Your Dieringer News- October

​ ​ Your Dieringer Schools Family and Community Newsletter October 14, 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Welcome to this month's edition of Your Dieringer Schools, our new district newsletter. We are excited to share the latest happenings and updates from our school community to keep you informed and engaged. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ From Our Acting Superintendent ​ Dear Families and Community Members, It is hard to believe we have already completed 6 weeks in this new school year! Teachers and students have set their routine and our schools are busy each day with their learning activities. In addition to learning, it has been so much fun to participate in the NTMS Color Run and attend both the LTES and DHES walk-a-thons. A HUGE thank you to our PTA and PTSA for such wonderful activities. Additionally, I had the pleasure of attending part of 6th grade camp and the NTMS character assembly last week. Great things are happening around the district! Next week, our teachers have a professional day to look at your student's data and to start preparations for parent conferences, which are coming up in November. Thank you for the many ways you support your students and our schools! Warm regards, Dr. Paula Dawson ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ National Principal Month ​ Did you know that October is National Principal Month? National Principals Month is celebrated in October to recognize the important role that principals play in schools. Principals are often behind the scenes, but they have a big impact on the educational experience of students. They set the academic tone, inspire teachers and staff, and create a positive school culture.  I can say without a doubt that Dieringer has four of the finest building administrators in the state! Next time you are in the building, please be sure to thank Mr. Cordell, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Uberti and Mr. Borden for the outstanding work they do for our students, staff, families, and our greater Lake Tapps community! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank You for Calling ​ When you call the District office you will now be greeted with a menu of phone options, so you can reach your desired department with just the push of a button! This means you will not need to be placed on hold and your call will be directed immediately to the person or department you are trying to call. We look forward to talking with you soon! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Events ​ Mark your calendars for these events: 10/15 UNITY Day- everyone wear orange 10/21 NO School ALL- Teacher Professional Collaboration Day 10/22 Preschool field trip 10/28 October School Board Meeting 10/29 LTES and DHES Picture retake day 10/31 LTES and DHES Black and Orange Day 11/1 NTMS Pink Day! 11/5 VOTING Day 11/6 Stars and Stripes Day - Veterans Day Assemblies 11/7 No School Elementary Only- LTES and DHES Conference Day 11/11 No School ALL- Veterans Day Please find all school activity calendars here ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Election Day is November 5th ​ Just a reminder that Tuesday, November 5th is election day for the nation. There are many important elections and measures on the ballot this year. Your voice matters. Be sure to vote! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact info ​ If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following methods: 253-862-2537 pdawson@dieringer.wednet.edu https://www.dieringer.wednet.edu/ ​ ​ ​

Monday, Oct 14 2024

School Safety

​ ​ Your Dieringer Schools Family and Community Newsletter September 25, 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year ​ Welcome to this month's edition of Your Dieringer Schools, our new district newsletter. We're excited to share the latest happenings and updates from our school community to keep you informed and engaged. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Meet Dr. Dawson, our Acting Superintendent ​ It is my sincere honor to lead the district as the Acting Superintendent for the 2024-25 School Year. I came to Dieringer in January to serve as the Executive Director of Student Services and I immediately knew it was a special place, with rigorous standards and caring professionals. When asked to serve as this year’s superintendent, it was very easy to agree to lead and guide the over 90 classroom teachers and more than 110 other staff who supervise, feed, transport, and care for our students, families, and community. Traditions run deep in Dieringer, with almost a third of our teachers having more than 20 years of teaching experience, many of them only in Dieringer!  My family has lived in the greater Puyallup area for the past 22 years, so my previous work has been in districts along the 512 corridor, both in the Franklin Pierce School District and Clover Park School District, where I have served as an elementary teacher for 9 years and as a school administrator for the past 13 years. My husband, Paul, is a pastor in the Puyallup area. Together we have three adult children who live in Tacoma, Port Orchard, and the Beaverton, Oregon area. We are blessed to have two sweet grandchildren, who remind me of my personal mission to this work every day. I recognize the importance of strong partnerships between our schools, families, and the wider community. Together, we can create a supportive network that empowers our students to achieve their dreams. I encourage you to get involved, whether through volunteering, attending school events, or participating in our various parent and community groups. I welcome your email, calls, and visits, as we work together to strengthen our services to our students. Thank you for being part of the Dieringer School District community. Together, we will continue to build a bright and successful future for all our students! Warm regards, Dr. Paula Dawson ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Important Safety Information ​ Student and staff safety is of utmost importance in Dieringer. Recently there has been an increase in schools in the South Puget Sound area receiving school threats on social media. Although we have not received these threats in Dieringer, we are mindful of threats in our neighboring districts. We routinely share information as districts and we are proactive in monitoring social media when these issues arise. As families, we ask that your talk with your students about safety at school, keeping in mind your child's age and ability to process this uncomfortable reality. The message we would like you to share is IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Specifically, if students hear information from others, see a stranger, or just feel that something is wrong, we want them to tell a trusted adult, whether it's a bus driver, teacher, or adult on the playground. Our staff is trained to also watch for and respond to safety issues. Together, we will work to keep all of our students and staff safe. If you have questions about safety, feel free to reach out to your child's teacher, principal, or Dr. Dawson. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Events ​ Mark your calendars for these events: 9/25 LTES Curriculum Night 9/26 DHES Kindergarten Curriculum Night 9/27 NTMS Pink Day 9/27 PTA Fall Carnival at NTMS 9/30 School Board Meeting 10/2-10/3 NTMS 6th Grade Outdoor Education Camp 10/2 LTES Walk-a-thon 10/3 DHES Walk-a-thon Please find all school activity calendars here ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ More School Information Coming in October ​ Your Dieringer Schools will be a monthly newsletter shared through Parent Square, and it will be filled with district, school, and community information. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact info ​ If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following methods: 253-862-2537 pdawson@dieringer.wednet.edu https://www.dieringer.wednet.edu/ ​ ​ ​

Wednesday, Sep 25 2024

Superintendent Transition Announcement

Dieringer Community, We want to share a significant upcoming transition within our school district. After five years of service as Superintendent of the Dieringer School District, Michael Farmer has accepted a new position as Chief of Schools in the Peninsula School District. During his tenure, Superintendent Farmer navigated the challenges of online learning during a pandemic, contributed to the development of our strategic plan, and facilitated crucial changes in our curriculum - particularly in reading and science. We extend our thanks to Superintendent Farmer for his dedication to our community and wish him success in his new role; he will remain in Dieringer through the end of the school year and is committed to helping make a superintendent change as seamless as possible. As we move forward, the Dieringer School Board recognizes the inherent uncertainty that comes with transitions, particularly within close-knit communities like ours with strong traditions. We understand the significance of this change, especially in the environment where our children spend a considerable amount of their time. In the coming days, our school board will engage in discussions with district leaders to gather input, address concerns, and evaluate available resources. We are committed to transparency and will ensure that all decisions align with the values outlined in our strategic plan, placing student learning at the forefront and valuing the voices of our knowledgeable staff and school community. We pledge to keep you informed every step of the way, utilizing all available communication channels.  Change, when approached thoughtfully, can serve as a catalyst for growth. We appreciate your support and look forward to working together as we strive to uphold our commitment to excellence in education. Michael Farmer & the Dieringer School Board

Tuesday, Apr 09 2024

Dieringer School District Budget Update

Good evening Dieringer families, Lately, there has been a lot of information in the news about school funding and budget shortfalls, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share some specifics about Dieringer.  Each year, when spring rolls around, we turn our focus to the upcoming school year.  This year, we started planning for the budget for the 2024 - 2025 school year a little earlier than usual, as funding from our state has not kept up with the actual costs of operating schools today. While we have built up a healthy fund balance that acts as our savings account, the current budget and spending will not be sustainable. There are several factors impacting the district’s bottom line. First, our enrollment has been flat and actually declined from serving 1500 students five years ago to just over 1400 today. Direinger has always been prudent with how funds are spent. At the current spending rate, we are slated to spend around 2 million out of our fund balance this year; with no changes, we would exhaust the fund balance by the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year. This is a common reality in many Washington school districts. The legislature fully funds an inadequate model that does not fund enough positions to run schools as they need to be and should be. Some examples are: Dieringer is funded for 82 certificated teachers, and we have 102. Elementary schools are funded for nurses two days a week, and the middle school is funded for nurses three days a week. We have 3.2 staff dedicated to nursing to fulfill the needs of our students. The state funds only four substitute days per funded (certificated) teacher. It funds NO classified substitutes; these are our paraeducators, office staff, kitchen staff, etc. Lastly, special education is considered basic education and is still not fully funded. We spend, on average, $1 million out of our levy each year to accommodate this gap. Currently, our district is healthy compared to many other districts around the state and has time to address these funding issues. In comparison there are several districts already in binding conditions, which means the Office of the Superintendent of Public Operation takes over a school district’s finances. There could be as many as two dozen in the coming years. We convened a budget committee this year that made recommendations to the school board, and we are working to put those recommendations into action this year and next.  Their message was clear: do what we can to save money now without impacting students, instruction, and the extra things that make Dieringer great and unique. They also recommended we return to a past practice for Dieringer, which is accepting more students from other neighboring school districts to boost enrollment back to pre-pandemic levels and consequently increase funding.  This will align spending and staffing with our enrollment. You may have seen signs and/or online promotional information about that already.   With that direction, we will continue to develop a budget that reflects the foundations and priorities of our strategic plan and responsibly uses taxpayer money to educate children effectively. Thank you, Michael Farmer Superintendent [Wednesday, Apr 3 at 3:45 PM] In case you missed it, here is our recent District School Budget Update.

Saturday, Mar 23 2024

Open Enrollment for Next Year

Dear Families, We are excited to announce that our schools are now accepting applications for enrollment for the upcoming 24-25 academic year for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. We are also accepting out-of-district waivers for families outside our school district. If your child will be turning 5 years old by August 31st, they are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten for the next school year. Begin the enrollment process  here . Please don't hesitate to reach out to us for more information or to begin the enrollment process. Visit our website at  www.dieringer.wednet.edu/enrollment . We look forward to welcoming new students and families to our school!

Thursday, Mar 21 2024

Fall 2023 Newsletter

FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER Dear Dieringer Families, I hope that you are enjoying the fall season and that you had Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends. As the seasons change and we round into winter, I want to share some important updates and announcements with you about our elementary grade configuration, our district’s budget, potential inclement weather, assessment results from last school year, and some upcoming events. RECONFIGURATION I am pleased to inform you that at the November 20th board meeting, a significant decision was made that may already be known to some of you. The board has approved a reconfiguration, set to take place no earlier than the fall of 2026. In the interim, there is a comprehensive planning process underway to ensure that the transition is executed thoughtfully and in the best interest of our students, staff, and families. We acknowledge that the reconfiguration has been a difficult and emotional topic for many members of our community, and we want to emphasize that arriving at this decision was not taken lightly. Ultimately, the board and I believe that this move has the potential to enhance Dieringer's educational environment, offering smoother transitions for our youngest learners. We understand that the current configuration has played a crucial role in making Dieringer special over the years, contributing to our success in supporting students within this model. Despite the challenges posed by change, we are excited about the opportunities a new configuration will bring to our students, parents, and staff in the future.  As we embark on this journey, we encourage you to stay informed by keeping an eye out for more details in the coming months. We are committed to developing a well-thought-out plan and timeline that ensures a seamless and positive experience for everyone involved. BUDGET COMMITTEE The Dieringer School District is actively engaged in proactive budget planning efforts due to a decline in revenues and reduced enrollment over recent years, and there is still time to complete our budget survey sent before Thanksgiving. Since reaching a peak in the 2019-20 academic year, the district has experienced a decrease in student enrollment by approximately 125 students. This decline is expected to continue in the near future, influenced by low birth rates in Pierce County and challenges related to housing affordability, a trend being observed in school districts nationwide. In addition to the enrollment decline, the District is addressing inflationary increases in expenditures. Faced with diminishing resources, we recognize the necessity to rebalance our budget and live within our means. Early indicators for the 2024-25 fiscal year suggest a significant overspending of estimated available revenue and a depletion of our fund balance, akin to a "savings account." To counter this, measures will be taken to reduce expenditures, ensuring a balanced budget and sufficient fund balance for unforeseen expenses. To tackle this financial challenge, the District is developing both short- and long-term plans to realign revenue and expenditures, aiming to enter the upcoming school year(s) in a financially stable position. Seeking input from our school district and community members, we invite you to share your priorities through a budget priority survey. Your feedback will guide the planning process to create a budget aligned with the values and vision of our community. In addition to completing the survey, the District is forming a Budget Committee comprised of district administrators, staff, parents, and community members. The committee will assess the district's financial situation, analyze budget priorities, and provide recommendations to the board. Meetings are scheduled for December 4th, January 9th, January 18th, and possibly January 22nd, from 5:00 to 7:00. If you are interested, available, and willing to participate in the budget planning process, please indicate so when completing the survey. Access the survey using this  link , and we appreciate your valuable input, and thank you for your collaboration in this important process. INCLEMENT WEATHER As we anticipate the arrival of snowflakes in the forecast, it's time for our annual review of our procedures for dealing with inclement weather. We recognize that the decision to open or close schools during challenging weather conditions significantly impacts families, our foremost concern is the safety of our students and staff. HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION? Please be aware that the decision to open or close schools in adverse weather is the culmination of taking into account many factors: Information on road conditions from transportation staff, local weather reports, and law enforcement, with a focus on the most hazardous roads in the district. The accumulation of snow and ice, ongoing precipitation, and building conditions, including electricity, heat, and internet access. Parking lot conditions, as reported by maintenance and custodial staff responsible for clearing and treating school sites. Temperature and wind chill, particularly concerning students waiting outside for the bus. Coordination with neighboring school districts to align decisions. Weather predictions, although we aim to rely on real-time data, we do receive updates from reputable sources during weather events. WHO MAKES THE DECISION? As the superintendent of schools, I am responsible for the final decision, taking into account recommendations from the Director of Operations. HOW WILL YOU BE NOTIFIED? Notifications will be sent via ParentSquare to all current households. Information on school delays or closures will also be shared with local radio and television stations, posted on the district website, and distributed through our social media channels. WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE? To ensure timely communication, the decision is made by 5:00 am or earlier. The process often commences at 3:00 am or the night before, involving a thorough assessment of road conditions by myself, the Director of Operations, and other staff. REMOTE/VIRTUAL LEARNING POSSIBILITY In certain circumstances, we may opt for remote/virtual learning instead of closing schools, considering factors such as the severity and duration of the weather event. Logistics, including device availability and teachers' ability to instruct remotely, also influence this decision. TRANSPORTATION During icy or snowy conditions, buses may operate on designated snow routes. Information on school closures, snow routes, and delays can be found on the transportation  website . CLOSURE DURING THE DAY If conditions worsen during the school day, we may call for an early dismissal, providing ample notice to parents. While we strive for the best decisions in these situations, we acknowledge that no decision is perfect. If, based on current weather conditions, you believe it's unsafe for your child to attend school, please use your best judgment. We appreciate your understanding of this process and share our commitment to the safety and security of all our students. Stay safe this season! ASSESSMENT RESULTS We are pleased to share with you the results of the state assessments that our students took last spring. Our students performed well and showed growth in their academic skills and knowledge. Our district’s overall proficiency rates in English language arts, math, and science were above the state average. We are proud of our students and staff for their hard work and dedication. We will use the assessment results to inform our instruction, intervention, and enrichment programs and to support our students’ learning needs and goals. You can find more information about our assessment results  here . THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS We would also like to thank you for participating in our Veterans Day celebrations and for honoring our veterans and service members. Each school hosted an assembly that recognized and appreciated the sacrifices and contributions of our veterans and service members. We are grateful for their service and we are proud to be part of a community that values and supports them.  Check out this  video   that captures a few of the highlights from our celebrations. AARON GOLUB Aaron Golub will be speaking on January 5th at 6:00 at Dieringer Heights, and the community is invited. Aaron Golub is a motivational speaker and the first legally blind college football player. Aaron will share his inspiring story of overcoming adversity and achieving his dreams. He will also talk about the importance of resilience, perseverance, and positive mindset. Aaron’s message is relevant and powerful for students and adults alike. We invite you to join us for this special event and to learn from Aaron’s experience and wisdom.  Thank you for reading our fall newsletter and for staying connected with our district. We appreciate your involvement and support and we hope to see you at our upcoming events. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. Sincerely, Dieringer School District

