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Calendar At a Glance
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This Week
Tuesday, October 29, 7:45am - Principal's Coffee
Tuesday, October 29, 9:00am - Board of Directors' Meeting
Thursday, October 31 - LAST DAY of the Fall Food Drive
Next Week
Wednesday, November 6 - Walk to School
Wednesday, November 6 - DCPC
View the complete calendar on the Dunwoody Elementary PTO Website, and/or Subscribe to the GMail Calendar
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From our Principal
Parents,
As we near the end of a busy Fall, I want to take a moment to thank all the parent volunteers who have organized such wonderful events for our students. You are truly a magnificent group of people! From Registration Day to Tour de Dunwoody and all the events in between, there have been hard working individuals making sure each event runs smoothly. Thank you for making our school great!
I also want to thank the PTO Executive Committee who has done an exceptional job of leading our volunteers. Without our EC, our school could not provide all the programs, resources, and services that benefit all our children. Please join me in thanking the PTO Executive Committee:
Amy Levasseur - Co-President
Amanda Rountree - Co-President
Jan Jay - Vice President of Communications
Jennifer Fenmore - Vice President of Programs
Amy Hatmaker - Vice President of Ways and Means
Rosemary Gorham - Secretary
April Toms - Treasurer
Alison Woodrow - Financial Secretary
Tracy Ellet - Parliamentarian
STEM
The STEM initiative involves changing the way we instruct our students in the classroom. In all content areas, we expect instruction to be collaborative, creative, and open-ended with opportunities for problem solving. Students should learn the value of "redesigning" or "trying again" when at first they don't succeed - learning from their mistakes. Assessments should be more than a pencil to paper task. Students should be encouraged to reflect in journals or demonstrate their knowledge through projects. For some teachers, STEM instruction is a paradigm shift. Each month, we offer teachers the opportunity to learn STEM methodology, and then provide time for them to apply the methodology as they work in groups to "STEM-ize" curriculum standards. We are also providing instructional planning days for our math and science teachers so that we can begin a process of integrating these two disciplines. Teachers who plan and implement excellent STEM lessons are publicly recognized and asked to share with their colleagues at the monthly planning sessions. In November, the administrative team will begin to take groups of teachers on Focus Walks so that they can score their colleagues' use of STEM methodology. We learn best when we learn from one another.
Reminders
- Students may not wear costumes to school nor may they dress in any way that is a distraction to the learning environment.
- Classrooms earning at least 4 Big Daddy Tiger Paws will have the opportunity for a second recess period on Oct. 31. Kindergarten and Grade 1 have an alternate day.
- Please make sure to put names in your children's school items (jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc.). We would like to return lost items!
- It is helpful for you to send your child to school with a water bottle for lunch. Students often request more to drink than their milk carton, juice box, or cup of water.
Jennifer P. Sanders
Principal
Dunwoody Elementary School
1923 Womack Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Phone (678) 875-4002
Fax (678) 875-4010
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From the PTO Co-Presidents
It's that time of year! The weather is getting cooler and the mornings are dark when you drop your children off at the bus stop or in carpool. Please do your part to ensure the safety of our children by adhering to the safety guidelines as it relates to carpool. Now that it is dark in the morning, we do not want to take any risks, so please stay off of your cell phones in the carpool line, and pay close to attention to pedestrian traffic in the parking lot and at the crosswalk on Womack Road. It's only a few minutes of your day!
We would like to take a moment to thank our Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Kim Rivera and Terica Harleaux for recognizing our fabulous Bus Drivers with Chick-fil-A biscuits on the 21st and for the wonderful Staff Appreciation breakfast on the 25th.
ATLANTA FOOD BANK CAN DRIVE!
Our Atlanta Food Bank Canned Food drive is still going on and this is the last week!!! Do your part to feed Atlanta's hungry by donating 10 cans from your pantry. So, clean out your pantry and help families in need. It only takes a few minutes and every donation helps and every donation makes a difference.
That's what's happening at DES - We look forward to seeing you around school!
Amy LeVasseur & Amanda Rountree
PTO Co-Presidents
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Get Your Flu Shots!
