Moving into October

We are closing our first month of the school calendar and there has been a lot of activity!  Our first annual PTO meeting took place Wednesday evening-thanks to all who attended and thanks to our PTO for graciously continuing to provide funding for materials and activities that enhance the learning of our students!

Our first Parent Advisory Council took place on Tuesday evening.  We discussed PBIS and sources for parents to find school information including the blog, the monthly newsletter, and the website.  Please check your district calendars for the dates of our 3 remaining PAC meeting dates.  We meet at 5:30 pm in the DC library.  Specific information will come home in the October Newsletter.

Looking forward, Wednesday, October 1st is our first student early release day for staff professional development.  The student day concludes at 11:30 am.  For parents interested in after school early release activities for their students, we offer BEYOND THE BELL through our recreation department.  Students are supervised and participate in activities allowing parents and option for after school care on our days of early release.  Contact our recreation department at 482-8484 for more details.

Thanks for a great September!  Looking forward to October and beyond!

Social Contracts, Community Circle, and Character Traits

New for this year each classroom has developed a social contract which highlights how the students and teachers wanted to be treated and will treat one another.  Social contracts are displayed in each classroom and are referred to by the entire class in times of question, conflict, and gathering.

Additionally, we are implementing Community Circles every day to share information, resolve conflict and promote Student Choice and Voice to assist our students in being active owners in their education and stakeholders in our school climate.

Continuing from last year is our reflection on Character Traits each month.  We review each character trait, discuss what it looks like, and reflect upon each trait when we gather together.  The character traits for each month are as follows:

September         Respect-Showing high regard for authority, other people, self,

                                property, and country. Treating others as you would want to be treated.

October               Responsibility-Being accountable in word and deed. Having a

                                sense of duty to fulfill tasks with reliability, dependability, and commitment.

November          Thankfulness - Feeling and expressing gratitude

December           Caring-Showing understanding of others by treating them with

                                kindness, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness.

January                Self-Discipline-Control of one's own words, actions, responses,

                                and/or emotions.

February              Citizenship-Being law abiding and involved in service to school,

                                community, and country.

March                   Honesty-Telling the truth, admitting wrongdoing and being

                                trustworthy.

April                      Courage-Doing the right thing when faced with difficulty instead of

                                following the crowd.

May/June           Fairness-Practicing justice, equity, and equality. Cooperating with

                                one another. Recognizing

                                Perseverance-Continuing a good course of action despite difficulty.

Stay Informed!!

If you are reading this you have found the Principal's Blog!  Other ways to stay updated on DC information are to review the Principal's Note which comes home monthly in the Wednesday Take Home and is then posted to the website located directly underneath the calendar.  You can also find live updates to events by following us @dc_principal on TWITTER.  The TWITTER feed can also be viewed on our website.

A Great First Week!!

KICKOFF WEEK

We have had a great first week at DC.  Students and staff have put in some great work building our school culture by developing Social Contracts in their classrooms, hosting community circles, and clarifying our expectations throughout the building to ensure that each student is growing as A FRIEND, A LEARNER, and A LEADER.  Today our 8th grade students will be participating in the first annual DC cardboard regatta where teams build boats out of cardboard and plastic and see who has the most sea worthy vessel in our DC pool.  A lifeguard will be present and students are equipped with life jackets.  Check the website for up to the minute Twitter updates and pictures.

This afternoon, we will be modeling our playground expectations with an all school fun and sun activity at 1:00 pm.  Students and teachers will be participating in basketball, tether ball, 4 square, kickball, and all of the outdoor activities we have available.

We will conclude kickoff week with a performance by America's Got Talent Performer Connor Doran as he shares his anti-bullying message and performs his indoor kite flying show.  Live updates will be posted on the website!!

BREAKFAST

Parents, our breakfast program is up and running.  The doors open at 7:40 for students to eat breakfast in the cafeteria.  Students can also pick up breakfast items as they arrive and take them "to go". We want to be sure that every student who need breakfast has the opportunity.

VOLUNTEERS AND SUPERVISORS

Parents, if you are interested in volunteering at DC please stop by our office to complete a volunteer background check form.  This allows you to volunteer in our building, supervise field trips, and help out as your time allows.  We are also looking for paid lunch/recess supervisors and substitute lunch/recess supervisors.  Hours are 10:30 am until 1:30 pm and the position pays $8.50 per hour.  Contact the main office at 414-482-8401 if you are interested.

WELCOME BACK!!

It was great to see all of our students and families who attended our Open House last evening!!

As we move into the new school year there are a few key pieces of information I wanted to share:

BREAKFAST

Our breakfast program will be hosted in the lunch room beginning at 7:40 am.  Students will enter through the playground doors to the lunch room and pick up their breakfasts and sit at their grade level tables.  NEW FOR THIS YEAR:  Students who arrive later can take their breakfast "to go" in a prepared bag which they can eat prior to the beginning of school.  It is our goal to make sure that every student who needs a morning meal has the opportunity to eat!!

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS

Our theme at Deer Creek is "THIS IS WHO WE ARE" we are making sure that every student is clear on our expectations and that our school is the safest learning environment it can be.  During week one of school each classroom will spend extensive time visiting each area of the school to clarify behavior expectations. We encourage and expect our students to:

BE A FRIEND

BE A LEARNER

BE A LEADER

Check often with your students to discuss what this looks like at DC.  We are also implementing our ACT NOW bully prevention program in partnership with Children's Hospital to ensure that classroom lessons are being taught so our students are certain on how to treat one another.  We will focus on the STOP, WALK, TALK model that teaches our students to tell a bully or someone who is not treating them as they should be treated to STOP, then to WALK away and to TALK to an adult immediately.  There is no time to wait when you are not being treated as you should.

COMMUNICATION

You will receive in the first take home the homework statements from each of your student's teachers so you are positive of what homework looks like in your child's classroom.  The PRINCIPAL'S BLOG is linked to the front page of our website and is updated every Friday.  A monthly newsletter from the principal will come home and also has a link for an electronic version on our homepage along the right hand side beneath the calendar.  A homework page including the classroom homework statements is being developed. Quarterly we will have Parent Advisory Council Meetings which are noted on your district calendars as are Parent/Teacher Conferences.

We look forward to a great year.  I am excited to see you all on Tuesday!!

Registration and Picture Day

Registration packets were mailed home on Monday, August 4th.  Deer Creek/Willow Glen Registration will take place on August 12th from Noon to 6 pm and August 13th from 8 am until Noon in the Deer Creek Gym Building.  Pictures will be taken at registration.  There will be a picture re-take day once the school year begins.