Duncan Dispatch
A Message From the Principal
Each week we will be emailing our weekly newsletter Duncan Dispatch. Please take a moment to read over important information regarding our school community and events.
Enjoy the long weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone next week!
Mrs. Pfeifer
Proud Principal
Duncan T-Shirt Sale
Purposefull People
Dear Family,
We are thankful for you being part of our school community! The world is changing quickly and we want to do everything we can to help students be successful in school and life.
We are excited to tell you that we will be using a program called PurposeFull People this year. This program teaches skills that will help students be successful in school and in life.
We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included. Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of school. PurposeFullPeople is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be!
Purposefull People has three main goals for students: Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be Well.
- Be Kind: Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership.
- These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation
- Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals.
- These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance
- Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.
- These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity
This year, you’ll be invited to join the fun! We will send letters home about the skills and strengths being taught each month. Each letter will include some ways to build these skills at home, discussion starters, and fun challenges you can try with your family.
The path forward is full of growth! We cannot wait to partner with you in this work…
- To teach students how to build strong friendships
- To work together to solve problems, big and small
- To grow skills for life
- To become PurposeFull People
The Duncan Staff
Arrival & Dismissal Reminders
- Please note AM Supervision DOES NOT begin until 8:50 am. Do not drop your child off unattended prior to this time.
- If using the student drop off lane, cars must remain in the drop off lane while dropping off, please NO passing other cars and do not park and leave car unattended.
- Please remain behind the cones at the front entrance to allow for students to enter and exit the building safely. This includes the end of the sidewalk near the bus drop off lane.
- DO NOT park on the grass. This option is only needed during large school events.
Devise Insurance LAST CALL!!!
Complete Education Benefits Form Using the Link Below
D.E.C.O Parent Group
Message from the DECO Board
Duncan Community-
Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! DECO is excited to kick off another great year and wanted to share some important information and updates.
We wanted to remind everyone about the DECO website: www.DuncanDECO.com. Throughout the year, this website will be filled with up-to-date information & details regarding upcoming events, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities that are hosted by DECO. We have partnered with Membership Toolkit to make the process of signing up for events, making payments or volunteering a whole lot easier and all done in one place! As different events are offered throughout the year, you will be able to log back in to find the registration forms right in your account.
We ask that all families take a few moments to check out the website.
If you are a new family, you will want to set up an account in the system and add any of your Duncan students.
For our returning families, when you log in for the first time this year you will just need to update your student's teacher assignment for this school year.
Also, as part of our Green School Initiative, we no longer send home paper flyers for our events. You will be able to stay in the loop the following ways:
The DECO Website (www.duncandeco.com)
Follow us on Facebook (Duncan Elementary Community & Duncan Elementary School)
Read the Duncan Dispatch sent out weekly
Sincerely,
2024-2025 DECO Board
Bagel Day Information
Calendar of Events
September:
- 2nd: NO SCHOOL- Labor Day
- 10th: Open House 6:30pm
- 18th: NO SCHOOL- Teacher Professional Development
- 26th: Fall Picture Day
October:
- 16th: NO SCHOOL- Teacher Professional Development
- 31st: Half Day of School: Dismissal at 12:04pm
November:
- 1st: Half Day of School: Dismissal at 12:04pm - End of Marking Period
- 5th: NO SCHOOL - Election Day
- 7th: Half Day of School: Dismissal at 12:04pm - Parent Teacher Afternoon Conferences
- 8th: Picture Retake Day!
- 27th-29th: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break
December:
- 20th: Half Day of School: Dismissal at 12:04pm - End of Marking Period
- 23rd- January 3, 2024: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
January:
- 15th: Yearbook Group Picture Day
- 20th: NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February:
- 17th-21st: NO SCHOOL - Mid-Winter Break
March:
- 21st: Half Day of School - End of Marking Period
- 24th - 28th: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
April:
- 18th: NO SCHOOL - Good Friday
May
- 26th: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
June:
- 10th: Half Day of School - Dismissal at 12:04pm
- 11th: Half Day of School - Dismissal at 12:04pm - LAST DAY!
Enrichment Activities
Previous Duncan Dispatch
Job Opportunities for the 2024-2025 School Year
A number of Utica Community Schools employment opportunities are anticipated to be available for the 2024-2025 school year. This includes but is not limited to professional positions, paraprofessional, bus driver, food services, school age childcare, trades, mechanics, and other important support work. District personnel serve as excellent ambassadors for the organization and are encouraged to promote the UCS employment website to persons interested in being part of the UCS team. Related resources include:
- The district general employment website can be found at https://uticak12.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx. Interested persons must follow the described process for each position.
- In addition to the general employment website, some position postings are additionally and/or separately distributed internally within the organization to promote or foster interest from existing staff who may not be regularly reviewing the website.
- EDUStaff opportunities please visit https://www.edustaff.org/.
The Community at Richard J. Duncan Elementary School is devoted to academic excellence. Sound instructional strategies will provide our students with a foundation of skills that will prepare them for lifelong achievement in a global society.
Mrs. Amy Mujkic - Assistant Principal
Mrs. Kelly Salter - Administrative Assistant
School Hours: 9:00am - 3:50pm (Doors Open at 8:50am)
Half Day Hours: 9:00 am - 12:04pm
Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Office Phone: 586-797-4600
Absence Line: 586-797-4699 (For KDG - 6th Grade Only)
Early Childhood Phone: 586-797-4660
Website: Duncan Elementary / Homepage (schoolwires.net)
Location: 14500 26 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCSDuncan