Tiger Tales 5/17/26

Posted Date: 05/17/26 (01:00 PM)

May 17, 2026

May Moments at DES

Hope everyone was able to enjoy a little sunshine and fresh air this weekend! After a stretch of unpredictable spring weather, it was nice to get outside and soak up some sunshine. As we head into another busy week at school, we’re looking forward to welcoming you into the building for conferences.

Relocation Drill This Week

This week we will conduct a relocation drill as part of our ongoing safety preparedness efforts. A relocation drill allows us to practice safely leaving the school campus and moving students to an alternate location should an emergency ever require us to do so. Staff will review expectations with students beforehand, and the drill will be conducted in a calm, supportive, and age-appropriate manner. Practicing these procedures helps ensure students and staff know how to respond safely in a variety of situations.

PBIS Family Survey

We’d greatly appreciate your feedback as we continue strengthening our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) work at school. Family input helps us better understand what is working well and where we can continue to grow in supporting positive school culture, behavior expectations, and student success. Please take a few moments to complete the PBIS family survey. Thank you for partnering with us!

PBIS Family Survey

ROAR Reminder

Tiger Tailgate Has Been Revealed!

The secret is out ...our final schoolwide celebration of the year will be… Tiger Tailgate! Students were very excited to learn about this fun end-of-year event filled with games, activities, music, and celebration.

While the excitement is high, students still need to earn their way to the event by showing consistent ROAR behavior expectations throughout the coming weeks. Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in some challenging behaviors across grade levels, which is common this time of year as routines shift and excitement builds.

Our staff will continue working hard to notice, encourage, reteach, and celebrate positive behavior every day. We also need students to step up by making safe, respectful, responsible, and kind choices, even when energy levels are high. Family reminders and encouragement at home can make a huge difference, too!

We know our Tigers are capable of finishing the year strong, and we’re excited to see students continue to ROAR their way toward Tiger Tailgate!

Tigertastic Tips

Make the Most of Student-Led Conferences!

Student-led conferences are happening this week, and we can’t wait for students to show off their learning! These conferences give children the chance to reflect on their growth, celebrate accomplishments, and practice sharing their thinking with the important adults in their lives.

Here are a few Tigertastic Tips to help make your conference a great experience:

Let your child do the talking; even if there are pauses!
Ask questions like: “What are you most proud of?” or “What was challenging for you?”
Celebrate effort and growth, not just grades or finished products.
Remember: confidence grows when kids feel heard and encouraged.

We are so proud of the hard work, reflection, and bravery our students show during these conferences. Thanks for partnering with us to support their learning journey!

Mark Your Calendars

5/20-5/22 Student Led Conferences- Scholastic Book Fair
5/21 Early Release @ 11:30, no preschool
5/22 non-student day
5/25 Memorial Day, no school

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Derby Elementary! Come to the gym to visit the Book Fair with your students when you come in for student-led conferences. It will be open on Wednesday, May 20 from 3:30-5:30, Thursday, May 21 from 3:30-5:30, and Friday, May 11 from 7:45-11:00am.