As flu season approaches, we need to protect our children by receiving the
flu vaccine. Our STEM partner, Dunwoody Urgent Care is offering flu shots as they always do, however this year we are doing something a bit different! First of all, they are only charging $20.00 (which is about $10 below most places) and $5 comes back to the school if you mention that
you are a DES parent or student. Let's keep our children healthy and in
school this winter!
It's a great opportunity to protect yourself and your family from the flu
and to give back to the school! Come to the office anytime-no appointment necessary!
 1730 B Mount Vernon Road 770-353-2001
Monday through Friday 8am-7pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm
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Frequently Asked Questions about Lice
 What are lice? Lice are parasitic insects that reside and lay eggs near the scalp. Adult lice are the size of a sesame seed, and are brownish in color. The egg cases of lice (nits) are laid close to the scalp and are extremely small - approximately the size of a knot in a thread. Nits are tear shaped, and attach firmly to the hair shaft. Lice are generally passed by head-to-head contact. Lice do not fly or jump. What should a parent look for? If your child is complaining of an itchy or tickling scalp, or you observe scratches/sores on the scalp, check for lice and nits. When checking your child, pay close attention to the area behind the ears. What do I do if my child has lice? Please inform the school nurse so other parents of the class can be made aware and begin proactive checking. Your child must be treated for the live bugs and nit free before returning to school. The nits are removed only by combing with a "nit comb" and treatment. It is important to check your child's hair daily for 10-14 days after treatment. It is also important to retreat your child's hair 7-10 days after the initial treatment. What happens if my child is found to have lice or nits at school? You will be personally contacted. How can we prevent lice? Educate your children about minimizing head-to-head contact. Teach children to "fist bump" or "air hug" as a greeting, rather than hugging. Discourage sharing of hats, brushes, headbands, coats, etc. Wearing mouse or gel (applied close to the roots of the hair) and wearing hair pulled back in pigtails, buns or braids also helps to decrease the chances of contamination. Please contact Stephanie Clark at (678) 875-4007 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your help with this pesky issue. Stephanie Clark, RN, BSN School Nurse Dunwoody Elementary School 1923 Womack Road Atlanta, GA 30338 School Number: 678-875-4007 Email: stephanie_m_clark@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
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Universal Hearing Screening
During the month of November, the nurse will be performing universal
hearing and vision screenings for ALL 3rd graders. If your child does NOT
pass, a letter will be sent home to you. You will not receive anything if
your child passes both screenings. If you have any questions, you may
contact Stephanie Clark, RN at (678) 875-4007.
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Send in a Water Bottle for your Child
 Please send in a reusable water bottle that your child can refill throughout the day, especially at lunch time, even if they are buying lunch.
Parent volunteers in the cafeteria are no longer permitted to get children cups of water at lunch. They are now sending children to the water fountain one at a time.
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Principal's Coffee
Please join us for the Principal's Coffee this week, Tuesday, October 29, at 7:45am in the Dunwoody Elementary Media Center. Huntington Learning Center will provide information and tips to help parents work with their children at home. The presentation will be followed by an informal Q&A session with Principal Sanders.
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Dunwoody Chamblee Parents' Council
The next meeting of the DCPC will be on November 6th, 2013 held here at DES covering the topic of School Choice and featuring Dan Weber. Refreshments at 8:45am, meeting starts at 9:15am.
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 Get Involved |
CPK Gift Cards give back to DES
DES Parents:
 We are offering a great program for you for the upcoming gift giving season. For any gift card you purchase from California Pizza Kitchen, Dunwoody Elementary will receive 20% of the purchase price to be used at the school for our STEM needs! The program is only available at the Perimeter California Pizza Kitchen location but gift cards can be redeemed at any CPK location.
Remember to say you are from DES when making your purchase. This program is being offered from November 4-December 31. So, make your shopping list today and put CPK at the top of it for an easy present to give to anyone you care about.
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| Recognition |
From our School Nurse
Thank you to everyone who brought in clothes donations. The clinic is sufficiently stocked now!
