News from the Office

April showers bring May flowers!  What a beautiful spring we have had here in Dixon.  If you haven’t heard, Dixon School is Awesome!  Dixon School will be finishing up the final week of our new state testing for this year.  The new test is called the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) and will be taking the place of the CRT’s.  It was a shaky beginning but I think they might have it figured out. Thanks to all of you for your understanding and flexibility.  A special “Thanks!” to Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Smith for coordinating and making sure the technology worked smoothly.   Students worked hard over the past two and half weeks to complete the new test.  The state will be evaluating your students’ performance with the SBAC test this year officially.
 
We have all been encouraged by the results of our DIBELS test reading scores.  Our focus this year was on our new reading series called “Reading Wonders”.  We have had numerous professional development trainings with Mrs. Carrie Cole from Literacy First.  As a result our student test scores have soared.   Scores from the fall testing:  BenchMark-26%, Strategic –22%, and Intensive-52% (September 2014).  Spring Scores: Bench Mark -61%, Strategic-14%, and Intensive-25% (March 2015). Our final end- of- the- school- year goals are Bench Mark – 70%, Strategic-15%, and Intensive-15%. 
 
One of the incentive programs to improve reading skills was the “Face Reading Challenge” which you might have heard about.  The challenge was made that the students read 40,000 minutes by the end of the school year.  If the students reach that goal, I will shave my head in front of the all the students at the next assembly.  In March the students reached 20,000 minutes so I shaved my beard.  We are hoping to reach our final goal by the end of the school year.  Our goal was to motivate students to read more!!!  Keep up the great work!  You can do it.
 
Dixon School’s 21^st Century after School program will be ending on May 18^th.  The final activity for the 21^st Century afterschool program is scheduled to be robotics which is sure to be a hit.  Thank you, Mrs. Bethany White on all of the activities you planned throughout the year!  Thanks to all of our staff, students, and parents for making the 2014-2015 school year a great success!
 
Congratulations to the students that did not miss any days of school during our testing period!  Their reward will be a Lock-in at the school with food and fun activities planned.  The Lock-In will begin on May 8th at 6:00 pm and last until Saturday morning on May 9th.  Summer Activities are in the process of being planned.  Mrs. Murphy’s summer school is scheduled for the month of July with many fun activities planned including Math and Reading enhancement activities.  I’ve heard she also provides some great food!  Our final day of school will be held on Thursday, May 28^th starting with the Second Annual Egg drop competition and ending with the traditional lunch and activities at the Bison Range.  Students will be released at 12:00 after the lunch.
 
It has been my privilege to work with all of the parents, grandparents, guardians and the community of Dixon this past school year.  If you have any suggestions, comments or ideas that you think would helpful to enhance the educational system of the Dixon School please share them with us.  Your suggestions, comments and ideas will be brought the School Wide Improvement Team meeting and considered for implementation.  The Team meeting will be held in the fall on October 6^th from 5:30-6:30 before the regular school board meeting.  Everyone is welcome!
If you have any questions or would like to stop by, my door is always open.  I would be grateful for the visit or you could call me at 246-3566.
 
Sincerely,
Kelly Moore
Dixon School Principal
 
 

KARLA MCPHERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
 
 
REQUIREMENTS: 
 
--Must have attended Dixon Elementary School for 2 consecutive years and graduated from the Dixon Elementary School 8th grade within the last 10 years.
 
--Must be going on to an institution of higher education.
 
--Must write a 1 to 2 page paper of why you would like the scholarship and what your future career plans are. If you don't have enough time to write this type of motivational paper, we suggest you buy term papers online via https://top-papers.com/buy-term-papers-online/ and get creative and unique ideas for other introductory papers. You will be able to use individual resources to prepare for more important stages of the admissions campaign and successfully pass the interview for the scholarship program.
 
--Reapplication within these guidelines is acceptable.
 
--One copy of high school and/or college transcript is required.
 
 
FINANCIAL:
 
--Money will be given directly to institute of higher learning upon notice of registration.
 
--Scholarship amount may vary from year to year contingent on funding.
 
--An alternate will be selected in the event the recipient cannot fulfill the scholarship  requirements.
 
 
SELECTION: 
 
--The selection committee will be made up of three staff members of Dixon Elementary.
 
 
DEADLINES:
 
--Applications must be received by June 1, 2015
 
 
CONTACT:              Dixon Elementary School