conferences the last two weeks of school. Teachers and administrators are trying to take care of closing business, and can not give you the time and attention you deserve. If you must have a conference, plan ahead and do it early!

 

We are looking forward to a wonderful spring at DES! Thank you for being a wonderful, supportive community!

 

Jennifer P. Sanders

DES Principal

From the PTO Co-Presidents
  
We had a very successful Mad Italian Spirit night last week. Thank you to all the families who took a night off from cooking and enjoyed a wonderful meal while supporting DES. Thank you to Ms. Fleury-Bell and our photography club for fantastic face painting!

Thank you to all the parents and students who braved the cold and the snow flurries to participate in Georgia Walk to School day on Wednesday. We had a decent turnout aside from the weather and look for greater participation in the warmer month of April! A great big Thank You goes out to all of our wonderful volunteers and to Rosemary Gorham for continuing to coordinate our Walk to School days.

Tuesday is our Chick-fil-A Spirit night from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. Take a break from cooking and enjoy a night out with your family. Remember that a portion of the profits for the evening go directly back to DES!

Friday will be filled with wonderful activities starting with the monthly All Pro Dad breakfast program at 6:45am.  We welcome not only dads to these mornings, but granddads as well.

Make sure to leave room in your schedule for the fabulous International Potluck on Friday evening starting at 5:30 pm. Come and taste wonderful dishes from around the world and enjoy a cultural program given by our students. You won't want to miss this annual event sponsored by our International Committee.

On Saturday, March 16th from Noon until 6:00pm, head on over to The Great American Cookie Co. at Perimeter Mall to enjoy a sweet treat and another terrific Spirit Day. A portion of the profits will go back to DES.
  
Also, SPRING FORWARD! Did you remember to set your clocks last night? We lost an hour, so if you haven't yet, set your clocks forward an hour for Daylight Savings time and be ready for a dark morning tomorrow!

Enjoy your week!

Amy LeVasseur and Shari Wassell
PTO Co-Presidents

[email protected]
Carpool Change
 
Dear Carpool Parents,
 
Just a kind reminder that children need to be inside the school at 7:40am so they have enough time to reach their class before the tardy bell rings at 7:45am. 
 
Patrol students, teachers and carpool volunteers will finish their duty at 7:40am so please make sure you arrive at school early enough.
 
Thank you,
Ana Maria Lopez Garc�a, Transportation Committee Chair
STEM Night Update
 

STEM Night update - We were all disappointed by the "no-show" of the Kell Robotics team for this fun family event. After speaking with the sponsoring teacher, and our contact for the team, we now understand why the group failed to show. They had a flat tire while trying to get to DES. The team rep did state that they would like to join us at next year's STEM night. We all look forward to this. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you and your children.

 

Also, if you have raffle ticket #822011 from the STEM event, please contact Maria Jacobs at [email protected] to claim your prize.

School Council Survey

 

The DES School Council and PTO want your feedback about the culture and climate at DES as well as your level of satisfaction with instruction, events and other aspects of our school. Comments regarding specific staff members should be addressed to DES administration rather than this survey as School Council and PTO are not supervisory boards regarding staff.

 

Please complete one survey for your family. If you have more than one child at DES and feel that your responses would be different for each child, please complete a second survey. In order to prevent duplication, please only complete items that have different answers on the second survey.


We want your honest feedback. Please know that your responses are confidential. Your name and email address cannot be viewed by anyone analyzing the results.


The deadline for submitting the survey is Friday, March 15.


To take the survey, please click on the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/62XB588


Thank you for your participation!


DES School Council and PTO

WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

Thank you everyone who came out to walk in the snow on Wednesday!!!

 

Mrs. Nettles 1st grade class won the Golden Sneaker Award with 59% participation (the second time in a row!) The announcement of the winning class was made Thursday during the WDES morning news. The winners for each grade level were: Ms. Johnston for Pre-K, Mrs. Drennan for kindergarten, Ms. Mach for 2nd Grade, Ms. Bridgeman for 3rd Grade, Ms. Nelson for 4th Grade and Ms. Soucy for 5th Grade.

 
Thank you to all the volunteers that braved the cold to help on Wednesday morning. Your time and effort is truly appreciated.