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Box Tops Congratulations
 Thanks to all of the parents and students who collected Box Tops for Education! Your efforts earned $890.00 for DES! Congratulations to Mrs. Shelton's kindergarten class for collecting the most! This entitles her class to popsicles on the playground! Keep up the good work! The next deadline is March 15, 2014! Thanks! Megan Cann ( megancann00@hotmail.com)
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Tour de Dunwoody
Despite the rainy weather, on Saturday, October 19th, 2013, a wave of bikes took over the roads of Dunwoody for the 3rd annual Tour de Dunwoody bike event. Working together with the Dunwoody Police Department, Dunwoody families had a safe and organized bike ride throughout the Dunwoody streets. The 3-mile family fun ride left from Dunwoody Elementary School, travelled down Tilly Mill to Peeler then back to the school through the Village Mill neighborhood. The younger participants enjoyed a "Trike Ride" and a "Cub Ride" - two shorter routes through the Dunwoody Elementary School parking lot. Family activities such as a giant inflatable slide followed the ride. This event was supported by DES sponsors: Kaplan Orthodontics, Dunwoody Nature Center, Strength in Moms, Huntington Learning Center, Primrose School of Dunwoody, Mad Italian, Chandler, Britt, Jay & Beck LLC, RMZ Properties, Accounting & Compliance Consulting, FundAmerica, Sweets 'n Dreams, and Mathnasium. |
| | Left to right: Coach Mark Kaminski (PE Teacher DES), Coach Maria Reynolds (PE Teacher DES), Laura Fleury-Bell (DES Art Teacher). Students in front are Coach Reynolds' children: Grant and Kennedy Reynolds. |
 | | 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year James Unger with DES PTO Co-President Amy LeVasseur's daughter, Hannah Olive |
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Big Thank You to Troops
Students at Dunwoody Elementary School wrote letters to the troops for the Bert Show's Big Thank You Campaign. Pictured is Ms. Heather Uhl's Kindergarten class with the letters they created for the troops. 
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School Clubs
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Chess at Dunwoody Elementary
 Championship Chess presents a systematic, fun way to build chess skills during chess instruction and while students play. Studies show that chess improves math, reading and problem-solving and our methods connect these academic benefits to our classes. Classes include instruction as well as chess play and guided analysis.
Coach Steve Schneider has been a teacher and chess coach for over 25 years. Championship Chess teams have won local, regional, state and national tournaments. Coaches utilize the Championship Chess curriculum, reinforcing and improving chess skills and strategies in the opening, middle and end game.
- Day/Time: Thursdays after school from 2:35 to 3:35pm. Children must be picked up on time.
- Dates: Winter session November 7 to February 13. No chess November 28, December 12, 19, 26, January 2. A spring session will start on February 20. Watch for the new registration flyer at that time.
- Note: For the first class we recommend sending a reminder note to your homeroom teacher about to direct your child to chess after school dismissal.
- Who can play: Any student in 1st grade and up. Younger students accepted if they know how to play. Limited enrollment due to available space. There can be 2 groups: An advanced class open to all students who know how to play requires at least 10. A beginner class for non-players requires at least 8.
- Cost: Winter session if paid by November 5 is $135 for returning players. After November 5 pay $150. NEW chess club players pay $155 which includes annual registration fee. After November 5 pay $170.
- Registration/Payment: Online with a credit or debit card at www.championshipchess.net click "Register and Pay - School Chess Clubs". You will receive an automated email payment receipt. For an alternate method of payment, email chess@championshipchess.net your request.
- **Championship Chess Family Connection - your link to material and activities to reinforce and improve chess skills and strategies for all currently registered chess players. New registrants will receive a separate invitation.
Suggested Tournaments: Players who have studied our Openings 1 book are ready for these events:
- Saturday, November 2, Georgia Grade Level Championship - Play only in your grade (GCA tournament)
- Saturday, November 30, Annual Thanksgiving Classic (Championship Chess tournament)
- Monday, January 20 MLK Tournament - Individual and team at Whitefield Academy (GCA tournament)
- April 25-27 National Junior High (K-9) Championship - Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Peachtree St. (USCF Tournament)
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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 10pm 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.
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Tiger Talk Archives are Searchable!
Ever need to find an old newsletter to get an announcement? Tired of searching through your thousands of emails for it? Starting in the fall, 2013, all newsletters are archived, and searchable on dunwoodypto.com!
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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.
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