Good afternoon, Viking Families!

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the end of the school year! As we get ready to head into summer, I just want to take a moment to celebrate all the growth, learning, and fun our students have had—and to thank you for being such an important part of it.

This year has been full of amazing moments. We’ve seen our students take big steps forward—academically, socially, and emotionally. They’ve tackled new challenges like when our 3rd & 4th graders rocked the County Science Challenge, made new friends during Kindness Month, built their confidence through our Courageous Choices lessons, and had lots of laughs along the way like when students got to throw a pie in Mrs. Love's face. Whether it was a music performance, a PBIS celebration, Crabby Patty Day in the cafeteria, or just a fun day on the playground, there were so many bright spots to be proud of.

One of the best parts of this job is getting to see how much our students grow in such a short time. Along with our staff, they've worked hard, supported each other, and made our school a warm, joyful place to learn every single day.

Thank you for all the ways you’ve supported your child and our school this year. We truly couldn’t do it without you.

Wishing you and your family a happy, relaxing summer. We can’t wait to see everyone again next year!

Go Vikings!

We do a lot of great things here at DES, but we believe in a constant cycle of improvement and we want to hear from our families about ways we can serve you and your children even better. Please share your respectful and constructive feedback with us to help us grow. We would also happily accept compliments if there is something you feel we are doing well!

Thank you to our Viking Advisory Team for helping to formulate the questions on this survey!

• 6/9th-26th Summer School by Invitation
• 8/12 Playdates with Principals 10-11 am at the DES Playground for incoming Y5 & K students
• 8/20 DES Open House for 1st-4th Grades 4-6 pm
• 8/25 First day of school for 1st-4th graders, Soft Start Appointments for Y5-K families (link will be sent to sign up)
• 8/26 First day of school for Y5 & K students
• 8/29 No School
• 9/1 No School

If your child could benefit from this summer food opportunity, please reach out to Mrs. Raymer to set up or fill out and return the sheet that came home with your child this week. Please note that you'll have to arrange to pick up the summer food backpacks each week.

If you have not already activated your parent portal through Infinite Campus, please be on the lookout for an instructional email that is sent out each Monday at 4:00 pm encouraging families to sign up. The email will look like the picture below. If you do not receive an email, check your spam folder or call our office as we may not have your most up to date email address in our system. If you've already activated, you don't need to do anything.

We are going to be using Infinite Campus for more convenient options next year for things such as viewing report cards, putting lunch money on the account, filling out registration documents and paying for field trips. This will get you ready to go for fall and you'll be able to review your child's end of the year report card!

Schedule/Meals

• Summer camp runs from June 9th to June 26th at Dundee Elementary School.
• Summer Camp runs Monday-Thursday (NO FRIDAYS).
• The day is 8:30 AM-12:30 PM. Doors will open at 8:30 AM.
• Free breakfast and lunch will be offered to all students. The students will eat in the middle school cafeteria.

Transportation

• If you signed up for transportation, Mrs. Cress from the transportation department is working on putting together the routes. Her email is gina.cress@dundeeschools.org. She should be reaching out to each family about pick-up and drop-off times later this week.
• DROP OFF - If you are dropping your student off, please utilize the drop-off loop. Students will enter Door M, which leads to the DMS Cafeteria. Breakfast and Lunch will be served there. I have a picture of this door for your reference.
• PICK UP- If you are picking up your student, please utilize our parking lot. You will have to park your car and pick up your student on the sidewalk from their teacher.

Staffing

• Teachers
• GSRP/Y5: Mrs. Hovey (heather.hovey@dundeeschools.org) and Mrs. Nowak (emily.nowak@dundeeschools.org)
• KDG: Ms. Altenbuger (lauren.altenburger@dundeeschools.org) and Mrs. Vergiels (tracy.vergiels@dundeeschools.org)
• 1st: Mrs. Marek (darci.marek@dundeeschools.org) and Mrs. Paquette (abigail.paquette@dundeeschools.org)
• 2nd: Mrs. Burger (kayla.burger@dundeeschools.org)
• 3rd: Mr. Burger (scott.burger@dundeeschools.org)
• 4th: Ms. Olrich (emma.olrich@dundeeschools.org)
• Summer School Director: Mrs. Zanger (amy.zanger@dundeeschools.org)

