September 4, 2016
DES News
IN THIS ISSUE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From the PTO Co-Presidents
September Counselor's Corne
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Will Your Employer Make a Match?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Chick-fil-A Spirit Night - Tuesday, September 13
All Pro Dads Breakfast - Friday, September 16
Grounds Day - September 17, 8-10am
GET INVOLVED
Crossing Guard Assistants Needed
RECOGNITION
Volunteer of the Month
COMMUNITY
4th-6th Grade Girls Basketball
Peachtree Juniors Volleyball
Calendar At a Glance
This Week
Monday, September 5 - No School

Next Week
Tuesday, September 13 - 5-8pm - Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
Friday, September 16, 6:45-7:45am - All Pro Dad
Friday, September 16, 8-10am - PTO Executive Committee Meeting
Saturday, September 17, 8-10am - Grounds Day

ANNOUNCEMENTS

From our Principal
  
  
Greetings!
 
Last week was challenging as we worked through the possibility of losing three teachers while trying to disrupt the learning process as little as possible. Unfortunately, we did lose a teacher from both kindergarten and first grade, but we were able to keep our second and third grade teachers by changing our instructional model for gifted instruction.
 
Our school will implement an Advanced Content model in place of Pull-out for our gifted students. The model requires all teachers to become gifted certified in the next two years, and I am SO proud to say that all Dunwoody ES teachers are willing to gain the knowledge needed to better serve students in the classroom. With the Advanced Content model, the exciting benefit is that our class sizes can remain as low as 19 students and will rarely be above 25 students - IN ALL GRADES! This model is most similar to Vanderlyn and Kittredge.
 
In order to implement the model with fidelity, there will be a learning process for teachers; however, I am prepared to support teachers on our journey down this new path. Already, we are registering for a school subscription to Project Based Learning (PBLproject.com) which provides easy access to Project Based Learning scenarios, critical thinking exercises, creativity drills, and STEM connections. Three of our new teachers have already been trained by the foundation supporting PBL. We also have teachers from Kittredge coming in September to work with faculty regarding the implementation and management of "differentiated instruction," and I've assigned program administrators to oversee the lesson planning and projects to ensure rigor and appropriateness.
 
I believe that the new instructional changes will allow for rich, challenging instruction in every subject area. With lower class sizes, teachers will be able to work more closely with small groups of students making sure that the lessons are indeed geared toward their specific needs. The teachers welcome your feedback during this learning year! We like to know what works well for your child and what changes would be most helpful.
 
The last change that we will make to our staffing will be the addition of a fifth grade 5 teacher this week. The fifth teacher will be a dedicated writing teacher and the homeroom numbers for all classes will decrease. With this last change, you can expect that all other classes and grade levels will remain as they are.
 
I appreciate your patience, support and understanding as we tackle the difficult task of opening and closing classrooms after the start of the year!


Jennifer P. Sanders
Principal, Dunwoody Elementary School
From the PTO Co-Presidents
  
  
DES Community!  Tomorrow is Labor Day!  Enjoy your day off from school! Several exciting events are just around the corner in September, so please be attentive to Tiger Talk as well as your TIP folders!
  • Our first Chick-fil-A spirit night of the year is coming up next week!
  • On September 14, our fifth graders will be planting bulbs to augment their knowledge about plant structure and growth while beautifying our campus!
  • Please sign up for Ground's Day!  This is a great chance to improve the appearance of the school while connecting with old and new DES friends!  
  • CycleBar, the hottest new workout in Dunwoody, is offering a fundraiser for us on September 21 at 9:45!  
  • Yearbooks will be sold at a discounted rate for one week only!
Please keep reading for more information about all of these great events!

Megan Cann and Grace Chang
September Counselor's Corner
  
  
Classroom Guidance Lesssons: Each month, our counselors deliver one guidance lesson to each homeroom. This month's topics are: Listening and Following Directions (PreK & K), Personal Responsibility (1st Grade), Organization (2nd Grade), Bias, Bullying, Harassment (3rd and 4th Grades).
 
