Empowered to lead

Cavaliers in Action: Week of January 12-16, 2026

Dayton Creek

January 14, 2026

January 12-16, 2026

 

Good Morning Cavalier Families, 

We’ve had a fantastic start to the second semester! Students and staff are diving into learning with enthusiasm and focus, setting the tone for an exciting and productive semester ahead. To help set up our Cavaliers for success this semester, let’s continue encouraging our students  to practice our B.O.L.T. behavior: Be Respectful, Observe Safety, Lead with the 7 Habits, and Take Responsibility.

Students in grades 3-5 will begin taking the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) Interim Tests this week. We kindly ask for your support in ensuring your child is present and punctual throughout the testing period. A good night’s sleep, plenty of rest, and a balanced breakfast can greatly enhance their focus and well-being during testing.

Thank you so much for partnering with us! Together, we can ensure a safe, supportive, and empowering school environment for everyone!

 

Saturday, January 10, 2026: Johnson County Spelling Bee

Today is the big day! We wish the very best of luck to our DCES Spelling Bee Champion, Austin Boxberger, as he proudly represents our school at the Johnson County Spelling Bee this morning. We are incredibly proud of your hard work, perseverance, and leadership, Austin! Our entire DCES community is cheering you on every step of the way! (8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Gardner Edgerton High School)

 

 

  • Week of January 12-16, 2026

    • Tuesday, January 13 (4th Grade KAP ELA Interim Testing) 

    • Wednesday, January 14,

      • PLC (1 HR Late Start)

      • 3rd Grade KAP ELA Interim Testing

      • PTO Meeting (6:30 PM, Library)

    • Thursday, January 15 (5th Grade KAP ELA Interim Testing)

    • Friday, January 16:

    • The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) interim assessments allow educators to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills in a subject area and are designed to inform instructional decisions. Click this guide to view practice tests and documents that describe standards measured by each interim assessment. 

  •  

  • Week of January 19-23, 2026

    • Monday, January 19: NO CLASSES (MLK Day)

    • Tuesday, January 20: FSMS Counselor Visits 5th Grade (8-9 AM) 

    • Wednesday, January 21: NO PLC (Regular Start Time)  

  •  

  • Coming Soon: 

    • Monday, January 26: For our 5th Grade Families: Future Chargers Night at 6 PM (FSMS)

    • Thursday, January 29: 5th Grade Visits SHHS for Music Recruitment 

    • Friday, January 30: Leader in Me Awards Assembly for Habit 4: Think Win Win

    • February 2-6, 2026: School Counselor Appreciation Week 

    • Friday, February 13: Valentine's Day Parties

    • Monday, February 16: NO CLASSES (Presidents Day)

 

Standing Ovation for Staff

We hope that you’ve experienced an employee going above and beyond to serve our students and school community. Please help us recognize that employee by completing the short nomination form for Standing Ovation Awards 

All nominated employees will receive a certificate of recognition. From this pool, the district will select Core Value Award recipients, and three nominees representing Administration, Certified, and Classified staff will be honored as the monthly USD 230 and Price Chopper Standing Ovation Honorees.

Thank you so much for partnering with us to celebrate our DCES staff members who lead with heart, serve with purpose, and strive for excellence every day for our Cavaliers!

 

We’re Hiring at Dayton Creek!

We currently have openings for Instructional Paraprofessionals this 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 the links to apply online: 

Open Positions 

*Math Intervention Paraprofessional

*Special Education Paraprofessional 

*Computer Lab Paraprofessional

 

 

Handbook Highlights

BICYCLES
Only students in 2nd grade and up are allowed to ride bicycles to school without a parent.
To ensure student safety, bike riders must follow these rules:
• Bikes must be walked on any of the sidewalks surrounding the school.
• Bikes must be parked in the bike racks. Skateboards are not allowed at school.
• For the safety of the children, wearing a helmet is strongly advised.

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

 

Important Links

 

Yearbook Order

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)

 

Check out our Cavalier feature for this week:

Congratulations, Ms. Hanger!

We are incredibly proud of Ms. Hanger for being selected as a recipient of the 2026 Kansas Horizon Award, which recognizes outstanding teaching skill, dedication, and performance by new educators.On Tuesday, January 6, Ms. Hanger received a congratulatory phone call from Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, informing her of this well-deserved honor. She will be formally recognized at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on February 20 in Topeka. Ms. Hanger’s passion for teaching and commitment to students and families truly shine! We are deeply honored to have her as part of the DCES family!