Movie: Race to Nowhere

The Tufts University, Eliot-Pearson Children's School is pleased to announce that they will be hosting a national screening of the new documentary film, Race to Nowhere,  on Tuesday, January 25th at 7:00 pm, Aidekman-Arts Center, Cohen Auditorium, 40 Talbot Ave., Medford, Ma

The film is about the high-stakes culture that children and educators face in their school lives now.  

Please see attached link for more information and to order tickets. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School scholarship fund.  Tickets will be $10.00 online, $15.00 at door.  Please pass on this information to interested people.

Here is the link to buy tickets:

http://www.racetonowhere.com/postcard/january-25th-medford-ma

Common Sense Media

The following common sense media website is a terrific resource for educators, parents and students.  It contains a vast amount of information on cyber safety, online citizenship, and much more.  They have also purchased Cyber Smart in an effort to expand the site's digital literacy curriculum. Take a moment to check it out.
GO TO:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org

How Much Sleep do Children Need?

Excerpt from About.com

The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep provides some helpful guidelines regarding just how much sleep children need at different stages in their development.

Children need:
Between Ages 3-10, children need 10-12 hours
Between Ages 11-12, children need about 10 hours
Teenagers need about 9 hours of sleep per night

Kids who are regularly sleep deprived will exhibit some pretty difficult behaviors. They display frequent irritability, overreact emotionally, have difficulty concentrating, forget easily, wake often during the night, and may even display hyperactive behaviors.

The best thing you can do is simply move your child's bedtime up. This may sound impossible at first, but by moving the entire bedtime routine up half an hour, you'll help your child associate bedtime with an earlier time. In fact, you may be surprised to find that he/she goes to sleep easily and sleeps through the night more regularly when he/she is well-rested.

Vigorous Exercise Makes Children Smarter

This excerpt is taken from the Marshall Memo:

 Vigorous Exercise Makes Children Smarter

            In this New York Times Magazine article, Gretchen Reynolds reports on several studies of the effect of aerobic exercise on children’s brains. In one study at the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana, 9-10-year olds who ran on treadmills performed markedly better than sedentary kids on a variety of cognitive challenges, including the ability to filter out unnecessary information and pay attention to relevant cues. When their brains were scanned with an M.R.I., the fittest children had significantly larger basal ganglia, the part of the brain that deals with “executive control” – the ability to crisply coordinate actions and thoughts. The fit and unfit children all had the same socioeconomic background, body-mass index, and other characteristics, so it must have been the vigorous exercise that enlarged that part of their brains.

            A second study at the same university grouped 9-10-year olds by exercise level, gave them tests involving complex memory, and did M.R.I. scans. Sure enough, the fittest children did best on the tests and the scans showed that the hippocampus in these children, the part of the brain that deals with complex memory, was enlarged.

            An earlier study found that 20 minutes of walking just before a test improved scores, even among students who were unfit or overweight.

            And a study conducted among 18-year-olds in Sweden found that better fitness correlated with higher I.Q. scores and more lucrative careers, even among identical twins. There was no correlation between muscle strength and I.Q. It’s clear that aerobic exercise, not strength training, is best for the brain.

The implication for schools is clear, says Georg Kuhn, a professor at the University of Gothenburg: “More aerobic exercise!”

“The Fittest Brains: How Exercising Affects Kids’ Intelligence” by Gretchen Reynolds in The New York Times Magazine, Sept. 19, 2010

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/phys-ed-can-exercise-make-kids-smarter/?scp=9&sq=Gretchen%20Reynolds&st=cse

Pedestrian Safety letter

Pedestrian Safety Newsletter

Officer Corey P. Rateau

Traffic and Parking Enforcement Unit

781-316-3928

CRateau@town.arlington.ma.us

This is a time of unprecedented economic challenges for many communities including Arlington.  Some very difficult fiscal adjustments had to be made and as a result there was a reduction in the number of traffic supervisors stationed around town during school hours.  In light of this situation, I would like to send out a reminder to parents to make sure that they teach their children about pedestrian safety.  I have included the following tips that should be helpful to pedestrians of all ages:

·         Always cross at a crosswalk if one is available.  They are there to remind motorists to look out for pedestrians. By law, you are required to use one that is within 300 feet of the location where you wish to cross or you could be considered “Jay Walking”. 

