January 7, 2024
JANUARY 21, 2024
Hello, Dolphin Families!
This week, we are excited to celebrate the 100th day of school! All students and staff are encouraged to wear "100th Day" apparel on Thursday, January 25. Teachers will specifically communicate with their families if the grade level will complete special activities on this day.
Looking ahead, make sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, February 1! We have several activities happening at Donald that evening, and you won't want to miss them. CLICK HERE to place your order for In & Out Burger Truck meal tickets by January 26! You and your family can enjoy dinner on campus before heading into the building for STEM Night from 6PM to 7PM. If your family is interested in hosting a table, you can still SIGN UP before the form closes! Immediately after STEM Night activities are closed, the PTA will be hosting their General Meeting in the cafeteria. We hope to see everyone there!
Heather Shorter
Principal
STEM Academy @ Donald Elementary
JANUARY 2024
25 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 2024
1 5:30PM to 7:30PM IN & OUT BURGER TRUCK @ DONALD
1 6:00PM to 7:00PM STEM NIGHT1 7:10PM to 7:40PM DONALD PTA GENERAL MEETING
13 CLASS PHOTOS
15 VALENTINE PARTIES
19 NO SCHOOL
MARCH 2024
4 - 8 BOOK FAIR
8 11:45AM EARLY RELEASE
11 - 15 SPRING BREAK
25 7:15AM FIRST GRADE DONUTS WITH DOLPHINS
28 DONALD AFTER DARK
29 NO SCHOOL
IT IS THE FINAL WEEK OF PE SKATING!
This week, 3rd-5th grade students are closing out the Skating Unit in PE! If your child still has a skating rotation scheduled, please make sure your student wears tall, thick socks to avoid uncomfortable rubbing between skin and skates. While students cannot bring their own skates due to liability, they may bring their own bike helmet or they can bring a hat or hoodie to go under the provided helmet.
SCHEDULE
1/22 - (BLUE) McKenna, Pfister, Whitsett
1/23 - (RED) Grider, Patterson, Harvey
1/24 - (YELLOW) Mallard, SIler, Pastene
HOST A STEM NIGHT STATION THURSDAY, 2/1!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are looking for a few STEM-loving Dolphin Families to host a STEM station during our upcoming STEM night on Thursday, February 1, from 6:00PM to 7:00PM! Hosting a STEM Station will allow you and your family to create a mini STEM activity or experience that other Donald students and their families can participate in. You might choose to demonstrate an exciting scientific concept for others to watch, organize an activity that allows them to practice a skill, or host a make-and-take style activity.
If you're interested in seeing some of the previous STEM Stations teachers have hosted to help you with the brainstorming process, please CLICK HERE to view the previous activities hosted. If you're ready to volunteer, CLICK HERE to sign up!
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
If you haven't already done so, be sure to order your 23/24 Donald Yearbook HERE today! Yearbooks are available by pre-sale only, so no additional copies can be ordered once the order with Balfour is closed in February. Don't miss the deadline!
Do you have a special photo from a Donald event that MUST make it into the yearbook? Mrs. Rosier has given access to allow anyone to submit a photo to be considered for the yearbook, and it can be done directly from your phone!
Enter project number #408585
Leave the upload code blank
Agree to the Terms & Conditions and start uploading!
SUPPORT THE FULL HEARTS FOOD DRIVE
LISD’s Spring Food Drive benefits Lovepacs Lewisville and LISD-East locations. Lovepacs is an organization with a mission to ensure children have food during school breaks, and it is one that helps a significant number of families in our community.
REQUESTED FOOD ITEMS:
- Granola Bars
- Mac-n-Cheese
- Chef Boyardee
- Ramen
Donations at Donald can be dropped off in the labeled boxes near the main entrance. All food collected during this food drive will be redistributed and sent home with LISD students who receive LovePacs for Spring Break!
CAMP INVENTION WILL RETURN TO DONALD THIS SUMMER!
Register at INVENT.ORG/CAMP!
Grades: K - 6th
Location: Donald STEM Academy 2400 Forest Vista Drive, Flower Mound, TX 75028
Date: June 10 - June 14, 2024
Time & Cost: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM | $270
Register before March 27, and you can save $25 on your registration fee with code FUN25!
Camp Director: Kathy Hoffman hoffmank@lisd.net
Parents,
As your DES Counselors, we continue to enjoy working with our Donald Elementary students through classroom guidance, lunch bunch groups and individually. Please know that we are available to support your student for a successful school year.
