Volume 1, Issue 7

SY 16-17

March 1, 2017

Diamond Elementary SchoolDiamond Elementary School

Dr. Laura LaChance

Principal

Laura.LaChance@am.dodea.edu

March 2017

Dates to Remember

1-3 Read Across America

3 No School - Teacher PD

8 5th Grade Program - 5:00p,

Cafeteria

9 1st Grade Program - 4:30p

10 Field Day - see inside of Gator

Gram for more details!

16 Popcorn Thursday

17 No School - Teacher Report

Card Prep Day

20-24 Spring Book Fair

23 Literacy Night - 4:30p

24 Report Cards Go Home

31 Star Student Assembly - 9:00a

Dear Diamond Families,

Every year in January, we hear about the State of the Union from our President and

the State of the State from our Governor. What a great practice to keep everyone in-

formed about our current status. I would like to take this section to share the State of

Diamond. We administer several assessments that we use to monitor our progress—

for grades 3-6 we use the Terra Nova. For grades K-3 we use the Benchmark Assess-

ment System (BAS). DoDEA’s strategic goal is for 80% of all students in DoDEA

schools to demonstrate proficiency on these measures each year. While we have not

yet achieved the DoDEA goal, we aspire to get there with your children. The data be-

low reflects how Diamond has done over the last 5 years. We will not have the results

for the 2016-2017 school year until the end of this year, when I will send another up-

date on our status. We would be delighted to answer any questions about this.

Laura LaChance

Dr. Deborah Williams

Assistant Principal

Deborah.Williams@am.dodea.edu

“Career Explorers”

Principal’s Message

Diamond Elementary is a 100% ID Check

School

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

% P

rofi

cie

nt

Year Test Administered

Diamond Terra Nova Scores

TN Reading

TN Math

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Flu Vaccine Update: Parents, please continue to provide the required documentation for the flu vaccine (or medical/

religious waiver) for your student. The vaccine is available through March 31st, and we need to reach our goal of

100% compliance! We are ALMOST there!!!! If your student has received his/her vaccine, but you have not

provided a copy to the nurse, please get it in ASAP! For your convenience, you may take a CLEAR photo or

scan showing the date of the flu vaccine and your student's name and email the information (with

’flu’ in the subject box) to sherri.jones@am.dodea.edu.

WHAT??!! Daylight Saving Time is almost here again! We know what that means....We are losing an hour of sleep when we set our clocks forward on March 12!! This is a great time to discuss good sleep habits. Sleep is important for people of all ages to stay in good health; sufficient sleep is increasingly being recognized as an essential aspect of disease prevention and health promotion. So…. Just how much sleep is enough? Sleep needs vary from person to person and change as people age. Consider these sleep guidelines for different age groups:

Newborns = 16-18 hours Preschool-aged Children = 11-12 hours

School-aged Children = At least 10 hours Teens = 9-10 hours

Adults (including older adults) = 7-8 hours Here are some healthy sleep habits to help you be your best each and every day: Go to bed at the same time each night, establish a bedtime routine (especially for children), and rise at the

same time each morning. Sleep in a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot nor too cold. Make your bed comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching

TV, or listening to music. Remove all TVs, computers, and other "gadgets" from the bedroom- Many sources recommend cutting off

electronics 30-60 minutes before bedtime. Avoid large meals before bedtime. Other benefits of getting a good night’s sleep include improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. A lack of sleep can have serious side effects. According to Dr. Brooks, attending pulmonologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “You might see poor school performance, you might see kids labeled as troublemakers when in reality, they just don’t get enough sleep.” Additionally, not getting enough sleep each night can also be associated with an increase in injuries, obesity and depression, especially for teens who may experience increased risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. Take an inventory of your student’s sleep habits and help them come to school well-rested and prepared to do their best! Sources: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Supports-Childhood-Sleep-Guidelines.aspx http://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/06/13/Sleep061316 https://www.cdc.gov/Features/Sleep/

91%

Congratulations to our 3rd - 6th graders on completing TerraNova! All of our DES students through-

out the school did a great job during the testing week as we adapted to different schedules and keeping our

hallways quiet.

Congratulations to Ms. Warrick-Smith's class for having PERFECT ATTENDANCE the entire week of TerraNo-

va!

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Nicole Haws

Guidance Counselor

Diamond Elementary

Ph 912-876-6094

David Dobson

Guidance Counselor

Diamond Elementary

Ph 912-876-6094

School Counselors’School Counselors’

SpotlightSpotlight

March’s Gator Trait: Career Exploration

Students will begin to explore the World of Work! They will use computer software programs and web-sites to find jobs that match their skills and interests. Students as young as Kindergarten will begin to learn about these jobs by visiting Paws in Jobland, while other students will be learning about jobs through other career websites and lessons. On March 31, 2017 we will celebrate with a Career Dress Up day. Students can come to school dressed as the career they have been researching or a career they are interested in. Students could also design or wear a hat required for this job, for example, mine worker, chef, policeman/woman, fire fighter, etc.

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FROM THE DESK OF

THE LIBRARIAN

~ Ms. Mercord ~

Gator Family Spotlight

MUSIC

~ Ms. Foster ~ During the month of March, students will begin study-

ing the elements of music. They will be practicing and

developing the knowledge of Timbre, Dynamics, Form,

and Meter on instruments within the classroom. Stu-

dents will also work on songs that will be accompanied

by classroom instruments and found sounds. This is an

exciting time in music because every student will get to

express themselves by movement, singing, and playing

instruments!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

~ Coach Marcus ~

March Activities: Basic Basketball Skills (continuation from February

through the first week of March)

Lay-ups and jump shots

Track & Field Skills

How to start and finish a relay

Students will finish up their Basic Basketball skills,

which includes lay-ups and jump shots. During the re-

maining month of March, students will enjoy develop-

ing their Track & Field skills, focusing on how to start

and finish a relay. Please remember to have your child

wear gym shoes on their gym day.

Upcoming Activities:

March 10, 2017 - Field Day (see pg. 11 in the Ga-

tor Gram)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact

me.

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ART

~ Ms. Mock ~

Spring is upon us!

During the month of March, students will be exploring and making connections between Art, Math, and Biology as we

learn the lifecycles, habitats, and lifestyles of Georgia's beautiful, indigenous butterflies and wild birds. In case our mil-

itary families are not aware, our Georgia is home to 347 species of wild birds and 160 spe-

cies of butterflies! Of these species of birds, 12 of them are categorized as “water birds,”

such as the majestic, gorgeous herons, ibises, and egrets. Oftentimes, we are fortunate

enough to spot the large water birds, standing and foraging in the puddles alongside the

local roads. Students will be using symmetry in animal/insect anatomy while making

sketches, diagrams, and creative works of Art. As always, I am honored to be able

to share my love of Art with your children!

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

~ Ms. Myers ~

Dear Parents,

March is a very exciting month, and we are continuing to build our skills and knowledge using a variety of

technology tools! We are even choosing different ways to complete projects that channel

our inner digital self. Read Across America, Career Exploration, and Field Day this month

will allow us to research our favorite authors, careers, and athletes. We can show our en-

thusiasm and respect through different projects utilizing technology to teach others. There

is no limit to the creative ways technology can be used in the classroom, and we are all pre-

paring for the 21st Century!

Please check out the new National Educational Technology Standards for Students at :

http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students-2016

Gator Family Spotlight

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FLES

~ Ms. Stewart ~

For the month of March, students

will be working on the following:

Kinder: Body parts

1st grade: Opposites

2nd grade: Verbs and Tell-

ing time

3rd - 6th grades: Directions

and Family members

FLES

~ Mr. Cruz/Ms. Jara ~

During the month of March, stu-

dents will be learning to sing the

ABC’s in Spanish, learning about

La Familia (The Family), and the

parts of the house. The students

will be using a variety of re-

sources to reach their goal which

includes computer software,

books, puppets, and a friendly

teacher.

ESL

~ Mr. Cruz ~

For the month of March, I will be

working in collaboration with the

teachers. I will be visiting each of

the ESL students in their class-

rooms, providing one-on-one as-

sistance to those who are in need.

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GATOR NEWSGATOR NEWS

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GATOR NEWSGATOR NEWS

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Fridays are Gator Spirit Days. . .Wear your Gator apparel to show your Gator PRIDE!!

1st GRADE PERFORMANCE

Diamond’s 1st Grade Classes will have a performance

on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at 4:30p in the school’s

Multi-purpose Room. 1st Grade parents, please be on

the lookout for detailed information from your child’s

teacher. Everyone is invited to attend!

Congratulations to our Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Team!

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a Georgia competition that encourages students to read from a list of 18 books (20

books on the Middle and High School level) as they prepare to answer questions in a Quiz Bowl-style competition. Our

students began reading these books at the beginning of the school year, and some were reading right up until the compe-

tition itself! We were successful in our match-up with Brittin, Kessler, and Murray, thereby qualifying for the Regional

Competition on February 11th in Valdosta. Our students lived up to the “Be Kind. Be Gracious.” motto, and came in

5th out of 10 schools from across Southern Georgia...not bad at all for our first foray into the Helen Ruffin arena! We

were encouraged by goodie bags from our teachers, and honored that Dr. LaChance, our principal, made the trip to

cheer our Gators along!

Gator Family, please help us congratulate our Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

team for a job WELL DONE!

PTO & OTHER PTO & OTHER

GATOR NEWSGATOR NEWS

5th GRADE PROGRAM

Diamond’s 5th Grade classes will have a program on

Wednesday, March 8, 2017, from 5:00 - 6:00p in the

school’s Cafeteria. The students will be showcasing

technological, static, and living exhibits from various

time periods in history for your viewing enjoyment!

5th Grade parents, please be on

the lookout for invitations and

detailed information from your

child’s teacher. Everyone is

invited to attend!

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Fridays are Gator Spirit Days. . .Wear your Gator apparel to show your Gator PRIDE!!

Congratulations to Diamond’s National Geographic Geography Bee Finalists!

On January 19, the National Geographic Geography Bee joined the slate of options available to 4th-6th

graders. Our semifinals were on January 18, where 19 contestants, representing Diamond, competed to

earn a space in the log of 10 finalists. Who were those outstanding finalists?

Marcie Asuncion, Sebastian Barrera-Leon, Vanessa Bodunde, Jackson Daniel, Naomi Hamilton, Joel

Helwig, Imani Lockridge, Lyric Roddenberry, Brett Wolter, and Scott Wolter

Congratulations to Joel Helwig, our school champion! He has already taken the State Qualify-

ing Online Quiz, and we should know the results sometime during the first two weeks of March.

“A Night in Paris”

On February 9, our Gator Students had a magical evening of fashion, food, and fun at the PTO-

sponsored event - “A Night in Paris” - a dance-filled evening with a live DJ, a professional photog-

raphy booth, delicious refreshments, and lots of smiling faces! President Blanchard and the entire

PTO team would like to thank everyone who came out to help decorate, serve refreshments, chap-

erone, and assist with clean-up….but most importantly….to ensure that our students had an

AMAZING time!

PTO & OTHER GATOR PTO & OTHER GATOR

NEWS (Cont’d.)NEWS (Cont’d.)

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PTO & OTHER GATOR PTO & OTHER GATOR

NEWS (Cont’d.)NEWS (Cont’d.)

Kudos to our DES Gator Staff for producing, directing, and acting-out several skits to help encourage our 3rd, 4th,

5th, and 6th graders before taking the TerraNova test! In case you missed it, here are a few pictures!

“Can’t Hide Gator Pride” Pencils

are HERE!

Diamond’s “Can’t Hide Gator Pride” Pencils

are HERE and are available for purchase!! The

cost is only $0.25. The pencil dispenser is lo-

cated on the wall by the Registrar’s Office.

TerraNova Pep Rally

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Cafeteria’s Monthly Menu

Important Reminders for Parents and Students:

School starts at 8:20. Students are considered tardy at 8:21 and must receive a tardy slip from the front office.

It is a DoDEA requirement that we do a 100% ID check when coming into the school and checking out children.