FALL BREAK: No SCHOOL for students from November 24-28.

Classes will resume on a regular schedule Monday, December 1, 2025.

Good Evening Cavalier Families, 

As we enter this season of gratitude, I want to thank you for the many ways you support our Cavaliers, our staff, and our school community. From Better Together, to Grit for Growth, to now Empowered to Lead, your partnership and commitment continue to shape DCES into a place where every child can learn, grow, and thrive. Our students show up with courage and curiosity because they are surrounded by caring adults at home and at school who believe in them. Thank you for investing your time, your trust, and your hearts into this community. I am truly grateful for each of you and wish your family a restful, joyful, and peaceful Thanksgiving break!

Winter District Assessments Begin (FastBridge & iReady)

Monday, Dec. 1: Classes Resume

Tuesday, Dec. 2: National Special Education Day! 

***To our Special Education Teachers: Mrs. Hollern, Mrs. Crook, Mrs. Vest, Mrs. True, to our paraprofessionals: Mrs. Vann, Ms. Koehler, Mrs. Kelley, Mrs. Sprague, Mrs. Bigelow, and Mr. Laskares, and to our related service providers: Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Schramm, Mrs. Joyce, Mrs. Newkirk, and our school psychologist Mrs. Sinon, thank you so much for your hard work, your compassion, and the countless ways you help each student grow and thrive. We see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you today!

Wednesday, Dec. 3: PLC Day (1 HR Late Start)

***DCES Cavalier Choir will perform at the Spring Hill Care And Rehabilitation Center (9:45)

Thursday, Dec. 4: 2nd Grade Music Program (6:30 - 7:30 PM)

Friday, Dec. 5: 

***Leader in Me Awards Assembly for Habit 3: Put First Things First  (K-2nd Grade at 8 AM & 3-5th Grade at 8:30)

***4th Grade Famous Kansans Wax Museum (1:15-2:00 PM, hallway)

Please save the dates for the upcoming events:

• Dec 8-12: Book Fair

• Dec 10 PTO Meeting at 6:30 PM

• Dec 12: Book Fair Family Night 

• Dec 12: PTO Winterfest (6-8 PM) & Food Drive

• Dec 17: DCES Spelling Bee (1:30-3:00 PM, Cafeteria) Classroom winners and runner-ups from Grades 3–5 will participate in the DCES Spelling Bee. 

NUISANCE ITEMS

No nuisance items are to be in the possession of students on the school premises. This includes fireworks, water guns, balloons, animals or parts of animals, noisemakers, pocket knives, puzzle cubes, or any other item not required in the course of the program. Nuisance items taken from students will be kept in the office until the end of the school day. After the second offense and every time thereafter, parents are required to come to school to pick up the nuisance item. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen nuisance items.

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

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

• 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

• Elementary Handbook 2025-2026

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.