Monday 08/26:

Tuesday 08/27: 5th grade F.A.S.T. Reading, Volunteer fingerprinting @ DLE 8 AM

Wednesday 08/28: 4th grade F.A.S.T. Reading

Thursday 08/29: 3rd grade F.A.S.T. Reading, Robotics try-outs 4th/5th grades in library

Friday 08/30: EARLY RELEASE FOR STUDENTS

Monday 09/01: No school, labor day

Lunch visits resume this week on Mondays and Fridays moving forward. Please see the section below for more information.

Parents, Thank you for another great week of school! It was nice to see and speak with many of you at the first Sandpiper Booster General Meeting and School Advisory Council meetings. If you missed either, I encourage you to make plans to attend the next opportunity.

This week I would like to encourage parents to consider their student's after school routines. At school these first weeks, students are learning the rituals and routines of their classes. Teachers know that having consistent routines is important for effective classroom management and supports learning year-long. What rituals and routines do you have for your student's after school?

Students in grades K-2 have a blue communication folder and student's in grades 3-5 carry an AVID school planner. Make plans each day to speak with your student about the papers and assignments inside. Set aside a consistent block of time for homework, practice, or reading. Ask your student about details of their day and their learning.

Making and following a plan early in the year will help your student maintain that expectation all year!

Thank you again for your partnership! We look forward to a successful school year. Sandpipers are better together!

Students will participate in PM 1 FAST testing beginning Tuesday. Students will be test 3 times over the course of the school year. This allows schools and parents to track student growth over the year.

FAST tests are adaptive which means they scale in difficulty based on student's answers. PM 2 in December will begin at the level of the student's previous PM 1 performance, so please emphasize the importance of taking PM 1 testing seriously as it will set the bar for subsequent tests. We want all students to grow and demonstrate proficiency!

You can learn more about FAST testing through the FLDOE's website below.

View your students FAST results in ELA and Math via the FLDOE FAST Family Portal linked below. You will need your student's unique access code which is available upon request.

If you have an afternoon appointment and need to check your child out early, please arrive before 1:45 or call ahead. The front office may not allow students to be checked out after 1:45. During the last minutes of the day the front office is processing multiple transportation changes between students, staff, and buses. We understand emergencies happen, but parent late arrival for check out slows theses processes down and can lead to delays or errors in student dismissal. Students are also transitioning between classes, specials, and exit areas during the last parts of the day which can lead to delays in locating student. Please help us ensure that every child gets home safely by checking out prior to 1:45.

Please note the 3-5 car line gate is set to close at 7:35 AM when classes begin. State law mandates that unmanned exterior gates be secure during school hours when students are on campus. Any late arriving students must be checked in at the front office with a parent. Please do not send your child into the office unattended.

Grades 3-5 pick up/drop off parents are asked to not turn left when exiting onto Highway 98 from carline. Attempting to cross the median during this time can cause significant back up and prevent students from getting inside on time. No left turn during school hours signs are posted. Please ONLY turn right before using a later intersection to turn around. A WCSO community service officer or deputy cannot be guaranteed each day at this location.

Parents must sign a permission slip for walking. If you do not live at MC Davis Road, you must provide documentation of after school arrangements or employment at a business within walking distance to DLE. For safety, parents are required to show their walker pass daily for staff to release a child. This ensures students go home with approved individual.

Students Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Meadows' class examined the states of matter by making chocolate chip pancakes! They explored the different ingredients that combine together before doing some supervised cooking in class. They enjoyed their creations and were kind enough to share with staff (and the principal).

Congratulations! Dune Lakes Elementary has been named by the American Heart Association as a recipient of the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge grant in the amount of $2500. These funds will go to funding a special project in physical education department.

The American Heart Association is working with over 32,000 schools in our nationwide movement to finally and forever change the course of heart disease, stroke and congenital heart defects.

Dune Lakes Elementary participates in the Kids Heart Challenge each year to educate students and support the work of the American Heart Association.

Dune Lakes Robotics Club is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 season.

Dune Lakes is offering a Robotics Club Competitive Team serving 4th & 5th grade students. The season will run from the beginning of September until December and may extend into January depending on competition wins. Students who qualify will meet after school every Thursday from 2:30 – 4:30 pm starting Sep. 5, 2024. Families are responsible for picking up their children PROMPTLY after team meetings.

Applications are now being accepted from interested 4th & 5th grade students to participate in the 2024-2025 season – team space is limited and not all applicants will be accepted.

