Principal’s Message

Open House – Thursday, August 20th

• Pre-K, ECSE, Kindergarten – 3:30pm-4:30pm
• 1st-5th Grades – 4:30pm-6:00pm

First Day of School – Monday, August 24th*

• Pre-K and Kindergarten: Staggered Start begins in August 2026! Last names A-L begin on August 24th and do not report to school on August 25th. Last names M-Z begin on August 25th and do not report to school on August 24th.

School Day Hours: 7:20am – 2:05pm

• Tardy Bell: 7:40am Daily – Students must be in the building to be marked present
• End of Early Pick-Up: 1:30pm Daily

Office Hours: 7:00am – 3:30pm

We know that each of you wants to play an active, hands-on role in your child’s educational experience. With that in mind, please be on the lookout for information about the following:

• All families should plan to utilize Parent Square for receiving school communications throughout the year. You will receive an email to activate your account for the year. The Connection: Online Services and Resources
• Monthly newsletter communication from myself, Mr. Fail, via Parent Square regarding building trends, upcoming events, and community partnerships.
• At Donahoe, we will operate with the understanding that clear is kind. If something is unclear, always reach out and ask for more information. We are here to support you, your family, and your child. My personal goal is that you hear back from me within 24 hours, on weekdays, when you reach out.
• All Transportation changes must be received in writing. No changes can be taken over the phone or in-person without a written note or email follow-up detailing the change.

Our Dolphins are intelligent, hard-working, creative, and high-achieving learners and leaders. As Principal, we will work together to maintain a commitment to high expectations for instruction, behavior, and involvement. Please be aware of the following:

• Attendance matters! While Chronic Absenteeism plays a factor in our school’s accreditation, it is also the number one factor in a student’s ability to meet grade-level standards. Unless they have a fever or stomach illness, we need our Dolphins here every day to learn.
• When Dolphins are at school, they are focused on learning! Elementary students’ cell phones are to be out of sight and silenced during the school day. Please support us at home by reinforcing this expectation for all students.
• Students are learning from bell to bell! With this in mind, students will not be called down to the office for early pick-up until you are physically in the building to retrieve them. Early pick-up from the Main Office will end at 1:30pm every day. If you arrive after 1:30pm for pick-up, a transportation change will need to be receive in writing and you will be directed to join the pick-up line.

Our priority is to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all students, and a safe and secure working environment for all staff. With that in mind, please be aware of the following expectations for all members of the DES community:

• Any Visitor to the building must enter/exit through the front entrance and display a valid Driver’s License or Passport. Anyone who arrives at the school without a photo ID will not be permitted to enter the school building. This includes County staff, parents, families, and guests.
• Donahoe is a place of learning. Everyone will be treated with respect and dignity. Aggressive behavior is not acceptable by any student, staff, or visitor in the building. Behaviors such as profanity, threatening language, physical contact, or failure to follow the directives of staff members may result in a visitor’s removal from the school. These behaviors over the phone may end in staff members ending a phone conversation early.