We hope you enjoy our newsletter! It provides information about important dates and events happening around school throughout the year. Updates will occur at the start of each month. The newsletter will be emailed out and available on our website and social media. If you have suggestions for things we can add, please feel free to email Mrs. Meyer at meyera@okaloosaschools.com .

To access staff contacts, handbooks and more, visit our website at https://www2.okaloosaschools.com/o/destines

Dear DES families, staff and community,

Welcome to the 4th quarter of the school year! It's going to be a busy, fun quarter of learning, growing and activity!

April is the Month of the Military Child and DES loves our military community! We will host "Muffins with our Military" on April 16th from 8:30-9:30 in our cafeteria! Students with military family members will receive a flyer to sign up to attend! We will serve muffins, juice and coffee and give thanks to the sacrifices and service that our military kids give us!

April also brings spring pictures, lots of field trips and our Spring Dance with a Glow theme this year!

In May, end of year state testing will begin. The schedule is posted below for your planning. Please keep in mind that occassionally a change is made to individual classes when circumstances arise that require it, so please watch for information coming home from your child's teacher as well. We ask for help from home to do your best to have your kids at school, on time, with a good breakfast and positive attitude on their testing days! School starts at 8:25 so students need enough time to get to class, unpack and be ready to go! Students who arrive at school late on testing days, will not be allowed to enter their classroom after testing starts so it is extremely important to be on time, particulary these days! We stress to students that we want them to do their best work to show how much they have learned this year. Together, we can keep anxiety down and a positive framework around these tests!

Construction on our new addition is underway! It's going to be messy for a while but the end result will be well worth it!

Our annual school survey is open until April 18th. If you haven't done so, please use the link in this email to tell us how we are doing! We appreciate your feedback and rely on it to keep growing and improving!

The week of May 5-9 is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! If you would like to write a note of appreciation to a teacher, please drop it by the office or send it in with your child and we will deliver those to the teachers during that week! DES has the BEST teachers and staff around and we love to show them our thankfulness! (If you know a business or own one that would like to be involved in spoiling our teachers that week with food or goodies, please contact Mrs. Meyer :))

There are other key people throughout our school that we recognize throughout the year! Check out below who we are praising in April and give these folks a shout out of gratitude... Our school could not function without each and every person that is part of our school family!

We continue to feel thankful and blessed to be part of such an incredible and supportive community! Please reach out with any questions or concerns so we can work together to find solutions and create new and innovative initiatives for our kids!

With respect and gratitude,

Amy Meyer, principal

Congratulations to these amazing students who displayed incredible citizenship during the month of March!

https://www.cpalms.org/page884.aspx

Honesty is April's Resiliency Education Standard. Being of
honest character means taking responsibility for mistakes,
telling the truth even if we think we might be in trouble or that
we might be judged by our peers. When we are honest
others begin to realize we are reliable and trustworthy.

Click here to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8B7MWN

Click here for the Spanish version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y9C5P79

Monday – Wear red, white and blue for the Coast Guard

Tuesday – Wear scarlet/gold for the Marines

Wednesday – Wear blue and gold for the Navy

Thursday – Wear green for the Army

Friday – Wear blue for the Air Force and Space Force (part of the Air Force)

Please verify testing dates with your child's teacher as there may be circumstances where a specific class may need to alter their dates slightly.

It is very important that you make every effort to have your child at school, on time and ready to go on their scheduled testing dates. We ask that you help us encourage and motivate your child to do their best. This can be a stressful time for our kiddos and we want them to know that we value them for their effort and not for test scores. We want to focus on growth and showing what they have learned this year! :)

In February and March, we have "Child Safety Matters" presentations for each grade level happening. These presentations are facilitated by a member from the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center and are designed to help keep our kids safe. The program covers topics such as bullying, cyberbulying, child abuse and digital dangers. For more informatioin, please see the parent information letters below. These will be sent home with your students later this month. If you do not want your child to participate, please let their teacher know in advance and we will make sure they have another place to be during the presentations. We have had really great presenters in years past and we feel that students are safer for having participated.

An amazing opportunity is coming to DES through April! The Children's Volunteer Health Network is bringing dental services to our school! Use the QR to register! It doesn't matter if you don't have insurance, they can help with checkups, cleanings and other needed dental procedures! Check it out!

