Welcome to the Dewey/Kimball PTO Home Page!
Look here to find information about Dewey/Kimball PTO events.
Here is a link to the updated Dewey/Kimball handbook:
[ http://www.concord.k12.nh.us/schools/kimball/stuhandb.htm ]http://www.concord.k12.nh.us/schools/kimball/stuhandb.htm
And a link to the Dewey Kimball Times:
[ http://csd.k12.nh.us/%7ekhemi/dkt/current ]http://csd.k12.nh.us/%7ekhemi/dkt/current
And a link to the Dewey Kimball Calendar:
[ http://cl.concord.k12.nh.us/scripts/we3.4/webevent.pl?cdl=opercal&cal=cal38 ]http://cl.concord.k12.nh.us/scripts/we3.4/webevent.pl?cmd=opercal&cal=cal38
And a link to Mrs. Gfroerer's Second Grade Newsletter:
http://csd.k12.nh.us/%7ekhemi/dkt/gf
The Next PTO meeting is Wednesday, April 13th at 7:00 PM. The PTO board will meet next week on Wed. April 13 at 6:30. The regular monthly meeting will start at 7 PM. Some agenda items include: 1. Review draft of revised school handbook 2. Review suggested by-laws update 3. Presentation on PE/physical activity programs of the school 4. Plans for DK Fair 5. School Board update 6. New Business
Notes from the March meeting:
Annual School Spaghetti Dinner was April 3rd, Thanks Anne and Maggie for a great dinner evening!
Diane Heitmiller, our treasurer was not there, but said there was little activity. One teacher, Andrea McGahan, purchased books for her classroom with money alloted for that purpose.
Chuck Willing, our School Board liason, was also away. One reminder, all school board meetings are now on CCTV (Channel 6). Look for them there.
New School Sign. Holli Hadley has been busy researching acquiring a new school sign. We hope to have one resembling the one at Conant later this spring. Thank you, Holli!
School Handbook- After a few years of declining use and interest, the school handbook is getting a makeover. Kent Hemingway has been working with a group online to make changes. The 2005-2006 one will be mailed in August with the regular start-up packet.
Crossing Guard- It has come to our attention that a crossing guard has not been on duty every morning at some key intersections. If you discover this problem: 1. call school, we may be able to send someone to cover it; 2. call Sue Power at transportation. She is the dispatcher. Most importantly, if you have a child who walks to school, sit down and have a conversation about this possibility. Make sure your child knows what to do if he/she reaches a busy intersection without a guard present (Do you want your child to go back home, take a different route, etc.?) The same is true regarding sidewalks impassable due to snow.
School Goal: Third Grade teacher Carol Reynolds made a presentation on our School Goal. The focus is on literacy and specifically, nonfiction literacy. Studies of Kimball test scores indicate that a familiarity with fiction reading strategies doesn't always translate well to nonfiction. Like students across the country, our students scored measurably lower on nonfiction testing. While children read plenty of fiction, studies indicate that 80-90% of adult reading is nonfiction. So, Kimball
will be working as a whole school to improve that situation. Students will be learning about forms of nonfiction: books, magazines, newspapers, biographies, memoirs, scrapbooks, journals, letters, labels, etc. They will learn about the contents of nonfiction: table of contents, charts and graphs, bibiographies, etc. And they will be creating their own nonfiction works, not just reports, but employing some of the previously mentioned types of nonfiction. This is a great time to start a discussion at home about the kinds of nonfiction all of your family members read and enjoy.
As part of this goal, nonfiction author Kathleen Deady came to school March 8, 10, and 11. She met with every class and students got to discuss her books with her. Ask your child what books his/her class discussed.
Finally, Kent spoke about the configuration of Kimball in 2005-2006. Dewey will remain vacant. As last year, individual class assignments will be sent home in August. Currently, there appears to be a large number of incoming first graders. Right now, the breakdown looks like it will be2 regular Kindergarten classes; one K-1 class; two regular first grades; one K-2; and two each of third, fourth, and fifth grade. Nothing is confirmed yet, and if you have any specific questions, please contact Kent.
The Open House for incoming students was on March 15. If you missed it and want to know more about Kimball, please call the school and check out our web site. In addition to the calendar and newsletter, there is now a virtual tour of the school!
Don't forget to get your Shaw's certificates--an easy way to keep earning PTO money.
Shaw's certificates: We are looking for a new coordinator of the Shaw's gift certificates as well as anyone who shops there regularly to participate in the program by buying certificates once a month. Please contact Tenley Callaghan or Diane Heitmiller if you are interested in distributing the certificates or just being a regular customer. If you shop at Hannaford, we are collecting the "Help the Schools" coupons. and wherever you shop, if you purchase General Mills products, we are still collecting their box tops. Bring them to the office!
Looking to get involved and volunteer? Speak to your child's classroom teacher, or Holli Hadley (227-9376) regarding various volunteer opportunities in the school. We can always use the help!
The Next Kimball PTO meeting is Wednesday, April 13th at 7:00 PM in the Kimball Library. All are welcome! PTO meetings are usually held the second Wednesday of the month. Meetings are a great opportunity to ask questions, address issues (playground activity, class sizes, you name it), and find out what's going on. Hope to see you there!