Dunstan Newsletter

December 20 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians of Dunstan Students,

This has been a joyful week for us! We are all tired, students and staff alike! That said, we have had musical performances, On-Track Celebrations, and a whole school assembly to honor the work that has occurred this semester and to end this fall with fun!

Thank you PTA for the goodies you brought for the staff on Thursday! We appreciated our staff!

We have 3 teachers who received grants through the Jeffco Foundation this week: Mr. Dave Clark, Ms. Pruitt, and Mr. Landrum. These are educator-specific grants to fund needs in their classroom and work. Ms. Pruitt received a grant to purchase videos that address the social-emotional need of teens. She is going to try these in addition to the Second Step curriculum that SELs use across Jeffco Schools.

During break, please take time to connect with your child(ren) and have fun with them! They love and appreciate the time with you. Teens want time with their parent(s)/guardians(s) in which they are seen, heard, and are valued!

Please be safe and rejuvenate this break and we will see you in January 2025!

With much love and respect, - also please look at the photos of our fun events with your students!

Jen Pennell

December:

• 23-30: NO SCHOOL FOR WINTER BREAK

January:

• 1-2: NO SCHOOL FOR WINTER BREAK
• 3: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
• 6: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
• 8: PTA Meeting 6-7 PM @ DMS
• 20: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF (MLK Day)

February:

• 12 and 13: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:30 PM

• 14: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

• 17: NO SCHOOL FOR PRESIDENT'S DAY

• 25: 5th/6th grade Orchestra Concert, GMHS auditorium, 6:00 PM

• 26: 5th grade Band Concert, DMS gym, 6:00 PM

• 27: Dunstan Band and Jazz Band Concert, DMS gym, 6:00 PM

March:

• 5: PTA Meeting 6-7 PM @ DMS

• 6: GMHS Spring Musical matinee for DMS 8th graders

• 6: Choir Performance @ DMS cafeteria, 6:00 PM

• 11: 7th-12th Grade Orchestra Concert, GMHS auditorium, 6:30 PM

• 17-21: NO SCHOOL FOR SPRING BREAK

• 24: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

April

• 16: 5:00-6:30 PM SEL Resource Fair for incoming 6th-grade students and families
• 25: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

May:

• 7: PTA Meeting 6-7 PM @ DMS

• 9: 8th Grade Dance

• 12: Elementary/DMS Orchestra Concert, GMHS auditorium, 6:00 PM

• 13: 5th Grade Band Concert, DMS gym, 6:00 PM

• 14: Dunstan Band and Jazz Band Concert, DMS gym, 6:00 PM

• 15: Dunstan Choir Concert, DMS cafeteria, 6:00 PM

• 16: GMHS Graduation

• 22: 8th grade last day of school

• 23: Last day of school for 6th and 7th, Early Release

Dear Families:

Panorama Education is a company who conducts surveys in schools and districts across the country. Dunstan will be giving students the Jeffco Listens Student Engagement Survey in the coming months.

Content. This short survey will gather information on the following topics throughout the year:

• School Belonging

• School Climate

• School Engagement

• School Teacher-Student Relationships

• School Rigorous Expectations

• School Safety

• Supportive Relationships

• Academics

You may review the survey questions for each topic.

The results are compiled into aggregate-level school reports. These reports will be used by school staff to help maintain the positive aspects of our schools and to address individual student needs.

It is Voluntary. Your child does not have to take the student survey. Students who participate only have to answer the questions they want to answer and they may stop taking the survey at any time.

It is Confidential. No students will be identified in any public reports or publications. Individual student information (name, student number, school, and grade) will be uploaded into the Panorama system. District staff will have access to the data file. Responses are confidential but identifiable. Individual student data may be shared with school staff to provide instructional and social emotional support.

Timing: The survey will be administered up to three times a year.

Opt - Out: If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you may contact Leslie Pruitt at leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us by Friday, January 17, 2025.

