Dear Scott School Families,

Open House was a fun-filled night meeting and greeting new and returning families.  It has also been wonderful to see many families taking advantage of our self-guided building tour opportunities today and yesterday.  The friendly faces and enthusiastic energy is contagious, and our staff is as excited as you and your student are for the first day of school on Monday.  See you then!

All my best,

Linda Reha

Scott School Principal

To learn more specific details about Scott School, check out these informative links:

• Scott School Family Information Presentation 

• Scott School Suggested General Supplies List 

• DPS Volunteer I-CHAT Form - Volunteers must complete this process and be cleared every year before being approved to volunteer and/or chaperone field trips.

Below are the dates for staff professional development, Collaborative Learning Time (CLT), and Records Day this year.  Thank you in advance for supporting these days which allow our teachers and certified staff to participate in training and be continuous lifelong learners to support student success.  Half day dismissal at Scott School is 11:42 a.m.

• August 18 & 19 - Professional Development (before the school year starts)

• August 24 - Half Day for CLT 

• September 23 - Half Day for CLT 

• October 28 -  Half Day for CLT 

• November 13 - Half Day for Records Day

• November 18 - Half Day for CLT 

• January 27 -  Half Day for CLT 

• February 16 - No School for Professional Development

• March 5 - Half Day for Records Day

• March 25 - Half Day to start Spring Break

• April 21 - Half Day for CLT 

• May 19 - Half Day for CLT 

• June 4 - Half Day for Records Day (last day of school)

Fall Picture Day at Scott School is:  Thursday, September 3rd.  Pictures will be taken by Canfield Jenkins instead of Lifetouch this year, and here is a message from them with more details.

Hello Scott School Families! 

School portraits are scheduled for 

 Thursday, September 3rd 

To submit an order please use the link below, and select your school portrait package.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.  There will be no order forms sent home.  If you would rather not submit an online order please call the studio 989-227-8441 and we will take your order over the phone.  Ordering now by using the link below is to take advantage of our special Prepaid Package pricing (BEST VALUE).  

Please submit your order on or before your child's scheduled picture day. All orders will be processed and the picture packages will be delivered back to the school about three weeks after picture day.  If you choose not to take advantage of this special prepaid package pricing you will receive information when the prepaid packages are delivered to the school with an opportunity to submit a reorder.

NOTE:  The school picture that you will see on the ordering site is a sample picture, not a picture of your child. 

ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS:

Simply search for your student by name.  You can type either their first or last name and you will see student names pop up.  If you have multiple students please submit separate orders for each child.  If you do not see your students name, choose "New Person" and add their information then click the "prepay for photos button"

You DO NOT need to send the printed receipt to school. We will already have a record of your payment!

Click the link below or copy this web address below and paste into the address bar:

This link is for ONLY Scott School.  If you have a child in a different building, you need to use a different link for that school.

ospgo.com/119535

We are looking forward to photographing your child!  If you have any questions please email Andrew@Canfieldjenkins.com or call the studio at 989-227-8441.

Fall benchmark testing will start the third week of school as follows:

• DIBELS 8 - Tues., 9/8 - Wed., 9/9

• NWEA Reading - Tues., 9/8 - Fri., 9/11

• NWEA Math - Mon., 9/14 - Thurs., 9/17

Some helpful reminders about benchmark testing:

• These assessments are not ones that students can study for.  They provide insight on student progress and performance on the day the student took the assessment.  Other factors can influence how a student tests.

• Testing does not define a student.  Trend data and multiple data sources provide additional evidence of learning.  It's possible a student may have peaks and valleys in their testing performance.  Looking at several data points for an upwards trajectory of growth is what we're striving for.

• Please be sure to help your child get a good night sleep, a brain-fueled breakfast, and be to school and on time.  Your child's teacher will share specific testing days with you.

• Second graders and students with audio accommodations per an IEP or 504 plan will need earbuds/headphones.  Please consider sending in a pair for your child to keep at school.  We have some extras though for those who forget or don't have any.