·         Always stop at the curb, edge of road, corner or parked vehicle before proceeding across the street.

·         If there is traffic, try to make eye contact with the driver(s) approaching you to make sure that they see you, understand your intentions, and have stopped for you before crossing.

·         LOOK LEFT, RIGHT, THEN LEFT AGAIN.  Cars may have proceeded from your left after your initial look (and this should typically be the closest direction that traffic would be approaching you).  If it is clear, then proceed to cross.

·         Walk - Don’t Run when crossing the street, even in a crosswalk.  Always keep looking in both directions for drivers that may not see you in the street.  Do not assume that a car will stop for you just because you are in the crosswalk.

·         When crossing at signalized locations, wait for the cross signal and be sure that all traffic has stopped before entering the crosswalk.  Continue to look for vehicles, especially ones that could be making turning movements from adjacent streets, as you are crossing. 

 ·         Do not step off the curb if “Don’t Walk” is already flashing as you approach the intersection.  Wait for the next “Walk” cycle before crossing.

·         Always walk on the sidewalk if there is one available.  If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic so that you can see what’s coming towards you.

·         Be aware that many large vehicles, including school buses, have “No Zones” around them where the driver simply cannot see anything, even with the best mirrors.  Avoid these areas to the rear and sides of these vehicles.  Look for the rear tires of large vehicles to go “off track” (ride up on the curb/sidewalk) while turning.  Most skilled drivers will avoid this but be extra cautious and not stand too close to the corner if this happens, as you will be in that driver’s “No Zone.”

·         Large vehicles like buses and trucks need a longer distance and take a longer time to stop; no matter how fast they are traveling.  Don’t try to rush out in front of one of these vehicles, as sudden moves on a pedestrian’s behalf can be difficult to anticipate for even a well-trained professional driver.

·         While you should always cross at least 10 feet in front of a school bus while at a school bus stop and the lights are flashing and traffic has stopped, DO NOT cross in front of MBTA buses at a bus stop.  As they are about to depart, their focus may be on any oncoming traffic to the side of their vehicle.  Always wait for MBTA buses to leave the bus stop before crossing.

·         Try to wear clothing that is bright and/or reflective enough to make you stand out and not blend into the background of the area you are in.  This helps when crossing both during the day and night.

Remember, pedestrian safety begins at home.  Always set a good example when crossing the street with your children.  Make sure that they know what the different crossing signals look like and for what they stand.  Statistically, the most common cause of pedestrian injury or death is pedestrian error, not driver error. By keeping some of these pointers in mind, we can help avoid these situations and make walking in Arlington safer for everyone.

Voices of Dallin Podcast #8

Extending the School Day and Year

 The excerpt below is taken from the Marshall Memo:

What the Research Says About Extending the School Day and Year

            In this Review of Educational Research article, Erika Patall of the University of Texas/Austin and Harris Cooper and Ashley Batts Allen of Duke University study the impact of extending the school day and year. They start by distinguishing the different ways in which we can talk about school time:

-   Allocated school time – the number of days in the school year and hours students are required to attend school;

-   Allocated class time – the time students are required to be in class;

-   Instructional time – the time devoted to instruction (versus noninstructional time in the classroom devoted to administrative matters, discipline, etc.)

-   Engaged time – the time students are paying attention to a learning task and attempting to learn (often called time on task);

-   Academic learning time – the time in which students are actively engaged and successfully learning.

