Friday, March 12, 2021

March 12, 2021 - Week 22

Hello Dale Street Families,

What a fantastic, exciting, and reflective week here at Dale Street. A year ago today was the last time #beproudbedale had all students learning in-person.  Wow - we have all been through so much.  However, everyone associated with Dale Street; students, staff, and families have been so resilient, supportive, and amazing.  Thank you!  Dr. Marsden announced last night at School Committee that all students at Dale Street will be returning to in-person learning on Monday, March 22nd.  With this great news and the awesome news that there are more vaccinations on the way - there are brighter days ahead, for sure.   

This week students in Ms. Hayes' fourth-grade class used pattern blocks to explore equivalent fractions.  Great job! 





On the year anniversary, our SUPERHERO staff had to be recognized for what they have done over the past year. They are all amazing! I am truly blessed to work with these phenomenal educators.  Thank you to our super generous PTO for supporting us again! 

Getting Everyone Back Into the Building

As many of you have heard, students at Dale Street will be returning to full in-person learning on Monday, March 22nd. Here is an important letter that went home to all families today.  Our primary focus continues to be providing the maximum amount of safety for students and staff. I will do my best to keep families informed of our progress and timeline as March 22nd moves closer.  Currently, we are continuing to work on logistics and considering how to serve lunch while following the safety protocols.  I will continue to share our progress as we move forward. Next week, once we have our plans solidified with meaningful details, I will be sending out a communication to all families.  Thank you for all you have done to support your children and our school!   

Congratulations to Justin on receiving a Positive Referral this week for demonstrating Dale Street's Core Values.  Way to go, Justin!


This week Mr. Davanage's Grade 4 Cohort D students had fun participating in writer's workshop.  Students selected two characters from two fiction books and created their own story in which the two characters met.  Great work, young learners - So cool!   



We will be starting our Tournament of Books competition next week!   The winner will be announced before April vacation.  Here is how it will work: 

  • 3/19 Vote 1: Milo Imagines the World vs. Your Place in the Universe
  • 3/26 Vote 2: We Are Water Protectors vs. Stand Up! Speak Up!
  • 4/2 Vote 3: I Talk Like a River vs. The Stuff of Stars
  • 4/9 Vote 4: Greta and the Giants vs. Outside In
  • 4/12 Round 2 Vote 1
  • 4/14 Round 2 Vote 2
  • 4/16 Final vote, winner announced

This year's theme: 'The World Around Us.'  The following books are in the competition:

  • Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Christian Robinson
  • Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker, illustrated by Zoe Persico
  • The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
  • Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby
  • I Talk Like A River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith
  • Stand Up! Speak Up! by Andrew Joyner
  • Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin
  • We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
Dale Street students (and staff) have worked so hard to make heart maps focusing on quotes from poems that “speak” to them.  The hallways look amazing with these heart maps.  Special thanks to Dale Street reading specialists, Mrs. Bassett and Mrs. Callahan for organizing this great activity.   


In case you missed the notification last week, we have been notified by DESE that the MCAS testing window has been delayed.  MCAS testing will now take place for Dale Street students between May 10-June 11.  We will let you know our new testing dates as soon as they are finalized.    

Students in Ms. Plympton's fourth-grade class took control of their learning today and created their own Gimkits (a classroom game-show platform where students compete by answering questions) while working with improper fractions and mixed numbers.  Bravo! 





 

The 5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest will be accepting entries until April 9th.  Click here for all the details and guidelines for entries. Be creative!

Through next week, Wednesdays are half-days of in-person learning for alternating cohorts. These days are fully synchronous (with minor exceptions) for the cohort not in-person.  This allows for more in-person learning and students at home still participate in real-time.  Next week (March 17th) we will have Cohort B in-person.  

Dale Street Students - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • In-Person/Zooms will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. -  (This includes a mask/snack break and a 15-minute or 30-minute special subject.)
  • Lunch will be from 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • Dismissal will begin at 12:30 p.m.  


Dale Street staff members had another opportunity this past Wednesday to share additional insights/feedback regarding the teaching & learning space design for the Elementary School Project.  If you would like to view the February highlights, please click here.    




The Dale Street Math Challenge is on!  Students are free to solve as many problems as they can and will have about a week to turn in their work. Students can hand in a hard copy of the challenge to the office or email it to Mrs. Perachi (bperachi@email.medfield.net) prior to the due date. 

