September 8, 2023 - Week 2

Hello Dale Street Community! 

Wow! It sure was a hot week here at #beproudbedale. I am so proud of the studnents and staff for dealing with the heat in such a flexible and creative manner.  Their efforts, as we navigated the heat wave, were incredible.  A huge thank you to parents who reached out to help in any way we needed - just another reason the Medfield community is the best of the best.  Even though the temperature were very high for this time of the year, there was a lot of great things happening at Dale: a lot of project-based learning, the start of instruments, and our first fire drill.  It has really been a great start!

Congratulations to this week's Positive Referrals! 

Dale Street's Open House is next Tuesday, September 12th. Our format has changed this year and we are excited to announce that students and their families are welcome to attend. Families with last names beginning with A-L are invited from 5:00 - 5:45 PM. Families with last names beginning with M-Z are invited from 6:00 - 6:45 PM. These times have been set to assist with parking given the anticipated attendance. Thank you for your understanding. Families should plan to go to their child’s classroom to begin the night. In the classroom, guests will receive information as well as a scavenger hunt form that will provide opportunities for families to learn about their child’s classroom, explore daily schedules and routines, and meet a variety of Dale Street staff members (i.e. special subject teachers, school nurse, etc…). In addition, representatives from the PTO, MCPE and SEPAC will be available to share information about each of these amazing organizations. We hope to see you there!

On Tuesday, Mr. Douglas' fourth-grade class visited Mrs. Loweree in the Makerspace.  Students had a great time collaborating and creating to build a comfortable chair for a specific animal.  Special thanks to the very generous MCPE for funding these awesome learning blocks.  

Dale Street is looking for volunteers (one representative and one alternate from each classroom) who would like to talk with their classmates about concerns/initiatives in their classroom or the school.  These concerns/initiatives are discussed and tackled at our meetings in an effort to make our school a better place.  If your child is interested, here is the information they need to know.   All completed letters of interest are due by Friday, September 15th, and should be turned in to the student's classroom teacher.  

This week students in Mrs. Flynn's fourth grade class worked in teams to see who could build the longest paper chain using only the following materials: one piece of construction paper, one pair of scissors,  and a foot of masking tape.  Great collaboration!  

Positive Sign Thursday! 

'YOU BELONG!'

On Wednesday, students and staff practiced our first fire drill of the school year. Everyone did an amazing job! We will do these drills randomly throughout the year to allow all kids to practice.  Here is the letter that was sent out following the fire drill. 

Dale Street, along with Memorial and Wheelock are implementing a new math program this year - Illustrative Mathematics.  Students jumped into the program this week and students and teachers seem to really like it.  A great part of this program is it encourages all students to participate and construct their own learning.

All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill, a family emergency arises, or for a religious observance. Children returning to school after a communicable disease and/or five consecutive days absent must also have a doctor's note and report to the school nurse before returning to the classroom. Parents of children who are absent (6 or more unexcused days per term) will be contacted by the principal.

Sample Excused Absences

1. Medical/dental appointments or verified illness (notification from practitioner due within 5 school days after the absence, and must contain dates of illness/visitation)

2. Religious holiday

3. Chronic illness document by a treatment provider/primary practitioner

4. Suspension

5. Extenuating circumstances determined by the administrator

Sample Unexcused Absences

1. Family vacations

2. Absences resulting from competitions, fatigue and/or other activities

3. Illness not requiring a doctor’s attention

This week, grade 4 students in Mrs, Scott's class had the opportunity to 'taste' a lot of different books from different genres in their classroom libraries.  What a creative and fun experience for students!

Interested in becoming a Room Parent? 

Go to medfieldk8pto.com, click on your child’s school and fill out the Room Parent Volunteer Form by September 15. Room Parents help communicate information to parents regarding PTO initiatives and teacher needs. Room Parents also coordinate all class parties and teacher gifts. If you have questions,  please reach out to Claire Pickering (clairepick@gmail.com).

September Lunch Menu

It was so great to have small group and ensemble lessons begin this week at #beproudbedale.  Students received their instruments on Wednesday evening and there were a lot of happy students to begin music. 

If you have not already done so, please send in a student physical if you have a child currently in Grade 4. Thank you!

I am excited to share that the three elementary schools will participate in the same Spirit Days this year on the same days.  Our first Spirit Day will be on Friday, September 15th.  Here is the School Spirit calendar for the year.  Spirit Day participation is always voluntary. 

This week in World Language with Señora LeVangie Grade 5 students practiced greetings & introductions. ¡Mucho gusto!

Parents dropping off children at Dale Street should drop students off in the parking lot between Dale Street and the Pfaff Center after 8:10 a.m.  There is no supervision prior to 8:10 a.m.  Students should not be dropped off at the door located on Adams Street unless they are arriving late to school (after 8:25 a.m.).

Be sure to label all items: clothing, water bottles, etc.!  All unclaimed items in the Lost and Found will be donated to charity periodically throughout the year.

PICTURE DAY IS COMING!

Tuesday, September 19th is Picture Day! More

information to follow.

