DeWitt Elementary School

DeWitt Elementary would like to recognize the following students for being named finalists in the Arkansas Peace Week art contest: Riley Dollar (3rd grade), Bailey Hitchcock (2nd grade), and Caroline West (2nd grade). Arkansas Peace Week is a program of activities with a mission to educate and promote peacemaking in our society and raise awareness of organizations working to build a lasting peace in Arkansas. Winners and finalists were recognized during Arkansas Peace Fest, a virtual event, held Sunday, September 26, 2021. The finalists’ names also appeared in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette the same day. The contest brought in over 400 entries statewide, and seven finalists were chosen in each of three categories. It is an honor for these students to be recognized for their work.

Don’t forget Tuesday Is Class Color Day/Twin Day - come dressed in your class colors or twin with a friend! Kindergarten - Everyone wear Blue or Twin with a Friend 1st Grade - Everyone wear Red or Twin with a Friend 2nd Grade - Everyone match your class or Twin with a Friend Ms. Terri's class - Orange Mrs. Kim's class - Gray Ms. Makenzie's class - Blue Mrs. JoAnna's class - Red 3rd Grade - Everyone wear gray or Twin with a Friend 4th Grade - Everyone wear Blue or Twin with a Friend 5th Grade - Everyone wear Red or Twin with a Friend

If you have a child at DES and you have't already signed up for a FREE KINSA Thermometer follow these directions to sign up for this amazing program!

The DES Flu Shot Clinic will be Thursday October 7, 2021. Information and forms are going home with students today. If you would like your child to receive their flu vaccination at school, please fill out and return the from to school. If you have any questions email DES Nurse Haley Smith - haleysmith@dewittdragons.net

Don’t forget tomorrow is Pajama Day!

Just a reminder to ALL 4th and 5th Graders - DES Camp Out Applications are due to Mrs. Lindsay Beaton by Monday September 27, 2021! You can either return the paper form that was sent home or fill out the online application form. All applicants will be notified by October 8th if they were or were not selected to attend this years camp out. Fall at DES means it is time to get ready for the DES 4th & 5th Grade Family Camp Out! The students have started their outdoor unit in PE and information packets and letters about the DES Camp Out are going home today! If your child would like the opportunity to attend the camp out, you will both need to fill out the application form and return it to Mrs. Lindsay Beaton at DES. There is an application form attached to the information letter, or you can find the google doc attached to the DES Website to submit virtually! Just remember, both the student and the parent/guardian need to fill out the form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5uhEg2wPo-rgyDa2atvEu6a3tdBGOOoB3u2TLSsD076g_3Q/viewform?usp=sf_link If you have any questions email Mrs. Lindsay at lbeaton@dewittdragons.net

Fall at DES means it is time to get ready for the DES 4th & 5th Grade Family Camp Out! The students have started their outdoor unit in PE and information packets and letters about the DES Camp Out are going home today! If your child would like the opportunity to attend the camp out, you will both need to fill out the application form and return it to Mrs. Lindsay Beaton at DES. There is an application form attached to the information letter, or you can find the google doc attached to the DES Website to submit virtually! Just remember, both the student and the parent/guardian need to fill out the form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5uhEg2wPo-rgyDa2atvEu6a3tdBGOOoB3u2TLSsD076g_3Q/viewform?usp=sf_link If you have any questions email Mrs. Lindsay at lbeaton@dewittdragons.net

Did you know that DES has a Space Scientist?!?! Last Tuesday, at the September DeWitt School Board meeting, 3rd Grader Anna Claire Beaton, was asked to attend as a District Student Spotlight. She recently had a science project sent to the International Space Station! The science project was launched early on Sunday August 29th on NASA's SpaceX 23rd Commercial Resupply Launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket and Cargo Dragon. The project, to see if ants can still tunnel in microgravity, was 1 of 3 projects selected in the national competition, Making Space for Girls. The competition was sponsored by Girl Scouts Citrus Council, Space Kids Global, ProXops and the US International Space Station Laboratory. Anna Claire was invited to Florida to attend the launch of her project into space as well as give a presentation about her experiment at NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. She also had the honor of representing the entire Making Space for Girls program during the NASA & SpaceX International Live News Coverage of the launch. She was interviewed by NASA Public Affairs Officer Megan Cruz about her science project and the Making Space for Girls competition. Watch Anna Claire speak about her project at the Kennedy Space Center (minute 6:32) with NASA Public Affairs Officer Megan Cruz :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3lRvk-zVc&t=623s DES is very proud of our very own Space Scientist!

