Good afternoon Davis Drive Elementary families,

We have an exciting week ahead! Dolphins in Action (formally called Red Ribbon Week) starts on Monday. Dolphins in Action celebrates positive actions and good choices. All the information below for this program is below.

Lilian Harmer, 3rd grade teacher, was given a Teacher of the Month award from the Cary Chamber of Commerce and Huntington Learning Center. We have such a wonderful community that recognizes all the hard work our teachers do.

We have another retirement this month at DDE. Ms. Caldwell who has been a teacher for 45 years will be retiring as of January 31st. DDE will definitely miss her but we wish her the best on her new adventure!

Shout out to DDE students Jayden and Andrew who competed at the Triangle Chess Championships on January 27, 2024. A big congratulations to our 2024 Triangle Chess Champions for 4th and 5th grade.
Andrew Jiang - 1st Place (5th grade)
Jayden Adams - 3rd Place (4th grade)

Follow DDE on Instagram!

School Instagram: @dde_dolphins

Family Instagram: @dde_dolphinfamilies

March 5th - No School - Teacher Work Day (please take the time to go vote in the Primary)

Time commitment is 7:15am to 8:00am! You do not need to be a cleared volunteer. Please come to help our school.

Dolphins in Action Week (DIA) is a Davis Drive Elementary tradition (formerly called Red Ribbon Week). We celebrate positive actions (maintaining a healthy lifestyle, service to others, etc.) and good choices (kindness, good judgment) with a week of spirit activities and a Food Drive. Classes with the highest percentage of food donations will win a pizza party!

• Monday - Jan 29th - Wear BRIGHT COLORS!

• Tuesday - Jan 30th - Wear CRAZY SOCKS!

• Wednesday - Jan 31st - Wear TIE-DYE CLOTHES!

• Thursday - Feb 1st - Wear SUNGLASSES!

• Friday - Feb 2nd - Wear YOUR FAVORITE TEAM CLOTHING!

• Food Drive - Dolphins in Action

• We will collect canned, bagged or boxed food items to give to the Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry.

• ALL ITEMS should be unopened and nonperishable.

• No GLASS containers, please!

• Check the expiration date and do not open packages unless they are meant to be sold separately.

• Kindergarten: Bagged/boxed rice, dry beans, macaroni and cheese, nuts, oatmeal, condiments (no packets)

• 1st Grade: Tuna fish (any meat in can/pouch), bagged/boxed mashed potatoes, dry stuffing mix, soups, sugar

• 2nd Grade: Canned fruit (pineapple, apples, peaches, oranges, pears, apricots, cranberry sauce, etc.)

• 3rd Grade: Peanut butter, dry pastas/noodles, pasta sauces, crackers, jellies/jams (no packets)

• 4th Grade: Canned vegetables (peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, turnips, tomatoes, etc.)

• 5th grade: Flour, cornmeal, Bisquick/baking mix, cereals, cookies, cake/brownie/muffin mixes, pudding

• ANY Grade: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, lotion, shampoo, soap, or other toiletries Donations can be brought to school by students or parents may bring food during the school day.

• Fifth Grade Poster Contest ~ Dolphins in Action

• Our DDE 5th graders have the opportunity to participate in our DDE poster contest.

• The theme this year is “My Future is Bright”

• Details about the poster contest are available from Ms. Coucoulas-Knight. You can email her at acoucoulas-knight@wcpss.net or call 919-387-2130 ext. 21985

• POSTERS DUE: Tuesday, January 3oth

When:
Mondays, January 22-March 18, 2:30-3:40pm (advanced program)
Wednesdays, January 31-March 30, 2:30-3:40pm (main program)
Where: Art Room and STEM Room (directly across the hall)
Pickup: Art Room's outside door, next to Main Office and carpool along
Patricia Andrews Circle

Registration:
For Monday advanced program for current & future tournament players,
including 1 free tournament entry:

Register Here:
https://www.jotform.com/form/240147288444156

Wednesday Main Program
Register:
https://www.jotform.com/form/240146851400143

Main DDE chess program link:
dragonknightchess.com/davis-drive/

Pay:
https://www.dragonknightchess.com/online-payment/

Main website:
https://www.dragonknightchess.com/

Please follow us on on our new Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552068527461

We are looking forward to a fun chess Q3 at DDE!

Purchase Your Child's CLASS PHOTO before February 13th.

Order Instructions:

ONLINE PAYMENT OPTION

Go to: www.strawbridge.net

Click "ORDER PICTURES"

Enter the following code: FM422875

CASH/CHECK PAYMENT

1. Picture Envelopes will go home on Friday, February 2nd.

2. Return envelopes with exact cash or a check {made payable to Strawbridge Studios, Inc.} to the classroom teacher on or before February 13th.

On February 13th, your child will also have their individual photo taken. A proof package of your child’s Individual Spring Photos will be sent home 3-4 weeks after Picture Day with information on how to order.

All students currently identified as English Language Learners (ELLs)/Multilingual Learners (MLs) will be administered the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 test. The ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is an online assessment for Grades 1-12. The ACCESS for Kindergarteners is a paper-based assessment.

The ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 test is the North Carolina State’s required assessment. Students are tested annually to determine student progress and English language proficiency.

The state testing window for the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 test is January 22 – March 8, 2024. All students identified as English Language Learners will be assessed during this testing window.

For more information about the test, test demo, test practice, and sample test items visit DDES ESL Program website under the Parent Resources: The ACCESS Test:

https://sites.google.com/a/wcpss.net/esl-program-ddes/resources/access-test

If you have any questions, please contact:

Svetlana Roda at sroda@wcpss.net

Laura Hasenauer at lhasenauer@wcpss.net

Thank you for your continued support!

Mrs. Roda and Ms. Hasenauer

ESL Teachers,

DDES

Email: bfair@wcpss.net
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/davisdrivees
Location: 2151 Davis Drive, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: 919-387-2130
School Instagram: @dde_dolphins

Family Instagram: @dde_dolphinfamilies