Sammi S. is our Desert Trails' Spelling Bee Champ who came out in the top 9 at the District wide Spelling Bee Contest! Sammi will now move on to the Regional Spelling Contest to be held this March. CONGRATULATIONS to Sammi!
Survey for PV Parents is now available! At the top of this blog and posted on our school website you will find the link to this super quick survey! We would love to hear from you~
While you are at school for drop off/pick up/volunteering please know a computer is available in our front lobby for you to take this quick survey! Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you~
Solar project still on the Desert Trails horizon! Stop by the front lobby and take a look at the beautiful poster display of this GREEN money saving project!
Student On-Line Tutoring for your child~ another reminder that your child can contact the PV On-Line Tutoring FREE to receive homework help! This new service is going strong throughout our district and students of all grade levels are encouraged to call. The flyer can be found at the top of my blog!!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
PTO PLEA
NEEDED & WANTED: Dance Night Chair
WHY: If you don't Chair we won't have a dance! Please consider volunteering!!!
Our Students look forward to dancing the night away with friends!!!
PTO is busy making plans now to host a fun-filled evening for all D.T. students.
Food & Music & Sock Hop & Bee Bop!
Date: Friday, February 17,
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
In the Multipurpose Room @ DTES
This is a great time for parents to mingle, arrange play dates, and get to know their neighbors!
Contact Karrie Bakkila, Desert Trails PTO President, kkbakkila@gmail.com for any questions!
THANK YOU!
WHY: If you don't Chair we won't have a dance! Please consider volunteering!!!
Our Students look forward to dancing the night away with friends!!!
PTO is busy making plans now to host a fun-filled evening for all D.T. students.
Food & Music & Sock Hop & Bee Bop!
Date: Friday, February 17,
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
In the Multipurpose Room @ DTES
This is a great time for parents to mingle, arrange play dates, and get to know their neighbors!
Contact Karrie Bakkila, Desert Trails PTO President, kkbakkila@gmail.com for any questions!
THANK YOU!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Talk to us!/District Parent Survey/SOLAR/IMPACT 2/
Let us hear from you! ~ Your ideas, your concerns and questions are very important to me. Establishing lines of communication are important to me and over the years I have initiated several avenues for you to provide your thoughts: Quick responses to your emails and phone calls, Feedback to Grow link, Parent survey 2 times a year, open door policy, invitations to special school meetings, Coffee with the Principal, etc.... So many times parents have offered great suggestions and ideas that we have put into place! I appreciate hearing from you!
This month parents will have 2 opportunities to provide feedback. One survey, School Council Parent survey, will be offered at our Parent~Teacher Conferences where we will be using paper surveys to gather your input, and the other~ our annual District Parent Satisfaction survey will be offered on-line, in which we will have computers in the lobby for parents to access that survey. We would like to get 100% participation on both surveys as we will rely on your input as we move forward with programs, curriculum, and staffing decisions. THANK YOU!!!
Annual Parent Satisfaction Survey – Thursday, January 12– Saturday, February 4 at midnight.
Parents are encouraged to provide input about the schools their children attend in the online, district-wide parent satisfaction survey. The survey is available from Thursday, January 12 through Saturday, February 4, 2012 at midnight. Parents are invited to complete the survey one time for each school in which they have a student enrolled. Parent feedback will be used to provide input to improve services for children and families. At the top of this blog and on our school website the link has been provided. Watch for reminders coming home!
SOLAR at Desert Trails is coming soon! Displayed in our Lobby is a beautiful poster showing the plan for the solar panels soon to be going in at D.T. You will see how well the panels are laid out, and the area to be covered. During the many phases of this project our parking lots will be under construction. Please keep in mind Cashman park parking lot will become a life saver for pick up & dropping off students as we move through this timeline of work. I will be asking all staff to be parking in the Cashman parking lot to leave our school parking spaces for our parents. Your patience and support as we undergo this great energy efficient venture, will be greatly appreciated! I will keep you posted as we move closer to the launching date- in the meantime, stop in a take a look at the poster!
IMPACT Part 2~ As the past blog shared, teachers have redesigned their instructional day to carve out an IMPACT time to reach all learners in the area of math. Our Kinder and First grade teachers collectively have agreed to utilize their IMPACT time in the area of reading. With the new state law establishing a possible retention by the year 2013 for all 3rd grade students not reading at grade level, our teachers felt that every possible minute that could be devoted to reading would be extremely valuable for all of our students. We are excited about this new direction and we are confident that great results will be obtained.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Impact Time/Parent Survey/Speaker/Conference Dates
At Desert Trails we are continually striving to identify and meet our student's needs. Today, during our Teacher In-Service, teachers will be collaborating together in a Professional Learning Community, where they will use data to pinpoint specific weaknesses and strengths our students possess. All students from time to time need a little "polishing" on certain concepts and skills but as quickly as the day goes by- we can be left with the question "When do we get to that?"
One of my goals, is to never accept the status quo, but to make a difference. Working with the teachers, we have done just that. We will not accept that our students have needs, or that students could be doing more, and we don't have the time- so we will make some changes!
We did!
I have asked teachers to build into their days a 30-40 minute IMPACT time for ALL students! In the subject of Math, student's who need the polishing, students who need the reinforcement, and students who are ready for the next jump up will get this embedded time during their school day! Teachers have worked diligently to move from teaching subjects in isolation to integrating and blending subjects together. An example would be to move away from a "writing block" to integrating writing in Social Studies or Science, still using the same writing objectives and goals but with a Social Studies or Science topic. Be sure to ask your child(ren) about this special time and during your Parent~Teacher Conference be sure to get more information from your child's teacher.
We are all really excited about this new opportunity for our students, and we are sure it will IMPACT them in a very positive way!
On-Line District Parent Survey is coming out soon! Be on the look out for this opportunity for you to share your input. This important survey will take "2 minutes" to complete, but will provide valuable input to daily operations! I will send out the link asap!
Our Kindness Committee invited Mr. Andy Cohn as our guest speaker to talk with our students about developing positive social skills. Andy, who is now in a wheelchair, due to a car accident at age 16- is a Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby player and is part of the Team USA. They won the Gold Medal in Beijing China, the Bronze in Athens, and many more major achievements! We will watch for Andy in the London Paralympics this coming Septemeber, once again representing the USA!
Some of the things Andy stated that I thought were important to note:
"See the person IN the chair, not the chair - Look out for each other and we all succeed." Andy also challenged the kids to find other ways to treat each other besides saying unkind things. Thank you PTO and KINDNESS for bringing such a positive role model to Desert Trails!
Jan. 23-26 Parent~Teacher Conferences
One of my goals, is to never accept the status quo, but to make a difference. Working with the teachers, we have done just that. We will not accept that our students have needs, or that students could be doing more, and we don't have the time- so we will make some changes!
We did!
I have asked teachers to build into their days a 30-40 minute IMPACT time for ALL students! In the subject of Math, student's who need the polishing, students who need the reinforcement, and students who are ready for the next jump up will get this embedded time during their school day! Teachers have worked diligently to move from teaching subjects in isolation to integrating and blending subjects together. An example would be to move away from a "writing block" to integrating writing in Social Studies or Science, still using the same writing objectives and goals but with a Social Studies or Science topic. Be sure to ask your child(ren) about this special time and during your Parent~Teacher Conference be sure to get more information from your child's teacher.
We are all really excited about this new opportunity for our students, and we are sure it will IMPACT them in a very positive way!
On-Line District Parent Survey is coming out soon! Be on the look out for this opportunity for you to share your input. This important survey will take "2 minutes" to complete, but will provide valuable input to daily operations! I will send out the link asap!
Our Kindness Committee invited Mr. Andy Cohn as our guest speaker to talk with our students about developing positive social skills. Andy, who is now in a wheelchair, due to a car accident at age 16- is a Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby player and is part of the Team USA. They won the Gold Medal in Beijing China, the Bronze in Athens, and many more major achievements! We will watch for Andy in the London Paralympics this coming Septemeber, once again representing the USA!
Some of the things Andy stated that I thought were important to note:
"See the person IN the chair, not the chair - Look out for each other and we all succeed." Andy also challenged the kids to find other ways to treat each other besides saying unkind things. Thank you PTO and KINDNESS for bringing such a positive role model to Desert Trails!
