Category: Events

DGS Earns National Reading Recognition

 

Dunlap Grade School has earned national recognition for outstanding performance in advancing reading practice and proficiency across multiple grade levels.

 

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Dunlap Grade School was awarded Accelerated Reader  Model School Certification by Renaissance Learning, a Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., based company.

Model School Certification acknowledges that Dunlap Grade School efforts to promote personalized reading practice, assess comprehension, and monitor progress have resulted in measurable improvements in reading proficiency.

Accelerated Reader  Model  School Certification demonstrates that a majority of the school’s students have met or exceeded goals for reading practice and comprehension.  After reading fiction and non-fiction books at the appropriate level, students take quizzes to assess their comprehension. Accelerated Reader provides immediate feedback to help teachers facilitate reading level growth.

“The Dunlap Grade School teachers and students have demonstrated vital independent reading skills that are foundational in their academic success.  Dunlap Grade School is fortunate to have staff, students an families that emphasize  how important reading and comprehension are for assuring future success, college and career readiness,” states building principal, Mandy Ellis.

This is the school’s first year reaching Accelerated Reader Model School Certification.

Accelerated Reader, the world’s leading reading software program, enables teachers to personalize reading practice and monitor comprehension to optimize growth. Today’s real-time version provides access to more than 150,000 quizzes, more than half of which are for non-fiction books.  This vast collection of quizzes provides opportunities for students to read and comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity from early grades through graduation. With a teacher’s permission, students may take quizzes on most mobile learning devices, reducing the need for students to wait for computers.

Bullying Stops with Me!

Dunlap Grade School students and staff celebrated kindness and anti-bullying weeks. As part of this celebration, students learned about bullying. Specifically, to be able to recognize, refuse and report bullying that they witness. This concept is part of our Second Step Learning Curriculum. Students also participated in group lessons facilitated by school counselor, Mrs. Bailey. Mrs. Bailey led students through role-plays and situational circumstances to hone their abilities to foster more positive learning environments. Many students created “Anti-Bullying” Shields or assisted in leading morning announcements with facts and statistics regarding bullying. Students were also encouraged to “Mix it Up” at lunch and sit by a new friend or student that they may have not had the opportunity to sit by before in an effort to form new friendships.

The theme of the past two weeks has been “Bullying Stops with Me.” Enjoy the video below that showcases many of our staff members and students pledging to stop bullying!

BullyingStopswithMe from Mandy Ellis on Vimeo.

Kindness Week begins at DGS to prevent bullying

District Strategic Goal #2: Create a Satisfying and Productive Classroom Learning Environment

Submitted by: Mrs. Bailey, School Counselor

This week we began our school-wide Kindness and Anti-Bullying Awareness Month. The message shared this month will help us take a preventive stance against bullying and continue to provide a safe, peaceful place for your child to learn, work, and enjoy their journey through elementary school.

Over the next two weeks our staff and students will be discussing the importance of kindness and saying no to bullying. Along with this positive dialogue, I will be visiting classrooms to teach a guidance lesson focusing on kindness along with an age appropriate explanation of bullying.  It is important to help our students recognize bullying, be able to distinguish unkind acts from bullying, as well as learn ways to address bullying and unkind acts. I encourage you to continue this dialogue at home helping to make this message last. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your school counselor!

 

WHAT IS BULLYING?

It is behavior by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group, either physically or emotionally.  IT IS ALL ABOUT BIG ON LITTLE, MANY ON FEW, SMART ON LESS SMART, OLDER ON YOUNGER.  In other words, an IMBALANCE OF POWER.  BYSTANDERS who witness these behaviors and do not report them to adults risk the possibility of negative consequences.

Students have been encouraged to Say No to Bullying and unkind acts by:

Step 1:  Talk Friendly

– Use a friendly voice, face, and body language

-“I don’t like it when you do that, please stop”

-“I don’t like when you talk to me that way, please stop”

Step 2:  Talk Firmly

-Use a firm voice, a firm face, and body language

-“Stop it.  I don’t like that”

-“I said stop”

Step 3:  Get Help

-Ask for help to solve the problem.

-Don’t ask an adult to solve your problem for you

-To an adult say:  “I need your help solving a problem. This person is bothering me by using unkind words.  I asked them to stop in a friendly way, I asked them to stop in a firm way and they keep bothering me. Can you help us solve this problem?

Board of Education Will Host Public Forum

Board of Education Will Host Public Forum Regarding $2.1 Million Deficit in 2014-15

The Dunlap School District is facing a projected $2.1 million deficit budget for the 2014-2015 school year. The Board of Education, in collaboration with administration, has been working diligently over the past several months to determine how best to address the budget deficit. At this time, information has been publicly released regarding fee increases, reductions, and cuts that are being considered. Detailed information is available in a document titled “2014-15 Deficit Reduction Plan Under Consideration” on the District’s website- http://www.dunlapcusd.net/District/Pages/KeyCommunicatorsNetwork.aspx.

An informational public forum will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Hickory Grove Elementary School. There will be a queuing system for people wishing to address the Board of Education; please look for a table to get a number at any point during the 5:00 – 7:00pm time frame. In addition, the community is encouraged to use Dunlap’s latest online tool called “Connect323” which is a social media site we’ll use to seek suggestions and input. Stakeholders can access the site at http://connect323.dunlapcusd.net/ and begin providing input on the 2014-15 budget deficit mitigation plan now!

Balancing a First Grade Reading Diet

Mrs. Donavan’s class is learning to balance their reading diets.  After reviewing their Accelerated Reading diagnostic report they have set a goal to only have 70% fiction and 30% nonfiction.  This means that 70% of the books the students read can be fiction and the other 30% have to be nonfiction.  Mrs. Donavan is also choosing more nonfiction read alouds to model this diet change. Balancing a ‘reading diet’ is important in offering students exposure to a variety of reading genres and text features. Implementation of common core standards also requires additional focus on non-fiction informational texts for students.

For her efforts in establishing a culture of readers in her classroom, Mrs. Donavan was recognized by the parent company of Accelerated Reader as a model classroom!

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Washington Strong

On November 17, the community of Washington was changed forever. After a tornado ripped through the town and destroyed over 1,000 homes, it left a hole in the lives of many. As soon as the storm had passed, communities from all across Central Illinois pulled together to help the victims of Washington, Pekin and East Peoria. That same week, students of DGS brought in clothes, books and games to donate to the victims of the tornadoes. The result was overwhelming!

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As a school, Dunlap Grade collected nearly $1,000 that was used to purchase new books for children affected by the tornado from the Scholastic Book Fair.

In addition, each grade level got involved in projects to directly support the kids affected by the storms. K-3 grade students raised money to purchase fleece and then spent time the week before Thanksgiving assembling blankets. These blankets will serve as warmth and comfort to more than 100 children in Washington and the surrounding areas.

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4th and 5th graders decided to work together to organize the donations and pack them into bags and boxes so that they could be easily transported and accessible to the victims. Their hard work and leadership shone through and was a perfect example of what it truly means to be a Royal.

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Math in Focus Parent Night

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District Strategic Goal #4: Create Satisfying and Productive Partnerships with Families and the Community

Dunlap School District will host an informational “Parent University” on September 17th at 6:30pm in the Dunlap High School Auditorium for any families interested in learning more about the Math in Focus curriculum in grades K-5. You will learn how the program emphasizes problem solving and positive attitudes toward mathematics,  while focusing on student development of skills, concepts, and processes.

Representatives from the district as well as Math in Focus staff will be in attendance to present information. Please see the flyer below or at Parent Night Flyer

Parent Night Flyer

Welcome to Dunlap Grade School for 2013-2014

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Dear Families,

As Principal of Dunlap Grade School, I am eager to begin the 2013-2014 school year and welcome our staff and students back for another wonderful year of learning. Our mission at DGS is to develop lifelong learners and we have plans in place to do just that.

Ongoing Communication

My personal goal is to maintain open communication with the families of DGS. You will be able to access https://dunlapgradeschool.edublogs.org/, follow us on twitter @dgsroyals, and like us at www.facebook.com/DunlapGrade for information regarding special events and news related to DGS. You may also view the DGS webpage at http://www.dunlapcusd.net/dgs/. You may also email me at mellis@dunlapcusd.net. My door is open and I welcome you to stop by and introduce yourself.

