VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3 | November 2019  

Parent-Teacher Conferences November 25th-27th 

 November is a special month of the year full of leaves falling, giving thanks for all we have, and Parent-Teacher conferences! Our goal is to have 100% attendance from our Dimensions families for this important November event. Conferences are a time for teachers to connect with families face to face and provide insights about each student’s progress, successes, strengths and areas that present challenges to overcome. Look for the PTC scheduled meeting notification and mark your calendar. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Parent-Teacher conferences. Students may go to Dimensions Extensions during their scheduled conference time, free of charge. 

 

Scholastic Book Fair Open During Conferences! The Dimensions’ Book Fair will be open during Parent-Teacher conferences and just in time for the upcoming holiday season, too. The Book Fair will be open from 1:00-7:00 p.m. on November 25th and from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on November 26th. This is a great way to reward your child(ren) with books and a wonderful way for teachers to earn classroom books. We need volunteers! Please contact the office if you are interested in volunteering!    

Parent-Teacher Conference Week Schedule Please mark your calendars! 

 Monday, November 25th - 1:00 p.m. dismissal. Extensions opens at 1:00 p.m.  Tuesday, November 26th - 11:00 a.m. dismissal. Extensions opens at 11:00 a.m.  Wednesday, November 27th - No school for students. Dimensions Extensions is open.  Thursday, November 28th & Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Recess. No school. Dimensions Extensions is closed. 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

Important Reminders  

Picture Retake Day  Picture Retake Day is November 6th. If your student missed Picture Day they will get their picture taken for the yearbook. If you need a new order form, please pick one up from the school office. If you ordered pictures and aren’t happy with them for any reason, simply return them to school on Picture Retake Day and the photographer will retake your student’s picture. 

  

Background Checks  A cleared background check must be on file in order to chaperone, volunteer at school, or visit student(s) at Fitness Break, lunch, or in the classroom.  

● may be completed online on any device ● stays on file 5 years   

You will be notified by the school office if you need to complete a new background check.   If you are unsure if you have one on file, please call the office at 262-359-6849.   https://www.kusd.edu/departments/human-resources/criminal-background-checks

 Field Trip Fees Reminder Reminder! All field trip fees must be paid in full by the time of your student’s first field trip in order to participate. Please call the office with any questions.  

Sick Day Guidelines Click here to learn more about when a student should stay home when ill. Please remember to call the office (262) 359-6849 if your student will not be at school.    Medication Information If your child requires prescription medication during the school day, it is necessary to fill out the medical authorization form and have it signed by the doctor. No medication will be given without the required permissions. All medications must be delivered to school by a parent or guardian.    

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

How To Make The Most Of Your 10 Minutes With Your Child(ren)’s Teacher By: Elissa Nadwordy 

  An article about Parent Teacher Conferences   NPR recently published an article regarding ways to maximize the Parent Teacher Conference experience. We thought that it was a very good article and worth passing on in our November newsletter for our community. To read the entire article log on the NPR website.  https://goo.gl/3Cv2VE  Here is an excerpt from the article written by Elissa Nadwordy for NPR…  So you finally get the chance to meet one on one with your child's teacher — now what? A good parent-teacher conference, experts say, should cover three major topics: the child, the classroom and the future. 

  

The Child Most experts suggest telling the teacher briefly about your child: Describe what they're like at home, what interests and excites them, and explain any issues at home that may be affecting your child at school. "Often times we don't have any understanding of what happens when a child leaves school,” Be thorough, but do be aware of the time. Share information, she says, and if you need to talk more, schedule another time. 

  The Classroom Ask about what's happening in the classroom — both academically and socially. By talking to your child in advance, you can ask more specific questions about grades or behaviors, says Scot Graden, superintendent of Saline Area Schools in Saline, Michigan.   Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to clarify what assessment or grades actually mean. "Teachers can sometimes use educational jargon that may seem alien to you," Karen Mira writes in The Asian Parent, a parenting magazine in Singapore. "Don't be shy to ask your child's teacher to explain what a certain educational word means."   The Future Spin the conversation forward and ask what you can do to help. Parent-teacher conferences are no longer a once-a-year check-in; they can provide useful insight for immediate and clear next steps. To get the most out of the conversation, she says, both the teacher and the parent should know what comes next. Brainstorm with the teacher to come up with ways to solve challenges your child faces. Ask for concrete examples of things you can do at home to help. 

