MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2011

VOLUME 19 ISSUE 3

Dimondale Elementary

Mr. James F. Cooper, Principal

699-6411

Childcare: 694-6440

Transportation: 694-0625

Early Dismissal Wednesday September 14 and 28.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent-Teacher conferences will be held the week of November 7 th. Your conference appointment times will come home shortly. Please be on time so we can keep our conferences moving along. Each conference is 20 minutes. There are three scheduled conference sessions and two half days of school. Thursday and Friday are half days with dismissal at 12:30pm. No lunch is served these two days. The A.M. Kindergarten sessions come on Thursday from 8:25 to 12:30 and the P.M. session comes on Friday morning (8:25- 12:30).

PTO FALL FESTIVAL – OCTOBER 28

The annual PTO Fall Fest will be on Friday, October 28, 6:30 – 8:00. There will be lots of family fun and things to eat. Dress up in your Halloween costume and have some fun.

PICTURE RETAKES –November 1

If you missed the first picture day or want to have your child’s picture retaken, Monday is the day. Fill out a new package, include the money, or send in the old and tell us what you want done.

ABSENCES AND BEING TARDY

November 4 th is the end of the 1 st Marking period. I review our students’ attendance and tardy reports at this time. I also contact parents of students who were absent 10% or more of the number of days we have had in school so far. The 10% rate is an acceptable standard adopted by the elementary schools in the district. There are exceptions to the rule, flu, surgery, etc. Being tardy becomes an issue if it is repeated often. The start of each school day is so important. Teachers spend important time preparing the students for the day ahead. A student who misses this time starts out behind. He/she also stops the flow of the class so they can be caught up. School starts at 8:25am. Be on time and shine.

READING PRACTICE – EVERYWHERE

If your child is just beginning to read, they are mastering that sounds we make in reading are represented by letters and that letters make words and that words go together to make sentences and a story. Helping them find letters, and words they know, in the world around them helps them make self to world connections that inspires them to want to read. Words are all round us in the stores you visit, on billboard and road signs, on the morning cereal box, and in lots of stuff in the cupboard. Help them find the letters and words and watch them find them for you. Later on they will begin reading all kinds of words that are around them if you help them find them. Reading with them only makes them better readers.

BUS RIDING BEHAVIOR – WHO’S IN CHARGE? When your child rides the bus they must decide to behave safely and properly. That makes them in charge of their behavior. As their parent or guardian you are responsible for helping them behave on the bus. Students can lose the right to ride their bus due to their behavior. Also, students who are at the bus stop, before and after school are under parent responsibility. Be a parent at the bus stop to ensure that good behavior goes on there.

Early Dismissal Wednesdays this month are November 2 & 16.

THANKSGIVING BREAK

School will be closed November 23 – 25, for the Thanksgiving break.