No Place For Hate Activity: This September, we are creating a Garden of Promise. Students and staff will trace their hands on colorful construction paper and write down how they plan to help Dunwoody ES become a designated No Place For Hate school. Teachers will craft these hands into paper flowers, which will hang in the upstairs breezeway. 
 
Peaceful Problem SolversWe are introducing a new school climate program this year which focuses on promoting resilience and social skills. Our Peaceful Problem Solving Program will teach students how to work together to solve conflicts between peers by utilizing our seven keys to communication. Our Keys to Communication encourage students to talk through their feelings and employ empathy in order to come to a positive solution. 
 
Timely Tigers Attendance Competition: At DES, we know each minute counts towards student achievement! Our Timely Tigers Grade Level Attendance Competition measures monthly the percentage of students present for instruction. The grade level that wins each month gets to choose one of four rewards to celebrate! Each morning on the morning announcements, the homerooms with all students in attendance and on time the previous day are recognized. Students give a cheer with they hear their homeroom called! August's winning grade level was: 1st Grade!
 
Special Event: International Day of Peace is September 21st. DES is celebrating this No Place For Hate event. Students and staff will wear white to celebrate this day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples by the United Nations.
 
For more information, check out our website on: DunwoodyESCounseling.weebly.com
 
Anna Proctor, Counselor / PreK-2nd Grades
Steven Childs, Counselor / 3rd-5th Grades
Don't Miss Out - Order Your Yearbook Today!
  
  
This is your first chance to order your 2017 yearbook. Yearbooks were not sold at registration this year.  
 
SPECIAL PRICING - ONE WEEK ONLY!!!
 
September 5th to September 12th
Yearbooks are only $25
Beginning September 13th the yearbook cost will rise to $32.00
 
 Simply Click
to order
 
We will only be accepting online orders this year. No paper orders or checks will be accepted.
 
Last year's yearbook SOLD OUT and there were some disappointed students who missed out. Don't let that happen to you this year!
 
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Ceo at [email protected] or Rosemary Gorham at [email protected]
 
Attention 5th grade parents: Recognition ads will be sold again this year during the month of October. Watch for more information in Tiger Talk and TIP.
Will Your Employer Make a Match?

Thank you to all the families that have contributed to the Tiger Fund so far this year. We are well on our way of reaching our goal of $75,000, but we are not there yet! Many companies, both big and small, have matching programs for their employees, retirees, and board members that will double and in some cases triple the portion of your donation.

This is a great way to make your donation worth even more!  Several area companies have generously matched Tiger Fund donations in the past, including Coca-Cola, SunTrust, Bank of America, Turner, Fitzgerald, Cox, Gannett, Kimberly-Clark, and many more!  Some companies will even donate based on volunteer hours submitted. Contact your employer to determine if they will match your donation and to find out the guidelines for obtaining matching funds.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Whitney Samuelson.
PTO Online
 

Recently, the Executive Council of the PTO unanimously voted to make a change in our technology support for the PTO!  In the past, we have leaned heavily on parent volunteers to combine Excel spreadsheets, web hosts, online directory support, and an online "store" to conduct PTO business!  Moving forward, we will be utilizing a service called Membership Tool Kit.  Utilized by several other PTOs in the area, this service combines all of our technology needs through one service.  Not only will this save hundreds of dollars annually, once it is established, it will ease some of the workload off of our parent volunteers while consolidating information!  You will be able to sign up for events, sign up to volunteer, check the directory, and order spirit wear online!  We just need your help getting it up and operating!  Please take a moment to enter your information and register. Once this is done, you will be able to sign up for Tour de Dunwoody, our upcoming CycleBar fundraiser, and order spirit wear all in one location!  For those of you with students at DHS and PMCS, you will be familiar with this service!  
 

If we have your current, correct email address already, you will be getting an email very soon with information about how to create an account! 


