Davis Elementary E-news

Dear Davis Families,

What an incredible first week we've had at Davis! Your children have jumped into the new school year with such enthusiasm and curiosity, and it's been a joy to watch them settle into our school community.

This week, our Davis Dragons learned all about our BEST expectations and what it means to be respectful, responsible, and safe members of our school family. I've been so impressed watching them embrace these values as they navigate new classrooms, meet new friends, and build meaningful connections with their teachers.

The hallways have been filled with excited chatter, new friendships are already blooming, and I can see the spark of learning in every classroom I visit. Your children are off to a wonderful start, and their positive energy is contagious throughout our entire school.

Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gifts. We are honored to be part of your children's educational journey and look forward to all the growth and discoveries that lie ahead this year.

Here's to a fantastic year together!

Warmly,

Gina Shaw

• 8:50 a.m. Earliest time for drop off
• 9:05 a.m. Beginning of school day
• 3:25 p.m. End of school day
• On the last Wednesday of each month (except for Dec/May), school will dismiss early at 2:35 pm. (A.M. Kindergarten will dismiss at 11:15 a.m.) Busses will dismiss at that time, and walkers/car riders will need to be picked up at that time.

Eating healthy is an important part of the school day. Please review these important guidelines together with your child.

1. Snacks - Each child should bring a healthy snack every day that will be eaten with the class at a time set by the teacher. Sending a water bottle is also very handy and avoids needless interruptions going to the drinking fountain. No snacks are available for purchase at school. For healthy snack ideas please click HERE
2. Breakfast - is available through Organic Life Food Service upon arriving at school and will be charged to Pushcoin if the child chooses a breakfast. Please talk with your child if you plan for them to eat breakfast at school. The students will eat as class is starting and do not arrive early for breakfast. Please do not send a breakfast from home for your child to eat at school, only school-purchased breakfast items are allowed. Students are not permitted to bring outside beverages, such as Starbucks, Dunkin, etc into school upon arrival. Those items must be consumed and discarded prior to entering the building. Also, there is no eating allowed on the school busses.
3. Lunch - Students have 20 minutes for lunch; students may choose from 4 main menu items and a variety of fruit & veggie options. Students may also bring their own lunch. The teacher will ask children for their lunch choice at the start of the school day, but parents may review the menu with their child at home. Lunches are charged through PushCoin.
4. No Fast Food Deliveries (DoorDash etc) - We do not accept fast food or delivery services for students at Davis. Please do not drop off or have restaurant food sent to Davis for your child. If you would like to have lunch with your child, you can come to the main office and sign them out during their lunch & recess period. Thank you for your cooperation.
5. $$$ - For lunch/breakfast pricing, application for free/reduced pricing and more, please see the D303Food Services Webpage.

Click HERE for Davis Google Calendar

August:

19-22, Tues-Fri - iReady Fall Assessments for Grades 1-5

21st, Thursday - PTO Meeting in the LRC at 7:00pm

23rd, Saturday - Urban Air PTO Event (4-8pm)

29th, Friday - No School for Students - Teacher Institute Day

September:

1st, Monday - Labor Day Holiday - No School

18th, Thursday - PTO Meeting in the LRC at 7:00pm

24th, Wed - School Picture Day

24th, Wed - 2:35pm Early Dismissal (11:15 for A.M. Kindergarten)

25th, Thursday - PTO Bingo Night (5:45-7:00)

Students in grades 1-5 will take their fall i-Ready test starting next week, August 18th. (Kindergarten will take place Sept 2-6.) Make-ups for grades 1-5 will start the week of August 25th. Teachers will use this information to help plan for interventions this fall. The diagnostic assessment sets the personalized online instruction for each student to start the year and readjust during the year. Teachers monitor student pathways with check-ins and ability to make adjustments. Please click HERE for more details.

• On Thursday, August 21st, Davis Elementary will conduct our state-required annual Lockdown Drill with law enforcement personnel present. During this time, students will review and practice the classroom procedures.
• Parents/guardians may opt their child out of physical participation in this drill each year by emailing Gina Shaw and Linda Jezek (gina.shaw@d303.org, linda.jezek@d303.org) at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled date. Students who are opted out will receive an alternative school safety learning experience with a certified staff member.
• The D303 website has helpful information posted for families. Learn more about ALICE safety training HERE.

Attention Future 5th Grade Families! Does your child like to sing? 5th grade choir is open to all D303 5th grade students! Anyone may join; there are no auditions. 5th grade students interested in learning more about vocal technique, unison and part-singing, and team building, all through a rich variety of vocal music repertoire, are encouraged to join choir! 5th grade choir will be held before school on Mondays at 8:00am, and registration will begin in August. Stay tuned!

Dear Music Parents,

Get ready for another exciting year of making beautiful music together! We're thrilled to kick off the 2025-26 school year with your talented young musicians. Here's everything you need to know about our rehearsal schedule:

🎼 During School Lessons

Starting the week of August 25th - Individual and small group lessons will begin during the regular school day. Students will receive their specific lesson times from their music teachers.

🌅 Before School Rehearsals

Starting the week of September 22nd - Morning rehearsals begin! Here's when your musician needs to be ready:

• 5th Grade Choir: Monday Mornings

• Beginner Orchestra: Tuesday mornings

• 4th Grade Orchestra: Wednesday mornings

• 5th Grade Band: Thursday mornings
• 5th Grade Orchestra: Update!! Rehearsals will now be on Friday mornings at Richmond Elementary (Special note: Students will be bused to Davis after rehearsal - no need for parent pickup!)

