June 11, 2021 - Week 34

 Hello Dale Street Families,

Wow-what a week!  It began with some very hot temperatures and ended with an incredible Field Day.  It is amazing that we only have four and a half days left in this most unique year.  We anticipate a very busy week ahead with many more exciting activities! I hope everyone gets a chance to rest up this weekend as we head into the final week!  Please take a minute to review the awesomeness that occurred this week.

On Tuesday, Dale Street staff honored 2 amazing Dale Street employees. We were able to thank Music teacher, Barbara Oxholm and Administrative Assistant, Megan Infantino for everything they have done for our students, their families, and our staff. Barabara is retiring and Megan and her family are relocating out of state.  We will miss both of them greatly.

Community Invited to Learn About New School

The School Building Committee (SBC) is inviting all residents to attend a public forum for the proposed new elementary school on the Wheelock campus. The forum is scheduled for Sunday, June 13 at 4:00 at Dale Street School.

Community members may participate in-person at Dale or may choose to watch the forum live on Medfield TV. Either way, the SBC is encouraging the community to come or tune in and learn more. One of the main topics addressed at the forum will be the site selection of the Wheelock campus and will include a discussion of both the advantages and disadvantages of the campus model.

Other items to be addressed are costs, resources spent to date, timelines, and the impact of a recent citizen's petition to keep the project at Dale Street. There will be ample time to answer residents' questions and for community discussion.

Just because we're taking a break from school for the summer doesn't mean you need to take a break from reading!  Check out our Medfield Summer Literacy Website for resources and information to keep your family reading, writing, and talking all summer long! 

Congratulations to this week's Positive Referral!  Thank you for making Dale Street such a great place! 

On Wednesday, Mrs. Vancura and I got to have a closeout meeting (and share cold treats) with Dale Street's Student Council to thank them for all of their efforts this year.  We are so proud of these leaders and know that they will continue to do great things!  

This week, grade 4 Cohort D students participated in some end-of-the-year math review with Mr. Davanage. Congratulations to Cameron who solved the mystery picture! 

We had an awesome Field Day on Thursday!  Special thanks to Wellness teachers, Mrs. Nawrocki and Ms. Laughna for organizing a wonderful, fun-filled day for our students. 

This week, Grade 5 students in Ms. Condon's class shared their research topics and the artifacts they created as part of their 'History & Me' project. You can read the Room 6 History & Me book here. They did an awesome job! 

On Thursday, Library Media Specialist, Ms. Sweeney and I facilitated a Summer Reading Assembly over Zoom to talk about Dale Street's Summer Reading expectations.  We sent out these communications today: 

Letter to Families

Book Recommendations

Check out the Grade 5 Egg Drop! Students played the role of design engineers to create contraptions that would safely hold an egg.  We have very talented students with such creative ideas!

Ms. MacDonnell's class had a 'day at the beach' to help battle the hot days we had this week.

The Grade 5 Celebration will be Thursday, June 17th, and Friday, June 18th (this will be a rain date) at 9:30 a.m. for Dale Street's Grade 5 Celebration.  This year, the Grade 5 Celebration will take place on the basketball court outdoors and we are hoping for dry and nice weather.  Grade 5 families are welcome and we are asking that all guests bring a lawn chair for seating in an area off the pavement.  The health and safety of our students, their families, and the staff continue to be our number one priority. Therefore. we are asking that there are only 2 guests per student and that you refrain from bringing children.  In addition, if you are not seated more than 6 feet apart from a non-family member you are expected to wear a mask.      

Current Grades K-4 Transition - On Friday, June 18th, at or around 1:00 p.m., teachers will be sending out an email welcoming incoming students and their families to their class for the 2021 - 2022 school year.  Along with the introductory email, there will be a link to a Flipgrid of all of their classmates for next year - including their new teacher.  At the end of August (before students return to school), students will have the opportunity to visit their new classroom, drop off any school materials they have, and meet their new teacher in person.  The exact day and time of this ‘Meet and Greet’ visit is still being worked out and building principals will be sending out information over the summer with more detailed information.     

Current Grade 5 Transition - Current Grade 5 students will participate in a transition afternoon visiting the Blake Middle School on Thursday, June 17th.  Students will board a bus at 12:10 p.m., travel to the Middle School to participate in meetings with Blake staff, and return to Dale Street around 2:00 p.m.  Grade 5 teachers will be accompanying students on this trip.  Blake will be sending out an email on Wednesday, June 16th to inform students of the cluster they will be in and the advisor they will have next year so they can head up to the Middle School knowing this information. 

