Viking News

Good evening Viking Families!

It is almost time! School starts on Thursday, August 15th at 8:15am! If you haven't already, please complete data confirmation by logging into AERIES. Once this is completed, your student will be enrolled in their class for this school year! If your address has changed, you will need to bring two proofs of residence to our office as well. Our office will be open from 9:30am to 2:30pm on August 12th and 8:30am to 2:30pm on August 13th if you would like to come by to ask questions or get support. Our office will close early, at 11:00am, on the 14th so that we can finish processing all of our registrations for the 1st day of school. We will reopen at 10am on the 15th, after we get all of our registered students settled in classrooms!

Don't forget that our Meet the Teacher event is happening on Wednesday, August 14th from 2:00-3:00pm! Students and families are invited to join us on the blacktop to meet their teacher in person! TK and Kindergarten families will also join us for Orientation in the MPR at 2:00pm. If you aren't able to attend this event, class assignment information will be available in AERIES after 3:30pm. Also, we will have staff members available to help connect students with teachers on the first day of school.

For the first day of school, we will have photo opportunities set up outside of the gates for families to capture the excitement for the start of our year! Please tag us on social media in your photos! Throughout the year, our students say goodbye to families at the gates, and walk to class on their own, but for the 1st day, families of PK, TK, and Kindergarten students may enter the gates and wait for the teachers to walk them to class if they would like.

The first two days of school (August 15th and 16th) are minimum days! All TK - 5th grade students will attend from 8:15am to 12:25pm. All Preschool students will attend during the morning session, from 8:15-11:15am. Just our TK and K students will continue with minimum day schedules for the first 12 days of school (August 15th - 30th). Please make arrangements so that students are picked up on time. Also, please see the Arrival/Dismissal Procedures below so that you can support safe conditions in our parking lots. We always longer wait times and lines for the first few weeks, and I appreciate you working together to follow our expected procedures. If you have any questions, our office staff is here to help!

Are you interested in joining our PTO? Come by the PTO table at Meet the Teacher for more information. There are many different ways that you can support our school. We are looking for PTO Board members! If you are interested in putting your name on the ballot for the position of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Sales Coordinator, please email me by August 19th. We look forward to growing our PTO!

Be sure to stay up to date with all of our school happenings by following us on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DelRioElementaryVikings/

Twitter: @DelRioVikings

Instagram: @DelRioVikings

I visit classrooms everyday and share out examples of the learning adventures of our students as often as possible!

See you on Thursday!

Safety is our first priority, and it is important to keep that in mind at morning drop off and afternoon dismissal. Here are a few things to remember so that we can all work together for successful transitions:

• If you are not in the drop off/pick up line, you may not double park or block parking spaces in the parking lot. Do not park on the red curb in the traffic circle. You must use a parking spot in the lot even if you are waiting with your car!
• Please do not block the crosswalk at the entry to our parking lot, and be vigilant about watching for students!
• Have your child ready with their backpack with them, so that the driver does not need to get out of the car. Please stay with your car and continue to pull forward!
• If you are dropping off in the car line at the front gate, please remember that the driver must stay with their car, and that you need to pull all the way up to the stop sign at the top of the circle so that we can keep traffic flowing.
• Please wait until you have gotten past the cones/crosswalk to let your student(s) out of the car. It keeps everything moving faster!
• Your car must be pulled up to the curb before any students can enter or exit a vehicle, so please do not double park!
• If you do park in either parking lot, you must walk up and accompany your student using a crosswalk. They will not be allowed to walk out to cross into the parking lot on their own.

I will be out front helping to keep things moving and safe, so let me know if you have questions.

Please remember that ALL absences from school need to be reported to our school, letting us know the reason that your student has missed school! When you need to report your student's absence, please email us Attendance.des@oside.us. Often our main office phones are very busy in the mornings and this is a faster and easier way to report your student's absence! You can also call our Attendance Line at (760)901-7301, but please speak slowly and clearly, as many times the messages are difficult for our staff to hear.

We are excited to share our new cell phone policy, "During the Day, Off and Away," for the 2024-2025 school year (Board Policy 5131.8). Our goal is to create a safe and focused learning environment for all students by minimizing distractions and promoting their mental well-being.

Key Points:

• Cell Phone Usage: Students must turn off and store their phones in their backpacks upon entering campus. Phones should stay off until they leave.

• Communication: Classrooms have landlines for students to contact parents when necessary. Phones will be accessible in emergencies.

• Academic Benefits: Reducing phone usage helps students stay focused and engaged in class.

• Safety and Security: This policy helps prevent cyberbullying, ensures students focus during emergencies, and reduces the risk of theft or loss.

Support and disciplinary measures are in place for policy violations to help students adjust.

Thank you for your support as we work together to enhance our students' learning experience and well-being.

Please take a few moments to read through our Del Rio STEM Academy Handbook. It includes information about how to contact our staff, how to report attendance, school policies and procedures, and available supports for your student. Reach out to our office if you have any questions!

In the Spring, I shared some upcoming changes to our breakfast program. Beginning on the first day of school, all students may go to the cafeteria from 7:45 to 8:15 to eat breakfast, free of charge. If you think your student will be eating at school, please plan to have them here as early as possible to have time to finish eating before the bell rings at 8:15. Students will line up and go straight to class at 8:15!

Emails, text messages and phone calls from OUSD including those from your principal, teacher and the district office will be directly sent to you using the email address and phone number you provided in Aeries during data confirmation. It’s important that all the emergency contacts listed in Aeries have updated contact information so everyone can receive important messages from OUSD.

You no longer need to download any third party apps to receive messages from our school.

Our hard working PTO needs your help! If you would like to join the PTO, or help with events and planning, you can contact them at pto.delriovikings@gmail.com.

Are you interested in before/after school care? Del Rio STEM Academy is proud to offer before and after school care through our district's THRIVE Program. For more information, visit the OUSD website. To register, click HERE.

We believe that partnerships with our families are essential to the success of our students and our school! Call, email, or stop by the office if you have questions or need support. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to see updates on the learning adventures happening around campus!

Email: lorrah.hogue@oside.us
Website: delrio.oside.us
Location: 5200 North River Road, Oceanside, CA, USA
Phone: (760)901-7300
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DelRioElementaryVikings/
Twitter: @DelRioVikings

Instagram: @DelRioVikings