Announcements

We're Having a Book Swap*

THIS FRIDAY, May 24, 2013!

It is easy and fun!! Pick out a book from home that you have read and enjoyed and would like to TRADE for a different book. Bring it to the Science Lab on the morning of Friday, May 24th BEFORE 8:00 AM. We'll give you a ticket good for your choice of a free book from the collection of books brought in by other Duncan Chapel friends. You may bring up to 5 books, and you'll get 5 trading tickets. Books should be in good condition! Do not bring books with torn pages or books that have coloring or writing. Check with your parents first to get their approval for the books you bring to trade. You must bring your books to the Science Lab BEFORE school, and then you'll come back after lunch to trade. This will give us all a chance to share some good books and get some new ones for summer reading pleasure!

*Swap means exchange, trade, substitute, switch!

Questions? Call Nicki Thompson, 355-2752, Dawn Hawkins, 355-2765, or Jennifer Sanders, 355-2705.

Summer Reading Lists and Math Fact Fun Bookmarks

Help your child practice their math and reading skills over the summer by clicking HERE!  Then, click on the grade level your child will be in next year. The Summer Reading Lists offer suggestions for great books for your child to read this summer, and there are hundreds more books to choose from at your local library or neighborhood bookstore. The Math Bookmarks have great math websites and other fun activities to help your child prepare for next year!

Summer Camps Available for Rising 6th Graders

Rising 6th graders are eligible for Summer Camp at Berea Middle School, hosted by University Instructors!

Where: Berea Middle School

When: August 5th - August 8th, 8:30 am - 3:15 pm

Camp Theme: Summer Transition Camp

Cost: FREE

Breakfast and Lunch: Provided

Transportation: Provided

What your child will experience at Camp:

-Math

-Reading

-Learn N' Games

-And of course FUN!

To register your child by July 8, 2013, visit: www.uisummercamp.com/?DSParam1=35 and complete the 4-step online registration form and submit!

Rising 6th graders are eligible for Summer Camp at Lakeview Middle School, hosted by University Instructors!

Where: Lakeview Middle School

When: July 15th - July 25th, 8:30 am - 3:15 pm

Camp Theme: Summer Leadership Camp

Cost: FREE

Breakfast and Lunch: Provided

Transportation: Provided

What your child will experience at Camp:

-Math

-Reading

-Learn N' Games

-S.T.E.M. Growth

-And of course FUN!

To register your child by July 8, 2013, visit: www.uisummercamp.com/?DSParam1=37 and complete the 4-step online registration form and submit!

Enjoy pictures from the 5th Grade trip to Gatlinburg, TN!

Museum Trip: History Comes to Life!

Recently, our fourth graders visited the Greenville County Art Museum for a special field trip.  Students viewed the new exhibit, “Dave the Potter,” and participated in other activities.  The museum has acquired some of Dave’s pots and created an exhibit.  What makes this special for 4^th graders is that Dave was a slave who lived in Edgefield, SC and made clay pots of all sizes for his owner to use and sell.  He was a great craftsman, but he also did something unique:  he wrote poetry on some of his pots.  Of course, students have learned in their Social Studies that slaves were not supposed to read or write.  They loved seeing actual pots made by a slave!

This inspiring story is told in a book, Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by Bryan Collier, which the students have read.  The original illustrations for the book are also on display as part of the tour!  The students learned about issues surrounding the Civil War through other paintings as well.  Another part of the field trip, the students got to watch a museum potter/artist, Jay Owens, make a large pot from a piece of clay, similar to what Dave would have made.  This was quite exciting!  This field experience is available to all Greenville County students.  Mrs. Terri Steck, along with Brian Morgan and Nicki Thompson helped design the trip to include art, social studies, and language arts standards.  It was an exciting and valuable experience. 

Registration Now Open

Rising 6th graders and parents may click HERE to access their middle school course catalogs.

From the Principal….

