Thursday Folder

9/4/25

A huge thank you to our amazing DSE families for a wonderful start to the school year! We know the first few weeks are a flurry of new routines and schedules, and we're so grateful for your partnership in making it a smooth and positive transition for our students. Your support at home is the foundation of the learning that happens in our classrooms, and we couldn't do this without you. Wishing you a fantastic week ahead! 

CELEBRATIONS:

  • Our students and staff are loving the refreshed classrooms, complete with new paint, floors, and brighter lighting that create a warm and inviting space for learning. This positive energy continues right from the moment students arrive, and we want to extend a huge thank you to our families for their partnership in helping us achieve a significant decrease in late arrivals. The new attendance zoning has also brought wonderful changes, including a calmer, more spacious feel in our hallways and common areas. It has been incredible to see so many new friendships blossom as our community comes together. Thank you for helping us make these first few weeks so successful! 

  • TIGER STRIPES SHOUTOUT: Are you seeing fantastic learning or leadership you'd like to recognize?Complete a Tiger Stripes Shoutout for staff!

 

CAMPUS/ DISTRICT NEWS:

“Compared to children with average attendance, chronically absent students gained 14 percent fewer literacy skills in kindergarten, and 15 percent fewer literacy skills and 12 percent fewer mathematics skills in first grade, based on analysis of a nationally representative data set,” (Ready 2010). from Balfanz and Burns, 2012)

  • We’d love for you to join us for Books & Breakfast at DSE!Come enjoy a light breakfast and spend some quality time reading with your child before the school day begins. Monday, October 6th, 7:10 am-7:35 am, DSE CL&I Breakfast will be provided by our amazing DSE PTA.  It’s a cozy way to start the day—together with stories and smiles! Please click here to RSVP.  This will allow us to have plenty of food for everyone, and we can have your visitor badge printed before you arrive, so you can spend more time reading!We hope to see you there!

 

UPCOMING DATES:

 

REMINDERS:

  • Please use designated crosswalks to cross in our parking lot.

  • As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, we want to emphasize the crucial role that regular school attendance plays in your child's educational journey. Missing school, even for short periods, can significantly negatively impact your child's learning and development.  Even one absence a month or 2 in a semester can have negative consequences for learning and well-being.  This year our goal is to STRIVE FOR 5-  each student will strive to have 5 or fewer absences for the 2025-2026 school year. How to report a student absence send an email to dsesattendance@dsisdtx.us or Log on to Family Access. One of our Wildly Important Goals is to improve our attendance. Read this handout for some strategies to SUPPORT HEALTHY ATTENDANCE HABITS!

  • DSES PTA is here to support students, families, and staff.  Join our social media groups to stay informed! Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA on Facebook

PTA NEWS:

  • Save the date for our first PTA meeting of the year: September 16th at 8 am in the cafeteria!

  • Follow the DSE PTA on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM for the latest updates and announcements.

  • JOIN THE PTA TODAY! PTA dues are a small annual fee that makes you a member and helps fund programs, events, and resources for our school and kids.

  • JOIN A PTA COMMITTEE! The PTA has a committee for everyone, from fundraising and events, to outdoor classroom and chicken coop, to spelling bee and book fair! We are also actively seeking new Committee Chairs for many open positions! 

  • The TIGER SPIRIT SHOP is open! Orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom within 3-4 days of purchase.

  • We are collecting pictures for the yearbook! Add your pictures HERE! Note specific folders for certain grades, events, activities, etc.

  • Mandatory ROOM PARENT training will be held on September 9th at 5 pm. At least one room parent from each class must attend. 

8/29/25

The month of September, our school will be focusing on Habit 1: Be Proactive. This important habit is about taking responsibility for your choices and actions. It means choosing your response to a situation, rather than simply reacting without thinking. Being proactive is about understanding that you are in control of your own life and that your choices shape your future.

You can help your child practice being proactive at home with these simple tips:

  • Use proactive language: Encourage your child to say, "I can choose to..." or "I am responsible for..." instead of "He made me..." or "I have to."

  • Create a sense of responsibility: Give your child specific chores or tasks and allow them to take ownership. Let them choose when and how they will complete the task, within reason.

  • Discuss choices and consequences: When a situation arises, talk with your child about the choices they made and how those choices led to a particular outcome. Help them understand that they have the power to make different choices next time.

  • Encourage problem-solving: Instead of jumping in to fix a problem, ask your child, "What can you do to solve this?" This empowers them to think of their own solutions.

