Dunstan Newsletter

October 4, 2024

Greetings Parents and Guardians,

This has been a busy but joyful week at DMS! We have been packed with activities for the students!

Thank you to the parents who helped chaperone our first round of On-Track Field Trips! This week students from each grade level who are on-track (academically, attendance, and behavior) were able to participate in a field trip to Skate City. It is wonderful for the staff to have some down time to bond together that is not just focused on school! This time, we invited parents to chaperone the trip and we enjoyed interacting with many parents who volunteered to attend! Thank you for making the time for this!

This week we enjoyed our first Choir Concert and Band Concert of the year! Both groups were excellent! These concerts demonstrate the growth they have made since the beginning of this year until now. From this point forward, you will hear a significant difference in the complexity of music and their overall sound! The growth our students make in performing arts is exceptional! If you have a connection to vocal music, please welcome Ms. Elizabeth-Ann Rowlison to the Green Mountain Area! She is our new Vocal Music Teacher and she is exceptional!

Our Flag Football Team is also winning! They won their game against West Jefferson Middle School earlier this week! I respect and appreciate the hours they devote to practice before school begins! We are proud of our students!

I was able to walk through some 8th grade classrooms and elective classes this week. It is encouraging to see students who are striving to understand content, working with others in teams, and building their confidence as learners!

Next week Dunstan is hosting teachers from other Jeffco schools who will be in Language Arts classrooms on Wednesday and Math classrooms on Friday. These visitations are called Learning Labs. The practice of having teachers observe other teachers and then debrief with each other helps teachers grow their own instructional practice and sharpen their instructional skills. Green Mountain High School Math teachers will observe our math teachers to learn ways in which they can implement Illustrative Mathematics. This is our 4th year of implementation and Green Mountain’s 2nd year.

Thank you for your ongoing love and support!

Respectfully,

Jen

Hello 6th Grade Parents! The countdown is on and we will be leaving for Outdoor Lab at Windy Peak / Mt. Blue Sky unjust a few weeks. Please read the information below in its entirety.

• Medication: If your student takes ANY type of over the counter medication daily not listed below, prescription medication, or herbal supplement, we MUST have a medication administration form signed by the physician or it can NOT be administered at Outdoor Lab.
• Do NOT send: (These are available at camp if you gave consent on the OELS Consent form) ● Aloe Vera Gel ● Acetaminophen (Tylenol) ● Antacid (TUMS) ● Benadryl (liquid, chewable, tablet) ● Cough Drops ● Eye Wash Solution ● Gatorade ● Hydrocortisone 1% Topical Cream ● Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) ● Insect Sting Relief Pad ● Throat Lozenges (Chloraseptic/Cepacol) ● Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin/Bacitracin)
• Please ONLY send the amount of pills needed plus ONE extra dose in the original packaging with the correct expiration date. We cannot accept expired medications or medications in baggies. Your pharmacy can provide labels and containers.
• If your child has any self carry medications (emergency medications only such as albuterol or epi-pens) they must turn those into the Nurse and Health Aide for the bus ride. They then will receive their self-carry medications back once they get to Outdoor Lab. Their medications WILL travel on the bus with them if they were to need them for the bus ride.

***Please drop your meds off in the health room the Wednesday before departure.*** Do NOT wait until the morning of departure. Meds will NOT be collected the morning of without a scheduled appointment with your Health Aide or District RN. This will allow us to make sure your student is able to depart on time with the bus. Medications that have not been appropriately accounted for will NOT be able to travel with your student.

If you have medications in the health room that you plan on having sent with your student please make those arrangements with our Health Tech, Simone Meyer.

Thank you,

Dunstan Middle School Health Team

Katie Buckman, RN Email: katie.buckman@jeffco.k12.co.us Phone: (720) 315-3849

Simone Meyer, Health Tech Email: simone.meyer@jeffco.k12.co.us Phone: (303) 982-9270

October:

• 8: Orchestra Performance @ GMHS 6 pm
• 11: 6th Grade Social @ DMS 4:00-5:30 PM
• 15: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 PM
• 16: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 PM
• 17: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
• 18: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF
• 22-25: Outdoor Lab (Windy Peak)
• 28-31: Outdoor Lab (Windy Peak and Mt. Blue Sky)
• 30: GMHS Trick or Treat Street 6:00-8:00 PM

November:

• 1: Professional Development Day for staff (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
• 6: Cyber Safety Parent Presentation 4:45-5:45 @ DMS (library)
• 6: PTA Meeting 6-7 PM @ DMS
• 25-29: NO SCHOOL FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK

December:

• 2: GMHS Future Ram Showcase 6:00-8:00 PM
• 5: Open House 5:30-6:30 PM
• 12: Band Concert @ GMHS
• 17: Orchestra Concert @ GMHS
• 19: Choir Concert @ DMS
• 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
• 27: Orchestra Concert @ DMS

March:

• 5: PTA Meeting 6-7 PM @ DMS
• 6: GMHS Spring Musical matinee for DMS 8th graders
• 6: Choir Performance @ DMS
• 10: Orchestra Concert @ GMHS
• 13: Band Concert @ DMS
• 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
• 16: GMHS Graduation
• 22: 8th grade last day of school
• 23: Last day of school for 6th and 7th, Early Release

Parents and Guardians of Dunstan Middle School,

Please consider contributing or donating to meals for staff for Parent-Teacher conferences, which are on October 15th and 16th. Links are below. Thank you!

Link for October 15th

Link for October 16th

• October 15th and 16th from 5:00-7:00 PM
• Drop-in style format
• Maximum of 5 minutes per conference
• Teachers will be set up in either their classroom or their doorway
• Students are encouraged to attend!
• Please come prepared with your student's schedule printed and/or saved as a photo on your phone
• Tips and Tricks for Parent Teacher Conferences

Our awesome WEB leaders are planning a 6th Grade/WEB Leader, Fall-themed social for your students! We would love a little help with some of the items to make this a bigger success! Please see the signup genius Here for items that we need. Thank you so much for your support, in advance!

Here are the details of the social:

When - Friday, October 11th from 4:00-5:30pm

Where - Dunstan’s cafeteria

Cost - FREE to all 6th grade students!

• There will be food, music, games, dancing and prizes!

• No fancy dress code! Just come as you are!

• Please make sure students have a ride for after the social at 5:30pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Jen Baker at jemsmith@jeffco.k12.co.us.

Thank you!

Dear Dunstan families,

It’s official – October Count Day this year is Tuesday, October 1.

The most important action you can take to support school funding is to make sure your student attends school on that day. Much of public education funding from the State of Colorado is based on student count, so we encourage you to make sure your student comes to school that day.

The “count window” the state observes is from Tuesday, September 24 through Tuesday, October 8, but the most important student count day is Tuesday, October 1. Help us get an accurate count by having your student participate in learning that day.

If your student will be absent on Tuesday, October 1 due to illness, please call our attendance line, 303-982-9221, to report the absence. Attendance during the “count window” will help counteract an absence on Tuesday, October 1.

Thank you for your support of Dunstan. Every student counts!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Pennell
Principal

Estimadas familias de Dunstan:

Es oficial: este año, el martes, 1 de octubre es el día de conteo estudiantil.

La acción más importante que pueden tomar para apoyar al presupuesto escolar es asegurarse de que sus hijos asistan a la escuela ese día. Una gran parte del financiamiento de la educación pública por parte del estado de Colorado se basa en el conteo estudiantil, por esta razón les pedimos se aseguren que sus hijos asistan a la escuela ese día.

El “período de conteo” de estudiantes que contempla el estado va desde el martes, 24 de septiembre hasta el martes, 8 de octubre. Sin embargo, el día más importante de este conteo es el martes, 1 de octubre. Ayúdennos a lograr un conteo preciso asegurándose que sus hijos participen en la instrucción ese día.

En el caso de que sus hijos no vengan a la escuela el 1 de octubre debido a una enfermedad, por favor, llamen a nuestra línea telefónica de asistencia, 303-982-9221, para comunicar su ausencia. La asistencia durante el “período de conteo” ayudará a contrarrestar una ausencia el martes, 1 de octubre.

Gracias por el apoyo a Dunstan. ¡Cada estudiante cuenta!

Atentamente,

Jennifer Pennell

Director/a

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!

"Happy creating, dancing, writing, and more representing the theme "Accepting Imperfection." Once your entry is ready, please complete the entry form here and turn your physical entries into the library by Friday October 4th! This is an awesome way to represent Dunstan and share your talents outside of the classroom. Our goal is to get entries from all 6 categories this year. Read more here!"

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.