WEEK B

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK

Monday 10/14 : NO SCHOOL, teacher work day.

Tuesday 10/15: Sandpiper Singers, Girls on the Run, Garden Club

Wednesday 10/16: Odyssey of the Mind practice, Fellowship of Christian Athletes 7:10 am

Thursday 10/17: Robotics, Girls on the run, report cards go home

Friday 10/18: Kindergarten field trip Zoo World PCB

UPCOMING:

10/21-10/22: 5th grade field trip Butter and Egg Adventures

10/23: School Advisory Council meeting at 2:45 in media center

10/21-10-25: Red Ribbon Week

Parents,

WOW! Our school year is already 25% complete! 1st quarter report cards go home this week. Please take a moment to speak with your student about their progress. Please consider reaching out to your student's teachers if you have concerns. Now is an excellent time to schedule a conference to understand and make a difference in your student's learning.

5th grade students should be especially mindful as their overall grades and test scores may impact their future course selection options and schedules moving into middle school.

You can support your student's learning at home through a variety of digital applications found in your student's Classlink. Your student can access their Classlink from any internet-accessible device using the link below. For younger students, teachers can assist with your student's username and password. Consider applications such as Lexia, Reflex, Study Island, and CPALMS student tutorials to help improve skills in reading, math, and science.

We love having your students in class and at school each day. Thank you for your partnership.

Ahoy, mateys! National School Lunch Week kicks off next week! Time to get ready for a week full of treasure hunts and tasty meals. Captain Saronda and her crew are always excited to cook up some healthy grub in the galley for your little sailor! To help encourage school lunch participation this week we will be having a special menu and be giving out prizes to lucky school lunch participants! Dunes Lake Elementary will award prizes on Wednesday 10/23. Give school lunch a try this week!

Several Sandpiper Singers have been selected to participate in the 2025 FEMEA All-State Chorus in January in Tampa and the 2024 Florida Elementary Music Educators Association Northern Regional Festival at the University of Florida. This is a HUGE honor and a credit to the hard work and talent of these students!

2025 FEMEA All-State Chorus

Allie Venker

Kenzie Knight

2024 FEMEA Northern Regionals Chorus

Brianna Barnhart

Isabella Catalano

Ann Eastman Harp

Amalia Holmquist

FCA meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month. All participating FCA students may be dropped off up front in the Kindergarten carline. FCA starts at 7:10 AM.

Congratulations to our Sandpipers artists who have work on display at this year's Walton County Fair!

Where?

Walton County Fairgrounds: 790 N. 9th street, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433

When?

Monday, October 14th - Friday, October 18th from 5pm - 9pm (evening hours only)

Saturday, October 19th from 12 noon - 9pm

Get more information regarding our school's Book Fair and set up your student's ewallet by visiting https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/dunelakes

We have over $1200 of unspent e-Wallet funds from our Spring Fair last school year!

Families can use the balance to fund a new e-Wallet for the current Fair or to shop online with Scholastic. Account holders can also contribute any portion of their eGift Card balance to the school's Share the Fair account.

Don't let your money go to waste!

Thank you to all the South Walton Fire District team members who visited our school during Fire Prevention Week. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!"

Key messages for this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme include the following:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.

How many points can you earn? 50? 100? More? Help incentivize your student to read more this school year! We are creating AR point clubs and will reward them quarterly with the first recognition coming next week! Student names will also be displayed in the hall for visible recognition. You can encourage your student to read AND take an AR test on the book. Students can test at school and at home. See the media center section of the newsletter below for more information.

Hello Dune Lakes Families,

The Kid's Heart Challenge officially kicks off on October 28th with the American Heart Association, and we need your help! Over the next few weeks students will be learning about heart health and raising awareness for the American Heart Association.

Our school's goal is for every student and family to know Hands-Only CPR and the warning signs of a stroke by signing up online and completing Finn’s Mission!

PARENTS – HERE’S HOW TO GET STARTED

Step 1. Sign up online! Visit our school’s Kids Heart Challenge page: www.heart.org/schools OR download the AHA Schools app for iPhone or Android to search for our school and sign up!

Step 2. Complete Finn’s Mission!

Why we support the American Heart Association: When cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital, bystanders only respond 40% of the time. 75% of cardiac arrests occur in the home. Providing Hands-Only CPR immediately can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

Thank you for joining us and helping our community become lifesavers!

Drew Farris

Physical Education Teacher

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!

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.

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

Congratulations to Manuela Devia Gallo, 3rd Grade

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

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

Encourage your student to explore the a la carte menus options in the Sandpiper Cafe! 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.

Please check your child's backpack for returned incomplete emergency cards. We need your help in getting these back to us ASAP before the Department of Health Audit. If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Vanessa or Nurse Amber at 850-622-5012 x2715

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.

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

• 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 10

Grit shows up in small moments, like finishing homework, practicing an instrument, or learning a new sport. It's about focusing on the long-term benefits rather than seeking instant rewards. Helping children develop daily routines where they practice grit, like working through challenges without giving up, can build lifelong skills.

Tip for Parents:
Create opportunities for your child to work on long-term goals. Whether it’s completing a puzzle, learning a new hobby, or studying for a big test, grit grows through practice!

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.

2024 Book Fair – 10/7- 10/18! Volunteer to work the Book Fair Here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/volunteer

Moms and Monsters – Saturday, October 12 from 5-7P. VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS NEEDED!

• Sponsor Here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/sponsorships
• Volunteer Here: https://www.sandpiperboosters.org/volunteer
• Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moms-monsters-tickets-1010980639307?aff=oddtdtcreator

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

Spirit Shop – You can shop Sandpiper Merch year-round! 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

Sandpiper Holiday Greenery Sale – Spread holiday cheer this season while supporting Dune Lakes Elementary! All greenery ships direct to any address in the contiguous 48 states. Due date for orders is midnight on November 2, 2024. Share with friends and family as anyone can order!! Orders begin arriving the week of Thanksgiving. See other items and order Here: https://sherwoodfundraiser.com/dle

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/

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

Stay connected with Remind! We've created a new school Remind account for the 24-25 school year. All previous school accounts have been closed. Please rejoin our DLE Remind by texting our school code @dle2425 to 81010.

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