Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2011-12 school year at Dike-Newell School! I am excited to see everyone and get started on our great year of learning and growing together. Working together, we can make this a truly great and successful year.

Here are some ways you can help your child have a happy and successful school year:

• Help your child get to school and get to school on time! Regular attendance in elementary school sets up a good pattern for your child's entire school career. Show your child that school comes first by trying to keep days off for illnesses and family emergencies. Schedule routine doctor and dentist appointments for after school or on school breaks.

• Set aside time each day to go through your child's backpack. You'll discover a lot about what's going on at school and in the classroom. Try to do it first thing after school when the day is fresh in your child's mind. Avoid questions that require only a yes or no answer. Instead begin with something like, “Tell me about _______________.”

• Start a habit. Encourage your child to set aside the same time every day to read and do homework. Generally in grades K-2, we are talking about only 10-20 minutes.

• Notice when your child behaves in kind, safe, and responsible ways, our theme for a way of “Bee-ing A Community” at Dike-Newell School. By noticing these behaviors your words and attention will encourage more of the same behaviors in the future. The message will be stronger when your child hears it from home and school.

• Keep an open line of communication with your child's teacher. If you have questions, ask. If you need clarification about anything, check with the teacher. Let us know what we can do to help.

I look forward to our year together. Please feel free to visit with me at school. I can also be reached at 443-8285 or you can email me at sbrown@rsu1.

Sincerely,
Sally Brown, Principal