**Book Fair 04/08 - 04/12**

Monday 04/08: Solar eclipse

Tuesday 04/09: 4th grade field trip, Girls on the run, Sandpiper Singers CANCELLED, Family book fair 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Wednesday 04/10

Thursday 04/11: Girls on the Run, Lego League Explore, ELL/Bilingual Family Night 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Friday 04/12: Special Olympics at ECMS, Wear you favorite sports team shirt or wear orange to say goodbye to Coach King!

FUTURE EVENTS:

04/16 FAST ELA PM 3 2nd grade

04/17 FAST ELA PM 3 1st grade

04/18 FAST ELA PM 3 K

04/19 FAST ELA PM K-2 makeups

04/19 Field Day

04/22 5th grade visits ECMS

Fun Fact: Monday is the first total solar eclipse since 2017 and the last total solar eclipse visible from the US until 2044.

As you may know, a total solar eclipse is on the horizon Monday, April 8th. The weather forecast shows partly cloudy skies the entire day and the panhandle will only experience 70-80% coverage during the eclipse. The whole event will last about two hours.

At this time, there will be no alterations to school or transportation schedules. However, while under our care you can expect students will be guided not to look directly at the sun. The safety of our students is always our top priority. We ask that parents and guardians also speak to their children about avoiding direct eye contact with the eclipse.

This is an incredible opportunity for science to come to life in real-time for our students, and if teachers can do so safely, they may use this as a teaching tool. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.

Please see the attached flyer for important safety reminders and viewing guidelines. At NO TIME during the eclipse will direct, unprotected viewing of the sun be safe in our geographic location. Students participating in outdoor viewing will be supervised and reminded of these safety concerns by staff and appropriate viewing tools including solar filtered glasses will be made available. A LIVE stream of the event will also be available to students inside.

Please see our Scholastic link for book fair information and sign up for e-wallet for purchasing options!

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/dunelakeselementaryschool1

Your opinion matters! Each year Dune Lakes Elementary collects data and input from stakeholders regarding its overall climate and culture. Parent feedback is important and serves as an important starting point for setting yearly goals and focuses for improvement. It is important for us to collect feedback from as many stakeholders as possible in order to ensure the most accurate picture of our school's strengths and weaknesses. We are asking that you take a moment to complete the brief survey linked below.

Are you a parent of a bilingual student? Then we invite you and your student to a special night centered around resources and activities to help your English language learner be successful this school year and in the future.

Information coming soon! If your student has been identified as needing extra help and support this summer, a letter will be sent home.

8:00AM -1:00 PM

Week 1 - June 11-13

Week 2 - June 17-21

Week 3 - June 27-27

Week 4 - July 8-12

Several Sandpipers and instructor Meredith Flowers participated in the International Academic Competition at Butler Elementary School this weekend. International Academic Competition is an organization that oversees a portfolio of academic competitions for students in over 50 countries. Seven students from Dune Lakes Elementary qualified at the Regionals tournament this past Saturday, and will be traveling to Orlando next month to compete at Nationals! Congratulations to Victor Vallee (5th), Oliver Shine (5th), Molly Tatum (5th), Henry Walleck (5th), Mia Emhoff (4th), Daniel Redman (4th), and Teddy Petersik (4th). We are so proud of our Sandpipers!

Does your student know the AVID word of the week? Join us in promoting a robust vocabulary at home by using it with your student!

The DLE Family is sad to see Coach Becky King retire, but appreciate all that she has given to our students and staff. Best wishes Coach! Have your students wear their favorite sports shirt or wear orange on Friday, April 12th to say farewell to Coach King! Go Vols!

Students in the Garden Club harvested more lettuce last week which found its way onto plates in the Sandpiper Cafe!

Congratulations to Madilyn Saukira, 2nd grade, placing in the 2024 Judges' Award!