Most studies of the impact of extra time focus only on the first – allocated school time – based on the assumption that increasing allocated time provides the opportunity to increase academic learning time.

            Patall, Cooper, and Allen conducted an exhaustive search of studies on this subject and came to the following conclusions:

            • The research in this area is weak and it is difficult to make strong causal inferences; there are no controlled studies that allow us to draw definitive conclusions about what works and how extended time affects student performance over time.

            • There is little evidence on the impact of extended school time on non-achievement results such as student motivation, attitudes toward themselves, toward school, or toward coursework, and on student conduct, discipline, attendance, fatigue, or family dynamics.

• However, say the authors, “the research evidence would suggest that extending school time can be an effective means to support student learning, particularly for students who are most at risk of school failure and when considerations are made for how that time is used.”

            • Extending school time won’t always improve achievement. “It is only common sense,” say Patall, Cooper, and Allen, “that if additional school time is not used for instructional activities or if additional instruction is poor in quality, it is unlikely to lead to achievement gains.” They cite several schools supported by the Massachusetts 2020 initiative as examples of what’s essential: a focus on teacher quality, strong leadership, rigorous and continuous professional development, a positive school culture, and strong family engagement.

• Parent and staff attitudes toward extended school time are generally positive, while student attitudes are less positive.

• Extra time is “one of many interventions needed to alter the academic success of students, particularly those who enter and continue with disadvantages,” say the authors.

            • Where funding for extending school hours and days is not available, the authors say that alternative approaches can be effective, including after-school programs, summer school, and other out-of-school services.

            • Furthermore, we don’t know the optimum amount of additional time that balances costs and benefits.

            Patall, Cooper, and Allen conclude: “The task now falls on education researchers to conduct well-designed research that will help determine under what conditions, for whom, and when more school time will yield the greatest benefits.”

“Extending the School Day or School Year: A Systematic Review of Research (1985-2009)” by Erika Patall, Harris Cooper, and Ashley Batts Allen in Review of Educational Research, September 2010 (Vol. 80, #3, p. 401-436), no e-link available; the authors can be reached at erika.patall@mailutexas.edu, cooperh@duke.edu, and aba8@duke.edu.

Walk to School Day!

Hi Everyone,

Remember that this Wednesday is International Walk to School Day! The event is rain or shine, so it may be more of a Splash to School Day, but that's what umbrellas and boots are for.

The Dallin teachers will be out at 8:00 -- which will you be walking with? -- and there will be giveaways to kids who hoof it in.

So join us Wednesday for Walk to School Day. See you there!

-- Mark Edry
Dallin Safe Routes Coordinator

Collaborative Learning Teams/Professional Learning Communities

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING TEAMS

The teachers in the Arlington Public Schools are working together in collaborative learning teams (also called professional learning communities) to analyze student data, find areas for improvement, and improve instruction to address the targeted needs. The below article is an excerpt from the educational "Marshall Memo", which discusses the importance of this type of work by educators.

The Power of Professional Learning Communities

In this advertisement in Education Week, Solution Tree consultant Bill Ferriter says that “groups are almost always smarter than individuals… No challenge is ever too great for a collaborative team.” He cites three characteristics of the best teams from James Surowiecki’s book, The Wisdom of Crowds (Bantam, 2004):

• They are cognitively diverse – When group members have a varied set of aptitudes and abilities, they consider a wider range of ways to tackle problems – which increases the chances that they’ll develop the most effective and efficient solutions.

• They are independent – This protects against groupthink, says Ferriter, because members are “able to act as individuals free from the influence of their peers and willing to push against early conclusions whenever necessary.”

• They are decentralized – Within the boundaries of common learning objectives and assessments, teacher groups should have a measure of flexibility to be creative and divergent in how students are taught.