To begin the week, Grade 4 students in Ms. Plmpton's class worked with solar cells. Students had great conversations about renewable energy.  

In the afternoon of Tuesday, June 15th all Grade 4 classrooms will head outside for a whole grade recess and some refreshing treats.  Our amazing PTO has graciously donated watermelons and popsicles for the students to enjoy.    

Grade 5 students will receive their yearbooks (Thanks PTO!) on Friday, June 18th at 9:30 a.m.  Students will have an opportunity to have peers sign their yearbooks during this time.  We also have a special PTO treat planned!    

On behalf of the students and staff at Dale Street, I want to thank all the families and our incredible PTO for everything you have done this year.  You have treated us amazingly!  There have been some questions regarding end-of-the-year events and classroom celebrations.  Although it looks like we are certainly heading in the right direction, we are not fully out of the COVID woods yet.  Therefore, Dale Street will not be having any classroom celebrations that parents will be attending. 

Grade 5 has a plethora of end-of-the-year activities and is super excited for Field Day, the Egg Drop, Grade 5 Celebration, Transition to Blake, and Yearbook Signing.  Grade 4 is also excited for Field Day, their Summer Reading assembly, Popsicle/Watermelon event, and learning their new teacher and classmates for next year.  Grade 4 is asking if Room Parents want to help out by creating a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activity for the students in the class and send in the activity by Monday, June 14th.

We are a school that prides itself on having parents in and around the building.  As much as we would love families to be involved in our year-end activities as in previous years, unfortunately, this will not be possible this year.  Thank you for your understanding.     

Please send students to school with a refillable water bottle with their name on it so that they can stay hydrated throughout the day. We have a large number of unclaimed reusable water bottles in our lost and found that may belong to your child- please tell them to stop by and look if you are missing one.  Putting your child's name on it will ensure that it is returned if found. Students may refill their bottles using one of our two bottle filler stations. We hope to be outdoors as much as possible for the remainder of the year so students may wish to have a hat and sunscreen moving forward as well. 

Is your child missing a sweatshirt? A lunch box? A water bottle?  All of the above?? 

Please ask them the check the overflowing lost & found!  Tables with lost and found items have been placed in the lobby.

Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school year.

Like in past years, the PTO is partnering with 1st Day School Supplies to get all your supplies for your student for next school year. 

The teachers have given us the supply list for each grade and 1st Day School Supplies will assemble and deliver them for your child.

All name-brand supplies will be packaged individually for your student.  Items will be shipped to the school and ready for your child on their first day.  

Sign up now.  The sale closes July 1st!

https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/list.php?school_zip=02052

Please make sure all Dale Street Library books are returned to school ASAP.  Thank you for your cooperation in making sure our library is ready for next year's students.

Student Transfers

Any students transferring to another school district or attending a private school, please make sure to contact the office before the end of the year.

Dale Street Timeline

Tuesday, June 15th - All Grade 4 Recess with Cool Treats

Thursday, June 17th - 9:30 a.m. - Grade 5 Celebration  (Rain Date - June 18th), 

Thursday, June 17th - 12:15 p.m. - Grade 5 Transition Day 

Friday, June 18th - 9:45 a.m. - Gr 5 Yearbook Signing

Friday, June 18th - Last day of school for all students, dismissal at 12:00 p.m. - Please update School Dismissal Manager

Friday, June 18th - Report Cards sent home and Incoming Grade 5 Transition Letters emailed in the afternoon

Have an awesome weekend!

Steve

Respect * Compassion * Collaboration * Continuous Growth

June 4, 2021 - Week 33

 Hello Dale Street Families,

Thank you for taking a minute to check in this week.  It was another awesome week here at #beproudbedale.  Take a look...

Congratulations to this week's Positive Referrals!  Thank you for making Dale Street such a great place! 

On Thursday, Dale Street hosted a breakfast in honor of Medfield's First Responders.  This idea was a brainstorm of the Student Council at our May meeting.  Thank you to all of the Dale Street students who took the time to create a card for Medfield Police Officers and Medfield Firefighters, our terrific kitchen staff for providing refreshments, and our honorees for working so hard to keep us safe.  It was a wonderful morning!  

Dale Street Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 10th (Rain Day, Friday, June 11th).  Mrs. Nawrocki and Mrs. Laughna are planning an exciting day of activities for our 4th and 5th graders.  Grade 4 will participate in Field Day during the morning (9:15 - 11:30) and Grade 5 will participate in the afternoon (12:20 - 2:35). Field Day will take place on the field between the Dale Street and Memorial Schools.  Classes will have the opportunity to rotate through nine stations. Classes will rotate with their classroom. All activities will take place on the field and on the blacktop. 

