Sandpiper Scoop

WEEK A

Monday 10/06: Sinfonia Strings, Girls Who Code

Tuesday 10/07: Garden Club, Sandpiper singers, Girls on the run, Dune Lakes Dines @ Bronzini

Wednesday 10/08: Odyssey of the Mind, Sinfonia Strings

Thursday 10/09: Robotics, Girls on the run

Friday 10/10: Teacher work day (no students), SWHS homecoming parade @ 1:30

Coming Soon:

10/13-10/17 Nation School Lunch Week

10/13-10/24: Fall Book Fair

10/15: OPEN HOUSE 4:00pm-6:00pm

10/16: Report cards go home

10/24: Fall Festival 4:30-6:30 PM

10/30: School Advisory Council Meeting
10/27 Make up pictures

10/31: Early release, teacher work day

For the 3rd consecutive year, Dune Lakes Elementary has been designated as a Florida School of Excellence for 2024-2025 by the Florida Department of Education. To be recognized, schools must score in the 80th percentile or higher for at least two of the last three school years based on their school grade calculation. Congratulations Sandpiper students, teachers, and families!

4th grade reading and math teachers transformed their classrooms to help students engage with their learning this week. They have been reading about Mary Anning, a young self-taught paleontologist who uncovered and searched for fossils near her home. She grew up in a poor family and often accompanied her father on trips to the cliffs near her home to find fossils which they sold. She became very interested in studying the fossils she was finding. She discovered some of the first examples of ichthyosaur, pterodactyl, and plesiosaur. Mary wasn’t taken seriously as a scientist in her lifetime because of her background, but today, Mary is recognized as a pioneer in the field of paleontology and is celebrated as one of the greatest fossil hunters of all time!

247 students had perfect attendance and will receive a free treat from Burger King!

Pack your bags! This week is National School Lunch Week and Sandpipers will be sampling delicious items from around the world as part of this year's "Taste the world: your school lunch passport" theme. Encourage your student to give school lunch a try during this week. Exciting prizes and activities will be provided for students participating in school lunch!

Elisha Lackie from 4th grade, Ms. O'Donnell's class is our October Library Patron of the Month! Check out his selection including The Wild Robot, The One and Only Bob, The Lemonade War, and more!

https://preview.scholasticbookfairs.com/hub?pkid=L3&flag=n

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

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!

Hello and welcome Sandpipers! My name is Meghan Turner, and I am your School Counselor at Dune Lakes Elementary. My role is to provide support to students, families, and teachers to ensure student success by promoting positive changes in student behavior, perceptions and learning.

Parents, please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding your child’s social, emotional, or academic needs.

850-622-5012 X 2712 or Meghan.turner@walton.k12.fl.us

Here’s to a great year!

October is Honesty Month! Resiliency Florida is proud to provide resources for parents and teachers to start the conversation about overcoming life's inevitable challenges with their students. Help your student become resilient, go to BuildResiliency.org today!

Honesty is an important part of being respectful, responsible and showing good character. There may be times where honesty may be difficult, but telling the truth shows good character and respect to everyone around us.

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

Grab a healthy snack or treat from our Sandiper Cafe A La Carte Menu! Don't forget the fresh salads which can be purchased as a meal. All items can be purchased with cash or charged to school lunch accounts. If you DO NOT wish your student to charge these items to their account, please reach out to our cafeteria manager Mrs. Saronda at lewiss@walton.k12.fl.us

Great things are cooking this month in the Sandpiper Cafe! https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/DuneLakesElementary

We make every attempt to return lost/found items to our student's. Please help us out by using labels or a sharpie with your child's name. All unclaimed items are donated quarterly to charity.

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

Sandpiper Boosters

October Dune Lakes Dines: Join us on October 7, 2025, at Brozzinis! 10% of sales will be donated back to the Sandpiper Boosters. Make sure to mention Dune Lakes Elementary!

2025 Homecoming Parade: Sponsorships are now available to help us decorate our float this year! This year’s Homecoming Parade will be on October 10th! Sponsorship Opportunities are available at $25, $50 and $75.

Sponsor Here : Sponsorships — Sandpiper Boosters

2025 Holiday Greenery Fundraiser is now live! Order fresh, beautiful greenery delivered right to your front door! This fundraiser is open to anyone within the contiguous U.S. Order by November 2nd and deliveries will start Thanksgiving week!

Order Here: https://www.sherwoodfundraiser.com/dle

2025 Fall Book Fair: The Fall Book Fair is from October 13 – 24th! Volunteer Here :: Volunteer — Sandpiper Boosters

2025 Door Decorating Contest: Reminder to sign up your classrooms by October 31, 2025!

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

Follow Us on Social Media – Instagram and Facebook

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

25-26 Boosters Board of Directors - Jamie Lynn, President | Jessica Standley, Vice President | Liz Branch, Treasurer | Tasha Faellaci, Secretary | Amity Hoch, Director | Randi Doris, Director | Ellen Gleason, Director | Brittany Golden, Director | Emily Madden, Director | Ashlee Mitchell, Director | Ortal Shaya-Montoya, Director | Lindsey Rogers, Director | Kristen Sandoe, Director | Adrienne Seaborn, Director

Our 2025 Holiday Greenery Fundraiser is officially LIVE!

Deck the halls with fresh, fragrant greenery delivered straight to your door.

Orders are open to anyone in the contiguous U.S.—so share with family and friends near and far!

Place your orders by November 2nd to ensure delivery starting the week of Thanksgiving.

Every purchase supports the @dunelakessandpiperboosters and our school!

• 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.

We love parent volunteers and chaperones! Volunteers are approved annually.

Please be sure to renew your online application, affidavit and review the online orientation.

APPLICATION LINK: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTA2OmVuLVVT

AFFIDAVIT LINK: https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/page/volunteer-information

*Front office available to notarize affidavits between 8:00-1:00 pm.

ORIENTATIONPOWER POINT: https://5il.co/39wsp

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/

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 Rooms through the official WCSD app! Please download the app for iOS or Android using the links below and connect with your student using the phone number or email in Focus or provided at registration.

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