Tuesday, September 12th, 5-7 PM - Dale Street Open House

Friday, September 15th - Elementary Spirit Day - Patriots Spirit Day

Tuesday, September 19th - Dale Street Picture Day

Monday, September 25th - No School - Yom Kippur

Wednesday, September 27th - Rainbow Run (rain date 9/28)

Click here for the link to Community Postings

Follow us on Facebook - K-5 Medfield Elementary Schools

Follow us on Twitter @s_grenham

Thank you for reading this week's blog. Please check back again next Friday.

Steve

Inclusivity * Respect * Responsibility * Continuous Growth

September 1, 2023 - Week 1

Hello Dale Street Community, 

The 2023-2024 school year started this week with energy, enthusiasm, and positivity.  What a way to begin!  The #beproudbedale students were met with a super greeting upon their arrival on Wednesday - thank you, PTO!  Our focus this week was making connections and team building with our students.  Take a look at some of the scenes and also check in on some important information about some upcoming events.  

On Wednesday, we welcomed back our 402 fourth and fifth graders.  It was a fantastic day!  I would like to send a huge shout out to the awesome Dale Street staff for coming in over the summer to make sure that everything was just right for the students' return and to Nesse McCabe and the PTO who offered their assistance on this special day.   

Positive Sign Thursday!

'I AM A DALE STREET ROCKSTAR!'

On the first day, I had the wonderful opportunity to host a Dale Street Standards of Behavior assembly.  Here is the slideshow students viewed at this assembly. 

On behalf of the Dale Street students and staff, I want to send a HUGE thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Anastasiadis for coming into Dale over the summer to paint one of the student bathrooms.  It looks great and we really appreciate your help.  

The Responsible Use Policy (RUP) is a set of guidelines for using technology at Dale Street. The document is on a Google form and it can be accessed by clicking here. Please review each part with your child and then both the student and parent should digitally sign at the end to indicate student understanding and willingness to follow these guidelines. The questions are optional, but encourage students to reflect on all of the components. There will be ongoing discussions about the RUP throughout the school year. Thank you for helping your child be a responsible user of school technology.

We are presently looking for Grade 4 parents/guardians who would like to volunteer to serve on the Dale Street School Council.  This year meetings will be held via Zoom on October 17th, December 5th, January 16th, March 26th, and May 14th at 3:15 p.m. Please contact the Dale Street office (508) 359 - 5538 if you are interested.

This week there was a lot of collaboration while making connections and building relationships.  Check it out...

This year, Dale Street (along with Memorial and Wheelock) will host an Open House for students and families.  Dale Street’s Open House will take place on Tuesday, September 12th.  Students with the last names beginning with A-L will visit from 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. and students with last names beginning with M-Z will visit from 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.  Open House will be a wonderful opportunity to visit your child’s classroom with your child to learn about the subjects that they will be immersed in throughout the year and the special subjects they will be part of each week.  Families are encouraged to visit Mrs. Gustafson, Dale Street School Nurse at some point during their visit for any medication and/or health form drop offs.

Again this year, the Dale Street School will have a Student Advisory Council.  The objective of this group will be to talk with their classmates about concerns/initiatives in their classroom and/or the school.  The Student Advisory Council will consist of one student from each homeroom in Grades 4 and 5. There will also be an alternate selected from each homeroom.  Students interested in serving on the Student Advisory Council must write a one-paragraph letter of interest.  This letter of interest will be distributed on Thursday, September 7th, and must be received by the close of school on September 15th.  The Student Advisory Council will meet once a month on Tuesday afternoons (starting in October) from 3:10 - 3:50 P.M.  

Dale Street encourages you to join us in modeling three key messages:

School is important!

Your child can do it!

We are here to help them!

Please view this important information. 

Please note the state requires we collect physicals on all students entering Grade 4. If you have not already done so, please send a copy of a physical exam, completed in the past 2 years, to the nurse's office.  Additionally, if your child has any allergies or medical needs, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Gustafson (kgustafson@email.medfield.net)  

Arrival and dismissal worked out really well this week.  As a reminder:

• Students should not arrive at school prior to 8:10 a.m. 
• Parent/family drop-off at arrival is in the staff parking lot between the Dale Street School and the Pfaff Center.  Please pull all the way forward and do not have students exit their vehicles until they arrive at the Dale Street staff member.  
• When necessary all families should consistently monitor School Dismissal Manager to update students' dismissal plans.  

Interested in becoming a Room Parent? 

Go to medfieldk8pto.com, click on your child’s school, and fill out the Room Parent Volunteer Form by September 11. Room Parents help communicate information to parents regarding PTO initiatives and teacher needs. Room Parents also coordinate all class parties and teacher gifts. If you have questions,  please reach out to Claire Pickering (clairepick@gmail.com).

September 4th - No School - Labor Day

September 6th - Band Rental Night - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (HS Cafeteria)

September 6th - String Rental Night - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Dale Street) 

September 12th - Dale Street Open House (with students) (5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Last names A-L) (6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Last names M-Z)

I am so proud of the work our students and staff are doing. Thank you again for your continued support and hard work.

Have a wonderful long weekend,

Steve

Inclusivity * Respect * Responsibility * Continuous Growth