Accomplishments

The summer has been a busy time for DGS. The office, teachers, and support staff have been busy making sure DGS is ready for the first day of school. A list of our accomplishments includes:

  • Creation of student recognition programming
  • Hiring of 3 teachers, music teacher, literacy aide, and classroom aides
  • Meeting of the Building Leadership team to begin to formulate vision and goals for the year
  • Professional Development in the areas of creativity, innovation, professional learning communities, social/emotional learning, math and reading.
  • Deep cleaning of all classrooms, common areas, and building façade
  • Painting of five classrooms
  • New landscaping

Faculty Spotlight

The staff at DGS is filled with educated and enthusiastic individuals that are working collaboratively to ensure the best possible educational environment for your children. Our team this year consists of:

Mandy Ellis, Principal

Lisa Kamin, Secretary

Connie Miller, Office Assistant

Britney Barackman, Kindergarten

Amy Douglas, Kindergarten

John Weaver, Classroom Aide

Courtney Erikson, First Grade

Jennifer Donavan, First Grade

Stefanie Pitzer, Second Grade

Kelsie Zarko, Second Grade

Michelle Graber, Classroom Aide

Jamie Flinn, Speech Pathologist

Natalie Lanser, Third Grade

Samantha Mahrt, Third Grade

Jennie Hatch, Student Aide

Kristen Bishop, Student Aide

Dan Eckert, Fourth Grade

Teresa (Marquis) Jarrick, Fourth Grade

Susan Piper, Fifth Grade

Rachel Wooden, Fifth Grade

Nicole Baier, Special Education

Sara Nauman, Special Education

Danyell Alger, World Language

Kelly Bailey, Counselor

Lisa Sell, Literacy Aide

Karen Conlon, School Psycologist

Alyssa Cabrera, School Social Worker

Dave Combs, Physical Education

Steve Wright, Art

Joshua Anderson, Music

Tina Holloway, Band

Chris Adams-Wenger, Orchestra

Amy Berg, Technology

Michelle Mueckler, Librarian

George Horrie, Custodian

Nancy Riekena, Night Custodian

Renee Kuykendall, Head Cook

Jean Deckard, Cafeteria

Important Back to School Dates

Dunlap Grade has several important events coming up. You will be able to view these events on our school website and will receive updates regarding additional upcoming events in the Parent Bulletin that will be sent weekly.

  • August 12, 2013: Bus and Class lists will be posted by 4pm on PowerSchool. All new families are also receiving PowerSchool login information. If you need additional support accessing PowerSchool, please contact the office.
  • August 13, 2013: Kindergarten Back to School Night at 5:30 pm. Kindergarten students and their families are invited to meet their teachers, learn about DGS from me, and tour a bus and the cafeteria.
  • August 15, 2013: 1st-5th Grade Back to School Night 6:30-7:30pm. Students and parents are invited to bring their supplies to their classrooms, meet their teachers, and meet with Parent’s Club leadership members in an Open House format.
  • August 16, 2013: First Day of School. School will be a full day and students will dismiss at 2:45pm
  • August 27, 2013: Picture Day
  • August 29, 2013: Fall Fundraiser Kick-Off Assembly at 1:45 pm
  • September 2, 2013: No School– Labor Day

School Hours

We will once again follow an early dismissal schedule every Wednesday throughout the school year this year.  This time allows our teacher’s to work collaboratively as Professional Learning Communities with the ultimate goal of improving teaching and learning for all students.  You can find more information about Professional Learning Communities on our district website at www.dunlapcusd.net.

School / Level

Total Minutes

 

2013-14 School Schedule

M, T, Th, F

Wednesday

Start Time

End Time

Start Time

End Time

Elementary School

7 hours

7:39

2:45

7:39

2:15

Middle School

7 hours

8:24

3:30

8:24

3:00

High School

7 hours, 6 minutes

8:18

3:30

8:18

3:00

HS Zero  Hour

49 minutes

7:24

8:13

7:24

8:13

 

Birthday and Classroom Party Treat Guidelines

Foods that come from home for sharing among children for birthday treats or classroom celebrations must be either whole fruits or vegetables or commercially prepared foods in individually sealed packaging that do not contain nuts. This is necessary for both health and safety so we can then read the label to see the ingredients for children with allergies and special nutritional needs. Any items not individually sealed, that contain nuts or baked goods from home or from a bakery will be sent home.

