The Cub Reporter

Dutch Fork Elementary School 7900 Broad River Road Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 476-3900 FAX (803) 476-3920
www.lexrich5.org/dutchfork.cfm Title 1 School February 7, 2013

Principals Post . . .
Parents, Last Friday we held our second nine weeks Tag of Honor Ceremony. This is a day that is highly anticipated by our students as we celebrate their many successes. As many of you may be aware, we ask parents that attend the Tag Ceremony to complete a two question survey at the conclusion of this program to determine what we have done well and also to determine how we can improve this event. Our Student Activities Committee, which organizes this day, reviews all feedback forms. What we have discovered is that there are a number of frequently asked questions that have come up since we began this endeavor. As a result, we have included in this edition of our school newsletter the most commonly asked Tag Ceremony questions we have received, along with our response for why things are planned or organized as they are. We appreciate your interest in the programs offered here at DFES and hope that you find the Tag Ceremony FAQ to be informative. Julius B. Scott Principal

Feb 8 Princess Ball 7:00-9:00 p.m. DFES Cafeteria Feb 13 Early Release Day Feb 15 PBIS Fox Fun Friday Jump Rope for Heart Feb 18 Student Holiday Professional Development Day Feb 20 PTO Meeting 6:00 p.m. SIC Meeting 6:30 p.m. Feb 26 DFES Family Literacy Night 6:00-7:00 p.m.

February is African American History Month

Planned activities for Dutch Fork students include:
Related Areas In Related Arts we will be discussing and learning about important African American figures and their place in American History. Discussions and lessons will be directed to individuals who were influential in the Arts. Various student activities will revolve around these individuals including songs and sports/physical activities. In Art each grade level will be studying an African American Visual Artist. Lessons will discuss their work, their motivation and their place in history. Some of the individuals that we will be learning about in Related Arts include Faith Ringgold, William Henry Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, Ernie Davis, Marcus Lattimore, and many others. Kindergarten During Black History Month in kindergarten we will be celebrating famous African American activists, authors and artists. We will act out the Rosa Parks bus scene, we will read poetry by Shel Silverstein and we will discuss the television show Little Bill, written by Bill Cosby.

Mar 1 Safe and Sound Town First Grade Mar 7 Early Release Day 11:40 a.m. Mar 8 PBIS Fox Fun Friday B-I-N-G-O Night at DFES

DFES Literacy Night

Tuesday, February 26 Warm Up With A Good Book Wear your pajamas!!
For good books and information about how we can work together to grow our readers make sure you mark your calendar now to attend Dutch Fork Elementary Literacy Night!

First Grade during the month of February first graders will be learning about African American historical and political figures that have had a strong influence in the United States. We will also learn about African American inventors as well. A few of the individuals we will discuss are: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Ruby Bridges, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, and Mae Jemison. We will study these individuals through poetry, picture books, biographies, and short video clips. We look forward to sharing with you some of the important facts we learn! Second Grade Second graders will read biographies and learn about different people from the past and present. They will research and share facts with classmates about their chosen person. To end the unit of study, students are encouraged to dress up and transform themselves into the person they researched. Third Grade During Black History Month third grade students will be learning the causes of the Civil War. Some activities students will be involved in include: Making Antebellum dolls to include freed slaves and enslaved African American sand what their roles were during and after the Civil War. Learn Gullah language and other ways African Americans kept their culture alive. Reading many read-alouds to support our learning. Some of these are: Sweet, Sweet Baskets, Circle Unbroken, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, and Henrys Freedom Box. Students will be reading Ruby Bridges and responding to the story. Fourth Grade Fourth graders will have opportunities to enjoy daily Spotlights in Black History, read African American literature, read and respond to biographies in black history, and research famous African Americans. Fifth Grade Fifth graders will celebrate, read, and analyze the works of Langston Hughes and investigate the huge impact of the Harlem Renaissance on America. The students will also focus on how they too can become influential writers and/or artists such as Langston Hughes and so many other Harlem Renaissance figures.

More information to come!

DFES B-I-N-G-O Night

Friday, March 8 Dinner, Raffle, Silent Auction, Dinner and BINGO! If you own or manage a business and would like to contribute an item, service, or gift certificate to the event, please contact Diane Starnes at dmlstarnes@sc.rr.com. All donations are tax deductible. Donors will receive a certificate of appreciation, be noted on our web site as a Bingo Night business partner, and be listed on a large banner at the event. In order to properly plan for the big night please submit donations no later than February 15. This is a great and simple way to provide extra exposure to your business!!

Nurses Notes . . .
Parents, If you have a child that has brought home a vision or hearing referral, please return the information you receive after the child has been checked to the health room. Please remember that all prescription medications must have a permission slip signed by the prescribing doctor. All medications must have a permission form filled out and signed. If you have any questions please contact the heath room at 476-3906.

Help Prevent the Flu!