  

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Important Upcoming Dates 

 

November  1st Teacher Work Day. No school for  

students. DX is open.  6th Picture Retake Day  8th Student Council, 1:00 p.m.  12th Advisory Council, 2:00 p.m. 

Middle School Incentive   14th Large Group MS Band Festival 

9:00-11:20 a.m.  21st Fall Band, Choir, Orchestra Concert 

6:30 p.m.  

25th Parent Teacher Conferences.   1:00 p.m. dismissal.   Book Fair 1:00-7:00 p.m. 

 26th Parent Teacher Conferences.   

11:00 a.m. dismissal. Book Fair 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 

 27th Parent Teacher Conferences. No  

school for students. Dimensions  Extensions is open. 

 28th-29th Thanksgiving Recess.   

No school for students/staff.  

December  4th Choice High School Presentation Gr. 8 

9:30-10:15 a.m.  6th Student Council, 1:00-1:45 p.m.  10th Advisory Council, 2:00 p.m.  21st-Jan. 5thWinter Break Begins  

January 6 6th Students and Staff Report  

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Dimensions Extensions Dimensions Extensions is the after school program at Dimensions of Learning Academy. We offer a structured environment in which students can enjoy connecting with schoolmates during study time, fitness break, activities, crafts, and games until 6:00 p.m. each evening.

Parent/Teacher conferences are November 25th through 27th. Dimensions Extensions will be open during time conferences are held. Students are allowed to join us in Extensions during their scheduled 15 minute conference time or sibling conference time free of charge all three days. Extensions will open at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25th, and at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26th to accommodate the early release schedule for Parent/Teacher conferences. Students do not have classes on Wednesday, November 27th but Extensions will be open 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. As a reminder students need to bring their own lunch and extra snacks if needed for the day.

Extensions will be closed November 28th-29th due to Thanksgiving Break. Happy Thanksgiving!

Reminder Extensions invoices will be sent home every two weeks. Please remember to check your student(s) yellow folder for their invoice. In order for your student to continue attending Extensions, balances need to be paid by the following Monday.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact Drea Harvey at aharvey@kusd.edu, or Dimensions Extensions office phone number is (262) 359-3101.

  

What is Dimensions Connections?  Dimensions Connections is the name of the parent organization for 

Dimensions of Learning Academy. Parents volunteer to support Dimensions 

through involvement in field trips, activities or events, teacher appreciation, 

family fun night events, and fundraising. There are no dues. Everyone is a 

member. We welcome everyone contributing in whatever way they are able.  

Please complete the volunteer sign up survey form.  

For more information please contact Mrs. Pearson or an Advisory Council member.  

Dimensions Connections = Parents  

  

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

Fundraising Update  

Here’s an update with this year’s fundraising.   Thanks to all who helped raise money for our school!   

Fundraising Activity  Amount 

School Dance  $1,373.75 

Spirit Wear  $188.00 

Total  $1,561.75 

  

 Fundraising 

Our fundraising dollars go to support items such as ongoing and recurring special events, club activities, and direct classroom purchases. Thank you to everyone for your hard work, generous donations, and great teamwork last year. We had a very good year for fundraising and hope to do the same this 

year as well. 

Dimensions teaching staff vote on how to spend the fundraising dollars. 

 

 

 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

We appreciate our parents’ commitment to help volunteer at various school functions this early in the school year! Special events cannot be held if it were not for parents like YOU! 

Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm – Middle School Social  Thanks to our chaperones at our Middle School Social at the Jerry Smith Pumpkin farm on  

October 23rd.   

 

Esther Roberts 

Perla Tlatelpa 

Shannon Zastoupil 

Gina Krystowiak 

Peter Kystowiak 

Marie Froh 

Steve Knick 

Monica Scholle 

Aykaz M. 

