Sunday Snapshot
Week of September 14th, 2026
Week 3 Updates
Dear Viking Families,
We are heading into Week Three, and this week marks our first full week of school! It has been wonderful to see our Vikings settling into routines, reconnecting with friends, building new relationships, and getting back into the rhythm of learning.
This week, we will also begin our fall reading and math baseline assessments. These assessments give our teachers valuable information about what each student already knows and where they may need additional support or opportunities for enrichment as we begin the year. Please remind your child that these assessments are simply a chance for teachers to see what they know right now—there is no need to worry about getting every answer right. We are excited to use what we learn to help every student grow and have a successful year.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we get this school year off to a great start! 💙🤍
With Viking Pride,
Mrs. Love
Upcoming Events
September
- 9/14 DCS Board of Ed Meeting 5:30 pm
- 9/15 PTO Meeting 4:00 pm in Mrs. Love's Office
- 9/17 DES Safety Drill
- 9/18 PTO Read a Thon Kick Off
- 9/23 DES Safety Drill
- 9/30 DCS Half Day of School-Viking Camp Offered
Attendance Matters
Loop & Walker Procedure Update-Must have green name sign
Thank you so much for your help with tightening up our student pick up procedures. This helps us keep your children safe and assures staff we are sending students home with the correct grownups. It takes a village to make procedures work smoothly, so we appreciate you all!
If you'd like extra signs for multiple vehicles or family/childcare members, we will print your family as many green name signs as needed. If you are in need of additional signs, reach out to our office and we will print them for you at ginger.agby@dundeeschools.org.
***If you are picking up your child in a vehicle, you should pick them up in the loop. Please do not park and walk up to the walker door for your child. This brings added traffic to our walker and bus area. Thank you for following our procedure!
Notes from the AP's Desk
Fourth-grade students are off to a great start to the 2026–2027 school year! Many students have already had the opportunity to participate in leadership roles throughout our school.
Our Little Leaders have been helping our Young 5s and kindergarten students with morning breakfast and afternoon buses. Fourth graders are also leading the morning announcements each day, as well as helping with our recycling crew on Tuesdays.
We recently added our Flag Leaders, who have the important responsibility of raising and lowering the flag each day. They were proudly trained by a member of the American Legion.
All of our fourth-grade leaders should feel proud of the help and support they provide each day. Their leadership, kindness, and willingness to help others are making our school an even better place to be!
Girls on the Run Interest
We'd like to bring Girls on the Run back to DES!
We are determined to bring the Girls on the Run program to Dundee 3rd & 4th graders this year. Each Girls on the Run team (8-15 participants) requires at least two volunteer coaches.
We currently have two coaches who will be trained. The more coaches we have, the more participants we can serve!
You don't have to be a runner to be a coach - coaches simply must be passionate about the mission of Girls on the Run, committed to working with a team twice a week for 8 weeks, and bring positive energy to each practice.
Will you help us inspire our girls to make positive choices, avoid negative behaviors and become leaders in our community?
Volunteer coaches are required to attend online training totaling approximately 6 hours. The season start date is flexible. Volunteers coach 90 minutes twice a week for eight weeks. Our team will likely meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45pm - 4:45pm. Girls on the Run will provide the training, curriculum, supplies and support! Coaches receive 50% off their child's registration fee. Sliding scale fee available to all families.
Please email Mrs. Love at Shana.love@dundeeschools.org if you are interested in your child participating or if you are interested in coaching. We are trying to seek interest numbers so we know how many coaches we will need.
Michigan's Safe Storage Law for Firearms
How to Be Connected to DES
Welcome to Aptegy Rooms for DCS!
We have transitioned to Apptegy Rooms over the summer 2026 for most school communications. Announcements and messages will be organized by students' classes and activities. Rooms will be your one-stop-shop for routine announcements from teachers and staff. You'll be able to message staff members right from the DCS app (Google Play Store | iOS App Store) just like we did previously with Bloomz.
