March 6, 2026

We have had many students that are out of school for various illnesses and I wanted to remind parents about our illness policy which states that children should stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of any fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Motrin.  I also want to remind parents that it is important for you to contact the school to notify us that your child is ill.  The school is required by the public health law to report illness numbers to the local health department each week and the information we report is gathered from what parents report to the school.  It is very helpful for our report if you can provide us with a basic idea of what type of illness your child is experiencing.  Also if your child is seen at a physician office please bring in a written excuse from their office to document their illness.  

Just a reminder, any medication that must be administered at school must have a completed medication authorization form completed by a physician.  Medication must be brought to school by a parent/guardian with the authorization form completed. This form can be obtained in the office along with the Dowagiac Union School Medication Policy. 

Also reminding you as we are still in the cold months,  your children will be wearing coats and hats so with those we find the number of students with head lice to be increasing.  Please remember to check your child’s hair frequently during these times.  If you notice any signs of head lice please begin the treatment process immediately.  This process is very time consuming, but in order to keep the head lice from returning the entire process must be completed.  If you would like information about the treatment of head lice please feel free to contact me at 269-782-4420 ext. 1218 or sdorman@dowagiacschools.org with any questions or concerns.

Suzanne Dorman RN, MSN

School Nurse

Dowagiac Union Schools

Dowagiac Union Schools would love to hear your thoughts about our Title 1 programs. We would appreciate your feedback!

Mrs. Leigton's ELA class finished SU1 Fever Lesson 1: A Nightmare in Philadelphia. Students wrote a postcard from the point of view of the main character, Matilida, to her mother. They either had to write to Matilda's mother to convince her to stay away from Philadelphia or convince her to rescue Matilda. They also needed to use two details from the text to back up their position. 

 7th Grade Math:

Ms. Gil’s 7th grade math students have been working on integers, learning how to understand and use both positive and negative numbers. Students are practicing how to add and subtract integers while learning how these numbers apply to real-life situations, such as temperatures above and below zero or gains and losses. Through class activities, guided practice, and problem-solving, students are strengthening their understanding of how positive and negative numbers interact.

Families are encouraged to have students spend extra time working in I-Ready at home. Consistent practice in I-Ready helps reinforce the math skills we are learning in class and can significantly improve your child’s overall score and skill level. Even a small amount of additional practice each week can make a big difference in building confidence and mastery.

6th Grade Math

Ms. Gil’s 6th grade math class is currently working on multiplication facts from 0–10. Students are building a strong foundation with these facts so they can apply them to our next topic, division facts. Developing quick recall of multiplication facts will help students solve problems more efficiently and prepare them for more advanced math concepts.

Practicing skills at home can make a big difference. Using I-Ready and IXL regularly helps reinforce what students are learning in class and supports them in becoming more fluent with their math facts. This extra practice will help bridge learning gaps and build the confidence students need as we begin tackling more challenging topics.

Miss Gabrielle Cook

7th Grade:
This week in 7th grade World History, we took a deep dive into the Five Pillars of Islam and what it means to follow them. Students worked in groups to complete a research poster project and presented their findings to the class. Their goal was not only to explain each pillar clearly, but also to answer questions and clear up common misunderstandings. The Five Pillars we studied include Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Students did a great job explaining the purpose and importance of each pillar within Islam.

6th Grade:
This week in 6th grade, we have been learning about healthy eating and understanding that not everything in our favorite foods is necessarily good for our bodies. Students began a research project investigating common food dyes and additives found in popular snacks. Topics include Red Dye 40, sodium nitrite and nitrate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Through this project, students are learning how to read ingredient labels, think critically about what they consume, and better understand how certain chemicals can impact overall health.

Mrs. Stanford 6th Grade Social Studies

This week in 6th grade Social Studies students finished up their unit on Central America by completing a partner project. They researched modern concepts on a region of their choice based on our previous unit. Students completed research and then created a poster based on their findings. Check out the grades in PowerSchool! We finished our week by talking about South America's physical geography and will continue next week. Our third hour class also had a special performance by a couple of our students. They performed a Payaso dance that is popular and commonly danced in large groups at parties. To end the third hour the girls taught some of their peers and they all got up and showed off their skills, check out those dance moves!

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE | FROZEN, JR

Help our kids sell 1,000 tickets so they can do whatever they like to Mr. Murray's hair. Get your tickets today.
Scan the QR Code or visit the website: https://bit.ly/FrozenJrMarch2026