Professional learning communities don’t have to be in the same school building, says Ferriter. Teachers can join in online forums like Classroom 2.0 http://classroom20.com and The English Companion Ning http://www.englishcompanion.ning.com to study topics of personal and professional interest. Teachers can also use Twitter to share resources, ask questions, and lend just-in-time support, as well as organizing webinars, following blogs, and creating wikis (see http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com to find teachers at the same grade level or content area). Some teams also use an RSS feed reader to organize blogs written by classroom teachers and spend five minutes a day browsing the latest articles. “Leave comments for the authors,” suggests Ferriter. “Ask questions. Challenge thinking. Eventually, you’ll notice a shift in the kinds of conversations you’re having with colleagues. Provocative thoughts drawn from shared texts will replace small talk in no time!”

But in the end, face-to-face work with your local grade-level or content team is the most powerful, says Ferriter. “Peers with a nuanced understanding of local circumstances will always be able to offer better advice than colleagues in other counties, countries, or continents.”


“Growing Smarter Together” by Bill Ferriter in Education Week, Sept. 15, 2010 (Vol. 30, #3, p. 13), no e-link available

Open Circle Parent Workshop

PARENT FORUM: OPEN CIRCLE PARENT WORKSHOPS
For Parents of children Grades K-5
Three-week program Tues. Oct. 19, Tues. Oct. 26 and
Tues. Nov.2 REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Meeting Location-Thompson School
7:00-9:00 P.M.

We invite you to join a Parent Group based on the Open Circle Program developed at the Stone Center, Wellesley College. In this three-week program, you will learn how to reinforce the social and problem solving skills learned by your children at school.

Here is an opportunity for a limited number of parents to join an interactive program that focuses on the skills your children are learning in the Open Circle Program. This program will suggest ways by which parents can successfully reinforce these lessons at home. The program is designed to teach parents the language and skills their children use in Open Circle in order to develop cooperation, problem solving, self-control and responsibility. The parent forum will help you to adapt these same techniques at home and to develop more effective parenting.

PRESENTER: Debby Broadley MA LMHC is leading these Parent Workshops. Debby has over 30 years of experience working with children and families. She has worked for many years as a mental health clinician for a large Early Intervention Program and she currently consults to the Arlington Public Schools. Debby leads a variety of parent groups and seminars and has a private psychotherapy practice.

RESERVATIONS: Since the group will be limited in size to allow for discussion. Spaces will be filled on a first –come, first-serve basis.

Please call Carlene Newell at 781-316-3571 or e-mail her at cnewell@arlington.k12.ma.us to reserve a place or to obtain more information. Leave or include your phone number and e-mail address when you call. There will be a $25.00 charge for course materials.

Mucho Info!

Hello Dallin Community,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall-like weather! I am writing to give you some Dallin updates, news, and dates to remember. It's a wealth of information so please take a few minutes to read through this notice. Thank you!

Traffic Flow and Safe Routes Reminder:

It is crucial that ALL families dropping off students in the morning follow the traffic flow procedures, especially this year with only one crossing guard. The procedure is:

Kindergarten drop-offs use the George Street Drop-Off area. This is the same area that we have used in the past. We ask that motorists only drive one-way northbound on George Street and do not turn around. After dropping-off, motorists should turn left on the private section of George Street to exit via Rhinecliff Street and Dow Avenue. The private section of George Street has recently been paved. However, it is wide enough for only one vehicle so we are asking that that you do not enter via this roadway. Because the road is narrow and no sidewalk is provided, we ask that you do not walk on the private section of George Street. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE FIRE LANE, WHICH IS CLEARLY DESIGNATED. This is very dangerous to students. Thank you.
First through Fifth Grade drop-offs use the pull-off in front of the school. Students in grades 1 through 5 will line-up before school in the area between the school and Florence Park. The George Street drop-off can also be used for students in grades 1 through 5. If you have a child in K or First grade and one in Second grade or above, we ask that you use George Street drop-off. Please do not park in designated "no parking" zones, the teacher's parking lot, or on crosswalks. This is for the safety of both students and staff. Thank you.