Congratulations once again to the Alligator Bus! Students passed 435 AR tests this month! Shout out to the Horse Bus with 399 and Bunny Bus with 398 tests passed. Students on the Alligator Bus will receive a special prize. Principal Michie drove Mrs. Cales' Horse Bus to congratulate them on their growth and work this month! For April, students are challenged to be the bus with the highest overall test accuracy.

Please take a moment to review your student's progress in Lexia heading into the end of the school year. Is your student on track for their grade level? What units are they struggling in?

The Lexia Parent Report (shown below) gives you insight into your student's specific strength and weaknesses. Look closely at areas identified as "needs instruction", overall accuracy on each unit, and time spent on units.

Lexia is a literacy program for all students that targets them at their ability level to accelerate learning. No matter where your student is in their reading, Lexia targets their needs and helps them grow and improve. Challenge your student to meet their weekly goal and move to the next level by completing just 15 minutes in the program each evening at home. Login through Classlink or speak with your teacher about ways to access for your student.

Your student has access through Classlink and at floridastudents.org to original tutorials in math, reading, and science. These interactive video tutorials can help your student review content and be successful on the upcoming FAST exams in May.

Please contact the front office if you have questions or changes regarding your student's transportation. You can also check your student's bus online by visiting the link below and sign up for the Here Comes the Bus tracking app using the attached flyers below.

Parents are encouraged to either read with or encourage their student to read for 20 minutes a day! Reading daily improves student standardized testing performance, spelling, writing, grammar, and vocabulary!

Reading is an important part of growing student achievement. Beginning this month, bus riders will be reading to earn recognition as the top Accelerated Reader Bus of the Month! The winning bus will earn special recognition, a special prize for every rider, and have the principal drive their bus route home at the end of the month! Encourage your student to bring their AR book on the ride to and from school. This month students with the highest cumulative test average will receive earn top honors!

1. Go to https://launchpad.classlink.com/walton
2. Click Renaissance Place
3. Log in and Test!

For additional questions please contact Ms. Carroll mailto:rachel.gonzalez@walton.k12.fl.us

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.

.https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fortifyfl-tip-reporting/id1435824190

Please pay any past due balances. For your convenience, sign up for EZ school pay https://www.ezschoolpay.com/Login.aspx

Encourage your student to explore the new a la carte menus options in the Sandpiper Cafe! In addition to the many new healthy single options, students may also choose from fresh grab n' go salad options. See the menu below. Cash only.

Great things are cooking this month in the Sandpiper Cafe!

Our nurse's office is in need of more clothing . If you can donate, we would appreciate the following items:

Boys shorts/pants - S, M, L

Girls shorts/pants (needed the most) - S, M, L

Girls shirts (needed the most) - S, M, L

Items sent home do not need to be returned. If you would like to donate them back, we are happy to take them back.

Fever Reminders:

A fever is a temperature of 100 degrees or more. Students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications before they can return to school.

Students showing visible signs and symptoms will be sent to nurse and parents will be notified. Any affected student must provide front office with signed proof indicating treatment. Additional information is available on the WCSD Health Services at https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/page/school-health-services

**REMINDER -All volunteers are to submit and application and complete an affidavit annually (even if you have a WCSD volunteer badge).

1. Fill out a volunteer affidavit. This will need to be notarized and signed by a DLE administrator.

2. Complete online application, upload affidavit or leave with school secretary to attach.

3. Schedule background check and *fingerprints, $75 at the district office for chaperone permission.

*WCSD currently does not accept fingerprints from outside agencies. To schedule background and fingerprints, please call 850-892-1100 x1154. Background and fingerprints are good for 5 years, however steps 1 and 2 are to be renewed annually.

**You must have a background check to be a designated chaperone.

https://dle.walton.k12.fl.us/o/wcsd/page/volunteer-information

• Volunteers, please be sure to check out by 1:15.
• When turning in a doctor's note for your child's absence, we ask that you please send us the original note from the physician's office. Notes should include student name, date they were seen and what days they are excused for. Doctor notes are excused absences. Altered notes will not be accepted. Notes need to be submitted within 3 days of the absence. For your convenience, notes may be emailed to mailto:dleinfo@walton.k12.fl.us
• If you would like notification that your child has checked out a library book, please log into FOCUS and make this change. This must be done each year.
• All transportation changes must be received by 1:30 p.m. If you are sending a request via email, please send your email to DLEinfo@walton.k12.fl.us and include a picture of ID. If you did not receive a confirmation, please call the office. This is for safety purposes.
  