We have found it to be helpful to: 

**have students wear comfortable clothes and sneakers on this day 

**apply sunscreen before coming to school.  Please provide more sunscreen for re-application. 

**send children with a hat and extra water on this day. 

Classes will be eating bagged lunches. Students may bring their own bagged lunch or purchase a bagged lunch from the cafeteria. Note: There will be no other lunch options on this day.

So proud of Alex, in Ms. Plympton's fourth-grade class, for sharing his independent study project this week.  Students loved seeing his creative way of showing what he learned through a demonstration and breakout room.  Way to go, Alex!

Dale Street School's Reading Specialists, Mrs. Bassett and Mrs. Callahan have been working with small groups of students to practice reading skills through a project called “Stones for the Soul.” 

Students have been collaborating to create a theme for a book they have collectively read. They are writing and decorating their message on a series of beach stones, using outdoor paint. The messages are inspirational life lessons that will uplift your soul. 

Be on the lookout for our “Stones for the Soul” at some of the local businesses and community locations around Medfield! You are sure to enjoy their messages and beauty!

On Tuesday, students in Mrs. Ross' and Mrs. Seaver's fifth-grade class participated in a really cool chemical reactions experiment.  Students enjoyed this hands-on activity and it actually produced glowing results. Special thanks to the non-profit team of Ph.D. scientists (SEED-Science Engineering Education Development) and the Mass Cultural Council for funding this fantastic science grant.  

Please save the dates of Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th (this will be a rain date) at 9:30 a.m. for Dale Street's Grade 5 Celebration.  This year, the Grade 5 Celebration will take place on the basketball court outdoors and we are hoping for dry and nice weather.  Grade 5 families are welcome and we are asking that all guests bring a lawn chair for seating in an area off the pavement.  The health and safety of our students, their families, and the staff continue to be our number one priority. Therefore. we are asking that there are only 2 guests per student and that you refrain from bringing children.  In addition, if you are not seated more than 6 feet apart from a non-family member you are expected to wear a mask.      

Check out the amazing artists we have at Dale Street!  Click here to view the virtual art show.

This week Mrs. Flynn's book club created Makerspace artifacts and as you can see they are fantastic!  I am so proud of their dedication and the thinking they have put into reading this year. 

With the warm weather here, please send students to school with a refillable water bottle with their name on it so that they can stay hydrated throughout the day. We have a large number of unclaimed reusable water bottles in our lost and found that may belong to your child- please tell them to stop by and look if you are missing one.  Putting your child's name on it will ensure that it is returned if found. Students may refill their bottles using one of our two bottle filler stations. We hope to be outdoors as much as possible for the remainder of the year so students may wish to have a hat and sunscreen moving forward as well. 

MEDFIELD ALL NIGHT GRAD PARTY (ANGP) - Now ‘PARTY IN THE PARK' 

Help us keep the decades-long Medfield tradition of safely celebrating MHS Senior’s Achievements!

Line the streets on June 5th at 1pm & wave the Seniors on.

After the Rally, the Class of 2021 will attend a ‘Party in the Park.’ This will be a fun & safe space for the seniors to Celebrate together.

We really can’t do this without your kind support. Any level of donation will be greatly appreciated.

Please donate here: www.medfieldangp.com

Is your child missing a sweatshirt? A lunch box? A water bottle?  All of the above?? 

Please ask them the check the overflowing lost & found!  Tables with lost and found items have been placed in the lobby.

Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school year.

Like in past years, the PTO is partnering with 1st Day School Supplies to get all your supplies for your student for next school year. 

The teachers have given us the supply list for each grade and 1st Day School Supplies will assemble and deliver them for your child.

All name-brand supplies will be packaged individually for your student.  Items will be shipped to the school and ready for your child on their first day.  

Sign up now.  The sale closes July 1st!

https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/list.php?school_zip=02052

Please check the Lost & Found for any missing items.  

Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school year!

Please make sure all Dale Street Library books are returned to school ASAP.  Thank you for your cooperation in making sure our library is ready for next year's students.

Wednesday, June 9th - 2:15 - Next Student Council Meeting

Thursday, June 10th - Field Day (Gr 4: 9:15 - 11:30, Gr 5: 12:20-2:35), Gr 5 Egg Drop 9:15 - 11:30 (Rain Date - June 11th)

Thursday, June 17th - 9:30 - Grade 5 Celebration  (Rain Date - June 18th)

Thank you for checking in this week.  Enjoy your weekend!

Steve

Respect * Compassion * Collaboration * Continuous Growth