Dover Avenue Elementary News
January 2024
Message From the Principal
May 2024
DA Families,
It’s hard to believe we’re heading into our last month of the 2023-2024 school year! We wrapped up state testing last week and will be administering our MAP and DIBELs assessments this week to see how much our students have grown this year! This month we’ll have all our end of the year events including Teacher Appreciation Week, Time with Teachers, Book Fair, Field Day, Right to Read Week, Chalk Walk, Fifth Grade Celebration and our End of Year Parties! It’s a month packed full of fun and making great memories with our students. With only one month left of school I hope our students end their year on a positive note before heading into summer!
Mrs. Katie Nicholson, Principal
Dover Avenue Elementary School
Spring News & Events
Time with Teachers
Our annual Time with Teachers event is happening now (April 29-May 3). Each student will get one ticket to place in their choice of activity with teachers. Students can then purchase more tickets for $1 each. Ticket sales will take place during Book Fair and the lunch hour. Our winners will be announced on Friday, May 3 then our winners will receive information regarding their special Time with Teachers event!
Summer Reading Program
This year all three Dover Elementary School Buildings are partnering with the Dover Public Library for their Summer Reading Program. Students who would like to participate must sign up through the Dover Public Library at the Children’s Department. Completed summer reading forms must be turned in to the Dover Public Library no later than August 2. Completed forms turned into the school will not be accepted.
Workbook and School Lunch Fees
Workbook fees include the cost for novels and workbooks. Grades 4-5 workbook fees are $25 and were due September 30, 2023. Please make checks payable to Dover Avenue Elementary. We kindly request that all workbook/supply fees ($25) and lunch charges over $25 be paid on time. Failure to settle all fees/charges will result in withholding of the students' end-of-year report card. (If you need a fee waiver application, please call the office.)
School Supply Kits
Please see the information below regarding our online school supply sale for those interested in purchasing our school supply kits from Bright School Kits company for the 2024-2025 school year!
Curriculum Night
While Dover Avenue is still an elementary building, our students’ needs are very different from our primary buildings. We realize that our students are not yet ready for middle school but we want to prepare them for their next steps. Our goal at Dover Avenue is to be a good bridge from elementary to middle school and part of that goal is accomplished through our instruction and daily schedule. In order to provide you with as much information about our building, the curriculum for your incoming fourth or fifth grade student, and the daily schedule, we will host a “Curriculum Night.”
This night is scheduled for May 15 over 2 sessions, 6:00-6:30 or 6:30-7:00. This will be for parents/guardians only. This will not be a night in which classrooms will be open to visit but will be a presentation in the gymnasium for our parents and guardians.
Right to Read Week
Right to Read Week is happening May 13-17. This year our theme is “Go for the Gold and Win." During this week we want to promote and encourage everyone to READ! Your assistance and support throughout the week will do much good to enhance the importance of reading. Information about our dress up days, reading log and fun events will be coming home soon!
Monday, May 13 Olympic Day “Go for the Gold and Read”- Wear gold, silver, or bronze (yellow, gray, or brown)
Tuesday, May 14 Team USA- Wear red, white, or blue
Wednesday, May 15 “Workout Wednesday” - Wear workout clothes
Thursday, May 16 Sports Day- Wear any jersey, uniform, t-shirt of your favorite sport
Friday, May 17 Closing Ceremony Colors - Wear the colors of your class country (see your child's teacher for this information"
Important Information for DA Families
Mark your calendar for these fun end of year events!
Time with Teachers Fundraiser: April 29-May 3
Book Fair: April 29-May 3
Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6-10
4th Grade Field Trip to Zoar: May 8
5th Grade Class Picture & DMS visit: May 10
Right to Read Week: May 13-17
Chalk Walk for 5th Grade: May 17
Family Picnic: May 17
Field Day: May 23 (rain date: May 24)
Final Crimson Companions: May 24
5th Grade Celebration: May 28
Final AR Party: May 29
Last day for students: May 30
End of Year Party: May 30 (1:00)
5th Grade Clap Out: May 30 (2:05)
Student Handbook
Please review the 2023-2024 Elementary Student Handbook which can be found on our district website under parents: https://www.dovertornadoes.com/Handbooks.aspx
Absences
In compliance with the Missing Child Act and for the safety of our children, parents are requested to call Dover Avenue School (330-364-7117) before 8:30AM to report the reason for your child's absence. We encourage student attendance every day to ensure continuity of learning. However, if your child is absent, please send a note following the return of your child to verify his/her absence. If the absence is due to a medical, dental, or legal appointment, please provide a verification note on the provider’s stationary upon return to school. If no call or note is received within 24 hours, the absence(s) will be marked as unexcused.
