New Year at Dunbar

NEW YEAR AT DUNBAR – URGENT NEEDS

Dear Dunbar Partner, The 2023-24 school year will be the 6th year of our partnership between Hyde Park United Methodist and Dunbar Elementary Magnet School.  We are excited that Dunbar has grown to well over 300 children and we have three classes at each grade level 1-5, two Kindergarten classes, plus all the special and support teachers.  Our principal, Mrs. Cynthia Crim, and Assistant Principal, Mrs. Alexandra Quintyne, are confident in the excellent certified educators they have hired to fill all positions. As we plan and prepare for the new year, we have put together the following schedule of Big Events Planned for the year which give us many opportunities to get involved. URGENT NEEDS: BREAKFAST 8/2:  We need your help for the very first event on this list.  We will be providing a breakfast for the teachers and staff during their morning meeting on Wednesday, August 2 at 8:00 a.m.   Leslie Daniels, our special events coordinator, is planning a breakfast menu and we will be serving approximately 70  people.  We will need donations of fruit, orange juice, muffins, bagels or any other breakfast item you would like to contribute.  Food can be dropped off to Dunbar.  Please contact Leslie or Kathy  if you would like to be a part of this Welcome Back Breakfast.  LeslieDaniels2@gmail.com or 813-944-8864 or Kathy.Avant1@gmail.com or 813-928-3333. We also invite you to join us at the breakfast and welcome the teachers back and meet the new teachers.  We hope to pair a volunteer with each classroom this year.  This would be a great opportunity to get acquainted.   DUNBAR PARTNERSHIP BIG EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2023-24 Wed. Aug. 2 7:30-9:30 AM Breakfast for Dunbar Staff Donate and Serve Breakfast to Staff Thurs. Aug. 3 12:00-4:00 Volunteer Work Day to Set Up Set Up Classrooms, Bulletin Boards, Prepare for First Day of School Mon. Aug. 7 8:00-12:00 Volunteer Work Day to Set Up Set Up Classrooms, Bulletin Boards, Prepare for First Day of School Thurs. Aug. 10   First Day of School   Thurs. and Fri Sept. 7-8 7:30-9:30 Grandparent’s Day Host grandparents for Breakfast (Expanded to two days due to popularity) Fri. Oct. 6 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Mon Oct. 9 2:15-4:00 CLUB DAY Lead a special interest club for students Thurs. Oct. 19 5-7:00 PM SLIME NIGHT Science/Math/Literacy  Activity Family Event & cookout Fri. Nov. 3 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Thurs, Nov.16 All day GREAT AMERICAN TEACH IN Guest teach a class about your career or topic of interest Fri Nov. 17 ??? FIELD DAY Outdoor events with students Fri Nov. 17 10-1:00 Lunch for Teachers Donate and Serve Thanksgiving  Lunch to Staff Fri. Dec. 1 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Thurs. Dec. 14 5-8:00 PM ARTS UNDER THE STARS Art show, Concert and Movies Under the Stars for Families MON-WED Dec. 18-20 8-12? SANTA SHOP Set up and assist with Student gift shopping Fri Dec. 22   Winter Celebrations Assist with whole school party in cafeteria Fri. Jan. 12 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Thurs, Jan. 25 5-8:00 PM LITERACY NIGHT BINGO FOR BOOKS Assist with Family Night Activities and BINGO for Books Mon Jan. 29 9:15 AM WHITE COAT CEREMONY Assist with White Coat Ceremony for 5th graders Fri. Feb. 2 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Fri Feb. 14 10-1 Lunch for Teachers Donate and Serve Valentine Lunch to Staff Fri. March 1 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and  serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Mon. April 1 2:15-4:00 CLUB DAY Lead a special interest club for students Fri. April 5 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest. Tues. April 16 9:30 VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Dunbar honors volunteers Thurs. Apr 25 5-8:30 SPRING INTO THE ARTS CONCERT & ART SHOW Family event Fri. May 3 8:00-9:30 STUDENT OF THE MONTH CELEBRATION Deliver donuts and serve to Students of the Month and their parent/guest.  Mon.-Fri. May 6-10   Teacher Appreciation Week. TBD Thurs. May 16   New Student Orientation – Magnet Showcase TBD Fri May 17   Year Book Party TBD Wed May 22 11-3???? PULSE-A-PALOOZA Outdoor Carnival – EOY Celebration for Achievements for Whole School Thurs. May 23 ?? Fifth Grade Awards and Banquet TBD Fri. May 24   Last Day of School Clap Out – Awards   CLASSROOM SET UP 8/3 or 8/7:  Teachers will be unpacking materials and setting up classrooms and can always use an extra hand.  If you have a few hours to help you can just show up at Dunbar and they will put you to work.  If you have questions, call or text Kathy Avant at Kathy.Avant1@gmail.com. GENERAL VOLUNTEER INFORMATION FOR 2023-24 To be a volunteer with students at Dunbar you must complete the Hillsborough County School District’s Volunteer Application each year.  Use this link to apply.  https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/7346 You must also have completed a Background Check and Child Protection Training through Hyde Park United Methodist.  This is good for three years.  You can check with Emily Nelson in the church office for further information on these procedures.  ENelson@HydeParkUMC.org We are hoping to have many more volunteers this year who would like to work in a classroom to assist a teacher or work with a small group of students.  If you are interested in being a classroom volunteer, please contact Kathy Avant at Kathy.Avant1@gmail.com or 813-928-3333. SPONSOR A SPECIAL EVENT:  If you, your family, or small group would be interested in financially supporting a special event at Dunbar we have these opportunities.  You can sponsor a House Party for $50.  House Parties recognize one of our Houses – Physiology, Neurology, Botany or Zoology – for achievements and students get recognition.  You can sponsor a Student of the Month Celebration for $60.  Students of the Month are selected by their teacher for outstanding character.  Students and their parents are recognized and we provide donuts and drinks.  If you are interested in sponsoring one or more event, please contact Kathy Avant or Vicki Walker. We will soon be sending you information on volunteer orientation and details about more events.  Please contact Kathy Avant Kathy.Avant1@gmail.com or Pastor Vicki Walker VWalker@HydeParkUMC.org  if you have questions. Please pray for the children, teachers, and staff of Dunbar Elementary Magnet School as they embark on their new year.  We especially lift up the approximately 60 students who will be transferring from Just Elementary to Dunbar this year.  Please pray for our current volunteers and that additional people will begin serving with us at Dunbar as we strive to MAKE GOD’S LOVE REAL to all we serve at Dunbar. We thank you for all that you have done to make our Partnership so successful and look forward to serving alongside you this year. Happy New Year! Kathy Avant Leslie Daniels Rev. Vicki Walker Kathy.Avant1@gmail.com