More information will be coming from your child's teacher. For now, take some time to familiarize yourself with the DCS app and the basics of messaging with Rooms. If you have any questions, please reach out to us in the Tech Office at tech@dundeeschools.org.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Additionally, don't forget to have your parent portal set up in Infinite Campus (Instructions in the photo below). You will use this to pay for all field trips, access report cards, add money to your child's lunch account for extras or a la carte, and to review your child's attendance and registration information. 4th grade students ill be able to purchase snacks on the a la carte line once per week with funds on their account. Please call the office with any questions.
Mental Health Matters
Welcome Back to School!
We’re excited to welcome our students and families back for another wonderful school year! As you adjust to new routines, remember that mental health is just as important as academics. Your school social workers, Brandy Raymer, LLMSW (General Education Social Worker) and Katie Carter, LMSW (Special Education Social Worker) are here to support you.
If you or your family are looking for mental health or counseling services, Care Solace is a free, confidential resource that can quickly connect you to local providers. You can learn more at www.caresolace.com. For additional resources, The Monroe County Family Resource Guide is linked below.
Back-to-School Self-Care Tip: Start each evening by preparing for the next day—lay out clothes, pack lunches, and set aside a few minutes for deep breathing or reading. A calm evening makes for a smoother morning!
Substitutes Needed!
Notes from the Nurse
I am excited to get this school year going and cannot wait to see all of the students in the hallways again.
My hours are 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. If you have medication(s) your child will need to take during the school year, please bring them to school, along with the appropriate paperwork, anytime during office hours before school begins or at Open House. I look forward to a great school year! GO VIKINGS!
-Nurse Palmer
CAN Resources
Food Service Updates
All DES students will receive FREE breakfast and lunch during the 26/27 school year.
It is still very important to complete the free and reduced application forms in your back to school paperwork, regardless of your qualification status. This application process is essential for the district as it helps secure vital funding from the state and federal sources. Regardless of your income, please fill out this application. Thank you for your help with this matter!
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
PTO Updates
Our PTO has many fun events planned for our students and staff this year! We hope you'll find an opportunity to help support them in their good work!
- First PTO Meeting is September 15th at 4:00 pm in Mrs. Love's Office
- PTO Read-a-Thon September 18th-October 9th
- PTO Fall Book Fair
- PTO Holiday Shop
- PTO Spring Book Fair
Important DES Information
DES Full School Day Hours:
- The school day begins at 8:35 am and ends at 3:40 pm
- Our staff begins monitoring students at 8:15 am. Please do not drop off students prior to 8:15 am as there will not be any DES staff available to supervise them. Students dropped off from 8:15-8:25 will go to the playground with our supervisors and will then be dismissed to their classrooms. Students who purchase school breakfast will go to the cafeteria when they arrive unless they are in Y5 or kindergarten (their breakfast is served in the classroom).
Elementary School Handbook:
Dundee Community Schools Calendar:
Click for the District Calendar
Infinite Campus Parent Portal, Care Solace, OK2Say Links:
https://dundeemi.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/dundee.jsp
School Meal Payments:
At this time, breakfast and lunch are FREE for ALL students through September 30th, until we know plans for the state's budget. More information will come regarding next steps. We ask that all families please fill out the free/reduced meal form on our website, even if you don't normally qualify as this helps with important at-risk funding for the district.
Link to Food Service Department:
https://dundeecommunityschools.nutrislice.com/menu/dundee-elementary-school-k-5/lunch/2022-08-28
DES Facebook Page:
For reporting a student absent:
734-529-7044 Press 1
School Nurse: Rachel Palmer
734-529-2350 ext. 11013
Dundee Elementary School Vision & Mission Statements
Dundee Community Schools Vision & Mission Statements
Vision Statement
“Students First” – Inspire, Educate, Innovate, Celebrate
Mission Statement
Dundee Community Schools is setting a course for student success. We will challenge and inspire every student, every day, in every class through innovation and dedication ‐ promoting knowledgeable, responsible, and caring citizens.
Contact Information
420 Ypsilanti Dr.
Dundee, MI 48131
School Phone: 734-529-7044
School Fax: 734-529-3741
Principal: Mrs. Love shana.love@dundeeschools.org
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Cheney Nicole.cheney@dundeeschools.org
