September 13, 2015
DES News
IN THIS ISSUE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From Our Principal
From the PTO Co-Presidents
Mandatory Volunteer Training
From Our Counseling Department
From Our School Nurse
Buy Your Yearbook
Purchase a Space in the Back of Yearbook for 5th Graders
Lost and Found
Tervis Tumblers and Water Bottles - Last Chance!
UPCOMING EVENTS
DES Ground Day - Saturday, September 19
Your Pie Spirit Night - Tuesday, September 29
Fall Family Night - Thursday, October 1
GET INVOLVED.
Sneaker Donations Needed
RECOGNITION
Chick-fil-A Biscuit Party Winner - Ms. Drennan's Kindergarten Class!
SCHOOL CLUBS
DES LEGO League
Spanish Class at Dunwoody Elementary
Calendar At a Glance
This Week
Wednesday and Friday, September 16, 18 - ITBS Testing
Saturday, September 19 - Grounds Day

Next Week
Monday, September 21 - ITBS Testing
Tuesday - Friday , September 22-25 - ITBS Makeup Testing
Thursday, September 24 - 4.5 Week Progress Report
Friday, September 25, 6:45am - All Pro Dad
Friday, September 25 - STEM Day

ANNOUNCEMENTS

From Our Principal
Greetings!
 
There is a little bit of a chill in the air early in the mornings, and our little ones are starting to wear jackets to school.  Please make sure that you label your children's clothing with a first and last name. Our volunteers will check Lost and Found items for names prior to donating them. 

You can assist in helping your children become more responsible by giving them a checklist to view as they pack-up to go home each afternoon.  Tape the list to the inside of a notebook. You should include things like:  Get your lunchbox; Make sure you have your homework; Get your jacket; etc.  Rather than return your child to school to get forgotten items, teach them that there are logical consequences to their actions. We teach children how to be responsible when stakes are low in elementary school.  Good training during the early years makes adolescence much more enjoyable! 

We are always in the process of measuring student growth. With the adoption of GA Milestones, our State has dropped the writing assessment that was regularly done for students in grades 3 and 5. The writing is now included in GA Milestones; however, we want to make sure our students are on track to perform well. We have purchased a grading program called Write Source to score our students' essays in October, January, and March. Teachers will get direct feedback regarding their writing instruction that occurs during our daily Extended Learning Time. Also remember that our students are maintaining writing portfolios that will travel with them through elementary school. 

I hope that you will plan to join us on Thursday, October 1, for our Family Night.  Students will show-off their classroom and the work they've completed thus far.


Jennifer Sanders
Principal, Dunwoody Elementary School
From the PTO Co-Presidents

Last week was fairly quiet at DES. On Tuesday, our School Council got off to a running start with their first meeting and we had an outstanding Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A. The winner with the most participants is Ms. Drennan's Kindergarten Class.  CFA will be providing free breakfast sandwiches for those students to enjoy in the classroom! More information will be going home to their parents. 

We will host our Grounds Day on 
Saturday, September 19
. We have a lot of tasks we'd like to accomplish, but with the help of all the parents and students, we know we can get them all completed.  We will be cleaning the school grounds, digging holes to put in new plants at the front of the school, and spreading mulch in the beds and in the Nature Trail.  Please consider giving a little time to improve the appearance of our school and our nature trail. The class with the most participants will receive an extra 5 minutes of recess.  Teachers get double credit!

Some events to look forward to this month:
  • Book Fair 
  • Spirit Night at Your Pie 
  • Picture Day 
  • Principal's Coffee 
  • All Pro Dad
There are volunteer opportunities available for these events, so stay tuned for more information!

Jennifer Fenmore and Megan Cann
PTO Co-Presidents
 VolTrainingMandatory Volunteer Training
   
The State of Georgia Mandatory Reporting Law was revised expanding the listing of persons who are now categorized as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. This list now includes anyone who volunteers in a school. 
 
To ensure that all school volunteers are aware of the new responsibilities and penalties associated with non-compliance, ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW to go through a brief training presentation created by DeKalb County Schools on the mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect and what it means to be a mandated reporter.
 
The training MUST be completed before volunteering. You must also complete the certificate affirming that you have watched the video presentation and understand your obligations as a mandated reporter.  
 
