What is the best way to get in touch with your teacher?

• Email your teacher directly: 

  • Mrs. Park: mpark@dsdhs.com 

  • Mrs. Mulhern mmulhern@dsdhs.com 

  • Mrs. Heltzel kheltzel@dsdhs.com 

  • Mrs. Shields cshields@dsdhs.com 

  • Mrs. Francis afrancis@dsdhs.com

  • Mrs. Williams cwilliams@dsdhs.com 

  • Mrs. 

• Download the Class Dojo App to receive and send messages directly to and from your teacher. 

  • Class Dojo is wonderful because you also receive event details and other frequent reminders!

When should I contact the teacher?

• Simple answer...any time! 

• We would rather guardians contact us frequently because we truly believe in a strong home-to-school connection. It is easier for us to handle situations in the moment rather than days/weeks later. Please let us know your child had a rough night, lost a pet, or just needs a little extra care that day. Please reach out if your child brings something to your attention that you're not sure about. We will never negatively judge a parent for advocating for their child...that's a parent's job. 

• We are very quick with communication so please reach out to us before looking elsewhere for information. 

What is the homework policy?

• Homework typically comes home Monday-Thursday. No homework on Fridays! 

• Homework should be a review of what we did in class. It should not routinely take more than 20 FOCUSED  minutes each night. If the work is taking significantly longer please contact us for a plan of success. It is important to have time for other things each night! Balance!

May I send in snacks for my student's birthday?

•  No food products may be brought in  due to allergies and food sensitivities. We encourage you to consider different ways to celebrate a birthday in school that do NOT involve food. Some ideas include sending a new or used book to add to the classroom library or gifting pencils or stickers to students instead of candy or cupcakes. 

• Also, in order to not hurt any feelings, invitations for birthday parties can only be given out in school if all students in the class (or all boys or all girls) are invited otherwise you will need to find another place to  invite specific students. This is a district set policy. 

Do we have a snack time?

• Students may bring  one small snack from home to eat at snack time. Think small and simple: small bag of goldfish, an apple, a snack bar, gummies, etc.

•  Families must provide the small snack from home. 

• Students are not allowed to share snacks with peers due to safety/health reasons. 

• Students are also allowed and highly encouraged to have closed-lid water bottles (filled only with water) throughout the school day. We recommend the closable, straw-lid, bottles as opposed to the whole top coming off because it minimizes spills when they happen (because they happen ALL day). 

• Please be mindful of any allergies that may exist within our class.

•  *2025/2026 ALLERGY UPDATE: 

  • Mrs. Parks Class has a peanut/tree nut allergy

Can my student bring toys to school?

• A small toy may be brought for outside or indoor recess. 

• Do NOT bring anything valuable that you would be crushed if it went lost or missing. Stuff happens; toys break, they get lost and go missing. Neither the Dallas district, nor teachers,  are responsible for any missing or broken toys. 

• We have spent many years collecting engaging materials to use in school. The classes are filled with hands-on busy bins,  art supplies, and indoor recess materials. All these supplies are available for classmates to share. 

• All toys will be kept in backpacks until recess time. Toys, lovies, stuffies, etc. may NOT live on or in desks during the day unless special permission is given by the teacher. 

What is the arrival/dismissal routine?

• Drop-off 8:55

• Students marked tardy after 9:10

• Pick-up 3:35-3:50 P.M.

• Act 80/Early Release Days dismiss 11:55

  1. No lunch offered on Early Release Days. You can PRE-order a bagged lunch to go home by filling out the GRAB & GO LUNCH FORM BEFORE the Early Release. 

• 2-Hour Delay day start 10:55

• Detailed Wycallis instructions here: LINK

• 2. 1. We recommend your child rides the bus. 

     2. Should you chose to drop off/pick up your child:

        1. 1.  Enter campus via Hildebrandt Drive to Mountaineer Drive

           2.  Proceed along Mountaineer Drive to farside of Field House

           3. Stop.  Await direction to enter Conyngham Avenue.

           4.  Do not arrive for drop off earlier than 8:25 A.M.

           5.  Do not arrive for pick up earlier than 3:25 P.M.

           6. PHOTO LINK HERE

           7. Detailed Instructions HERE 

What is the Specials Schedule?

• See Schedules Tab for specific teachers

What's a FID?

• A FID is a Flexible Instruction Day. FIDs can be used for snow days or other times when learning is unable to take place on campus.

• FIDs do not have to be made up at the end of the year. They count as full instruction days. 

• All FID assignments will be posted in our Google Classroom. Assignments will be manageable, meaningful, and minimal because kids also need time to be kids, play in the snow, and not stress families and caretakers with long, online assignments. 

• The teacher will be accessible during normal school hours via email or Class Dojo to answer any questions or provide support. 

• Students have three days to complete FID assignments. If work is not submitted, the student is marked absent for that day of instruction. 

What should I bring to Second Grade?

• Check out the Supply List page.

Do I need paperwork to volunteer in school or on a trip?

• Yes. In order to chaperone you MUST have your PA Criminal History Check, Child Abuse Check, FBI Clearance, and be an active PTO member. Membership is $10/family each school year. 

• All clearances for volunteers must be obtained BEFORE attending events/trip.  PTO Clearance Info

• Clearances take time to process and to be approved. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. Usually, if you wait to submit clearances when the event is announced, it is too late.  In the past, the March board meeting has been the LAST date to get anyone approved to chaperone end-of-year trips. 

Do I need to let the school know when my child won't be present?

• Yes. Please send in the linked excuse form before or after your child is absent. 

• You are welcome to send an email or Class Dojo message but you must also submit the excuse form to the office. 

Excuse Form

What do I do with my child's Chromebook?

• Chromebooks are provided free of cost to every DSD student!

• In Second Grade you have two options for storing Chromebook:

  • Option 1: Families may choose to leave their child's Chromebook in the class in a charging station only IF you have access to a device at home for daily and FID assignments. If we know the weather looks questionable, we will send Chromebooks home. (We recommend this option).

  • Option 2: Families may choose to bring their Chromebook back and fourth each day between school and home. Families must charge Chromebooks at home each night to be ready to use each morning. This is option is fine but it is EXPECTED Chromebooks come to school EACH day, charged, and in good working order. 

• Chromebooks should be charged and ready to use each day whether you take them home or leave them in school. 

• District Chromebook information here: LINK