Influenza, or the flu, is an illness that affects our entire body, including the lungs. As many as 1 in 5 Americans gets the flu each year. A virus that spreads from person to person causes flu. The illness can be mild like a bad cold, or it can be very serious. In fact, people can die from the flu. You can

P.E. Important Events

Our Annual Jump Rope for Heart will be held on Friday, February 15. All classes will meet in the gym during related arts! Our goal this year is to raise $4,000! This is the biggest goal weve ever tried to reach but we know we can do it! Jump Rope for Heart Forms/Money due Wednesday, February 13 DAM Walk forms/registration due Wednesday, February 13 DFES Jump Rope for Heart Day is Friday, February 15

get the flu from other people. The flu virus spreads through coughing or sneezing. It is also spread when a person touches something that a sick person has touched, and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. To prevent the flu follow these steps: Get a flu vaccine each year. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash them for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash. Stay home if you are sick until you have been symptom-free without taking fever reducing medicine for 24 hours. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Eat a healthy diet, exercise and get plenty of rest.

(From the SC DHEC web site www.scdhec.gov/flu/prevent-flu.htm)

Music Notes . . .
The fourth grade classes are working very hard to get ready for their field trip to the Koger Center on Wednesday, February 20 to participate in an interactive orchestra concert called Orchestra Sings! All field trip permission forms and money ($8) are due immediately. We still have room for a few chaperones. Please contact Mrs. Rushe if you are interested. Our third grade classes are busy working on their spring musical called Rock! which is a history of rock n roll music. The program will be presented on Tuesday March 26 at 6:00 p.m. in our mini theater. After our program, we will begin a recorder unit in music class. All students need a recorder! They are $4 each and money is due no later than March 8. Please send cash or checks made out to DFES in an envelope with the students name and homeroom teachers name on the front. The students will receive their recorders the week after spring break. First graders are working on their first performance! The show is called Hats! Our program will be on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:00 p.m. in the mini theater. Please reserve the date! Our fifth grade chorus performed the National Anthem at the USC game on Saturday, January 26. Our students did a fabulous job. The chorus is now working on a spring musical called Destination Rock N Roll. The show will be performed on Tuesday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. Fifth grade strings will also perform. Dont forget to save the date!

5K Registration for 2013-14 To register for kindergarten your child must be five years old on or before September 1, 2013. Parents of children meeting this eligibility deadline should bring the following to their zoned elementary school: 1. Your childs legal birth certificate 2. A current SC Certificate of Immunization or a SC Certificate of Medical or Religious Exemption 3. A property tax receipt or a rental lease showing all occupants 4. Two utility bills showing your correct home address 5. Picture ID (parent or guardian)

Order Your Yearbook Ads

This year we have two ads, Love Lines and 5th Grade Recognition ads, available for purchase to recognize your child(ren). The deadline to place an order for recognition ads has been extended to February 15. Love Lines are inexpensive, special messages from you to your child that will be printed in the yearbook for him/her to have as a keepsake for years to come. They are available for $10. Fifth Grade Recognition Ads recognize 5th graders for their hard work in elementary school. The ad is the size of a business card and allows for one photo of your choice with a message from you to your child. These are available for $25. Purchase your ad today and give you child a special keepsake that will commemorate their years at DFES! Order forms are attached to this edition of The Cub Reporter.

Tag of Honor Feedback Form Questions and Answers

We value and carefully consider your input! Please take this opportunity to read responses to some of the most frequently asked questions posed on feedback forms collected to date.

Why isnt there more time between Tag of Honor Ceremonies?

In order to allow more time between each, the ceremonies would have to occur over two school days. If the ceremonies were held over two days, families with children in multiple grade levels would be required to miss two days of work instead of one.

Why is there such a long break between the second and fifth grade Tag of Honor Ceremony?
The break between the second and fifth grade ceremonies allows the school personnel involved in the ceremonies an opportunity to each a quick lunch.

Why arent there refreshments or a reception after each ceremony?

Refreshments or a reception after each ceremony is a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, we have limited time between ceremonies and limited staff available to make the idea a reality.

Why cant a child be called up to the state one time and be given all the tags earned during that reporting period instead of going up for each tag earned?
In August our students set goals to earn certain tags throughout the year. They work hard to reach their goals. We believe our students have earned the opportunity to stand on the stage and be recognized for each goal met. We are however considering options that will make this process more efficient.

Is it appropriate to recognize students for MAP achievements during the Tag of Honor Ceremony?
It is vital for students to learn the importance of goal setting. MAP testing is one of the opportunities students have to set academic goals. The test is not pass/fail. A MAP goal is based on a students MAP achievement at the beginning of the year which means it is a personal goal based on the students individual level. It is not an easy tag to earn. A student can make good progress throughout the year and still not quite reach his or her goal; however, it gives all students, including those who do not typically qualify for grade-dependent Honor Roll awards, a chance to earn an award for solid academic progress throughout the year.