Wednesday Weekly

2/12 PTO Meeting @ 6:30pm in the DCD Library

2/17 No School-Presidents' Day

2/19 JV BBall vs WOMS @ DCD beginning 4:45pm

2/19 Varsity BBall @ Walt Morey MS beginning 4:45pm

2/19 Exclusion Day for Immunizations

2/21 Final Day for PTO RipCity Popcorn Fundraiser

February PTO Meeting
Join us tonight at 6:30pm in the DCD Library for our monthly PTO meeting! We'll be discussing all of our upcoming spring events and activities, as well as volunteer needs! Principle Barker will also be there to share updates from within DCD and answer any questions.

On-site childcare will be available, provided by Barlow High School students!

Rip City Popcorn Fundraiser
Due to the delay in getting order forms out to all students, the Rip City Popcorn fundraiser has been extended until Friday, February 21st. We have a big goal of $10,000 to help offset the funds usually brought in by our Spring Auction. If you have any questions, please reach out to the PTO at dcdk8pto@gmail.com.

School Closure/Delay Considerations

Weather events rarely cooperate with the predictions. In a perfect world, snow and ice would arrive promptly at 5 a.m. so that the decision about having school can be made easily and promptly. Be assured that when bad weather is predicted, our transportation supervisors, district office administrators, and other support staff assess conditions throughout the night and very early in the morning so that if conditions do worsen, we are ready.

The decision to close school or alter the schedule due to weather or other considerations is not made easily and is made with an appreciation for the impacts on students and families. We also know that these decisions will not be met with universal approval. The following list has some of the considerations we balance:

1. The impact on bus safety. The primary consideration is the safe transport of our students on these very large vehicles. (In a snow or ice event, school buses are statistically one of the safest ways to transport students to and from school.)

2. The impact on student safety includes high school students and families who drive using personal transportation.

3. Elementary students and childcare. We need to ensure parents receive enough notice so that someone can be at the bus stop or home to supervise.

4. The heating, ventilation, and electrical systems at our facilities must be in good operating conditions for us to hold school.

5. Conditions at present and expected during the day. Transporting students home by bus mid-day is at least a three-hour undertaking. Bus drivers must be called back; often, the vehicles need to be chained, and each bus serves multiple schools. For example, a weather event or forecast that justifies dismissing students beginning at 12:30 p.m. means drivers have to be called back before 9:30 a.m. to prepare.

6. There are 18 schools and programs spread across 49 square miles at varying elevations. The conditions always vary from school to school.

7. Road, sidewalk, and parking lot conditions district-wide.

8. The ability of schools to have the resources they need, such as uninterrupted electricity, food deliveries, stable heating, etc.

9. Advice from multiple authorities.

There may be times when schools remain open, but in some areas, families may experience conditions they believe are unsafe. If this is the case, parents can decide to keep their students home for the day or bring them to school later.

We are up to 607 pairs of socks have been collected so far!! This is amazing!! Keep them coming.

Mrs. Abraham's 1/2 class decided to try the Hearts Across America challenge.Students volunteered to read each letter/valentine/state facts each day. Hearts were made and set on each state received. They were successful in receiving 32 states.

Thank you to all the teachers, parents, friends, students, and volunteers for making this activity inspiring, informative, and fun for students.