Please do not stop in any drop-off area for more time than it takes for your child to get out safely. If you need to speak with someone at the school, please find a safe parking space and park your car. The drop-off area is not an area for stopping longer than it takes for students to safely exit your vehicle and enter the school property.
ADDITIONALLY:

Always have your child cross Florence Avenue at the crosswalks and with crossing guards where they are provided.

Please Do Not drop-off students across from the school forcing children to cross traffic.

Please Do Not park close to crosswalks, as this will restrict visibility.

Parents accustomed to parking and walking their child to school are welcome to continue doing this. We ask that parents respect the flow of traffic and park on the even side (the right side) facing Dallin on:

o Rhinecliff Street

o George Street (south of Florence)

o Renfrew Street

o Waverley Street.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in keeping the Dallin students and community safe!

Procedure for calling in a student absence:
Please call the safe phone if your child will be out of school for the day. The safe phone number is 781-316-3725. Nurse Donofrio will be the only person checking the safe phone this year. It would be much appreciated if your child is sick to leave the symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, vomiting etc. If your child has a fever, please keep them home. Students must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. If you forget to call in, the Nurse will call ALL home and work numbers until you are reached. If you cannot be reached, we will call emergency numbers. If we cannot reach anyone to let us know why your child is not in school, we will call the police and ask them to do a "safe check" to make sure your child is safe at home. Again, this is purely for safety reasons so please remember to call when your child will be out of school. Thank you.

Inclement Weather Protocol

On rainy, extremely cold, and snowy days children (no parents please) will be let in at 8:00 a.m. Grades K and 1 come in the front door and line up in the corridor by the gym across from the Music Room. They are not allowed to go to their classrooms or lockers. Grades 2 -5 come in the Cafeteria door and stay in the Cafeteria until the bell rings. We will post a PINK sign in the doors on days the students are allowed in early.

International Walk to School Day - Wednesday, October 6th

Join the Dallin community for a Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 6. All students who walk will receive a small token as a tribute to their walking efforts! Join the fun and leave your cars at home and walk to school on Wednesday, October 7!

Curriculum Night

We are looking forward to seeing all the parents at the Dallin School Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 30th beginning at 6:30 in the gym. Teachers will present their curriculum in two sessions, from 7-7:30 and then from 7:30-8 so parents will be able to visit two different grade levels.

Back to School Picnic

Bring your picnic supper and join other Dallin families for the Back to School Picnic this Thursday night beginning at 5:30 pm on the field by the school. Come get reacquainted with old friends and meet some new ones while the children play on the field and the play structure.

PTO Meeting: The first PTO meeting of the year will be held on Monday, September 27th at 7pm in the school’s library.

Welcome Back

Dear Dallin Families, September 8, 2010

Welcome back to a new school year! I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our students and was very excited to see the many smiling faces today!

We have some wonderful additions to the Dallin staff this year. Michelle Crowley has joined the third grade team and Christina Hughes has joined the 5^th grade team. Both Christina and Michelle were members of the Dallin teaching community last year and we are fortunate to have them continue their educational careers at Dallin. Also new to our special education department but not new to APS are: Helen Bassett, occupational therapist and Mary Cummings, speech and language therapist.

There are also four new members to our unified arts team. Jenna Havelin is our energetic and enthusiastic music teacher and Cindy Jaquith is our talented art teacher. Additionally, Will Darling and Guy Schiavone will be teaching PE. Both Guy and Will were teaching PE last year in APS. They are all excited about joining Dallin and I am confident the students will have fun learning with them!

Please thoroughly review the enclosed forms in this Back-to-School packet. These forms need to be read and signed by both students and parents, regardless of age. It is crucial that we have up-to-date Emergency Health Information and phone numbers for your child as soon as possible. Additionally, there are a number of informational letters on the Dallin School website, www.arlington.k12.ma.us/dallin.

