The Dolphin Times

Dear Dacusville families!

I hope that each of you has had the most amazing summer vacation, minus the unbearable heat wave we have been suffering through these past few weeks! Can you believe that in just one week from today, we will be gathering together for our Meet the Teacher event? I can't wait to see all of our returning students and their parents and welcome in all the new faces to DES! This year's theme is "Launching Into Learning," and we can't wait to blast off on August 1st! Take a minute to look over this first edition of the 25-26 Dolphin Times and then go enjoy this final week of the summer. We'll see you next Tuesday evening!

If you ever have any questions or want to provide feedback, please email me at travischapman@pickens.k12.sc.us or you can call me directly at 397-2810.

Sincerely,

Travis A. Chapman

Parents of 4K students should have received letters via email on Monday of this week, which provided you with a lot of details, including:

• Your child's teacher
• a link to sign up for your 1:1 Parent Teacher Conference
• information about our staggered start to 4K and when your child will report to school

If you have any questions, please contact Marissa Galloway, marissagalloway@pickens.k12.sc.us or Travis Chapman, travischapman@pickens.k12.sc.us

Tech It Home Fee - $25 for 2025-2026

The School District of Pickens County views the use of digital resources as central to the delivery of its educational program and expects that all students will use digital resources as an essential part of their learning experiences. Students using a mobile learning device at school and at home are expected to follow the SDPC Tech It Home Mobile Learning Device Guidelines and all SDPC Technology Acceptable Use Policies. Tech It Home Fees will be $25 for the 2025-2026 school year. For more on Tech it Home please click HERE.

Students are not issued their Chromebooks until fees are paid and this is not optional.

*** You can pay this fee online using myschoolbucks.com!

We are looking for business partners or sponsors in our community who would be willing to help sponsor events or celebrations for teachers and/or students. If you own a business, lead a church, or know of someone who does that may be willing to be one of our business partners please complete this form or pass it to someone who might. We would love to be to partner with you!

DES Community Partners Form

Updated information and details regarding the Spirit Rock in terms of how to sign up, cost, and more is coming soon... Stay tuned!

Spirit Rock was donated by

Dustin Brown @ Palmetto Upstate Group

Thank You,

Dacusville Elementary DSO

*** A NEW LINK TO SIGN UP AND PAY TO PAINT THE ROCK IS COMING SOON. ***

Arrival -

Car rider doors open at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast is available and FREE to all again this year. Exterior doors to the school are closed at 7:57 a.m. and if there are no adults outside and the red stop sign is out, you must park, walk your child in the main office and sign them in.

Dismissal -

School ends at 2:30 p.m. and we will begin dismissal at that time. Please be patient the first week or so of school as many students and parents are new and learning these new procedures. Expect delays with bus drop off and pick-up also.

I have had several parents ask questions about school attendance. I am linking a page from our district's website that offers more explanations of various topics surrounding attendance including the law, regulations, and much more. I trust that every parent understands and supports the fact that students have to be at school in order for them to maximize their learning. We understand that sickness hits us all and that every time our kid is sick may not mean they have to go to the doctor. That is why each child can turn in up to 10 parent notes per year to be used as excused absences. If you have questions please let me know. Thanks!

ALL ABOUT ATTENDANCE

The School District of Pickens County has expanded its safety program to include the I Love U Guys Foundation’s "Standard Response Protocol" (SRP) to standardize how we communicate and respond to emergencies impacting our campuses and people.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) provides consistent, clear, and shared language and actions among all students, staff, and first responders that can be applied in any emergency. The SRP is used by schools and institutions across the nation, giving students, staff, parents, communities, and first responders a common language and course of action.

Through this approach, members of the campus community will utilize the five SRP actions to define their decisions when responding to an emergency situation.

These actions are:

• HOLD

• SECURE

• LOCKDOWN

• EVACUATE

• SHELTER

We invite you to read more about the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) on our website - www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/standard-response-protocol

We realize that our main car line in the mornings is long. Here are a couple of ways that you can help us speed up our line.

• Please pull up to within 1-2 ft. of the person's bumper in front of you. If you are the first person in the next grouping of cars we ask that you pull past the crosswalk and all the way down to the white cone! - This change alone has allowed us to empty to car line by 7:57 each morning since we started. THANK YOU!

• Stopping traffic to allow a lot of folks to walk across the crosswalk slows down the car line. If you can stay in the car line instead of parking and walking over it will greatly help the line move faster.
• Please be sure your child has all of their things (book bag, lunchbox, etc.) ready to go as soon as you come to a stop.
• If you have a younger child or a child who doesn't want to get out of the car in the mornings please pull up to the white cone and someone will assist you in getting them out.

These 4 actions will help us tremendously. Thank you all for helping us ensure all students arrive on time and safely into the school building.

If you are picking up a PreK student, please remain in your car. Our staff will get your child inside the vehicle and then you may pull down to the stop sign labeled, "Buckle." to complete the car seat secure process. Also, if it is possible please have your child's car seat located behind the passenger seat for easy access in and out of the vehicle.

Also, please be sure to have your car tag displayed from your rear view mirror each day. Thank you for your assistance.

If you have been to DES before in the past to sign out your child for a doctor or dentist appointment you will remember signing our yellow cards. This year we have gone digital. Our sign-in / sign-out process is done by the parent scanning a QR code posted on the window facing the foyer and completing the Google Form on your phone. Please be sure to bring your phone as well as your Driver's License or photo ID in when you come to pick up your child or if you are dropping them off late.

This new 3 digit number was approved Thursday. This increases accessibility and reduces the stigma of utilizing mental health services.

• Allergies (if applicable)
• Transportation (How will your child get home in the afternoons?)
• Specific Needs (Do they have medication to take during the school day? Do they have any physical limitations? Other pertinent information)

Email: travischapman@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://des.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 200 Cherokee Trail, Easley, SC, USA
Phone: 864-397-2800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DacusvilleElementary

Instagram: dacusvilledolphins
Twitter: @DacusvilleElem

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dacusvilleelementaryschool7618