This Month’s Calendar: April 2017

Dear Parents, Principal’s Corner ∗ April 5: Picture Day Make up day ∗ April 5: Pre-K Walking Field Trip * April 10-14 Spring Break

∗ April 17 Patriot's Day ∗ April 18 SCHOOL BOARD

ELECTIONS

* April 19: NAVY BAND: 2p.m. at

the PARADE FIELD

∗April 21 PURPLE UP DAY * April 21: 4-6 PM Family Stem

Night STEM WEEK: 24-28

* BOOK FAIRE: April 21-28

∗APRIL 22 Earth Day (U.S.)

∗ April 24: Teacher Inservice: No School for Students

∗ April 26 Administrative Professionals Day (formerly "Secretaries Day")

April 28 Arbor Day

In our continual efforts to improve the quality of education for our children, yours is a critical voice. We want to know how successful you think we have been in meeting your child's needs this year and are very interested in learn- ing those areas in which you believe we have room for improvement. Your opinion is very important to us and will contribute to the decisions DoDEA educators will be making about our schools in the near future.

As a parent, I know how difficult it can be to find time for yet another task among the many family and professional responsibilities we all have. How- ever, some things, such as the DoDEA Customer Satisfaction Survey, are gen- uinely worth the extra time and effort they require. The survey will be open from March 20th- April 14th and will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The DoDEA Customer Satisfaction Survey will be available via the

following web link: http://surv.do dea.edu/ css/ .

All parents with children in our school are invited to participate.. If you have more than one child in the school, we ask that you complete only one survey based on the experience of your oldest child. Students in grades 4-12 will also have the chance to provide their input. The survey

has been designed to be as brief as possible. The questions were drawn from surveys given across the United States so that our results will also help us compare your responses to other DoDEA schools and to those of parents in other school systems. Please let your voice be heard by completing the Do- DEA Customer Satisfaction Survey and also, if you wish, by adding comments in the space provided. Your views will be confidential, greatly appreciated and given serious consideration in our decision-making.

Thank you for your attention to this survey and for the extraordinary level of support our school receives from you and all DoDEA sponsors and parents.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Fairfax

Dahlgren School Presents…

CHILD FIND 2017 Screenings for… Hearing/Vision

Speech/Language Social Skills

Adaptation to the Environment Gross and Fine Motor Skills

Who: Children 3 to 5 years (60 months) living on base

When: Tuesday, April 4 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Where: Dahlgren School room 125

*Please call for a reservation at:

(540) 653-2666 for 3-5 year olds.

***If you have concerns regarding your birth to 3 year old child, please contact Vickie Guion, EDIS Medical Support Ad- ministrator, at (703) 784-1741 to schedule an appointment with her.

See you there! Parents are urged to bring their children for free screenings

Dahlgren School is committed to identifying and serving preschool children who may need spe-

cial education and related services.

On Tuesday, April 4 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Dahlgren School will conduct a Child Find for children 3 through 5 years of age.

The children must be living in Dahlgren housing. While participating in the Child Find event, parents will complete a parent

questionnaire related to their child’s developmental milestones. There will be child development professionals available for assistance in

answering items on the parent form as well as to answer questions. Please share this flyer with your friends and neighbors.

For inquires pertaining to the Child Find event, please call the school.

Dahlgren School 2016-2016 Yearbook Will go on Sale the FIRST WEEK OF APRIL!

The end of the year is coming close and the FULL COLOR PRINTED YEARBOOK, is in the works! A flier with pre-order/online payment information will go out soon. You can also pay by check in the office. (* If you choose the option of paying with a check, please make it out to Dahlgren School PTO. Please note “yearbook” in the purpose line on your check. Check is preferred however, cash can be accepted. Cash payment can only be accomplished in the school office and you must bring exact change: no change is available. If paying in the office , the order will be for the “basic” level yearbook..)

Cost of the Yearbook for 2016-2017 will be $16.00

The Art 6-7-8 students have started a new Creative Thinking elective called Kinetic Sculpture. Stu- dents are learning how to make sculptures that show movement. They are also learning some great art, math, and science skills such as balance, motion, cams, cranks, gears, levers, kinetic and poten- tial energy, force, center of mass, and connective currents. We will be displaying our metal mobiles in the hallway outside the media center.

