Good Morning Cavalier Families, 

We’ve already completed 31 instructional days in the 2025-2026 school year, and we’re excited to see the progress our students are making as they are Empowered to LEAD: learn, engage, achieve, and discover. Our Cavaliers continue to show perseverance and pride as they work hard and demonstrate Excellence Every Day. Our school remains committed to supporting our students’ success and look forward to their continued growth and leadership!

Together Towards Excellence Every Day

(A School Improvement Plan Update)

In our recent Site Council meeting we proudly shared that our school performed with impressive results on the 2024-2025 Kansas State Assessment taken by our 3rd-5th graders, with scores above the state averages in all areas. In particular, our 3rd and 4th Grade students performed above district averages in both ELA and Math, while our 5th Grade students performed above the district average in Science. Overall, we saw strong proficiency levels reflecting how last year’s focus on GRIT for Growth supported our students’ success.

Please note that the Spring 2025 assessments introduced new test items and updated performance level indicators that now emphasize grade-level proficiency rather than “college readiness.” Because of these changes, the results establish a new baseline for student learning moving forward. Over the past two years, our school has emphasized strengthening ELA outcomes. This year, we are shifting gears to focus on improving Math performance while sustaining the strong progress we’ve achieved in both ELA and Science.

The success we have achieved reflects the strong partnership we share with families. Thank you so much for all of your support and we look forward to continuing that collaboration as we take on this year’s goals!

How Families Can Support Math Growth at Home

• Stay Informed: Review class newsletters sent by teachers to see Math lesson overviews, assessment notifications, or attached i-Ready Math family letters.

• Partner on Assignments: Check assessments or homework sent home and partner with your teachers if you need guidance or support.

• Stay tuned for our weekly Math Challenge! Each week we’ll share a primary and an intermediate question for families to solve together, making math fun, engaging, and collaborative at home.

• Math Practice at Home: Our Cavaliers have an exciting goal of about 18,000 proficient skills total in IXL Math by the end of the year! That may look like 2 skills per week per student: a goal we know is achievable with regular practice. To keep screen time balanced and intentional, students get brief but targeted IXL Math sessions during intervention/enrichment time. Families have the option to extend this practice at home to help students reach their goals.

  • 2nd–5th graders: QR codes were either given during Parent Information Night or sent home with your students this week. These codes give access to Clever, where students can log in and click on district-approved applications including IXL Math to practice math standards at home. (Kindergarten and 1st-grade students are still learning the routines for using this app, so their QR codes will be sent home and discussed with parents during conferences.)

• You can use the QR code with the Clever app or go to clever.com → Log in as Student → Scan the code.

• In addition to i-Ready and IXL as our math resources, students can access CKLA Amplify app for ELA support. It includes the student readers with read aloud feature, vocabulary practice, and letter sound library.

STUDENT CONDUCT (BOE Policy JCD)

An appropriate atmosphere for learning requires that students act in a safe and responsible manner. Respect for the rights of others is central to the maintenance of such an atmosphere. Any acts that interfere with the learning process or infringe upon the rights of fellow students and/ or members of the staff will not be tolerated on school grounds or at any school activity. Some student acts may be referred to law enforcement personnel.

BULLYING (BOE Policy JDDC)

The Board of Education prohibits bullying in any form, by any student, staff member, or parent, towards a student or a staff member, on or while using school property, in a school vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Kansas anti-bullying laws includes the following definition of bullying:

“Bullying” means:

(A) Any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act or threat either by any student, staff member or parent towards a student or by any student, staff member or parent towards a staff member that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that such gesture, act or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of:

(i) harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally;

(ii) damaging a student’s or staff member’s property;

(iii) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm to the student or staff member; or

(iv) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the student’s or staff member’s property;

(B) cyberbullying; or

(C) any other form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the board of education of the school district in policies concerning bullying adopted pursuant to this section or subsection (e) of K.S.A. 72-8205, and amendments thereto.

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-6147 (2013)

Students who have bullied others in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion. If appropriate, students who violate the bullying prohibition may be reported to local law enforcement.

Kindly review our  Elementary Handbook 2025-2026 for more information on Academics, Activities, Attendance, Code of Conduct, Health, Nutrition, Transportation, Safety & Security.

Recognize a DCES staff going above and beyond to serve our students, staff, and school community by completing the short USD 230 Standing Ovation Awards. The district will select Core Value Award recipients from this pool of nominations.

All employees nominated will be recognized with a certificate and three of the nominees (Administration, Certified, Classified) will be chosen as the monthly USD 230 & Price Chopper Standing Ovation honorees.

• Sign-up Form: Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) & M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students)

• 1st Quarter DCES Community Feedback Form: We value your feedback so please  share your thoughts on how we're doing through this form.

• 2025–2026 School Calendar

• Breakfast and Lunch Menu

• Volunteer Registration

• DCES 2028 Strategic Plan

• PTO Newsletter

• Elementary Handbook 2025-2026

Check out our Cavalier feature for this week:

5th Graders Explore Science City: Our students had a fun and hands-on day discovering, experimenting, and learning about science in action. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered and helped our 5th Graders have a successful, relevant, and memorable learning experience!

Creative Minds in Art: Our 1st graders are designing symmetrical monarch butterflies, while 5th graders are beginning to plan their paper maché projects. Cavaliers are empowered to discover their own creativity and engage in hands-on learning!

Lunch Guests: Thank you to all the family members who joined us for lunch this week. Your presence made this week extra special!