Dumbarton Middle School 300 Dumbarton Road, Baltimore, MD 21212 410-887-3176 410-583-7020 fax A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Sue Harris, Principal April, 2015 Liz Heil, Assistant Principal Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal Jen Burch, Assistant Principal From the Principal’s Desk…. April is here and that means students have successfully completed third quarter at Dumbarton Middle School. Before we know it we will be in June. This week MAP test results reports were given to students to bring home. The data show that our students continue to excel at high levels. Should you have questions about the MAP test home reports feel free to contact Ms. Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal & Test Coordinator at [email protected]. As you may know, last month we were selected to be one of seven schools to become a Lighthouse Middle School next year. That means that our school will be embarking on a transformation in terms of focusing on increased student engagement through student-centered learning activities in the classroom. This also includes personalized and customized learning which fosters student collaboration and includes providing opportunities for student choice. Flexible grouping is also used to better meet student needs. In addition, our incoming 6 th graders will be receiving computer devices to use in the classroom and take home next year. The following year, all middle school students will be provided with computer devices. We are certainly excited about this opportunity! Visit the BCPS Website to learn more about Lighthouse Schools and student-centered learning: http://lighthouse.bcps.org/learner-centered-environments.html Spring is here and hopefully we will soon see warm weather returning to Towson. We sincerely appreciate your monitoring your child’s attire each morning. Appropriate clothing helps us ensure that there are not distractions to the learning environment. Our school dress code can be found in the first few pages of each child’s agenda book. We will also be utilizing morning announcements to remind our young people to dress for success at school and avoid wearing clothing more suited to the beach. We encourage all parents who now have 5 th graders to come to our Parent Orientation on April 22 at 6:30 pm. At that time, we will provide a preview
16
Embed
From the Principal’s Desk…....Sue Harris, Principal April, 2015 Liz Heil, Assistant Principal Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal Jen Burch, Assistant Principal From the Principal’s
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Dumbarton Middle School 300 Dumbarton Road, Baltimore, MD 21212
410-887-3176 410-583-7020 fax
A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Sue Harris, Principal April, 2015 Liz Heil, Assistant Principal
Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal
Jen Burch, Assistant Principal
From the Principal’s Desk….
April is here and that means students have successfully completed third
quarter at Dumbarton Middle School. Before we know it we will be in June.
This week MAP test results reports were given to students to bring home.
The data show that our students continue to excel at high levels. Should you
have questions about the MAP test home reports feel free to contact Ms.
Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal & Test Coordinator at [email protected].
As you may know, last month we were selected to be one of seven schools to
become a Lighthouse Middle School next year. That means that our school
will be embarking on a transformation in terms of focusing on increased
student engagement through student-centered learning activities in the
classroom. This also includes personalized and customized learning which
fosters student collaboration and includes providing opportunities for
student choice. Flexible grouping is also used to better meet student needs.
In addition, our incoming 6th graders will be receiving computer devices to
use in the classroom and take home next year. The following year, all middle
school students will be provided with computer devices. We are certainly
excited about this opportunity! Visit the BCPS Website to learn more about
Lighthouse Schools and student-centered learning: http://lighthouse.bcps.org/learner-centered-environments.html
Spring is here and hopefully we will soon see warm weather returning to
Towson. We sincerely appreciate your monitoring your child’s attire each
morning. Appropriate clothing helps us ensure that there are not
distractions to the learning environment. Our school dress code can be
found in the first few pages of each child’s agenda book. We will also be
utilizing morning announcements to remind our young people to dress for
success at school and avoid wearing clothing more suited to the beach.
We encourage all parents who now have 5th graders to come to our Parent
Orientation on April 22 at 6:30 pm. At that time, we will provide a preview
The Power of Yet! Dumbarton Middle School provides a culture of encouragement fostering continual
student growth with the belief that through effort, motivation and resilience, all students
will improve academically and achieve personal success.
Work harder, get smarter!
How easy is it to change a fixed mindset to a growth mindset?
It’s as easy as one word: yet.
The next time you hear your child say, “I can’t do so-and-so”, add “yet”.
Think about the fixed finality of “can’t”: it implies that not only am I unable to do
something now, but I will never be able to do it.