We are so excited to see our students grow in their ability to be proactive, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing these skills at home.

  1. Mark your calendars for a Staff/Student Holiday on Monday, September 1st.  Enjoy the 3-day weekend!

  2. Please plan to join us for our first Principal Coffee of the year on Friday, September 2nd at 8 am. We hope to see you there!

  3. We look forward to seeing you this evening (AUG. 28)  at Parent Orientation. 

    1. 1st and 2nd grade 4:45-5:30

    2. 3rd and 4th grade 5:30-6:15

    3. 5th grade- 6:15-7

  4. Please use designated crosswalks to cross in our parking lot.

  5. As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, we want to emphasize the crucial role that regular school attendance plays in your child's educational journey. Missing school, even for short periods, can significantly negatively impact your child's learning and development.  Even one absence a month or 2 in a semester can have negative consequences for learning and well-being.  This year our goal is to STRIVE FOR 5-  each student will strive to have 5 or fewer absences for the 2025-2026 school year. How to report a student absence send an email to dsesattendance@dsisdtx.us or Log on to Family Access. One of our Wildly Important Goals is to improve our attendance. Read this handout for some strategies to SUPPORT HEALTHY ATTENDANCE HABITS!

  6. September 8- 12 is NATIONAL ATTENDANCE AWARENESS WEEK! Let’s do our best to attend school EVERYDAY!  Here are our dress up days to bring daily awareness!

    1. “Compared to children with average attendance, chronically absent students gained 14 percent fewer literacy skills in kindergarten, and 15 percent fewer literacy skills and 12 percent fewer mathematics skills in first grade, based on analysis of a nationally representative data set,” (Ready 2010). from Balfanz and Burns, 2012)

  7. Mileage Team starts on Friday, September 12th!. 

  8. Subs R’ Us Training -COME JOIN US!

  9. Join Girl Scouts! 

  10. Kids College Fall 2025

  11. Mark your calendars Picture Day is on September 17th. Picture Day ID: EVTVXNVP6  Click here to order!  

  12. Peanut butter bowl challenge that will benefit local food banks that continue to help families who are in need in our community.Online donations are at https://peanutbutterbowl.com/online-donation-form/ . Choose Dripping Springs Tigers in the dropdown menu, and every $2 donated = 1 jar of peanut butter.

  13. DSES PTA is here to support students, families, and staff.  Join our social media groups to stay informed! Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA on Facebook

PTA NEWS:

  • Save the date for our first PTA meeting of the year: September 16th at 8 am in the cafeteria!

  • Follow the DSE PTA on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM for the latest updates and announcements.

  • JOIN THE PTA TODAY! PTA dues are a small annual fee that makes you a member and helps fund programs, events, and resources for our school and kids.

  • JOIN A PTA COMMITTEE! The PTA has a committee for everyone, from fundraising and events, to outdoor classroom and chicken coop, to spelling bee and book fair! We are also actively seeking new Committee Chairs for many open positions! 

  • Order your FREE class shirt HERE! Class shirts will be worn on field trips, field day, and leadership day. The deadline to place your order is September 3rd. *You must create an account on the website before placing your order.*

  • The TIGER SPIRIT SHOP is open! Orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom within 3-4 days of purchase.

  • We are collecting pictures for the yearbook! Add your pictures HERE! Note specific folders for certain grades, events, activities, etc.

  • Mandatory ROOM PARENT training will be held on September 9th at 5 pm. At least one room parent from each class must attend. 

8/21/25

Welcome back, DSE families! We are so excited for a new school year and are incredibly grateful for your partnership. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Welcome Back Breakfast last week. It was wonderful to see so many of you and your children, and we were so happy with the great turnout!

We'd love to continue the conversation. Please plan to join us for our first Principal Coffee of the year on Friday, September 2nd at 8 am. We hope to see you there!

  1. As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, we want to emphasize the crucial role that regular school attendance plays in your child's educational journey. Missing school, even for short periods, can significantly negatively impact your child's learning and development.  Even one absence a month or 2 in a semester can have negative consequences for learning and well-being.  This year our goal is to STRIVE FOR 5-  each student will strive to have 5 or fewer absences for the 2025-2026 school year. How to report a student absence send an email to dsesattendance@dsisdtx.us or Log on to Family Access. One of our Wildly Important Goals is to improve our attendance.

