Our weekly newsletter is designed to keep you abreast of all the action at DFS and also get you ready for the upcoming week of school. Please take a few minutes over each weekend to read it in its entirety. Thank you!

*If a day of the week is not listed below, it is because there were no major events to detail.

*New events are in bold.

• Strings Lessons
• ASE - Card Making - Gr. K-5 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Room 30)
• ASE - Gym Games - Gr. 3-5 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Gym)

Tuesday, October 1

• ASE - Brooklyn Robot Foundry - Grades 2-5 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Learning Commons)

Wednesday, October 2

• Bus Evacuation Drills - Keep Your Child Safe by Riding the Bus Today!
• Student Council Applications Due by Noon
• ASE - Dance - Gr. 2-5 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Gym)
• ASE - Art - Gr. K-2 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Art Room)
• ASE - Taekwondo - Gr. K-5 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Cafe)

Thursday, October 3

• Happy Rosh Hashanah!
• Schools Closed

Friday, October 4

• Student Council Primary Vote - Grades 4 & 5 Only
• Fire Prevention Assembly - Kindergarten
• ASE - Chess - Gr. 3-5 (3:35 - 4:30 @ Learning Commons)
• ASE - Gym Games - Gr. K-2 (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Gym)
• ASE - Rock U. - (3:35 - 4:30PM @ Music Room)

“I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship.”

—Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Novelist

DFS students love diving into the incredible selection of books on offer in the Learning Commons. Mrs. Ferraro does an incredible job ensuring our collection is updated with exciting additions each year, actively promoting the importance and joy of becoming a lifelong reader!

With only 181 days to learn each school year, every day truly does matter. If your child is not ill, the best place for them is DFS! Please take a look at the week's attendance data and help us ensure all students maximize learning this year.

Daily Attendance

Monday: 97.6%

Tuesday: 97.7%

Wednesday: 97.7%

Thursday: 97.6%

Friday: 97.5%

August/September Daily Attendance Average: 97.7%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Kindergarten: 98.8%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade One: 98.1%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Two: 97.6%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Three: 96.9%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Four: 97.7%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Five: 97.6%

We are constantly on the lookout for new ways to enrich our DFS students’ learning experience. To this end, we offer students in grades three, four and five the opportunity to participate in the WordMasters Challenge™. For over 25 years, WordMasters has been helping students:

• Expand their vocabulary

• Develop verbal reasoning skills through the use of analogies, and

• Most importantly, have fun!

“Thanks for the terrific year! My students discovered the power of words and

enjoyed adding so many to their vocabulary! We had a great time!”

–Ames Middle School

The WordMasters Challenge™ consists of three 20-minute analogy-solving meets held at school throughout the year (November, February and April). Prior to each meet, the students are given a list of 25 challenging vocabulary words that will appear in the Challenge Test analogies. Excellence in the competition will require both a mastery of the word meanings and thoughtful reasoning about the relationships between the words. The sign-up deadline is Friday, October 4, 2024.

GO FOR IT!

Parent Letter Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C-VJm9VwoN9pHnM_aYlnUwCA8tbVmnHu/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108531574664205173707&rtpof=true&sd=true

Promotional Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13eiRljZ7y7QqYeCTqD0gWWwGh1lOElVy/view?usp=sharing

Sample Words & Analogies:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nKc2ximXt2ik7A3cAP489WRB7eqRNnez/view?usp=sharing

Sample Analogies Answers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rzIuHB5LLRA-PkyLa3-xZ426xEiDTyy_/view?usp=sharing

Sign-Up Link: https://forms.gle/5qnhyeQtRhxFhBd4A

We are excited to have our grade 3, 4 & 5 students begin their Scripps Spelling Bee journeys this year! Whether they advance to regionals or make it all the way to the National Competition in Washington, D.C., we are creating a tradition and lasting memories for our students.

Our school spelling bee will take place in late January at DFS. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 who sign-up to participate will be invited to attend a few after-school practice sessions prior to the bee. These practices sessions are focused on the format of the bee and strategies for spelling aloud in front of an audience and peers.