 

Staff Appreciation Breakfast Special thanks to Lori Knick and her family for bringing in a delicious breakfast for the staff.   

We appreciate your thoughtfulness. 

Fall Festival Thank you to all who joined us for a night of fun at our annual Fall Festival Dance on October 19th.   

A special thanks to the Sabisch and Olano family for organizing this year’s event! 

 

Brianna Epling 

LaSasha Harvey 

Kimberly DiPietro 

Joyce M. 

Michael Sabisch 

Lori Waison 

Hannah Coleman 

Matt Kaufman 

Stacee Schmidt 

Pedro Harvey 

Stacey Bloom 

Crystal Keckler 

Jill Kaufman 

Nicole Pelaez 

Andrea Fafford 

Jody Clark 

Will Anacahas 

Lucy Ortiz 

Brittany Long 

Liz Gonzalez 

Chynna Rose 

Stacie Rosko 

Denise Estrada 

Jaclyn Smith 

Marie Froh 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

Take Steps to Prevent Cyberbullying

Name calling and spreading rumors are the most common forms of online harassment experienced by U.S. teens, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. A majority of teens who took the survey, 59%, reported that they experienced cyberbullying. National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is a good time for parents, teens, and teachers to take steps to prevent cyberbullying. There are many things that can be done now to reduce the risk of cyberbullying: 

● Parents can review the apps and sites most frequently used by teens and determine which ones their children are using, and the risks involved. 

● Learn more about cyberbullying tactics to understand the different ways that children cyberbully. 

● Parents can also role model and teach their children good digital citizenship skills. Digital citizenship is appropriate, responsible behavior when online or using technology, including digital safety and digital etiquette. For instance, online interactions should follow the same social guidelines as face to face interactions. 

● When parents and teens work together to establish rules about online behavior, gaming, and device use, teens are more likely to adhere to them. 

● Teachers can help prevent cyberbullying by including some social-emotional learning activities in the classroom that foster moral engagement and positive peer relationships. 

Latest Bullying Research Highlights ● Characteristics of Bias-Based Harassment Incidents Reported by a National Sample of U.S.

Adolescents ● From Victim to Victimizer: Hostility, Anger, and Depression as Mediators of the Bullying

Victimization–Bullying Perpetration Association ● Moral Disengagement About Cyberbullying and Parental Monitoring: Effects on Traditional Bullying and

Victimization via Cyberbullying Involvement

In the News ● Instagram’s latest anti-bullying initiative uses AI to detect bullying in photos ● Facebook to host events in all 50 states to address cyberbullying ● More cellphone use by children could mean more bullying — online and offline

Watch for Upcoming Events, Resources, and eBlasts in the Future!

Subscribe to StopBullying.gov and like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, information, and resources. 

 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019

 

Drop-off and Pick-Up Reminders… 

 Due to the limited size of our parking lot, we are seeking that all parents park on the street during school hours.  Please drop off and pick up on the school side of the street ONLY unless you are going to escort them to your car. This will insure their safety and prevent traffic congestion. Please DO NOT drop off students by driving on the playground.  We respectfully remind you that no one should stop in the middle of the street to let students out or pick him or her up. This causes a 

hazardous situation. Please report any problems to the teacher on duty or contact Ms. Pearson. You may wish to include a license plate number of any vehicle obstructing traffic so that proper follow-up can be taken.  Following the posted signs means that parents must remain in their vehicle in the drop-off/pick-up zone and may be ticketed for leaving it by the parking police.  To support smooth pick-up routines on the east side, spaces will be reserved within the cones for parent pick-up of students who are already outside waiting ONLY. This will ensure a quick turnover of this space for easier pick-up. No parent should leave or park their vehicle while it is in the “pick-up” zone.  Students should be dropped off at the door indicated below for their grade. If there is more than one student in the family, all of the students in the family should enter at the door indicated for the youngest child.  Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade: Drop-off/pick-up on east side (25th Ave) 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th: Drop-off/pick-up on west side (26th Ave)    

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 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3   November 2019