Royal Decree Family Newsletter
August 2022
Classroom Teacher Assignments and Transportation Information
Bus lists, bus routes and pick up times will be posted with class lists on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. on Powerschool. Every parent of current students in grades 1-5 should have their child’s information on how to obtain access to Powerschool.
The district provides bus transportation to and from school for all students living 1.5 miles or more from the school. A list of bus stops will be published at the beginning of the school year. Parents must, at the beginning of the school year, select one bus stop at which a student is to be picked up, and one stop at which a student is to be dropped off. Students are not permitted to ride a bus other than the bus to which they are assigned.
In order to ensure safety to our students, the following are general guidelines regarding transportation:
- For kindergarten students DROP OFF only, there MUST be a parent/guardian present at the bus stop. If the driver does not see a parent/guardian, the student will be brought back to school to be picked up.
- All students being transported by a district bus will be transported to and from the same stop every day they utilize the bus services...
- Bus passes may only be used for emergency situations, at the discretion of the building principal, with the approval of the Director of Transportation.
- Once a student is on the bus after school, he/she will only be released at the designated bus stop.
- Afternoon transportation will only be provided on a student’s home bus or on a bus where the District will transport to a contracted daycare provider.
- If you wish to make different arrangements for your child after school (i.e., a day-care center, and/or a babysitter that will transport), you must make that request in writing before we can honor your request. Such requests must be submitted on the Bus Schedule Change form that is available in the school office and online via out school website.
For those who do not have internet access, both class and bus assignments will be available by visiting the school office during Open House on August 15, 2022.
Welcome to our New Staff
Our Royal TEAMS
Custodians
Mr. Horrie
Office Staff
Secretary Mrs. Kamin
Principal Mrs. Ellis
Interventionists
Mrs. Hawes
ECE
Mrs. Weiss: Teacher
Mrs. Bishop: Aide
Kindergarten
Mrs. Bremer
First Grade
Mrs. Engelbarts
Second Grade
Miss Hobin
Third Grade
Mrs. Lanser
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Erwin
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Denniston
Counselor
Special Education
Miss Brooks
Head Cook
Paraprofessionals
Mrs. Ramappa
Mrs. Weld
Mrs. Luebbers
Mrs. Graber
Mrs. Batton
Mrs. .Bishop
Specials Staff
Orchestra: Mrs. Ardner
World Language: Mrs. Rivera
Art: Mr. Wright
Music: Miss Walker
Band: Miss Long
Speech: Mrs. Hewerdine
Daily School Hours
School is in session from 7:35-2:45 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Students will be dismissed at 2:15pm on Wednesdays to allow for teachers to participate in Professional Learning Communities.
Health and Medical Requirements
All Kindergarten and new students MUST have a physical on file in order to start on the first day of school. Board of Education Policy 7:100 states that parents shall present proof of Health Examinations and Immunizations before the start of the school year in order for their child to start school. Students will not be able to attend the first day of school without these required forms in the office.
2nd Grade Dental Exams
As a reminder, 2nd graders are required to have an updated dental exam on file. You can drop it off in the office, bring it to Open House, or send to school with your child.
Medication Policy
A medication form must be completed for all over the counter and prescription medications.You can obtain this form by emailing Mrs. Sullivan at msullivan@dunlapcusd.net
· All prescription medications require a physician’s signature on the medication form.
· All medications must be in the original bottle or package.
· We are only able to dispense latex free bandages, ice and Vaseline for dry lips without a completed medication form and parental supply.
-Students that require emergency medication due to allergies or asthma will require an updated allergy or asthma care plan. These are available on the DGS website or in the school office.
School Supply List
District Approved 2022-2023
Birthday Celebrations
To promote a positive, safe, and healthy lifestyle and classroom learning community; birthday celebrations at school will not include treats or favors from home. Teachers will choose to celebrate students in their classroom in grade and age appropriate ways.
Morning Arrival Procedures
Due to congestion in the parking lot in the mornings, it is important to maintain consistent flow and drop off procedures. Please note these morning procedures:
- All buses will drop off in the back parking lot. Parents will drop off in the circle parking lot in the front of the school.
- All bus riders enter the building through the gym doors. Car and bike riders should enter through the main entrance in the front of the building.
- Students who ride bicycles are to put bikes in the bike rack when they arrive at school. It is strongly recommended that all bikes be locked to the rack. The school is not responsible for bikes left at the rack.
- The earliest students should be dropped off to school is 7:24am.
- Students should be ready with their materials for the day upon pulling up to the entrance and immediately exit the vehicle. It is suggested that students exit vehicles on the passenger side. Parents should remain in their vehicles.
- Please do not pass other vehicles that are dropping off students. This is for the safety of our students.
- Please pull forward when dropping off and picking up students. This may include pulling forward past the entrance of the school building. The areas marked “No Parking” should not be parked on for extended periods of time or when the driver exits the vehicle, but can be crossed as a loading zone.
