We are in the last month of school and it is a very busy time of year.  Please be sure to review our upcoming events for important dates and times.

Attached you’ll find our latest Dunn Deal as well as a permission form for our upcoming climbing wall event (grades 3 & 4).  Please note that students must have their signed permission form returned to the school in order to participate and that closed-toe shoes are required.  (A paper copy of the form is being sent home as well) 

Miss Lindsay’s Counseling Corner

Last week, I had the pleasure of teaching our last in-class SEL lesson of the school year with third and fourth graders. We learned about five common pathways that students can take after high school. Students were very interested and engaged in learning more about these pathways and had lots of great questions! As our school year starts to wind down, many of our students have become almost like siblings with their classmates. They have been through a lot together! Sometimes this can lead to conflicts, so I wanted to share a resource that families can use to support children during times of friendship or peer stress. Please find this handout attached, and I hope that you find it helpful!

This week, I have been visiting with our pre-kindergarten classrooms for our last in-class SEL lesson of the school year! I have been reviewing with students the importance of practicing different calm down strategies each day so that when they are feeling frustrated, mad or sad, they can pick a known strategy to help them settle their brains and their bodies in order to shrink down their big feelings and make kind and safe choices. It is important to practice these strategies each day, even when we are feeling happy, so that we can use them effectively when we REALLY need them. We have reviewed how to take “Pizza Breaths” (make a triangle “pizza slice” with your hands, smell the pizza, and cool it down 3x); Belly Bear Breaths (place your hands on your belly and breathe in to smell the roses, and breath out to blow out candles 3x, and notice your belly moving in and out with each breath). This week we are reading the books Deep Breaths – Sometimes All You Have To Do Is Chill! by Carol Thompson, and CALM With The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. We will have also practiced two ways to relax our bodies – see these strategies listed below to try with your child at home! Adapted from Monica Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Hands & Arms:  Pretend you’re squeezing a whole lemon in your left hand. Squeeze it hard. Try to squeeze all the juice out. Feel the tightness in your hand and arm as you squeeze. Now drop the lemon and relax. See how much better your hand and arm feel when they are relaxed. Repeat with the other hand. 

Arms and Shoulders:  Pretend you are a furry, lazy cat. You want to stretch. Stretch your arms out in front of you. Raise them up high over your head. Way back. Feel the pull in your shoulders. Stretch higher. Now just let your arms drop back to your side. Okay kitten, stretch again! Repeat.

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend. 🙂  –  Lindsay Friberg, Dunn School Counselor, lfriberg@sad15.org

From the Lunchroom

We are excited to bring back our end-of-the-year BBQ for the family & friends of our 3rd and 4th grade students.  Please see the attached flyer for the menu and more information.  

Please sign up using this link:  Dunn School BBQ Meal Sign Up Link (Family/Friends)  You do not need to include your Dunn student(s) on this form – we will include them on that day’s lunch count, and their lunch is provided at no cost.  A schedule with a specific time for each class will be coming home soon.

From Patriot Parents

Our Daddy-Daughter Dance is still on:  this Saturday May 21st, 6 PM at the Middle School.  We are preparing the lights, cameras and red carpet!  Pics with Tsukroff Photography, LLC and music with Maine Multimedia.  Note: We are not requiring masks but they are encouraged since it’s an indoor event.

If interested in volunteering or donating please go to www.patriotparentspto.org/daddydaughterdance2022

From the Health Office

As a reminder, parents need to bring all medicine to school and sign a form for it to be given.  Please do not send your child to school with medicine in their backpacks.  In addition, the medicine must be in its original container/packaging.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.

Tonia Gilley Pratt BSN, RN    207-657-2518    Tgilley-pratt@sad15.org

From the Library

Thanks to all of you for making the BOGO book fair a huge success! 

The end of the year is fast approaching.  All library books should be returned to the library by Friday June 2nd.  If you have lost books, please pay for them by this time as well.  Thank you for your help.

From the Office

Please ask your child to check our lost & found area for any missing jackets, boots, water bottles, etc.  In the office, we have several pieces of costume jewelry, 2 pairs of glasses, and a number of small personal items.  All items still left at the end of the school year will be donated.

Dates to Remember 

May 21 Daddy-Daughter Dance, 6:00 PM, Middle School

May 23 Parent Information Night for incoming 3rd graders, 6:00 PM, Dunn Gym

May 25-26 Spring Fluoride Clinics

May 27 Mrs. Kraus’s PreK Graduation

May 30 Memorial Day:  no classes

June 2 PreK step-up to Russell and Memorial schools

June 2-3 Rock Wall, grades 3 & 4:  signed permission slip required for participation

June 3 Mrs. Gill’s PreK Graduation

June 3 Miss Cloutier’s Virtual PreK Graduation

June 6 4th grade step-up to Middle School

June 9-10 PreK field trips, last days for preK students 

June 10 Grade 3 & 4 Family BBQ

June 16 Last day for grade 3 & 4 students

Updated May 19, 2022