  2. DSISD implements the Standard Response Protocol. Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We regularly practice a variety of emergency drills throughout the school year. Please be advised that we have scheduled our annual lockdown drill for August 28 at 9:00 a.m. This specific drill will be conducted in partnership with Hays County first responders. During this time, you can expect to see multiple emergency vehicles and personnel on and around the campus. These exercises are crucial for preparing our students and staff for potential emergencies and for strengthening our coordination with local public safety officials. 

  3. To receive updated information about all the wonderful things that are happening on our campus, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

  4. Subs R’ Us Training -COME JOIN US!

  5. District Parent Book Study with LMHP

  6. `House Bill 6 Flyer

  7. School Reminders:

    1. Pay for student field trips, fees, lost books, and webstore items HERE

    2. How to Report an All-Day Absence? Click HERE for more information.

    3. Picking up a student early? If students must leave school early for an afternoon appointment, please pick them up from the front office no later than 2:30 p.m.

  8. When You Support, Your Teacher WINS!

  1. Peanut butter bowl challenge that will benefit local food banks that continue to help families who are in need in our community.Online donations are at https://peanutbutterbowl.com/online-donation-form/ . Choose Dripping Springs Tigers in the dropdown menu, and every $2 donated = 1 jar of peanut butter.

  2. Mark your calendars for a Staff/Student Holiday on Monday, September 1st.  Enjoy the 3-day weekend!

  3. Scout Me In Pack 101 - Fall Recruiting Events 

  4. DSES PTA is here to support students, families, and staff.  Join our social media groups to stay informed! Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA on Facebook

PTA NEWS:

  • Save the date for our first PTA meeting of the year: September 16th at 8 am in the cafeteria!

  • Follow the DSE PTA on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM for the latest updates and announcements.

  • JOIN THE PTA TODAY! PTA dues are a small annual fee that makes you a member and helps fund programs, events, and resources for our school and kids.

  • JOIN A PTA COMMITTEE! The PTA has a committee for everyone, from fundraising and events, to outdoor classroom and chicken coop, to spelling bee and book fair! We are also actively seeking new Committee Chairs for many open positions! 

  • Order your FREE class shirt HERE! Class shirts will be worn on field trips, field day, and leadership day. The deadline to place your order is September 3rd. *You must create an account on the website before placing your order.*

  • The TIGER SPIRIT SHOP is open! Orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom within 3-4 days of purchase.

  • We are collecting pictures for the yearbook! Add your pictures HERE! Note specific folders for certain grades, events, activities, etc.

  • Mandatory ROOM PARENT training will be held on September 9th at 5 pm. At least one room parent from each class must attend. 

8/14/25

We are off to an absolutely incredible start, and it's all thanks to you!

Thank you for your partnership in making this first week of school a huge success. The energy, enthusiasm, and joy our students brought with them filled our halls with so much positivity. We are so grateful for your support and for trusting us with your amazing children. We can't wait to see all the wonderful things this year will bring!

  1. Parents, please join us Friday, August 15th, from 8- 8:45 am as we celebrate our first week of learning!  This is hosted in our Cafeteria.   This is an informal meet and greet! 

  2. As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, we want to emphasize the crucial role that regular school attendance plays in your child's educational journey. Missing school, even for short periods, can significantly negatively impact your child's learning and development.  Even one absence a month or 2 in a semester can have negative consequences for learning and well-being.  This year our goal is to STRIVE FOR 5-  each student will strive to have 5 or fewer absences for the 2025-2026 school year.

  3. DSISD implements the Standard Response Protocol. Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We regularly practice a variety of emergency drills throughout the school year. Please be advised that we have scheduled our annual lockdown drill for August 28 at 9:00 a.m. This specific drill will be conducted in partnership with Hays County first responders. During this time, you can expect to see multiple emergency vehicles and personnel on and around the campus. These exercises are crucial for preparing our students and staff for potential emergencies and for strengthening our coordination with local public safety officials. 

  4. How to report a student absence send an email to dsesattendance@dsisdtx.us or Log on to Family Access. One of our Wildly Important Goals is to improve our attendance.

  5. To receive updated information about all the wonderful things that are happening on our campus, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

  6. Subs R’ Us Training 

  7. District Parent Book Study with LMHP

  8. When You Support, Your Teacher WINS!

  1. Mark your calendars for a Staff/Student Holiday on Monday, September 1st.  Enjoy the 3-day weekend!

  2. DSES PTA is here to support students, families, and staff.  Join our social media groups to stay informed! Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA on Facebook

8/1/25

Welcome to Dripping Springs Elementary!  

