Dear ISD Families,

Hooray! The first day of elementary school was a resounding success!  The teachers welcomed smiling children into their classrooms and were soon engaged in a variety of “first day” activities. It was a joy to walk from class to class visiting the frendly faces.  Recess provided an opportunity for old friends to reconnect while those new to ISD started to develop new friendships.  

Our new lunchroom is a big hit with students and teachers alike.  The space provides a calm and cool atmosphere for all to enjoy.  Thank you for sending your child’s lunch to school ahead of time so that the students may eat with their peers at the designated time.  Kindergarten students eat lunch at 12:10 near their classrooms.  Grades 1 and 2 begin eating at 12:05 and then enjoy recess.  Grades 3, 4 and 5 enjoy a recess break and then eat at 12:30.  

Please join me for coffee on August 24th at 8:30 am in the conference room. This will be an informal gathering for us to get to know each other.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 1st beginning at 5:30pm for our ISD Elementary Open House.  It is important for you to attend this meeting so that you can meet the classroom teacher and learn about the classroom, academic and behavioral expectations.  You will also learn about classroom procedures and routines.

(above)Day 1 PK3 students gather around their teacher at the end of the day, happy to participate in an activity designed to improve fine motor skills.

Please take a moment to read the notes below from Miss Pam, our ES Counselor.  Thank you to all the parents, faculty, staff, and students for the warm welcome to ISD.  I know my husband, Brad, and I will be very happy here.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have regarding ISD.  My email is: kellych@faculty.isd.sn

Upcoming Events:

Aug 24: Wednesday Morning Coffee with the Principal - 8:30 Conferences

Sept 1:    Open House 5:30 - 8PM

Sept 5:    After School Activities Begin (For more info go to the ASA page)

Sept 7:    PTO Meeting

Sept 9:    PD ½ Day, noon dismissal

Sept 12:  PD Full Day, no school

Sept 13:  Senegalese Holiday (Tabaski) School closed

Kelly Chumrau

Elementary School Principal

International School of Dakar,

Senegal, DAKAR

www.isdakar.org

+221 - 33 825 0871 Ex 103

Counselor Corner:

Role of Ms. Pam, the Elementary Counselor:  The counselor is an integral part of the elementary team that ensures your child’s success both inside and outside the classroom. The counselor spends most of her time in direct service to and contact with students. Her duties are focused on the overall delivery of the social emotional learning of your child through the guidance curriculum, individual student planning and responsive services. For more information about the role of an ES counselor, please follow this LINK

Ms. Pam visits your child’s classroom twice a month in grades 3-5 and every cycle in grades PK4–grade 2 to deliver the Second Step social emotional learning curriculum. The Second Step program emphasizes skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, and problem solving. Ms. Pam also teaches lessons about Kelso, our conflict resolution model. Whenever she visits the classrooms a Home Link is sent home so you can reinforce the skill your child is learning.

In addition, the counselor works very closely with teachers to identify students who might benefit from individual or group intervention about a variety of social/academic topics that may arise during the year. Parents are always involved in this process.  Please also know that should Ms. Pam be involved with your child in friendship concerns during the day, she will call or email you directly.

Ms. Pam also facilitates parent workshops, parent book groups and is available to meet with parents on a drop in basis between 8-9 AM every morning or by appointment thereafter.  Ms. Pam’s office is located in the pagoda next to Ms. Emefa. She can be reached at pamp@faculty.isd.sn or at 33-825-0871 ext 135. Please contact Ms. Pam with any questions or concerns you may have about your child, her role or the social emotional learning program here at ISD.

Parent Book Group:  Parents are invited to participate in a book group that meets 3 times over three months at 8:30 am on Tuesday mornings. The first book we will be reading is, UnSelfie-Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All About Me World, by Michelle Borba, Ed.D

If you are interested in participating in the book group please use this link, CLICK HERE to learn more about the book and to also provide your name and email address. We hope to have our first meeting in late September.