Art classes geared up for a public service project sponsored by the AVID students. They decorated gift bags for local disabled veterans and those living at Heritage Hall. They also collected donations of

snack size candy bars, individually wrapped gran- ola bars, small packages of nuts, and other good- ies in the pink box by the auditorium. The AVID class partnered with the American Legion Post #89 Auxiliary which will deliver and delivered the bags for Valentines day!

middle school students attended a job shadow day which was held in February. Our day began with Mike White at the Range in Bldg. 997. He volunteered to brief us on the types of projects they do at the ranges here on base. ATRC gave us tours of the classrooms they use and some hands-on use of simulation instruments they use to train students.

We ended our morning with Brian Hornamen at the WW Plant to get a tour and explanation of the system in place for processing waste Water on our base. The main theme throughout the morning emphasized how studying hard can lead to a fulfilling career.

Many thanks to these wonderful volunteers!

This spring, so it’s time to head to the great outdoors with the

Happy Camper Book Fair:

S’more Fun With Books! Pack up your gear and prepare to enjoy a wilderness adventure filled with exciting new books from Scholastic and other popular publishers. Students are invited to take a hike deep into the Book Fair forest. Give a hoot about books! And remember: although we caution you about feeding the bears, we strongly recommend you feed your teachers!

Music Notes: Mrs. B The next time you pass by the music room, notice the banners on the wall. These banners show the progress of the 3rd and 4th grade students in the Recorder Karate program. Twelve of the nineteen students have earned their “black belt” in Recorder Karate! And, we’re not finished yet! I believe we may have 100% of the 3rd and 4th grade students with black belts by the time we’re finished this unit. I am so proud of these students. They have put their musical knowledge to work by learning to play the soprano recorder. It takes a lot of hard work and persistence to play an instrument. They have certainly put in the time and effort to be successful. I am looking forward to awarding more black belts soon!

Our GRANT for Milkweed has been approved! Dahlgren School is on its way to becoming an

official MONARCH WAYSTATION

HABITAT!

Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world.

Milkweeds and nectar sources are declining due to development and the widespread use of herbicides in croplands, pastures and roadsides. Because 90% of all milkweed/monarch habitats occur within the agricultural landscape, farm practices have the potential to strongly influence monarch populations.

There are a lot of factors effecting the availability of milkweed and therefore the sustainable food source for the Monarch Butterfly through all of it's stages.

Development (subdivisions, factories, shopping centers, etc.) in the U.S. is consuming habitats for monarchs and other wildlife at a rate of 6,000 acres per day - that's 2.2 million acres each year, the area of Delaware and Rhode Island combined!

Genetically Modified Crops: Widespread adoption of herbicide-resistant corn and soybeans has resulted in the loss of more than 80 million acres of monarch habitat.

What You Can Do: To offset the loss of milkweeds and nectar sources we need to create, conserve, and protect milkweed/monarch habitats. We need you to help us and help monarchs by helping Dahlgren School's "EARTH FIRST" in creating our very own "Monarch Way-station" (monarch habitat) at our school. FIRST: We have set up a "SOIL SAVINGS" donation bank in front of the office. While we are getting assistance from not only base environmental in the clearing and marking of our planting zone, donation of wood pallets , and also from our own PTO who has purchased grow lights, and such for our nectar support systems; we have to supply the soil and nutrient maintenance system. Second: we also need volunteers to come out and help break down/reuse/repurpose the pallets we are collecting to recycle into planting beds. Power tools and strong hands are needed: hopefully attached to an adult who knows how to use them! Part of that volunteer corp will be a special someone who can take on the task of repurposing the donated barrels into compost tumblers, and building the stand. Ms. Pam has the "plans", it's really just a matter of time, tools, and tenacity! We are hoping to have the “build” done by the 20th, so we will be able to use it for STEM night, and then have the launch on the 22nd: Earth Day ! Please call Ms. P at 540-653-8822 if you have any time to donate! (The Soil Saving Spot is always there: no phone needed!!)

And finally the third way to help: once you catch the butterfly fever, you can then help promote the use of plots of "inconvenient" grounds surrounding businesses, parks, zoos, nature centers, along roadsides, and on other unused plots of land wherever you go; as being a perfect site for a way-station.

