This is a critical period for students and teachers as they review the year's content and help students with specific review items.
We have some exciting and educational incentives to help motivate and encourage student attendance. Every student in attendance for 100% of the days with NO TARDIES and NO EARLY CHECKOUTS during the two week challenge window will be entered into a drawing for one of the incentives below.
Grades K-1 Tonies read and sing aloud audio systems (2)
Grades 2-3 3 box STEM kit subscription (2)
Grades 4-5 Chromebook (2)
GRAND PRIZE Nintendo Switch Lite
Final administrations of FAST tests begin in April. See how your student has grown from the beginning of the year! Please review the testing schedule and documents below. Attendance leading up to these testing dates is critical. Results will be available in the Family Portal following the assessment. For more information visit https://flfast.org
The Month of the Military Child in Florida gives communities an opportunity to emphasize and recognize the sacrifices of military children while their parents serve our nation. Florida is committed to being the most military-friendly state in the nation. Dune Lakes loves its military families and its active and veteran service members. Wear purple on April 15 to show support and recognize military children.
E-Wallet
Round up!
Your contribution benefits kids in your
school who need help buying a book from
the Fair. Tell a staff member at checkout that you want to round up your purchases for Share the Fair.
Welcome Sandpipers! My name is Mrs. Rudd and I am thrilled to welcome you and your child to the new school year! As the school counselor, my role is to support your child's social, emotional, and academic development. I am committed to creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters growth, resilience, and success. If your child is facing challenges at home or in the classroom, please know that my door is always open. I am here to listen, offer guidance, and connect you with resources to support your child's well-being. Let's work together to make this year an amazing one for our students!
Gaming and chatting online! What Parents Need to Know
Many children love playing online games such as Fortnite, Roblox, and more, but did you know that without parental controls, your child may be exposed to unsafe and/or negative influences?
Check the rating!
Do you know what your student's games are rated? For example, Fortnite is rated T for Teen (ages 13 and up) due to violence and unfiltered online interactions, yet many younger kids play without realizing the risks.
Who Is Your Child Talking To?
If parental controls aren’t set, kids can chat with:
🔹 Older Players or Adults Pretending to Be Kids – Not everyone in the game is who they say they are. Some people intentionally seek out younger players to chat with.
🔹 Strangers Using Inappropriate Language – Open voice and text chat expose kids to profanity, bullying, and mature conversations.
🔹 Online Bullies & Toxic Players – Losing a match can lead to name-calling, exclusion, or pressure to “prove” themselves in unhealthy ways.
How Can This Affect Your Child?
Some parents have noticed changes in their child’s behavior linked to excessive online play, including:
🔹 Increased Anxiety & Mood Swings – Kids can feel pressured to win or keep up with more experienced players.
🔹 Withdrawal from Family & Friends – Spending too much time gaming can replace real-life social interactions.
🔹 Sleep Disruptions & Trouble Focusing at School – Late-night gaming and emotional stress from online interactions can affect school performance.
🔹 Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) & Peer Pressure – Kids may feel they need to buy expensive skins or play constantly to fit in.
🔹 Exposure to Harmful Conversations – Without parental controls, kids could be chatting with strangers about topics beyond their age level.
How to Protect Your Child Online
To limit interactions with strangers and ensure a safer gaming experience, set up parental controls:
✅ Check Your Child’s Friend List
- Go to their Friends List and ask your child who each person is.
- If they can’t identify someone in real life, remove them.
- Remind kids not to accept friend requests from people they don’t know.
✅ Turn Off Open Chat
- Go to Settings (gear icon).
- Review for Parental Controls → Some may allow you to set a PIN to prevent changes.
- Adjust these key settings:
- 🔹 Voice & Text Chat → Turn OFF or limit to friends only.
- 🔹 Friend Request Permissions → Restrict who can send requests.
- 🔹 Mature Language Filter → Blocks inappropriate words.
- 🔹 Daily Playtime Reports → Sends updates to your email.
✅ Set Parental Controls on the Gaming Device
Each console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) as well as game apps have built-in settings to limit chat, screen time, and purchases. Visit the system’s parental control settings for details.
✅ Encourage Safe Gaming Habits
- Require gaming in shared spaces (not alone in bedrooms).
- Ask about their online friends – Who are they talking to? Do they know them in real life?
- Set screen time limits to balance gaming with other activities.
Bottom Line: Monitoring their game choices, setting up controls, checking their friends list, and talking to your child about online safety can help keep gaming fun and secure.
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.
All items including salads, yogurts, fruits, juices, and snacks may be charged to a student's lunch account with the exception of ice cream. This is to discourage students from emptying their school meal accounts on ice cream.
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.
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
FOCUS Parent Portal
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/
The following information is required to setup a Focus Parent Portal Account.
- Child’s student identifier (10 digit number beginning with 66 assigned by the district).
- Student’s date of birth.
- 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/
April Dune Lakes Dines – April 4, 2025 – Idyll Hound Proper! The Sandpiper Boosters will receive 10% of sales. Please mention DLE!
2025 Spring Book Fair – Sign up to volunteer at our 2025 Spring Book Fair! We need to fill all slots, so please sign up for multiple if you can! Volunteer Here : Volunteer — Sandpiper Boosters
Boosters General Meeting and 25-26 Election – April 8, 2025, at 8AM – Join us to learn about all things Boosters and we will have our 25-26 Election.
- Apply Here by 4/1 to serve a 1-year term as Director on the Board of Directors: Apply Here
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
Have questions? Contact us via Let's Talk!
Dune Lakes Elementary School
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