Sandpiper Scoop
December 8-12
WEEK A
Monday 12/08: 1st grade reading FAST (second attempt), 3rd grade reading FAST, KIwanis dictionary presentation for 3rd grade, All-state Choir rehearsals, Sinfonia Strings, Girls who code
Tuesday 12/09: 3rd grade math FAST, Garden club canceled today, Sandpiper Singers , Girls on the run, Sandpiper Singers Winter Concert at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday 12/10: 1st grade math FAST, Odyssey of the Mind, Sinfonia Strings
Thursday 12/11: 2nd grade reading FAST, Kindergarten early literacy FAST test, Girls on the Run, Sandpiper Theatre, Robotics
Friday 12/12: 2nd grade math FAST, Kindergarten math FAST, SPICE Movie night
Saturday 12/13: Winter Wonderland Event 5:00-7:00 p.m. presale tickets, no tickets day of or at the door.
Coming Soon:
12/19: End of 2nd quarter/1st semester
12/22-01/06: Christmas Break
01/05: Teachers return to school
01/08: Report card distribution
01/14: Recognition ceremony 3rd and 5th grade
01/15: Recognition ceremony 4th grade
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
FAST PM 2 TESTING SCHEDULE
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the second administration (PM2) of the Grades K-5 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Mathematics on the schedule below. Your student’s results from PM2 will be sent home and can also be viewed on the Family Portal following the assessment.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank.
Check out sample fast items and tips for both students and parents: https://flfast.org/families.html
CHECK OUT SAMPLE FAST ITEMS AND TIPS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS BELOW
REMIND NO LONGER AVAILABLE
We will no longer be using Remind for school communication. Our District subscription to Remind has officially expired and will be fully transitioning to our District's new app and the Rooms messaging platform. Rooms is the new district-approved communication platform. Rooms offers secure, two-way messaging between families and their child’s school. Teachers can send broadcasts, announcements, and messages to parents, guardians, and students. Features also include auto translate, document upload, push notifications, behavior notifications - and so much more! Download the Walton County School District app from iOS App Store or Google Play Store and enable Notifications! Use the links at the bottom of the newsletter to download the app.
5TH GRADE STUDENTS HONORED BY KIWANIS CLUB OF FREEPORT-SOUTH WALTON
5th grade students Gigi Jordan and Jackson Shine were honored by the Kiwanis Club of Freeport-South Walton for their exemplary citizenship!
SKIP THE LINE! PREPRINT YOUR VISITOR BADGE
To expedite check in for the upcoming ceremonies, we are encouraging you to pre-register for your visitor pass. Survey will close on Dec 14. ONLY parents who have already been scanned into the Raptor system previously with an ID will be able to do this. If you have not been scanned into our system, we will do that the day you visit. Once you arrive, we will have your badge ready, filed by your last name. We appreciate your patience and continued support helping us ensure the safety of your children.
PARENT'S NIGHT OUT DECEMBER 12TH SPONSORED BY DLE SPICE
LIBRARY UPDATES
SUPPORT SENIORS IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Drop off by December 12th!
Dune Lakes Elementary is partnering with The Walton County Council for the Aged. We are collecting item for our local senior citizens who do not have a circle of support.
This year, we are collecting gifts for senior citizens in Walton County. Please drop off unwrapped items at the school, labeled for Mrs. Wood.
Senior Citizens Gift Ideas
- Back scratchers
- Gift cards
- Bird feeders with food
- Throws and lap blankets
- Gloves, scarves, socks
- Pj's, gowns & robes
- Gripper socks, diabetic socks
- Sofa Armrest Organizer
- Shawls, sweaters or jackets
- Wind chimes, temperature gauges
- Music boxes, costume jewelry
- Large print crossword puzzles, books
- Tool Kit
- LED Reading Light
- Candles
- Bubble Bath and Bath Salts and lotions
- Bigger Items: Lift chairs, 3 wheeled bikes, regular bikes, electric scooter
SOCK DRIVE
SANTA PATROL TOY DRIVE
FUTURE SEAHAWKS SOCCER NIGHT DECEMBER 18
SIGN YOUR STUDENT UP FOR SOUTH WALTON LITTLE LEAGUE
Friendly reminder that registration is open for the 2026 Spring Season!
Register now for the “early bird” discount.
SEAHAWK FOOTBALL AND CHEER SIGN UP
WCSD DECEMBER UPDATE FROM SUPERINTENDENT A. RUSSELL HUGHES
AVID WORD OF THE WEEK: YEARN
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!
FROM THE COUNSELOR
Hello and welcome Sandpipers! My name is Meghan Turner, and I am your School Counselor at Dune Lakes Elementary. My role is to provide support to students, families, and teachers to ensure student success by promoting positive changes in student behavior, perceptions and learning.
Parents, please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding your child’s social, emotional, or academic needs.
850-622-5012 X 2712 or Meghan.turner@walton.k12.fl.us
Here’s to a great year!
PERSEVERANCE
December is Perseverance Month! Resiliency Florida is proud to provide resources for parents and teachers to start the conversation about overcoming life's inevitable challenges with their students. Help your student become resilient, go to BuildResiliency.org today!
Gratitude means being thankful and sharing appreciation with others. Expressing gratitude is a way we can show kindness to others. When we practice gratitude, we are showing others our appreciation for what they do.
LUNCH ACCOUNTS
For your convenience, sign up for EZ school pay https://www.ezschoolpay.com/Login.aspx
A LA CARTE OPTIONS
DECEMBER MENU
Great things are cooking this month in the Sandpiper Cafe! https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/DuneLakesElementary
LOST AND FOUND - LAST CALL TO CHECK FOR ITEMS 12/19
All items left after Christmas break will be donated to a local charity! Please take inventory at home and check our lost and found by the cafeteria before it's too late!
Please label your child's jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. Items with names are easily returned to students.
NURSE AND CLINIC REMINDERS
Medication at school:
The front desk cannot intake medications. Prescription and OTC medications must be checked in with nurse.
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
SANDPIPER BOOSTER NEWS
2025 Winter Wonderland: Tickets are on sale now! Join us for this family-friendly event on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 5p-7p! The cost is $10/person. We will have pictures with Santa, Silent Auction, Food Trucks, Hot Cocoa Bar, Face Painting and more! No ticket sales the day of. Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1947246610029?aff=oddtdtcreator Sponsor Here: Sponsorships — Sandpiper Boosters
Spirit Shop – You can shop Sandpiper Merch year-round! Shop Here : Spirit Shop — Sandpiper Boosters
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
Follow Us on Social Media – Instagram and Facebook
For all things Boosters – Make sure to visit our website here : Sandpiper Boosters
25-26 Boosters Board of Directors - Jamie Lynn, President | Jessica Standley, Vice President | Liz Branch, Treasurer | Adrienne Seaborn, Secretary | Amity Hoch, Director | Randi Doris, Director | Tasha Faellaci, Director | Ellen Gleason, Director | Brittany Golden, Director | Emily Madden, Director | Ashlee Mitchell, Director | Ortal Shaya-Montoya, Director | Lindsey Rogers, Director | Kristen Sandoe, Director
CONTINUOUS REMINDERS
- 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.
VOLUNTEER WITH US
We love parent volunteers and chaperones! Volunteers are approved annually.
Please be sure to renew your online application, affidavit and review the online orientation.
APPLICATION LINK: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTA2OmVuLVVT
AFFIDAVIT LINK: https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/page/volunteer-information
*Front office available to notarize affidavits between 8:00-1:00 pm.
ORIENTATIONPOWER POINT: https://5il.co/39wsp
To schedule fingerprints please contact Ms. J. Brown at (850)892-1100 x1354
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
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!
BUS RIDERS AND TRANSPORTATION
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.
PIKMYKID
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.
SEE SOMETHING; SAY SOMETHING
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
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/
LET'S TALK
Have questions? Contact us via Let's Talk!
WCSD APP
Stay connected with Rooms
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
