From the Principal
From the Principal’s Office
Third and Fourth grade students will be taking the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). Assessment dates are March 18th through April 11th. Classroom teachers will provide students and families with specific dates the classroom will be testing. This assessment of Math and Language Arts provides us with important information about how our individual students are progressing and helps us make curriculum and instruction decisions for the school as a whole. We encourage parents to make sure that their child gets plenty of rest, eats a good breakfast, and brings a snack to school to help students focus so that they may do their best on these important assessments.
Our Dunn School Family STEM Night will be April 4th from 6:00 – 7:30. We are very excited for this evening and look forward to seeing everyone there.
Patriot Parents
Our Patriot Parents reps are Maureen Gilbert (email gilbertm@maine.rr.com) and Deb Carson (email debcarson@me.com).
The Book Fair is coming! April 3 and 4, 3:00 to 6:00 PM, in the Dunn Library. We need YOUR help to make this happen – please consider signing up to volunteer at : Dunn Book Fair Volunteer Sign Up
From the Lunch Room
Attached to this week’s tote is the information sheet and application for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Applications for this program are accepted at any time during the year. We encourage anyone to apply.
From the PE Dept.
A special thanks to Winter Kids for the donation of a large box of books. The books were given as a prize for Dunn School’s participation in Winter Kids Winter Games 2019.
Family PE will be taking place 2 more times this year on March 21st and 28th from 5:30-7pm in the Dunn School Gym. The cost is $5 per family. Contact Mr. Welch dwelch@sad15.org for more info.
Registration opens on Friday March 8th for Patriot Outdoor Adventure Club Summer Camps. More info and registration link here: Outdoor Summer Camp Sign Up
There are still a few spaces left in the Patriot 5k Running Club. 3rd and 4th graders can train for the Patriot 5k with Mr. Welch and other staff members. Register here: Patriot 5K Running Club Sign Up
From the Music Room
2019 Concerts/Art Show Schedule: There will be two separate seatings in the Dunn School gym on 3/27 and 4/10. Parents may attend one or both performances. Students are to please stay with parents before and after their performance. Students will need their recorders. Thank you!
Wednesday 3/27 Wednesday 4/10
6:30 Doyle, Murray, Burrage 6:30 Sinclair, Marzilli, Fecteau, Rogers
6:50 Skilling, Gamage, Audette, Robash 6:50 Raymond, Gillis, Burns
Miss Lindsay’s Counseling Corner
Last week, I visited all third, fourth and multi-grade classrooms to explore mindfulness calming strategies that students can practice during times when they are feeling anxious or stressed. We defined the terms anxiety, stress and mindfulness as a group and discussed what their bodies feel like during times of anxiety or stress – many students explained how they notice their heart beats faster, their stomach may start to hurt, cheeks get hot, palms get sweaty, they may lash out in anger at people they care about, their muscles may tense up – we talked about how these body clues can signal to us that we need to find our sense of calm in order to feel better. Students shared strategies that they currently use to calm down, and then we did a Read Aloud with the book I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds. Throughout the read aloud, students generated a list of mindfulness and calming strategies that they can try during times of anxiety or stress, and we practiced strategies such as visualization, belly breathing, noticing how our feet feel on the ground or floor, and more. As a culminating activity, I passed out blue pieces of paper where students wrote and drew one strategy picked from our list that they were willing to try the next time they were feeling anxious or stressed. As students wrote and drew, we listened to Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay by musician Otis Redding to help ourselves find our peace and calm as we worked. Here are the strategies that each class discussed – I encourage you to chat with your child about trying these the next time they are feeling stressed or anxious!
* Belly Breathing – Breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth 3 times.
* Anchor Breathing – Pick a spot in your body where you feel your breath (chest, in front of your nose, stomach) and gently place your hands in that spot. That is your anchor spot. Spend 1 minute gently breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. If your mind wanders, simply place your attention back on your anchor spot.
* Positive Self-Talk – “It’s going to be alright. I am strong. I am smart. I am kind.”
* Grounding – Taking a minute or two to notice how your feet feel on the ground or the floor.
* Visualization – Close your eyes (if that feels comfortable for you) and imagine your worries floating up over your head in bubbles. Imagine lifting your hand up to pop each worry and notice how the worry disappears. OR – Imagine your worries are snowflakes and when they arrive on the ground, they melt and disappear.
* Talk It Out – Come up with a list of trusted adults in your life (at home and at school) who you can talk to for times when you’re feeling anxious or stressed.
* Help Others – Taking the time to help someone else can also help us manage our stress and anxiety, as well as gain perspective.
* Spend time in Nature – Notice how your body and mind can calm down when you look up at the clouds or stars and notice their shapes in the sky.
* Use your five senses – smell, taste, touch, see, hear – to take 1 minute to notice what is happening RIGHT NOW. OR – use your five senses to design your happy place.
* Share your calming strategies with others in your life to help spread peace and calm to others.
Have a great March! ~ Lindsay Friberg, Dunn School Counselor, lfriberg@sad.org
Dates to Remember
Mar. 13 & 14 Common conference nights – please see sign-ups coming directly from your child’s teacher
Mar. 20 Early release day – grades 3 & 4 dismissed at 1:00 PM, no pre-K classes
Mar. 20 Giving Tree Free Clothing Closet – 4:45 to 6:30 PM, Dunn Library
Mar. 27 Concert & Art Show – please see full schedule above
Apr. 3 & 4 Book Fair – 3:00 to 6:00 PM, Dunn Library
Apr. 4 STEM Night – please see the attached flyer for more info
Apr. 12 Teacher Comp Day – NO SCHOOL
Apr. 15-19 Spring Break – NO SCHOOL
updated: 3-18-2019