Duval Dispatch

Dear Duval Families!

Welcome to March! This is a busy week, so read on for some events planned.

This is Read Across America Week. Please see descriptions below.

In another Duval first, on Friday, we are going to take a drone picture of the whole school "eating" an enormous chocolate chip cookie in honor of Whitman Chocolate Chip Cookie Day and celebrating Whitman's history as the birthplace of the Toll House cookie! We need regular brown cardboard or paper grocery bags! If you have any, please send them in to help us "bake" this big cookie!

Please also note the Talent Show info in the PTO section. We can't wait to see and be part of this wonderful tradition!!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Dr. Marcus and Ms. Craig

This Week's Weather, a bit warmer

A couple of fun events in celebration of Read Across America Week.

- Teachers will be inviting special community "guests" to read to classes through the week.

- Tuesday is Crazy Fox In Sox Day. Wear your craziest socks!

- Wednesday is Dress like your favorite Book Character Day! Can't wait to see all the great children's literature characters come to life at Duval!

Along with those literacy events, we will also have Welcome Assembly with Josh Winer on Thursday where kids will get a preview of the work ahead. And Friday, we'll be "baking" a giant chocolate chip cookie to celebrate Whitman history.

If anyone has some older t-shirts that we could use as smocks during the Artist in Residence program, that would be great! Thanks for your help!

We began discussing words with Staff last week. Parents (at a PTO meeting), and School Council will be working on this soon. The final list will become the core values of Duval, and act as the basis for all we do at school, including expectations on how we interact and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Thank you all for your help in laying the foundation with us!

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 24-25.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.

PLEASE stay in your cars if at all possible during Drop Off and Pick Up.

For safety sake, we still ask younger walkers to have an adult meet them on the grass on either side of the crosswalk. Adults MUST be out of a car. And we THANK so many of you who do that each day!

At this time, we ask everyone to check Infinite Campus to make sure your phone and email info is correct. On our last email, we had over 50 bad email addresses!

MCAS Dates coming up in a few weeks.

March News from Nurse Andersen. Please check it out HERE regularly.

Thank you.

Feb. 28th episode is HERE.

Dolphin TV Channel is HERE to see all broadcasts.

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

Mar 3-7- READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK!

Mar. 4- Fox in Socks Day

Mar. 5- Dress Like A Book Character Day

Mar 6- Artist In Residence Intro Assembly

Mar. 7- Whitman Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Mar 10- Josh Winer begins residency at Duval

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Calendar Items for the Year. Click HERE.

Hey Dolphins,

Congratulations again on a very successful Boosterthon! The PJ Day and Pie in the Face event were so much fun!

We are getting Talent Show preparations underway. Sign up forms went home over the break but they are also available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBOkXL4utvMoY5ue-EQwAXoXlN-0kn5iaDCEKLX9T1V66XBw/viewform

Please have your forms returned by March 7th! Email duvaltalentshow2025@gmail.com with any questions.

Marshall Ottina
President, Duval PTO

SAVE THE DATE- MARCH 27, 2025 6:30 pm

Protect Your Kids in the Digital World: Join Our Cyber Safety Event!

In today's hyper-connected world, our children are exposed to online dangers like never before. From cyberbullying and inappropriate content to online predators and identity theft, the risks are real. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to keep your kids safe!

Join us for a crucial cyber safety event presented by the District Attorney's office. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain the information you need to navigate the digital landscape and ensure your child's safety, whether they are in preschool or high school. Don't miss this essential event!

• School Lunch Menus

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

• YMCA Before/After School Care Information

• The WHRSD and Duval School PTO Facebook pages.

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

• 🐣 Did your grown up read down to here? If so, be the first to tell Dr. M or Ms. C how many books you plan to read this week, and win your class a prize.

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