October 23, 2026
Dear Dunstan Families,
Last week ended on a high note with a visit to our Debate Club, sponsored by Mr. Davis! More than 40 students are learning the strategies and critical-thinking skills that are essential to effective debate. During my visit, the students, Mr. Davis, and I discussed the importance of considering a variety of perspectives, crafting effective arguments, and evaluating ideas as a way to continue learning and growing. The students are highly engaged, enthusiastic, and already looking forward to their next formal debate!
It has been a busy week at Dunstan, filled with opportunities to connect with students, share a laugh, and experience the many joyful moments that happen throughout the school day. These moments remind us why we do what we do and lift everyone's spirits!
Celebrating Student Activities and Achievements
There has been plenty of excitement outside the classroom this week, too!
Each grade level competed in the PTA-sponsored Penny Wars, bringing plenty of friendly competition to our school! I have a feeling that 8th grade may come out on top once again, as they have for the past two years! We will announce the final results next week, and the winning class will celebrate with a reward of their choice, such as an ice cream party. Thank you to our PTA for organizing this fun opportunity to bring our school community together!
Volleyball also got underway this week, and we have enough students to form four teams this year for 6th and 7th grade students! I want to extend a special thank-you to the City of Lakewood and Ms. Pruitt for making this opportunity possible and serving as coach. We appreciate your time and commitment to our students!
Please enjoy the photos from our recent Band Concert included below! Each grade level performed several songs, and the concert was enjoyed by all. Our students continue to demonstrate impressive musical skill, dedication, and a desire to improve.
I am especially proud of our new band teacher, Ms. Bayert, who transitioned from elementary school to middle school this fall. I also want to recognize our band students, who have navigated a transition from Mr. Estell, who attended the concert, to Ms. Bayert. Both transitions are significant, and everyone has done an excellent job! It is wonderful to see the tremendous musical growth students make from 6th through 8th grade.
Our students have also been learning beyond the classroom through meaningful field-trip experiences. Dr. Bridges, our Spanish teacher, took several classes to a local coffee shop to explore coffee production in Guatemala and the sale of coffee in Colorado. Experiences like these help students connect what they learn in Spanish class to the world around them. When you have the opportunity, please thank Dr. Bridges for arranging this valuable learning experience!
Meanwhile, Ms. Waterhouse took students to the Jeffco Theater Festival at the Arvada Center. Students had the opportunity to connect with peers from other schools, learn about different theater programs, and engage with theater professionals. Please thank Ms. Waterhouse for her continued work in building and growing a thriving theater program at Dunstan!
Building Community Through WEB
Friday afternoon brought one of the week's highlights: our 80-plus WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) leaders hosted a 6th Grade Social!
This social is open to all 6th graders and provides an opportunity to have fun, spend time with friends, and strengthen their sense of belonging at Dunstan. I especially value that our school socials are free for all students. I have learned that this is not always the case at other middle schools, and we believe every student should have access to these opportunities. As students navigate the transition to middle school and develop their sense of connection to our community, experiences like these help create positive, lasting memories.
Thank you to the many families who donated snacks and drinks for Friday's social, and to Ms. Baker, Ms. Fisher, Ms. Golgart, and our incredible WEB leaders for making the afternoon such a success. It takes a community working together to create these experiences, and we are grateful for everyone's contributions!
For families who may be less familiar with WEB, the program provides meaningful leadership opportunities for our 8th graders while helping our incoming students feel welcomed and connected. Eighth graders apply and are selected to serve as WEB leaders. Each leader is assigned a group of approximately 12–15 sixth graders whom they mentor throughout the school year.
Our WEB leaders also plan and facilitate monthly community-building activities in the cafeteria and teach social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons during advisory classes. Through these experiences, they help younger students build relationships, develop important skills, and feel more connected to Dunstan.
Our WEB leaders make an incredible difference in our school community. They demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to helping others. I am exceedingly proud of the meaningful contributions they make to Dunstan!
Supporting Students Through Collaboration and Preparation
While we celebrate the many activities and accomplishments happening throughout our school, some of our most important work takes place behind the scenes through collaboration among our staff.
Every Wednesday morning, our core academic and exploratory teacher teams meet with counselors and administrators to review student data, including academic progress, behavior, and attendance. Together, we identify students who are thriving and those who may benefit from additional support. These meetings allow us to be proactive, share perspectives, problem-solve, and establish goals that address individual student needs.
We also rotate our focus among students with Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, and our Multilingual Learners (MLLs). At times, we invite families to join these meetings so we can work together to develop strategies and determine the best ways to support their students. These ongoing conversations help us make informed decisions and ensure that we are continually responding to students' needs.
Our grade-level teams also met this week to review and confirm testing accommodations. We carefully monitor which accommodations are appropriate and beneficial for individual students and work to ensure they have opportunities to practice using them. Our goal is for students to feel prepared, confident, and comfortable with their accommodations well before CMAS testing begins.
Listening to Our Community and Strengthening Inclusion
I also want to thank all of our families for allowing their students to participate in the surveys about our on-track events. Hundreds of students have responded, and we did not receive a single family opt-out. This strong participation will help us gain a more representative understanding of our students' experiences and perspectives.
I will share the survey findings with a joint meeting of our Accountability Committee and Positive Behavior Supports Committee. Following that meeting, I will update our community on what we have learned and the steps we are taking to make our on-track event system more inclusive of all students.
Our work will continue next week, when our counselors conduct student interviews to gather additional perspectives from students who were included in last year's events and those who were excluded. Hearing directly from students will help us better understand their experiences and identify meaningful opportunities for improvement, particularly for students in groups who may face additional barriers to participation, including students with 504 plans, IEPs, and multilingual learners.
We will consider this feedback alongside the survey results and the input families have shared with me. Together, these perspectives will inform changes to our approach so that more students can participate in celebrations and feel recognized for their efforts, while also helping us strengthen the support we provide to students throughout the school year.
This is ongoing work, and we are committed to evaluating our changes over time to understand whether they are making a meaningful difference. Our goal is to build a system that better reflects our values, supports our students, and creates opportunities for more members of our community to experience a sense of belonging and celebration.
Thank you for your partnership as we continue listening, learning, and improving together.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
This week brought so much joy to Dunstan, especially during our lunches, recesses, and Friday's 6th Grade Social. These everyday interactions and shared experiences are an important part of what makes our school community special.
Thank you to our PTA for organizing Penny Wars, to the staff members who create meaningful learning opportunities for our students, to our coaches and activity sponsors, and to our 80-plus WEB leaders who give so generously of their time and energy. Thank you, too, to our families for your continued support and partnership.
I am grateful to be part of a community that works together to help students learn, grow, connect, and thrive. I look forward to sharing more of our students' accomplishments and our ongoing work with you next week!
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.
In partnership,
Jennifer J. Pennell, Ph.D.
