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| Dartmouth Education Foundation (DEF) Newsletter |
Dear Education Supporters,
The Dartmouth Education Foundation was founded in 2007 to enhance and enrich the educational experience of the students of the Dartmouth Public Schools. A Board of Directors works in conjunction with the School Department to identify programs, projects, and initiatives to be supported. One of our most successful initiatives has been the Teacher Mini Grant program. Teachers from all five Dartmouth schools apply for grants of up to $2,000 to fund creative educational experiences. To date, the DEF Mini Grant Program has funded over $22,000 in Mini Grants for the children of the Dartmouth Public Schools. In this, our 5th round of grants, we were able to fund 10 grants for a total of $7,700. The 2011 grant recipients are: - Lisa Arruda, Quinn Elementary School - Equipment for DVD of "Old" Dartmouth Historic Sites
- Barbara Johanson, Dartmouth Middle School - Math's Mate CD, used with Smartboard
- Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School - Digital Storytelling Equipment
- Scott McElroy, Dartmouth High School - Working Model Wind Turbine Construction
- Anne Goodman, Potter School - Build a Raised Garden Bed
- Wendy Candeias & Tricia Higham, Quinn School - Subscription Renewal to Electronic Fieldtrip
- Lisa Reitzas, DeMello School - Reading Material for Advanced Students
- Laurie Dias-Mitchell, Dartmouth High School - Poetry in Motion with David Zucker
- Elizabeth Correia & Robin Kolbeck, DeMello School - Writers Club at Recess
- Kathleen Gasper, Dartmouth High School - Alvin Ailey II Dance Theater/Class Workshop
Kathleen Gasper's Mini Grant Dance Class Workshop for her students took place Wednesday February 9th with a performance by the Alvin Ailey II Dance Company at the Zeiterion Theater. Following the performance, she wrote in an email to the DEF board, "Just arrived from the Z and Ailey II was wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Two of our students had the opportunity to be up on stage and perform. For these two boys an experience they will always remember."
In her mini grant proposal Kathy wrote, "Besides the obvious of a great way to stay healthy physically, dance allows an outlet for emotion, creativity, self awareness and fosters self esteem." Students will be given the opportunity to see Alvin Ailey II Company's dance performance, take part in the post performance discussion at the Zeiterion Theater and participate in the in school workshop the next day."
 Solomon is the name of the dancer from the Alvin Ailey II Dance Company pictured in these photos leading the students through a very rigorous dance class on Thursday, February 10th at DHS. In addition to the dance workshop, the students enjoyed a question and answer session with Solomon where they learned about the meaning of the performance that they had seen the day before. The students were also intrigued to learn about Solomon's background, his dance experience, and listened very intently as Solomon answered questions about when he began dancing and what the audition process was like. Click the YouTube link below to view the videos taken that day.
To view more photos taken that day please click HERE to visit the DEF website.
Thank you to all the teachers who applied for grants. We will continue to showcase each one of the mini grants listed above in future newsletters.
We are committed to continuing the Mini Grant Program and with your help, we can continue to provide these creative learning experiences. Click HERE to become a member of the DEF or donate on-line.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others by clicking on this . Forwarding information on to others spreads the word about what is happening in our schools. A person is not added to the list but can subscribe by clicking on this "Join the Mailing List" link.
Sincerely,
John Beauregard, Chairman
Liz Olimpio, Newsletter Editor
Dartmouth Education Foundation (DEF)
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Dartmouth High School
By Kathy Wilbur, Class of 2011
Dartmouth High School students do not hibernate in the winter. They are busy and productive young people chasing their dreams. Here are some highlights of their accomplishments over the last month:
WGBH Quiz Show: After hearing about an opportunity for local high school teams to compete on the WGBH High School Quiz Show, DHS Math teacher Donald York immediately decided to hold auditions. The resulting team consisted of Juniors Cali Warner, Jack Lindblom, Keegan Remy-Miller and Senior Adam Carreiro, with alternate Seniors Jake Owens and Nayha Chopra-Tandon. In October, the team qualified for a spot among the top 16 teams. The six competitors, along with various fans (both staff and students) traveled to the contest in Boston on February 5th. To see how they did, tune in to WGBH at 7 p.m. on February 20 for a great show.
