Our BooHoo-WooHoo Breakfast was held on September 5. Thank you to all who attended or stopped in to say hello. We saw lots of new faces! If you were unable to attend, here’s the recap:
Diven School Organization
The Diven School Organization (DSO) is our volunteer group for those who are interested in supporting the school through donations of time, supplies, or money. The DSO meets once a month to discuss business and planning, and more often to do play dates and school events. Anyone is welcome to join the DSO, and there is no cost to join. Membership forms are available in your Wednesday folders and in the lobby at the FCOC board. They can be returned to your child’s teacher. Jackie Hauver is the DSO President and can be reached at divendolphins@gmail.com. Upcoming meetings and volunteer opportunities are available on the Calendar.
Family & Community Outreach Coordinator
The Family & Community Outreach Coordinator (FCOC), formerly the Parent Partner, is me, Liz Zilinski. I’m here to help connect you to resources and opportunities that will strengthen your connection to our school community and improve your child’s success within our school district.
Our district is part of a Community Schools initiative. Think of Diven Elementary as the headquarters for your needs: emotional, physical, and social. We want our families to feel connected and supported! If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to know how you can be more involved at the school, please reach out. My e-mail is ezilinski@gstcontractors.com, and I’m available in my office, C101, Monday – Friday from 8am – 12pm or by appointment. Appointments are appreciated, but not required.
Attendance Matters Initiative
This year we are doing a strong push towards increased attendance. Our surveys and research last year revealed that our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students miss more school than any other grade. Here are the common reasons, and why we want your little ones at school:
My child doesn’t want to go to school and is having a tantrum. I’m doing you a favor by keeping him/her home.
This is very common–I have actually done this when my oldest was in pre-kindergarten before I realized the importance of good attendance! Please drop off your child even if they are having a bad morning. Many are surprised at just how quickly our Diven team can turn frowns upside down. If you’d like, most teachers are able to update you on your child’s progress after drop-off. It’s usually just a few minutes after you depart that your child calms down and gets into the classroom routine. Bringing your child to school when they are healthy, even if they are having a bad morning, sets an expectation that school is a place we have to go as long as we are healthy, which is true.
I didn’t have time to give my child breakfast.
We have free breakfast for all of our students! If you’re running late, bring them here and let us feed them. We ask the children if they have eaten breakfast, and if not, they are sent right to the cafeteria to get those bellies full.
My child had a stomach or headache.
This is sometimes a manifestation of anxiety. Unless your child is vomiting, feverish, or has diarrhea, please send them in. If anxiety is becoming a burden, we have on-site social workers and a team of well-trained staff members who want to help your child LOVE school. Ask us for help, and we will help. 🙂