Scott School spring conferences are scheduled in March.  To accommodate families, we are continuing to offer both an in person and a virtual option to choose from.  If all in person conference slots fill up though, and you prefer to meet with your child's teacher in person, just reach out to the teacher, and he/she will be happy to accommodate you.  A P/T Conference SignUp Genius will be sent to a families on Friday, March 8th.  Conferences nights will be:

In Person Conferences - Tuesday, March 19th from 4-7:30 p.m.

Virtual Conferences - Wednesday, March 20th from 4-7:30 p.m.

Dear Scott School Families, 

Every year, parents help provide meals to feed our staff during parent/teacher conferences.  Spring conference dates for Scott  School are March 19th & 20th. If you would like to help, please use this link to sign up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094CA8A928AB9-48351818-2024#/

The PTA and Scott School Staff THANK YOU for your support.  If you have any questions, please contact your Scott School Building Representatives:

Spring testing at Scott School will begin the week after we return from Spring Break.  Although some classes may have to adjust their schedule due to some conflicts, below is a general guideline of what to expect.  Please rememeber that these assessments are not ones that students can study for, but you can help your child be test ready by encouraging your him/her make sure he/she does the following:

• Gets a good night of sleep before each testing day.

• Eats a healthy breakfast.

• Attends school on testing days and be on time (students arriving late on testing days cannot test once a test session has started).

• Perseveres and gives his/her very best effort.

• Brings headphones or earbuds for testing (3rd grade needs a pair for the M-STEP ELA assessment, and 2nd grade needs a pair for the NWEA Reading and Math assessments.)

• 3rd Grade Only:

  • • Complete M-STEP practice tests at home (must use Google Chrome) to become familiar with the platform and styles of questions:

      • • Click on the Sample Items Sets

        • Select Grade 3

        • Complete both the English Language Arts and Math (no calculators allowed) mini-assessments

        • Be sure to try out the testing tools located at the top of each question screen.  These are useful tools to assist with taking the test.

Spring Testing will be as follows:

• M-STEP ELA (3rd grade only):  4/8 - 4/11 (All third graders must have headphones or earbuds required for this test for the directions and listening portion.)

• M-STEP Math (3rd grade only):  4/16 & 4/18 (All third graders must have headphones or earbuds for this test required for the directions only.)

• NWEA Reading:  4/29-  5/2 (Classroom teachers will communicate the two dates their students will test in this window.  All second graders must have headphones or earbuds for this test.)

• NWEA Math:  5/6 - 5/10 (Classroom teachers will communicate the two dates their students will test in this window.  All second graders must have headphones or earbuds for this test.)

• Acadience:  5/7 - 5/9

Although retention for third grade students who don't score proficient on the M-STEP reading assessment no longer must be considered, families can still expect a letter to come from the Michigan Department of Education if their child scores 1271 or lower.  Once the data is available, families of students who fall into this category can expect to be contacted by a district administrator which will likely be the building principal, Linda Reha.  Other things in place per the Read by Grade Three Law for individual students are:

• An Individualized Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP) for students who score below benchmark on their benchmark Acadience Composite Score.  IRIPs will be provided to families of identified students at spring conferences.

• Evidence-based reading interventions

• Ongoing monitoring and response to literacy instruction

Scott School Families,

As we are all aware, Daylight Saving Time can cause extra fatigue for all of us, especially our children. With warmer weather and the start of spring activities, we are seeing an increase in students feeling tired. Tired kids and adults tend to have a shorter fuse when handling emotions or dealing with problems. This is a great time to incorporate mindfulness activities to help not only our kids but also ourselves.

Here are a few things you can try that only take a short amount of time but can be really beneficial:

Wiggle and Freeze Game: This game is a fun way for kids to start practicing mindfulness and improve their awareness of bodily sensations using movement. It involves wiggling, moving around, shaking, stomping, or dancing until you say, “Freeze!” Once everyone stops moving, encourage children to pay close attention to the sensations that they feel in their body.

Sense Scavenger Hunt: Listen. Name one thing that you hear when you listen with your ears. Look. Name one thing that catches your attention when you look around. Smell. Name a scent that you notice when you take a sniff with your nose. Touch. Name an object that you enjoy feeling with your hands. Doing these things can help re-regulate oneself in the moment or focus on the present before becoming overwhelmed.

