Duval Dispatch
Growing a Garden!
Week of April 28th
Dear Duval Families!
We hope everyone had a good week off! Some nice days to have gotten outside and enjoyed the Spring!
We have just 7 weeks left of the year. This last chunk of the year is always filled with class activities, grade level celebrations, and whole-school events. From finishing MCAS to Teacher Appreciation Week to the newly developed Night of the Arts on May 15th to the Book Fair and Family Night to Fun Day to saying goodbye to our "graduating" 5th graders, there are lots of things to enjoy about being a Dolphin in this stretch!
We have full days and mostly full weeks ahead other than Memorial Day and the last day of school. Barring any snowstorms, the last day is June 13th. To keep track of the many events, we are trying to add as much as we can to the calendar here in the newsletter and the Google doc linked below.
Have a wonderful week back everyone!
Dr. Marcus and Ms. Craig
This Week's Weather- Warming up!
Important Info
MCAS Note Tradition! (Thank you Theme Team!)
To encourage and support our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students as they continue on their MCAS journey this spring, we invite families to help us line our hallways with notes of encouragement! If you were unable to make it into the building last week, please send in a note (sealed in an envelope) or email the note to your child's teacher and we can paste them to the banners! Shhhhh it's a surprise!
Picture Day is coming up on 04/30/2025! Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school. Order online at https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/0014EWF
If you can help out with Teacher Appreciation Week, please sign up below. Thanks, PTO.
Breakfast- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-55756857-taw2025
Treats- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-55756867-taw2025
Important news note from PTO.
- All entries must be outlined in black marker.
- Deadline to submit is May 9th with voting the following week.
- All artwork must be the student's original work.
- Please include name on the back in pencil (we want to identify the winner but try to keep submissions anonymous for voting).
- Theme is "Growing a Garden."
Safety and Traffic Notes
We've put up some additional signs recently, but as a reminder, there is NO PASSING during drop-off and pick-up, and the back of the building is only for kids and school staff during the day.
With warmer weather, a reminder that all students commuting on wheels MUST have a helmet on as per Mass General Laws. Also, no e-scooters please.
If kids want to come back to play, they MUST wait until 3:30pm, AFTER dismissal is fully over.
News from the Nurse
Heart Association Kids' Challenge
Last Week at Duval
Dolphin TV
PTO NEWS!
It's hard to believe we're in the final stretch of the school year already! We have so many fun events between now and June 13th, so please make sure you have an active CORI on file if you haven't done so already. You do not want to miss out on Book Fair, field trips, or Fun Day!
Fun Day sign-ups will be posted on Friday May 23rd. As always, they will be sent out earlier to parents that have volunteered throughout the year as a thank you. There are still a couple of opportunities left to lend a hand before that in order to get first dibs on Fun Day slots.
Before we get into all that, though, it's time to take a moment to care for our amazing Duval Teachers and Staff! Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off a week from today! Please see the flyer below for a list of activities and the Sign-Ups here to donate goodies for our incredible faculty!
Breakfast- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-55756857-taw2025
Treats- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-55756867-taw2025
A final reminder that PTO board nominations for the 2025-26 year remain open and will be voted on at our final meeting of the year on Tuesday, May 13th.
Thank you and enjoy the May weather!
Marshall Ottina
President, Duval PTO
Upcoming Events
April 28- Welcome back!
May 5-9- Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6- Duval School Council Mtg. 4pm. Virtual. Email Dr. M for the link.
May 6- Kindergarten Information Night (for next year's K families)
May 6/7- 4th Gr Math MCAS
May 7- 2nd Gr trip to NRT in Easton
May 8/9- 5th Gr Math MCAS
..................
Calendar Items for the Year. Click HERE.
Save the Date
Also, if anyone can help Mrs. Brown hang up the artwork May 5-12th, please email her.
Community Corner
Miles for Meals 5K
The National Honor Society will be hosting its annual Miles for Meals 5K and 1 mile walk on Saturday, May 3 at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. The race will begin at 10:00am and all proceeds will be split between the Whitman and Hanson food pantries. Participants of all ages are welcome!
The rainbow crosswalk by the gym entrance serves as our start/finish line and there will be members of NHS cheering you on as you walk or run around our school campus. If you plan to participate in the race, please arrive no later than 9:45am to check in and browse our raffle items.
If you would like to sign up to walk the mile or run the 5K please visit: milesformeals.racewire.com.
In addition to runners and walkers, the National Honor Society is also seeking donations as well as raffle prizes. If you are interested in participating this way or have any questions regarding this event, please reach out to Amy Medeiros and James Dunn, advisors to the National Honor Society. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Amy & James
Helpful Links
Infinite Campus Log In for grades, class info. Need help? Contact Tech: 781-618-8100
The WHRSD and Duval School PTO Facebook pages.
Anonymous Bullying or Harassment reporting: call 781-618-7086
About Us
John H. Duval Elementary provides a safe, supportive environment where children are able to reach for the stars!
Email: john.marcus@whrsd.org
Website: https://whd.whrsd.org
Location: 60 Regal Street, Whitman, MA 02382
Phone: 781-618-7055
Twitter: @DuvalElementary