November Newsletter

Students from Neil Dardis Elementary and Lakota High School got together, read a holiday story, and decorated pumpkins together!

Great Job to our Elementary Basketball Girls on a successful season! Thank you to all the coaches, parents, student-athletes, and helpers that made these games possible!

Our students had a fantastic Halloween filled with creativity, laughter, and school spirit! The day began with our Halloween concert featuring spooky songs and fun performances. In the afternoon, students showed off their costumes during the school-wide parade and joined together for a festive Bingo celebration, pairing older and younger students for some extra fun. Classroom parties wrapped up the day with games, treats, and lots of smiles.

Click the link below to see what's on the menu!

During October, Neil Dardis Elementary School recognized Bullying Prevention Month with schoolwide discussions and activities focused on kindness, empathy, and inclusion. Each week, our morning announcements highlighted ways students can make a difference—by using kind words, including others at recess, standing up for what’s right, and showing respect in all situations.

We also tied these lessons into our Halloween celebrations, reminding students that it’s not just about costumes and candy, but about treating others with care and making our school a place where everyone feels welcome.

By working together and choosing kindness each day, our students are learning that their actions and words matter and that even small gestures can help create a safer, more supportive school for everyone.

Our students have been busy creating amazing artwork and now their masterpieces can shine on all kinds of fun keepsakes! Perfect for gifts or just to show off your child’s creativity. Square One packets will be going home with NDES students.

Our students have been busy creating amazing artwork and now their masterpieces can shine on all kinds of fun keepsakes! Perfect for gifts or just to show off your child’s creativity. Square One packets will be going home with NDES students.

📅Orders are due by November 14th -- Don't Miss Out!

🎒Check your child's backpack for their personalized access code to order online!

The chart above shows our students’ steady growth since the start of the school year, with more than 2,500 total math facts gained so far! This means students are becoming faster and more confident in recalling math facts, which supports higher-level problem solving and overall math success.

At Neil Dardis Elementary, we’re proud to share that our students are off to a strong start this school year! Fall Star Assessment results show that students across all grades are making meaningful progress in reading, early literacy, and math.

Early Literacy (K–2):
Our youngest learners are showing tremendous growth, with 100% of students in kindergarten through 2nd grade meeting or exceeding typical growth expectations. Foundational reading skills such as phonics, decoding, and fluency are developing rapidly, setting the stage for future success in reading and writing.

Reading (3–6):
Students in grades 3 and 4 made the largest comprehension gains this fall, with strong improvements in both reading level and percentile rank. Overall, nearly 79% of students showed typical or better growth in reading compared to last year’s performance. We’ll continue to focus on vocabulary and informational-text comprehension as students move into winter.

Math (K–6):
Math progress has also been exciting to see—over 83% of students demonstrated typical or better growth from last fall, with the strongest gains in 2nd and 4th grade. Students are building confidence in problem-solving and computation, and we’re seeing steady growth across all grade levels.

These results reflect the hard work of our students and staff and the continued support of our families. Together, we’re creating a learning environment where every child can grow, achieve, and succeed.

We value strong communication between home and school. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns. Regular updates will be shared through our class apps and newsletters, and we encourage you to stay connected.

Classdojo is a FREE app, if it asks for you to pay, don't!

We absolutely love seeing your children at school every day, but their health and well-being—and the health of our school community—are our top priorities.

As a friendly reminder, if your child has been sick, they must be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. This helps ensure a full recovery and prevents the spread of illnesses to others.

We kindly ask for your vigilance in monitoring any symptoms your child may experience and encourage you to keep them home if they are unwell. Together, we can keep our classrooms happy and healthy for everyone!

As we enter this season of reflection and gratitude, I want to take a moment to share how thankful I am for the people who make Neil Dardis Elementary such a special place. Over the past few years of being a Principal here, I’ve seen countless examples of what makes our community so strong—from the helpers who volunteer at basketball games, to the firefighters who take time out of their day to visit our students, to the many individuals who quietly lend a hand whenever it’s needed.

It’s moments like these that remind me how lucky we are to have a community that stands behind its school. The care, generosity, and teamwork I see each day—both from our staff and from families—make all the difference in the experiences our students have.

As we move into November, I’m deeply grateful for our students, our staff, and our community. Our families and community members play such an important role in helping us create a place where every child feels valued and supported. Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and all the ways you show up for our school—it’s what makes Neil Dardis Elementary truly feel awesome!

Go Raiders and Go Chargers!

Mr. Sam Preble
Principal, Neil Dardis Elementary School