• 🚩 NO EARLY CHECK-OUTS ARE ALLOWED AFTER 1:45 P.M., please arrive prior to this for any appointments. You will be asked to go to the car line and wait for your student after this time.
• Walkers: All walkers must have a walker waiver on file at the front office. Parents picking up their walkers are required to have the walker pass issued by the front office. We will not release any student to parents at the walker exit without this pass. Please call the office for specific walker guidelines 850-622-5012.

UPCOMING:

• 2024 Book Fair, April 8-18th: Sign up to volunteer during one of the greatest events of the year! We have multiple opportunities here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/volunteer
• Booster General Meeting: April 16th at 8:00AM in the cafeteria! Join us to go over all remaining events for the year and the 24-25 School Year Booster Board Election. If you would like to apply to serve on the Board, all Nominating Forms are due by April 8th! Nominating Form Here: Sandpiper+Boosters,+Inc.+Nominating+Form+24-25_Fillable.pdf (squarespace.com)
• 2024 Field Day: April 19th! If you have lost or outgrown your class t-shirt, all orders must be placed by April 15th. Order Here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/spiritshop.The Boosters will also be onsite at Field Day selling Booster gear!

• 2024 Teacher Appreciation Week! Save The Date: May 6 – 10th! We are looking for Sponsors to help the Boosters make this a special week for our teachers and staff! Sponsor Here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/sponsorships

Stay up to date on the latest at https://www.facebook.com/sandpiperboosters

Sandpiper Boosters Spirit Shop – Shop all things Sandpipers Here : https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/spiritshop

Coast Hippie x Sandpiper – Ongoing Fundraiser – They introduced new colors for the Youth Hoodies last week! Check them out here ::https://coasthippie.com/collections/do-good

Save the Date! Make sure to take a look at the events for the remainder of the year: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/620d0dc30beaf9407c7ea2f5/t/64c03f11558d300921864d48/1690320658134/23-24+Sandpiper+Boosters+Calendar_UPDATED+07.24.23.pdf

Help the Boosters prepare snacks for upcoming tests! We have over 2,000 snacks to pack! Sign up here : https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/volunteer

Stay connected with Remind! We've created a new school Remind account for the 23-24 school year. All previous school accounts have been closed. Please rejoin our DLE Remind by texting our school code @dle2324 to 81010.

If you have questions, concerns or comments, you can contact us through Let's Talk. Simply click here and reach out to us.

The Walton County School District is now offering parents access to their children’s information. Your connection to students’ education/academic information is now available online. You will be able to view your children’s data in these areas: student grades, daily attendance, teacher email account for each class, school messages and upcoming events, and more. Use the QR code or follow the instructions below.

Step 1

• To register or reset your password for the Parent Portal please visit the following link:
  https://walton.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/

Step 2

• The following information is required to setup a Focus Parent Portal Account.

  1. Child’s student identifier (10 digit number beginning with 66 assigned by the district).
  2. Student’s date of birth.
  3. Parent Portal Registration PIN. If your child has a portal account, they can provide you with the PIN by viewing the General tab under My Information. Or you can obtain your PIN from the school office.

  Once your account has been created you will have access to the Parent Portal at the following site: https://walton.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/

Mission Statement: By living our character pledge, we will educate with passion, inspire pride of self and cultivate meaningful relationships with our students and families, staff and community.

Vision Statement: To inspire personal responsibility, civic duty and a passion for lifelong learning

Email: DLEinfo@walton.k12.fl.us
Website: https://dle.walton.k12.fl.us/
Location: 6565 U.S. 98 E, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA
Phone: 850-622-5012
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DuneLakesSandpipers