South Davis Shines

Hello South Davis Families.

First, a menu change for Thursday: no pizza --> chicken patty on a bun or a ham sandwich.

Second, while it's not a big concern yet, I've spoken with a number of parents and students about video games, videos (like YouTube), and messaging apps influencing choices in unhealthy and hurtful ways. From accessing content that is more mature to repeating inappropriate, disrespectful or unkind words towards classmates and adults, more of our children are forced at an earlier age to learn how to navigate the internet and digital media, unequipped with the emotional and intellectual tools to do so.

As a parent of four children, I understand the struggle with providing your child with access to peers but doing so in a safe and appropriate way. To try to help you with that same challenge, I'm sharing some resources that may be useful to you and your family.

Here is an article from NPR, which offers some strategies to manage child screen time -

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5326162/teens-screens-online-parents

I'm also sharing some handouts from the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Based on current research and evidence," they offer information about "children’s developmental stages, how this influences media use, and healthy media habits to strive for at home. Plus, reducing screen time provides more opportunities to read and have face-to-face conversations, which will help all children.

"The 5 Cs are designed to meet kids, teens and parents where they are, build insight and communication skills, and motivate for healthy behavior change. " I hope they give you some useful information to make managing all of this a little easier.

Have a great week!

Mr. Dolce

#WeAreSouthDavis

April 3-12 - No School - Spring Break

April 15-16 - Grades 3-5 NYS ELA Assessments

Friday, April 24 - Chuck e Cheese PTO Fundraiser

April 29-30 - Grades 3-5 NYS Math Assessments

Tuesday, May 12 - Grade 5 NYS Science Assessment

Wednesday, May 20 - Bike to School (note date change); Panera PTO Fundraiser

Friday, May 29 - Field Day - more information coming soon

June 10-11 - Author Visit with Troy Cummings

Tuesday, June 23 - Anticipated Last Student Day

The Orchard Park Family Solutions Center, located at 75 Bank St., supports district and community families with school-age children by providing direct counseling services to families, hosting parenting classes, and providing resources. The mental health professionals at the Family Solution Center will work with families to promote problem-solving strategies to develop healthy relationships using solution-focused communication.

Check out the latest offerings.

Students will be learning about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) during their upcoming Health & Wellness classes. This lesson is part of a new required awareness initiative and includes a short video for students to watch. There are separate videos for grades K–4 and grade 5. Mrs. Rupp will be showing these videos during Health & Wellness class.

In addition, students will also receive an AED Scavenger Hunt (attached below) sheet during class this week and there is also a digital version available if you would like to use it at home. The University at Buffalo, UB Orthopedics, and the Buffalo Bills have asked Orchard Park Schools to be a part of an AED Mapping Project. This is a pilot project that they hope to take nationwide. Our students are being asked to notice and record the locations of AEDs that they find in our community and beyond to assist in the growth of the NEAR Registry. This registry is available for 911 dispatchers so that they can let callers know where the nearest AED is in a cardiac emergency, prior to the arrival of EMTs.

Here is some more information about the efforts from Dr. Bisson, a physician at the University at Buffalo -

https://buffalo.app.box.com/s/o9wn8ks3eva13nxoj7kdqx27ws7bkb4i

The scavenger hunt will run from Wednesday, March 18, to Tuesday, April 14. Students are asked to hand in their logs to their homeroom teacher.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

As a reminder, we have two more Lockdown Drills to complete this year. One will take place this week, and the last one is scheduled for May.

I'm attaching our Frequently Asked Question document about Lockdown Drills for your reference.

Also, here are a few tips for parents when talking about drills with your children:

• Reassure your child that school is a very safe place and talk about safety procedures that are
• in place at your child’s school.
• Practice helps keep us safe.
• Encourage your child to talk about their concerns and to express their feelings.
• Talk honestly about your own feelings.
• Validate your child’s feelings.
• Recognize behavior that may indicate your child is concerned about returning to school.
• Keep the dialogue going: encourage your child to share any concerns regarding school safety
• in an ongoing conversation.
• Seek help when necessary.

These two websites provide additional information about a range of safety and wellbeing topics

for parents and educators.

NASP

https://www.nyscfss.org/

Related to New York State's emphasis on Sudden Cardiac Arrest, staff will be conducting a new Safety Drill later this week. The Cardiac Emergency Response Drill is part of Project Adam and will lead to a Heart Safety Designation for the South Davis and eventually the District.

During the drill, we will make a announcement for the Medical Response Team to report to the scene. Dr. Paul Pietrantone, our Director of Student Service, and Kelsey Habermehl, the District's Medical Director, will be assisting. An ambulance and first responders will also practice their response.

There still seems to be confusion as to the process for students not taking the school bus at the end of the day. Please read this carefully.

• Pre-K parents walk their children to and from the school. As a result, they need to park on South Davis Street. At the end of the day, if they are also picking up an older child, they may have to wait a bit longer.
• If you are meeting your child on the sidewalk in front of the school, please mark your child a walker in the Parent Portal.
• If you walked or biked to the building, that's great!
• If you drove - and you are not a Pre-K parent - please be sure to park on the west side of South Davis Street (opposite side from the school), and use the crosswalk to and from the pick up area.
• The curbside pick-up area should not be used for walkers. If you are getting out of your vehicle and you are not a Pre-K parent, please park on the other side of the street, or pull past the middle driveway to keep the pick-up zone clear.

As always, these are in place for the safety of all involved, and to ensure an efficient drop-off and dismissal process.

Check it out 👇

Every other year, the Orchard Park CSD (with help from the PTO) provides an amazing experience by inviting a guest author to visit our schools and teach our children about the books they create. This year we are pleased to have Troy Cummings as our guest author this June. He has written over 20 different children's books including the series Notebook of Doom.

This year, PTO wants to help provide a lasting memory for the students of South Davis.

Introducing, Spare Change for Stories. In this optional campaign, from March 2 - April 2, students can bring in spare change that they find and feed a monster of their choice. Monster buckets will be found in the lobby of the school. If we reach our goal of $1,400, every child at South Davis will receive a book by the author that will include a signature!

Pass along the information and ask your kiddos what monster they will feed! As an added incentive, as we make our goal, whichever monster has collected the most spare change, Mr. Dolce will dye his hair that color!

Participation is optional.

OPSEPTSA NEXT MEETING:

Wednesday, April 22

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:

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

Check out this opportunity from STAPCOM to support the Post Prom activities.

Reserve yours by March 31.

Looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate spring in Orchard Park? Join the Orchard Park Recreation & OP Police D.A.R.E. program for their Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Fling at the Community Activity Center!

Proceeds benefit the Orchard Park Police Department D.A.R.E. program.
Spots will fill quickly — register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visit oprec.org.
A great way to celebrate spring while supporting an important community program! 🌸

For the latest updates and great resources from BTPM's Learning and Engagement Team, click here.

Highlights include:

• 15 Children's Books to Celebrate Women's History Month from PBS KIDS for Parents
  This article from PBS KIDS for Parents highlights a curated list of 15 inspiring children’s books that celebrate Women’s History Month by introducing young readers to the impactful stories of historic and modern-day women who’ve shaped the world.
  
  

• St. Patrick’s Day Books from PBS KIDS for Parents

  Let your little leprechauns flip through these green reads while you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
  
  

• Eating Well

• Weather Hunters

• Building a Reader

Also the BTPM PBS KIDS Writers Contest is almost over

The BTPM PBS KIDS Writers Contest fosters children’s creativity by encouraging participants in grades K-3 to write and illustrate stories. This Contest is open to children who reside in all the Western New York counties in our viewing area (Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany, Wyoming Genesee, Orleans), as well as Southern Ontario.

Deadline is March 31.

Click here for more information