Good evening DYI families,
Hopefully this is not a jinx, but I think the seemingly longest winter is over. The snow was knee high in many areas of our field so it still may be a week before we can get out there for recess so please continue to have more than crocs and socks for recess. Even though it has been slushy, the students have enjoyed the giant mountain of snow and dirt (pictured below) and are making the best out of the long winter. We are just thrilled to be outside.
Coming out of the vacation and blizzard, it took everyone a couple of days to hit their stride. Classrooms are buzzing again with learning and it is great to be back in our school community. As we head into March we are focusing on Reading through our March Madness contest and on math fluency through our Math Bowl. These are important skills for all of our students and perhaps not the worst thing to review as we will be moving into MCAS tests the week of April 6.
If you follow us on Instagram, you will have noticed that our music department has been quite busy with three different performances. We had some fiddlers participate in a St. Patrick's Day themed performance at the Yarmouth Senior Center on March 6, the DYI band performed at the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 7 and the DYI band also performed at the Providence Bruins on March 8. We are very proud of our students for their efforts and we thank our families for their support. Also a big shout out to S & J Exco for pulling us through the parade!
Lastly, if there are changes to dates for school events, we will let you know through various ParentSquare posts and through our newsletter. As always, thank you for your support and cross your fingers for more sunshine to get rid of the snow!
Sincerely,
Mr. Blake, Dr. Greeson, Mrs. Cleary |
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Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our school’s report card is available at 2025 Report Card. Please read the full letter here:
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We want our students to be in school each and every day because we know that school attendance leads to better academic and social outcomes! And we also know that our school community is better when we are all at school together! We are aware that there are times that students will be sick, but we also know that there are sometimes extenuating circumstances for a student being absent. Dr. Smith provided some great suggestions in his newsletter. We would like to reiterate this information to our DYI families.
From Dr. Smith's February 6th Newsletter:
- "Develop back up plans for getting your student to school. If you can’t take them to school, see who else can give them a ride, or form a “walking school bus” to walk to school or the school bus stop with other families.
- If your student gets sick or you are not sure whether to keep them home or send them to school, talk to your child’s medical provider or the school nurse for advice.
- Look for signs of stress or anxiety. If you feel that anxiety or stress is playing a role, talk to your student’s teacher, the school nurse or counselor, or your medical provider about how best to support your child.
- Promote healthy habits. Encourage hand washing, good sleep, healthy meals, daily exercise and plenty of fluids.
- Prevent the spread of germs. Remind children not to share cups or utensils with others.
- Dress your student for the cold weather. If you need help with coats, hats, or gloves, please call your child's school and ask to speak with a counselor or social worker.
- Stay connected if your student must be home. If illness keeps your child out for more than a day or two, contact your child’s teacher for learning materials so they don’t fall behind."
Linked below is Attendance Policy for more information. You can also find more about attendance in the DYIS Family Handbook on page 7.
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Due to the six snow days we have had this year, the last day of the school year will now be June 25th. |
In math, 4A is working on comparing fractions and building a deeper understanding of how they relate to one another. In literacy, students have been learning about biographies, strengthening their paragraph writing skills, and practicing formal letter writing. In science, we are exploring energy transfer and have been conducting some fun and engaging labs to bring our learning to life |
In STEM, students are learning all about properties of matter and chemical reactions! We started off by learning about the different states of matter through hands-on experimenting and online simulations. Students then used what they learned about matter as crime scene investigators, where they used properties of different materials to solve a mystery. We finished off the unit by learning about mechanical testing and the importance of mechanical engineers. They also definitely enjoyed getting messy and learning about non-Newtonian fluids like Oobleck and slime! |
In recent weeks, the students have been engaging in the task of dividing multi-digit numbers by single-digit numbers. This process has been enhanced through the use of place value drawings, which offer a visual representation of the division process and help students internalize the mathematical concepts involved. By breaking down larger numbers into manageable parts, students are gaining a deeper understanding of division and the relationships between numbers. |
This week in Library class we are discussing copyright — what it means, why it exists, and how it protects the intellectual property of artists from a variety of domains. Students are learning about copyright law, how copying work without permission is not just against the rules, but unfair to the person who created it. In grade five we take the discussion further as we practice giving credit using MLA formatting, learn the difference between trademarks, patents and as we become responsible digital citizens! |
The DYI Band proudly represented our school at the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Yarmouth on Saturday, March 7th! Despite the chilly weather, our talented student musicians braved the cold with high spirits, dressed in festive green, white, and orange. Along the parade route, they entertained the crowd by performing some of their favorite songs, including “Just Dance” and “Happy.” We would like to extend a special thank you to S & J Exco, Inc. for generously trailering our students in the parade and helping ensure everyone traveled safely. We are also incredibly grateful to Mrs. Capparella for organizing this wonderful opportunity for our students and families to showcase the DYI Band and celebrate together as a community. |
This is an example of a sentence to begin a paragraphThe DYI Band had a busy and exciting weekend! In addition to their parade performance, the band also took the stage at the Providence Bruins hockey game on Sunday, March 8th. Our talented students proudly represented Dennis-Yarmouth Intermediate School, bringing energy, school spirit, and great music to entertain the crowd. Their performance was a wonderful way to showcase the hard work and dedication of our young musicians. A special thank you to Mrs. Capparella for organizing this fantastic opportunity for our students to represent our school with joy and pride. It was truly a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved!. |
Click HERE for information about the Yearbook Cover Contest as well as the form. This is a yearly tradition and it is always exciting to see one student with their artwork on the cover of the Yearbook! |
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We are kicking off March with our own book tournament! Every class in grades 4 and 5 will enjoy a new book each day and vote for their favorite. After each vote, the results will be tallied and displayed on our Tournament grid in the hallway. The final favorite will be revealed on March 31st! We are all excited to share these wonderful stories with you! Each paired selection has common themes that we hope you can discover together! |
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Here are pictures of our incredible January Student of the Month recipients! We are so proud of these students following the Dolphin Way consistently or making improvements on following the Dolphin Way!
