Principal's Message

July 29, 2024

Hello Dewey Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with fun, relaxation,
and memorable moments with family and friends. As we prepare to embark on a new school year, I
am excited to welcome our returning families and extend a warm welcome to those who are new to
our Dewey community.

Class Assignments

Enclosed you will find your child’s teacher assignment for the year. Please note that careful
consideration over a number of factors has been given to the placement of your child. At this time, no
changes to classroom assignments will be considered. If after the first two weeks of school you still
have concerns, please schedule a time to meet with me so we can discuss your concerns. *If for some
reason your child is not able to attend the first day of school, please contact the office.

Staffing Updates

We are excited to welcome a number of new staff members to our Dewey community.
● Kristin Strong - Transitional Kindergarten - Room 4
● Abbey Jaculina - 3rd grade - Room 10
● Holly Holmgren - 4th grade - Room 12
● Becca Pfost - 5th grade - Room 18
● Aaron Gallington - 6th grade - Room 17

Key Back to School Dates:

● August 8th: Back to School Family Picnic and Resource Fair 6:00-8:00 p.m
○ Bring your picnic dinner and take this opportunity to reconnect with the Dewey community and
learn more about the resources at Dewey and within SJUSD
○ New Family School Tour
○ Snowie Shaved Ice Truck

● August 15th: First Day of School!
○ Please ensure your child arrives on time to start the year off right!
○ Parents, please join us for coffee and donuts from 8:55-9:30 at the overhang area to connect with
other families, learn more about the Parent Faculty Organization (PFO) and ways to get involved at
Dewey.

● Back to School Night: An evening event where parents can meet teachers, learn about curriculum
and understand school and classroom expectations. This is an adult event.
○ Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten: August 12th 5:30 -6:30
○ 1st -6th: August 22nd
■ 1st-3rd Grade Presentations 5:30-6:15
■ Whole School Presentation 6:20-6:40
■ 4th-6th Grade: 6:45-7:30

Academic Excellence:

We are excited to announce that we are adding Transitional Kindergarten to our school. In addition,
we are continuing to grow and expand Dewey’s Maker Lab and Design Studio which aims to develop
creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication and connection in our students.
We are committed to providing a challenging and enriching academic experience for all students.
Before and after school enrichment classes will be offered later this fall along with extra support and
resources to help every child reach their full potential.

Communication:

Open and effective communication is vital to the success of our school community. We encourage you
to stay connected through various channels, including:
● Our school website: https://www.sanjuan.edu/dewey
● Our weekly school newsletter, The Tiger Tale, which is emailed every Monday.
● Our social media pages: facebook.com/Harrydeweyfundamental or Dewey_Tigers on
Instagram.
● The PFO website: https://www.deweypfo.com/
● Talking Points is a two way communication tool that the school uses to send and receive
information through text messaging. Messages can be translated into multiple languages.
● Teacher newsletters and email communications

School Safety:

The safety of our students, staff and visitors is paramount in all that we do. Specific rules and
procedures have been established to keep all those in our community safe. Please take a few minutes
to review the enclosed “Drop off and Dismissal” flier. Please also note that dogs are not allowed on
campus when students are present. SJUSD’s Family Handbook and Dewey’s Student Handbook (which
will be handed out at Back to School Night) provide more specific information related to school safety.
Volunteer Opportunities:
We value your involvement in our school community. If you are interested in volunteering your time
or expertise, please take a moment to fill out the volunteer verification form at
https://www.sanjuan.edu/volunteer. If you’ve already completed this form, no need to redo it, you’re
ready to go. Dewey offers ample opportunities to volunteer and your contributions can make a
significant difference in the lives of our students.
In closing, I want to express my excitement for the upcoming academic year. We look forward to
partnering with you for a successful and rewarding school year. Thank you for your continued
support and trust. Should you have any questions, our office reopens to the public on Monday, August
5th.

Again, welcome to the 2024-25 school year!

Sincerely,
Sabrina Parsley

Sabrina Parsley, Principal
sabrina.parsley@sanjuan.edu