Both the presentation and certificate can be accessed on the DES Website - Parent Resources section. The site has been updated with the link to the video.
 
Volunteers must complete this training every year. 
 
If you have any questions regarding the presentation or your obligations as a reporter, please contact the school's social worker.


School Social Worker - Isaura Roque
Phone: 678-676-7135
 DES Counseling Department

Thank you all who participated in our DES Counseling Department Parent Needs Assessment and Program Review. You provided a lot of useful feedback! Christopher J. Brown, Kenna Rose Farley, and Ethan Bassen are the winners of the College Swag Raffle! 


Remember to check out the Dunwoody Elementary School Counseling website to find information on our classroom guidance lessons, small counseling groups, school-wide events, and more! Browse on over and see how you can connect with counseling each month: 

Thanks again,
Anna Gilbert (PK-2) & Dr. Steven Childs (3-5) 
From our School Nurse
 
As your school nurse, I am looking forward to helping to keep your children safe and healthy at school this year.   If your child needs medication at school and/ or has a serious medical concern and we have not yet spoken this school year, please contact me.
 
Dunwoody follows the recommendations set forth by Children's Health Care of Atlanta regarding when to keep your child home from school. 
 
How do I determine if my child should stay home from school?
 
Does my child have a fever or have they had one in the last 24 hours? A fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is a sign that your child needs to rest and stay home from school. It is school policy to wait until your child has been fever-free, without medication, for 24 hours, before letting them return to school. Please resist the temptation to give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen, send them off, and cross your fingers.
 
Did my child wake up with a crusty, red eye? Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) is contagious, and children should stay home from school for the first 24 hours after treatment begins. Symptoms of pink eye include eye redness, irritation and discharge.
 
Has my child vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours? Keep children home even if they feel okay with that 24 hour period.
 
Rashes can be the sign of contagious conditions such as chickenpox, bacterial meningitis, ring worm or impetigo. Children should be kept home until they're properly diagnosed or free of rash.
 
We appreciate and rely on you understanding that we take a sincere interest in the health and the wellness of the entire school community.  If you have any questions, please feel free to come by and see me.
  
Stephanie M. Clark, RN, BSN
School Nurse
Dunwoody Elementary School 
678-875-4007
Yearbooks On Sale Now
 
Yearbooks were not sold at Registration this year!  Yearbook cost is $30.  
 
You can order from the comfort of your home, just by clicking this link:http://jostensyearbooks.com?REF=A01108851

If you have any questions, please contact Rosemary Gorham(rosemary_gorham@hotmail.com) or Emily Ceo([email protected])
5th Graders' Yearbook Space
 
Purchase a Space In Back of Yearbook for your 5th Graders!
5th grade parents, don't forget to purchase a space in the back of the yearbook so you can tell your 5th grader how special they are. You can add pictures and your own words of inspiration. 

Click http://jostensadservice.com?REF=A01108851 to get started. A flier also went home in last week's TIP folder and more information has been sent through your child's room parents. If you have more questions, please email Tracey Nies at [email protected]

*Due to limited space in the yearbook, this is for 5th grade students only.
Lost and Found
  
Please be sure to label your child's clothing with their first and last name.  Lost and found clothing that is properly labeled will be returned to your child.  All unclaimed Lost and Found items will be donated on the 1st and 15th of every month. Please check the Lost and Found, located next to the media center (for clothing), and in the cafeteria (for lunch boxes and water bottles), for missing items before the donation dates. 
 
Thank you!
Tervis Tumblers and Water Bottles -
Last Chance!
Don't be left out!  

Tervis Tumblers and Water Bottles are pre-order ONLY!  I know many of you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your Tervis! We will be placing the order within the next couple of weeks.
 
If you have not placed an order yet, please fill out THIS FORM, attach a check (no cash please) and drop it in the blue PTO mailbox located in the front lobby. Your form and payment must be in by September 18! 
 
This will be the only time to get one -- or three -- all year! 
 
Think holiday gifts for family, friends & teachers!

UPCOMING EVENTS

DES Ground Day 
Saturday, September 19, 9-12pm
 
Calling all green thumbs, nature enthusiasts, and budding environmentalists! 
 
