From the Principal’s Office

From the Principal’s Office

NWEA Assessments

Beginning the week of October 7th we will be administering the NWEA assessments.  These assessments in Math and Reading  are required by the state and help us to make instructional decisions for individual students and groups.  We ask that you please ensure that your student attends school and is well rested so that they may perform their best on the assessment.

Ms. Lindsay’s Counseling Corner

This week and next week, I will be visiting all 3rd, 4th and 3/4 multi grade classrooms to teach an SEL lesson on solving conflicts peacefully. Conflicts are a part of life, and solving conflicts in a peaceful way helps us to remember that everyone makes mistakes; it maintains respect for each other and for our friendships, and it makes our classrooms and school more peaceful, and comfortable places to be. These are skills that ALL of our students can be continuously working on. The goal is for students to start being able to handle their own small problems with peers without the need for adult intervention. Students will be encouraged to try one or more of the below strategies when they find themselves in conflict with another person. If the problem cannot be sorted after strategies have been tried, then the next step is to seek adult support. I encourage families to reinforce these strategies at home too!

We will be reviewing and practicing the following problem solving strategies:

  • Ignore – Keep doing your thing and don’t react. 
  • Talk it out – Let the other person know how what they did made you feel. Let them know what you need by using an I-Message:  I feel_____________ when you_________. I need you to ___________________________ OR Could you please_____________________.
  • Share and include others – Share materials and responsibilities. Include others in groups, projects and activities. 
  • Walk away, do something else – Walk away from a situation that is making you feel frustrated, angry or uncomfortable. Go spend time with other people. 
  • Wait and cool off – Use a coping strategy to calm yourself (deep breaths, count to 10, self-hug, stretch). It is easier to solve problems peacefully when you are calm. 
  • Tell them to stop – Use a firm tone of voice and body language to tell the person to stop. 
  • Apologize – We all make mistakes. Take responsibility and say you are sorry for your part in the conflict by using a 4 step apology:
  • I’m sorry for ___________________.  That was unkind because ___________________. Next time I will __________________. How can I make it right?

I hope that our Dunn families are enjoying a nice fall! Please feel free to reach out to me anytime with questions or concerns for your child.  Best – Lindsay Friberg, lfriberg@sad15.org

Thanksgiving Assistance is available through GNG Caring Community for residents of Gray or New Gloucester – please see the Community section below.

GNG Food Backpack Program Food Drive

From October 14th through November 8th, GNG families have the opportunity to donate specific food items that will benefit our MSAD15 food backpack program, which provides non-perishable food items to GNG families in need. If you are able to donate these items, they may be dropped off in our designated collection box located outside of Dunn School’s main office. Each grade level is being asked to donate the following food items:

3rd grade – Lipton or Knorr Rice Packets or Mashed Potato Packets

4th grade – Non-Perishable Fruit cups

From the Library

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon to the Dunn Library!  It will be open Tuesday, October 22 for in-school sales and Wednesday, October 23 3:00 to 7:00 PM for after school sales.  For more information, please see the attached flyer as well as this link: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/parents.html

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Donna Cormier at dcormier@sad15.org.  

From the Health Office

Free Covid tests for families:  Please use this link to request yours https://special.usps.com/testkits

Annual Flu Clinic by Northern Light HomeCare will be held October 15th, 8:00-10:30 AM.  Please use the link in the attached flyer to sign up. *Please note* If your child is in afternoon PreK they can receive the vaccine but will have to be transported by a parent during the clinic times.  Registration deadline is October 8.

Mainly Teeth/School Oral Health Program will be at Dunn school for dental care and fluoride applications tentatively on October 28th and 29th.  This year our dental program has expanded to include dental sealants and a full comprehensive exam.  Please fill out the attached consent form prior to the clinic – if you need a printed copy, please contact the Health Office.  Please register as soon as possible.

**Attention Parents:  The MSAD 15 dental program is changing a bit this year.  We will not be offering the fluoride varnish to students who have and visit dentists regularly.  The dental program we are offering is much more comprehensive and able to really help those students who may be struggling to find and get to the dentist for whatever reason. For those of you who do have dentists for your children please be sure to continue having check ups and cleanings every six months.  For those of you who don’t, please take advantage of this program. I am sure you know teeth are a huge part of overall health! Please reach out to the Health Office if they have any questions or concerns.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email:  207-657-2518 or tgilley-pratt@sad15.org

From the Music Room

Greetings from the music room!  Your students have been learning about the history of Motown records and their influence on the culture of the 1960s and 1970s.  We have also been learning about reading rhythms and notes as we prepare for ukulele, which will begin after the new year.  If you or your students have any questions or concerns about playing the ukulele in class or in a spring performance, please reach out to me as soon as possible so that we may work together to give your student the best possible experience. 

Thank you for the honor of teaching music to your students!  -Ms. Libby

From the Community

Thanksgiving Assistance!  GNG Caring Community provides assistance for residents in Gray or New Gloucester that are in need of an extra hand during the holidays.  We are accepting applications for those needing a Thanksgiving meal.  Please click on the link below and fill out the application.  This is for GNG residents only.  The deadline to submit an application is November 10.  https://forms.gle/9QthuJaivMJUVE4q8

How to become a sponsor:  If you would like to sponsor a family, please email gngcaring@gmail.com.  We can provide you with information to decide if you would like to help.  

From the Art Room

Next weekend at the Portland Public Library you can have a chance to meet one of Mr. Nord’s (Dunn Art Teacher) old friends and coworkers from the Cartoon Network! His name is Peter Brown, author and illustrator of The Wild Robot!

Peter will be available for signings at the Portland Public Library Litfest from 10-2, Saturday, Oct 12th!

Hope to see some of you there!

From the Office

If your student will be late or absent, please let us know at 207-657-5050 or jsouthard@sad15.org.  Please include your student’s full name in your message, and please cc your student’s teacher as well.

Dates to Remember 

Oct 11 In-service day:  no classes

Oct 14 Indigenous Peoples Day:  no classes

Oct 15 Flu vaccination clinic – please see the attached form for info & registration

Oct 16 Early release day:  no preK classes, grades 3 & 4 dismissed at 1:00 PM

Oct 17 Picture retake day, during the school day

Oct 28-29 Mainely Teeth Oral Health Care days – please see the attached forms for info & registration

Page Updated October 4, 2024