We can't wait to hear the amazing progress your children will make this year! Music education builds confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Let's make this a year full of musical magic! 🌟

Instrumental Music Teachers,

Ms. Rohrbach, Mrs. Mezera, and Mr. Basich

Band Website for more information - Band Website

Registration Form - Form

Instrument Prices - Quinlan and Fabish Info

Website to rent the instrument - Quinlan Website or call 630-654-4111

The band program pulls students once per week for a 40-minute small group lesson during the school day. These lesson times rotate each week so that the same material isn't missed from the classroom. Band students will also be committing to one morning rehearsal per week before school. These morning rehearsals are a mandatory part of the program, and parents must provide transportation to school on these mornings.

Please let me know if you have any questions! I'm looking forward to a great 5th grade band next year! I truly hope to see ALL 5th grade students give Band a try this year. I know they'll love it. If you have questions about the program, please contact your school's band director: david.basich@d303.org

Dear 3rd and 4th Grade Families

We will be starting orchestra lessons very soon at Davis. To make sure we can adequately prepare before lessons begin, the deadline for signing up for orchestra is Monday 8/18. If your child would like to be in orchestra, sign them up asap!

Here are the basics:

- Students choose to play either the violin, viola, cello or bass

- During the school year, orchestra meets two times a week: one 40 minutes small group lesson during the school day and one 45 minute full group before school rehearsal.

- During the school day lessons will start the week of August 25th. Lesson day will be announced soon.

- Before school rehearsals will be Tuesdays from 8:00-8:50am at Davis. First before school rehearsal will be September 23rd.

Steps for enrollment:

1. Fill out the online form: New Orchestra Student Enrollment Form 2025-2026

2. Reserve a rental instrument from either Austin's Violin Shop or Quinlan and Fabish. Violin, viola and cello should order a 1/4 size (12" if ordering a viola from Austin's), bass players should order an 1/8 size. When ordering make sure to include the Essential Elements Book 1 and a folding music stand with your order. Have the instrument delivered to Davis- your child will receive their instrument, book and folding music stand during their first orchestra lesson.

3. Purchase a 1 inch 3 ring binder, pencil pouch, and 3-4 sharpened pencils. These will be part of the orchestra supplies.

Any questions? Visit our website D303 Elementary Orchestra Website or contact us: Mrs. Mezera (elisabeth.mezera@d303.org) Ms. Kirstin Rohrbach (kirstin.rohrbach@d303.org)

Looking forward to a great year in orchestra!

Dear Parents,

Looking ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, if your child requires medication or any action plans, your child will need new physician orders and action plans for the school year. Ideally have the physician date the forms following the last day of school. Forms can be found under health services on the D303 site or linked directly here:

MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION

ASTHMA

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES

DIABETES

All forms will need to be completed in full before any medications can be administered.

Kindergarten and 2nd grade students require a dental examination and form completed within 18 months prior to May 15th, 2025. A vision examination and completed State form is also required for incoming kindergarten students as well as a physical examination and a record of all immunizations.

DENTAL FORM

VISION FORM

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

These forms can be submitted to the main office or emailed to the school nurse. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Nurse Peggy and Nurse LeeAnna

peggy.faught@d303.org

phone: 331-228-2204

District 303 attendance procedures were updated and approved at the June 9, 2025, Board Meeting. All district procedures are available in the CUSD 303 Student Handbook found in the Parent/Community tab in the Information column of the district303.org website.

Updates to the attendance procedures were made to bring consistency across all schools within the district and to clarify student attendance expectations. One example of an update is the removal of the pre-arranged absence procedure. This aligns with the definitions of excused and unexcused absences found in Section 2.2.

Families are encouraged to review the CUSD 303 Student Handbook to familiarize themselves with the districtwide procedures.

In D303, we value the opportunity to provide a community of care and support to our families, particularly those facing financial hardship. If your family is currently experiencing a significant financial need, our community partnerships offer several supports for families, including school clothes/shoes, winter coats/accessories, school supplies, toiletries, holiday meals, and/or holiday gifts. If you would like to be considered for any of these supports, please complete the Family Resource Form by September 12, 2025.

En D303, valoramos la oportunidad de proveer una comunidad de cuidado y apoyo a nuestras familias, especialmente a aquellas que enfrentan dificultades financieras. Si su familia está experimentando actualmente una necesidad financiera significativa, nuestras asociaciones comunitarias tienen varios apoyos disponibles para las familias, incluyendo: ropa/calzado para la escuela, abrigos/accesorios de invierno, materiales escolares, artículos de aseo personal, comidas para los días festivos, y/o regalos para navidad. Si desea que se le tenga en cuenta para cualquiera de estas ayudas, por favor, rellene este formulario. Para ser considerado, es fundamental que complete esta encuesta a más tardar el viernes 12 de septiembre.

Family Needs Assessment Form (English)

Family Needs Assessment Form (Spanish

Email: linda.jezek@d303.org
Website: https://davis.d303.org/
Location: 1125 S 7th St, St. Charles, IL, 60174
Phone: 331-228-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisElementaryD303
Twitter: @StCharlesD303