We missed quite a few students due to runny noses and coughs this week. Thanks to parents for keeping your sick children at home; we are also working hard to prevent the spreading of illness here at school. Keeping sick children away from others is the best way to limit illness in a social setting. We hope to see everyone return to health and school soon.
Though the weather remains cold, we will continue to spend time outdoors every day. Please be sure your child is prepared with waterproof gloves or mittens, warm coat and snow boots. To ensure that your child stays comfortable all day, please have one or two COMPLETE extra sets of clothing at school. Even with good outdoor gear, kids may become wet and require a change of clothes. A pair of shoes specifically for inside use is also helpful as boots get wet and are cumbersome for all day use. These are essential items for your child’s well-being.
Reminder concerning weather delays and cancellations. We follow the protocol of Santa Fe Public Schools. Check their website, sfps.info, or ours, dragonflyschool.com, for updates. You may also call 467-3541 for information.
DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 9:30: ICE AGE PLAY by the Saplings to be performed for our younger classes.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15: PAJAMA DAY! Don’t bother getting dressed for school, but do remember your warm outerwear and boots since we will play outside as usual.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 6-8PM: BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING RESCHEDULED. Childcare available with RSVP. The meeting this month will be at Nancy Woodward’s house, 1435 Santa Cruz Drive. Please let Stephanie know (reply to this email) if you plan to attend.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 10:30-NOON: SAPLINGS PERFORM POETRY AT SIERRA VISTA SENIOR CENTER as part of the Alzheimers Poetry Project
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 10-NOON: THE NIGHT TREE. The entire school will read this classic story by Eve Bunting, then prepare and deliver food for the animals in our neighborhood. Extra hands welcome to be covered in peanut butter and birdseed! Parents who would like to attend are also welcome to join us for lunch.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18-FRIDAY, JANUARY 1: WINTER BREAK. NO SCHOOL
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25: JANUARY TUITION DUE. Please leave your tuition with the office prior to the break, if possible. (You may post-date a check for December 25th.) You may also rely on the postal service to get it to us in time. If you require an alternate plan due to the timing of our break, please contact Nancy, nancy@dragonflyschool.com.
Happy Winter!
Dear Families,
We kindly ask you to keep your child at home if he/she exhibits signs of contagion:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Impetigo (rash caused by strep or staph)
Headache
Sore throat
Persistent cough
Yellow/greenish nasal discharge
Redness, drainage or discharge from eyes
Elevated temperature
Infectious rash (chicken pox, measles)
Scabies, head lice or other infestation
We try to let parents know when something serious is going around. If your child has something contagious, please let us know so that we can inform other parents of what to watch for.
Your child should be able to return to school with your physician’s approval 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun or 24 hours after the child’s temperature has returned to normal.
Please remember that individual hygiene practices can make or break it for us all. Thank you for your help.
If a Child Gets Sick at School
When a child becomes ill at school, i.e., temperature of 100 degrees or more, headache or stomachache, etc. parents will be notified and asked to pick up the child as soon as possible. We will make them comfortable and provide supervision until a parent can pick up. If we call you, please come as soon as possible, because your child will want to be home.
Dear Family Members and Friends of Dragonfly School,
Dragonfly School opened its doors in the summer of 2007 as a preschool. Since then many families have joined Dragonfly, which now includes elementary students through second grade. Every family contributes to the wonderful mosaic of our school community. Our thanks to each of you. We have had tremendous success in creating a community of learners who are intelligent, capable, and kind, and in finding teachers who are committed, creative, and talented. Now our priority is to ensure the future growth of our school as we realize our mission to integrate culture, creativity, community and ecology. In order to reach this goal, we need your help. This letter marks the beginning of our third Annual Giving Campaign.
This campaign will be focused on raising funds for the following priorities, which were established by our directors and our board: continued development of our curriculum and programs; tuition assistance; staff healthcare & training; and building a long-term foundation for the school by establishing an endowment.
Annual Giving Campaigns are voluntary fundraisers where donations are tax-deductible (to the extent provided by law). We intend to reach out to our students’ parents, family members, and friends: the school’s own ‘family’, but we will be seeking support from other parties, foundations, and commercial businesses as well. Members of the broader Santa Fe community will be involved in our efforts throughout the year, such as the Spring Fair in May 2010. We have also received grants from the McCune Foundation for our butterfly garden and the PNM Foundation for our watershed education model and Ancient Peoples of New Mexico curriculum. Projects like these support the school’s mission to include nature and science education, and we continue to apply for similar grant funding.
In addition, Dragonfly School increases the value and positive impact of the contributions we receive through our commitment to community service. We are a Roots and Shoots partner (Jane Goodall’s foundation) and official environmental stewards of a reach of the Santa Fe River (Adopt the River Program).
During the last two years Dragonfly School performed several community service projects. Out students, parents and staff have:
• Helped clean up the orchard at The Community Farm and delivered surplus apples and pears to a local food bank.
• Donated winter clothing to Esperanza Shelter for battered families.
• Beautified our designated reach of the Santa Fe River by regularly removing rubbish.
• Planted a butterfly garden including flowers, shrubs and a tree along the river walk.
• Delivered homemade dog biscuits to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and donated $700 to the shelter from the sale of student artwork.
• Performed poetry and songs for the Sierra Vista Residence and Open Hands senior program through the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project.
Fifty students and their families will benefit directly from your contribution. Gifts of any amount are very welcome. We hope you will consider contributing to Dragonfly School and help us make it a great new Santa Fe institution!
As you make your pledge to Dragonfly School this year, please think of friends and relatives who might be interested in supporting us as well. Take a moment to list their names on the back of the form so we may contact them.
Please approach one of our Directors or a member of the Board, if you have specific questions. We accept cash, checks, corporate gifts, stock, or pledges (for payments to be made by the end of the school year).
We know that family budgets are tight, so this in not an easy time to ask for donations, or to give them. But there is also no better cause. The seeds we plant today will grow to be the trees that shade the world our children will enjoy.
Stephanie Smith Nancy Woodward
Director, Dragonfly School Director, Dragonfly School