Best wishes,
Shelly Watts & Sharon Eatwell
wattsm@lisd.net /yock-eatwells@lisd.net
469.948.2475
UPCOMING CHILD PROTECTION UNITS
As a reminder, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires anti-victimization lessons be taught in all public schools. Texas legislature also requires parents/guardians to opt-in to these lessons.
100% of our Donald Parents completed the opt-in/opt-out permission form in Skyward during registration. (Thank you!!) You may review your choice in Skyward under the SB 9 tab.
Below is the link to preview the Child Protection Unit (CPU). During February and March, the CPU lessons will be taught to all students whose parent opted-in for participation in the lessons.
After previewing the materials, if you have any questions about the lessons, please contact the counselors. We will be happy to answer any questions about the Child Protection Unit lessons.
Parent Preview Lessons for each grade:
CONGRATULATIONS, DRUV & VICTOR!
Last week, 2 of our Donald students were honored at the LISD's 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration for their outstanding work. 4th Grade students Druv Patel and Victor Roberts were selected as finalists from hundreds of essay entries across the district. Their essays tied for 3rd place in the 4th Grade Essay Writing category!
CLICK HERE to see more photos from the celebration, and CLICK HERE to view the winning submissions to the 2023/2024 MLK writing and artwork contests.
As they leave for middle school, you hear many teachers telling 5th Grade students, "Once a Dolphin, always a Dolphin!" This year, Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Hamilton made it her mission to bring even more meaning to this phrase by founding the Devoted Dolphins program! Mrs. Hamilton connected with families of former Donald students who wanted to continue their connection with the Dolphin family, and she invited them to partner with Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade teachers and their classes as Devoted Dolphins. Since the program started, these current middle school and high school students have volunteered to help teachers prepare materials for the day, to play math games with students, and to host small group reading!
Each week, we will introduce you to one of these Devoted Dolphins and allow them to tell you how they are making a SPLASH at Donald!
MEET DEVOTED DOLPHIN SEAN DEFAZIO
One of my favorite memories from Donald was the Specials rotation; it was a way to give my brain a break and challenge myself with STEM-based activities. As a Devoted Dolphin, I support Mrs. Hamilton every Wednesday morning, learning valuable skills like communication and teamwork. Being a Devoted Dolphin helps me grow in leadership, patience, and responsibility.
My advice to 5th graders entering middle school is to plan ahead, take language classes early, befriend many people, and explore all the various activities offered. Never forget who you are and what you stand for and remember that school is meant to be fun and a time to grow in education and as a person. In 7th grade, try all sports; it will be worth it!
I am grateful to have been trusted by Donald Elementary and their staff to volunteer an hour a week and not only gain valuable skills, but to contribute a small part to the future Forestwood Falcon students.
Check out all things Donald PTA by viewing the latest PTA newsletter HERE.
We would love to have you volunteer in our classrooms and at extracurricular events! To get started, JOIN the Donald PTA, and then complete your yearly VOLY Background Check. All volunteers must have a current VOLY Background Check, so if it has been a while since you completed this process, check in with the Donald Office Staff to see if you're approved!
DON'T FORGET: THE PTA GENERAL MEETING IS 2/1 @ 7:10PM!
IN-N-OUT ORDERS WILL CLOSE JANUARY 26!
Thursday, February 1, the In-N-Out Cookout Truck will be at Donald! Food will be served from 5:30PM to 7:30PM and is available by preorder only. Each ticket can be redeemed for chips, a drink, and a delicious In-N-Out burger!
CLICK HERE to order meals for $5 each, and plan to enjoy dinner before, during, or after STEM Night and the PTA Meeting at Donald!
DOLPHIN DADS
Our Dolphin Dads are becoming regular cold-weather heroes at Donald! Thank you to the awesome group of men who braved the wind and cold weather to welcome our Dolphins to school this past Friday. We appreciate each of you so very much!
It's not too late to join this amazing team of men making an impact at our school! If you’re a Donald Dad or Grandad and are interested in joining the Dolphin Dads, make sure you have completed VOLY this year, and CLICK HERE to fill out the interest form!
The LISD Recognize SomeONE program gives our staff and community members the opportunity to highlight the exceptional work the do. If a Donald staff member has made an impact on your student or family this week, please take a moment to Recognize SomeONE and let them know how much they mean!