Transportation
Updated bus routes will be available before school on the district website under the Parents tab. https://www.dovertornadoes.com/TransportationServices.aspx If you need to change your child’s mode of transportation home, please contact the office by 1:00PM.
Meals
Breakfast and Lunch are available for students daily. Breakfast will no longer be free this year. If you’d like to purchase breakfast for your child it is $1.00. Lunch is $2.50. Milk is available for purchase for $0.50. Ala carte funds can be added using your Payschools Account (https://dovercity.healtheliving.net) or make checks payable to Dover Schools Cafeteria with student name in the memo line.
Medications
If your child needs medication at school, in accordance with state and board policies, we are not permitted to dispense medication without directions and signatures of both the physician and the parent or legal guardian. If it is essential that a child takes medication during the school day, medication forms are available on our district website or you may stop in the office.
Drills
Throughout the year we will practice Fire Drills, Tornado Drills, Lockdown Drills and Evacuation Drills. We perform these Safety Procedure Drills in order to be prepared in case of an emergency. We will discuss these drills with our students.
Child Find
Dover City Schools receives IDEA-B funds for the purpose of the education of children with disabilities. Annually, at the September Board of Education meeting, discussion will be held regarding how the district will spend its IDEA-B funds. Time will be allowed for public comment.
Raptor Visitor Management System
Dover City Schools will be using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen school safety for students and faculty. Part of keeping students and faculty safe includes knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system allows us to do that. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, workers, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for all. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present a US government-issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian does not have a scannable ID, the school staff member can use any form of government identification that includes a photo to manually enter the person’s information into the Raptor system. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with public state and national databases of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded, and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Upon approval, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. If anyone other than a parent or guardian is signing a child out from school, he or she may be asked to present identification, as well. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who are not going past the main office but are simply dropping off an item in the office or picking up paperwork. The safety of our students is our highest priority. The Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those who may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing school safety procedures in our district.
Academic Update
With all the testing happening over the last few weeks our students have shown us just how much they've learned this year! We have been celebrating this with them and will continue to during the month of May! We are so proud of each and every student for their efforts this year and look forward to this last month of learning together!
Teaching Tidbits
Each month we will begin sharing some "teaching tidbits" from our staff at Dover Avenue! As the principal, I have the privilege to see the wonderful lessons, activities, and assessments our teachers do daily and want to begin sharing these with our parents and families! I know you see what your child brings home but seeing it in action will hopefully help you gain a better understanding of what your child is learning at school!
Early European Explorers with Mrs. Schumacher
5th grade red team students conducted research on Early European Explorers of the Western Hemisphere as an extension of their unit on European Exploration and Colonization from the 1400s through the 1600s. Throughout the unit of study, students also gained understanding of the lasting effects early exploration and colonization had on the Western Hemisphere still today. Emmilynn gave an exceptionally great presentation. She spoke extremely well and showed that she had truly learned a great deal! You can view Emmilynn's presentation as one example of what our students presented: Jacques Cartier by Emmilynn A.
After testing fun on the Tornado Team
The Tornado team got together to enjoy watching Shiloh Season as a reward after state testing. Students enjoyed their time celebrating being done with state testing and watching this series after reading about it earlier this year!
Accelerated Reader
We will celebrate our students who met their goal of 75 points by the end of the fourth nine weeks on May 29 with an Ice Cream Party! The deadline for this party will be May 24 for those who would like to participate!
PBIS Update
Congratulations to all of our students who received a Tornado Shout Out this year! We have received over 1,000 tornado shout outs and are continuing to receive them through the end of the year! This month as a conclusion to our Top Tornadoes this year, each teacher has selected their Top Tornado for the Year!!! This was a very difficult decision as we have so many students who are constantly showing our 3Bs and have all year long! These students will be honored with a special lunch with me and certificate in a few weeks!
