Destin Elementary School

OCSD has partnered with the Florida Department of Health to provide free immunizations to students on the following dates, times, and locations. If you have any questions, please contact your school or local health department for details.

Clinic Dates and Locations:
- August 6 - 9:00AM - 11:00AM - OCSD Central Office, Niceville
- August 8 - 9:00AM - 11:30AM - Shoal River Middle School
- August 8 - 1:00PM - 2:30PM - Bruner Middle School

Vaccines Offered
- Tdap (Required for entry into 7th grade)
- HPV (Human Pappillomavirus)
- Meningitis

Important Information
- Parent/Guardian must be onsite with insurance card (if applicable)
- No record transcription or religious exemptions will be available at the clinic
- After vaccination, students will receive a form with the vaccination date to give to school administration
- School staff will retrieve the official 680 form once it's received - no printing will be done onsite.

Back to School Savings Alert!

Did you know Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday is now permanent and runs the entire month of August? From August 1–31, families can save on essential school items tax-free — including clothing, school supplies, learning aids, and even personal computers!

Plan your shopping and check out the official list of tax-free items here: https://floridarevenue.com/.../Documents/TIP_25A01-08.pdf

Please note: School supply lists are provided individually by each school. Many of our secondary teachers will share their specific supply requests during orientation or on the first day of school. Reach out to your school if you have any questions!

We can't wait to see everyone back in our buildings on August 11th!

As we gear up for an exciting new school year, our amazing teachers at Destin Elementary school will be hard at work during preplanning—getting their classrooms ready, attending trainings, and preparing for the incredible students they'll soon welcome! We’d love to show our appreciation for their dedication by providing a breakfast, lunch or snacks/drinks during this time. If your business would like to sponsor a meal or partner with us to support our staff, we’d be incredibly grateful! It’s a great way to give back and let our educators know how much they’re valued. The dates are Aug. 5th, 6th, 8th and 11th. If you're interested or would like more details, please comment below or message us directly. Thank you for helping us start the year off strong!
meyera@okaloosaschools.com
850-833-4360

☀️📚 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗡! 📚☀️
Looking to make your child’s summer reading more exciting? Help them grab a book and check off these sunny spots—because every page is better under the sun! Don't forget the sunscreen!
✅ In the sun
✅ While eating ice cream
✅ At the beach
✅ In a car
✅ By a pool
✅ With a friend
✅ In a park
Whether you're lounging poolside or chilling under a tree, every page counts!
Share your kids' summer reading adventures by tagging us—let's turn this season into a story worth telling!

The final bell of the school year is almost here! Tomorrow, Thursday, May 29, marks the last day of school for students in the Okaloosa County School District. All OCSD schools will follow an early dismissal schedule, and lunch will still be served before students head off to start their summer break! Let’s finish strong and celebrate a year of hard work, growth, and achievement. We’re proud of each and every student, and we wish you a safe, fun, and restful summer!

Congratulations to our Junior Deputy Leadership. Thank you Deputy Karla and our Jr. Deputies for all the hard work through out the year.

Last day for Lunch visitors for the 2024-25 school year will be May 22nd! NO lunch visitors May 1 - 16 due to FAST/STAR Testing Dates! Please help us keep our campus quiet and calm during end of year state testing.

The Okaloosa County School District has been made aware of scam phone calls targeting parents. In these calls, individuals falsely claim that a student has an outstanding lunch balance and instructs the parent to "press 1" to make a payment immediately. Please be advised: • The Okaloosa County School District does not contact families by phone to request payment in this manner. • Any legitimate communication regarding student meal accounts would come through official district channels. • In the recently reported case, the scammer provided incorrect student information and used what appeared to be a local phone number, which may have been spoofed. If you receive a suspicious call, do not provide personal or payment information. Instead, hang up and contact your child's school or the district's Food Services Department directly for verification. Thank you for helping us keep our families informed and protected.

Last week, our 2nd grade students put on a musical performance that was out of this world! They sang and celebrated all types of music from around the world. Mrs. Hayes and the kids did an outstanding job. We are so proud of you all.

Free Dental Services! An amazing opportunity is coming to DES through April! The Children's Volunteer Health Network is bringing dental services to our school! It doesn't matter if you have insurance, they can help with checkups, cleanings and other needed dental procedures! Check it out!

FAST/STAR Testing Schedule! Please verify testing dates with your child's teacher as there may be circumstances where a specific class may need to alter their dates slightly. It is very important that you make every effort to have your child at school, on time and ready to go on their scheduled testing dates. We ask that you help us encourage and motivate your child to do their best. This can be a stressful time for our kiddos and we want them to know that we value them for their effort and not for test scores. We want to focus on growth and showing what they have learned this year! :) Test dates by grade level can be found in the April Dolphin Report: https://secure.smore.com/n/z05eu!

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 Next Thursday, March 13, is the last day of the 3rd 9-week grading period. Spring Break begins on Friday, March 14, and continues through Friday, March 21. Monday, March 24, is a Teacher Workday. Students return for the 4th and final 9-week grading period of the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday, March 25. We hope everyone has a safe and restful week off!

Mark your calendars: Teacher Appreciation Week is coming May 5th - 9th.

Field Trips at DES Chaperone Guidelines: Must have an approved volunteer application prior to the field trip day; must be willing to be responsible for an assigned group of students; must not bring siblings with them on the trip; only chaperones who have signed up with the teacher and are approved may attend the field trip; and report to the teacher with any discipline issues.

Save the Date! Destin ES Glow Dance on Friday, April 11th from 6 PM - 8 PM in the DUMC Gymnasium. More info to come!

Field Day is coming in March: March 6th - Kindergarten; March 7th - 1st Grade; March 10th - 4th Grade; March 11th - 3rd Grade; March 12th - 2nd Grade; and March 13th - Make-Up Day.

Happy SRO Appreciation Day to our very own Deputy Karla Pagani!!! Destin Elementary is so blessed to have her as part of our family! We love you Karla! Thank you for keeping us safe!!!

It was so awesome to get to celebrate Mrs. Becky Reed last night at the OCSD Teacher of the Year banquet! DES is so very proud to call Mrs. Reed our own!

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸! This week, we celebrate and honor our incredible school counselors who play a vital role in supporting our students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. From guiding students through their educational journeys to providing a listening ear and valuable advice, our counselors are always there to help. Thank you to all our dedicated school counselors for your unwavering commitment and the positive impact you make every day. Your hard work and compassion truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

This week, the Okaloosa County School District and the State of Florida are celebrating the joy of reading and the power of literacy! We are highlighting the importance of literacy in our schools and communities. From engaging classroom activities to exciting reading challenges, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Thank you to all our dedicated teachers, librarians, and staff for fostering a love of reading in our students!