The Bear Essentials

October is right around the corner, and we have some very special team members to celebrate!

Next Friday, October 2nd, is National Custodial Worker Recognition Day. We are so thankful for our hardworking custodial crew who keep our school clean, safe, and welcoming every single day. October is also National Physical Therapy Month and National Principals Month, giving us the chance to honor our physical therapist, Jennifer James, and our principal, Mr. DiFilippo

If your student would like to join in the fun, they are invited to bring in thank-you notes, cards, or drawings for them! Students can give their cards to their classroom teacher or drop them off at the front desk for distribution.

Congratulations to Thiago Garcia Rodriguez from Ms. Abraham's class for winning the Golden Bear Art Award! In first grade, we studied the art of French artist Henri Matisse. When Matisse was older, he used scissors to paint- cutting shapes out of bright paper to create an abstract composition. Great job Thiago!

Mr. York is excited to welcome 4th and 5th grade students to Dyer’s 2026-2027 Chorus Club! If your student loves to sing and wants to build their music skills, this is a great opportunity to get involved and perform.

Here is what parents need to know for this year:

• Morning Rehearsals: Rehearsals have moved to Thursday mornings. Drop-off is at 7:15 AM in the bus loop on rehearsal days.

• Rehearsal Schedule: First rehearsal is Thursday, 10/22/26. You can download and view the full Printable Rehearsal Schedule here.

• Club Dues: The club dues for this school year are $35 per student. This will also cover the cost of your student's Chorus Club shirt. These dues will be added to your MyPaymentsPlus portal after sign-ups have closed and the roster is finalized.

• Performances: All 4th and 5th grade members will perform at Cultural Heritage Night on 1/28 at 6:00 PM (attendance required). There are additional rehearsals and performances for 5th grade Chorus members in the Spring, including an opportunity to sing with the middle- and high-schoolers in the Mountain View Cluster concert!

Ready to join? Please complete the Chorus Club Permission Form by Friday, 10/2/26. Submitting this electronic form serves as your child's official transportation permission for all listed rehearsal dates.

Mr. York is looking forward to making music together this year!

At Dyer Elementary, we believe in celebrating positive behavior every single day! Through our PBIS Rewards program, we actively teach and encourage our BEARS expectations—helping our students grow to be Brave, Engaged, Accountable, Respectful, and Safe.

When staff catch students showing these great traits, students earn digital BEARS Bucks right in the PBIS Rewards app. Kids can save up and spend their hard-earned bucks in a few fun ways:

• Classroom Prize Carts: Quick, fun rewards right in their own classrooms.

• The Trading Post: Our school-wide store where students can buy entries into monthly raffles or tickets to exclusive school events!

What’s Happening This Month:

• Monthly Raffle (10 Bucks/entry): Popcorn Party with the Principals! One lucky winner per grade level will win a popcorn party for their entire class.

• Monthly Event (50 Bucks): Donuts with Officer JP! Students can redeem 50 bucks to enjoy a sweet treat and hang out with our favorite SRO and his friends.

Ask your child how many BEARS Bucks they’ve earned this week and what they are saving up for! Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school community safe, positive, and engaging.

Make your student's birthday extra special while helping fund our PBIS Rewards! Both students and staff earn BEAR Bucks for positive behavior and going above and beyond. Students use their BEAR Bucks to enter monthly events like Bear of the Month breakfasts, The Jingle Jog, and Spooktacular specials, or to buy raffle tickets for fun class parties like Crumbl Cookies and Uber Treats. Staff redeem their BEAR Bucks for well-deserved treats from our teacher snack and drink carts!

Here are two easy ways to celebrate on campus:

1. Birthday Wishes in Big Lights! ($10) Display a "Happy Birthday" message featuring your child’s first name and last initial on the school marquee for three full days (their birthday, plus the day before and after).

• Summer Birthdays: Celebrated during their birthday week or the last week of school!

• How to Order: Place your request on MyPaymentsPlus.com under the School Events tab. Please allow 3 business days for processing.

2. Birthday ICEEs for the Class ($30) Treat your child’s entire homeroom to ICEEs! It saves you a trip to the store, and they are free from most common allergens so every classmate can join the fun.

• Distribution: Handed out during lunch on your child’s birthday (or the nearest school day if it falls on a Friday or weekend).

• How to Order: Purchase in advance on MyPaymentsPlus.com under School Events. Please allow 3 business days for processing.

For full guidelines on campus celebrations, please review the Dyer Elementary Student/Parent Supplemental Handbook.

Meal Prices

• Students: $1.75 Breakfast (PK–12) | $2.50 Lunch (Elementary)

• Adults: $2.50 Breakfast | $4.75 Lunch

• Student Accounts: Please remember to keep your child's meal account funded throughout the year using MyPaymentsPlus.

Free & Reduced Meal Applications & Extra Benefits

Applications for the new school year are now open, click here to apply. Remember, families must reapply each school year to keep benefits active!

Even if you aren't sure if your family qualifies, we strongly encourage everyone to apply. Approved applications do more than just provide healthy breakfast and lunch—they also help families save on school course fees, standardized testing (like the SAT/ACT), and internet programs. Plus, every approved application helps our school secure vital funding for classroom resources!

Parent Lunch Visits

We look forward to welcoming parents for lunch starting after Labor Day once our students have settled into their daily routines. Please see our Lunch Visitor Schedule below. We look forward to welcoming you after 9/7!

School Menus & Cafeteria Info

Check out monthly menus, nutritional details, and payment options on our Cafeteria Webpage.

Dyer Elementary School offers a free BIRTH TO FIVE program for you and your child! Class takes place 90 minutes each week from August - May!

• Learn how to find the teachable moments in everyday activities
• Learn how to engage with your child in play
• Learn how to continue the learning at home or anywhere
• Learn about your child’s educational milestones
• Learn how to get your child READY FOR SCHOOL

If you would like to participate in our Play2Learn program, or simply want more information, please complete this electronic interest form. Once completed, a member of our Early Learning team will reach out to you with more information about the Play2Learn program.

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/dyeres
Location: 1707 Hurricane Shoals Road, Dacula, GA, USA
Phone: 770-963-6214
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyerES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyerbears/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet