Our winter benchmark testing will occur right when we return from Holiday break. Second graders need headphones or earbuds for NWEA testing because both the reading and the math assessments are audio in nature. If your child has headphones or earbuds at school, please consider sending a pair in with him/her. We do have a limited amount available for students who do not have a pair on their testing days. Thank you for helping your child have a good night of rest, a quality breakfast, and being at school and on time on testing days. Also, words of encouragement to simply do their best is inspiring to all students on test days. Below are the testing windows for these assessments.

• NWEA Reading: Jan. 10-Jan. 13

• NWEA Math: Jan. 16-Jan. 20

• NWEA Make Up Testing: Jan. 23-Jan. 27

• Acadience: Jan. 24-Jan. 26

Scott School was in awe of the high school Chamber Choir singers who visited and sang carols in the hallway. It was such a joy to hear such beautiful voices.

Each week every classroom at Scott School has a Panther Pride drawing from all Panther Pride slips earned by students for demonstrating respectful, responsible, safe, and bucketfilling behavior. Lucky drawing winners are invited to a Panther Pride recess at the end of each month with Mrs. Reha and Mrs. Schwarz.

Please help keep our students (and all pedestrians) who walk to and from school safe by following driver safety laws. Although most students use the crosswalk at the stop sign on Wilson St. to cross the road, it is important to be alert for students crossing anywhere near school grounds. You have an important role in keeping our students safe by following these law tips.

• Drivers must come to a complete stop at stop signs.

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk, so drivers must yield.

• Drivers cannot park within 20 feet of a crosswalk. This means if you pick your child up and are in the car line near the crosswalk, you are obligated to leave this much space.

• Drivers cannot park within an intersection. Again, if you pick up your child, wait patiently until cars move forward to avoid getting caught in the intersection.

Our local law enforcement partner with our school to assist with safety and will ticket if necessary to protect our students. Modeling expected driver safety is essential and contagious! Be a role model for our children and other drivers.

Scott School students participating in Hour of Code. It's amazing to see our students learn and apply coding skills at the second and third grade level.

DPS is following Run, Hide, Fight Safety Protocol in the case of an intruder emergency. Staff have participated in safety training following these protocols and emergency drills provide practice for students and school personnel. We are mindful of appropriate Run and Fight protocols for second and third graders, and these protocols likely look different at the secondary level with older students.

Please remember that the car loop should be used for all students being dropped off and picked up instead of parking in front of the building or doing so in the road. Also, supervision is not available for students who are dropped off in other locations, so please be mindful of this. Our pick up loop is the safest area to transport students to and from school.

Also, DPS is down bus drivers, so there will be some routes that Transportation can't run for a while (hopefully January). If this affects your bus riding student, you can expect to hear from Transportation. If you are not contacted about this then busing for your child has not been impacted. When students need to be picked up from school in our car loop, a sign with student's first and last name legibly printed in large font must be in each driver's window. This allow for an efficient and effective pick up process at the end of the day. Thank you for following our procedures!

Parents and guests should always check in at our main office by pushing the intercom button to talk to an office staff member and signing in before entering our school. Even if you are a frequent volunteer at Scott School, please refrain from walking into our school with a staff member who has fobbed into the building. We are working hard to maintain a safe school environment and need your help with this procedure. Thank you!

It's official - - - winter weather has arrived! Please help your child be prepared for frigid temps by sending him/her to school with the proper outdoor gear. Students are expected to wear a coat outside for recess when the temperature falls below fifty degrees. Below is a list of winter apparel that is also recommended. Please let your child's teacher or Mrs. Schwarz know if your child is in need of any outdoor wear. We are happy to help!

• Heavy/Warm Coat

• Boots

• Snow Pants

• Mittens/Gloves

• Hat

• Scarf (optional, but works great as a wind breaker)

Please help keep our school community healthy by keeping your child home if he/she is ill. Read these CDC and health department resources and infographics below for steps to take if your child contracts COVID, is exposed to the virus, or contracts a different communicable disease.

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.

Our school social worker, Mrs. Schwarz, is always willing to assist students and families in any way possible. In addition to working closely with your child's teacher, consider reaching out to her if you have questions or need support. She is truly amazing at what she does! She can be reached at 517-668-3446 or schwarzdea@dewittschools.net.