THIS WEEK:

Monday 01/27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Tuesday 01/28: 5th grade District Writes, Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck fund raiser 6:30-9:00 AM, Sandpiper Boosters General Meeting 8:00- 9:00 AM, School Advisory Council Meeting 2:45 in Media Center

Wednesday 01/29: 100th Day of School or Vocabulary Dress Up!

Thursday 01/30: STEM Night with Emerald Coast Science Center

Friday 01/31:

UPCOMING:

01/27 - 02/07: Florida Literacy Week

02/04: 4th grade District Writes

02/05: K, 1, 3rd grade District Writes

02/06: 2nd grade District Writes

This week is Literacy Week! Reading can significantly improve student's vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and overall knowledge by exposing them new information and different perspectives, while also potentially reducing stress and improving mental health.

To help encourage reading this week, Dune Lakes will be play guess the mystery reader each day, welcome in some special guest readers, participate in themed dress days and reading-themed activities including outdoor reading walks, science demos, and more! Students who take AR tests during the week will be entered into a raffle for prizes!

HUGE thank you to Mrs. Carroll our media specialist for her work in organizing the week for staff and students!

Think about some ways that you can encourage your student to read this Literacy Week!

We know that it's important to treasure the important things like time with family and friends and we can tell from the many snowmen, snow angels, snow balls, sleds, and smiling faces you shared that everyone enjoyed their time together! Thank you to the many families who sent in their photos! Check out the video below of our many sandpipers and their families!

Get charged up for a great day! Swing by our staff parking lot to grab a warm coffee, cappuccino, latte, and more from Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck on January 28th from 6:30 to 9:00 AM. Portions of revenue will be donated to Dune Lakes Elementary School.

Mic check 1-2, 1-2! It's time to apply to participate in the Musical Theatre Back Stage Crew! This is a leadership position for 3rd-5th grade students who are gifted in being a part of a team and who are creatives! Please fill out the attached google form for your child to be considered for this role. We can only accept 20 students for this position. Applications are due January 28th! Applications submitted after the due date will not be considered. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Skinner or Mrs. Winder.

The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students to participate in the Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring African American Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Black History Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States each year in the month of February.

Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award. For more information on these contests visit the link below.

The Black History Month art contest is open to all kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year's theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.

The Black History Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.

All entries must be received by 5 p.m. (ET) on Monday, February 3, 2025.

2025 Daddy Daughter Dance! Join us on Saturday, February 8 from 5-7P for a night of dancing, food, drinks and more! Tickets are limited and will not be sold the day of! Stay tuned for Sponsorship opportunities as well!

Have a parent or grandparent? Consider inviting them to sign up for the annual Senior Citizen Prom sponsored by South Walton High School's student government association (SGA).

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!

Congratulations to our Quarter 2 AR winners! Our top 250 point winner, Gray will receive a special lunch on our stage. Our 50 point winners will get an extra recess with the principal! Our 100 point winners will all get to enjoy a popsicle party!

2nd grade students Georgina Ojdana in Mrs. Ryan's class reviews Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Parents visiting on Monday and Friday are allowed to visit at the designated lunch time for their student. If you have more than one student, you are welcome to have lunch with them at their designated time. Students will not be pulled to eat with their siblings. Parents are to wait for their child's class to enter the "A" hallway, and may proceed to the cafeteria only. Visiting other classrooms is prohibited. Lunch visitors are to eat in the patio, and check out at the front office when leaving. PLEASE DO NOT EXIT FROM THE PATIO.

For your convenience, sign up for EZ school pay https://www.ezschoolpay.com/Login.aspx

Encourage your student to explore the a la carte menus options in the Sandpiper Cafe! See the menu below. Cash only.

Great things are cooking this month in the Sandpiper Cafe!

Please take the time to put your child's name on their backpacks, water bottles, coats, etc. Items will be collected and displayed outside cafeteria.

Medication at school:

The front desk cannot intake medications. Please call ahead to meet with the nurse who can assist with this.

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.

Lice reminders:

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

• 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. through Pikmykid.
  
• 🚩 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.

Did you know the over 20% of Dune Lakes students missed GREATER than 10 days of school last year?

We are learning every day! Help make sure your student stays on track by encouraging consistent attendance!

UPDATE If your child is not an every day bus rider, but may ride home with a friend or use bus to reach another approved destination, WE MUST have a parent note documenting this request on file. Please send an email to dleinfo@walton.k12.fl.us. We can also add this transportation change option for you in Pikmykid, but you must first contact our office.

Students have received bus tags for the back packs which support staff in quickly identifying the correct bus and parent. Please help us keep these securely fastened to your child's backpack.

You can track your student using the Here Comes the Bus Application. The Here Comes the Bus application provides the real-time location of your child’s bus on a map and gives scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes. It also provides push and email notifications when the bus is near. Sign up using the flyers below.

Please refer to your new student packet for instructions for Pikmykid app. We will process ALL transportation changes through Pikmykid. Parents may call the office for a change in an emergency or for help with the Pikmykid platform. Please see the resources and video tutorials below. Pikmykid is also available by phone to support users and parents.

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

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/

Booster General Meeting – January 28 from 8A-9A in the cafeteria! Come learn about all things Boosters!

2025 Daddy-Daughter Dance – Tickets on sale now! Join us on Saturday, February 8 from 5-7PM for a night of dancing, food, drinks, and more! Tickets are limited and will not be sold the day of.

Purchase Here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1140672414899?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sponsorships Available Here : Sponsorships — Sandpiper Boosters

Teacher Luncheons – Is your family or business interested in sponsoring one of our Teacher and Staff Luncheons? If so, the available dates and sponsorship opportunities are located here : Sponsorships — Sandpiper Boosters

Spirit Shop – You can shop Sandpiper Merch year-round! Shop Here : Spirit Shop — Sandpiper Boosters

24-25 Boosters Board of Directors - Jamie Lynn, President | Ashley Templeton, Vice President | Liz Branch, Treasurer | Jessica Standley, Secretary |Amber Archer, Director | Amity Hoch, Director | Randi Doris, Director | Brittany Golden, Director | Emily Madden, Director | Ortal Shaya-Montoya, Director | Lindsey Rogers, Director | Kristen Sandoe, Director

For all things Boosters – Make sure to visit our website here : Sandpiper Boosters

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

Stay connected with Remind! We've created a new school Remind account for the 24-25 school year. All previous school accounts have been closed. Please rejoin our DLE Remind by texting our school code @dle2425 to 81010.

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