April 9th, Spring Picture Day

April 15th, Friday- Purple Up for Military Kids

April 21st, Monday – Wear red, white and blue for the Coast Guard.

April 22nd, Wear scarlet/gold for the Marines.

April 23rd, Wednesday – Wear blue and gold for the Navy.

April 24th, Thursday – Wear green for the Army.

April 25th, Friday – Wear blue for the Air Force and Space Force (part of the Air Force).

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!

Our theme for the 24-25 school year is "Live Your Excellence" with an emphasis of doing our very best in all that we do, every day!

Visit Squad Locker for your DES apparel! All items can be individually ordered and shipped right to your house! We hope you like it!

You may find bus routes by visiting https://www2.okaloosaschools.com/page/bus-routes. Find the closest stop to your house for your transportation needs. Remember that buses may run a little earlier or later during the first few weeks of school while everyone adjusts to new schedules!

To register for Bus Bulletin, please visit Bus Bulletin Registration. Parents will need their student's school name and bus number to complete the registration process.

Key Features of Bus Bulletin:

• Cost-Free Service: There is no charge for this service.
• Easy Registration: The registration process is quick and straightforward.
• Multiple Notification Options: Choose to receive updates via text messages, phone calls, and emails.
• Privacy Protection: All contact information is stored securely and will not be shared or sold.

By utilizing Bus Bulletin, parents and guardians can stay informed and ensure their students’ safe and timely transportation to and from school.

We are excited and proud to announce that we will be able to continue to provide our students with physical education, music and art classes this school year!

Have you ever wanted to thank a special teacher for the impact they've made on your life? Here's your chance!

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and the Okaloosa County School District have partnered to celebrate the Okaloosa County School District's dedicated educators! Students, Families, and staff members are encouraged to share their stories about a particular teacher's inspiring actions, supportive words, creative lessons, or just their overall positive impact. Each month of the 2024-2025 school year, one nominated teacher will win $250 from HCA Florida Healthcare and be highlighted on social media.

Nominate the teacher who impacted you by clicking the link below or visit OkaloosaSchools.com, click on "Parents/Students" and select "Thank a Teacher."

https://forms.gle/vp84LbWTaPp4jjin6

@hcafloridahealthcare HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital

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!

Our Lost and Found is filling up fast! Parents are free to look through the bins right inside the school. Check in through the front office. Items will be donated at the end of the quarters.

Please consider filling out the application whether you think you qualify or not. There are many benefits beside saving money on meals that can come with filling out the application! Thank you :)

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 Lego Club and the Drone Club!

Multicultural Club- after school

Drama Kids - After school on Thursdays

Violin - After school on Wed and Fri

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

HOPE 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

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!

April

1- 4th Grade writes

2- paraprofessional appreciation day

2- 4th Grade Field Trip to ECSC 9:00-12:30- Ray, Brown, Buckley

3- 4th Grade Field Trip to ECSC 9:00-12:30- Cox, Patterson, Anderson

4- 4th Grade Field Trip to ECSC 9:00-12:30- Church, Ketler, Mathews

4- school librarian appreciation day

7-11- Assistant Principal appreciation day

9-Spring pictures

9-SAC @3:30

10-PTO 7:45 in the media center

11 - Glow Party Dance (after-school event)

14-Pre-school visits

15-Pre-school visits

15 - Purple Up Day for our military kids- wear PURPLE

15-3rd grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship field trip 9:00-11:30: Donatelli, Taylor, Schmidt, Olson

16-3rd grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship field trip 9:00-11:30 Litka, Henry, Douglas

16- Muffins with our Military Breakfast for students with military family 8:30-9:30

16-KG Easter Egg Hunt-Turner-KG Playground-9:00-9:45

16-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Schillinger- Grassy area outside office-11:00-11:45

17- 2nd grade music Concert 1:30

17-3rd grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship field trip 9:00-11:30: Bitler, Williams, Higgs

17-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Nelson- Grassy area outside office-9:00-9:45

17-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Howell- Grassy area outside office-11:00-11:45

17-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Luallen- Grassy area outside office-1:45-2:30

