Duval Dispatch

Dear Duval Families!

We hope everyone is warm and dry on this rainy, windy long weekend!

An exciting four day week coming up at Duval! We've got 50s Day on Thursday and can't wait to see how 5th grade takes on the Decades Celebrations. We're learning about Digital Citizenship this week with some nice resources curated by Mrs. Salamone for K-5 to use. We've got a PTO meeting on Tuesday evening, along with the usual Dolphin TV on Friday, and third grade heading to Plymouth also on Friday.

Part of our Digital Citizenship work will be around recording of others. Students will hear (and we welcome your support) that video and audio recording in school or on the bus is not allowed. We'll emphasize privacy and safety in this evolving digital world.

Have a great week everyone!

Dr. Marcus and Ms. Craig

This Week's Weather: Rainy then cool.

Our teachers have many ways to check your child’s reading and mathematics development and growth, including our District’s reading and mathematics screening tools. Please note, we are required by law to screen students in grades K-3.

Our district screens students K-8, using the following tools:

DIBELS 8th Edition for elementary students.

i-Ready Diagnostic in reading and mathematics for K-8 students.

Both of these assessments are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Your child will be screened three times during the school year. Your child’s results from the first screening can be accessed following these instructions:i-Ready Diagnostic Letter to Families 25-26.pdf. All students receive a 35 minute "What I need Block" (WIN) four times each week to develop their strengths and work on areas of need identified by these screeners. In addition, all students have their i-Ready Path which uses the results from i-Ready Diagnostic to create a personalized path of online lessons at their independence and instructional level in areas where they need the most support.

Thanks to the couple of parents who have volunteered so far. We are looking for a few more volunteers to come to recesses one day a week to be the Ump/Coach for either soccer or football games on the turf. You definitely DON'T need to be an expert!

Please email Dr. Marcus with your availability. This is a great opportunity to hang out with kids, have fun, and help make recess that much better!

Along with the assembly, EVERYONE is invited to dress like the decade each big decade culmination day. So find your hair grease, bobby socks, and blue jeans, and dress like the 50s this Thursday, Oct. 16th!

Along with our 50s theme, we are also joining the national celebration of Digital Citizenship Week. Let's take this opportunity to help our children become positive users of various digital media, emphasizing Kindness, Responsibility, and Welcoming as key values in this evolving age of electronic communications.

The PTO and the office are now working together to make Box Tops fundraising even easier. These days, Box Tops money is collected by scanning supermarket receipts (not sending in those little tabs). Just send in any and all of your supermarket receipts with your kids. WE will do the scanning for you! So easy, and a great way to work together to raise funds for Duval!

We have called a few families this week and the phones aren't working. Please make sure your info is up to date with the office.

Reminder: Students MAY NOT record (neither video nor audio) ANYONE at ANY time at school or on the bus without express adult permission. Please make sure your children understand this rule.

Getting ready for our big Oct. 31st event, Pumpkin Day. We're asking folks to send in a big pumpkin for each classroom. Please check with your child's teacher.

Here is the October News from Nurse Andersen. Please check it out HERE.

Thank you.

Hello Duval Families!

Our Napoli fundraiser was a HUGE success- we officially brought $350 back to Duval! We are so appreciative of all the families who participated and very thankful to Napoli for allowing us to do this event.

Monster Mash is officially next week- reminder that tickets must be purchased by this Wednesday 10/15. We still need help to keep all our stations up and running. This event is a great time to give a little bit of time to make a huge difference, the students love this event and it’s lot of fun! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-45106037-monster

We also ask for snack donations for this event- and have spots for our spooky snack contest- which you can sign up for here-

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849A8AC2EA5FA7-45397111-monster#/

The next event we are super excited for is our Annual Basket Raffle and Auction. This event is held on 11/21 at the Whitman VFW at 6pm. Classrooms basket collections have begun. Please see flyer for classroom themes and some ideas. We appreciate ALL donations and will be sure everything ends up in the right place.

Finally- our second PTO meeting of the year will be held tomorrow night (10/14) at 7pm in the Duval library. We will be discussing all of the upcoming events as well as some new ideas for enrichment programs. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming dates to save:

10/14: October PTO meeting 7p

10/24: Duval Monster Mash 6-8p

11/18: November PTO meeting 7p

11/21: Basket Raffle @VFW 6p

As always, the easiest place to stay up to date is our PTO Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FUCwwUi5g/?mibextid=WC7FNe . Send any questions to duvalpto@gmail.com.

Have a great week!

-Duval PTO

Dolphin TV is on Youtube for YOU to see!!

Check out this week's episode featuring Gabby, Kendall, and Hadassah HERE.

Our Channel is HERE to see all broadcasts.

Please click on Subscribe so our livestreams can be seen by more people!

Oct. 13- No School

Oct. 14-17- Digital Citizenship Week

Oct. 14- PTO Meeting

Oct. 16- 50's Celebration Day!

Oct. 17- 3rd grade trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museum

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Calendar Items for the Year. Click HERE.

• WH Elementary Handbook

• School Lunch Menus

• Infinite Campus Log In for grades, class info. Need help? Contact Tech: 781-618-8100

• School Status (emails, texts from WH or Duval)

• YMCA Before/After School Care Information

• The WHRSD and Duval School PTO Facebook pages.

• Anonymous Bullying or Harassment reporting: call 781-618-7086

Please check out our Family Welcome Packet as it has LOTS of information for families both new and old! Pacote de boas-vindas à família em português.

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