DFS Dolphin Weekly Update

*Bold Items are new or singular events.

*If a day of the week is not listed below, it is because there were no major events to detail.

Monday, October 19

• Student Council Videos Viewed in Class Throughout Week
• Strings Instruction
• Grade 4 In-School Field Trip - Power Player - Electricity

Tuesday, October 20

• Band Instruction
• Hearing & Vision Screening

Wednesday, October 21

• Hearing & Vision Screening
• Kindergarten Fire Safety Presentation
• Q&A with Mr. Kunschaft - Virtual @ 7:00PM

Thursday, October 22

• Hearing & Vision Screening
• Grade 1 In-School Field Trip - Zoom to the Moon
• Student Council Speeches

Friday, October 23

• DFS Pink Out - Wear Pink!
• DFS Boo Bash (6:00 & 7:30PM Sessions)

“We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ”

-Native American Proverb

Mrs. Shiller puts an incredible amount of time and thoughtfulness into art projects that span multiple grade levels. She ensures students have both the theory and skill to create art that is frame worthy upon arrival at home. I'm willing to bet a large percentage of our students will one day land in a visual arts-based career!

With only 181 days to learn each school year, every day truly does matter. If your child is not ill, the best place for them is DFS! Please take a look at the week's attendance data and help us ensure all students maximize learning this year.

Daily Attendance

Monday: Schools Closed

Tuesday: 97.4%

Wednesday: 98.9%

Thursday: 98.3%

Friday: 97.5%

August/September Daily Attendance Average: 98.2%

October Daily Attendance Average: 97.9%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Kindergarten: 97.5%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade One: 97.5%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Two: 98.8%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Three: 98.1%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Four: 98.5%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - Grade Five: 98.2%

Year-To-Date Daily Attendance Average - All Grades: 98.1%

Please join us for a virtual question and answer session on Wednesday, October 21, at 7:00PM. Google Meet information is below. Save time and get in the que by submitting your questions, concerns, ideas, or positives ahead of time at https://forms.gle/ufBEKtfe4hEVnJzCA .

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/eoy-kdmk-gfx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 567-231-5329‬ PIN: ‪783 668 410‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/eoy-kdmk-gfx?pin=3881657212925

At Daniels Farm Elementary School, we believe that fostering a love for reading is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. Reading not only helps children academically but also enriches their imagination and creativity. To support your child's reading development, we've put together some tips and ideas for setting up a reading routine at home for students in grades K-5.

1. Create a Reading Nook: Set up a cozy and inviting reading space in your home. Ensure it is well-lit and stocked with a variety of age-appropriate books. A comfy chair or bean bag can make it even more enticing.

2. Set a Regular Reading Time: Establish a daily reading time that works for your family. Consistency is key to forming a reading habit. This could be before bedtime, after school, or during breakfast.

3. Be a Reading Role Model: Show your child the importance of reading by being a role model. Let them see you reading books, magazines, or newspapers. Share stories from your own reading experiences.

4. Read Together: Read aloud together. Choose books that are of high interest that will expose your child to vocabulary and story structure that they would not encounter in independent reading, while providing an opportunity for discussion and bonding.

5. Encourage Independence: As children grow, encourage them to read independently. Let them choose their own books, even if they're not what you would pick. This fosters a sense of ownership over their reading.

6. Set Reading Goals: Help your child set achievable reading goals, such as finishing a book by the end of the week or reading for a certain amount of time each day. Celebrate their accomplishments.

7. Limit Screen Time: While screens can be educational, it's important to set boundaries. Designate screen-free time for reading, and ensure your child has a healthy balance between digital and print materials.

8. Visit the Library: Take regular trips to your local library. Make it a family outing and let your child choose books that interest them. Many libraries also offer reading programs and events.

9. Engage in Book Discussions: Engage your child in discussions about the books they're reading. Ask questions about the plot, characters, and their opinions. This helps develop comprehension and critical thinking skills.