18-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Deslauriers- Grassy area outside office-9:00-9:45

18-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Huffman- Grassy area outside office-11:00-12:00

18-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Burns- Kindergarten Playground-9:00-9:45

18-KG Easter Egg Hunt- Pisarchuk- Classroom 11:30-12:30

21 - First Grade Field Trip - AMC Movie Theater (9:00-11:30 - all classes)

21-25- volunteer appreciation week

22- school bus driver appreciation day

22-Talent Show Auditions Stage 3-430

23-Talent Show Audition Stage 3-430

23- Administrative Professionals Day (Front office ladies :))

24- Drama Kids Sword and the Stone performance 5:30 pm

25-KG Fairy Tale Ball- Luallen, Nelson, Burns, Huffman 1:00-1:45 MPR

25- 2nd Grade Emerald Coast Zoo Trip 9:00-1:00

29- 4th Biophilia- Ray, Brown, Buckley, Cox, Patterson, L. Anderson

30- 4th Biophilia- Church, Mathews, Ketler

May

5–9 Teacher Appreciation Week

5-KG STAR ELA

5- 3rd Math FAST

6-KG STAR Math

6- 4th ELA FAST

7– 3rd ELA FAST

8-4th Grade math FAST

8- PTO, 7:45 in the media center

9- 4th Grade make-ups

12–3rd Grade Make ups Fast

12-1st Grade Math STAR

12-KG Field Trip Gulfarium–Deslauriers, Huffman, Pisarchuk, Turner, Burns

12- 4th Biophilia - Ray, Brown, Buckley, Cox, Patterson, L. Anderson

12 - Talent Show Rehearsal 3-4 stage

13- 2nd Grade ELA STAR

13- Talent Show Rehearsal 3-4 Stage

13–KG Field Trip Gulfarium–Nelson, Schillinger, Howell, Luallen, Ellis

13- 4th Biophilia- Church, Mathews, Ketler

13- 3rd Grade Field Trip to Skating Rink: Donatelli, Taylor, Olson, Schmidt, Bitler

14- 1st Grade ELA STAR

14-3rd Grade Field Trip to Skating Rink: Litka, Henry, Higgs, Douglas, Williams

14- 4th Grade Field Trip to Blue Wahoos Game (P.E. too)

15-2nd Grade Math STAR

15- Talent Show 6pm / Art Show 530pm

16- MAKE UP Testing

16-4th Grade Wax Museum 9-10am

22- 2nd Grade Nonie’s Animal Encounter (MP Room- 1:30-2:30)

23- 4th Grade Graduation at DUMC

23-EOY Party- Burns-9:00-10:20

23-EOY Party- Ellis-12:00

23-EOY Party- Luallen-1:45-2:30

23-EOY Party- Huffman-11:00

23-EOY Party- Nelson-11:00

23-EOY Party- Howell-11:00

23-EOY Party- Turner-12:00

23-EOY Party - Mills and Ross 1:00

23- 2nd Grade- Nonie’s Animal Encounter (MP Room- 9:10-10:10, 11:30-2:30)

26- Memorial Day No School

27-EOY Party- Pisarchuk-11:30-12:30

27- EOY Party- Schillinger

29 -Last Day of school

School gates opens at 8:00, classrooms open at 8:15.

Students may purchase breakfast in the cafeteria before class if they choose.

School starts at 8:25. All students should be in their classroom 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 gates they may enter. One is on Beach Drive at 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!

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 :)

Destin Elementary School is proud to participate in a campaign to help the Ronald McDonald House. They use the funds from recycling pop tops of aluminum cans to help pay their electricity bills! It is an easy, free way that we can help this very special organization! Our very own Coley Schillinger was blessed to be helped by the Ronald McDonald house when her precious baby girl, Madi, was born at just 25 weeks, weighing 1 1/2 pounds. They provided her and her husband a place to stay, 3 meals a day and emotional support all for free so they could focus on their miracle baby! We are excited to report that momma and baby are doing great!

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!

If you complete your application to substitute, you can provide tutoring to students before, during or after school hours and get paid for your time! You can make your own hours and choose your preferred grade level/subject. $15/hour. Contact the front office for more information!