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Dragon Digest- Family Edition
2023-2024 May 1, 2024
A Message from DOES Administration
Can you believe that it is May already? This year sure has flown by. Your children have been working so hard and have grown so much this year. As we wrap up this year, we are taking our PM3 Assessments which will show our student's proficiency with grade-level standards and their growth this year in reading, math, and science. I highly encourage you to go over this as a family and celebrate the growth your child has made. We will be using this data to set goals in August with all students as well. Your child must be here every day so they can test with their teacher whom they are most comfortable with. Please encourage them to go to bed early and then do their very best each day and take their time. It's not a race and we really want them to show what they know and have learned this year- it's very important. Thank you for your support with this!
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 6-10th. We will be doing an Amazing Race Week for them. Thank you very much to all of the families who sent in donations to help make this special week possible. Our staff at Denham Oaks is one of a kind and deserves to be recognized for all that they do. During this week, we celebrate everyone- our Teachers, IA's, Instructional Coaches, Office Staff, Lunchroom Staff, Custodians, School Counselors, and other Support Staff. Your child(ren) can continue to help us recognize our staff each day by doing the following:
Monday- Bring staff member(s) a drink to keep them hydrated through the "race"
Tuesday- Bring a staff member(s) a flower to help them see the "amazing" beauty in our students
Wednesday- Bring a staff member a special snack to keep them fueled to continue the "race"
Thursday- Write a special note thanking staff member(s)
Friday- Surprise a staff member with something special as they cross the finish line today
Kindergarten Registration for next year is currently open. All of our registration is now done online. I have made a button below for you to click on and register today. Please register ASAP so we make sure we can make our classes properly and prepare for next year. Mark your calendars for August 1st and 2nd for Kindergarten Camp. It will be held from 9:00-12:30pm. Please make sure your incoming kindergarten student can attend. We are looking forward to meeting all our new Dragons soon!
Bell times for 2024-2025 9:40am-3:50pm- we will stay the same as this year!!!!
We have many large projections going on at school this summer- new car line area, new playground, new cafeteria floors, etc.- with all of these big projects going on, we will NOT be hosting summer camps this year.
ESY - Extended School Year- invites have gone out in myStudent to those students who qualify for this summer program. It will be held at Lake Myrtle Elementary from June 10-June 27. Please check your myStudent Portal for the letter. If your child has been invited make sure you send back your RSVP and transportation information this week. If you have additional questions- please contact Mrs. Barber.
No more campus lunches due to our daily testing schedules and having a quiet campus. If you have a lunch coupon- no worries- you can save it for use next year.
Stay tuned to your myStudent communication over the summer for important information regarding the 2024-2025 School Year. I will send one more newsletter home to families during the last week of school with important summer information.
Kelly Wisneski, Principal
Kori Barber, Assistant Principal
Mark Your Calendars...Important Dates in May
May Happenings...
3- 5th Grade Visit to CCMS for Mary Poppins Production
3- Student of the Month
6-10 Staff Appreciation Week- Amazing Race!
6- PTA Meeting
12- Happy Mother's Day
15- All Pro Dad's
16th- Last SAC Meeting in conjunction with PTA General Assembly Meeting 8:45am in Media Center
16th- Instrument Ensemble Performance
17th- PBIS Drum Circle Day
20th- 5th Grade Field Trip to Busch Gardens
21st- Staff VS 5th Grade Kickball Game
22nd- 5th Grade Water Day
23rd- 5th Grade Awards 2pm
23rd- 5th Grade and Senior Clap out 3:15pm
24th- Last Day of School
June
10- Extended School Year (ESY) starts
7,14,21, NO ESY
27- Last Day for ESY
Spirit Days for May
6-Team Sports Day- Dress in your favorite team gear
7- Favorite hat day
8- Dress like your favorite musician or band
9- PJ's Day
10- DOES Spirit Day- Wear your favorite DOES shirt
17- DOES Spirit Day- wear your green anchor shirt
24- Summer Wear
Important Dates for 5th Grade Students
We are excited to have our 5th Grade End of the Year activities planned for our Class of 2024. Below are the dates and information about each one. Please read carefully so you know what is coming up for your child.
May 20th- 5th Grade Field Trip to Busch Gardens- must pay on Rycor in advance. This event is for students and parents. Parents must be a Pasco County Schools Approved Volunteer to chaperone. More information will be sent home soon from your child's homeroom teacher. Most of our students have already paid and are good to go!
May 21st- 5th Graders vs Staff Kickball game. This event is for students only.
May 22nd- 5th Grade Water Day and Picnic Lunch. This event is for students and a limited number of volunteers. Your homeroom teacher will send home more information about this in order to secure volunteers and donations.
May 23rd- 5th Grade Awards Ceremony 2:00pm in Cafeteria. Clap Out will follow at 3:30pm. We also invite High School Seniors to lead the Clap Out who have attended DOES- they need to arrive by 3:15pm
**In order for a 5th grade student to attend these events, they must be in good standing with their behavior at schools. Referrals due to inappropriate behavior will result in loss of these events. Please have a serious conversation about this with your child.
Health and Wellness...