By creating and maintaining Monarch Way-Stations everywhere we can, in unused or wasted plots of land, wherever we are stationed or live in the future; we will be contributing to monarch conservation. All together we can support an effort that will help assure the preservation of the species and the continuation of the spectacular monarch migration phenomenon.

ROAD TRIP!! (or…should that be field trip??)

Middle school students finished off marking period three with a field trip to Climb Zone in Maryland. Students were instructed in climbing safety and then were able to climb any number of designs and patterns that were made into climbing walls. They raced each other and their teachers and tried every type of wall available. Many STEM standards were covered by activities geared toward math and science. Students figured the rate of ascent per second, learned about pulleys and hydraulics, and had a chance to incorporate more math skills with a multiples wall. We had a great time and want to thank the PTO for financially supporting our trip. In English, students have just completed a small research project. They completed annotated bibliographies using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style manual and their products would hold up in high school and even college courses. After spring break, we'll begin a novel study and creative writing unit. AVID students have just completed a unit of career exploration. They took several assessments to help them zero in on their strengths and researched their dream jobs. We have budding zoologists, neurologists, computer scientists, and art directors in our midst. During quarter four we hope to go on a field trip to a nearby university and do research on the best colleges to earn degrees in our fields of choice!

Created by Ms. R’s “Fabulous Fifth Graders!” During the 3rd quarter, we have enjoyed

learning many new and review skills in fifth grade. As we have learned tons of skills some were more exciting than others, so we will not mention them although we needed to learn them all! However, we had a few favorite things we learned that we would like to share.

In Math we learned several things like how to plot X’s on a graph, plotting ordered pairs on a coordinate grid, classifying and describing shapes, order of operations, and fractions. In learning to use ordered pairs we can help find certain things at certain locations. Learning math was fun!

We also learned a lot in science as well. For example, we learned about atoms and compounds. Also, we started to learn about the periodic table and learned that there are more than 100 elements. We now know that an iron atom has 30 neutrons, 26 protons, and 26 electrons.

In Social Studies, we did famous people in the Revolutionary War. We recently did book report birthdays biographies. They were tons of fun! We are now looking forward to doing battles in the Revolutionary War and dressing up as our person in history.

In our specials we enjoyed learning to dance, play volleyball, and play badminton. In art we did this sand mandala project which we loved to do. In music we learned music notes and we wrote our own songs. In Language Arts, we recently learned about the parts of speech and troublesome verbs like lie and lay and what their definition means along with learning how to use them. We also are learning about commas and where to put them in a sentence. Also, we are learning to do questions in the morning and find mistakes on the board. Lastly, we do an editing page to improve our editing skills which can help us learn to find mistakes by checking over our work. Right now we are learning about how to find main ideas and detail in a passage.

We also do activities outside of school. Previously we did math night where we got to come and play games according to your grade level. We are also looking forward to S.T.E.A.M Night (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).

We have definitely have progressed from fourth grade, but we wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of the wonderful teachers, but most importantly Ms. Riley!

Now we are ready for Spring Break! How about you?

Hello Parents, Unfortunately we had to cancel our soccer games at Dahlgren school. However, we still will hold practices and use the remainder of the season to enjoy the sport continuing to learn about the skill and strategy involved in the game along with more intramural style scrimmages against each other. I am also emailing you to inform you of the upcoming event we have recently decided to schedule in lieu of our final canceled game on April 6th. We would love to have a parents and teachers vs. student soccer game held on that Thursday, April 6th. We will play two 25 min. halves against the kids! Please reply to this email so I may start a roster of parents willing to play. We will play at the field next to the Firehouse where the students have outdoor practices. I encourage you to come out and model how much fun and healthy it can be to play sports! Do it for your children, please reply as soon as possible!!! Thanks! -Coach P

Hello! We have had a great week in pre K learning about healthy foods. They children seemed to enjoy the snacks they made. Their least favorite was the ants on the log. They seemed to enjoy the apple pizza and the moon snack. I think they will enjoy the fruit kabobs. Thank you so much for supplying us with all of the goodies to make the snacks. Next week we will be learning about ways to stay safe during exercise. Remember that Wednesday is our field trip to the pool to discuss water safety. On Thursday Mrs. Bond is going to come to our classroom to discuss what items are found in a first aid kit and what they are used for. On Friday of we will be dying hard boiled eggs and have an Easter egg hunt. Dates to remember: April 5-picture day/field trip to the pool right after pictures April 10-14-Spring break April 21-Stem night at the school 4-6 PM April 24-No school-professional development for teachers

Have a great evening!

Kindergarten is celebrating Spring! We have

looked at the properties of air and how it makes things move. Now we are beginning a study of the plants, from the ground up! We will explore everything from the sun and soil to water and air that help things grow.

1st grade had a wonderful time celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. We read as many of the books that we could of Dr. Seuss. We learned to draw some of his characters like Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant. We did such a good job on our elephant we used it to decorate our door. We also celebrated St Patrick’s Day by learning about Ireland. We drew a leprechaun and wrote about who means more to us than a pot of gold. We are becoming great readers and have been reading chapter books. We are excellent mathematicians and know how to do word problems in both addition and subtraction. We are almost ready for 2nd grade.

Dahlgren School Vision Statement: "Engage all students in varied and challenging activities that promote high levels of achievement in order to prepare them

for success in a dynamic and changing world"

Re-Registration packets for next school year have been sent out to those families who indicated that they WILL or MAY be returning to Dahlgren School next year. The form has next year’s grade level for your child so please to not change it to THIS year’s grade level.. PLEASE review all information on the form. If anything has changed or you need to add anything please do so. Rank, work phones, cell phones change and we want to be able to address you properlyASPEN, our student data base, does not always pull emergency contact information into the form as it is used throughout DoDEA and the designers recognize the frequency of families moving away. Rest assured: if you provided us the information, it is in the system. If you need to change anything, just write it in and feel free to use red, purple or highlighters so I can update the information upon receipt. Please return the forms by MAY 2. Thank o ! Ms Pam

PRESS RELEASE #1 DAHLGREN SCHOOL March 2017

SCHOOL BOARD VACANCIES

The Dahlgren School Board has announced that an election will be held on April 18, 2017 to fill four (4) vacancies on the Board. School Board members are actively involved mil- itary community members who demonstrate interest in one of the most vital aspects of our American way of life - the education of our young people.

Any adult living on Dahlgren Naval Base can enter the election. To be a candidate, each person seeking office must pick up the official “School Board Candidate Petition” from the Principal’s Office at Dahlgren School, or download and complete the attachment to this mes- sage. The completed petition, with the signature of one eligible voter, must be returned to the Principal’s office by April 6, 2017 for names to be placed on the official ballot.

School Board members are elected by parents of children attending school at Dahlgren and serve for a two-year term of office, but a two-year commitment is NOT required. These four School Board seats are for two-year terms SY 17/18 and SY 18/19.

The School Board members play an important role by being the voice of the community and serving in an advisory role to the District Superintendent. We encourage you to play a greater role in your community by running for election as a school board member. Pick up a "Candidate Petition" package at the Principal’s office, complete the petition, and return it be- fore the suspense date.

tions.

Please call the District Superintendent’s office at 703-630-7012 if there are any ques-

Page 4 No matter what: a Tiger Never Gives Up!! Dahlgren Tiger Beat

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

AMERICAS MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT, QUANTICO FIELD OFFICE

3308 JOHN QUICK ROAD QUANTICO, VA 22134

703.630.7012

OFF I CE OF TH E SU PER INT E NDENT March 16, 2017

MEMORANDUM FOR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES SUBJECT: Dahlgren School Board Election — April 18, 2017 Encl: (1) Official Petition (two copies)

(2) Guidelines for Biographical Sketch

1. Two copies of the official nomination petition are enclosed for your use in securing the necessary signature of an individual who is a qualified voter for the Dahlgren School Board Election. (Encl. 1) Only parents or legal guardians of students who are attending Dahlgren School at the time of the election are eligible to sign the petition and vote. Only one completed petition is required.

2. The official petition, with the signature, must be submitted to the Dahlgren School Lead Administrator, Mrs. Tracey Fairfax, by April 6, 2017.