• Help us celebrate learning with your child.  Even test results that are unexpected or lower than hoped for are learning opportunities and should be embraced.  It's all about the mindset adults have and model for our students.

Did you know the following about NWEA MAP testing?

SECOND GRADERS

• Per the recommendation of NWEA, spring data from last year is used to sort second graders according to their RIT score so they take the appropriate assessment aligned to them.  Here is how students are sorted:

  • Reading:

    • <190 RIT in the spring of 2023 = K-2 growth test (all audio)

    • 190+ RIT in the spring of 2023 = 2-5 growth test (no audio)

  • Math:

    • <200 RIT in the spring of 2023 = K-2 growth test (all audio)

    • 200+ RIT in the spring of 2023 = 2-5 growth test (no audio)

  • Please don't fret if your child takes the grades K-2 growth tests in reading and math this year instead of the grades 2-5 tests.  The test options are specifically designed to measure different aspects of student achievement in developmentally appropriate ways using a student's most recent RIT score.  Once in third grade, all students will take the grades 2-5 reading and math tests.

  • All new second grade students will take the grades K-2 tests since we don't have recent NWEA benchmark data to determine if they are ready to take the grades 2-5 assessments.

THIRD GRADERS

• All third graders take the 2-5 growth (reading & math) assessments.  This assessment is a transition from the early literacy based audio assessment that most students are familiar with in grades K-2 to longer connected text passages that do not include an audio feature except for students who are eligible for an audio accommodation through an IEP or 504 plan.

ALL STUDENTS

• When students transition from taking an assessment such as the K-2 one to the 2-5 one, sometimes they experience a performance dip.  Unless there is significant regression, this should not be cause for alarm because often students adjust to the new assessment the following benchmark testing period.  Essentially, it's important to look at several data points over time, called trend data, to determine a student's growth, not just a student's performance on a single day.

Scott School uses positive behavior intervention systems to support students in learning and demonstrating expected behavior.   This all starts with our three school rules  below that are discussed and taught daily.

1. Be respectful.

2. Be responsible.

3. Be safe.

Along with our school rules, students earn Panther Pride tickets when a school staff member notices anyone demonstrating behavior that is respectful, responsible, or safe.  Students who earn Panther Prides are also announced on our Morning News, a panther head with their name is posted on a bulletin board in our school,  and they are invited to a special reward experience with Mrs. Reha and Mrs. Schwarz.  These special experiences include events such as special recesses, a visit to our school store, and bingo.

We recognize that our students are lifelong learners and continue to need support as they grow and learn throughout their educational career, this includes behavior as well as academics.  To help students process a difficult social or behavior situation and develop a success plan for the next time they face a similar situation, we use a teaching tool with students called a Think Sheet.  These forms are designed to help student reflect, forward think, and sometimes even include a type of restitution they can offer to do repair work for a situation.  To include parent/guardians in our school-home team connection for a student, these forms are sometimes sent home for parents to review, discuss with their child, and then sign and return to school when there is a pattern and a need for skill development.  This helps our our triangle team (student, parent(s), staff) work closely together on problem solving and social/behavior skill development.

Students at Scott School also learn about Zones of Regulation.  The Zones help students identify their feelings in meaningful ways and then choose and use tools to help self-regulate their emotions in a productive way.  In addition, students are taught ways to resolve conflict by using tools such as DeBug and also a Problem Solving Wheel.  Tools such as these can assist students with developing independence and self-advocacy skills while also learning peaceful ways to resolve difficult situations.  Try using these tools at home.

Drop Off & Pick Up:

• To help promote a safe and productive start to your child’s day, please be sure to drop your child off no earlier than 8:10 a.m. because students are not allowed to enter the building until that time, and there is no adult supervision outside prior to then.

