The Dolphin Report
Destin Elementary School
To access staff contacts, handbooks and more, visit our website at https://www2.okaloosaschools.com/o/destines
Mrs. Meyer, Principal / Mrs. Brown, Assistant Principal
Destin Elementary School thanks all of our families and community members who helped make our Boosterthon fundraiser so successful! The Boosterthon team was on campus for 7 days! They did a wonderful job interacting and encouraging our kids and promoting the importance of changing the world through doing good and being kind. We were able to surpass our goal of raising $60,000! We will know the final amount in about a week! This fundraiser is the reason we have been able to put interactive Smart boards in all classrooms and now we can continue to support the software and training needed to keep up with the ever changing technology! We will also be fixing and upgrading the sound system for the stage, the multipurpose room, the cafeteria and the car line as well as updating flooring in classrooms and purchasing materials for classrooms to support student engagement.
We will be celebrating Read Across America week March 4-8 with our annual Scholastic Book Fair beginning on March 7 and going through March 14. We are in need of volunteers to help in the media center with the book fair- if you are available, there is a sign up on our Facebook page or email Ms. Meg Fette! This correlates with Dr. Seuss' birthday which is March 2nd! There are optional dress up days for anyone wishing to participate. Individual classrooms will communicate anything they are doing in the classroom. Students will bring home information about books and prices and classes will visit the book fair together. If parents would like to go to the book fair with their child, they will need to sign in at the front office and get a visitors pass.
We also have field days from March 7-13! The dates are listed below and teachers will communicate times for events. Please remember that times are approximate and subject to change depending on how quickly events progress. Parents are invited to come watch their children at field day on the football field. If parents would like to come on campus, they must sign in through the front office for a visitors pass. If you would like to check your child out after field day, you may do that through your child's teacher on the field. You will need a pass from the teacher in order to leave the field with your child before the end of the school day.
We love spring break! Remember that thousands of visitors love spring break in our beautiful town as well! Please keep this in mind as we see an increase in traffic that can effect buses in the afternoons. If you have kids that ride a bus, please make sure you have signed up for notifications through the bus bulletin and be aware of delays. If you pick your child up by car, take traffic into account when planning your routes! This year for spring break, Friday, March 15 is holiday as well as the Monday following spring break, March 25. Monday is a teacher workday and students return to school on Tuesday, March 26!
The FAST/STAR end of year testing schedule is posted further down in this newsletter. It takes a village and we are all working hard to make sure students are prepared for these assessments. It is very important for students to be at school and on time the day of their test, get a good night's rest, eat a healthy breakfast and feel empowered to do their best! We are emphasizing the importance of improving on their score from the mid-year assessment. It's about growing from wherever they were and should not be compared to others. Encouragement and motivation are the best ways to support your kids from home!
We continue to be humbled by the support of our Destin Elementary families and community. Please reach out if we can help in any way!
Making Good on our Bet! The kids wanted blue hair so they got BLUE!
Read Across America!
Field Day 2024!
Spring Break!
Spring Break Traffic!
Please keep in mind that with spring break approaching, the additional traffic may cause some afternoon bus delays!
How Are We Doing? We would love your feedback! :)
End of Year Testing Schedule!
Families,
Please help your students by making sure they are present and on time for their state FAST/Star testing dates. Getting a good nights sleep, eating a healthy breakfast and encouraging a positive attitude will help your student be able to perform the best they can! Thank you!
Healthy Schools Newsletter for March! Click the link below!
Attendance H.E.R.O (Here Everyday Ready On-time)
We understand that there are circumstances that require late arrivals, early checkouts and absences from time to time, however, we ask that you make every effort to try to have students to school on time and avoid early check outs whenever possible.
To encourage full day attendance, we will be having weekly drawings to reward those that are here all day, every day of the week! We will draw 2 names each week from the students with perfect attendance that week to come to the office for a certificate for a free treat from a local business!
Thank you for helping us promote good attendance so we can continue to see our students be as successful as possible!
Ms. Lisa Brown was named HCA Florida Healthcare's teacher of the month!
THANK A TEACHER!
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 2023-2024 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
DES Stem Room Ribbon Cutting!
PTO Sponsorships for DES
THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS!
Platinum Sponsors:
The Spa at Emerald Grande
Timberview Helicopter
Emerald Bay Plumbing
GOLD SPONSORS
Scenic Real Estate
Coastal Pediatric Group
Austin Music Lesson Academy
SILVER SPONSORS
A message about Arrival/Dismissal
Please make sure to put your child's name on all jackets and water bottles! Lost and Found is already filling up! Unclaimed items will be donated.
Things You Need To Know
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 :)
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 the back of the school (we call this yellow gate), 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. 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 yellow gate 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. :)
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 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, teachers 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.
Dismissal - Please be patient for the first couple of weeks of school! 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:
To Access Bus Routes, click on the link
Clubs and Activities
Club registrations with information about age requirements, cost and dates/times will be sent home a few weeks after school begins!
Drone Club
Lego Club
Coding Club
Drama Kids - After school on Thursdays
Violin - After school on Wed and Fri
Music Club
Good News Club (all grades)
Library Club (4th grade)
Gardening Club
HOPE Squad (4th grade only)
Safety Patrol (4th grade only)
Junior Deputy (4th grade only)
Destin Ambassadors (all grades, students chosen by admin)
Upcoming Events:
March
5- 4th Biophilia (Ray, Brown, Mayac, Garner, Cox, Patterson)
6- 4th Biophilia (Mathews, Olson, Church)
6- "Link Up" Music Field Trip for 3rd grade.
6-PTO @7:45 in the media center
7- Kindergarten Field Day (½ day)
7-14 Book Fair
8- 1st grade Field Day (½ day)
11- 2nd grade Field Day
12- 3rd grade Field Day
13- 4th Grade Field Day
14- Make-up Day for Field Day
15-22 Spring Break Holiday
25 - teacher work day- student holiday
April
3 - all of 2nd grade - field trip to Crestview Zoo
3 - 4th grade writing FAST writing test
10- Spring Pictures
11- PTO @7:45 in the media center
17-3rd Grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship Field trip; Donatelli, Taylor, Schmidt, and Wall
18-3rd Grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship Field trip; Bitler, Davis, and Williams
19-3rd Grade Buccaneer Pirate Ship Field trip; Henry, Litka, and Vasquez
24-“Paint the Music" Art/Music Field Trip for 4th grade
May
9-PTO @7:45 in the media center
9- KG field trip to Gulfarium (Huffman, Howell, Schillinger, Nelson, Stephens)
10-KG field trip to Gulfarium (Deslauries, Pisarchuk, Luallen, Turner, Burns)
13- 3rd Grade Skating rink field trip; Donatelli, Taylor, Wall, Schmidt, Bitler
15- 3rd Grade Skating rink field trip; Vasquez, Litka, Henry, Williams, Davis
24- 4th grade graduation
24- Last Day for Students
27-Memorial Day Holiday
30- Last Day for Teachers
Pop Top Collection to Support the Ronald McDonald House!
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!
Are you interested in getting paid to tutor students?
New Addition Coming to DES!
We are excited to report that we are finishing up the design phase of a new 32 classroom addition to house our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students on the Destin Elementary School campus. Phase I got approval at the April 24, 2023 School Board Meeting. The new build will include a new front office, additional bathrooms and a new multipurpose building. We will also have plenty of additional parking!!!
All portable buildings will be removed once the building is complete!
The design process is a continual, collaborative process that takes time. Our process will focus on the school’s academic needs, technology, safety and security.
The new construction is tentatively scheduled for completion in August 2026.