Dunn’s Corners School

OPEN HOUSE 2012

A Regent’s Commended School

Dunn’s Corners School provides developmentally-appropriate experiences for every child in a caring and stimulating learning environment in order to establish the foundation for lifelong learning

Our Mission

Off to a great start!

Open House is the most well-attended school event of the year.

Before 2010 Open House was an informal event, which allowed students and families the opportunity to visit the classroom.

Starting in 2010 Open House became a more formalized event for adults only, intended to provide parents and caregivers with important information about school programming. This decision was made by the School Improvement Team, recognizing the opportunities that came with an adults only event.

This year we are attempting to combine the two approaches by including children and providing a principal’s address

PLEASE REMEMBER : SIGN UP FOR P/T CONFERENCES

About Open House/Open Doors

PTO Message New Staff School Communications Important Reminders Attendance Initiative Positive Behavior Academic Programming Race to the Top and Common Core State

Standards Volunteer Opportunities Upcoming Events

Tonight’s Program

Ms. Melissa Kelly, PTO President

PTO Message

Ms. Joell Aristi, Reading Specialist Ms. Kerry Berthelot, Grade 4 Teacher Ms. Melissa Paquin, Grade 4 Teacher Mr. Ben Boisclare, Music Teacher Ms. Peggy DelVecchio, Grade 1 Teacher Ms. Pauline Dunkel, Grade 2 Teacher Ms. Liz Manfredi, Kindergarten Assistant Ms. Heidi Moloney, Speech Therapist Ms. Maureen Place-Downie (Nurse Maureen), School

Nurse Teacher Ms. Meghan Raiche, Art Teacher Ms. Marianne Scorpio, School Psychologist

New Staff

From family to school:◦ Telephone calls are best. Staff will attempt to

return phone calls within 24 hours.◦ Regular appointments are held during the school

day, but other appointments may be made before or after school. Attempts will be made to find a mutually-agreeable time to meet.

◦ Email is encouraged but more important concerns should be communicated by telephone.

◦ We encourage your participation; however, we do not allow unannounced classroom visits.

School Communications

From school to family:◦ STAR Binder◦ Dunn’s Corners School Family Newsletter (sent

home the third week of each month)◦ Monthly PTO Meetings◦ Alert Now Telephone Messaging System◦ School website: http://www.westerly.k12.ri.us/dcs◦ Report Cards 3x yearly

School Communications

School starts at 8:45 and ends at 3:15 each day (we begin dismissal process at 3:10)

Arriving after 8:45 or leaving before 3:10 counts against a student’s attendance

Students are required to attend school every day school is in session (RI Gen Law 16-18-1) and the only exceptions are illness or family emergency

Westerly Public Schools has adopted a new attendance initiative which we will review tonight

Important Reminders

Please observe Plateau Rd as a one-way street during arrival and dismissal (West to East)

All guests must obtain a Visitor’s Badge All volunteers must keep a current BCI on

file Students may not wear open-toed shoes (an

exception may be allowed for school photographs)

Write your child’s full name on tags of clothing and bags

Dress children appropriately for the weather

Important Reminders

Concerns must be addressed at the classroom level first. If, after meeting with the teacher, you continue to have concerns then please contact Mrs. Giddings to arrange appointment with principal

Homework is required of all students. Three instances of missing homework is referred to principal as a major rule violation

Important Reminders

We will be presenting student awards again this year for excellent attendance.

We will continue to recognize many levels of good attendance. “Fantastic Attendance” will be those students who either miss no school days, or those who miss only days with a doctor’s note. Honorable Mention will go to students with one verified absence (parent calls in). Students with two verified absences will be recognized as well.

Unexcused and unverified absences are unlawful absences. Unexcused and unverified early dismissals and tardiness also are unlawful.

We want our students and their families to take pride in the responsible behavior of excellent school attendance.

Good Attendance Initiative

Since 2009 Dunn’s Corners School has adopted PBIS as a school-wide strategy to prevent problem behaviors and to effectively respond to problem behaviors

Well-established and explicitly taught expectations

Recognizing students when they meet expectations

Re-teaching students when they do not

Positive Behavior

PBIS Leadership team The Five Bs Recognition System Office Referral System Explicit Instruction Re-teaching Decision-making systems Bully Prevention in PBIS Schools Level of implementation at Dunn’s Corners

Positive Behavior

Fundations Kid Writing Framing Your Thoughts Six Traits of Writing Megawords Guided Reading Investigations in Number, Data and Space FOSS and STC Science Kits Writing in Science Junior Great Books

Academic Programming

Educator Evaluation School-based Data Leadership Teams Instructional Management System Common Core State Standards PARCC (The Partnership for Assessment of

Readiness for College and Careers)

Race to the Top

PTO Events School Improvement Team PBIS Leadership Team Classroom-based volunteer opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

School Photographs – tomorrow PTO Meeting – next Thursday NECAP Reading in Grades 3-4 Oct. 8,9,10 NECAP Math in Grades 3-4 Oct. 16,17,18 Fall Book Fair Oct. 24-26 Fall Festival: Friday, Oct. 26 (evening) National Mix it Up Day: Oct. 30 Spirit Day (wear your favorite sports jersey):

Oct.31 Two Curriculum Night: Literacy and

Math/Science: Dates to be announced

Upcoming Events

Teachers who make magic happen in the classroom find the intersection between joy and rigorous learning

Great schools are made through the efforts of strong teachers and supportive families

Thank you for your contributions to our school

Wishing you the best school year ever!

A Few Final Words