ALL official notices, newsletters, podcasts, school calendar, and teacher websites can be accessed via the school website as well. Please make a habit of consistently checking the website and the teachers’ websites for new information so you do not miss important notices. If you have not yet signed up for the “Official Dallin School Notices”, please go to the school website, click on the yellow box on the left titled “For Parents”, and click on “Dallin Newsletters.” Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the blue link, “DallinOfficialNotices-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .” Please follow the directions to sign up to receive all official notices to your email inbox. It is crucial to sign up for this list, as we will NOT be sending home most information via paper; we will send the majority of information home via email. If you do not have Internet access, please call Mrs. Burns in the office and we will make other arrangements for communication with your family. Thank you!

The teachers have been working diligently during the past few weeks preparing for the new school year. We very much look forward to working closely with our Dallin families to ensure a positive learning environment for all of our students.

PLEASE RETURN ALL MANDATORY SIGN-OFF FORMS TO YOUR CHILD’S CLASSROOM TEACHER NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17^TH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

Sincerely,

Tara K. Rossi, Principal

MANDATORY FORMS TO BE RETURNED (May need BOTH student & parent signature):

- Student Health and Emergency Information Form

- Dallin School Code of Conduct/Non-Negotiable Rules signature page

- Acceptable Use Policy

- Photo/Video Permission signature-PLEASE read carefully and circle yes or no

OPTIONAL FORMS:

- Free and Reduced Lunch: Please return to Food Services as directed on form

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS POSTED ON THE DALLIN SCHOOL WEBSITE at: www.arlington.k12.ma.us/dallin:

- Asbestos Plan - Food Guidelines

- Health & Sex Education Parental Notification - Safety/Traffic Flow Letter

- School Calendar - District Lunch Menu

June 23rd Dismissal

Please remember that the dismissal time on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 23rd is at 1:00.

Voices of Dallin Podcast #7

Enjoy listening to some of our 4th grade poets!

Voices of Dallin Podcast #6

Enjoy listening to some of Mrs. Walker's second grade students reading their poetry!

Science Camp Information for 2010-2011 5th grade

5th GRADE SCIENCE CAMP

Dear 4TH Grade Families:

One of the most anticipated programs in the Arlington Elementary Schools is just around the corner: The 5th Grade Science Camp at the W. Alton Jones Environmental Education Center in Rhode Island. At this time, we would like to provide a few more details about the program.

WE ARE IN NEED OF SCHOOL LIAISONS. Each Elementary School needs a parent liaison to work with the camp coordinator, principals and 5th grade teachers. Please contact your school principal if you may be interested.

Listed below is a brief camp preview to help prepare us for our trip next fall.
A package with additional information about the camp will be sent home in September. This will include the name of your school’s liaison, with contact information.
A representative from the W. Alton Jones Environmental Education Center will meet with parents for an informational evening in September, and the students will have a presentation in school as well.
The cost of the camp is approximately $340. A limited number of scholarships will be available. Please check with your school principal if you anticipate needing financial assistance.
Please consider becoming a cabin chaperone for one or more of the 3 nights. Your school liaison will be in charge of recruiting chaperones. You must have a current CORI form on file with APS in order to chaperone.
Please visit the Alton Jones Website for more information regarding this and other educational programs at www.altonjonescamp.com.
Schools are scheduled to attend camp as follows:
October 12 – 15 Peirce - Dallin
October 19 – 22 Bishop - Thompson
October 26 – 29 Hardy - Stratton
November 16 – 19 Brackett

Please feel free to contact me at my email listed below, or your school principal if you have any questions or concerns. We count on your support to make this educational adventure a success.

SCHOLARSHIPS – If you know of a business or organization that may be willing to contribute to our scholarship fund, please pass on my contact information. We anticipate many requests again this year.

Thank you, and have a great summer!

