The Dolphin Times

Dear Dacusville families!

Good afternoon! I hope that you are all doing well. Fall Festival was so much fun, and I am so thankful that so many showed up. Please help me give a huge shoutout to our faculty and staff who worked so hard and gave their time to put on this amazing event!

This Week...

• Monday - Fall Make-Up Picture Day
• Friday - All Pro Dad (6:45 - 7:30)

Coming Soon...

• October 27 - 30 - Red RIbbon Week (Spirit Week)
• October 31st - No School for Students

Talking point at home this week: When you make a choice, take ownership

We often talk with students about a poor choice many times they will tell us about another student to told them to do whatever it is they are in trouble for at that time. We stress to them that no one can force you to do anything. This does not mean that the students who are encouraging a poor choice are innocent and should not be addressed, but it does mean that each student (and adult) is responsible for their own actions. Once we decide to make a choice (good or bad), we have to accept the consequences, the outcomes, whether they are positive or negative. If you know something is wrong, don't allow others to convince you otherwise. Stand Strong for what you know is right!

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

Pickens County Adult Education will begin offering an Evening GED class in the Pickens area starting October 28th, 5:00–8:00 PM. Interested students can scan the QR code to learn more and register.

Dear Families,

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things.

Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.

Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.

To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

Grades 9–12

Thank you for your support!

Chromebooks are a necessary part of the instructional program in SDPC at all levels. Each year, parents are asked to pay $25 tech fees to provide insurance and help us repair broken chromebooks. If you have ever had a child crack their screen or have some other damage to their chromebook, you realize the importance of that tech fee. $25 is a whole lot better than $300-$400 for repairs.

I do want to share that Chromebook chargers are NOT covered in the Tech it Home fee. Please be sure students are taking care of these as well. The cost of a replacement charger is $35.

To help us ensure student safety, we ask if you have an emergency and need to sign your child out early that you do so before 2:10. After 2:10, we ask that you use the car line. It is often difficult to make last-minute changes in transportation, and we will not be able to call a student to the office for dismissal after 2:10 p.m. Our radios and sound system will be in use for buses and car line dismissal at that time. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

All Title 1 papers will be sent home this year on lavender paper so that they can be easily distinguished from other papers. Please be sure to look for these in your child's folders.

🚗 Buckle Up Zone = Safety 🚗
For everyone’s safety and to keep our car line moving efficiently, please pull all the way forward to the “Buckle Up Zone” before helping your child buckle in.
This helps us load students safely and keeps the line moving steadily.
Thank you for helping us keep our dolphins safe! 🐬

PLEASE READ BEFORE SIGNING UP.... 🙂

Please do not paint on the back of the rock. We have added a plaque in honor of our donor. If damaged, you will be responsible for any cost to fix/replace.

You may reserve the Dolphin Spirit Rock for $15 (pay directly when signing up). You can give a shout out to your favorite student! When you sign up, you can paint the rock starting at 4pm the day before your reserved date.

The cost to reserve The Dolphin Spirit Rock is $15 + processing fee for a total of $16.25. You will have the rock for 24 hrs (4pm-4pm). The day your reserve is the day for your rock to be seen. You MUST paint the rock the day prior to your actual sign up. For example, if you reserve Monday, 8/19, you'll be able to start painting on Sunday, 8/18 at 4PM so that it's up and ready for your student to see on your sign-up date of 8/19. We had several issues last school year with people painting the rock on the wrong date. The DSO is not liable if you painted on the wrong date. If you paint on the wrong date and cover another's design. You will be blocked from further reservations and will be responsible for the charges of the repaint of the original design.

Payments can only be made directly through this app when making your reservation. Dates are available on a first come, first serve basis and you may NOT reserve the rock for consecutive days.

Spirit Rock reservation is valid rain or shine!

*There will be no refunds for weather or school closures*

You are responsible for the painting of the rock. You can do this yourself (see tips below) or hire someone to paint for you. The DSO does not provide the paint or paint this for you.

TIPS: Three or four cans of spray paint will cover the front of the rock, or you can roll on paint as well. If you want to paint words or designs in multiple colors, you can buy small sample jars of any color paint anywhere paint is sold. You can always use some left over house paint you have at home. Please do not use oil based paints!

This year we are blessed with a local painter for hire. Mrs. Miller is the parent of children at Dacusville Elementary and does a wonderful job. She painted our welcome back rock this year. If interested you can contact her directly through the QR code linked below.

Spirit Rock was donated by

Dustin Brown @ Palmetto Upstate Group

If you have any questions you can reach us by emailing dacusvilledso@gmail.com

Thank You,

Dacusville Elementary DSO

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

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.

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