Back to School Newsletter

Dear Dodge Family,

I am so excited about this upcoming school year! We have some great work to do and I am looking forward to it. We are continuing our mission of creating leaders! We are doing this through a program called, “ Leader in Me”. This program is based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I hope that as we learn throughout the year, you hear your child using the language. Our goal is to create confident, lifelong learners and leaders! We are also working diligently to soar academically. It has been a challenging 3 years and our goal is for every student to be on or above grade level.

I encourage each of you to read the student/parent handbook. It is filled with great information that will help you as a parent at Dodge. Dismissal procedures are included and important. Navigating car line is often a tedious task but if everyone is familiar with the process, it will go much smoother. The first few weeks are the toughest but as students learn their numbers and carline procedures, it will quickly speed up. Please be sure that your child’s teacher knows how your student gets home each day. I also encourage you to join your teacher’s Dojo or Remind notification system. This is a great way to stay in touch with your child’s teacher.

I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. We have an awesome year planned for your children. Go Eagles!

Mrs. Merryman

Each child should be in uniform every day. It is very helpful for the child's first and last name to be in the jacket so that we can return it when it is lost.

• Students will be able to get out of the cars starting at 7:30- do not unload before the teachers are outside and say to unload
• Parents must stay in car pool line - do not park in the parking lot
• Students need to be ready to get out of the car (all belongings together, hair finished, and goodbyes said)
• It helps for students to get out on the passenger side of the car.

Our goal this year is to reduce the amount of tardies. We would love for all of our students to be in the classroom before 8:00. Teachers begin teaching at 8:00, we want all of our students to get every bit of their lessons!

Food for Thought

Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.

Early dismissals stop at 2:00. We will not be allowed to get a child out of class after this time. Please plan all doctor appointments around this time.

• Students are allowed to walk to four different places
• the walker tree - parents walk down here and meet them at this tree
• the park
• Kingswood church
• your home
• Please DO NOT park in the street or pick your child up on the street. This is VERY dangerous and also causes traffic jams
• All walkers need a rainy day plan. We suggest getting a car pool number, helping your child learn this number, and read over car pool procedures.

• Help your child learn their bus color
• Help your child learn their bus driver's name and encourage them to greet the driver each day
• Be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before time for the bus (in the beginning, you might want to arrive earlier and give the bus driver grace as he/she learns the route and timing for different stops)

• Always have your number hanging before you enter the drive. If you forget it, please drive down and park in the parking lot. You will have your ID checked, be given a number, and will have to go back and get in line.
• Please pull as close to the car in front of you as possible; the closer the cars are, the more students we can load at a time.
• Help your child learn their car pool number before the first day of school. This helps them to get out to the car faster.
• If you do not have your child when we start to move the car line, you will just take your first left into the parking lot and we will put the number back on the screen. This will help keep the line moving.

***PLEASE NOTE: Car pool will take more time in the beginning. Please be patient and kind. Remember to follow directions of the teachers working the carpool line (i.e, stay in the lane unless directed to switch lanes, pull closely, stay in your vehicle). We promise things will go faster if everyone follows the directions given and everyone learns the procedures.

• Please arrive at school no later than 2:55
• Park in the gravel parking lot and enter the gym through the side doors
• Please have your parker pass ready to show - if you forgot it, please stop by the office with your ID

Having your email connected to home connect allows for you to get updates when your child takes an AR test. Students are encouraged to take 1 to 2 test a week. The more the kids read, the more they know! If you need help getting connected to your child's AR you can contact Mrs. Wendt at the school or by email. Her email is cwendt@mcpss.com.

The teachers use schoology to keep track of grades. Parents have a parent account that they are able to access their child's grades at anytime. If you need help getting your account set up you can contact Mrs. Woodard at the school or email her. Her email address is kwoodard@mcpss.com. The document below provides directions on how to get into your parent account.

https://mcpss-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/p/kwoodard/EZtWKGAW0UlOqfCeEWQOV4kBCxnKIZM8Ua5HlvERvaUprA?e=fXWLEC

Yearbooks will be on sale for $30 through November 1st. After this date they will be $35. You may purchase them during Meet the Teacher.

**Unfortunately we had to raise the prices a bit this year due to production cost of the yearbooks. Thank you for your understanding.

We would like to welcome our new staff members.

Quaitsha Anderson - Paraprofessional

Rebecca Luker - Paraprofessional

Meloney Griffin - PRE-K Paraprofessional

Keri Williams - Third Grade Teacher

Lyndsey Shelton - Third Grade Teacher
Jill Busbee - SPED teacher