“Can’t” stifles growth, but by adding “yet”, you open the door for improvement: “I
can’t do so-and-so yet, but I may
be able to in the future.”
“Yet” also implies desire: if I can’t
do something, I may not care
enough to try again, but if I can’t
do something yet, that means that
I want to be able to do it, and I am
willing to continue trying in order
to be able to do it. That desire,
that motivation, is key because
developing new abilities requires
effort, hard work, and
perseverance—it doesn’t just happen overnight.
To foster the power of “yet”, Carol Dweck, the main proponent of developing a
growth mindset, recommends praising students for their process, not for their
intelligence, and rewarding their effort, strategy, and progress, not just their
achievement.
She believes that by embracing the power of “yet”, parents and teachers can help
students break out of the “tyranny of now”—the unrealistic expectation that they
must be masters of academic skills now or not at all—and build their confidence to
embrace challenge and risk the possibility of failure that goes hand-in-hand with
learning new skills.
Watch Carol Dweck’s TED Talk on “The Power of Yet” to learn more about instilling a growth mindset in your children: http://unclutteredwhitespaces.com/2014/12/the-power-of-yet/
14 Towso n High School trip – 8th grade (1:00-2:30 PM)
22 Grade 5 Parent Orientation 6:30
23 Report Card Distribution
24 PTSA Event – Game Night
May
1 Radical Roper Showcase 7:00 PM
4,5 & 7,8 PARCC Testing (8:00- 11:00AM)
8 Grade 8 Farewell Dance 7:00PM
11 PTSA Executive Board Meeting 6:00 PM
18 Grade 6 Spring Concert 7:00 PM
Interims Distributed
20 Grade 7 Spring Concert 7:00 PM
21 Grade 8 Ship Trip (during school)
25 Memorial Day: Schools Closed
27 Grade 8 Concert 7:00 PM
29 Career Day for 8th graders
June
1 Honors Spring Concert 7:00 PM
3 National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
17 Grade 8 Awards Assembly 7:00 – 8:30 PM
18 Schools close 3 hours early
19 * Last Day of School: Schools Close 3 Hours Early
Eighth Grade Farewell Assembly 9:00 – 10:30
* Last day/dates are subject to change.
[10]
Published by the Dumbarton Middle School PTSA April
20-24th
Grade Level STEM and Environmental Activities on
Earth Day, April 22nd
Grade 6: Celebration of the
International Year of SOIL!
Math 24 Club
The MATH 24 club would like to congratulate and recognize Max M, Ben W,
Miguel I. and Aaron C. for all advancing to the semifinals of the county wide
- Math 24 tournament and capturing silver medals. The club also would like
to recognize Sophie M. for winning a bronze medal in the integer’s
competition.
For March 2015
Bryce E. Laurel B.
Caroline C. Steffi C.
Hannah E. Caroline M.
Shayna B. Max G.
Max B. Sarah K.
Miguel I. Oliver W.
Luke G.P. Caroline R.
Margo G. Kristina R.
Rose R. Elisabeth Sw.
Ms. Sharbonda would like to congratulate the above students for
working especially hard in Algebra & Geometry.
[11]
Meet Dumbarton Middle’s Radical Ropers
Student Spotlight is a regularly-updated feature that highlights Baltimore County Public Schools students involved in a wide range of activities and programs. To see more student spotlights, click here.
Dumbarton Middle School is very proud to be the home to the only jump rope
team in Baltimore County. This will be the Radical Ropers’ 17th year at
Dumbarton Middle School.
These hard workers practice
on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 3 to 4:30 p.m. There are
33 jumpers all together,
including a team manager. The
coaches of the Radical Ropers
are Mr. Overtoom and Ms.
Morrison. They push the
jumpers to be the best they
can be. The travel team (pictured) is the team that goes on the road. They
travel at to at least four to 10 schools a year. The cub team stays at
Dumbarton and performs at other events.
These jumpers perform many jumping tricks, from doing a cartwheel into the
rope to doing solid butt bounces. These jumpers are not just great jump
ropers, but they are also wonderful role models for other students. The
best part about being a Radical Roper for most of the team is to simply
entertain. The team works together through tough and easy times.
If you want to see the jumpers in action join us May 1 at Dumbarton Middle
School. The show is at 7 p.m. and costs $2 a person. You will be amazed at