We all know that when kids have the tools they need to succeed, even when they are tired, it can create positive outcomes.  If you are interested in learning more, here is a link with some additional information: https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-for-kids/ 

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Anna Rosalin

Dean of Students

Below are parent resources for families.  Also, the he Tri-County Community Health Guide has been updated, and it can be found here.  There are multiple categories of resources for assistance or information. 

School breakfast and lunch is available to all students and this year, both are free to all students due to a State initiative. 

• Lunch Menus:   https://dewittschools.nutrislice.com

• Sign Up for Free Breakfast:  The link shared with our families to sign up their students for breakfast has not been working properly.  Please email Marcy Updike at updikemar@dewittschools.net to ensure your student is signed up for the breakfast program at Scott and Schavey because these two buildings will serve breakfast in the classroom as a more efficient way to feed students and reduce time out of class.  Once you sign up your student, it is a standing order unless you cancel.  When you email to sign up, please include:

  • Student's first and last name

  • Teacher's name

  • Building student attends

• Guidelines for Free Meals:  The guidelines to receive free breakfast and/or lunch require a students to take items that meet the guidelines for a complete meal.  

• Option to Purchase Ala Carte Items:  In addition to free complete meals, extra entrees and ala carte items like milk at .55 will be available for purchase if your student brings a meal from home. Students will need money in their accounts to do this.  There is a charge of $1.95 fee per $100, and .50 fee for multiple students with no transaction amt. cap to families who choose to use the online payment system.  Also, you can pay by E-Check for $1 fee per transaction with a $750 transaction cap. Also, there are deposit boxes located in all school buildings. 

• Federal & State Funding Help:  DeWitt Public School District is excited to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students starting this new school year thanks to the Michigan Healthy School Meals Program! Even though meals will be provided for free, it's important for families to continue sharing household income information in order for our schools to receive full access to federal and state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to.  Paper applications are available upon request.  Please contact Sandy Leach at leachsand@dewittschools.net or Marcy Updike at updikemar@dewittschools.net.  Online applications can be completed at:  https://dewitt.familyportal.cloud.

All volunteers and chaperones must be cleared before an event through our District's I-CHAT background check process every year.  This process takes a few days, so please don't delay in completing it, so your report is processed and returned to the school in a timely fashion.

Below are the dates for Collaborative Learning Time (CLT) and professional development this year.  Thank you in advance for supporting these days which allow our teachers to participate in training and be continuous lifelong learners to support student success.

• September 15 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)

• October 18 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)

• November 1 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)

• January 17 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)

• February 21 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)

• May 15 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)

Student safety is a priority.  Please bring proper identification each time your child is picked up from school.  Here are some ways adults picking up students can be identified:

• Physical ID (ie. driver's license)

• Personal ID by office staff

• Other identification proof such as utility bills or other statements, credit card, etc., AND answer personal information that we have in Infinite Campus (ie. phone number, child's birthdate, etc.)

There are some Scott students who have health-threatening nut allergies in our building.  Scott School is a 'No Nut' building.  Pack items that do not contain nuts for your child's lunch and snack.  It is critically important that we provide a safe learning environment for all students, and your help with this is needed and appreciated.  Please always contact your child's teacher if you have a concern about an allergy or other health condition related to your child that they should be aware of.  Also, if your child has a medical need, including food or other allergies, don't forget to update your child's Medical Management Plan by completing and submitting the district forms to the office before school starts so we can follow protocols to keep your child safe.

In order for Scott School personnel to administer medication to your child when we return to in person instruction, you must:

• Submit a completed district medication form to our office. 

• Be sure all medications are brought to and stored in our office. 

• Be sure prescription medication is in its original container accompanied with a physician’s signature. 

• Be sure non-prescription medication is in its original container accompanied by a parent’s signature. 

• Please communicate with your child's teacher if he/she takes medication daily at school. 

• If your child has a medical condition, please be sure to complete a Medical Management Plan for your child and turn it in at the office.

Medication and other medical forms can be found on our DeWitt Public Schools website.