Bring your wheelbarrows, clippers, building supplies and more to Grounds Day! 
 
We need volunteers to help with the following:

  • Nature Trail
  • Landscape
  • Grounds Clean-up
We have a lot of tasks we'd like to accomplish on Grounds Day including digging holes for new plantings, cleaning the school grounds, spreading mulch, and clearing the hiking trail. 
 
Sign up even if you can only join us for an hour!
 
 
The class with the most participants on Grounds Day will get an extra recess. Teachers who participate will count double!
Your Pie Spirit Night
 
Mark your calendars for our first Spirit Night at Your Pie!
Tuesday, September 29, 5-8pm

Your Pie specializes in custom hand-crafted brick-oven pizzas, paninis, and chopped salads in minutes. We look forward to seeing you there! 
Calling all DES Families!
Fall Family Night
 
Come join the fun on Thursday, October 1during the Fall Family Night!  The building will be open from 5-7pm. Teachers will be in the classroom from 5:30-6:30pm. If you've been wondering what your child is doing in class, where they sit, and who they sit next to, this is your opportunity to find out!  Visit your child's classroom, see some of their work on display, and get to know your teacher better in an informal setting. 
 
While at DES you'll have the opportunity to do the following:
  • browse and buy books at the Book Fair
  • pre-order Yearbooks
  • purchase Spirit Wear
  • register for Tour de Dunwoody, our family fun bike ride!
Also, back again this year is the Math and Science Expo. Students from Georgia Perimeter College will be at DES to help with hands on experiments and fun math games.
 
Win a Book Fair Gift Certificate!
The Book Fair is going to raffle off 5 individual $20 gift certificates to the Book Fair.  Pre-order your Uncle Maddio's meal below and your family's name will be automatically entered into the drawing!  One entry per family and winners will be notified prior to the start of the Book Fair.
 
Uncle Maddio's!
Don't feel like cooking that night, we have you covered! You may pre-order the following:
  • 16" cheese pizza $14
  • 16" veggie (onion, mushroom, pepper) $18
  • 16" pepperoni $18
  • turkey and cheddar cheese sandwich on white bread, with lettuce and tomato, a bag of chips and a chocolate chip cookie: $7
  • ham and cheddar cheese sandwich on white bread, with lettuce and tomato, a bag of chips and a chocolate chip cookie: $7
You must pre-order by noon on Thursday, September 24th. No walk up orders will be available that night. You may order online at:
 
 
Please note, you may pick up your dinner from 6-7pm and the cafeteria will be open that evening for you to sit and enjoy your dinner. Drinks will be provided. 
 
We look forward to seeing you on Fall Family Night! Please contact: 
Amanda Becker ([email protected]) or
Jordan Winters ([email protected]) with any questions.

GET INVOLVED

Sneaker Donations Needed
EcoSneakers Program
 
Girls on the Run will be collecting used sneakers and rubber bottom shoes for the EcoSneakers program throughout the school year. 

EcoSneakers refurbishes used shoes and distributes them to people in need. 

Check your closets and send in those old shoes. There will be a collection bin next to the cafeteria. Thank you for your support.
 
GOTR Coaches

RECOGNITION

Spirit Night Classroom Winner!
 
Thank you to everyone who came out Tuesday night. The classroom with the highest number of students in attendance was Ms.Drennan's kindergarten class! 

Ms. Drennan's class will receive a biscuit party!

Congratulations!

SCHOOL CLUBS

DES LEGO League for
4th and 5th Graders
 
If you are a 4th or 5th grade student and you are interested in robotics, research, writing, and problem solving with other team members, come be a part of the DES LEGO League team. The children heard this announcement on WDES beginning Thursday, September 10, and were likewise informed that the first Lego League applications were also available outside Ms. Taylor's STEM Lab. 

Applications are due Tuesday, September 15th by 2:45pm. A hard copy of the application should be completed by your child.  Team members will be announced via WDES on Wednesday morning, September 16

The first team meeting is September 18, from 6-9pm at Dunwoody Elementary.

Renee Taylor, M. Ed.
Science Lab Instructor

Spanish Class at Dunwoody Elementary

Tiger Talk Information

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 [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].

  
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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.

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