- If a student requires adult assistance to get out of the vehicle or with supplies (instruments, classroom projects, etc.), please park in a designated parking spot and walk the student across the parking lot to not hinder traffic flow.
- Please be cognizant of other drivers and families that may be behind you. If your student requires additional time to exit the vehicle, please pull forward into a parking spot.
- Front doors will be locked beginning at 7:39am. Students arriving after that time will be marked tardy.
- Illinois State Law prohibits cell phone use on school grounds while operating a motor vehicle.
- When students arrive to school, they will proceed immediately to their classrooms.
- Being on time to school is an important lifelong trait to develop and being on time sets the tone for a positive and productive day for children. Please make every effort to have your child here at school on time each and every day.
- Once a student has arrived at school, he/she may not leave the school grounds without the permission of the office.
Thank you for your assistance in ensuring effective and efficient morning drop-off procedures.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
Bus riders will be dismissed through the front doors.
Royals that are being picked up will go with their teachers to the gym and line up. If your Royal is being picked up, that will be done in the rear of the building per the diagram below. To help expedite the process, we encourage you to write your child's names on a piece of paper to show staff at the gate so they can be called. Adults should stay in their vehicles.
If your child requires assistance with a car seat or seat belt, please pull to the side so that we can dismiss the remaining vehicles.
School Lunches
Child nutrition programs have been essential throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring kids continued to get the nutrition they need. We understand the coming school year will be a significant transition for families as we return to pre-pandemic meal programs with paid, free, and reduced-priced eligibilities for students.
Over the last two years, schools had the USDA Federal flexibilities during COVID so they could serve all kids free meals. Some of those options expired, so we can no longer serve all meals free anymore. Instead, families will do what they did before COVID. Schools will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free, reduce-price, or paid meals.
SY 2022-23 School Meal Prices: High School $2.80, Middle School $2.60 and Elementary Schools $2.40
SY 2022-23 Household Free/Reduced Applications available in school offices starting August 1, 2022 or online https://www.myschoolapps.com
Schools are also facing the same challenges many grocery stores and other places are having with getting all the food and supplies they need. When this happens, school nutrition professionals are doing everything they can to serve healthy meals to your child. Sometimes that means needing to swap out some foods for others because some foods are easier to get. Please be patient with us as we are committed to making sure all our students receive the healthy meals they depend on.
School meals must meet strong nutrition standards, and we are continuing to work hard to serve students the nutritious, delicious meals they need to learn and grow.
Lisa Leitner
Food Service Director
Dunlap CUSD #323
School Security, Visitors, and Volunteers
Security Updates
Over the course of the summer, updated safety measures were put in place. Exterior doors to the school now have an alarm on them that will notify specific staff members if they remain open for a determined amount of time. A secondary buzzer was installed to the office to make the entry to the building through two secured doors. The use of a new informacast system across the district will allow notifications to staff and emergency personnel.
Visitors
In an effort to maintain the safest environment possible for our children, security measures have been implemented in all buildings throughout the district. All school doors, including the front entrance, will be locked during school hours. Visitors to the school will need to press the buzzer located on the post to the right of the main entrance and wait to be let in by office staff. Upon entering the building, visitors will be asked to present a US government issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into our electronic sign in system. Once entry is approved, a badge will be issued that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. Upon exiting the school, visitors will be asked to give their visitors badge to the office staff when checking out. Any classroom visits should be pre-arranged and approved with the classroom teacher ahead of time. We hope our families understand and appreciate our efforts in maintaining a safe school environment.Volunteers
School volunteers are important to the success of our school district. All volunteers that work with our students, participate in special school events as a volunteer during the school today, or that wish to attend field trips need to have a background check. This needs to only be completed one time during your time in Dunlap. To complete this process,
1. Go to https://www.dunlapcusd.net/employment
2. Click on "Job Openings"
3. Select "Volunteer" on the left hand side.
4. Complete the application for volunteering.
5. After you submit the application, you will be emailed a form from the district office. You must print this form and take it to the Regional Office of Education to be fingerprinted.
Please note they are operating on limited hours and are only open for this purpose on Thursdays at this time.
Mandatory Safety Drills
Fire Drills:
August 19, 2022
August 26, 2022
August 30, 2022 with the fire department present
Law Enforcement Drill:
- August 31, 2022
Severe Weather Drill
August 22, 2022
April 10, 2023
- October 2022
STAR Benchmark Assessments
Students will take the STAR Math and Reading Assessments three times this year. You can read more about these assessments HERE
Teachers will use this information to guide their instructional practices and develop plans for the teaching.
Parents will receive copies of these reports in September.
August Staff Birthdays
Carly Snodgrass August 8
Carly Engelbarts August 18
Jessica Bremer August 19
Genia Workheiser August 19
Summer Projects at DGS
- All new smartboards in all classrooms
- ADA Accessible entrance and front walkway
- Chimney repair
- A/C and ventilation upgrades in the gymnasium
- Security Upgrades
- Classroom Paint Projects
- Mulch