Dear DES Students and Families,
We look forward to our students returning to school for their first day on Wednesday, September 4th! At this time, students should have received welcome letters from their homeroom teachers and supply lists for the upcoming school year. We are eager to have students back in the building! DES staff have worked incredibly hard to prepare curriculum, classrooms, and grounds for the start of school!
We would like to welcome all students and families to our Back to School Open House on Thursday, August 29th from 5:30-7pm. Families are also invited to visit our new stadium facility from 5:30-7:30pm.
Do not hesitate to contact Dolgeville Elementary School with any questions or concerns regarding our students. We appreciate your support and value the opportunity to be a part of your child’s future at DCS!
Please take note of the following information concerning the upcoming school year:
Academic and Behavioral Expectations:
Our DES mission is to collaborate with students and families to create a safe, caring, enthusiastic, and respectful learning environment for our students. We depend on strong relationships with our families to reinforce the importance of academics and safe behavior in school. Please see our DCS Code of Conduct for more information on academic and behavioral expectations at DES.
Breakfast and Lunch Service:
All DCS students will be offered free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 school year. Breakfast service starts at 7:15am and ends at 7:40am. Students attending breakfast will be allowed to go to the cafeteria upon arrival of their bus. Please do not drop students off or have students walk to school before 7:15am as doors are locked until breakfast service begins. Breakfast and lunch menus are available on the DCS website.
DES Arrival and Dismissal:
Students choosing to eat breakfast at home should plan to arrive at school between 7:30am and 7:40am. Daily attendance is taken at 7:45am. Please be advised the elementary lobby doors to the school are locked until students are able to enter the building at 7:35am.
Vehicles should never enter the bus circle if school buses are in the circle for student arrival or dismissal. Parents transporting students should plan to either drop their children off in front of the high school or park in the high school parking lot and walk them to the front entrance of the elementary building. Dismissal of students will begin at 2:30pm. Parents and guardians should wait by the auditorium entrance in the bus circle for pickup. Students in grades K-3 require a parent, guardian, or older sibling to dismiss at the end of the day.
Daily Attendance and Absences:
Daily attendance is critical to the success of every student. Homeroom attendance at DES is submitted at 7:45am. Students arriving at school after 7:45am are considered tardy as they are missing instructional time. To report absences, parents and guardians should contact Mrs. Paula Mosher via ParentSquare or desattendance@dolgeville.org. Written excuses/emails must be submitted to verify excused student absences. Please see the attendance policy in our District Code of Conduct at www.dolgeville.org.
Bus Transportation:
Any students requiring bus transportation will receive notices from the Transportation Department regarding pick up and drop off times before the end of August. Please contact Mr. Stack with any transportation questions at jstack@dolgeville.org or 315.429.9388. As a reminder, students in grades K-3 must have supervision at drop off; an adult or older sibling must be visible for our drivers to safely release students from the bus.
Please be advised that transportation changes must be submitted in writing and may take up to three days to accommodate. For day to day bus schedule changes, please contact Mrs. Mosher at pmosher@dolgeville.org or 315.429.3155 ext. 1703.
Personal Devices:
Dolgeville Elementary is a device-free zone for students to ensure a distraction-free learning environment. Personal devices must be turned off and remain out of sight during the school day. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in disciplinary action.
ParentSquare - Parent Communication:
All district, school, and classroom communications will be shared through the ParentSquare app. Parents/Guardians should download the ParentSquare App, then click the link sent via email invitation to simply activate your account. Please be sure to provide the school with an email that we can use to sync your child. ParentSquare will be used to issue information regarding school closings, notifications, and emergency alerts, as well as regular communication from your child’s teacher.
Download the New Dolgeville CSD App:
Join us in staying connected by downloading the Dolgeville CSD App on your mobile device. The Dolgeville CSD app is available to download free from the Apple App store or Google Play. This app gives you access to news, events, documents, building and district information, meal menus, and more!
Getting Ready to Return to School:
Getting back into the “school routine” can be a challenge for some students. Preparing students with regular bedtime and wake up schedules before the start of school can help our little learners get back into the routine of school! To ensure the safety of our students, students should be encouraged to wear clothing that is appropriate and comfortable for school. Students in prekindergarten through 6th grade are required to wear secure footwear for daily recess and activities. Sneakers are required for physical education classes and daily recess.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Crystal Chrisman
PreK-6 Principal
cchrisman@dolgeville.org