Attending the practice sessions is not enough to do one's best on this endeavor. After signing up, all students will receive the school spelling bee study list and must spend significant time preparing individually. Before your child signs up, please discuss this necessity to ensure an informed decision.

While we would love to have all the students who sign-up participate in the January spelling bee, we must cap our finalists at forty students based on a written spelling test earlier that month. This ensures we can finish the event in a few hours on a school night.

The sign-up deadline is Friday, October 11, 2024.

Spelling Bee Sign-Up Link: https://forms.gle/ufChN7tMALLgynwp6

Thank you!

It's time to sign up for the this year's Battle of the Books! Last year, DFS students had a blast battling our friends from Jane Ryan with around thirty three-member teams participating in each grade level. Everything you need for your 3rd, 4th or 5th grader to join is linked below. Mrs. Ferraro will also pump up excitement during next week's Learning Commons lessons. Go for it!

Promotional Trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xIJLSpq78VnyWF-j1lSTEEssUN3ROfK0/view

Gr. 3 Flyer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ydigjrm_OTUlph8VKivJ_cawJNhpYvj98_fjFoTfsIc/edit?usp=sharing

Gr. 3 Book Trailers: https://padlet.com/rferraro5/grade-3-battle-of-the-books-1vherf7afqn8hk0v

Gr. 4 Flyer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y3xvo9SRtFWftGCCmzHoBIeqQvCTpTFhuZPLPTXcRNg/edit?usp=sharing

Gr. 4 Book Trailers: https://padlet.com/rferraro5/grade-4-battle-of-the-books-nbrbzl3eokmckwte

Gr. 5 Flyer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BfTkrBG0gIavqeKrybnmaRlP6K9kwWjhvX3K-o_yjl4/edit?usp=sharing

Gr. 5 Book Trailers: https://padlet.com/rferraro5/grade-5-battle-of-the-books-3a7091uj4g8zxm6k

Sign-Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhaUCQqYVAg0Cr3rw6e2TCyf0riV7MusKteygqy8l6nz_tUg/viewform

During PM carpool dismissal, parents enter their child's carpool number once they are in line along Daniels Farm Road using the link below. The link allows daily access to a Google Form as follows:

1. Open the form (LINK: https://forms.gle/CDjvEC31yvPabfqL6 or use the QR code on the right)
2. Enter your child's carpool number.
3. Hit "submit".
4. Repeat this process for each child you are picking up that day.

This must be done each day you are picking up a student. Please DO NOT enter your number until you are in the car line on Daniels Farm Road or there will be too many students in the waiting area. If you bookmark the form on your phone, it will be easy to access on the days you need it. Below you will find a short video demonstrating the process.

Instructional Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzaVbMQwYjYZ17V__qhjQYDQQUILLXJc/view?usp=sharing

Please read and follow these important rules to keep all our students, families and staff safe.

• We do not sacrifice safety for convenience and speed.

• PARENTS MUST STAY IN THEIR VEHICLE. Students should be able to exit the vehicle during AM carpool drop off without parental help. This allows for a smooth flow of traffic so that students can be in class on time.

• All students must enter and exit on the passenger's side of the car.

• Please pull up all the way to the blue sign at the top of the circle.

• Cars must stay in line and only pass other vehicles if directed by DFS staff.

• When exiting carpool, please turn right only. Left turns are extremely dangerous due to blind spots created by the line of traffic and rate of speed of oncoming cars.

• Morning drop-off begins at 8:20AM and ends at 8:35AM. Students may not exit their vehicle until 8:20AM during carpool drop off. Staff is on duty at 8:20AM each morning, with no supervision prior to this time. Allowing your child out of the vehicle early places them in a potentially dangerous situation.

• Afternoon pickup begins at 3:15PM and ends at 3:35PM. Students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade should be picked up from 3:15 to 3:25 PM. Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade should be picked up from 3:25 - 3:35PM. After this time, students are brought to the front office.

• Parents choosing to walk their children to carpool may enter the area from the front or rear of the property. You may not walk through the bus area. You may not park in the staff lot and walk your child to carpool to avoid waiting in line.

DFS WEBSITE LINK: https://dfes.trumbullps.org/