Dolphin Dispatch

Hello Dolphin Families,

1. Attendance Matters - Our school averaged 94% attendance for the month of August - this is 2% below our goal of 96% (which is still lower than the state recommended 98%) This equates to 504 days of missed learning in the first month of school, which also means our school lost approximately $30k of state reimbursement funds. How can we all work together to bring our attendance up?

• Come to school each day on-time.
• Stay home with vomiting or a fever, so we do not spread illness to others.
• Plan vacations over one of our 3 planned two-week school breaks.
• If you know your child will miss 3 or more days, contact the office at least 10 school days in advance (this is a new requirement from the state that took effect in July.)
• Call the attendance line at (925) 809-7541 if your child is out sick. (It is still an absent day, but it is not truant.)

2. Boys Night Out - Friday, September 20th - Be sure to check out PTA's Boys Night Out event coming up soon! This event was moved from the springtime, so if you are interested in attending this is your event. Our Girls Gala will still be hosted in the Spring. Scroll down to see the flyer for the event and the link to purchase tickets.

3. Peter and Wendy Play @ EMS - Be sure to catch one of the NINE showings of Peter and Wendy at Excelsior Middle School. These productions are always top notch - and you will forget you are even at a middle school production! Showtimes and ticket purchase link are down below.

4. Parking Lot Etiquette - All parking lot processes are created for student safety, and the way we keep all students safe is with everyone following the process. This is another reminder that the two lanes in our parking lot function just like a drive-through at a local restaurant:

• The driver remains in the vehicle at all times.
• You pull forward when the car in front of you does, and you pull all the way forward when there is no one in front of you.
• If the driver has to get out of the car, they must pull into a marked spot, or park on the street.
• The left lane is for entering / exiting the lot - students may not enter or exit the vehicle in the left lane.

5. Fall Break is Coming Up - Our fall break is approaching! Just a reminder that there is no school from Monday, September 30th - Friday, October 11th. School resumes our regular schedule on Monday, October 14th. If you need assistance with childcare, please contact Ms. Ana with the Academy at ahofferber@byron.k12.ca.us.

Have a wonderful week!

#DolphinsMakingWaves,

Erika Parlog

Principal

• September 9 -
• September 10 -
• September 11 - Patriot Day - Wear Red, White and Blue
• Early Release Wednesday
• TK 12:30
• K-3rd 12:45
• 4-5th 12:55
• September 12 -
• September 13 -

1. Attendance Line: (925) 809-7541
2. Email: dbeattendance@byron.k12.ca.us
3. Absent phone calls begin to go out at 10am. We do our best to have all calls and emails entered by that time. If you have ever been in our school office in the morning, however, it can be a very busy place!
4. Absences can only be recorded within 72 hours of the absent day. Please contact the office asap if your child is absent, and provide a medical note if a physician is consulted or seen. It is considered a truant day if the absence is not reported by a parent/guardian.
5. Students must be here to learn. While there is A LOT of research around the importance of school attendance, the most important thing to know is that children have to be here to learn. Just missing 1 day a month, over the 10 month school year, at 6 hours a day is 60 HOURS of learning time lost. There is no amount of work we can send home that takes the place of being here. 😊

So many of the great things (art, library, stem lab, field trips, and more!) that happen on this campus are due in large part to the support of our PTA! A strong PTA is also a sign of a strong school community. Please click the link and join today!

The BEST place to have your questions answered is to begin with the source:

• Classroom routines, procedures, concerns - Begin with an email or phone call to the teacher. You can expect a response within 24 hours (not including weekends.)
• School policies and procedures - Begin with the website, then the main office with a phone call or email. You can expect a response within 24 hours, if not significantly sooner.
• PTA Events and questions - An email to DBPTApresident2425@gmail.com is a great place to start! Sometimes these can be answered on our parent Facebook page Discovery Bay Elementary Parents.

• We have the BEST TRIFECTA of students, staff and families!
• Everyone who works here does a lot with a little (we have an amazing small town with small town resources) and we all wear many hats. We do our best to be perfect, may sometimes get it wrong, but we will always do our best to make it right.
• We really do love what we do, and we cherish the privilege of caring for your child. In the beginning of the year we are all getting to know one another, so please help us to learn your child's unique needs and preferences.
• Our volunteers are incredible, and we need them! Please remember all they do for us, and be sure to thank them for the generosity with their time.

Address: 1700 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay, CA 94505

Website: https://www.discoverybayelementary.us/

Phone: (925) 809-7540

Principal: Erika Parlog

Office Manager: Heather Capelli

Attendance Clerk: Barb Morgan