The DES Running Club, Dragon Runners, is finally back after being off last year! DES Dragon Runners is open to DES Students in 2nd - 5th grade. There will be a required parent meeting on Tuesday September 21st, 2021 at 6:00 pm in the DES Cafeteria. For a child to participate in Running Club at DES, a parent/guardian/adult must be present at the meeting. More information is being sent home with students, so check their backpacks and homework folders. If you have any questions you can email Mrs. Lindsay Beaton - lbeaton@dewittdragons.net or Mrs. Alesha Jones - ajones@dewittdragons.net

September Dates to Remember: September 20th - Progress Reports sent home September 27th - October 1st - Homecoming Week! Monday September 27th - Pajama Day - wear your pajamas to school Tuesday September 28th - Class Color Day/Twin Day - come dressed in your class colors or twin with a friend! Kindergarten - Everyone wear Blue or Twin with a Friend 1st Grade - Everyone wear Red or Twin with a Friend 2nd Grade - Everyone match your class or Twin with a Friend Ms. Terri's class - Orange Mrs. Kim's class - Gray Ms. Makenzie's class - Blue Mrs. JoAnna's class - Red 3rd Grade - Everyone wear gray or Twin with a Friend 4th Grade - Everyone wear Blue or Twin with a Friend 5th Grade - Everyone wear Red or Twin with a Friend Wednesday September 29th - Beverly Hills vs Hillbillies Thursday September 30th - Mathletes vs Athletes Friday October 1st - Blue & Gold

Don't forget that tomorrow is picture day at DES!

Please don't forget that students need to bring a water bottle to school, as well as wear a mask to school daily.

The DeWitt ABC Preschool Program is still accepting applications for the current school year 2021-2022 - Contact Carrie Ashcraft, ABC Coordinator at 870-946-4651 or email carrieashcraft@dewittdragons.net for more information.

Each month, the RISE Team produces a newsletter to explore and promote the Science of Reading in Arkansas. Their goal is to provide a resource that is targeted and helpful to parents. The newsletter will cover topics such as read alouds, Scarborough's Rope, and oral language. After a parent friendly explanation, the newsletter offer lots of resources that parents will find helpful as they help their students on their reading journey. You can use the following link to find this months newsletter: https://sites.google.com/dawsonesc.com/risearkansas/rise-newsletter

DES Picture Day will be Wednesday, September 15th, 2021! Packets have been sent home with each student, so make sure to check their backpacks and homework folders. If you have any questions, contact DES at 870-946-4651

Friendly Car Line Reminders: Morning Procedures Front Car Line: Blue line only- grades K-3 and DMS and DHS siblings Please do not turn right off the highway into the parking lot. Enter through Liberty Drive from the fairgrounds or from the turning lane off the highway. Morning Procedures Back Car Line: Do not drop off students in the back until 7:40 due to the arrival of buses. Drop off out back is for 4th and 5th grade students and their siblings. Afternoon Procedures Front Car Line: Blue Line- Kindergarten, 1st grade, DMS/DHS siblings Yellow Line- 2nd and 3rd grade Please Do Not enter the parking lot until 2:50 due to PreK dismissal.

We want to extend our thanks to Unity Baptist Church of DeWitt, First Baptist Church of DeWitt and First United Methodist Church of DeWitt for providing lunches and goodies to our faculty and staff last week! We really appreciate the love and support you show us year in and year out at DES. THANK YOU!

On the first day of school for DES Preschool Students, up to two adults can walk their preschool child into the building and to their class. If you would like to walk your child into school, you will need to come anytime between 7:30 and 8:00 am, and enter through the Pre-School entrance. . Masks are required for the adult(s)who chose to walk their child into the school on the first day. On Tuesday, Pre-school students will follow the same morning arrival procedures as have been set with drop off at the door between 7:30 and 8:00.

On the first day of school for Kindergarten Students, 2 parents can walk their kindergarten child into the building and to their class. If you would like to walk your child into school, you will need to come at 8:15. Masks are required for the parent(s)who chose to walk their child into the school on the first day. All other students in grades 1-5 will need to be at school by our normal times: arrival no earlier than 7:40 with the tardy bell ringing at 8:05. On Tuesday, Kindergarten students will follow the same morning arrival procedures as all other students at DES.

Open House is tonight, August 12, 2021. We are so excited for the upcoming school year. The schedule for the DES Open House will be as follows: 5:00 - 6:00 Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th Grade 6:00 - 7:00 1st, 3rd & 5th Grade Students & Parents/Guardians should arrive at DES at the designated time. Students may be accompanied by two family members. Masks are REQUIRED for everyone entering the school building. Don't forget, we will also be taking orders for the new DES shirts tonight!