Karen Hartley
Science Camp Coordinator
Arlington Outdoor Education
khartley@arlington.k12.ma.us

Change of lunch menu for Thurs. May 13th

Hi,
We will not be having potato salad. We will have fun size potato chips with all meals on 5/13.
Thanks!

Voices of Dallin Podcast #5

Enjoy listening to more first grade stories! Check the blog later in the week for some second graders sharing their poetry!

Bridge the Gap

As you have probably heard, next year is going to be a challenging one for the Arlington school systems because of the cuts to the school budget. In past years, we managed to keep the impact of budget cuts from being felt by the students, but we won't be able to do it this coming year because of the size of the cuts.

The Arlington Education Foundation has information on its website that I think may be of interest to you as parents. A complete list of the cuts to the schools is at http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/fy11budget.html

Also on the site is a list of items that will be added back depending on how much money is raised for the schools by the Bridge the Gap Fund. The list was created by myself and other principals based on what add backs would help students the most. http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/fy11addbacks.html

Obviously we will do our best to provide a stable and enriching educational environment to every student no matter what our circumstances are next year. However, we're hoping that the Bridge the Gap Fund reaches it's $1 million goal because it will help minimize the impact of the $3.9 million in cuts on the students. I hope you will consider making a donation to the fund. There is an FAQ which answers questions about the Fund drive at
http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/bridgethegap/bridgethegapfaq.html and information about how to give at http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/donate.html.

Thank you.

Thank You

Hello Dallin Community,
Thank you to all the auction volunteers and all the teacher appreciation volunteers who have spent most of their days in the past few weeks making our school and community their main focus! Please know that we all recognize your efforts and truly appreciate how you have gone above and beyond for the Dallin School. I look forward to seeing MANY of our Dallin community members tonight! If you were unable to purchase a ticket, you can still contribute to the auction and/or bid on some amazing items from the online auction!
There are many events occurring during the last weeks of school and we will continue to encourage all of our families to check the Dallin website and blog for the latest information. Please spread the word about the new site and the "Voices of Dallin" podcast to your family, neighbors, and friends.
A notice with an attached class placement information form is going home today. If you choose, you can complete the information form and return it to the office no later than May 14th.
Please take a moment to listen to the podcasts below and the great learning taking place at Dallin! Thank you!

Voices of Dallin Podcast #3

Hello Dallin Community,
Thank you for "tuning in" to the "Voices of Dallin" podcast. As previously mentioned in this blog, this week we are listening to some of our smart and talented first graders reading their original writing pieces. Additionally, if you haven't yet, scroll down the page to listen to our fabulous 4th graders sharing their poetry.

Voices of Dallin Podcast #2

During this week's podcasts, you will be able to listen to some of our Dallin first graders share their original writing! If you have not read about the Dallin blog, please scroll down to do so. Also, scroll down this page to listen to the very first "Voices of Dallin" podcast by our 4th grade poets!

Welcome to the Dallin Blog

Hello Dallin Community,
Welcome to the new Dallin Blog and "Voices of Dallin" Podcast! Via this blog, the community is able to access up-to-date information regarding school happenings. Eventually, this blog will replace the Dallin Official Notices listing as the blog works in the same format, sending news out immediately to all families wanting to receive notifications of the postings.
Via the podcast, our Dallin students will share their learning about reading, writing, science, social studies, math, technology, and more! New podcasts will be posted weekly by students at all grade levels. Additionally, with the podcast, your own family members across the world can listen to our Dallin students by going to the Dallin website blog page!
If you are not someone who checks the website regularly, we hope that you will begin to do so. We will continue, as a school, to go paperless as much as possible in order to model the importance of protecting our environment for our students.
The website will continue to be a work in progress as we receive feedback from the community. Please feel free to email me, trossi@arlington.k12.ma.us, to let me know your thoughts on our new site. In the meantime, please listen to the original poetry of some of our talented 4th graders
in our very first "Voices of Dallin" podcast.

VOICES OF DALLIN PODCAST 1