DFS Dolphin Weekly Update
September 16, 2023
Welcome to the DFS Dolphin Weekly Update!
Our weekly newsletter is designed to keep you abreast of all the action at DFS and also get you ready for the upcoming week of school. Please take a few minutes over each weekend to read it in its entirety. Thank you!
Upcoming Events
*If a day of the week is not listed below, it is because there were no major events to detail.
- Peace Week - Mindful Monday
- Strings Lessons
Tuesday, September 17
- School Picture Day
- DFS PTA Meeting - 7:00PM @ Learning Commons
Wednesday, September 18
- DFS Dot Day - Wear Dots!
Thursday, September 19
- DFS Peace Week - Tie Dye Thursday - Wear Your Tie Dye Clothing!
- Band Lessons
Friday, September 20
- DFS Peace Week - Pinwheels for Peace
Quote of the Week
“The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.”
Photo of the Week
DFS students participate in a wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities designed to help them set goals for improvement over the course of the 2024-25 school year.
Weekly Attendance Data
With only 181 days to learn each school year, every day truly does matter. If your child is not ill, the best place for them is DFS! Please take a look at the week's attendance data and help us ensure all students maximize learning this year.
Daily Attendance
Monday: 96.9%
Tuesday: 97.3%
Wednesday: 99.0%
Thursday: 97.5%
Friday: 95.9%
August/September Daily Attendance Average: 98.0%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Kindergarten: 98.6%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade One: 97.8%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Two: 97.8%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Three: 97.7%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Four: 98.4%
Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Five: 98.0%
Peace Week
DFS Dot Day - Wednesday, September 18
International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.
The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.
Mrs. Shiller has worked in each grade level to decorate the DFS hallways with their version of a creative dot! Photos of this incredible display will be posted in next week's newsletter!
Wear your dots on Wednesday, September 18!
Last Chance To Log Summer Reading!
Please use the link below to log your child's summer reading. The process takes only a few minutes and allows your child to participate in our school summer reading celebration in September. Thank you!
Summer Reading Link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnAa-NU-GeKNUPO7iDK7iB130aqU1mc61wT5oGDZRq_a3kbQ/viewform
Last Chance to Log Summer Math Challenge!
Summer Math Reminder: Elementary Summer Math Website
All students that participated in the TPS Summer Olympics Math Program have 2 items due:
- Please be sure you have completed the Paper Summer Math Exit Ticket and send the corrected packet back to school to be handed to the classroom teacher. (Downloadable Packet and Answer Key can be found here for your entering grade level) Due by Friday 9/15/24 Summer Math Exit Ticket
- Please be sure to fill out this google form to be included in both the CT Commissioners Summer Math Challenge and the TPS Summer Math Olympics. Due by Friday, 9/15/24 CT Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge 2024 Form
Thank you!
Grade 3 International Observe the Moon Night
Fall ASE Last Call for Sign Up
Parent Portal Training
Future Stars Basketball
Cub Scout Lego Racing
Band & Strings Informational Links
Now is the time to enroll your child in our band and strings programs. Please use the link below to access information and enrollment instructions. Students love working with Mr. McGrath and grow by leaps and bounds throughout the year!
Band & Strings Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsZn3Y61JCQKX07KdYTvvrB0eAsIitZlXKgdiVcHn6jER7BQ/viewform
Carpool Number Entry Form Directions
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:
- Open the form (LINK: https://forms.gle/CDjvEC31yvPabfqL6 or use the QR code on the right)
- Enter your child's carpool number.
- Hit "submit".
- 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
Carpool Procedures
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.