South Davis Shines
January 6, 2026
A Message from Mr. Dolce
Hello South Davis Families.
Welcome Back and Happy New Year!
We hope the break provided you all with time to rest, get together with family and friends, and focus on what you find most important in life. And perhaps enjoy some great food!
While I appreciate the time, it's good to get back into routines and to get back to working with your children to to help them grow and learn. It's the best thing I get to do!
Dr. Noreen Buchanan begins this week as our Speech Language Pathologist for the rest of the year. She will be sending a message out to families to introduce herself and she will begin seeing students later this week. We are glad to have Dr. Buchanan as part of the South Davis family!
Have a great week!
#WeAreSouthDavis
Our Commitments
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Thursday, January 8 - PTO Meeting, 6:30 - Family Solutions Center presentation
Tuesday, January 13 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 at OPMS
Monday, January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
January 20-February 13 - The Great Kindness Challenge
January 20-30 - Universal Screening, K-5
January 23-30 - The Great Kindness Challenge Spirit Week 👇
January 27 - Save the Date! Screening of Finding Nemo at the Aurora Theater and Chipotle Fundraiser 👇
The Great Kindness Challenge
Coming up later this month is the The Great Kindness Challenge. The Great Kindness Challenge is described as “a global initiative that encourages students, families, and educators to perform acts of kindness to promote respect, unity, and compassion.” At Orchard Park, this message aligns closely with our shared commitment to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for all students.
By participating, our schools are intentionally focusing on the power of everyday kindness. Small actions like including others, offering help, using positive words, and showing empathy can have a big impact on how students feel at school and how they treat one another. These experiences help strengthen relationships, build social emotional skills, and reinforce the values we want our students to carry beyond the classroom.
This year, the Challenge is January 20–February 13, with a district-wide spirit week from January 23–30. Our spirit week is a fun and visible way to bring this purpose to life. Each day serves as a reminder that kindness is something we practice, not just something we talk about.
Students will be introduced to The Great Kindness Challenge during their Health and Wellness classes next week, and we'll be on the lookout for any and all acts of kindness.
Attached are some ideas you can consider at home. Together, we look forward to spreading as much kindness as we can throughout our school community and beyond.
Finding Nemo Movie Night
The South Davis PTO presents Finding Nemo at the movies. We want to celebrate our fellow students and their hard work so we have contacted our friends at the Aurora Theater in East Aurora, NY. Due to limited seating, we need families to sign up on Sign Up Genius to guarantee their seats.
Doors open at 6 p.m., movie starts at 6:30 p.m. No outdoor food allowed in the theater.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4EAEA92DA1FF2-61309130-finding
Whether it's dinner before or after the movie, the South Davis musical invites you to visit the East Aurora Chipotle restaurant, and help support our show. Use the promo code EXZ89AG at checkout online or in the app, and a portion of the night's sales will benefit our production. Thanks!
Updates and Reminders
Safety Reminders
It's very important for everyone's safety - students, parents, and staff - that parents adhere to these procedures at arrival and dismissal.
- Stay in your vehicle (except Pre-K parents). We can assist when necessary.
- Stay on sidewalks; do not walk in the Front/Bus Loop and do not approach buses
- Use the crosswalk to cross South Davis Street, even if you are parked by the dentist or the wood shop
- Follow the pick-up procedure - drive into the parking lot, around the back of the lot, and back onto the street. Do not jump the line.
- Students should only exit and enter vehicles on the passenger side.
PTO Connections
Latest Updates
Check out what's happening this month 👇!
Orchard Park Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association
OPSEPTSA NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, January 21
6:30-7:30pm
OPCSD District Offices
2240 Southwestern Blvd, West Seneca
Join or Renew you OPSEPTSA Membership today!!
https://orchardpark.givebacks.com/shop
#specialeducation #advocate #IEP #DyslexiaAwareness #opseptsa
Our remaining meetings this year will be:
2/25/2026
3/18/2026
4/22/2026
5/20/2026
6/17/2026
Website - https://www.opseptsa.org/
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/share/16L1zq8TB8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/opseptsa?igsh=dHBhajY5OHpvejJm
BTPM Learning and Engagement
For the latest updates and great resources from BTPM's Learning and Engagement Team, click here.
Highlights include:
- The PBS Kids Writer's Contest
- The American Revolution
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- The Erie Canal