The Panther Post

January 2025

Perseverance

Yellow sticky that says, "Don't give up."

Dear Parents,

This month, our students will be learning about the value of perseverance—the ability to keep going even when things get tough. We will help students understand that perseverance means not giving up, even when faced with challenges, and continuing to put in effort to achieve their goals.

Throughout the month, we will explore how perseverance helps us solve problems, improve our skills, and accomplish tasks, even when they seem difficult at first. Students will participate in discussions, activities, and stories that demonstrate how persistence and hard work can lead to success. We will encourage them to embrace mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

We invite you to reinforce this lesson at home by sharing examples of times when you or others have shown perseverance. Together, we can help our students build this essential life skill.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Kathy Chandler

Principal

Parking Lots

Make sure you are following these parking lot rules so we can keep everyone safe.

Students should be dropped off and picked up in the east lot. Pull up to the curb and someone will help your child. It's as if the students all have valet service (no tips accepted)!
Kindergarten, self contained, and preschool parents are the only ones who are authorized to use the west parking lot. They may park and walk up to the building to pick up their children.
Students should never be dropped off or picked up in the middle of either parking lot.

New Breakfast Hours

Breakfast foods: banana, orange juice, toast, and cereal

Breakfast hours will now be 7:15 am to 7:40 am. This gives students ample time to eat and still get to class on time. The cafeteria will be closed until lunch ay 7:40. If your child needs to eat breakfast at school, make sure they arrive early. If a bus is running late, we will make sure the riders still get their breakfast.

Are You Warm Enough?

The temperature has dropped and winter weather is here. Mrs. Chandler once asked a principal in Minnesota how cold it had to be before they kept their students inside. The man laughed and said, "We don't. They play outside when its -10°! Dunham students aren't quite as hardy. Our students play outside as long as the weather doesn't dip before 35°. To stay consistent, the office staff uses the Weather Channel's reported temperature.

Make sure your child dresses warm enough to play on the playground before school. Coats and pants are highly encouraged. Today we had a number of students arrive to school in shorts and tshirts even though it was around 45°. Our classrooms also tend to run cold. Appropriate winter clothing will help keep them comfortable and ready to learn all day.

Extra Clothes

clothes of shirt, pants, socks, and underwear

We are running short on clothes in the health office for students that need to change during the day. Ms. Dominique is asking that all kindergarten and 1st grade students keep an extra set of clothing in their backpacks. If you have an older child who is still prone to accidents, make sure they also keep a set of clothes in their backpacks. In fact, it is not a bad idea for all students to carry an extra set of clothes because you never know when a student is going to trip and fall into mud, spill their milk all over themselves during lunch, or accidently fall from the monkey bars and have a scraped up knee.

Donate Your Arizona School Tax Credit

Helping local schools has never been easier. Make a school tax credit donation today. You have until April 15, 2025, to make your donation and still claim it on your 2024 tax return.

School tax credits are a win-win for students and taxpayers. Everyone has the opportunity to make a tax credit contribution to local schools — even those without children.

Making a donation is easy: Donate online, keep your receipt and claim your tax credit when you file. Every dollar reduces your tax liability.

Through the Arizona tax credit program (ARS 43-1089.01), taxpayers can donate up to $200 to help fund extracurricular activities and receive every dollar back in the form of a tax credit. Taxpayers can contribute up to $200 for an individual and $400 for a married couple.

Click on the link below to donate.