Herman E. Dummer Newsletter
February 2024
A Message from our Principal, Mrs. Ford
❤️
Recently, we just finished taking our winter benchmarking tests. Students are all tracking their progress through charting their scores and then sharing them with you, their parents/guardians. While we can all agree that testing does not show all learning, it does give us a snapshot of growth from one point in time to the next. It is such a joy to see the students celebrate their successes when they can compare how they scored at the beginning of the year up until the present. I really hope they are sharing this information and having conversations with you because they should be proud of themselves. If they do not grow as they had hoped, we hope to instill the drive to take action to come up with ideas that they can do to try to improve. This intrinsic learning is what will keep them going through tough times by not giving up. Kudos to all of you who are supporting and aiding in this kind of learning; helping our children to succeed from their strength within themselves.
We Love What We Do!
“Learning Today, Shaping Tomorrow!”
Nurses Notes
5th grade parents, be on the look out for a health packet coming home later this month with pertinent information on requirements for entering 6th grade. Thank you!
Fabulous Fourth Grade
We are finally back! What a crazy month this has been. Everyone is starting to get back into the routine of the school day after the break and several interrupted weeks.
We have been reading the novel Number the Stars. Everyone is really enjoying the story and learning about this time in history. We have been practicing the R.A.C.E. method to answer questions and they have really shown improvement. lWe will be switching back to our text next week. Unit three is a mix of non-fiction and fictional texts about Natural Disasters. This unit is always a favorite!
In math, we have been working on creating equivalent fractions. We will continue working on fractions throughout February.
We are finishing up our Illinois unit. We will be doing a mapping project next week and taking an assessment. We will then be switching back to Science. Our next unit is Waves of Sound.
We have completed our mid-year Fastbridge testing. In February we will begin doing some work to prepare the students for the IAR testing that will take place in March and April.
Fantastic Fifth Grade
In February, classes will start D.A.R.E. with Officer Brian Fasnacht. Students will learn many skills for dealing with social situations and the pressures they’ll face. We will also be wrapping up our puberty presentations, and so students have a lot of information to think through. Be prepared for more questions at home after these presentations!
In math, students are adding to their understanding of fractions with multiplication and division of fractions. Please continue to reinforce with your children how important it is to master multiplication and division facts so that they grasp the many new concepts they’re learning!
Space will be a focus in many areas this month as we continue our science unit called Spaceship Earth with Mystery Science. Our novel for reading involves many space concepts. Famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy cowrote the science fiction book fifth-graders are enjoying.
We hope the fifth graders share about what they’re learning here at school with you at home! Thanks for your continued support in their education!
Monthly Music Notes
During the month of January, both fourth and fifth grade students have been learning about the guitar. The school has over 30 guitars which students have used to play melodies and chords. Songs such as “Malaguena” used single notes to form the melody. One and two chord songs such as “Shake Your Body (down to the ground),” “Haiti,” and “Paperback Writer” required strumming chords. Once we get into February, we will play songs with three chords.
Fifth grade band is now working on songs that have 6 notes and percussion has more auxiliary instruments to play. The band has been doing a great job of playing and working together as we prepare for our next concert. Fifth grade’s second band performance will be on Thursday, February 29th at 6:30pm in the high school gym. More information will be sent out soon.
One School, One Book
Family Game Night
5 Essentials
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Our school district, and the individual schools within this school district, strive to provide the best possible education for our students. We gather data through various means to help guide us to improvement. You should have recently received a letter home with your child letting you know about a survey that you can take that will give us valuable information in this endeavor. It is called the 5Essentials and it is totally anonymous. Students, staff, and parents/guardians take this survey, and the data is then made available for all to see on our Illinois State School
Report Card. You may click on the link below to access this survey and then click, “Parent Survey.” We ask you to do your best, but if you are not sure of a question one way or the other, there is a “neutral” option. We appreciate the collaboration between home and school and this is just one way we can work together for the betterment of our students, and of course, better schools also create better property values. 🙂 This data helps our school to know what we are doing well and what we can improve on. Thank you for your support!
https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/
*As an incentive, the class with the highest response of parents taking this survey will be rewarded with a pizza party! All you need to do is take a screenshot of the last page that thanks you for taking the survey…and email it to your child’s teacher.
Always Looking for Great Ideas and Help
If you or someone has a great idea for our school, such as something you would love to partner with us on, teach, showcase, or whatever it may be, we would love to hear it! Also, there are many opportunities to come and help in our school. We would love to see parents, community members, and families be a part of our every day process. You are all a part of our team and we would LOVE to have you! No teaching experience needed, we promise. :) Please see the link below:
4th Grade December Students of the Month
Back Row: Avery Anderson, Addison Grey, Lily Meyer, David Kell, Klaire Allen; Front Row: Rylan Hoots, Holden Rogers & Parker Holt; Not Pictured: Lanie Amato
5th Grade December Students of the Month
Back Row: Bodee Harmon, Abel Hawkins, Derek Schroeder, Lauriana Hologa, Ryan Jerabek,
Front Row: Connor Whitecotton, Kamden Stone, Sofia Tresnyuk, Hadlee Eberly & Kaley Martin
February Lunch Menu
Important Dates:
2/1: Homework Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/1: 5th Grade Girls Puberty Program
2/2: 5th Grade to JJC
2/5 - 2/9: Book Fair
2/6: Art Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/6: Club Challenge 3 pm - 4 pm
2/7: OSOB Family Night 5:30 pm - 7 pm
2/8: Homework Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/8: Art Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/9: Hallman/Reuter to Hoover
2/13: Character Counts Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/13: Club Challenge 3 pm - 4 pm
2/13: Dummer Parent Group 6:00 p.m.
2/15: 4th Grade to the Opera House
2/15: Homework Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/16: 11:10 am Dismissal
2/19: No School
2/20: Club Challenge 3 pm - 4 pm
2/22: Homework Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/23: End of Trimester 2
2/23: Family Game Night 6 pm - 7:30 pm
2/27: Club Challenge 3 pm - 4pm
2/29: Homework Club 3 pm - 4 pm
2/29: 5/6 Band/Choir Concert @ SHS
3/1: Report Card go home