Welcome to the Dragon Den!

Keep Bus Passes Over Summer for Next Year!

Please be sure to keep track of your child's bus pass this summer. They will need that same pass next year to ride the bus safely.

The bus pass works for the duration of a student’s Tacoma Public Schools career. If a student switches routes, schools, addresses, etc., the same bus pass will still work.

Replacing a bus pass will cost $5. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch will not be charged for replacements.

As a reminder, students receiving special education transportation do not carry a pass. However, they receive the same benefits of the pass through services provided by their bus driver.

Lunch Monitor - 3 hours a day at an hourly rate

Crossing Guards - Morning and afternoon crossing guard positions at an hourly rate.

If you are interested in more information, please contact Mr. Konishi at ekonish@tacoma.k12.wa.us

You are invited to come and meet your teacher for 2025-26 school year. On August 27th, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, the staff will be here to meet you! You may also bring your supplies so you do not have to worry about bringing them on the first day of school. Hope to see you then!

Dear DeLong Kindergarten Families,

I am excited to announce that beginning next year we are implementing a K-1 Looping program here at DeLong Elementary involving current Kindergarten and First Grade staff. What this means for you and your child is that they will stay with their current class and teacher moving up to First Grade next year. The purpose for doing this model is keep with continuity of the classroom with their teacher. This will also reduce the amount of time spent at the beginning of the new school year getting to know the teacher and learning classroom expectations which will then allow us to get right into the first-grade curriculum sooner. So, to recap here is what will happen:

1) Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Brown will loop up to first grade with their current class.

2) They will stay in their current classrooms.

3) Mrs. LeCompte and Mrs. Nalty will be moving to kindergarten and at the conclusion of the 25-26 school year will follow the same pattern and loop up with their group.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Mr. Konishi

Principal

• Transitional Kindergarten - Mrs. Adams
• Kindergarten - Mrs. LeCompte and Mrs. Nalty
• First Grade - Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Olsen
• Second Grade - Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Rossmaier
• Third Grade - Mrs. Balerud and Mrs. Vig
• Fourth Grade - Mrs. Cocke' and Mrs. McDowall
• Fifth Grade - Ms. Fagan and Ms. Leobell
• Title I - Mr. Sakai
• LAP - Mrs. Green
• LRC - Ms. DeRusha and Mrs. Manion
• ML - Mrs. Grigholm
• Specialists - No changes as of June 2, 2025
• IC - Mrs. Pearce
• PT - Mrs. Wigstrom-Hoseth
• Psychologist - Mrs. Schmidt
• Speech - Mrs. Clark-Snustad

Next year medication and health plans need to be turned into the school nurse before your student can attend school. Medication(s) and health plans MUST be brought in by the first day of school.

Thank you for your understanding.

August 27th

Annual Meet and Greet - 4:00 - 5:30 pm

Please come to meet your teacher! You may bring supplies so they are here on the first day of school.

September 3rd

First Day of School - Grades 1-5

September 8th

First Day of School - TK and Kindergarten

September 10th

First Late Start Day - 10:00 am

Have a wonderful summer!🎉

Registration is open for weekly programs available to TPS elementary school student this summer. Programs are similar to Beyond the Bell - run by Parks Tacoma in Tacoma's schools. Financial assistance is available.

The Parks Tacoma Summer Meal Program provides free lunch to all youth age 18 and younger over the summer, from Junes 23rd through August 28th. In addition, games, crafts and other activities are led by Parks Tacoma staff.

Pre-registration for Tacoma Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge opens June 2nd! Once registered, you can start tracking your reading beginning June 21st and participate in activities to earn amazing prizes such as tickets to a Rainiers baseball game, Ice Cream Social coupons, Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek tickets, Legendary Doughnuts coupons, and more! You can register via the Beanstack app on a mobile device, by going to the Tacoma Public Library website. And if you register on Beanstack, you’ll be entered into bi-weekly raffles with even MORE prizes!. A paper tracking log is available through the TPL website if you’d prefer not to use an app. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to ALL ages, including younger siblings and adults, so sign up today! Reminder – tracking minutes and activities doesn’t begin until June 21st😊. Happy Summer Reading!

Thank you for supporting PTA this year!

Thank you, PTA for pitching in and helping DeLong to purchase a new (much needed) Laminator

During the month of April, we popped 267 bags of popcorn!

Thank you all volunteers!

Please take a look at all the programs that there are available. If you need more information please contact Ms. Slaughter.

If you have transportation questions or issues on the bus after 4 pm please call First Student at 253.272.7750 Extension 1