Jan. 23-26 Parent~Teacher Conferences
Thursday, January 5, 2012
2012/Safety/Get Involved/Jan. Events/Link
Write it on your heart that each day will be the best day of the year. Emerson.
Happy New Year to all of our Desert Trails' families! I eagerly look forward to all of the
positive and innovative challenges that come with a new year! Our Parent~Teacher Conferences are right around the corner, and we relish this time to share your child(ren)'s many accomplishments during the first semester. Be watching for conference information coming home soon. Also, this will be the time when we offer a survey to our parents to gather input on different items. Your input is valued by each School Council member, so please take the time to let us hear from you! Surveys will be distributed during Conference Week and will also be available in the Office starting 1/23 through 1/27. THANK YOU!
Safety First~ is always a priority at Desert Trails, but we need your help. Please continue to drive slowly while in parking lots, and within the crosswalk zones. Dropping off & parking within the crosswalk zones is illegal and can cause serious complications for drivers who are then forced to pass (which is also illegal within the crosswalk zone). Let's take an extra minute and do all we can to make sure not only your child, but all of our children are safe coming and going to school.
Get involved~at Desert Trails! We can't do what we do, without YOU, our wonderful parents. If you have an hour a week or an hour a day we have lots of ways for you to get to know us better and be involved! Reading with students in a small group, working one on one with a student in math or reading, assisting the teacher in the classroom, copying, helping in the Library, etc... Contact your child's teacher, PTO, or the office!!
January Events
1/4 Back in School
1/5 School Council
1/9 Author Gary Hogg visit to 2nd Grade
1/9 Kindness Assembly Andy Cohn Guest Speaker
1/10 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
1/12 Governing Board Meeting 7pm
1/16 MLK No School
1/17 Catalina 6th Grade Parent meeting 6:30 pm
1/19 STAR Student lunch with Mrs. Lee @ Mimi's Cafe
1/23-1/26 Parent~Teacher Conferences
1/26 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
1/27 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
2/2 School Council meeting 7:45 am
1/20 District Spelling Bee (Good Luck~Sammi)
New Link~At the top of my blog you will find several links to give you access to more information. Today I have added a link for easier access to our School Council agendas & minutes. Enjoy!
Happy New Year to all of our Desert Trails' families! I eagerly look forward to all of the
positive and innovative challenges that come with a new year! Our Parent~Teacher Conferences are right around the corner, and we relish this time to share your child(ren)'s many accomplishments during the first semester. Be watching for conference information coming home soon. Also, this will be the time when we offer a survey to our parents to gather input on different items. Your input is valued by each School Council member, so please take the time to let us hear from you! Surveys will be distributed during Conference Week and will also be available in the Office starting 1/23 through 1/27. THANK YOU!
Safety First~ is always a priority at Desert Trails, but we need your help. Please continue to drive slowly while in parking lots, and within the crosswalk zones. Dropping off & parking within the crosswalk zones is illegal and can cause serious complications for drivers who are then forced to pass (which is also illegal within the crosswalk zone). Let's take an extra minute and do all we can to make sure not only your child, but all of our children are safe coming and going to school.
Get involved~at Desert Trails! We can't do what we do, without YOU, our wonderful parents. If you have an hour a week or an hour a day we have lots of ways for you to get to know us better and be involved! Reading with students in a small group, working one on one with a student in math or reading, assisting the teacher in the classroom, copying, helping in the Library, etc... Contact your child's teacher, PTO, or the office!!
January Events
1/4 Back in School
1/5 School Council
1/9 Author Gary Hogg visit to 2nd Grade
1/9 Kindness Assembly Andy Cohn Guest Speaker
1/10 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
1/12 Governing Board Meeting 7pm
1/16 MLK No School
1/17 Catalina 6th Grade Parent meeting 6:30 pm
1/19 STAR Student lunch with Mrs. Lee @ Mimi's Cafe
1/23-1/26 Parent~Teacher Conferences
1/26 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
1/27 Early Release Students Dismissed at 12:30 (NO LUNCH)
2/2 School Council meeting 7:45 am
1/20 District Spelling Bee (Good Luck~Sammi)
New Link~At the top of my blog you will find several links to give you access to more information. Today I have added a link for easier access to our School Council agendas & minutes. Enjoy!
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