• Students dropped off will walk to the front of the building using the sidewalk, enter the vestibule through the main doors, and go to the cafeteria where there will be adult supervision until the first bell rings at 8:25 a.m.  Students who arrive after the tardy bell (8:30 a.m.) must enter the building through the main entrance accompanied by a parent or guardian and be signed in at the office. 

• Please drop your child off using the car loop and drive up as far as possible. Anywhere there is a painted blue line on the curb to the sidewalk area is where students should get in and out of vehicles otherwise our loop does not run efficiently.  Everyone is happiest when we have an efficient and effective procedure that's followed. 

• Please do not drop your child off or pick your child up in the front of the building unless you are parking and entering the building with your child or to pick your child up.

• Please do not drop your child off or pick your child up in the road.  This is extremely dangerous and our local law enforcement patrols our street frequently to support school procedures and enforce the law for student safety.

• Please do not park your car to drop your child off or pick your child up unless you are entering the building.  Parking is limited at Scott School, and this creates challenges for staff to get to work on time and creates more sight line barriers for pedestrians and drivers after school. 

• Students who are picked up after school are to wait on the sidewalk area located on the south side of the building where the parent driving loop is.  Adult supervision will be at the loop after school daily to supervise students and assist with safety.

• Please post a sign in a visual area in your vehicle window with your child's first and last name printed in large legible font.  We are hoping to be able to provide two car tags to families of every student who need them.  Name signs/tags are extremely important and helps staff at the loop call students on a speaker system for efficient boarding.

• Although our students quickly learn the procedures for being dropped off and picked up, your help in following our guidelines will help ensure and model safety for our students. 

Parking Lot & Other Safety Requests:

• Please avoid parking in the parking lot to drop off or pick up your child.  Use the loop - that's what it's designed for.  Parking should only occur when a parent/guardian must enter the building.

• Please resist the urge to drop your child off or pick your child up on Logan Street (across the bridge on our playground).  Drop off and pick up locations other than the area that is designated (car loop) for this creates safety concerns.  We care about your child!

• Please drive the speed limit (25 mph) and come to a complete stop before the crosswalk where there is also a stop sign on Wilson St.  Our second and third grade walkers and bikers often cross here and trust that you are watching for them.

• Please follow the right turn only sign out of the pick up loop for student and driver safety and to increase the time efficiency of the loop.  It is extremely frustrating and dangerous when our families do not follow this expectation.

It's normal for students to experience some anxiety at the start of the school year, and our school staff will be visible and eager to help all students find their classroom and get settled into a school routine.  However, please communicate with us if your child experiences significant anxiety and stress about transitioning to school after the first week.  To increase safety for our students and staff, as well as to help your child with a successful transition into the school year, please drop your child off outside of the building instead of walking him/her inside.  Our staff will be visible, available, and happy to help! 

Here are some examples of name signs expected of pick up vehicles.  Once school issued car tags are distributed, they are expected to replace homemade signs.

Please help keep our students (and all pedestrians) who walk or bike 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.  Accidents at this crosswalk can be prevented by following crosswalk laws and being an attentive driver, especially when our students are walking or bike riding to and from school each day.

Scott is a neighborhood school, and we have many wonderful neighbors who support our school.  However, a community concern is vehicles blocking driveways at the beginning and end of the day when drop off and pick up occurs.  Please be respectful of our neighbors by refraining from idling (or parking) your car in front of any driveway while waiting in the car loop line.   Allowing space for driveway access for all property owners is important and helps us maintain positive relations with our friendly neighbors and demonstrates respectful driver etiquette.   Also, vehicles cannot stop in the intersection where the stop sign is located south of your building.  We are fortunate to have support from our local law enforcement to keep our students, community, and school safe, so please know these traffic violations could result in police issuing tickets. In addition, please follow road rules by parking in legal spots when needing to enter the building.  Using other areas besides the drop off and pick up loop is strongly discouraged.  Please follow our driving guidelines so pick up and drop off times are safe for everyone by preventing an unfortunate accident from occurring and helping us keep good relations with our neighborhood community members.  Be sure to follow the turn sign when exiting the loop.  Vehicles must make a righthand turn only to keep traffic flow steady and to avoid an accident.  Lastly, please keep in mind that our staff need to be on time to work to teach and support your child, so please allow staff access to the staff parking lot when they arrive to work each day. Thank you for your attention to these concern areas. 