Transportation

  • Class Lists and Bus Route information will be posted in Powerschool by the end of the business day on August 12th. Information regarding bus stops and times will be available at that time. Powerschool information was sent home in registration packets in May. If you need assistance with Powerschool Login information, please contact the office.
  • Please reserve bus transportation changes only for child care situations or emergencies. Transportation changes will not be issued for play dates or social reasons.
  • Morning Procedures will include bus drop-off in the rear of the building. Students arriving to the school by car should be dropped off in the front of the building. All students will report to the gym upon arrival to school.
  • All student absences must be reported to the office by 8:00 am.  You may call the office at 243-7772 or email the office to report an absence by clicking on the ‘email an absence’ link at the top of the DGS homepage.  Please notify the office if you need to pick up your child during the school day due to an appointment.

Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct will be distributed to each student during the first few days of school and reviewed by the classroom teacher during the first few weeks of school. Parents will need to sign off stating they’ve read and understand the policies in the handbook and code of conduct. You will receive this information from your child’s classroom teacher.

Visitors

We welcome parents as volunteers in our building. A new security system was installed this summer. All visitors to the school will be required to buzz in at the front entrance of the building and sign in at the office.  There are visitor’s badges on the sign-in table that we ask all visitors to wear while in the building.  In order to maintain the integrity of the learning environment, we do not allow unannounced visits to classrooms during the instructional day.  All classroom visits must be approved by the classroom teacher and/or the building principal ahead of time.  This allows us to minimize disruptions to the instruction taking place in our classrooms.

School Calendar

The Dunlap School District has developed a school calendar that will allow parents to access all district events in one central location. www.dunlap323.tandemcal.com will allow families to view and subscribe to calendar updates and filter events for individual or multiple schools in the district. An additional PDF calendar will be available on the DGS website under the Parents tab. In addition, monthly calendars will be on the back of the lunch menus each month.

Parent’s Club

Dunlap Grade School has a proud history of parental support and involvement. I encourage you to stop by the Parent’s Club informational area in the cafeteria during Open House to get more information on how you can get involved. We have opportunities available for all parents that you can do at school or from home.

Next Steps

We have a lot of exciting initiatives and continued implementation of quality educational programming at Dunlap        Grade this year.

  • Implementation of Math in Focus curriculum at all levels
  • World Language (Spanish) instruction at the K-1 Levels
  • Second Step, a social-emotional learning curriculum, implementation at all levels
  • Creation of Common Formative Assessments to drive instruction
  • Development of 21st Century Learning strategies utilizing new technologies
  • Continued use of Professional Learning Communities
  • Monitoring school goals on the School Data Center and in classroom data centers and student data binders

Parents, teachers, support staff, and administration all have an important role to encourage and empower our children to become active learners that will excel in a global society. It is my sincere desire to provide expanded opportunities for our students to acquire the skills to become productive citizens in a vastly changing society. Through a close and collegial partnership with everyone associated with Dunlap Grade School, I am confident we can make our school an even better place for our students to learn and grow.

Respectfully,

 

Mandy Ellis

Dunlap Grade School Principal

Enrichment Eagles Wraps Up

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District Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

As our school year is nearing an end, some of our academic programs are as well. Today, Enrichment Eagles, led by Miss Marquis came to a close for the 2012-2013 school year. A year that was filled with new experiences has turned out to be extremely successful. From Odyssey of the Mind activities to Scholastic Bowl competitions, DGS Enrichment Eagles made some great memories while challenging their minds in the process. Students involved in Enrichment Eagles have grown as examples of students that are effective communicators, skilled collaborators, and technology capable producers. As a result of the program’s success this school year, Enrichment Eagles will return in the Fall in all elementary buildings. You can learn more about the District’s Enrichment Eagle Program at http://www.dunlapcusd.net/Departments/Pages/EnrichmentEagles.aspx . Congratulations on a job well done, Eagles!

 

Making a Mark

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District Strategic Goal #4:  Form a satisfying and productive partnership with families and the community

On Friday afternoon Dunlap Grade School staff and students walked. They walked to develop healthy habits. They walked for fun. They walked to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They walked to honor retiring teachers, Joe Wenskus and Judy Kurth. The roots at DGS run deep with St. Jude. Watch the video from News Channel 25 to hear more!

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