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. 

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

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a great Spring Break! It has been wonderful being back this week and getting to see all our students and families.  We continue to reinforce being respectful, responsible, safe bucket fillers as we get back in the routine.  We have also been discussing what it means to have integrity, or doing the right thing even when no one is watching.  We have amazing students, and it is so nice to see so many do this on a daily basis.  Additionally, for those who are participating, we have started our small groups this week.  

As always, please reach out if I can be of any help.

Best wishes for a (hopefully) warm spring!

DeAnn Schwarz

School Social Worker

Scott School Families,

Just a friendly reminder about sending healthy snack choices with our kids to school. It's crucial to recognize the impact that diet can have on students' academic performance and overall well-being. Research has consistently shown that what we eat directly influences cognitive function, mood, and energy levels. When it comes to navigating the challenges of test-taking, providing students with nutritious, low-sugar snacks is paramount. High-sugar foods can lead to rapid spikes and subsequent crashes in blood sugar levels, resulting in decreased concentration, fatigue, and irritability—all of which are less than ideal conditions for optimal academic performance and can cause behavioral issues in the classroom. By working together, schools and parents can create an environment that prioritizes health and wellness for all students. By making small changes, such as sending kids with healthy, less sugary snacks to school, we can make a big difference in the lives of our children, both inside and outside the classroom. Beyond the immediate benefits of improved focus and concentration, promoting healthy snacks sends a powerful message to students about the importance of self care and prioritizing their well-being. Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Anna Rosalin

Dean of Students

Another big thanks to our PTA and families for providing Conference Cuisine meals for staff before spring parent/teacher conferences.  This is such a big help to our team on those busy evenings, and we appreciate the love and support our village gives us.  Thank you - thank you - thank you!

Scott School was fortunate to have State Representative Emily Dievendorf read Enemy Pie to a second grade classroom. Representative Dievendorf also answered questions about her job at the Capital and some of the laws she has helped to pass. She even wore blue and gold which matched our Spirit Day colors that day.

Third graders have been hard at work learning equivalent fractions in math.

The following blurb was shared with families in Dr. Spickard's April 1st email.  These resources include a lot of valuable information that you may find useful.

If you were unable to attend the District's 4th Mental Health Night Series in March, March, here is the link to the replay for “Effects of Screen Time and Children’s Mental Health.” This is a topic on all of our minds. Our final series will be on May 7th: “Bullying: Stop the Cycle,” and families and educators can register here: http://cookcenter.info/DWPSMay7. This session will define bullying, the people who bully and get bullied, the cycle and how to stop it, and cover bullying in social media, school, and sports. As a reminder, all sessions, classes, and coaching are free and confidential services for our families and staff. Here is this week’s Parent Guidance Newsletter: Sleeping Sound: Understanding How Sleep Affects Children’s Mental Well-being.

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.