More information, including a calendar of important dates and a link to download and print the challenges and solutions, is available here. Questions regarding the math challenge program can be directed to Dale Street math specialist, Mrs. Perachi.

Congratulations to our Math Challenge T-Shirt Raffle Winners: Max in Mrs. Ross/Mrs. Seaver's class and Katrina in Ms. Sager's class!


Check out some of the great door decorations which are part of the PTO "Spring Forward" Door Decorating Contest.  Check back next week to see which class wins!







We will be holding virtual parent-teacher conferences on Thursday, March 18th from 12-3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 23rd from 12:00-3:30 p.mThese are early release days and students will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m.  Please be sure to update School Dismissal Manager to reflect your child's dismissal plans on these days.

**On Tuesday, March 30th, the Elementary Principals will be holding a webinar to discuss placement procedures for the 2021-2022 school year.  Details to follow. 

**On Tuesday, April 6th, there will be a parent webinar for the upcoming 5th grade health unit on adolescent changes. Details to follow.


Please do not bring balls from home to use at school.  
We have school balls available for students to use which are disinfected after each recess.  
Thank you for your cooperation!


4th Grade Destination Imagination team members Maddie Abba, Elizabeth Barrette, Katie Dewar, Kacey Herrick, and Lily Maley want to help the Medfield Food Cupboard by making birthday boxes and they’d love your help! Between now and March 15th, they are collecting the following donations:

  • New and/or “like new” children's books 
  • $10 gift cards to a local shop
  • Boxes of cake mix and cans of frosting
  • Sprinkles and Birthday Candles
  • Handmade birthday cards

There is a collection box outside of Dale’s main office. Thank you for your support!

Feeling stressed, down or anxious? Need to talk to someone about it?  Medfield Outreach is offering drop-in hours.  Check out this flyer for details.

New events for the month of February challenged students in unique ways - playing while balanced on one leg, perfecting the technique of slurring, and performing a song they love for someone they love for Valentine’s Day. February wrapped up our last month of Band Olympics. Our closing ceremony included an overview of the Olympic games and section stats. Congratulations everyone on a great season!

February Winners

Gold: The Chromatic Kingdom of Reeds (Clarinets)

Lewis Bormann, Miles Hajj, Benjamin Simonini, Paige Uzzell

Silver: The People’s Republic of Fermata (Saxophones /Oboes) & The United Nation of Treble Clef (Flutes)

Nathan Bills, Samantha Brady, Elizabeth Cumming, Andrew Glenn, Owen Goodband, Rowan Hoffman, Dylan Poikonen, Connor Ryan, Grant Sullivan, James Callahan, Maverick MacPherson, Finn Posner, Phoebe Allenby, Abigail Boxmeyer, Rose Keysor, Rebecca Roux, Lucy Shield

Bronze: The Noted Empire Of Dynamica (Trumpets/Horn) & The Provinces of Forte (Trombones/Percussion)

David Arnold, Joseph Callender, Adam Farne, Eric Gelormini, Dylan Kovacs, Andrew Munz, Steve Rahley, Decker Smith, Parker Kathan, Zoe Maher, Blake Michaelidis, Auden Erwin, Joseph Esposito, Allan Han, Gavin Liddy, Claire Saulnier


You are invited to join the Medfield Cares About Prevention Community Coalition and help us make change in the Medfield community. To learn more about how to get involved, email Meri Haas at mhaas@medfield.net.

Any Medfield resident in need of food may contact the Food Cupboard at 508-359-4958 or email: info@MedfieldFoodCupboard.com. Please note all inquiries are confidential.

Thursday, 3/18 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12pm Early Release Day

3/19 - Student asynchronous learning day

Monday, 3/22 - Full In-Person Learning Begins

Tuesday, 3/23 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12 pm Early Release Day

Friday, 3/26 - No student day (Teacher PD Day)

Tuesday, 3/30 - Elementary Principal Webinar: Placement Process for 2021-2022

Friday, 4/2 - No School (Good Friday)

Tuesday, 4/6 - Gr 5 Parent Webinar: Adolescent Changes

Enjoy your weekend! 

Steve

Respect * Compassion * Collaboration * Continuous Growth

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