As most of you are
aware, we have a district attendance policy designed to address
state laws, district integrity, and the best interests of the
children. Our
attendance policy can be found in the student handbook beginning
on page 5 and ending on page 7.
Our
policy is straightforward and provides quite a bit of leeway for
a child’s parents/guardians to
determine when their child is ill
and should not attend school.
The policy is clear that parents/guardians can excuse
their child from school for a total of 7 days with only a verbal
confirmation; however, the school
will begin
sending notes home as a reminder about accumulated absences.
Consider this:
Students are only is session for 175 days; therefore,
missing 7 days equals about 4% of the school year.
On some occasions, parents/guardians may not be happy
about a note being sent home, but this type of communication
allows the school to reinforce the attendance policies.
These notes are not meant to be disrespectful, but are
part of the district policy and should be seen as a polite
reminder. In the
busy world we live in, sometimes a reminder is a good thing.
Any time you bring your child to a doctor, dentist,
orthodontist, etc., please remember to get a doctor’s note.
A doctor’s note means this day does not count toward the
7 days you are allowed to excuse your child with only a verbal
confirmation.
Please remember that although you may not agree with
every policy, our rules and regulations are meant to support the
best interests of the child.
I can always be reached to discuss your child’s
attendance.
Respectfully,
Thomas Sodaro, Principal
Dummer Elementary School
Let me begin by wishing
everyone a Happy Holiday season.
I hope you enjoy your time with family. This is a great
time to reconnect with your children and take time to get
updated on how their young lives are going.
Hopefully we are all rested and ready to start fresh when
school resumes on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 (I can’t believe it
is 2012!).
and the school
collected over 600 items. A big thank you goes out to Mrs.
McLean’s classroom for organizing and collecting the canned
goods throughout the school.
good nutrition and
making good choices. Along with this theme we hosted our third
Zumba class and a big thank you to the Sandwich Park District
for their partnership in making this possible.
Don’t forget to check Edline for daily and weekly updates to
your child’s grades. As teachers enter new grades they are
transferred immediately to your child’s Edline page. This is a
great way to monitor your child’s progress and provide immediate
help if needed. If you do not have an Edline account, it is free
and a password can be issued with a phone call to the principal.
Please keep your children active
over the winter break. Here are some recommendations of things
to do with your children in order to keep their brains
stimulated:
Ø
Play word games like Password or Scrabble, or assemble a jigsaw
puzzle.
Ø
Read at least 30 minutes a day.
Ø
Visit the local library.
Ø
Read the newspaper for current events.
Look at the weather map.
Read cartoon strips and then create your own.
Ø
Do a little Zumba!
Ø
Try some of these websites.
They promote health and physical activity, and they are
actually fun.
§
www.getkidsinaction.org/kids/#home
§
www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/index.html
Enjoy the Winter Break!
Thomas Sodaro, Principal
Dummer Elementary School
… 4th GRADE …
The month started out with the
electricity showcase featuring projects from Mrs. Ford’s, Mrs.
McLean’s/Mrs. Mager’s, Mrs. Mitchell’s and Mrs. Winckler’s
rooms. There was a
great turn out. We
hope everyone enjoyed seeing what the other classes come up with
in a few months.
Fractions, fractions, fractions have been the word in Math this
month. We have all
been working on identify, simplifying, comparing, ordering,
adding, and subtracting.
These are difficult concepts to grasp.
Be sure to point out fractions that they see around the
house everyday, or better yet, have them find them!
Pizza and colored candies (Skittles and M&M’s) work great
for this.
We want to thank the parent group for providing all of the
classes with a great holiday craft activity this week.
It was a fun break from all of the hard work the classes
had been doing before leaving for the winter break.
The fourth grade staff would like to wish everyone a happy holiday.
We look forward to seeing everyone after the break!
… 5th GRADE …
What a busy month December has been!
Fifth graders visited kindergarten classes to help them
write letter to Santa and had fun at the Winter Workshop
provided by the parent group.
Thanks to all of our wonderful parent volunteers!
Students have been working on many reading strategies across
curriculum. We will
continue focusing on summarizing and paraphrasing, determining
fact or opinion, and drawing conclusions.
In math, we are practicing how to convert customary units
of measure and solving perimeter and area problems.
The Constitution is the focus in Social Studies for most
classes. Finally,
second quarter is almost over which means it’s time for a new
science unit.
When we return from break, fifth
graders get to start planning for the annual talent show.
Permission slips were handed out the week before winter
break and need to be returned the day of auditions.
It might be a good idea to start practicing your “talent”
over break.
Happy Holidays from all of the 5th
grade staff.
… BAND NOTES …
… MUSIC …
… OVERNIGHT MAGAZINE
FUNDRAISER …
Please note that Wednesday, February 1st, we will be having our annual “Overnight Magazine Fundraiser”. Your student will be bringing home an information sheet and a booklet. To participate you will fill out the booklet with names and addresses of family and friends. Magazine sale offers are then mailed to them, and we receive the proceeds. No names are sold to others, these are used strictly for our magazine sales. This is an easy, quick fundraiser that benefits our students with rewards, assembly programs, etc.
Our yearbooks … filled with pictures
and memories … are still on sale.
It’s not too late to place your
order.
Forms are available outside the office.
The form, along with your $17.00 payment (fee as of
January), need to be turned in to your homeroom teacher.
We are having a limited number printed, so be sure to get
your order turned in.
…
DISTRICT HANDBOOK COMMITTEE …
Dummer School now has a committee representative.
This committee will be starting their work in January.
If you have comments or concerns regarding our handbook,
please email them to Mr. Sodaro at tsodaro@kidsroe.org.
… BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
…
… MARKET DAY NEWS …
FREE Eat Well Guide
This month customers will start off the New Year right with a
Free Eat Well Guide from Market Day with any purchase!
This exclusive Eat Well Guide is filled with 36 pages of
tasty recipes, serving suggestions, beautiful photos and
healthy-living tips.
FREQUENT BUYER REDEMPTION MONTH
Customers who made two (2) $40 purchases between October and
December will receive a FREE Insulated Tote with their $40
purchase in January.
So if you’ve order twice, be sure to place your January order.
Order forms can be obtained in school offices or order on-line
at
www.marketday.com.
Any questions, call Cami at 815-496-2908 or email at
sandwichmarketday@gmail.com.
2012 pick up dates to remember are January 11, February 8, March
7, April 11, May 9, and June 6.