Please note that the next Student of the Month will be awarded for the month of March and abbreviated month of February combined!
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Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) used to be a big initiative in a lot of school districts a couple of decades ago. Classes or schools would dedicate 15-30 minutes to just read. Everyone in the school would participate. It was incredibly important and influential for students to see the staff pull out a book to read for the sheer enjoyment of it. This past week was Read Across America Week. With last week's historic storm, we did not do the planning we had meant to, but this afternoon at 2:00, DYI Dropped Everything and Read!! The halls were silent as students and staff settled in for 15 minutes of silent reading! |
Each month, we focus on a different social-emotional skill. This month, we are focused on Agency. This is such an important life-long skill for our students to develop! Agency Agency means you believe you can make a difference. You take ownership of your choices, your learning, and your actions. You understand that your voice matters and that you have the power to grow, improve, and positively impact others. Some Sample Agency Skills: - Taking responsibility for your actions and learning from mistakes
- Setting goals for yourself and working hard to achieve them
- Speaking up respectfully when you have an idea, question, or concern
- Making positive choices even when no one is watching
- Asking for help when you need it and advocating for yourself
- Staying motivated and not giving up when something feels challenging
- Reflecting on your work and thinking about how you can improve
- Using your strengths to help make your classroom and school a better place
When students develop agency, they begin to see themselves as capable learners and leaders. They understand that their effort, attitude, and decisions truly matter. At DYIS, we are proud to empower our Dolphins to take ownership, use their voice, and believe in their ability to shape their future! |
At DYIS, we follow the PODS expectations:
Practice Responsibility Offer Respect Demonstrate Kindness Stay Safe
To help reinforce Practice Responsibility, Mrs. Cleary and Dr. Greeson will begin hosting a Work Refusal Dolphin Time block once each week. If a student is consistently not completing their classwork during the week, their teacher may send them to this block to finish the assignments. Students will receive full credit for all completed work.
If a student is sent to the Work Refusal RTI block three times within a six-week period, Mrs. Cleary or Dr. Greeson will contact families, and the student will be required to stay after school to complete their work.
The good news is that this rarely happens—most students never need to attend, and those who do typically only go once! |
The DYI Yearbook is still for sale! This is a great way to remember the special days students have while at DYI. Ms. Becca does a fantastic job being inclusive of all or most students when choosing pictures for the yearbook...and students will soon have the opportunity to design the cover! Each year, one student's art work is selected to be the cover of the yearbook, be on the look-out for more information!
So, who doesn't want a DYI Yearbook? Click the link to see how to order a great keepsake for the 25-26 school year! Order deadline is May 15th! |
Can anyone answer this question? Hmmm... |
Tuesday March 10th- Parent Teacher Conferences- 1/2 Day Thursday March 12th- Parent Teacher Conferences- 1/2 Day Tuesday, March 17th- Blake Planaterium - Renzi/Micchice Wednesday, March 18th- Blake Planaterium- Hill/Johnson (Heisner) Wednesday, March 18th- PTO Meeting @ 6:00 Tuesday, March 24th- Blake Planaterium- Delcourt/Studley/Sheehan Tuesday, March 31st- Blake Planaterium- Dunn/Parker (Hodge) |
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The deadline has passed but there are roster spots open for boys and girls in some grade levels. Head to their website for more information. |
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