From the desk of Cherie Swader
September 17, 2007

Dear DES Family and Friends,

We had a wonderful PTO meeting Monday night and thanks to the 1st grade students, teachers and our music teacher Carolyn O'Malley for entertaining us with a fun and enjoyable program. Our next PTO meeting will be held November 13th - the kindergarten classes will be in charge of the program. However, we have several activities taking place between now and November. Please put September 29th (Saturday) on your calendar. That is the day of our annual Fall Festival - 2:00-6:00, ending with bingo. The Fall Festival Committee, which is co-chaired by Leonda Smith and Tarre Ginn have been working very hard to make this the best festival ever. All of the faculty and staff are also involved in preparations for the day. Come and join us in an afternoon of family fun, entertainment and food. This is an activity that you can enjoy with your whole family. I would especially like to thank Leslie Tate, one of our parents for the billboard publicity that she has provided for us. We look forward to seeing you at DES on Sept. 29th.

The DES Book Fair will also begin on September 29th - this is always a great event with lots of books and other materials that you can enjoy with your children. Please plan on visiting the media center and selecting a book for you and your child to share together. Sonya Snay, our media specialist also needs for parents, grandparents, or other family members to volunteer to help during the book fair. If you could volunteer just an hour or a few hours of your time, it would be greatly appreciated. Just contact Sonya Snay or Charlotte Lane at (657-6165) - so they can add you to the schedule. We appreciate any and all help.

The PTO has a list of events that they are sponsoring this year and for which they will need added volunteers and support. If each parent signs up to help with one event - our PTO will be the best in the state. We don't ask for membership dues - we just need your help - one event is all it takes. Please contact a PTO officer to sign up.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 16th - Brenda Wheeler, our Parent Involvment Coordinator is planning a Parent Workshop for that evening (6:00). The event will include a pot-luck dinner (bring your favorite dish or just pick up something at the deli). Parents and students will have an opportunity to work together on math activities - don't worry they will be fun and enjoyable. This is another opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your child/children- please plan on attending.

Substitute teacher training for the Dade County School System will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 18th - if you are interested in substituting, please contact the county office at 657-4361 to obtain more detailed information.

The Character Education Trait for September is "Respect for Others" - please talk with your children about the importance of respecting themselves as well as others. Respect is something that is taught not only through words, but also through actions. Remember that children model what they see.

Our students, faculty and staff are also involved in a community service project, known as "Coins for Cure." Students are contributing coins that will then be donated to several different projects that are all associated with research in finding a cure for cancer. Our community and many of our students have been directly affected by this disease and we believe that it is important to teach our students about giving to others.

Vocabulary is an important part of a child's social, academic, and emotional development. We ask that you read with your child at least (a minimum) of fifteen minutes daily, however, we also ask that you talk with your child. For many of you this sounds somewhat strange that we are stressing this form of communication, but with television, radio, computers, and so many other electronic devices that our children are exposed to, we often forget the most vital and important form of communication, TALKING. Sharing family stories, future goals and plans, and just daily activities helps develop a bond and a sense of belonging that is so important to the well-being of healthy and happy children. So turn off the radio, I-Pod, DVD player, television, and cell phones and talk - you might be surprised and pleased at what you hear.

Thanks for following the drop-off and pick-up guidelines - it really makes a difference in the flow of the traffic. Thanks also to the faculty and staff for their effort to keep the children safe and protected during this transition.

Your child should have received his/her mid-term progress report on Wednesday, September 12th - if you have questions or concerns about the report, please call and schedule an appointment with your child's teacher and a counselor or administrator. It is also important that you use your child's planner/handbook to communicate with his/her teacher.

Please remember to pay for your child's breakfast and/or lunch. If you have not filled out a free/reduced lunch form please do so immediately. If during the school year, your family income changes and you think that you might qualify for this service, please contact us and we will provide you with a form. If your child was on free/reduced lunches last year, you must still complete and submit a new form each year. Any charges that are made prior to approval are the responsibility of the parent/guardian - so it is important that these forms are completed and submitted immediately. I appreciate your cooperation with this. The lunch program is a federally funded program and we are subject to the mandates and guidelines established by the federal government. If you receive a notice or phone call that your child owes for breakfast and/or lunch charges and you feel that there is an error please contact our lunchroom manager - Regina McBryar - we want to work with you concerning these matters.

We continue to need volunteers to come and read with students. If you are a member of a civic organization, church group, or even local business and would like to participate in a community service project - we would greatly appreciate your help; just contact an administrator or one of our counselors to help set up a schedule. What a great way to give back to the community.

Cherie Swader
Principal
Dade Elementary School
"Hand In Hand - We Learn Together"