Estimadas familias:

Panorama Education es una empresa que realiza encuestas en las escuelas y distritos de todo el país. Dunstan dará a los estudiantes la encuesta Las Escuelas de Jeffco ponen atención a las encuestas de participación estudiantil en los próximos meses.

Contenido. Esta breve encuesta recopilará información sobre los siguientes temas a lo largo del año:

• Sentido de pertenencia a la escuela

• Clima escolar

• Participación en la escuela

• Relaciones entre el docente y el estudiante en la escuela

• Expectativas rigurosas de la escuela

• Seguridad escolar

• Relaciones que proveen apoyo

• Aspectos académicos

Puede revisar las preguntas de la encuesta para cada tema.

Los resultados de la encuesta se recopilan en informes escolares a nivel agregado. Estos informes los utilizarán el personal escolar a fin de mantener los aspectos positivos de nuestras escuelas y atender las necesidades estudiantiles individuales.

Es voluntaria. Sus hijos no tienen la obligación de participar en la encuesta estudiantil. Los estudiantes que participen solo tienen que contestar las preguntas que deseen y pueden dejar de realizar la encuesta en cualquier momento.

Es confidencial. No se identificará a ningún estudiante en ninguno de los informes públicos ni en las publicaciones. La información individual del estudiante (nombre, número de estudiante, escuela y grado) se cargará en el sistema de Panorama. ¿Qué personal del Distrito tendrá acceso al archivo de datos? Las respuestas son confidenciales pero identificables. Es posible que se comparta la información referente a estudiantes individuales con el personal escolar a fin de proporcionar asistencia con la instrucción y el aspecto socioemocional.

Fechas: la encuesta se administrará hasta tres veces al año.

Exclusión: si no desean que sus hijos participen en la encuesta, pueden ponerse en contacto con Leslie Pruitt en leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us antes del January 17, 2025.

• It’s time to enroll, Jeffco! Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open. It’s helpful to let us know you’re coming back next year, so that the district can prepare for next year’s staffing, budget, resources and more for our school. Visit www.enrolljeffco.org to learn more.

• Completing enrollment is not just a task to mark off your to-do list; it's an important step that helps our district plan for next year's staffing, budget, student resources and more. Let us know if you'll be returning next year by visiting www.enrolljeffco.org!

• Visit www.enrolljeffco.org to let us know that you’re coming back for the 2025-26 school year. The earlier we know, the easier it is for the district to provide our school with all the tools and resources we need to provide a thriving experience for our students.

Our only fundraiser of the year launches November 1. Your donations fund specific teacher projects, school-wide initiatives, and other programs to improve our school community.

The link for Dunstan's PTA Colorado Gives Day page is HERE.

Scroll down to the "Supporting Campaigns" section to view the individual teacher fundraising campaigns. Each teacher will receive 25% of the funds raised by their Advise class.

Dunstan staff and faculty have a lot of great ideas for how they would use funds raised during Colorado Gives Day. These include a Mural for the front of school, mental health supplies, technology updates, audio upgrades, band and orchestra equipment, musical choreographer, school clubs, reading enrichment, WEB Leaders, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for students, 8th grade continuation, staff appreciation, and more.

For more information, to create a matching gift, or to learn more about how you can join or support the PTA, please reach out to aadams3633@gmail.com.

We appreciate your generous support as we help all Dunstan Middle School students and staff be ENGAGED, INSPIRED and EMPOWERED.

Learn about what's going on at the high school.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, things you would like to add to the newsletter or if you notice any errors, please reach out directly to Leslie Pruitt at leslie.pruitt@jeffco.k12.co.us or Michael Kitch at michael.kitch@jeffco.k12.co.us. Thank you!

We are looking for volunteers to fill important roles on the Dunstan PTA next school year:

• President
• Vice President
  
  

Learn how these PTA roles support our community at https://sites.google.com/view/dunstanpta/about-us

You can support the Dunstan PTA even through the summer by linking your King Soopers card to the PTA. It's an easy way to support our school - at no cost to you!

Simply log in to Community Rewards and search for us: https://bit.ly/2R6y1mk.