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.

To reduce food waste and provide students an opportunity to get something additional if they're still hunger, our kitchen staff has designated a Share Table in our cafeteria. If you prefer that your child doesn't take any items from this food donation table or if your child has food allergies that you're worried about, please discuss your expectations with him/her. Also, please talk with your child if you prefer he/she forgo donating items not eaten from their lunch to the Share Table. This is new to our building, so we're working through the kinks, but we are excited to provide additional food choices to students and make use of food that otherwise will be thrown in the trash. Here are the guidelines we are asking students to follow with the Share Table:

• Eat a healthy lunch first before donating items to the Share Table. Donating is an opportunity not an obligation.

• Donate only factory packaged items and or fruit/vegetables that are factory packaged or are whole fruits such as oranges, apples, bananas, etc.

• Take 1-2 fruit or vegetable items from the Share Table to eat.

• All other factory packaged non-perishable items will either be provided to teachers for their snack closet or our school-wide snack pantry to provide to students who need a snack.

Blinking light pedestrian signs will be installed at the crosswalk on Wilson St. that is nearest to the school. The City of DeWitt is installing these as an additional safety measure for our students and all pedestrians. When individuals are wishing to cross the street, they simply push the button on the sign and a blinking light will ensue to catch the attention of drivers. Please continue to be on the lookout for our young students regardless if a light is flashing or not. Our collective efforts to keep our students safe is critically important.

Mrs. Poustforoush’s second grade students have been busy formulating and writing their opinions on which is a better pet - a cat or a dog. What is your choice?

Are you looking to get involved with our elementary schools in a way that supports student events, trips, equipment, and all sorts of different learning activities? Consider becoming a part of our DeWitt Elementary PTA. As a member, you can choose the level of involvement that matches your availability and lifestyle. Member or not, below are some upcoming PTA events you can participate in to help our schools and opportunities for students.

• Who likes pizza? The DeWitt Elementary PTA is partnering with Peppino's for the February FUNdraiser! Peppino's will donate towards the DeWitt Elementary PTA for every pizza sold on Superbowl Sunday, February 12th from 11am - 9pm

• February PTA Meeting - Tuesday, February 21st from 7 - 8:30pm in the SRE Cafeteria. All are welcome!

PTA Teacher/Educator Experiences are raffled during the Denim & Diamonds silent auction each year. Here are pictures of students joining Mrs. Zarotney, Mrs. Cochrane, and Mrs. Reha for their experiences.

Calling all third grade girls interested in joining Girls on the Run. This program meets after school and focuses on wellness, confidence building, developing friendships, and girl empowerment. Check out these flyers for additional information.

We are still in need of a cafeteria assistant to help during lunch times two hours a day. If you are interested in working on with a team of like-minded adults who love helping children learn and grow, this position is for you. Please contact Linda Reha for application information at RehaL@dewittschools.net or 517-668-3450.

The Old Newsboys Association helps our community by providing children with either shoes or boots. If your child needs new shoes or boots and the purchase of them would be a financial burden, please contact DeAnn Schwarz, Scott School Social Worker at 517-668-3446 or schwarzdea@dewittschools.net so that she may get you the forms to complete. It is not necessary to include your income information if your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch. We will forward your form to the Old Newsboys Association, and they will send you a voucher for either shoes or boots. You may include all school age children on one family request form, even if they attend different buildings. Please do not send in duplicate requests if you included your child on another form.

The Weekend Survival Kit Backpack Program continues to be provided at Scott School this year. Weekend Survival Kits contain a little over two days worth of food. Typical food items include mac & cheese, granola bars, canned vegetables, peanut butter, crackers, oatmeal, soup, and SpaghettiOs/ravioli. Children are eligible for the Weekend Survival Kit program based on need, and there is no cost to families to participate. Please contact DeAnn Schwarz, Scott School Social Worker, if you are interested in learning more about and/or participating in this program. 517-668-3446 or schwarzdea@dewittschools.net

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 has been down bus drivers periodically this year, so please be prepared for alternate transportation if your child rides a bus whose route gets canceled on a given week. 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!

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.