We're hoping to have the Walking School Bus again at Scott School.  We hope you consider this opportunity for your child to walk to school and get some fresh air, exercise, and make new friends by walking with a trusted adult.  This will also benefit families by avoiding wait time in the parent loop line.  Stay tuned for more information.

DeWitt Public Schools will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to students this year.  Menus can be found here and will be updated soon.  We are grateful to families and our community members who donate healthy, no nut snacks to classrooms and our snack pantry which also provides our students brain and body fuel throughout the day.  Your partnership in removing hunger as a barrier to learning and child development makes a lifelong impact.  Thank you!

Prior to each school year, it is important to confirm/update your student’s emergency contact information as well as provide permissions and acknowledgments of important District documents. This task is easily accomplished using your Infinite Campus parent portal.

Be sure to read the following PRIOR to completing the update (all can be found on the District website):

1. District K-12 Student Handbook

2. District Code of Conduct

3. Athletic Handbook & Code of Conduct, if applicable

Please complete by prior to the start of school to ensure your child has access to school computers/email, etc.

DIRECTIONS (application works best using Chrome or Firefox browsers):

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

2. From the MENU, select MORE

3. Select ONLINE REGISTRATION

4. Select 2026-2027 EXISTING STUDENT REGISTRATION.

5. Click BEGIN REGISTRATION.

6. Type your name and sign with your mouse/track pad. Click BEGIN. At each prompt, review, confirm/update your student's data. Use the NEXT and SAVE/CONTINUE buttons to proceed through the Update. If any of your information is highlighted in yellow, you have missed a required field and must go back to edit/ update.

7. SUBMIT once complete.

All changes will be reviewed by staff and they will reach out to you to confirm updates and/or request additional documentation, depending on the change made. 

If you need assistance with the Annual Update, please contact the District Registrar at 517-668-3017.

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.)

Thank you to the many families who have reached out and asked what donations they can make to Scott School.  Here is a list of things that we're always in need of:

• Healthy, no nut (doesn't contain nuts and is processed and packaged in a factory without nuts), individually packaged snacks

• Balls (basketballs, kickballs, soccer balls, and footballs)

• Disinfectant wipes

• Hand sanitizer

• Paper towels

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.

Below is a message from our DeWitt PTA.

Join the PTA!

Whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, teacher, or community member, we'd love to have you join us! Your membership helps support students, staff, and school programs while giving you the opportunity to vote on funding and grant requests, help shape PTA initiatives, and serve in leadership roles. Everyone is welcome at our meetings - membership is encouraged but not required.

Join today: tinyurl.com/ptamember2627 

First PTA Meeting

Tuesday, September 1 | 7:00 PM
Herbison Woods Media Center

Join us for our first meeting of the school year! Can't make it in person? We'll also offer a hybrid option so you can participate from home. Details on how to join virtually will be shared closer to the meeting in our Facebook event.

Sponsor a Teacher https://tinyurl.com/staffdrive2627

Help us reach 100% staff membership! For just $7, you can sponsor a teacher or staff member's PTA membership, giving them access to valuable local, state, and national PTA resources.

Chalk the Walk

Sunday, August 23 | Drop in anytime from 9:00 AM–8:00 PM

Help us welcome students and staff back by decorating the sidewalks at any of our three elementary schools with colorful chalk art and encouraging messages!

Stay Connected: Follow the DeWitt Elementary PTA on Facebook for the latest news, event reminders, volunteer opportunities, and school-year updates: https://www.facebook.com/ptadewitt 

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.