Swimming

• Our students have been offered a chance to utilize the middle school pool. Trained lifeguards will be on site. Please send or dress your child in their swimsuit and send in a towel. This will start on June 9th! Check out the schedule below!
• GSRP/Y5: Mondays
• KDG: Mondays
• 1st: Tuesdays
• 2nd: Tuesdays
• 3rd: Wednesdays
• 4th: Wednesdays

Miscellaneous Notes

• Students can bring a backpack to and from summer camp to carry their belongings and work that is completed.
• As a general reminder, summer camp will abide by regular school rules. Toys and electronic devices should be kept at home or be in the "Off" position while at summer camp.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

If your child has medications (prescription or over-the-counter) kept at school, arrangements must be made for pick up before the end of the school year. Please keep in mind that no medicine will be sent home with students.

Any medications left after the last day of school will be discarded. It is district policy to dispose of any medication left at the end of the school year. If you would prefer that the medication is discarded, please let Nurse Nobile or the office know.

Emergency medications such as Epi-pens and inhalers need to be in the health room until the last day. Please make arrangements to pick them up on the last day that your student is here.

Did you know that Dundee Elementary School is a participant and supporter of the OK2SAY program? See more information below.

Not all heroes wear a cape and tights. A real hero speaks up for what's right. Be a real hero. If you see or hear something that threatens student or school safety, submit a confidential tip to OK2SAY.

Anyone can report tips confidentially on criminal activities or potential harm directed at students, school employees, or schools.

Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say

DES Full School Day Hours:

• The school day begins at 8:35 am and ends at 3:40 pm
• Our staff begins monitoring students at 8:15 am. Please do not drop off students prior to 8:15 am as there will not be any DES staff available to supervise them. Students dropped off from 8:15-8:25 will go to the playground with our supervisors and will then be dismissed to their classrooms. Students who purchase school breakfast will go to the cafeteria when they arrive unless they are in Y5 or kindergarten (their breakfast is served in the classroom).

Elementary School Handbook:

Link

Dundee Community Schools Calendar:

Click for the 2023-2024 District Calendar

Infinite Campus Parent Portal:

https://dundeemi.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/dundee.jsp

School Meal Payments:

Breakfast and lunch are FREE for ALL students for the 2023/2024 school year! We ask that all families please fill out the free/reduced meal form on our website, even if you don't normally qualify.

Link for Food Service Forms & Payments

School Menus:

https://dundeecommunityschools.nutrislice.com/menu/dundee-elementary-school-k-5/lunch/2022-08-28

DES Facebook Page:

Dundee Elementary Facebook

For reporting a student absent:

734-529-7044 Press 1

School Nurse: Marylen Nobile

734-529-2350 ext. 11013

Vision (updated June 2024)

Students First - DES envisions a future where elementary students and families embrace respect, ownership, and wise choices as core values, shaping a community of lifelong learners.

Mission (updated June 2024)

At Dundee Elementary, we believe in treating everyone with kindness and respect, creating a safe and happy place for all. Our mission is to prioritize students above all else, fostering a future where Dundee Elementary staff, students, and families embody respect, ownership, and wise choices as fundamental values. Together with our families and staff, we cultivate a community grounded in lifelong learning, where every individual is empowered to reach their full potential. Through innovative teaching methods, strong interventions, engaging curriculum, and meaningful partnerships with families, we inspire a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. We actively engage parents and guardians, recognizing that their involvement is essential to the success and well-being of our students. As a community, we nurture curious minds, compassionate hearts, and confident spirits, preparing our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Vision Statement

“Students First” – Inspire, Educate, Innovate, Celebrate

Mission Statement

Dundee Community Schools is setting a course for student success. We will challenge and inspire every student, every day, in every class through innovation and dedication ‐ promoting knowledgeable, responsible, and caring citizens.

420 Ypsilanti Dr.

Dundee, MI 48131

School Phone: 734-529-7044

School Fax: 734-529-3741

Principal: Mrs. Love shana.love@dundeeschools.org

Assistant Principal: Mr. Briggs jay.briggs@dundeeschools.org