3. In addition to the official petition, a short biographical sketch outlining your qualif ications should be submitted. You may wish to include in your sketch a brief reason why you wish to become a board member. (See encl. 2)

4. Here are some helpful hints for completing the petit ions:

*Be sure to ask the petition signer to print their name on the line presented, as well as signing their name on the line next to it. Also, please ask the signer to indicate their quarters and telephone numbers.

5. If you have any questions concerning any of the information given, please feel free to contact my office at 703-630-7012.

“or iginal s igned”

Helen Hughes-Balilo Community Superintendent

Enclosures as stated

Address Telephone Number

THIS PETITION, WITH THE PROPER SIGNATURE, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE AT DAHLGREN SCHOOL BY April 6, 2017. PLEASE ATTACH YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND BRIEF STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

Encl 1

You must submit 2,seperate "Petition/Nomination" forms, signed by two, different voters.

VIRGINIA DOMESTIC DEPENDENT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dahlgren School Board Election Petition

Name: Telephone (H) (W)

Address:

I, , HEREBY SUBMIT THIS PETITION PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1342.25 AND 10 U.S.C. SECTION 2164 (d) TO HAVE MY NAME PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR THE DAHLGREN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ON April 18, 2017. I CERTIFY THAT THE NAME LISTED BELOW IS AN INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIED AS AN ELIGIBLE VOTER FOR THE DAHLGREN SCHOOL BOARD.

ELIGIBLE VOTER ENDORSING THIS CANDIDATE’S PETITION, PLEASE SIGN ON THE LINE AND PRINT NAME, QUARTERS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.

Printed Voter Name Signature of Voter

Address Telephone Number

THIS PETITION, WITH THE PROPER SIGNATURE, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE AT DAHLGREN SCHOOL BY April 6, 2017. PLEASE ATTACH YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND BRIEF STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

Encl 1

VIRGINIA DOMESTIC DEPENDENT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dahlgren School Board Election Petition

Name: Telephone (H) (W)

Address:

I, , HEREBY SUBMIT THIS PETITION PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1342.25 AND 10 U.S.C. SECTION 2164 (d) TO HAVE MY NAME PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR THE DAHLGREN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ON April 18, 2017. I CERTIFY THAT THE NAME LISTED BELOW IS AN INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIED AS AN ELIGIBLE VOTER FOR THE DAHLGREN SCHOOL BOARD.

ELIGIBLE VOTER ENDORSING THIS CANDIDATE’S PETITION, PLEASE SIGN ON THE LINE AND PRINT NAME, QUARTERS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.

Printed Voter Name Signature of Voter

GUIDELINES FOR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

At the t ime you submit your petition, please include a brief autobiography which may be used to publicize the School Board Election in the Base newspaper and via One Call Now and will be available for review by the voters at the poll ing place. Here is some helpful information to include in your autobiography:

Your name and Family Background

The number of children you have and the schools they attend

Education and Professional Skil ls

Your Experiences and Community Involvement

Your personal interests and hobbies

Your reason for running for the Dahlgren School Board

Any additional information is welcomed. If you have any questions, please call the Community Superintendent's Office at 703-630-7012 or Dahlgren School at 540-653-8822.

POSSIBLE TIMELINE

2017 School Board Election

DoDEA NYVAPR - Dahlgren School

Date (2017) Action

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

1. School Board meeting a. Announce vacancies (# of vacancies) b. Nomination forms available c. Identify School Board Representatives d. Approve election date

Monday, March 27, 2017 1. ONE CALL NOW MESSAGE FROM DSO a. Vacancies b. Election date c. Candidates needed

Thursday, April 6, 2017 1. Deadline to submit a. Candidate Petition with eligible voter signa-

ture/recommendation b. Biographies

Monday, April 10, 2017 Tuesday, April 18, 2017

1. ONE CALL NOW MESSAGE FROM DSO 2. Election/voting reminder notice

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 1. School Board Election Dahlgren School 2. Count ballots

NLT (April 25, 2017) 1. Superintendent announces election results within sev- en days of (April 18, 2017) election

Wed, April 19, 2017 POTENTIAL: SCHOOL BOARD MEETING – Swearing In