Students from the multi-age classroom (MAC) are shown enjoying the updated library and new furniture at Scott School. All which were made possible by the bond. Thank you families and the community of DeWitt!

Last Friday, we used a soft lockdown at Scott School as a precautionary measure due to a threatening message found at the high school. When this happens, local law enforcement assist with details on what a soft lockdown should include depending on the level of threat and the location of it. Last week, our soft lockdown meant business continued as usual at Scott School except all activities were indoors, including recess. On a daily basis, interior doors are kept in a locked state, so in the chance we do have to go into a secure lockdown, doors can simply be pulled shut. During a soft lockdown, parents can typically enter the building, but we are even more alert about the purpose of entry to ensure everyone's safety. During a hard lockdown, parents and others, are not allowed building entry. This is to ensure everyone's safety and to reduce additional people and confusion during an already high alert event. Please know that our number one priority is always student safety first! That means communication to families may be delayed in order to secure the building, communicate with staff who are working diligently to protect students, and work with law enforcement. We will do our best to communicate to you as soon as possible. Our staff have been trained and have ongoing communication with law enforcement about ways to enhance our protocols. We take emergency drills very seriously and hope we experience zero or low level circumstances that require the use of our protocols. Nonetheless, we practice them so we are prepared in the unfortunate case we need them. If you have questions about any of our emergency drills, please feel free to contact Scott School Principal, Linda Reha.

The safe and secure entry at Scott School directs traffic flow into our office to ensure our guests are greeted by school staff and sign in before entering the rest of the building. It is important that our building is secure throughout the day and that academic time isn't interrupted. Therefore, parents will be asked to drop items off in the office if they need to get something to their child or child's classroom. Please treat office staff kindly who are simply following this protocol. Also, please note that birthday invitations should not be handed out at school by a student unless all students in the class are invited. It's important that communication occur with the classroom teacher about the best time to distribute invitations and to confirm that all students in the class will receive one. This is defined on page 4 of our Scott Elementary School Handbook which can be found on our school website.

Our Scott School Fall 2019 Scholastic Book Fair is Tues., 10/22 through Thurs., 10/24. Students will have time scheduled during the week to shop and the fair will also be open Wednesday and Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. for parent shopping during conferences. We need volunteers to help during student shopping times. Please email our media specialist, Ms. Ruble, if you are available and interested at: rublek@DeWittschools.net.

DeWitt Public Schools has provided opportunities for teachers to attend Capturing Kids' Hearts training over the past several years. This training embodies many strategies and tools to develop and maintain healthy relationships within the school community. Students with strong connections to trusted adults become motivated and ready learners. One component of Capturing Kids Hearts is creating a classroom social contract which students develop, sign, and follow. Another emphasis of this training is having consistent rules and expectations for following them. When students break the social contract, the following questions are asked to help redirect their behavior:

1. What are you doing?
2. What are you supposed to be doing?
3. Are you doing that?
4. What are you going to do about it?

Try using these questions consistently at home when de-escalating situations or redirecting your child's behavioral choices. Our guess is that these questions will prove to be just as effective at home as they are at school. To learn more about Capturing Kids Hearts watch this short video clip of Flip Flippen (founder) on the Today Show.

Homecoming week at Scott School was filled with fun dress up days that followed a Disney theme all week long and ended with a spirited pep assembly put on by members of the DHS band, cheerleaders, and football players. Our gym rocked with panther pride!