This is our second and final summer newsletter. The first is still available at https://secure.smore.com/n/m2cjkh . The clock is winding down on summer, so please ensure your child has entered all June/July/August reading before school begins to guarantee participation in our reading celebration! It's also a great time to begin adjusting bedtimes and providing opportunities for school-based behaviors to ensure early success at school. Thank you!

• Click the translate and accessibility buttons at the top of the page to make the newsletter format work for you.
• Previous newsletters are stored on our school website as the year progresses.
• Utilize the table of contents on the upper left to navigate to desired sections.

Please help me in welcoming our new DFS security officer, Mr. Mark Graham! Mark worked as a Trumbull Public Schools substitute security officer for the last six years frequenting several schools within the district, including Daniels Farm. Before working in Trumbull he spent twenty-nine years at the Bridgeport Police Department, retiring at the rank of Detective. He is looking forward to the new school year and getting to know and protect DFS students, staff and families!

The district finalized classrooms at DFS this week and will not be posting any additional classroom teacher positions. Enrollment will be monitored with the possibility of adding other teacher supports if deemed necessary.

Total Enrollment: 477 students

Kindergarten: Three classes of 18, 19, and 19 students (56 total)

Grade 1: Four classes of 22, 23, 23 and 23 students (91 total)

Grade 2: Four classes of 19, 20, 20 and 20 students (79 total)

Grade 3: Four classes of 20, 20, 21 and 21 students (82 total)

Grade 4: Three classes of 24, 25 and 25 students (74 total)

Grade 5: Four classes of 23, 24, 24 and 24 students (95 total)

Teachers by Grade Level:

Kindergarten: Mrs. Logan, Mrs. O'Hara, Mrs. Sullivan

Grade 1: Mrs. Barthel, Miss Camara, Miss McGrath, Mrs. Nawrocki

Grade 2: Mrs. Chopskie, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Helminger, Mrs. Mains (formerly Mrs. Houghton)

Grade 3: Mrs. Palermo, Ms. St. John, Mrs. Van Growski, Mrs. Windsor

Grade 4: Mrs. Gomes, Mrs. Potok, Mrs. Weinstein

Grade 5: Mrs. Civitelli, Miss Root, Mr. Spillane, Miss Wolfe

Thursday, August 22

• Kindergarten Play Date, 4:30 - 6:00PM @ DFS Playground

Monday, August 26

• Meet Your Teacher, Grades K&1 @1:00PM
• Meet Your Teacher, Grades 2&3 @1:40PM
• Meet Your Teacher, Grades 4&5 @2:20PM
• New Family Meet & Greet @ DFS Cafe, Time Pending

Tuesday, August 27

• First Day of the 2024-25 School Year

Monday, September 2

• Labor Day - Schools Closed

Thursday, September 5

• Back to School Night

All Trumbull elementary schools will electronically distribute summer packet information on Friday, August 16. Bus routes also become available on the district website at this time. Everything you need for a great start to the school year is provided, and we are available if you have any questions after thoroughly reading all materials.

Did you know students can lose up to two months of reading advancements over the summer? That's like working a 12-month job and only collecting paychecks for 10 months; who would do that?! Please make reading a daily passion in your home, carving out a specific time when all electronics are off and everyone is buried in a book. When children see their parents reading, they realize it is an important and fun habit. It's not too late to turn this summer around if you start tonight!

Please complete the summer reading form at the link below ONE TIME; we recommend you do this in August. Only students who read and complete the form participate in a fun fall celebration at DFS. Thank you!

Summer Reading Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnAa-NU-GeKNUPO7iDK7iB130aqU1mc61wT5oGDZRq_a3kbQ/viewform

We only have 181 days to ensure each student receives the best possible education, so daily attendance is very important and we take it seriously at DFS. To help families reflect on last year's attendance and plan for improvements, 2023-24 personalized attendance reports were shared last week via email to students' guardians listed in Infinite Campus. If you did not receive this email, please contact DFS. A sample of a prior year's report is below.

During PM carpool dismissal, parents enter their child's carpool number once they are in line along Daniels Farm Road using the link below. The link allows daily access to a Google Form as follows:

1. Open the form (LINK: https://forms.gle/CDjvEC31yvPabfqL6 or use the QR code on the right)
2. Enter your child's carpool number.
3. Hit "submit".
4. Repeat this process for each child you are picking up that day.

This must be done each day you are picking up a student. Please DO NOT enter your number until you are in the car line on Daniels Farm Road or there will be too many students in the waiting area. If you bookmark the form on your phone, it will be easy to access on the days you need it. Below you will find a short video demonstrating the process.

Instructional Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzaVbMQwYjYZ17V__qhjQYDQQUILLXJc/view?usp=sharing

Please read and follow these important rules to keep all our students, families and staff safe.

• We do not sacrifice safety for convenience and speed.

• PARENTS MUST STAY IN THEIR VEHICLE. Students should be able to exit the vehicle during AM carpool drop off without parental help. This allows for a smooth flow of traffic so that students can be in class on time.

• All students must enter and exit on the passenger's side of the car.

• Please pull up all the way to the blue sign at the top of the circle.

• Cars must stay in line and only pass other vehicles if directed by DFS staff.

• When exiting carpool, please turn right only. Left turns are extremely dangerous due to blind spots created by the line of traffic and rate of speed of oncoming cars.

• Morning drop-off begins at 8:20AM and ends at 8:35AM. Students may not exit their vehicle until 8:20AM during carpool drop off. Staff is on duty at 8:20AM each morning, with no supervision prior to this time. Allowing your child out of the vehicle early places them in a potentially dangerous situation.

• Afternoon pickup begins at 3:15PM and ends at 3:35PM. Students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade should be picked up from 3:15 to 3:25 PM. Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade should be picked up from 3:25 - 3:35PM. After this time, students are brought to the front office.

• Parents choosing to walk their children to carpool may enter the area from the front or rear of the property. You may not walk through the bus area. You may not park in the staff lot and walk your child to carpool to avoid waiting in line.

Our DFS website is another great source of ongoing information!

DFS WEBSITE LINK: https://dfes.trumbullps.org/