 
Overall 33% of our school walked to school on Wednesday. The winner of the friendly competition with our cluster schools was Vanderlyn, with 93% participation!
 

Our next Walk to School days will be in April and May. Here's hoping for some warmer weather on those days! 

Upcoming Events

 
Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
  
Come dine with your DES friends and families at our seventh Chick-fil-A Spirit Night, hosted by Chick-fil-A at Perimeter Pointe on Tuesday, March 12.  Dine-In or drive-through, anytime between 5pm and 8pm, and please be sure to mention "DES" at the time of purchase.
  
Ice cream will be served in the dining hall by our FIRST GRADE TEAM: Blair, Dye, Dyer, Goodwin, Harrison, Nettles, and St. John! Chick-fil-A gives 20% of sales back to DES!
  
Thank you Chick-fil-A of Perimeter Pointe!
Calling all Future Scientists!
 

Dunwoody Elementary School will be sending a team to the 2013 DeKalb Elementary Science Olympiad Tournament. This event is open to all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who can attend the event at Shamrock Middle School on Saturday, April 27th from 8am - 12:30pm. You must be able to provide your own transportation and chaperone.


We will hold an introductory meeting for students and parents on Wednesday, March 13 at 2:30pm in the Science Lab at DES.  We will go over the event details and participant requirements. There are 28 different events, and each child can participate in up to 3 events. Please be aware that some events are very popular, and we can only send one team for each event. You can get additional information from the Fernbank Science Center website at http://fsc.fernbank.edu/ScienceOlympiad.htm.

 

This year we will not hold regular after-school practices, unless you specifically need some time to work with your group or the team coaches. Students will need to practice or build for events at home, once we assign students to particular events. If you need additional information before the introductory meeting, or will be unable to attend, please contact Ms. Beck [email protected] or Dee Dee Martinez (parent organizer) [email protected]. Former DES parent Karen Baker will assist with coaching.

APD  

DES Dads, did you miss the All Pro Dad Breakfast

last month?

 

If you answered yes, don't worry. Come to this month's meeting!

Friday, March 15 - 6:45 to 7:45am.

Please arrive for breakfast in the cafeteria (6:45 - 7:15am)

Program will begin in the media center at 7:20.

 

This month's topic is "Enjoy Life" 

 

All Pro Dad Dad's Day is a simple idea with a profound impact. It's a one-hour monthly breakfast held before school where fathers and their children meet with other dads and kids in the school cafeteria. During this time, we will discuss a wide range of family topics, spend time together, create fun memories, and leave equipped with resources to strengthen your relationship with your child.

 

The program is fun and free! All you need to do is attend, and if you want to purchase breakfast, you may do so in the cafeteria by using your child's "mylunchmoney" account, cash or check ($1.50 adults, $1.15 children). If you do not have a "mylunchmoney" account, please register for one at www.mylunchmoney.com before the meeting.

  

To help with keeping the parking lot and carpool drop off running smoothly, please park at GA Perimeter College and walk over to school.

 

Please visit our chapter website for dates and more information.

http://www.allprodad.com/dd/2657 or contact Robert Apple at: [email protected]

 

 
 Proud DES All Pro Dad Sponsor
 

International Potluck Dinner
 
 
The International Committee invites DES to a complimentary wonderful journey of foods & culture Across the World on 
Friday, March 15th.
 
 
The Dinner starts at 5:30pm and will end at 6:45pm, followed by the Cultural Program "Across the World", from 7pm until 8:30pm. In addition, we will have stations of cultural displays in the gymnasium.  These displays designed by parent volunteers will feature America, Brazil, China, Africa, Israel, India, and Australia.

Attached is our Potluck Dinner Entry Ticket which will make check in at the event go smoothly. 
  
Please also use our Sign Up Genius to RSVP and sign up for food.
  
 
DES Book Fair Coming Soon!

Dunwoody Elementary's Spring Scholastic Book Fair is Wednesday, March 20 to Friday, March 22.

We are excited about the book fair and all the great activities that surround it. We will be open mornings before school and afternoons after school. Join us during Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, March 20th and at Family Night on Thursday, March 21st for reading and crafts at the event.
  
