The Dolphin Report
Destin Elementary School
To access staff contacts, handbooks and more, visit our website at https://www2.okaloosaschools.com/o/destines
September 2025
Mrs. Meyer, Principal / Mrs. Brown, Assistant Principal / Mr. Telatovich, Dean
DES families and community,
What a wonderful start we have had to the school year! I want to thank each of you—our students, families, and staff—for helping us kick things off so strong. Your support and teamwork truly make a difference.
For the latest updates, be sure to visit our school website at https://www.okaloosaschools.com/o/destines and follow us on Facebook. Also, don’t forget to read this newsletter each month for upcoming events, dress-up days, and important reminders. Unlike in the past, the recurring information and school policies will not be in every newsletter. There is a special edition on our website of the Dolphin Report called A Guide to DES Policies and Procedures that will have all of this additional information if you need to reference it!
We are looking forward to celebrating American Founder's Month this September showing our patriotism as a school! Our amazing PE team will host our first Family Football Friday on September 19th! Families are invited to attend their child's PE time with them on the football field for some fun football and fitness. PE times are listed in the flyer below.
Our campus will be open for lunch visitors for people that are on student's approved lists on Focus. The rules for lunch visitation are below!
At Destin Elementary, we are continuing to build a bigger, better, and stronger school and community, and it shows in the excitement and pride we see every day.
Together, we’re making this year one to remember—thank you for being such an important part of our Dolphin family!
As always, please email or call me with any concerns!
Respectfully,
Amy Meyer, Principal
Family football Friday
Two tickets will be sent home with each child so that parents can enter the football field gate during their PE time. Any parents who do not have their ticket will need to sign in through the front office prior to entering the field. If you need more than 2 tickets, you can request these ahead of time through your child's teacher. The tickets are for access to the football field and do not allow entry onto campus. In order to enter into the school campus, you will need to bring your license to the front office to sign in and get a visitor pass. Thank you for helping us to welcome you and keep everyone safe!
Lunch visitation will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd!
After School Art Program! Details below!
After School Violin
Drama Kids is after school on Thursdays!
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications for the 25-26 school year!
Free and Reduced Meal Applications must be submitted each year. If you were in this program last year, you will need to fill out a new application for the 25-26 school year, please! We encourage ALL of our families to fill out a free and reduced meal application, even if you don't think you will qualify or if you plan to bring meals from home. This application offers other supports as well, such as reduced internet cost if you qualify. Please take a moment to fill out the application!
Thank you :) https://www.myschoolapps.com/
Want to be a School Volunteer? Use the link to apply!
We love our volunteers! If you would like to help in classrooms or chaperone on field trips, you must have an approved volunteer application on file through Okaloosa County Schools. These volunteer approvals are good for one calendar year. You will receive an email when your application is received and another email when it has been approved. If you have an approved application on file, you will receive an email alert 30 days before it will expire to let you know to reapply. If you have problems with your application, you may call Lori Scott in the front office of DES :).
Important Information for Volunteers when applying:
- Volunteer/Chaperone Selection
At this time, we prefer everyone to select only “School/Classroom Volunteer” and “Chaperone” when completing their application.
There are only a few individuals who should be marking “Overnight Chaperone,” “Coach,” or “Mentor.” As the year progresses, if it is determined that a volunteer will be going on an overnight trip, mentoring, or helping to coach, we will provide guidance on how to obtain fingerprints and update their volunteer profile accordingly. - Device Use
Raptor is not mobile-friendly. Many parents use their phone, which often causes issues when they reach Section 4. This can result in them mistakenly selecting a function that requires fingerprinting. When this happens, the application must be denied/deleted, and the parent will need to reapply.
If possible, please allow parents to use a desktop or laptop at your campus to complete the application. This will save everyone a lot of time. - Fingerprinting for Field Trips
We will now be fingerprinting individuals for certain field trips that have not required this in the past. More information will be shared at the next principals’ meeting. - Processing Time for Fingerprints
The process for receiving and reviewing fingerprints has recently changed, resulting in a longer turnaround time. If a volunteer requires fingerprinting, please allow a minimum of five to seven days for completion. Due to the new procedures, there is very little flexibility in this timeline, so we will all need to plan accordingly.
Field Trip Chaperone Guidelines
PTO Sponsorships for DES
If you are able, please consider being a PTO sponsor to support Destin Elementary School this year! Thank you to all of our local business partners that help us every year by providing funds to enhance our school and the educational experience for all of our kids!
Thank you to our Diamond Sponsors!
Please support the businesses in our community that help make us the BEST Elementary School in Florida!!!
Thank you Platinum Sponsors!
Destin Plastic Surgery
Bluepoint Financial
South Walton Law
Thank you Gold Sponsors!
Thank you Silver Sponsors!
READ AT HOME PLAN!
Parents and caregivers! Reading at home with your kids is the best way to ensure they become proficient readers. Please use the link below to access some resources and strategies to help!
Spanish version of the Read at Home Plan!
Visit Squad Locker for your DES apparel! All items can be individually ordered and shipped right to your house! We hope you like it!
All after school activities are coordinated by the sponsor and parents.
Destin Elementary School allows organizations to use our facilities to provide after school activities for our students. We are not directly affiliated with them and are not involved in the agreements parents make with the organization.
Clubs and Activities
Club registrations with information about age requirements, cost and dates/times will be sent home a few weeks after school begins!
We are still in need of a sponsor/coach for the Drone Club! :) Contact Mrs. Meyer if you are interested!
Drama Kids - After school on Thursdays
Violin - After school on Tues and Thursdays
Remarkable Arts- After school on Thursdays
Music Club- during the school day, students rotate
Good News Club (all grades)- after school
Library Club (4th grade only) - during school hours
C.A.R.E. Squad (4th grade only)- during school hours, students chosen by peers
Safety Patrol (4th grade only)- during school hours
Junior Deputy (4th grade only)- during school hours
Destin Ambassadors (all grades, students chosen by admin)- during school hours
Calendar of Upcoming Events
September
1- Labor Day Holiday
3- Bang’n Bowls Acai Food Truck- 10-1
11- PTO meeting 7:45 in the media center
11- 911 Hero’s Day- Wear Red, White and Blue
17-United States Constitution Day
17- SAC 3:15 in the media center
19- Copper Grill Food Truck
22 Freedom Week
24-Make Up Pictures (2 photographers)
October
1- Principal Appreciation Month
2- School Custodian Appreciation Day
9- PTO meeting- 7:45 in the media center
10- End of First Quarter
13- Teacher workday
14-3rd Grade conferences in STEM (Donatelli/Taylor) and Conference room (Bitler/Williams)
14- 1st grade walk to the fire station (9-11) Mills/Ross and Reed/Smith
15-3rd Grade conferences in STEM room (Henry/Corona)
15 - 1st grade walk to the fire station (9-11) Black/partner and Henkel/Call
15- KG walk to pumpkin patch at Faith Coast on Legion 10:30-12:00 Ellis/Schillinger
16-3rd Grade conferences in STEM (Olson &Hurst) and Conference room (Higgs/Ketler)
16- KG walk to pumpkin patch at Faith Coast on Legion 10:30-12:00 Deslauriers/Pisarchuk
17-Thai to Go food truck 10-1
17-Career day— multi-purpose
17- KG walk to pumpkin patch at Faith Coast on Legion 10:30-12:00 Luallen/Huffman
17- Burns KG conferences in conference room
20- School Bus Safety Week
20- KG walk to pumpkin patch at Faith Coast on Legion 10:30-12:00 Burns/ Howell
20-Deslauriers KG conferences in conference room
21- 50th Day of School –KG Dress as 50s
23- Howell KG conferences in conference room
24-Schillinger KG conferences in conference room
27-Huffman KG conferences in conference room
28- Pisarchuk KG conferences in conference room
30-Luallen KG conferences in conference room
31- Pisarchuk fall party 11:30-12:00
31- Deslauriers fall party 11:30-12:00
31- Schillinger fall party 12:00-1:00
31- Howell fall party 12:00-1:00
31- Luallen fall party 12:00-1:00
31- Burns fall party
31- Huffman fall party
31- Ellis fall party
New School Addition coming to DES in August 2026!
Please Excuse the Mess!
We are thrilled to showcase our school expansion! This will be the new front office which will be located on Beach Dr! To the left of the front office, you can see the new multipurpose building with the classroom additions behind that!
Below is the view of the new, 2-story, 30 classroom addition that will house our 3rd-5th grade classes! There will be more parking and an additional car line for pick up to help with traffic on the main roads!
Things You Need To Know
Students may purchase breakfast in the cafeteria before class if they choose.
School starts at 8:25. All students should be in their classroom and ready to learn no later than this or they will be marked tardy.
Please make every effort to be on time. Instruction starts at 8:25 and it is uncomfortable for students to enter late and try to catch up on what they missed :). It also disrupts the learning of the other students.
No visitors will be allowed on campus unless they sign in through the front office.
Drop off- Students may ride the bus, come by car or walk/ride bikes to school. Walkers and bike riders have 3 ways they may enter. One is on Beach Drive at our multipurpose room (we call this the Beach Drive entrance), one to the left of the front office (we call this the kindergarten gate) and one to the right of the front of the school by the kindergarten playground (we call this the black gate).
Car riders will come through the car line on Kelly St. Please have your students ready to exit the car when you pull up to the drop off point so we can keep things flowing smoothly!
Although we try to open all car doors for students, you do not have to wait on staff to get kids out of the car. Students that are capable, may exit the car on their own.
DO NOT drop off students across the street and have them cross traffic or walk in front of the car line to come to school. Any student crossing a street should use the crosswalks! I understand the car line can get long, however, this causes a very dangerous situation and we want our kids to be safe- thank you.
You may park at the Catholic Church on Beach Drive and walk your student to the multipurpose room entrance if you don't want to wait in the car line. Please do not park in the yards/driveways of people who live around the school. We want to be respectful of their property.
Breakfast and lunch are able to be purchased each day. The menu can be viewed by clicking the following link. Keep in mind that there are times the menu changes without notice.
https://okaloosaschools.nutrislice.com/menus-eula
You may access the application for free and reduced lunches with the link below. We encourage everyone to fill out the form whether you think you will qualify or not. :) It helps our school by having more people fill out the form!
https://www2.myschoolapps.com/
Breakfast and Lunch Prices are listed below.
You can add money to your child's account online by creating an account at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home
We welcome parents to come eat lunch with your kids any day of the week! Due to limited seating in the cafeteria, we ask that you eat outdoors only at any of our picnic tables or benches around campus. You may bring lunch in to eat with your child or buy lunch in the cafeteria. We do not accept deliveries for lunch such as fast food drop offs or Door Dash orders. Calling classrooms for students to pick up their lunch disrupts instruction and causes much confusion and traffic in the front office. When you come to eat with your child, you may only take your child with you. Please do not invite friends to join you. This is for everyone's safety. Sign in through the front office when visiting, please :)
*Side note about lunch- Students are allowed to purchase ice cream, chips and other treats at lunch as long as there is money in their account, unless you contact the cafeteria and tell them otherwise. When students buy these extra treats, most of the time that is all they eat. The rest of the lunch goes in the trash. We want parents to be aware. If you would like to limit what your child buys, please write a note to the cafeteria or call to talk to them. :)
Early Checkouts: If you need to check your child out early for any reason, please come to the front office to sign them out. We ask that you come no later than 2:15 for early checkouts. Dismissal time gets very hectic in the front office and we need that time to handle transportation changes and make sure kids get to their correct locations to get home.
If your child is needing to change the way they go home, you MUST write a note that includes your child's full name, teacher's name, the date and the way you want them to go home. Please sign the note and send it to school with your child. Their teacher will get it to the office for you. Any transportation change that differs from their regular way home, requires a written note.
Dismissal - Dismissal begins at 2:55 and students are released in waves.
ALL students will be given a tag that is placed on their backpacks. They will be assigned a tag number.
Any parents picking up in car line must have a matching car tag to their students backpack tag. You will be sent to the front office to get your child if you do not have your car tag at pickup.
Kindergartener walkers will be picked up at the kindergarten gate to the left of the front office. Parents of kindergarten walkers only will be required to show their matching tag. Older students may go home as walkers/bike riders without a parent meeting them.
Kindergarteners are walked to their appropriate places for dismissal.
***If you plan to volunteer at school this year, including attending field trips with your student, you must have a current volunteer application on file. You can access this application at the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/OTYyOmVuLVVT
When filling out the application, if you choose Coach, Overnight Chaperone, or Mentor options, they require fingerprinting and it's a longer process. You do not need to be fingerprinted to volunteer in the school setting only. If you do not hear back about your application within a week, contact us to check on it for you :)
Pop Top Collection to Support the Ronald McDonald House!
Please collect these tops throughout the year and send them into school with your child or bring them to the lobby of the front office and place them in the container.
Thank you for helping us support a very special organization that helps families every day!