From the desk of Cherie Swader
October 22, 2007

Dear DES Family and Friends,

Please remember to sign up for the Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 25th. You should have received a form from your child's teacher. We are hoping to have 100% attendance, and look forward to seeing each of you. Thursday will also be an early release day for students. Car and bus riders will be released at 12:50 and according to Mr. Coleman there will be no Aftercare program on that day. You will be receiving your child's first nine week report card, last years CRCT scores (grades 2-5) and will also be signing a compact which is a requirement of the Title I program.

This week at Dade Elementary School, we will be observing Red Ribbon Week, which is a national observance that stresses the dangers of drugs and recognizes the importance of committing to a drug free life style. As we all know, students are being faced with peer pressures at much earlier ages, and we just want to make sure that they understand the importance of making positive and informed choices. Take the opportunity this week to discuss this with your children and let them know that you support them in making good decisions. Your child should have brought home an information sheet explaining the activities that will take place this week in conjunction with this event.

Thursday and Friday will also be our annual Pumpkin Carving event. If you would like to volunteer to assist with this activity, please send a note or call and let us know when you would be available. I want to thank you in advance for your help with this project. The pumpkins be on display around the gazebo in downtown Trenton.

Although, all of these extra-curricular activities are fun and the children (and faculty) enjoy them, we want to make sure that we stay focused on the curriculum and academic needs of our students. I want to especially thank Brenda Wheeler for organizing the Math Night activity that took place last Tuesday night at DES. The event was a great success and everyone who attended seemed to really enjoy it. Teachers and students worked hard to put together math activities to showcase and it was really rewarding to watch students and parents working together on math games and projects. We look forward to many more academically focused programs.

Our school day is from 8:10-2:50, please make every effort to have your children to school on time, and make sure that they stay for the entire day. Thank you for all you do to support and encourage your child.s academic progress. We look forward to seeing you at Dade Elementary School.

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