Weekly Trivia
Each day, during morning announcements beginning Monday, March 18, a trivia question will be announced. If you know the correct answer, submit your response in the box outside the Media Center and enter to win a $5 gift certificate for the DES Book Fair. A winner will be announced every day!
 
BOOK FAIR HOURS 
Tuesday: 7:00-7:45am **Special Sneak Preview with Coffee and Donuts
Wednesday: 7:00-7:30am and 2:30-6:00pm **P/T Conferences
Thursday: 7:00-7:30am and 2:00-6:30pm ** Family Night
Friday: 7:00-7:30am and 2:30-4:30pm
 
The Book Fair is a great opportunity to encourage your children to read with the fabulous selection of books available from Scholastic. Your child should have received a flyer with book titles and information on the great selection that is available this year. Proceeds from the Book Fair are used to fund school events, add to classroom libraries and to provide reading instruction for the entire school.

If you can't make it to the Book Fair, you can shop online! You can get an expanded selection of items and online orders will be delivered to the school. Check it out at: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/desspring2012. All proceeds go to DES.
 
VOLUNTEER TO HELP
We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to work as helpers and cashiers for 1 hour shifts in the morning (Thursday and Friday, 7:00-8:00am) or 2 hour shifts after school (between 2:00pm and 5:00pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, as well as 5:00-6:00pm during Parent/Teacher Conferences and from 6:00 - 8:00pm on Family Night). Interested? Please use this link to see the Book Fair Sign-Up: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA5AC29AB9-2013
Thank you!
 

Do you have a Rising Kindergartener coming to Dunwoody Elementary next year?

 

Join us for the  Tiger Cub Roundup!


Who:  Parents and children zoned for Dunwoody Elementary School.    Children must be age 5 or older as of September 1, 2013


What: Kindergarten pre-registration and activities (2013-2014 school year)

When:Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 8:00-10:00am. Parents complete registration papers, hear about the Kindergarten program and participate in a Parents Panel with parents of current DES Kindergarten students. Rising Kindergarten children will participate in classroom visits and activities. Please plan on arriving promptly at 8:00am and staying until 10:00am for this program. At the conclusion of the program, families will be offered the opportunity to take an abbreviated tour of DES.


Where: Dunwoody Elementary School

Please bring the following documents (Originals and one Copy of each) with you:

  • Parent's Photo ID
  • Child's certified original birth certificate or passport
  • Child's Social Security Card (if you want to provide it)
  • Immunization Form 3231 with 2nd Varicella
  • Vision-Hearing-Dental Form 3300

Get Involved

Nominations for PTO Officers

 

 

 

The PTO Nominating Committee is now accepting nomination forms for the 2013/2014 PTO officers. As we start the election process, I have some questions for you to consider regarding your child's experience at DES:

 

Has your child ever participated in a "hands on" experiment in our Science Lab, or attended the STEM evening event?

   

Does your child enjoy climbing on the playground equipment during recess?

   

Do they like leafing through the yearbook to find pictures of their friends and remembering their school year and purchasing books at the Book Fair?

  

Did you and your student enjoy attending the Tour de Dunwoody, Fall Day, Family Dinners or All Pro Dad programs?

 

Since everyone who has a child at DES would have to answer "yes" to at least some of these questions, that means the DES PTO has impacted your student!  All of these things and much more including teacher gifts, cultural arts assemblies, technology improvements, media center books and materials are paid for and supported by the PTO and its strong parent volunteers. 

 

The only way we can sustain these incredible programs is with the help of parents volunteering for the PTO. This month, our Nominating Committee will put together a slate of next school year's PTO Executive Committee ("EC"). You can read about specific EC officer positions on the PTO WebsiteWe are looking for parent volunteers that are interested in joining the PTO EC or serving on a committee. The officer positions that we are looking to fill are:

  • Co-President (a 2-year position)
  • VP Ways and Mean
  • VP Communications
  • VP Programs
  • Secretary
  • Financial Secretary (a 2-year position)

If you are interested in being nominated for an officer position, please fill in the nomination form and return it to the Nominating Committee Chairperson, Christine Hilgert, by Monday, March 18th. The Nominating Committee will present the slate at the PTO meeting on Thursday, March 21st.

