Bear Essentials
August 5, 2022
We're Off to a Great Start at DES!
We have had a wonderful first 3 days of school here at Dyer Elementary! Our students in have settled in nicely and are already familiar with their way around campus! We are excited for another awesome school year!
This is the first edition of our 2022-2023 weekly school newsletter, The Bear Essentials. We will publish the Bear Essentials each Friday via email. Please be sure to read each edition as this is the best way to stay informed about school and community events. Should you find that you need to update your email address in our system, please contact our front office for assistance.
A link to the current school newsletter as well as archived editions can be found on our school website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/DyerES
Below are a few reminders as we begin the new school year:
- Due to the expiration of USDA waivers, the School Nutrition Program in our district will now transition to pre-pandemic operations. It is very important that you complete the Free & Reduced Priced Meal Application to register to receive your students' discounted meals as they are no longer available at no charge to all students.
- There are no vehicles permitted in the bus lanes during arrival (7:45-8:25AM) and dismissal (2:25-3:15PM). If you need to visit the school during these times, please park in the side parking lot as the front parking lot will be closed for loading and unloading buses.
- The safety & security of our students and staff is a top priority! All visitors must present a photo ID at the door and then report directly to the front office to check in and obtain a visitors pass. We are excited to welcome visitors back for lunches in just a few short weeks. Please watch for more information on how and when you can come visit in the Bear Essentials newsletter.
- Transportation changes must be submitted in writing, and sent to school with your student in the morning. (We cannot accept transportation changes over the phone or via fax/email.) Bus passes are for emergencies only.
- There are no check-outs after 2:15. Also, please remember to send a note to the teacher letting them know you will be checking your child out early. This will ensure your child has his/her belongings with them when you arrive. (Remember, classrooms are locked when not in use, if you arrive when your child's class is traveling, your child cannot access their belongings.) This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all students. While we dismiss at 2:45, we begin the process of distributing bus passes and distributing transportation change reminders at 2:15 and these tasks must be our main focus during that time to ensure each student gets home safely.
- All students must have a transportation tag attached to their backpack. If you purchase your child a new backpack throughout the year, please remove the tag from the old backpack and send it in to school with your child. We will attach it to their new backpack for you in the office.
- Car Riders, please be reminded there are no left turns when exiting on to Hurricane Shoals Road.
- Ice Cream will be sold during lunch each Friday starting 8/19. The cost is $2.
- Friday's are spirit wear days. Staff and students are encouraged to wear their Dyer/Mountain View spirit wear each Friday.
BEARS Behavior Expectations!
During the first two weeks of school (and beyond) students will learn about the behavior expectations in each area of the school from the classrooms, to hallways, cafeteria, buses and so on. We teach these expectations to students using the acronym BEARS.
- Brave
- Engaged
- Accountable
- Respectful
- Safe
Students are acknowledged and praised for exhibiting desired behaviors. All staff will be awarding students "Bear Bucks" that can be redeemed for prizes and raffle tickets.
Parents, you can help support this program in a variety of ways:
- Review the DES behavior expectations with your child using our BEARS acronym.
- Help solicit local businesses for small gifts and/or gift cards for rewards.
- Donate prizes for students. Anything from dollar tree/Oriental trading items to gift cards.
- Make a financial contribution of $5 per student (part of Online Orientation fees) to help offset the cost of student prizes/raffles & PBIS Rewards Program software.
- Support our PBIS (BEARS) fundraisers and spirit nights throughout the year. We already have two fundraisers up and running, birthday messages on our marquee, and Bruster's Blue Ice Days!
- Join our PBIS team! We are currently looking for a parent liaison. If you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity, please email Dawn Garner at Dawn.Garner@gcpsk12.org
We will continue to use the PBIS Rewards program to issue and redeem Bear Bucks. Parents will also have the ability to utilize the PBIS Parent App. where they can track their child's points (bear bucks), and communicate with their child's teacher. More information about the App will be emailed in the coming weeks, please keep an eye out!
Get Connected to Dyer ES!
Parents & guardians, you play a crucial role on our team, and one of our top priorities is to communicate with you effectively. We use a variety of tools to communicate such as the Parent Portal/ParentVUE, our school website, email, weekly school newsletters (The Bear Essentials), Facebook and the PBIS Rewards Parent app! Please be sure we have your current email address on file; this can be updated by our office staff (photo ID required).
2022-2023 Free/Reduced Lunch Applications!
Birthday Wishes in Big Lights!
Dyer Elementary School
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/dyeres
Location: 1707 Hurricane Shoals Road, Dacula, GA, USA
Phone: 770-963-6214
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyerES/