Falcon Informer

Spring Picture Day March 4

Monday, February 24

Specials Day 6B

Girls Basketball Club 3:45-4:45

Tuesday, February 25

Specials Day 7A

Impact Club 3:45-4:45 *Must have note to stay

Wednesday, February 26

Specials Day 7B

Readers Rally 7:35

Thursday, February 27

Specials Day 8A

Chorus Club 7:30

Falcon Flyer 3:45-5:00

Friday, February 28

Specials Day 8B

Chess Club 7:35

PTA Talent Show *See information below*

Specials Schedule

Students may arrive between 8:20-8:50 am. Dismissal begins at 3:20 pm. Car rider lane runs from 8:20-8:45 in the morning, and 3:20-3:45 in the afternoons.

• March 4 is Spring Picture Day (Class Pictures)
• Spring Parent/Teacher Conference

Spring Conferences will be held the week of March 3-7. Dacula Elementary School is pleased to be able to offer parents the opportunity to schedule teacher conferences online. This will allow parents to select times that are convenient, as well as coordinate multiple conference times. Please refer to the following directions to schedule your time to meet and discuss your child's progress. All conferences will be held via Zoom unless in-person conference is requested by parent.

1. Go to https://ptcfast.com/schools/DES

2. Please select your child's class/teacher. You will be asked to enter your email address, and then you will be sent an email with a link that will allow you to register for your conference time. Click the link and choose your time.

Please note: You must have a valid email address to use this system. If you do not have access to email, please contact your child's teacher to set up your conference.

You will get email reminders before the conference.

PLEASE register as soon as possible. Signups will close February 28 .

Thank you for your help!

Our parent class input survey is open for the 25-26 school year. While we cannot honor specific teacher requests, we welcome any information that you would like taken into account - i.e. personality, learning style, etc. Click on the link below to access this survey!

Please complete by Friday, March 7.

https://forms.gle/a64pE9o9HiZ4EeRKA

At the October 2022 Board of Education meeting, a new Post-Secondary Readiness policy was adopted, initiating the development and implementation of writing assessments within Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). This policy aligns with our community’s vision for our Portrait of a Graduate, emphasizing essential skills such as critical thinking and effective written communication.

To support this vision, GCPS has introduced the Gwinnett Writes assessment program. This program enhances our Balanced Assessment Program by monitoring and assessing writing skills from elementary through high school.

The Gwinnett Writes program aims to assess each student’s writing skills through classroom assessments available for Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies in tested grades. Consistent writing practice and feedback are crucial for student development as writers.

Gwinnett Writes summative assessments will occur February 25th for all fourth-grade students as a language arts assessment with a choice of writing topics from Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. On test day, the choice of topic will be made by the student within the online platform prior to beginning the assessment. Parents are able to talk over the choices with their child by using the linked flyer.

Starting in January, students in Grades K-2 may take books home that they borrow from the library. Please be aware that these books are on loan and must be returned to school. Books which are lost or damaged will incur a fine, usually $15 per book. Please encourage your student to put their library book in their backpack after they are finished reading, so that their books will be sure to make it back to school!

Clinic Donations Needed

• Student sized leggings, sweatpants or jeans. Please donate pants only. They may be dropped off at front desk
• Snack size baggies
• Saltines

Thank you!

DES Birthday Marquee is a fundraising initiative where parents can have their child's birthday displayed on the school marquee to celebrate their special day for a $15 donation. Funds raised will directly benefit Dacula Elementary School. It's a fun and unique way to make your child feel extra special while supporting their school at the same time. Please submit requests at least 1 week in advance!

See information below on how to complete the request and pay!

In-person Visits:

When visiting the school please follow the procedures below. Please note that appointments are required for classroom visits, meetings, or to speak with an administrator.

• Buzz in at the front door and proceed to the table on the left side near the front desk.
• When checking out a student, please wait in the vestibule.
• You may drop off items for students on the table in the vestibule.
• To enter the lobby, you must first scan a picture ID at the vestibule table.
• When visiting during dismissal (2:45-3:45) please go to the car rider line to pick up your student. We cannot call students to the front during dismissal.

Transportation Changes:

Transportation changes should only be made in the event of an emergency.

• Please do not email your child’s teacher for transportation changes.
• You may email our receptionist from your verified email address - 300.FrontDesk@gcpsk12.org
• Faxing a transportation change to the school is also an option by calling 770-277-4448. Please include a copy of your driver’s license. We recommend contacting our school to verify that your fax was received.

One parent per child may come to eat lunch with their student. Please see the cashier to pay for your lunch before taking a tray or getting thing off of the lunch line. This is a new GCPS policy.

If you would like to provide a classroom treat for your child's birthday, please ensure that the treat is wrapped by the vendor and includes an ingredient list. We are not able to accept trays of cupcakes or cookies that are not packaged by the vendor with an ingredient list.

The Georgia After School Program (GASP) has a program at Dacula Elementary! Please see the information below or click the link below if you are interested!

Discussing tough issues with your child is an important part of parenting. But how do you get your child to open up about worries or challenges? Say that you will always answer your child's questions. Then, when you do, be truthful, but don't feel you have to provide every detail. If you don't know an answer, you might say, "What a good question. Let's find out together." And if you can't answer right away, say something like, "I want to answer that. Let's talk about it after dinner." Then, follow through. https://tpitip.com/?15bX18608

Email: jenny.chastain@gcpsk12.org
Website: www.gcpsk12.org/DaculaES
Location: 2500 Fence Rd NE, Dacula, GA, United States
Phone: 770-963-7174
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaculaES/
Twitter: @daculaelem