DFS Summer Update #2

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The front parking lot sidewalks and curbs are complete. Side parking lot sidewalks and curbs are next, then pavement will be put in place. I am told that this latter phase moves very quickly. Our new digs will provide three separate routes for buses, carpool, and parking. The schematic below is accurate except for the extra lane on Daniels Farm Road; that portion of the project did not make the final cut. Cross your fingers for dry weather!

Overall Traffic Flow

There are three distinct and separate sections to the new DFS parking lot for buses, carpool, and parking as shown in the schematic above.

Yellow indicates buses, which now enter and exit on the left side of the property. Bus students enter and exit the side of the building.

Red indicates carpool, which now enters to the right of buses and exits to the right of the parking area. It appears we will have room for four to six cars to drop-off and pick-up at a time; this will be much safer and easier to manage. There are two lanes for right and left hand exits.

The parking area is expanded, with its own entrance and exit.

Additional staff will be out in full force to offer guidance with signage the first week of school.

During PM carpool dismissal, parents enter their child's carpool number once they are in line along Daniels Farm Road using the link below. The link allows daily access to a Google Form as follows:

1. Open the form (LINK: https://forms.gle/CDjvEC31yvPabfqL6 or use the QR code on the right)
2. Enter your child's carpool number when you arrive at DFS.
3. Hit "submit".
4. Repeat this process for each child you are picking up that day.

This must be done each day you are picking up a student. Please DO NOT enter your number until you are in the car line on Daniels Farm Road or there will be too many students in the waiting area. If you bookmark the form on your phone, it will be easy to access on the days you need it. Below you will find a short video demonstrating the process.

Instructional Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzaVbMQwYjYZ17V__qhjQYDQQUILLXJc/view?usp=sharing

Please read and follow these important rules to keep all our students, families, and staff safe.

• We do not sacrifice safety for convenience.

• Parents must stay in their vehicle. Students should be able to exit the vehicle during AM carpool drop off without parental help. This allows for a smooth flow of traffic so that students can be in class on time.

• Please pull up all the way to the top of the drop-off and pick-up zone.

• Students may enter and exit the car only when the car has entered the single lane of the drop-off and pick-up zone.

• Students may not enter and exit the car when the vehicle is in the two-lane area of traffic flow.

• All students must enter and exit on the driver side of the car. This is different than last year as the traffic pattern has changed due to our new parking lot layout.

• Cars must stay in line and not pass any other vehicles when exiting the drop-off and pick-up zone. There are two lanes for exiting DFS.

• Morning drop-off begins at 8:20AM and ends at 8:35AM. Students may not exit their vehicle until 8:20AM during carpool drop off. Staff is on duty at 8:20AM each morning, with no supervision prior to this time. Allowing your child out of the vehicle early places her/him in a potentially dangerous situation.

• Afternoon pickup begins at 3:15PM and ends at 3:35PM. Students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade should be picked up from 3:15 to 3:25 PM. Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade should be picked up from 3:25 - 3:35PM. After this time, students are brought to the front office.

• Parents choosing to walk their children to carpool may enter the area from the front or rear of the property. You may not walk through the bus area on the side of the school. You may not park in the staff lot and walk your child to carpool to avoid waiting in line.

Friday, August 21

• Kindergarten Play Date, 4:30 - 6:30PM @ DFS Playground (pending pavement completion)

Wednesday, August 26

• Meet Your Teacher, Grades K&1 @1:00PM
• Meet Your Teacher, Grades 2&3 @1:40PM
• Meet Your Teacher, Grades 4&5 @2:20PM

Thursday, August 27

• First Day of the 2026-27 School Year

Thursday, September 3

• Back to School Night (Grades 3-4-5 @ 6:00PM, Grades K-1-2 @ 7:00PM)

Monday, September 7

• Labor Day - Schools Closed

Tuesday, September 15

• Early Closing for Students
• Staff Professional Development

Monday, September 21

• Yom Kippur - Schools Closed

Please mark your calendars for this year's Back to School Night on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The evening offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the grade level curriculum and how your child's classroom functions on a daily basis. We hope to see you there!

Did you know students can lose up to two months of reading and math advancements over the summer? That's like working a 12-month job and only collecting paychecks for 10 months; who would do that?! Please make reading and computing/problem solving a daily passion in your home, carving out a specific time when all electronics are off and everyone is buried in a book or challenging each other's mathematical thinking. When children see their parents improving their minds, they realize it is an important and fun habit. It's not too late to turn this summer around if you start tonight!

Please complete the summer reading and math form at the link below ONE TIME; we recommend you do this in August. Only students who read and complete the form participate in a fun fall celebration at DFS. Thank you!

Summer Reading and Math Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmOTUQMLaDUJFWBE9H7jk7oVH3ctHPfTX-RaQslhVoXolRzw/formResponse

Summer break is an excellent time for children to relax, explore, and have fun after all the work they accomplished this school year! As we approach the sunny days of summer, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the importance of summer reading and how it's crucial to keep their minds engaged to prevent any learning loss.

The learning loss phenomenon is known as the "summer slide" and refers to the decline in academic skills that can occur over the summer months when children are not actively engaged in educational activities. Research has shown that students can lose up to two months of grade-level equivalency in reading and math skills over the summer break.

However, the good news is that the summer slide can be mitigated through consistent reading habits. Encouraging your child to read regularly over the summer is one of the most effective ways to combat this decline and ensure they start the new school year on the right foot.

At Daniels Farm School we celebrated DFS’ Summer Reading Read-Out with an event on June 11th. Students bookshopped a gently used book to get a head start on their summer reading! We discussed celebrating summer reading by logging it on this Google Form at the end of summer. Then classes paused their regular schedules to come together and read outside.

Here is Dr. Iwanicki’s Summer Letter and some creative and fun ideas to help keep your child excited about reading throughout the summer:

• Create a Summer Reading Challenge: Challenge your child to read a certain number of books over the summer months. You can create a chart to track their progress and offer incentives for reaching milestones, such as a special outing or a small reward.

• Start a Family Book Club: Choose a book that the whole family can read together and then discuss it over dinner or during a designated family book club night. This is a great way to promote literacy while also spending quality time together as a family.

• Visit the Library Regularly: Make weekly trips to the local library a part of your summer routine. Allow your child to choose books that interest them, and don't be afraid to explore different genres and topics.

• Incorporate Reading into Daily Activities: Encourage your child to read in everyday situations, such as reading recipes while cooking together, reading signs while out on a walk, or reading aloud to younger siblings or pets.

• Set Up a Reading Fort: Create a cozy reading nook or fort in your home where your child can escape with a good book. Add some pillows, blankets, and a flashlight for extra coziness.

• Join a Summer Reading Program: Many libraries and bookstores offer summer reading programs with incentives and rewards for participating. These programs often include activities, events, and prizes to keep kids motivated.

By incorporating these creative ideas into your summer plans, you can help prevent the summer slide and foster a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

Happy reading!

Just like reading, math skills stay strongest with a little regular practice. Consistency matters more than quantity—even a few minutes of math practice each week can have a lasting impact on your child's confidence and success in mathematics. Spending just 10–15 minutes a day, 3–4 times a week, working through a summer math packet page and practicing math facts can help your child maintain important skills and feel prepared for the next school year.

Visit our Elementary Summer Math Website to access:

• Summer Math Packets (download the packet for the grade your child will be entering next year)

• Information about the Connecticut Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge

• Fun resources and activities to practice math facts and build number fluency

A little math practice throughout the summer can help your child return to school feeling confident, capable, and ready to learn. Be on the lookout for more information to come about the importance of repeated practice of math facts over the summer.

Have a great summer!

If you enter your reading data on the Google Form listed in Mrs. Panella and Mrs. Cavalli's section, the information is automatically used for the First Selectman's Super Summer Reading Challenge.

Please use the link below to enjoy 2026 summer book talks with Trumbull Public Librarian Miss Kristine.

LINK: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHMMJmHvFs/J_ySrOkwDvkSuyEpE8FHCw/view?utm_content=DAHMMJmHvFs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer

All Trumbull elementary schools electronically distribute summer packet information sometime in mid-August. Students' bus numbers and assigned bus stops will be on the Parent Portal under the transportation tab. Everything you need for a great start to the school year is provided, and we are available if you have any questions after thoroughly reading all materials.

Summer is a great time to reinforce our DFS SWIM mantra! It's amazing how following a few simple-to-do mindsets can make a world of difference in yourself and the people around you. Be a positive force!

Daniels Farm Elementary School

710 Daniels Farm Rd., Trumbull, CT 06611

203-452-4388

Regular School Hours

Doors open at 8:20 AM

Regular School Hours: 8:35 AM - 3:20 PM

Early Dismissal Hours: 8:35 AM - 1:00 PM

Delayed Opening Hours

1 ½ hour Delay: 10: 05 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 9:50 AM)
2 hour Delay: 10:35 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 10:20 AM)
2 ½ hour Delay: 11:05 AM – 3:20 PM (doors open at 10:50 AM)

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2026- 2027 Trumbull Public Schools Calendar

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