10. Be Patient and Supportive: Every child's reading journey is unique. Be patient and supportive, and avoid putting too much pressure on your child to meet specific reading milestones.

Remember that the goal of a reading routine is not just to improve reading skills but to cultivate a lifelong love of reading. We hope these tips help you create a positive reading environment at home.

During PM carpool dismissal, parents enter their child's carpool number once they are in line along Daniels Farm Road using the link below. The link allows daily access to a Google Form as follows:

1. Open the form (LINK: https://forms.gle/CDjvEC31yvPabfqL6 or use the QR code on the right)
2. Enter your child's carpool number when you arrive at DFS.
3. Hit "submit".
4. Repeat this process for each child you are picking up that day.

This must be done each day you are picking up a student. Please DO NOT enter your number until you are in the carpool line or there will be too many students in the waiting area. If you bookmark the form on your phone, it will be easy to access on the days you need it. Below you will find a short video demonstrating the process.

Instructional Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzaVbMQwYjYZ17V__qhjQYDQQUILLXJc/view?usp=sharing

Please read and follow these important rules to keep all our students, families, and staff safe.

• We do not sacrifice safety for convenience.

• Parents must stay in their vehicle. Students should be able to exit the vehicle during AM carpool drop off without parental help. This allows for a smooth flow of traffic so that students can be in class on time.

• Please pull up all the way to the top of the drop-off and pick-up zone.

• Students may enter and exit the car only when the car has entered the single lane of the drop-off and pick-up zone.

• Students may not enter and exit the car when the vehicle is in the two-lane area of traffic flow.

• All students must enter and exit on the driver side of the car. This is different than last year as the traffic pattern has changed due to our new parking lot layout.

• Cars must stay in line and not pass any other vehicles when exiting the drop-off and pick-up zone. There are two lanes for exiting DFS.

• Morning drop-off begins at 8:20AM and ends at 8:35AM. Students may not exit their vehicle until 8:20AM during carpool drop off. Staff is on duty at 8:20AM each morning, with no supervision prior to this time. Allowing your child out of the vehicle early places her/him in a potentially dangerous situation.

• Afternoon pickup begins at 3:15PM and ends at 3:35PM. Students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade should be picked up from 3:15 to 3:25 PM. Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade should be picked up from 3:25 - 3:35PM. After this time, students are brought to the front office.

• Parents choosing to walk their children to carpool may enter the area from the front or rear of the property. You may not walk through the bus area on the side of the school. You may not park in the staff lot and walk your child to carpool to avoid waiting in line.

In order to maximize the safety and efficiency of our early dismissal, change of dismissal, and after-school participation reporting from home to school, we utilize to an electronic system. We do not accept paper notes.

We use a Google Form to collect this information on a daily basis. We DO NOT review any form entries submitted after 12:00PM. If after-school plans change after 12:00PM, you must call the front office to report the change, otherwise the classroom teacher will follow the regularly scheduled dismissal instructions.

The form can be accessed via a computer using the link below, or a phone using the QR Code below.

LINK: https://forms.gle/3iPmqMEUYMuZexVw9

If you have any questions, please contact us directly.

Thank you!

Summer is a great time to reinforce our DFS SWIM mantra! It's amazing how following a few simple-to-do mindsets can make a world of difference in yourself and the people around you. Be a positive force!

Daniels Farm Elementary School

710 Daniels Farm Rd., Trumbull, CT 06611

203-452-4388

Regular School Hours

Doors open at 8:20 AM

Regular School Hours: 8:35 AM - 3:20 PM

Early Dismissal Hours: 8:35 AM - 1:00 PM

Delayed Opening Hours

1 ½ hour Delay: 10: 05 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 9:50 AM)
2 hour Delay: 10:35 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 10:20 AM)
2 ½ hour Delay: 11:05 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 10:50 AM)

DFS Website

Infinite Campus Parent Portal

2026- 2027 Trumbull Public Schools Calendar

DFS Parent Handbook

Volunteer Form*

*Tier 2 volunteer forms are only necessary if you will be working unsupervised with stud