Back to School Information

August , 2023

Dear Gorilla Families:

The start of the 23-24 school year is right around the corner! We are excited to welcome everyone back! We wanted to share some information about upcoming events and start of the school year details. 

DSD Show & Tell AND Listen & Learn Events:

We are excited to share about an opportunity for district patrons, new families & students, and any other interested party to come into the school and learn a little bit about school safety, teaching & learning, and to receive a school tour. We also hope to use this time to answer questions and to listen and learn from our community and families. We are offering these events two times, on different weeks, with both a morning and an afternoon time. 

Middle School & High School Fall Sports Athlete/Parent Information Night:

At this event, parents and athletes will complete sports paperwork using our new online system called FinalForms. Please get your child's sports physicals done before the 15th of August if possible. Following this, high school coaches and a few middle school coaches will be holding their parent information meetings. Middle school parents/athletes are encouraged to attend to get their paperwork completed, even if that MS sport is not holding their parent information meeting that night. 

School Offices Open for Registration & Assistance:

Our High School office will be open beginning Wednesday, August 17th from 8:00am-3:00pm. 

The Elementary & Middle School offices will be open beginning Monday, August 22nd from 8:00am-3:00pm. Our District Office is open daily until our other school offices open. Please feel free to come by to get registration paperwork or any information you may need! 

Sneak Peek & Get a Treat:

All Davenport School District students and parents are invited and encouraged to participate in a fun family event put on by the DSD staff to welcome back students and families and kick off the 2023-24 school year! Please note, this event is in lieu of a traditional open house. 

Note: Students in Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten/Pre-K will be contacted individually to set up a time for a meet-and-greet with their teacher, but are welcome to attend this event as well!

Sneak Peek Event Details: 

  • Elementary students can come and learn who their homeroom teacher is for the 23-24 school year! 

  • Middle School & High School students can come and meet their teachers and get information about their upcoming classes!

  • Come learn about the various club, sports and after school programming that are available for students at the elementary, middle and high school! 

  • Enjoy some fun games and activities led by the HS ASB! 

  • Come meet many of the DSD teachers and staff, including new staff members!

  • Davenport administration will be on-hand to meet families and enjoy this fun kick-off for our school year!

New MS Student & 6th Grade Sneak Peek @ 5:00pm  

New HS Student & 9th Grade Sneak Peek @ 5:00pm 

2023-2024 1st Day of School:

  • K-12--Tuesday, August 31st at 8:00am!

  • Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and PK--Tuesday, September 6th at 8:00am!

    • TK & PK students follow the same school day/year schedule as all K-12 students. 

TK-12 School Day for 23-24 School Year:  

    • Mondays: Late start for staff Professional Learning Community collaboration.

      • TK-5 9:00am-2:45pm

      • 6-12: 9:00am-2:49pm

    • Tuesdays-Fridays: 

      • TK-5 8:00am-2:45pm

      • 6-12: 8:00am-2:49pm

    • Note: Buses will depart at approximately 3:00pm daily

Meals:

  • Breakfast and lunch are available to all students.  

  • Breakfast for K-8 will be available beginning at 7:40am in the cafeteria

    • Breakfast for TK/PK will be delivered to classrooms as “grab & go’s” 

    • Breakfast for HS students will be available at the HS as “grab & go’s”

  • Breakfast and lunch are no longer free for all students, as the federal waiver for free school meals is no longer in effect. Please see below for school meal pricing. 

  • Free & Reduced Meal Applications: We STRONGLY encourage all families to fill out a Free & Reduced Application as you may be eligible for free school meals. This application also provides fee waivers for college applications admissions, free college in the high school, reduced advanced placement test fees, after school school program fee reductions, and more!

  • Please see our District Breakfast/Lunch Information page for prices, applications, contacts and much more!

Bussing:

  • Our transportation department will be reaching out to families in the upcoming weeks as we get closer to the start of school to finalize routes as well as pick-up and drop-off times. If you have any questions or need to set up for bus transportation for your student please contact Bill Ball at 509-725-1352 or [email protected]

  • As a reminder, there is no food or drink on buses. 

  • We will also be continuing “family style” assigned seating on buses. 

  • Due to route capacities, we are again limiting any special occasion bus notes for students to ride home on another route than their own, unless it is an emergency or has been pre-arranged with Mr. Ball, our transportation director. 

Contact Information Update/ Emergency Health Care Plans:

  • To ensure we have correct contact information for returning students, parents/guardians, please go into Skyward and update, or ensure we have accurate information by contacting the office. 

  • If you have an emergency health care plan, please return that by the first day of school. They were mailed home this summer. If you need a new health care plan please let us know! 

Visitors:  

  • Parents/guardians are welcome to come inside to drop off items and request to set up a time to speak/meet with staff! Please check-in at the front office! 

  • Parents/guardians who need to pick up their child prior to the end of the school day are welcome to enter the building and come to the front office to sign your child out.  

  • Parents/guardians who need to drop off paperwork or items for their child are welcome to enter our buildings and head to the front office where we will deliver the item to your child's classroom for you.

Davenport Elementary School 

Back-to-School Information

Elementary School Day: 

As a brief overview, this year’s elementary schedule includes a “specials” rotation of PE two days a week, Music two days a week, and every other week Library or Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Students also have recess with all grade level peers spread throughout the day, lunch in the cafeteria, math, English-language arts (ELA), science and social studies instruction, and an intervention/enrichment block called WIN Time which stands for “What I Need”! 

School Supplies/Lists:

Elementary supply lists are posted on the district website (www.davenportsd.org). Each student will be provided a chromebook and charger during the first week of school. Students are expected to bring Chromebooks CHARGED each day from home, unless the classroom teacher states differently. Students also need to bring the following the first day of school: fully sealable water bottle. 

Arrival:

  • 1st Day of School Arrival: We know the first day is an important milestone and moment for students and families. Parents/guardians may walk students to their classrooms the morning of the first day of school if they wish to!

  • After the 1st day of school parents/guardians are requested to drop students off at the entrance to the building. Parents/guardians are welcome to come inside to drop off items and request to set up a time to speak/meet  with staff! Please check-in at the front office! 

  • Students can either go eat breakfast in the cafeteria or head directly to their classrooms upon arrival. Doors to our buildings will open at 7:40am. 

    • K-5 students should enter the building through the main entrance, and TK/PK students should go directly to their classroom in the portables. A staff member will be stationed at the morning bus drop off to meet TK/PK students and help guide them to their classrooms. 

Dismissal:

  • Each school day, including the first day of school we will again follow a similar dismissal as last school year with parents/guardians waiting outside the school to pick up their child. **Reminder: TK/PK & Elementary students are dismissed at 2:45. 

Lockers: 

  • Students TK-5 will be provided a locker/cubby space for their coat, backpack, etc. 

Davenport Afterschool Program:        Start Date: Tuesday, September 6th 

  • Students grades TK-5 are eligible to enroll in the Davenport Afterschool program for the 22-23 school year! 

  • This enrichment program is offered on the days school is in session Mondays-Fridays from 2:45pm-5:00pm and is located in the K-8 Music Room (Mr. Harper’s classroom). 

  • Fee is $10.00 per day, $6.00 per day for siblings. If you qualify for free/reduced the fee is $5.00 per day, $3.00 per day for siblings. 

  • Students will play games, create items/crafts, and have time to work on homework.  

  • You can pick up an application for this program in the elementary office. 

Homework Hub:     Start Date: Tuesday, September 6th 

  • We will again be offering after school academic/homework support for elementary students this school year! This is a place where students can have a quiet place to work on and receive help from a staff member on school work. This year’s Homework Hub will be held in the K-8 Library, Mondays-Fridays 2:45pm-3:30pm 

  • The program is open to all students K-5. However, it is only a space for academic support, NOT after school childcare. If you are in need of childcare we encourage you to check out the Davenport Afterschool Program. 

  • There is no cost or registration for your child to attend the Homework Hub, as this is a drop-in program to provide for academic support ONLY! If your child is feeling frustrated, behind, or just needs to connect we encourage you to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher to let them know you would like your child to attend. Additionally, maybe your child just needs access to quality internet, this is a great place for your child to access the internet for school work in order to stay caught up. 

  • You will need to arrange your own transportation to pick up your child from the Homework Hub. 

  • Your child does not have to stay the full hour if they complete their work quickly, but are welcome to stay and work for the entire day’s session as needed! 

  • If you have any questions about the Homework Hub please reach out to the elementary office!

Davenport Virtual Program:

  • While Davenport Elementary is continuing to offer a fully in-person schedule 5 days a week for ALL students, K-5 families that are interested in an alternative option for this school year should please reach out to the elementary office to set up an appointment to discuss alternatives to in-person learning. 

    • If families select this option this will be a full semester commitment, as students will be enrolled in a completely separate educational program than our in-person students. 

    • This program will require students to engage in approximately 4-6 hours of at home/online schooling per day.  

Davenport Middle/High School 

Back to School Information

2023-2024 Schedule:

Our traditional 7 period day allows for a lot of flexibility and the addition of extra elective course offerings!

BELL SCHEDULE (2023-2024)

Late Start

Regular Bell

Warning Bell 8:55

Period 1 9:00 – 9:40 (40)

Period 2 9:43 – 10:23 (40)

Period 3 10:26 – 11:06 (40)

Period 4 11:09 – 11:56 (40)

Lunch 11:56 – 12:26

Period 5 12:26 – 1:11 (45)

Period 6 1:15 – 2:00 (45)

Period 7 2:04 – 2:49 (45)

Warning Bell 7:55

Period 1 8:00 – 8:50 (50)

Period 2 8:54 – 9:44 (50)

Period 3 9:48 – 10:38 (50)

RTI 10:42 – 11:02 (20)

Period 4 11:06 – 11:56 (50)

Lunch 11:56 – 12:26

Period 5 12:26 – 1:11 (45)

Period 6 1:15-2:00 (45)

Period 7 2:04 – 2:49 (45)

RTI/Extension Periods:

  • Time to fill in the learning gaps, make sure students get what they need academically

  • Extra time for College in the High School & Advanced Placement classes

  • Time for elective offerings like robotics, home ec, etc. 

  • Extra time to complete homework assignments

Lockers: 

  • Students 6-12 will be provided a locker for their coat, backpack, etc. 

After-School Studies:      Start Date: Tuesday, September 6th 

  • We will again be offering after school academic/homework support for MS/HS students this school year! This is a place where students can have a quiet place to work on and receive help from a staff member on school work. (Monday’s-Friday’s 2:49pm-4:00pm)  

Davenport Virtual Program:

  • Families that are interested in an alternative option for this school year should please reach out to the office to set up an appointment to discuss alternatives to in-person learning. 

    • If families select this option this will be a full semester commitment, as students will be enrolled in a completely separate educational program than our in-person students. 

    • This program will require students to engage in approximately 4-6 hours of at home/online schooling per day.