This program is a STEM activity of robotics, engineering, research, and presentation using Lego materials. Being on a Robotics Club team is more than just building with Legos. Each student must work closely with the team members to do a research project, prepare a presentation, build and program a robot all while having fun. Students will explore an actual problem that today's scientists and engineers are trying to solve, develop an innovative solution to that problem, and share their findings with others. Students will work together to prepare for local and statewide competitions. Our teams will compete against other teams in three areas of judging: Core Values, Technical Knowledge, and Project Presentation.

Students selected to participate on a team are expected to:

1. Attend all meetings when student is in attendance at school

2. Participate in discussions and contribute to a team solution to the given challenge

3. Behave with courtesy and compassion for others at all times

4. Challenge Teams will participate in 2-5 Saturday team competitions where students will be evaluated on their team’s project and robot game

5. Maintain good standing in their class, as well as good citizenship

Families must contribute to the financial cost or secure sponsorship from a local business. Required fees of $40 per child covers the purchase of a team shirt and a weekly after school snack. Due by Oct 1.

Access the digital application using the link below.

Application deadline is 3:00 pm on Monday, August 25th, 2025.

Junior Robotics for grades 1-3 will begin in January.

Want to be part of the announcements crew? This school year Dune Lakes Elementary will be featuring a LIVE news broadcast staffed and produced by students. Sign up your student using the application below.

Do you love to build things? Can you think quickly on your feet? Are you a little dramatic? Then Dune Lakes Elementary needs you as a member of our after school Odyssey of the Mind team to represent our school in the 2025 Emerald Coast Regional Tournament. Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving program which promotes lifelong friendships as you develop your skills. Each week you will work with your fellow team members to learn how to become a spontaneous problem solver as you have fun building your skills.

If selected, you will work with your team to choose a long-term problem to prepare for presentation during the tournaments. You must be willing to work hard and share your creative ideas with others to be successful. At the tournaments, you will be expected to present your long-term project to the judges and participate in the solution of a top-secret spontaneous problem for scoring to move on to the state competition. Each team will include 5 to 7 creative minds working together towards their selected goal.

If you are in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade and would like to join this exciting team, please complete the application at https://forms.gle/PvshLtJJ42gN7sHh9 by Friday, August 30th. Team members will be announced by Tuesday, September 3rd.

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!

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!

All students with exemplary attendance for the month of August will receive a free frozen treat courtesy of Bahama Bucks!

Thank you to Bahama Bucks for support Dune Lakes Elementary! We will run an attendance report on August 30th for all students!

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.

Parents are encouraged to either read with or encourage their student to read for 20 minutes a day! Reading daily improves student standardized testing performance, spelling, writing, grammar, and vocabulary!

You can support your emerging reader by making a read aloud plan at home! It's easy. See the attached documents for more information.

1. Go to https://launchpad.classlink.com/walton
2. Click Renaissance Place
3. Log in and Test!

For additional questions please contact Ms. Carroll mailto:rachel.gonzalez@walton.k12.fl.us

State law mandates specific safety drills during the first weeks of school. Please see the attached letter for more information on how Dune Lakes Elementary promotes school safety.

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

Parent lunch visitors will begin on Monday, August 26th. We ask that only two visitors attend lunch, as space is limited on the patio.

Parents visiting on Monday and Friday are allowed to visit at the designated lunch time for their student. If you have more than one student, you are welcome to have lunch with them at their designated time. Students will not be pulled to eat with their siblings. Parents are to wait for their child's class to enter the "A" hallway, and may proceed to the cafeteria only. Visiting other classrooms is prohibited. Lunch visitors are to eat in the patio, and check out at the front office when leaving. PLEASE DO NOT EXIT FROM THE PATIO.

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

A La Carte items will resume on August 27th!

Encourage your student to explore the new a la carte menus options in the Sandpiper Cafe! In addition to the many new healthy single options, students may also choose from fresh grab n' go salad options. See the menu below. Cash only.

Great things are cooking this month in the Sandpiper Cafe!

Please take the time to put your child's name on their backpacks, water bottles, coats, etc. Items will be collected and displayed outside cafeteria.

Returning to school is a hectic time for parents. It’s exciting to watch your child grow, make new friends and meet a new teacher. But the back-to-school season can also be a time of concern for parents, as a return to the classroom may mean exposure to common childhood illnesses.

