Jan. 20, 2022 Friday Message

Good afternoon families,

See the updates below. I've also included pictures of many items that remain in our lost and fund. Please have your student stop by to claim any lost item. Have a great weekend! ~Dr. Sykes

Girls on the Run is back at Dillard!

Girls on the Run is an afterschool program for students in grades 3rd-5th. Students meet twice a week to increase their physical activity levels and learn important life skills. Trained and caring coaches (Ms. Knight, Ms. Kinsey, and Ms. Page) lead 3rd-5th grade girls through interactive lessons and movement activities. The season ends with a celebratory 5k event. Scholarships and limited financial assistance is available. If your child is interested in participating in Girls on the Run for the spring season, please contact School Counselor and site coordinator Ms. Knight at cknight2@wcpss.net for more information. You can also register by clicking the following link. The spring season for Dillard Drive begins Tuesday February 28th and will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays until May 18th with the big 5k race on Saturday, May 20th.

Positivity Project for the week of 1/23/23: Social Intelligence

This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Social Intelligence. Social intelligence means you are aware of other people’s thoughts and feelings. You understand why they do things.

Social intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage interpersonal relationships. It is distinct from a person’s IQ or “book smarts.” It includes an individual’s ability to understand, and act on, the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of other people. This type of intelligence can take place “in the moment” of face-to-face conversations but also appears during times of deliberate thinking. It involves emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Social intelligence helps individuals build relationships -- and is important to numerous aspects of a person’s life. It allows an individual to form friendships and alliances. And it assists a person against being taken advantage of. People with social intelligence can “read” other people’s faces and know what motivates them. Social intelligence builds over time and as a person ages. In this sense, it is similar to the character strength of perspective.

To practice and encourage the character strength of social intelligence with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.

PTA Information for Parents

• Please save the date for our (VIRTUAL) DDMES PTA Member Meeting on January 26 from 5:30 pm to 6;30 pm. All PTA MEMBERS are welcome, and if you aren't a member, please join us as well. We have some exciting programs and information to share! Please visit our website for more meeting details. We will share the Google Meet Link on the Morning of January 26. Please check your Talking points and the PTA website before the meeting. We can't wait to see you all next week Virtually! www.ddmespta.com

• Dragonfly Dash is March 17, 2023, at the Middle School Track. Information for online fundraising will be shared at the PTA meeting and will go out to all DDMES students on February 1. Be on the lookout for more details to come home soon! 

• DDMES YEARBOOKS are on sale now till May 17, 2023. Purchase yours today. Visit the Online Link to order. 

• Carpool Volunteers Wanted - Want to volunteer and assist our DDMES Staff with arrival and dismissal? Sign up today and be a carpool volunteer. You can visit the DDMES Swag Shop and get some cool Volunteer Gear too!