If you do not get an email, please send an email to:  [email protected] so that we can get you added!


We appreciate your patience with the delay in the directory and rolling out this registration!  A little time and effort now will make things easier in the future!
 

Sincere gratitude to Cara Engel, Grace Chang, and Lauren Middlebrooks for their patience and persistence in this venture!  There willingness to put a lot of effort into the construction of the site will save the DES PTO a significant amount of money.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thanks!
Grace and Megan

UPCOMING EVENTS

 
Spirit Night

Please join us Tuesday, September 13, from 5pm-8pm at Chick-fil-A Perimeter Pointe for Spirit Night! 
  
DES gets credit for all sales from our school community, dine-in or drive-through, anytime between 5pm and 8pm
  
Please be sure to mention DES at the time of purchase. 
  
Stop by the ice dream table to visit with the Grade 5 and ESOL teachers who will be serving. We will be keeping track of the class with the highest attendance for the night. The winning class will be treated with a biscuit party! 
  
Thank you Chick-fil-A of Perimeter Pointe for your support of DES!
  
Chick-fil-A Perimeter Pointe   


Friday, September 16 - 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 "Being Healthy". RSVP HERE.
 
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'smyschoolbucks account, cash or check ($1.65 adults, $1.20 children). If you do not have a myschoolbucks account, please register for one at MySchoolBucks.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://apdd.allprodad.com/2657 or contact Chris Wilburn at: [email protected]
Grounds Day 
September 17, 8-10am
  
Come help us make DES look as great on the outside as it is on the inside!
  
Grounds Day is September 17, 8-11am
 
We'll need lots of hands, wheelbarrows, shovels, and gloves to get this job done!  

Please consider coming, even if you can only stay an hour and have no grounds experience- every little bit helps!  
 
The class with the highest participation will win the "golden shovel" trophy and an extra long recess the next week!  
Let us know if you can attend at 

GET INVOLVED

Crossing Guard Assistants Needed
  
Parents, 

Administration has asked for a little assistance keeping pedestrians safe in the morning from our parents!  

Please see the Sign Up Genius for more information and sign up if you are able to help!

RECOGNITION

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Katie Sharf!!! She won the August Volunteer of the Month Raffle and received A $25 gift card to Wing Factory! Thank you, Wing Factory,  for your wonderful donation! 

Congratulations to Rosemary Gorham! She logged the most hours for the month of August and gets to use the reserved/specially marked parking space for the entire month of September!  If you log the most volunteer hours for the month of September, the parking space will be yours for the month of October!

It's easy to log your hours in order to be considered for the September Volunteer of the Month parking space!! Simply go to the Dunwoody Elementary PTO website and follow the Log Volunteer Hours link.

COMMUNITY

4th-6th Grade Girls Basketball 
at Dunwoody High School

The Dunwoody Lady Wildcats are offering a developmental basketball program this fall for 4th-6th grade girls.  8 sessions will be held every Sunday afternoon from September 11 - October 30 from 3 - 4:30pm.  Sessions will include skills and competitive play.

Please visit our website for more information and registration form:
Peachtree Junior Wildcats
2016 FALL
Volleyball Camp

Peachtree / Jr. Wildcats 2016 Fall Volleyball Camp is around the corner! 

This program teaches young athletes volleyball skills and love of the game and will lay the foundation for the Dunwoody High School volleyball teams for the future. 

There are many former Jr. Wildcats currently playing at DHS, on volleyball club teams and at the college level!  

Our next camp (6 sessions) will be at Peachtree Middle School October 11, 12, 18, 20, 25 & 27 from 7pm-8:30pm and is for 3rd-8th graders. 

For more information and to sign up for this camp, go to peachtreemsvolleyball.weebly.com or contact [email protected]  770-330-5532
Click here to download the flyer for more information.

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].

 
Please make sure to follow DES on Twitter @des180_sanders for any school updates or last minute notifications.
  
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on 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.

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