You can help your student avoid these back-to-school bugs by encouraging the following:

• Teach your child to avoid putting their hands in their mouth or eyes.
• Teach them to cough or sneeze into a clean tissue and dispose of it properly. If they don’t have a tissue, they can cough or sneeze into the crook of their sleeve rather than their hands.
• After coughing or sneezing – or touching a surface another child may have infected – teach your child to always wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and their hands are not visibly soiled, they may use hand sanitizer under an adult’s supervision.
• As a courtesy to others, keep your child home when they are sick, especially if they have a fever or vomiting.

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.

Donations needed:

Our clinic is always in the need for spare clothing. Boys and girls clothing (shorts, new underwear, shirts, etc). We appreciate your donations!

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

Our SPICE program is at capacity. Our director, Lisa Dick has a waitlist for interested families. SPICE enrollment is based on staff to student ratio. We understand that after school care is complicated for many parents, however we accept students when spaces open up. For inquiries, please contact Ms. Lisa at lisa.dick@walton.k12.fl.us

• 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.

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!

Week 3

As we head into the third week of the new school year, I wanted to take a moment to express how thrilled I am to see our students settling in and excelling in their classes!

A special reminder to parents that lunch bunch forms were sent home on Friday, so be sure to return those as soon as possible if you are interested. Additionally, grades 3-5 will be starting PM1 testing this week, so encourage your child to get plenty of rest and come to school ready to do their best.

On a related note, I'd like to remind parents that anxiety can be a common challenge for many students. You can support your child by encouraging open conversations about their feelings, helping them develop relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization, and modeling healthy coping strategies yourself.

Additionally, establishing a simple and consistent morning routine can help set your child up for success and reduce anxiety. This can be as simple as waking up 15 minutes earlier each day to enjoy a calm breakfast together or creating a gentle morning checklist to help them stay on track.

By working together, we can help our students build resilience and confidence to tackle any obstacle that comes their way! Remember, we're better together.

Purpose of Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch aims to support students in developing healthy coping skills and self-regulation strategies to manage various challenges, such as:

· Anxiety, stress, or feeling overwhelmed

· Difficulty with self-control or impulsivity

· Struggles with friendships or social relationships

· Coping with change, loss, or adversity

· Building resilience and confidence

How to Join

Every student will receive a Lunch Bunch permission form. Be looking for these to be sent home later this week. If you think your child would benefit from this program, please fill out and return the form, sharing specific details on why your child would benefit and any relevant information about their current challenges or concerns. This will help me understand your child's needs and prioritize those students. While I'd love to be able to have every student in LB, that just isn't feasible. It is very important to me, however, that students that could truly use the extra support are able to receive it.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

All 2023-2024 volunteer applications have expired. Please be sure to renew your application online, print the affidavit, bring to the front office for notary and admin signature. Once that is complete, Ms. Isolano will send to the district volunteer coordinator for processing.

1. Fill out a volunteer affidavit. This will need to be notarized and signed by a DLE administrator.

2. Complete online application, upload affidavit or leave with school secretary to attach.

3. Schedule background check and *fingerprints, $75 at the district office for chaperone permission.

*WCSD currently does not accept fingerprints from outside agencies. To schedule background and fingerprints, please call 850-892-1100 x1154. Background and fingerprints are good for 5 years, however steps 1 and 2 are to be renewed annually.

**You must have a background check to be a designated chaperone.

https://dle.walton.k12.fl.us/o/wcsd/page/volunteer-information

Sandpiper Boosters General Meeting – Tuesday, August 20th from 8AM – 9AM in the cafeteria. Come learn about all things Boosters and enjoy a complimentary coffee drink from Coastal Coffee Bar!

Fingerprinting – Will take place on Tuesday, August 27th from 8AM – 9AM in the Front Office. Please ensure to fill out and have notarized your Volunteer Form in advance. Visit here to access the forms: Volunteer Information | Walton County

THE COST IS $75 - CASH ONLY.

August Dune Lakes Dines – Out first Dune Lakes Dines of the year will be on Tuesday, August 20th with Brozinni Pizzeria! 10% of all sales from 3P-9P will be donated to the Boosters! You can take out, eat in or get it delivered! Make sure to mention Dune Lakes Elementary!

Spirit Shop – You can shop Sandpiper Merch year-round! We will have more sweatshirts and new t-shirts coming soon as well! 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

Stay connected with Remind! We've created a new school Remind account for the 23-24 school year. All previous school accounts have been closed. Please rejoin our DLE Remind by texting our school code @dle2324 to 81010.

If you have questions, concerns or comments, you can contact us through Let's Talk. Simply click here and reach out to us.

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/

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