Tuesday, Nov 28 2023

Welcome to a New School Year

Dieringer School District A Message from the Superintendent Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year! Our district staff has been diligently working for the past couple of weeks, ensuring everything is ready for students on Tuesday. We are excited to see your children and extend a warm welcome to our new students and kindergarteners who are joining us for the very first time.  As we embark on this new year, many exciting developments will make this year genuinely exceptional. One significant highlight is the introduction of our brand-new reading curriculum designed for students in grades K through 5. This curriculum is designed to support all students in their reading journey, nurturing their love for learning and literacy. In our continuous efforts to enhance communication and keep you well-informed, we are thrilled to introduce ParentSquare as our latest communication tool. ParentSquare will prove invaluable in maintaining an open and effective line of communication between you, our dedicated teachers, and the entire school community. More details about this exciting platform are below. Additionally, there are some exciting changes on the horizon for our school meals. We've made important investments in our kitchen staff, adding more personnel to each school's kitchen. This means we will be able to provide a wider variety of nutritious and "home-cooked" meals throughout the school year. We are committed to ensuring that your children have access to not only delicious but also nourishing meals to support their overall well-being. With these exciting developments, we are confident that this school year will be a fantastic experience for all our students, parents, and staff. Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, and we look forward to creating a year filled with learning, growth, and wonderful memories.  Thank you, Michael Farmer Superintendent, Dieringer School District Open School Board Position Position 4 on the Dieringer School District Board of Directors is currently open. If you reside in District 4 and are interested in serving your community and helping to ensure that all students receive a quality educational experience, this position might be for you. The application window is open through September 15th.   Applications from interested candidates will be reviewed, and the board will conduct interviews later in September at a special board meeting with a date to be determined.  The hope is to swear in a new board member at the September 25th Regular Board Meeting.  You can access the application and get more information on our website at https://www.dieringer.wednet.edu/our-district/school-board . Theft at Transportation Saturday, August 12th, our transportation lot and building were broken into around 5:00 AM in what can only be described as a brazen violation of our school district and our property.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million.  Watch this  video that is essentially a tour of the crime scene while we were waiting for a forensics team to show up.  Ultimately, this will cost tens of thousands of dollars, at least.  Thankfully, most all of our costs are covered by our insurance, but each year, insurance costs go up as school districts like ours are robbed and vandalized.  Additional frustration stems from the simple fact that on the way to respond to the break-in, the police encountered the thieves and were unable to pursue them due to recent changes in the law.  The news frequently reports on the surge in these types of crimes since the police are not able to chase suspects, and the responding Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputies corroborated this in our situation.  We are asking that if you see something suspicious around our school buildings, say something, or call 911.  Schools around the region are frequently targeted by criminals, and any help can go a long way in keeping our schools safe. Capital Projects Everyone in the Dieringer School District is thankful to the larger community for their support of last November's Capital Levy. This levy was crucial for the long-term sustainability of Dieringer's school buildings and critical infrastructure systems. We’re excited about the prospect of ensuring quality learning spaces for our students, the investment in our schools, and our community as a whole. This summer, a few small projects were completed.  Those include an LED light fixture replacement and an elevator rebuild, both at Dieringer Heights.   We are happy to share that we’ve committed to our first major critical infrastructure projects.  At the August meeting, the school board approved a contract with Hermanson to replace the HVAC systems at all three schools in the summer of 2024.  As equipment begins to arrive and detailed project plans get developed leading up to installation next summer, you can expect frequent updates on the progress of the work at all three schools. ParentSquare We are excited to announce that we have launched a new form of school-to-home communication at Dieringer School District called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection.  All district and school, grade level, and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).  With ParentSquare you can: Receive messages from the school via email, text or app notification  Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6pm  Communicate in your preferred language Comment on school postings to engage with your school community Direct message teachers and staff Participate in group messages Sign up for parent-teacher conferences Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer, and more all from your desktop or mobile device Visit https://www.dieringer.wednet.edu/families-community/parentsquare to learn more. Dieringer School District The Dieringer School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Upcoming Events 9.5 First Day of School 9.8   First Day of Kindergarten 9.19   LTES Picture Day 9.19   5th Grade Curriculum Night 9.21   4th Grade Curriculum Night 9.22   NTMS Color Run 9.25   School Board Meeting 9.28   Kindergarten Curriculum Night Bus Routes View bust routes for the upcoming school year on our website.  For Tuesday, September 5th, all students, including 6th graders, will be picked up at their normal AM time.   7th & 8th graders only have late start and will be picked up 3hrs 45min later than their original AM pick up time.  For example, if your original AM pickup time is 7:05 am, your new pick up time would be 10:50 am.

Saturday, Sep 02 2023