The Destin Splash
Destin Elementary (850)-833-4360
SteinJ@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us
February 10 – February 15
Important Dates
Principal Message:
Reading to Build Vocabulary - One of the most important factors in your child’s ability to
Feb 14
understand what they read is whether they know the meaning of each word. When you read aloud, read
- Last day to order
books that are more difficult than what the child could read on their own. This gives you the
Valentine Dance
opportunity to stop and discuss new words together and build their vocabulary. The wonderful words
Tickets & SRO
we find in literature are often not words we use in everyday conversations. Make a game of trying to
donations
use the words. A large vocabulary will improve your child’s comprehension and allow them to read
Feb 17
more complicated books.
- Presidents Day
Morning Drop Off
Our gates at Destin Elementary open at 8:05 am. Students are not allowed to be dropped off before No School
Feb 21
this time, not even to sit in the front office. We have The Boys and Girls Club here on campus to assist
AR Celebration with
if anyone needs before or after care. If you need before or after school care for your child, please
the Principal
contact them @ 833-3132.
8:45
1st
and 2nd grade
PTO
Please remember to send in your reservation forms and money for the Valentine Dance. The VERY 9:10 3rd and 4th grade
Feb 21-22
last day to purchase a reservation is Feb. 14th. We are in great need of volunteers for this event. Please
- Valentines Dance
email ptodestin@gmail if you are able to help.
Don't forget to have your kids send in their donation for Deputy Sonya. She needs to attend a SRO
Feb 25
Conference this summer and we are trying to help her get there! Every penny counts! The grade level
- FCAT Writes
that raises the most money will compete in a quiz game..."Are You Smarter than Deputy Sonya?" The 4th grade only
last day to bring in donations is Feb. 14th. Thank you for your continued support of DES!
K Kids Fundraiser:
K Kids is having a fundraiser for leukemia and lymphoma. Please do not bring money to school until the end of the month. The
specific date that the fundraiser will begin is to be announced. Look for the starting date in The Destin Splash.
Piano Lessons
LAST CHANCE FOR PIANO CLASS! There is another piano class beginning for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. The class will
meet from 5:00-6:00 on Tuesdays in the Destin Elementary School Music Room. Get more information at www.destinsing.com or
call Dr. Deb's Performing Arts at 428-2525. Students have a great time learning to play the piano and performing music with their
friends!
Sherif Sonya’s Shout Outs:
WE HAVE GREAT PARENTS & GUARDIANS AT DES! I am VERY grateful for your support in keeping everyone safe.
Here are a few areas where we can improve.
· SEAT BELTS – even in the car rider line. When unsecured at ANY time your child is at risk.
· PARKING ON THE GRASS - This is unsafe and cannot be allowed. Please respect this and be courteous to others.
· SPEEDING 20 MPH– school zone speed. 35 any other time. PLEASE– put your cell phones down and pay attention.
· SIGNING IN/OUT - In the event of a lock down or emergency, we MUST be able to account for every person on our campus.
· USING CROSSWALKS – especially when our kids are watching us.
I understand these expectations may seem extreme – but I hope YOU understand there is no acceptable excuse I could offer
where something bad to happen because I gave in to someone’s momentary inconvenience or special circumstance. Simply put,
nothing trumps the safety of our kids and teachers.
Guidance Counselor’s Snippets:
Destin Elementary has an outstanding faculty of dedicated teachers. English for Speakers of Other Languages, also known as
ESOL, is a program that supports K-12 students to develop their English language proficiency skills. The 1990 Florida Consent
Decree requires that elementary teachers giving a language arts grade must have ESOL or ESOL Endorsement added to their
Florida State Certificates. We currently have several teachers who are classified as ESOL out-of-field; Ms. Anderson, Mr. Barton,
Ms. Baunick, Ms. Dever, Ms. Gibson, Ms. Wu, and Ms. Zurick.
We are in need of test proctors for the upcoming FCAT Writes (4 th grade students only) on Tuesday, February 25 th.
We will have proctor training (about 15 minutes) Tuesday, February 11 th at 8:30ish.
Also, we will need proctors for the FCAT Reading and Math. These tests will be administered in April.
Monday, April 14 3rd and 4th Reading Session 1
Tuesday, April 15 3rd and 4th Reading Session 2
Monday, April 21 3rd and 4th Math Session 1
Tuesday, April 22 3rd and 4th Math Session 2
If you can help proctor for either testing period, please attend training. There will be additional proctor training times for the April
FCAT sessions.
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