DHS Competitive Cheering: The newly formed competitive cheerleading team at DHS recently competed in their first official challenge in Foxboro, MA. The girls had a great first run, placing ... read more
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Dartmouth Middle School
by Carl Robidoux, Assistant Pricipal
New RARE News Postcard
 Last year at DMS, students designed a RARE News postcard for the staff to use to send positive notes home to parents. Periodically throughout the school year, teachers send out these notes recognizing the efforts and good citizenship demonstrated by their students. Our staff sent out over a 600 postcards last year and the feedback we received from the community was extremely positive. This week the winning design was chosen for this year's RARE News postcard and is pictured below. It represents the four color associated with the RARE theme and encourages students to join the RARE Train. All Aboard the RARE Train where everyone is Welcome!
Study Island Contest
 Study Island is an internet based program that is designed to prepare student for the MCAS test. This year we have both the Math and English versions of the test for all grade levels. These programs are currently being used in our newly created MCAS labs. The MCAS lab teachers have created a Study Island bulletin board recognizing sixth grade students that achieve at least 10 Blue Ribbons. Our seventh and eighth grade students are competing weekly to achieve Blue Ribbons in which the winning class gets one day of preferred seating in the cafeteria. The school goal is to answer at least 500,000 questions this year.
Come pay Study Island a visit. It is a great vacation spot! |
Rachel's Challenge Event **Rescheduled**
March 15, 2011 7-8 PM Dartmouth High School Auditorium
Rachel Scott was the first person killed in the Columbine High School tragedy on April 20, 1999. She left behind an amazing legacy and a simple challenge to anyone wishing to accept it: treat others with kindness and compassion and you just may start a chain reaction.
 The DHS goal of valuing and respecting others got some support from a whole school presentation of Rachel's Challenge.
This event is not just for students and parents of DHS. The event will deliver a universal message for high school students and adults of all ages in our community. All are welcome. For more information call 508-961-2700.
To learn more about Rachel's Challenge, please visit the website at www.rachelschallenge.org |
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Muddlin' Around
by Karen Richardson (this month through Liz Olimpio)
This month I have decided to come clean about your favorite "Muddlin' Mother" aka Karen Richardson. Karen, who lives in California is just like us, a parent juggling her career, life, children, and wondering sometimes, am I doing this right?
To give Karen some time this month to catch up with her husband, family, and work (she is laughing as she reads this, "husband really, I have five kids"), I am going to point you to the world of Karen unplugged, Karen's blog Mother of Muddlers.
But before you enter, I must properly prepare you. If you thought Karen was funny in this column, you are in for a treat. Karen's husband is a civil engineer, and his work has taken them to live in several far away places. Karen has also documented their lives in a separate blog entitled Our Adventures in Banda Aceh, Indonesia with CRS.
If you only have a few moments to read, here are a couple of my favorite entries:
How Karen Does Dinner in a Fancy Restaurant With Five Children.
We Didn't Expect It, But We're Expecting!
Karen is a wonderful freelance writer. I hope you enjoy reading her blog as much as I do.
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DEF Class-A-Thon ~ Monday, March 21st
""Stay Fit" & Raise Money for Creative Education"
Where: Howland Place Fitness Center 
651 Orchard Street
Howland Place Building
Visit them online
All money raised to benefit the DEF!
$5 per class or $20 for all 6
Class line up:
5:00-5:30pm Jay Kruger- KidFit Club
5:30-6:00pm Mark Kruger/Andrea- Cycling
6:00-6:30pm Julie Fostin- Ab Sculpt
6:30-7:00pm Dawn Cetrone- Zumba
7:00-7:30pm Lindsay Rousseau- Fit Fusion
7:30-8:00pm Rachel Almeida- Pilates |
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Internet Survival Tips for Kids and Teens
by Detective Robert Levinson, Dartmouth Police Department
 The first and foremost requirement for all parents is to equip themselves with the knowledge surrounding computers and internet, and the threats and dangers surrounding their use by children. You as a parent must at least be aware of the current happenings in the areas of internet safety for kids. Making it a point to monitor what it is your kids are doing on the internet will furnish you with the knowledge and awareness that you will need in order to take the right steps towards ensuring safety for your children....read more
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DEF Members Have you Redeemed Your Zeiterion Theater Tickets?
 Your DEF Membership entitles you to two free tickets to the following shows:
3/11/2011 - New Shanghai Circus
3/20/2011 - Ferdinand the Bull
5/1/2011 - Angelina Ballerina
Just show your DEF membership card at the box office to receive your tickets. It's not too late to purchase a DEF membership, click HERE to learn more.
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