It is typical to get a cold or be sick a the beginning of the school year- new germs everywhere. Many students are coming to school sick and we wanted to remind you our Wellness and COVID protocols. In Pasco County, the flu, strep and COVID are going around so we want to make sure everyone protects themselves and others from getting sick.
In order to protect the health and safety of staff, students, and visitors, all those who access Pasco County School locations, including vaccinated individuals, must self-screen daily for symptoms and other risk factors of COVID-19.
The screeners for employees, students and visitors can be found at this link.
Respect and Civility Policy
Respect and Civility Board Policy 8380
Pasco County Schools has a Respect and Civility Policy. Please read the link below so you are familiar with it. We continue to have many families calling and yelling at the office staff, administration, teachers and other parents. This is not ok! We teach our students to be respectful and not to do this and then they are watching their adults do this daily.
As I have said before, we work VERY hard to help you when you call or come in to the office, sometimes we can't always give you the answer you want. We know the bus situation is frustrating and so is the long car line- we ask for your patience and grace- we are doing all we can to help. We will abide by our school policies with change of dismissal, attendance and other areas that involve your child's safety. Again, please familiarize yourself with the link below so we can work positively together with you as a school community.
Don't forget to pay your Student Fees...these are used to purchase what we need at DOES!
- Have a major credit card available to pay student fees online
- All students must pay their school fee of $33.
Important Contact Information to Remember
Denham Oaks Main Line 813-794-1600
Report an Absence does.pasco.k12.fl.us
Clinic 813-794-1605
Cafeteria 813-794-1678
PLACE 813-794-1692
Bus Transportation 813-794-0520
District Office 813-794-1691
Denham Oaks Website does.pasco.k12.fl.us
Change of Dismissal Form https://does.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=52903
If students need to be leave early, they must be signed out prior to 3:15pm.
Always bring your ID for signing out students or volunteering- no exceptions!
DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY
Here at Denham Oaks we pride ourselves on three principles:
Be Responsible – “Doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.”
Being responsible is coming to school on time, being prepared and ready to learn, and using good character. It is important to do what is expected and always try your best.
Be Respectful – “Treating others the way you want to be treated.”
Being respectful is treating self, staff, peers and school property with kindness. Being considerate of others’ feelings and being tolerant of differences in all areas of the school and our community is important.
Be Safe - “Be aware of what is happening around you.”
Being safe is making choices that keep yourself and others free from harm. We work hard on teaching Self Control. This is keeping hands, feet, hurtful words and objects to ourselves.
Parents and families can reinforce these same ideas at home and in the community. When we are all using the same language, a child can truly understand and practice these skills.
CELL PHONES AND SMART WATCHES
**NEW CELL PHONE POLICY for all Pasco County Schools
Grades Pre-K through 5: Students in grades Pre-K through 5 who bring WCDs (wireless communication devices) to school must ensure that they remain on silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day. Classroom teachers may also provide, and student may utilize, a cell phone storage area in their classroom. Students will need to put their cell phones on silent and their smart watches and put them in the bookbags once arriving on campus each day. Please have a conversation with your child prior to the first day of school so they know that they MUST silence their devices and put them away during the ENTIRE school day- no exceptions. Refer to pg. 17 of the Student Code of Conduct for more details and corrective actions/confiscation of device procedures.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays are a special time, especially for children. It is important for you to make arrangements PRIOR to your child’s special day with your child’s teacher. All food provided in school for birthdays must be purchased from our school cafeteria- you MAY NOT send in store bought food or treat bags for students. You can contact our Cafeteria Manager at 813-794-1678 to purchase birthday snacks, this must be done 2 weeks prior to the day you are requesting it for. You can also download the order form from our webpage: does.pasco.k12.fl.us.
While every teacher/classroom has a different way to recognize birthdays, it is important to remember that school is NOT a place to hold your child’s party. Party favors/gift bags will not be given out and presents should not be brought to school for a child to open. Please do not have gifts or flowers delivered to school for your child. They will be held in the front office until the end of the day.
Volunteers
Volunteers are a vital part of building relationships between schools, parents, community members, and business partners, while adding value to the educational experience of Pasco County students. Anyone wishing to volunteer at a Pasco County school must complete a volunteer application. Florida law requires all school volunteers to undergo a new background check each year. Please complete a Volunteer Application available on the Pasco County District website or by clicking the button below.
Stay Connected with Us!
We have many avenues of communication to stay connected with families. Keep an eye out!
Monthly for Parents Dragon Digest Newsletter
Denham Oaks Website https://does.pasco.k12.fl.us/
School Messenger (Phone and Email)
Denham Oaks PTA Facebook Page Denham Oaks PTA
Twitter/ X @DenhamOaks
Instagram DenhamOaksElementary
Website: https://does.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 1422 Oak Grove Boulevard, Lutz, FL, USA
Phone: (813)794-1600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenhamOaksPta/
Twitter: @DenhamOaks
DOES Mission
School Bell Hours
It is very important that students are in school bell to bell to maximize their learning.
~9:20 am Campus open, breakfast served
~9:40 am Tardy Bell
~3:50 pm Dismissal Bell