Week of December 8-12, 2025

Good Afternoon Cavalier Families, 

We hope your Thanksgiving break was filled with rest, warmth, and treasured moments with loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the patience, flexibility, and kindness you have extended to our school as we navigated this week’s weather-related schedule changes.

Our Cavaliers also demonstrated patience, focus, and perseverance as they tried their best to remain fully engaged in our  learning activities, especially during our FastBridge and iReady district assessments. As we approach the end of the first semester, we appreciate your continued partnership in encouraging our students to stay motivated towards their goals, and to lead by example each day with kindness, respectful choices, and responsible behavior.

Week of December 8-12, 2025

Winter District Assessments Continues (FastBridge & iReady): Our students will continue taking their Winter FastBridge & iReady assessments this week. Please encourage students to take this opportunity to celebrate their learning and show what they know, to take their time in answering the questions whenever possible, and do their very best! Their grit, focus, confidence, as well as your support make all the difference!

Please save the dates for the upcoming events:

We currently have 3 openings for Instructional Paraprofessionals for the second semester. If you or someone you know is passionate about supporting students and being part of a collaborative, student-centered team, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out for more information (millerthe@usd230.org) or click this link to apply online: 

Open Positions (Starting in January 2026) 

*Math Intervention Paraprofessional

*Special Education Paraprofessional 

*Computer Lab Paraprofessional

STAYING IN AT RECESS

Unless the weather is too severe, all grades, Kindergarten-5th grade will go out regularly for recess during the school day. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather conditions. If the air or wind-chill temperature is 21 degrees  or less or the air temperature is 100 degrees or more, we will not go out to recess. All children will be expected to go out with the class. Exceptions to this will be made only with a physician’s note. In most instances, if a child is too sick to go outside, he/she may also be too ill to be in school.

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

• December PTO Newsletter

Don't forget to order your yearbook! Yearbooks are $19 and can be personalized for an additional cost. Ordering will close on January 28, 2026. To purchase your yearbook visit: inter-state.com/order

Enter code: 0260KH

Questions? Contact Mrs. Smith (smithk@usd230.ord or 913-592-7151)

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.