NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Dear Parents & Caregivers,
We are pleased to introduce this year's school theme Choose Kindness. This theme will be integrated throughout the school year in our daily routines and schoolwide events as well as being displayed prominently throughout the school building.
Now that the school year is underway, we have started planning and implementing typical school year processes, procedures, events, and student activities as much as is safely possible. We will continue to assess this as the school year proceeds. With that in mind please take special note of the following information in this week's newsletter: Fire Drill on September 30th, Small School, and Student Council.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Ellen
Thank You Picture Day Volunteers: A special thank you to Genyce Erardy, Allison Martin, Devon McKenna, Miranda Mitchell, Gianna Shafer, Jen Stahl, Marissa Welch, and Sarah Zielinski for your help on picture day this year. The day ran smoothly and efficiently thanks to your assistance!
INTERNET/DIGITAL SAFETY AWARENESS: IDCS is excited to host an Internet/Digital Safety Awareness Session for students in grades 6-8 and their families on Thursday, September 30, at 6:00 p.m. in the IDCS gym. Two members from the Norwich Police Department will be joining us to discuss proper social media usage, online awareness and safety, and legal ramifications of improper online use. We hope you will join us for this important event. A flyer detailing the event will be sent out next week as a reminder. In addition, a Covid19 screening will be sent home with students on the day of the event. If you will be in attendance at the event, please fill this out prior and bring it with you.
FIRE DRILL: On September 30th, as required by law, students will participate in an all school Fire Drill. Students will be aware of the first fire drill ahead of time and will have practiced with their classes individually prior to the whole school drill.
SMALL SCHOOL started today, September 24th with Pod A and will continue throughout the school year. Small School is a smaller version of All School where students have the opportunity to share with their greater school community what they have been working on. This IDCS tradition encourages community, gives students experience speaking publicly and teaches them how to be good audience members along with many other positive benefits. Small School will be held in the gymnasium on full day Fridays and will alternate through three pods which are comprised of 5 to 6 homeroom classes. Classroom Teachers will work cooperatively with Specials Teachers and students on their presentations. At this point, we will not yet be inviting parents into the school as audience members, but we are hoping to invite parents in sometime in the near future.
STUDENT COUNCIL will be starting soon. Student representatives will be announced next week.
A PUBLIC HEARING for the IDCS Charter Renewal will take place at 6:00 p.m on November 16th at IDCS. Please SAVE THE DATE and read the following News Article for more information: IDCS CHARTER RENEWAL PUBLIC HEARING.
CHOOSE KINDNESS
Five ways to choose kindness today.
Tell a co-worker, classmate, friend or family member that you APPRECIATE them.
Hold the door open for somebody.
Pay someone a genuine compliment.
Say Please and Thank You.
Listen more.
FALL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
REMINDERS
GOVERNING BOARD: Welcome, New Parent Board Member, Samuel Pierre! All IDCS Governing Board Meetings are in public and in person. Please use the following link to view the full schedule, along with meeting minutes and and agendas. www.idcs.org/board/
MORNING ARRIVAL: All students arriving in the morning will be entering through the main entrance only effective Monday, September 20th.
MASKS will continue to be worn by all students and staff while in the school building. Masks must cover both mouths and noses and should not slip below the nose. Proper fitting masks will be issued to students who need them. Students will have mask breaks during the day and will be able to take their masks off when they are outside.
WATER BOTTLES should be brought by each student daily. Water fountains are available for water bottle refills only.
RUVNA: Please complete this survey daily for each child PRIOR sending them to school.
DISMISSAL
- Only drivers who have a handicapped tag can drive into and park in the lower lots between 2:30 and 3:30 during dismissal.
- If the buses are lined up do not leave the lower parking lot unless an IDCS Staff Member directs you to do so.
- If you are parking in the condo parking lots, please make sure you are parked in a designated spot.
- If you are parking on the side of the road on the upper part of Thermos Avenue along the side of the condos. You must cross the road to meet your child at the top of the stairs and then walk them back across to your vehicle.
- Students AND adults should always be walking in the designated crosswalks.
- We now have a staff member in the uppermost crosswalk in addition to the crossing guard at the stop sign coming in. Please be aware of them and head their directions.