I’d like to acknowledge and address the email that members of our school community received on December 7th from the Davis Joint Unified School District notifying us that the School Board of Education plans to approve a name change for North Davis Elementary School to Mary Ellen Dolcini Elementary School at their next meeting on December 20, 2018.
Many of you have written and called in with requests for more information about this news, so I wanted to share what we know as of right now and some next steps available to NDE community members who would like to add their voice to this process.
Here is what we know:
At the December 6, 2018 School Board of Education meeting, supporters of an effort to rename North Davis Elementary School after Dr. Mary Ellen Dolcini shared their thoughts and support for this name change and a vote was held. Here is the link to video of the Board meeting (this topic starts at 2:06:41).
Board Policy on naming a school states that naming a school is “the prerogative of the Board" which is why the item of renaming our school went to the Board last Thursday night as a presentation/discussion and action item.
Although Board Policy does not currently require it, some Board members felt uncomfortable making a final vote at the December 6 meeting without additional input from current NDE families. They collectively agreed to have the District notify NDE families to let us know that the Board is in support of this name change and to specifically request our input by providing their email address for feedback (boe@djusd.net). The name change has been placed as an item on the Consent Calendar for approval at the Board Meeting on December 20.
If you would like to add your support or dissent for this proposed name change on the public record before it's approved, you can attend the Board of Education meeting on December 20. Open Session begins promptly at 7pm (you may want to show up earlier) at Community Chambers - 23 Russell Boulevard Davis, CA 95616.
When you arrive, you can fill out a blue card noting that you’d like to make a Public Comment about a Consent Calendar item. Hand your blue card to the Secretary. Your card will then be handed to the Board members and your name will be called during that portion of the meeting. You will have up to three minutes to share your opinion on this matter and the Board will take up the item from there.
If you have input you'd like to share on this matter, please take up the Board’s invitation to email them at boe@djusd.net. To have your opinion on public record with the Board please plan to attend the Board meeting on December 20 and submit a blue card to make a Public Comment on the Consent Calendar item.
We will continue to keep you posted and apprised of updates as this conversation progresses. Additionally, there are conversations taking place on the DJUSD Parent Group page and the North Davis Elementary Parents Page, both on Facebook, if you would like to learn more or share your opinions on the matter.
**Reminder: Don't forget to go to Dos Coyotes in North Davis this Tuesday for dinner and mention NDE! A portion of sales will be donated to our school.
Also, the deadline to turn in raffle ticket sales has been extended to Friday, December 14. There are addional ticket packets in the front office if you need more! Let's rally and sell those tickets!
Thank you all so much and have a wonderful week,
Brenna
Raffle Grand Prize is two domestic round trip tickets on South West Airlines! WOW!
FOCUS on FITNESS
This week is the FINAL week of fencing instruction for the 4th-6th grade students at North Davis. We are so fortunate to have this opportunity through the Davis Fencing Academy and Simon Pitfield. During this three-week unit, students have learned the basics of fencing foot work as well as suited up and fenced with foils.
Ask your 4th-6th grade student to show you the following foot work: first position, “en garde”, advances, retreats, “extend” and lunges as well as the following partner work: “parry” and “riposte”.
We have been fortunate to offer this program since November 2007.
Davis Parent University SAVE THE DATE - January 9th, 2019, 7 - 9 pm
Reserve your FREE tickets starting December 2 for renowned educator Jess Shatkin, MD, MPH, author of Born To Be Wild: Why Teens Take Risks and How We Can Help Keep Them Safe.
For more information and tickets, please visit www.davisparentuniversity.com.
And, if you missed the last lecture...
October Lecture with Dr. Thompson Now Available Online!
To view the recent lecture with Michael Thompson, PhD, bestselling author of Best Friends, Worst Enemies and to see past lectures, please visit the Davis Parent University website.
Questions about the newsletter, or have something to submit?
Please email sophiejavers@gmail.com (submission due by Thursday for the following week's Monday newsletter)