  1. New school hours this year!  School begins at 7:40 am and ends at 3:05 pm.  DSE will open for students at 7:10 am (adjusted from 7:00 am to allow for staff arrival).  THANK YOU!

  2. Texas House Bill 1481 Implementation for 2025-26 School Year- Please review here.

  3. Middle & High School Students: Volunteer Opportunities! Are you available to volunteer next year? Here are two opportunities to get involved Classroom Teacher Support and PTA School Supplies Volunteer 

  4.  Check out this critical Arrival and Dismissal Plan for DSES.  Dismissal plans consist of bus riders, daycare bus riders, car riders, Kids Club, and a walk-up procedure called Tiger Lair.  Click here to learn about the Tiger Lair process.  Thank you for doing your part to keep our Tigers healthy and safe.  DSE uses  School Dismissal Manager as our transportation system for daily dismissal plans, an action will be required once our system has updated school rosters.  We will send information for new families to create their account and returning families to update accounts as needed.  We will start with this system beginning on the first day of school. Stay Tuned!

  5. Please visit our website here for school supplies and campus information.

  6. ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES:  Join us on August 10th from 4-5 pm at the Dripping Springs Elementary GYM A for our Kindergarten Signing Day!!  Say hello to friends you know and meet some new ones!

  7. PK and Kindergarten Parent Orientation is on Monday, August 11, beginning at 4:30.  This is a formal presentation rather than a come-and-go event.

  8. IF YOU ARE NEW, 1st-5th graders, we welcome you to come to a school tour and meet the principal and assistant principal on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 5:30.

  9. Please join us for Meet the Teacher on August 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  This is a come-and-go event, and we look forward to seeing you!

  10.  *Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st-grade parents are welcome to walk their children to their classrooms on the first day of school. Parents will be given a Visitor’s Badge and will enter through the front doors.  Beginning Thursday, August 14th, all students are expected to walk to their classrooms from either the cafeteria or the gym with their teachers, or from the school's front entrance.  Multiple staff members will be present throughout the campus to support our learners as they make their way to their classrooms. PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, & 1ST GRADE PARENTS: ON AUGUST 11TH FROM 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM, THE 12TH FROM 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM, PARENTS MAY HAVE THEIR ID SCANNED AND GIVEN A BADGE TO EASE THE TRAFFIC IN THE FRONT OFFICE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AUGUST 13TH.

    *All 2ND- 5th grade parents are welcome to escort their children to the front of the building, but then kiss and hug them so they are off to their classroom ready for learning.  This procedure encourages students’ self-esteem and independence by getting the school day started on their own. Teachers appreciate the uninterrupted instructional time by getting to work as soon as they enter the classroom as a whole group. Thank you for supporting the safety and security of our school community.

  11. Parents, please join us Friday, August 15th, from 8- 8:45 am as we celebrate our first week of learning!  This is hosted in our Cafeteria.   This is an informal meet and greet! 

  12. How to report a student absence send an email to dsesattendance@dsisdtx.us or Log on to Family Access.

  13.  Dripping Springs practices Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).  Please click here for information in regards to our PBIS systems.  In addition, we are in our 11th year of Leader in Me.  Each month, we will learn and review one habit.  During August, we will learn about our Core Beliefs. Click here for more information.

  14. We will begin with Habit One: Be Proactive in September. Habit 1: Be Proactive, which is about taking responsibility for your life. Proactive people recognize that they are “response-able.” They don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they can choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn’t, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. A proactive person uses proactive language—I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language—I can’t, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do—they have no choice.

  15. To receive updated information about all the wonderful things that are happening on our campus, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

  16.  Skyward Message Blasts: Communication between school and home is critical. Weekly message blasts will be sent from Mrs. Raymond (DSESnews@dsisdtx.us). Please be sure your email address is up to date. If you need support, please contact our front office at 512.858.3711.

  17.  Health Services Counseling Services  

  18. Here is our Calendar of Events for 25-26.  Please note events are subject to change.  All changes will be communicated.   Please note there are 2 Early Release Days this school year.  School ends at noon on these designated days.  These days are still days of learning, and your child(ren) must attend school on December 19 and May 22.

  19. Mark your calendars for a Staff/Student Holiday on Monday, September 1st.  Enjoy the 3-day weekend!

  20. DSES PTA is here to support students, families, and staff.  Join our social media groups to stay informed! Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA on Facebook

 

DSES Mission:  We are Leaders!  We Love! We Inspire!  We Motivate!