Destin Elementary School

We are currently experiencing slow internet speeds district-wide. This may affect phones. We are working with our service provider to get the problem fixed as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

You’ve got to give Graffiti Pizza a try! Our staff at DES enjoyed their scrumptious pizzas for lunch!!! Thank you Graffiti’s!

Your Destin Elementary crews are ready to keep building bigger, better and stronger! FINS UP DES!

Fishbein Orthodontics is a generous supporter of Okaloosa County Schools! Thank you for providing breakfast for our staff and goody bags for the kiddos!

Destin Elementary School was blessed with some delicious cold brew, hot coffee and energy balls from our favorite, East Pass Coffee this morning! Thank you for helping fuel us as we get ready for a fantastic school year! 

New legislation in Florida restricts student use of cellular phones during the school day, aiming to minimize distractions and to support a focused learning environment.

Educational Benefits
Research shows that limiting cell phone use in schools can:
- Improve student focus and attention during instruction
- Boost academic performance and engagement
- Reduce cyberbullying incidents during school hours
- Enhance face-to-face social interactions

Per Florida House Bill 1105 (2025)
Elementary and Middle School Students - the use of a cellular phone is prohibited in elementary and middle school during the school day.

Daily Expectations
- Before/After School: Students will only be able to use their cell phone before the first bell or after the last bell of the day
- During School: Phones must remain put away and out of sight.
- Phone Confiscation: Students in violation of the policy may have their phone temporarily confiscated and disciplinary action may be taken for repeat offenders.

Student or Family Emergencies
- Student Needs to Contact Family: must go to main office
- Family Needs to Contact Student: Call the student's main office
Medical Condition: Students with medical conditions may have phone access with proper documentation
School Emergencies: The school will communicate directly with families

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.