Thank you for understanding that all visitors at Duncan Chapel Elementary must enter the school through the front doors only. Once in the foyer you must go to the office to sign-in and wear a printed name badge before entering any part of the building. The School District has announced plans to utilize Zoned Security Patrols in our elementary schools and centers as an additional security measure. There is a law enforcement presence at our school multiple times during each school day. Your support is greatly appreciated as it takes everyone working together to ensure our schools are safe. For that reason, the district has established an email (safeandsecure@greenville.k12.sc.us) and phone number (452-SAFE [7233]) to report observed security breaches or share ideas about enhancing the school district’s safety protocols. You can find more information on the Greenville County Schools website. Please do not hesitate to call the school if you have additional questions.

School Report Card

Our School Report Card was recently released by the State Department of Education. Please take the time to read a letter from our principal, Regenia McClain, concerning this report and check out the district fact sheet.

Please, be on time for school!

Our school day begins promptly at 8:00 am. Your child should be in their classroom ready to work at this time. Mornings are often the most productive time of the day for children, and when they arrive late, and need time to settle in, precious learning time is lost. It may help to establish a morning routine at home, making sure your child knows your expectations for getting to school on time.

Note: If you are tardy due to a medical appointment, please bring a note from the medical office in order for it to be an excused tardy.

Money for Music

Did you know that Bi-Lo has promised to donate 1% of your total bill to our school? It’s true… Free money! Here’s all you have to do:

1. Scan your Bi-Lo bonus card the next time you shop at Bi-Lo.
2. Scan a Bi-Lo BOOSTERSPLUS card as well. Duncan Chapel Elem. is printed on the back of the card. You only have to scan the BOOSTERSPLUS card one time for the year.
3. Shop at Bi-Lo. Don’t forget to scan your Bi-Lo card every time.
4. Pass the BOOSTERSPLUS card to you friends and family and ask them to do the same. Or, send it back to Mrs. Kirby and she will give it to someone else. These cards can be used for more than one family. The more people enrolled in the program, the more money Bi-Lo will send to Duncan Chapel to support our music program.

If you don’t have a BOOSTERSPLUS card, please get one today. Ask your child to bring one home for you or pick one up in the office.

Duncan Chapel awarded "Green Readers Grant"

Duncan Chapel Elementary is happy to announce that it was awarded a $1,000 “Green Readers Grant” from Palmetto Pride. Duncan Chapel was the only school in Greenville County awarded a grant as part of this statewide program. Paid for by the Palmetto Pride, a non-profit anti-littering organization, the grant seeks to provide students and teachers with reference materials that help them learn about the environment.

“We are going to start a Green Readers section in the library. We will have books from a variety of reading levels so that all students can learn about the benefits of recycling and other ways to help the environment,” said Mr. Morgan, Duncan Chapel’s art teacher and recycling coordinator. Mr. Morgan stated that thanks needed to be given to Lisa Parish, a parent volunteer and assistant recycling coordinator who helped prepare the grant, and to Greenville Sanitation, a strong supporter of Duncan Chapel’s recycling efforts.

Safe Kids

Duncan Chapel is proud to partner with Safe Kids Upstate, an organization whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. We support the following initiatives at our school:

• Safety Patrol Program
• Pedestrian Safety
• No Cell Phone Campaign
• Daily Safety Tips
• Bike Safety
• Fire Safety

Meet Duncan Chapel's Golden Fleet

Here are your 2012-2013 bus drivers. Parents, please give your drivers 10 minutes grace time prior to arrival in the morning and 10 minutes before the bus returns to the stop in the afternoon.

Change in Address?

Please let the office know if you have had a change in address by bringing in two proofs of your new address. Thank you.

New Car Tag System

We would like to thank you for all of your help with our new car rider dismissal procedures. Our goal is to make the new system safe and effective for everyone. Please see the Dismissal Reminders flyer for important reminders about procedures beginning on Tuesday, September 4th.

Meal Information

Parents applying for free or reduced price meals should submit one application per family. Parents should complete appropriate forms on the first day of school if they think their child qualifies for free or reduced price meals.