 

 

PTO Nominating Committee Chairperson:

Christine Hilgert

770-289-3962

[email protected]

 

Nominating forms can also be dropped in the large PTO mailbox inside the entrance to the school.

We Want Your Feedback!
 
Do you want to provide feedback on how the PTO raises funds? Do you have ideas on how the PTO could bring in more money to help support the various events and activities hosted by this parent organization?
 

Please join us for a Fundraising Brainstorming meeting on Monday, March 18 at 7:00pm. We will meet in the media center at the school. For additional comments or questions, please contact Shari Wassell at [email protected].

Be a Spring DES Corporate Sponsor
 
Need another venue to promote your business? Choose the DES Tiger Fund and be a proud member of the group of corporate sponsors, who are both big fans of our school and donors to the PTO Capital Campaign. Funds raised from corporate sponsorship go into Tiger Fund revenues, but are set aside for short and long term capital projects. Spring semester sponsorships are now being accepted. For $250, you will see your business logo in our Tiger Talk weekly eBlast, a personalized elegant garden stake in one of the garden beds in the front parking lot, recognition on the sponsor wall in the main hallway, and logo on the Community Business Support Page of the DES PTO Website. Complete the application found on the PTO website and submit with your payment to the large blue PTO mailbox in the lobby. For questions, contact Community Business Support Co-Chairs Yvette Megathlin at [email protected] or Amber Pride [email protected].
  
We would like to thank our 2012-13 Corporate Sponsors to date:
Kaplan Orthodontics
Kumon Learning Centers
Primrose School of Dunwoody
RMZ Properties
Dental Implant and Aesthetic Specialists of Atlanta
Chandler, Britt, Jay, Beck, and Zwald, LLC Attorneys at Law
Jodi Fink Halpert Real Estate Consultant
GEI Griffith Engineering
  
Please show them our Big Tiger Paw appreciation with your patronage.

Community Information

Dunwoody Boys' Lacrosse

 

Don't miss Dunwoody Boys' Lacrosse FILL THE STANDS NIGHT! Friday, March 8th, 7:00pm at North Dekalb Stadium vs. North Springs. This is your chance to cheer on the Wildcats and experience the fastest growing sport in the country! Admission is $5.00 for all ages, but Dunwoody students in grade school and middle school get in free! 

Register Now for Summer 2013 at i9 Sports



For each student from Dunwoody Elementary School that registers,

i9 Sports will donate $10 to DES PTO

 

Throughout this school year, our student registrations have earned $130 for our PTO - THANK YOU for your participation!

 

***** Registration deadline is Monday, May 6, 2013 *****

 

FLAG FOOTBALL (boys and girls 4-14) at Keswick Park, Chamblee

Starts Thursday, June 6 - Practice & Games Thursday Evenings

Flag Football League includes: 6 weeks of play, reversible team jersey, flag belt, sportsmanship medal and trophy

 

SOCCER (boys and girls 4-8) at Harmony Grove Complex, Lilburn

Starts Tuesday, June 11- Practice & Games Tuesday Evenings

Soccer League includes: 6 weeks of play, reversible team jersey, sportsmanship medal and trophy

 

BASKETBALL (boys and girls 4-12) at Salvation Army, Atlanta

Starts Saturday, June 8 - Practice & Games Saturday Mornings

Basketball League includes: 5 weeks of play, reversible team jersey, sportsmanship medal and participation medal

 

**All programs are only 1 day per week**

i9 Sports is getting kids back into the fun of sports.
Focusing on sportsmanship and strong values in a safe environment.
No tryouts - No drafts - No fundraisers
EVERYONE PLAYS!

www.i9sports.com or call (404) 551-2036 

Community Information

You can also find additional events in and around our Dunwoody community on the PTO Website.  www.dunwoodypto.com -> News & Events -> In Our Community.

Tiger Talk Information

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected].

LIKE us on Facebook and Twitter!
  
If you are a Facebook user, we hope you are enjoying Dunwoody Elementary School's page. We also have a Twitter account to help disseminate information in a timely manner.  You can even set up alerts to be sent to your phone. Follow @DESAlerts, and be sure to enable notifications!

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.

Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter 

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