From the Principal: welcome back!

9/13/2024 7:12 am

Dear Dallin Families,

I can hardly believe it, but this year marks my 11th at Dallin! It’s been a privilege to work alongside such an amazing community of caring, dedicated students, families, and educators, and I’m truly excited about the year ahead. Please make sure to check the Dallin Digest each week for continued updates from myself and my partner in this work, Assistant Principal Mrs. Karustis.

This year, we’re embarking on the second phase of our ELA curriculum with the full implementation of the EL Education curriculum across all grade levels. This shift is important, aligning with our district’s vision for deeper learning. Our students will dive into four fascinating modules over the year—everything from exploring the wonders of rainforest biodiversity and the courageous athletes who have inspired social change to discovering the quirky world of freaky frogs and learning about schools around the globe that have triumphed over unique challenges. It’s going to be an incredible adventure in literacy and knowledge-building!

We’re also taking a fresh look at technology use this year, with stricter expectations around smartphones and smartwatches during the school day. It’s all part of a commitment to creating more intentional, focused learning environments. Nationally, experts are cautioning about the mental health and engagement crisis that students (particularly middle and high school) are experiencing. And, at the elementary level, we are seeing the creep of screen usage move to younger and younger ages. We want to do our part to reduce reliance and emphasize real life connection. I encourage you to check out  this great resource to learn more about why we’re prioritizing this.

And speaking of creating a dynamic school environment, we’re thrilled to bring Playworks to Dallin this year! Play is crucial to learning, and with their guidance, our students will lead the way in designing fun, inclusive games for recess. Florence Field is the perfect backdrop for our students to take risks, build responsibility, and most importantly, have fun. If you’re looking for ways to empower your child at home, check out Let Grow, a fantastic resource on fostering independence and resilience.  I highly recommend exploring their resources, particularly their myth-busting facts on child safety, which can be found here.

We’re also gearing up for our Family Curriculum Night on October 1st. This is your chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and get a peek into what your child is experiencing each day at Dallin. Stay tuned for more details!

Lastly, I invite you to be part of our PTO events this year. We are working hard to align PTO topics with the work of the school, and we know that strong collaboration between home and school greatly benefits our students. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish this year—together!

Let’s make this a great year! Don’t hesitate to reach out via email with any questions, and our front office is open from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM for immediate assistance. For translation support, please reach out directly to me (Thad) or connect with the APS Family Welcome Center here.

Be well,

Thad 

Thad Dingman

Principal, Dallin Elementary