Mr. Statler - Coen ConnareMrs. VanGilder - Kaiya Mullet
Mrs. Pellegrino - William Mejia Castro
Mrs. Bauer - Jo Lutze
Mrs. Morris – Charleigh Stutchell
Mrs. Fuhrer – Addy Felton
Mrs. LaBrake – Harrison Ott
Mrs. Schumacher – Emma Friley
Mrs. Nitz - Rebekah Klaserner
Mrs. Worst-Lydia Perlaky
Mrs. Hamsher - Marcus Molk
Mrs. McGarry - Evan BolognaMrs. Bond - Everleigh Cleveland
Mr. Reveal - Denisse Ajanel - Cox
Mrs. Conrad - Everleigh Cowan
Mrs. Maybaugh - Sutton Bell
Communication
Monthly Newsletters
My monthly newsletters will be sent via text and email every month and will be available on the Dover Avenue website. These newsletters will include special events, Dover Avenue specific information, district news, academic updates and any other relevant information. These will no longer be paper copies sent home. However, a paper copy of the calendar will still be sent home each month. Please be on the lookout for this in your child’s DA Folder and via text/email.
Weekly Assignment Sheets
Your child’s team will have a weekly newsletter / assignment sheet that is sent home with your child. This includes upcoming events, assignments or other important information for you and your child. Please be sure to review this on a weekly basis.
Text Notifications
If you have not yet signed up for text notifications from the district and Dover Avenue, please do so on the link below. This link is located on our webpage under Parents -- Parent Text Notifications "Opt in"
District News
Summer Camps
As a way to streamline all the camp information coming home, you can view all the camp information via the Dover website or by clicking on this link: https://www.dovertornadoes.com/AthleticCampsII.aspx
This link will take you directly to the athletic page for all the summer camps!
Dover Fine Arts Festival
Our first annual Fine Arts Festival was a great success last weekend! Our students K-12 had the opportunity to show off their art work and musical groups were able to perform for our parents and families! Thank you to our district fine arts staff for all their work and dedication to our community to make this a success! Chris Redd, Josh Compton, Micah Carrick, Cindy Parsons, Samantha Hanenkrat, Shawna Hinkle, David Rutter, Wendy Mohn, Sarah Sypolt, Jodi Hupp, Sadie Hurst (student teacher) and Keri Stratton (not pictured James Graves)
*Free language assistance with respect to school programs and activities is available for all students and families of Dover City Schools. Please contact your child's building principal for translation or interpretation services.
Check out the district calendar highlights for next year below!
PTG
May will be a busy month for our PTG. Our parent volunteers are currently helping with Book Fair and Time with Teachers sales this week. Next week is our Teacher Appreciation Week and then following that is Right to Read Week. We will end the year with our Field Day, 5th Grade Celebration and End of Year Parties! If you'd like to get involved please join us at our next meeting on May 8 at 6:00 in the DA Library!
A special thank you to our PTG for also providing an after testing treat to each student when they completed all of their state tests! During the month of April, we accepted nominations for our building and executive boards and completed voting last evening. Congratulations to our executive board and building board officers for the 2024-2025 school year (see below).
For more info, contact doveravenueptg@gmail.com, join the Dover Ave PTG Facebook Group or text “@dvraveptg” to 81010 to join our Dover Ave PTG Remind group!
Our next meeting is May 8 in the Dover Avenue library at 6:00!
Kindness Celebration/Family Picnic
Please see the flier below for information regarding the FREE family picnic from our Kindness initiative!
Upcoming Events
- April 29-May 3: Spring Book Fair & Time with Teacher ticket sales
- April 29-30: 4th Grade MAP testing
- May 1-2: 5th Grade MAP Testing
- May 2: Orff Spring Concert 7:00
- May 3: Midterms mailed home
- May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 6-10: Panorama Surveys
- May 8: 4th Grade Field Trip to Zoar
- May 8: PTG Meeting 6:00
- May 10: 5th Grade visit to DMS & Class Picture
- May 13-17: Right to Read Week
- May 15: Curriculum Night 6:00
- May 17: Chalk Walk for 5th Grade
- May 17: Family Picnic 4:00-7:00
- May 23: Field Day (rain date May 24)
- May 24: Crimson Companions
- May 27: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
- May 28: 5th Grade Celebration
- May 29: AR Ice Cream Party
- May 30: Last Day of School & Report Cards sent home
- May 30: End of Year Party 1-1:45
- May 30: 5th Grade Clap Out 2:05