Principal Update

Smith ES Parents and Sponsors,

    This past week we celebrated Month of the Military Child with PTO Sponsored Bingo Night, and the turnout was amazing.  Thank you to everyone who participated, the teachers who volunteered and the Anchored 4 Life Student Leaders.  It was a real Purple Up Success.  Next week we continue to celebrate MOMC with a Math Resilience Spirit Week, and on Wednesday evening, Ajpril 23rd,  the PTO/Host Nation sponsored Eggstravaganza at 5pm on the playground. 

     DoDEA Parent Portal  We are currently at 46% re-registrations for next year an increase of 10% this week!  Thank you.  Please help us get to 100%.  Parents must submit re-registration to indicate whether each student is staying in DoDEA or leaving their current location. All Parents should log into the DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS) Family Portal at https://dodeasis.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do to submit each student re-registration request. The re-registration process also provides a quick and easy way for families to update information (contacts, Sponsor's employment status, student health) and indicate if your student is returning.  The information collected during re-registration will be used to determine each student's continued eligibility, as well as plan staffing and resource needs for the coming school year. After your re-registration submission has been reviewed, the School Registrar will contact you if additional information is required.  Again, parents even if you are not returning, please complete re-registration and simply let us know you are PCSing at the end of the school year.  If you encounter issues, please contact the School Registrar, Robert.Woods@dodea.edu.  School-wide we are at 46% and in order to try to get to 100% by the end of April, any class with 100% re-registrations by the end of April will earn an extra recess.

     Summative Assessments:  Parents of 3^rd-5^th grade students received a letter this week concerning the Summative Assessment Schedule.  All Grade 3-5 students will participate in the Math Assessment April 29, 30 and May 2^nd, and the Literacy Assessment May 6 & 7, 2025.  If you have questions about the assessment, please reach out to our Assessment Coordinator, Ms. linda.yates@dodea.edu 

     A New Look!  The Principal Update has moved to our Smith Elementary Official DoDEA Website, or https://smithes.dodea.edu/.  You can access our newsletter each week on the “School News” tab.  We are still in the process of updating many of the pages on our Official School Website and we would love to have your feedback as we build our new communication platform.  It is our desire to make this website your “Go to” landing page for information about Smith Elementary School.  If you have suggestions or comments, please simply reply to the parent email and your suggestion goes directly to our admin team.    You can view photos from all of our events on our website at the School Galleries tab on the left.  

     The School Advisory Committee: There were no agenda items for the April meeting date, so this meeting has been cancelled, and we have opened up the end of the year meeting on May 19, 2025, for all stakeholders.  Generally, this is an administrative meeting to close out the year, but we wanted to give more time to collect agenda items before the end of the year.  During the meeting we will be nominating Leadership positions for SY 25/26, preparing our end of the year reports, and setting dates for next year’s SAC meetings.  If you or someone you know are interested in serving on the School Advisory Committee, please email sacsmithes@gmail.com to make a nomination.  We are hopeful this year to elect a new President, Vice President, and Secretary. If you have agenda items for any of the meetings scheduled for SY 24/25, please email sacsmithes@gmail.com.  Minutes from the most recent SAC meeting are posted outside the main office and on the Smith ES Official DoDEA Website.

      PTO Update:  Thank you to the PTO for all of their support for the MOMC, our Purple UP decorations, snacks and encouragement for the teachers, and for purchasing a new PURPLE UP t-shirt for every Student and Faculty member.  If you want to know more about our PTO, please check out their Facebook Page at Smith Elementary School PTO where you can find information about activities, how to volunteer, and especially how you can make nominations for PTO leadership positions for next school year.  We are in needed of the following nominations: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. You can learn more about the PTO on the Get Involved/Partnerships page on our Smith ES Official DoDEA Website.

Purple UP Bulldogs!

 Respectfully,

 Richard C. Dye
Principal
Smith Elementary School