Elementary Division News
Important Dates & Action Items
| April 23 - ESDPA Speaker Series: Dr. Twenge (7:00 p.m., Bray Performance Hall) | ||
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Join us for an engaging presentation by Dr. Jean Twenge, a leading psychologist and author of Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents and What They Mean for America’s Future and contributor to the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. All ESD parents and faculty are invited to attend. This is a session that will resonate with parents of children in every age range. Dr. Twenge will discuss the complexities of generational shifts and how they shape society by analyzing how technological advancements and resulting social changes have influenced the personalities, behaviors and values of different generations. Comparing different generations, she will highlight how the digital age has exacerbated feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression, especially among Gen Z. Drawing on her extensive research, Dr. Twenge will explore how smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity have reshaped not only the way we interact with one another but also how we experience the world and perceive ourselves. Dr. Twenge will offer practical advice on fostering healthy relationships with technology by urging families to be intentional about its use while strengthening meaningful offline connections and speculate on how past generational differences will shape America’s future. This timely presentation will offer critical insight into the challenges facing the current generation and the long-term effects of growing up in a digital world. Whether you have a young child with little access to technology – limited to a smartwatch and/or group chats, or a high schooler who can't stop scrolling through social media, this presentation is for you. This meeting will be held in the Bray Performance Hall at 7:00 p.m. |
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| April 23 - Eagles Real Estate Club (5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Claremont Neighborhood Grill) | ||
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Established in 2021, the Eagles Real Estate Club hosts quarterly meetings to connect ESD alumni and parents working in the real estate industry. Hosted by Emma Cabrales ‘18, Trey Scardino ’16, Stephen Swann ’93 P’24,’27,’29, and Libby Laughlin Wood ‘15, the goal of the club is to bring together the ESD community for networking and future business opportunities. Join the club for a happy hour on Wednesday, April 23, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., hosted by Brad Berkley P’26,’28, at Claremont Neighborhood Grill. |
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| April 24 - Lower School Visual Arts Night (5:00 - 6:30 p.m.) | ||
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Please join us at the Lower School on April 24 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. to enjoy our lower school students' art pieces at Visual Arts Night!
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| May 1 - abcdESD Parent Enrichment Meeting | ||
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Topic: Parenting Children in the Digital Age: When to Unplug and How to Connect. (Geared towards families with early childhood students.) Thursday, May 1, 2025, 8:00 - 8:45 am Susan M. Frank Center for Arts & Humanities, Bray Theater Join us for an insightful presentation led by licensed psychologists Drs. Betsy Kennard, Hayley Fournier, and Alex Foxwell from Screenwell. This session will explore the impact of technology on family dynamics. Learn effective strategies for managing screen time, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering meaningful connections with your children in our digital world. Let’s work together to empower our families with evidence-based tools for a balanced approach to technology use. |
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| May 3 - Annual Eagle Laureate Dinner (6:00 p.m., Daryl Johnston Family Dining Commons) | ||
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All parents are welcome to attend. To date, one hundred and thirty-six faculty and staff members who have served The Episcopal School of Dallas for twenty or more years have been inducted into the Keri Scholtz Hall ‘87 Convocation. This year, we will add two more dedicated members:
Annually, we also recognize individuals who have perpetuated the Founding Tenets of ESD while profoundly impacting the lives of countless students with the Inspirit Accolade Award. Our 2025 Inspirit Accolade Honorees are:
View the full list of Keri Scholtz Hall ‘87 Convocation Members and Inspirit Accolade Honorees here. |
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| May 5 & 9 - ESD Annual Spring Swing Tournaments | ||
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Join us for our annual ESD Spring Swing Tournaments hosted by the ESD Alumni Association and Booster Club! By taking a swing, proceeds from the tournaments directly benefit the Mary Elizabeth Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Booster Club Tuition Assistance Fund. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are open to all ESD parents. The golf tournament will be hosted on Monday, May 5, at Trinity Forest Golf Club. The tennis and pickleball tournaments will be hosted on Friday, May 9, at the Harrison Family Tennis Center at The Episcopal School of Dallas. Visit our Spring Swing Tournaments website to register and for additional information on sponsorship opportunities. Please contact Asia Hawkins ‘13, Director of Alumni, with any questions. |
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| May 9-10 - Sports Fellowship: Moody YMCA Track Meet | ||
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Are you interested in participating in the Moody YMCA Track Meet? This event is open to First through Sixth Graders and will take place on May 9-10 at Germany Park! Please contact Alex Klitsch for more information. Please sign up for the ESD roster here. |
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| May 15 - Flynn O'Hara On-Campus Sizing Day | ||
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A Flynn O’Hara sizing specialist will be on campus to take measurements for your student to ensure the best fit when you are ready to order or purchase new uniform items. Please note that this is a sizing opportunity; there will not be samples available for trying on at this event.
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| June 1 - Summer Reading and Math Enrichment Release | ||
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Please check the Getting Ready pages on June 1 for summer reading and math requirements. |
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| June 20 & 27 - Flynn O'Hara In-Store ESD Sizing and Shopping Days | ||
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The Flynn O’Hara Store will be open exclusively for ESD families on these days.
To ensure your Flynn O’Hara shopping experience is efficient and pleasant, a SignUp Genius will be shared soon to reserve your visit time.
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All School News & Updates
| Photos Now Available: Grandparents Day, Lower School |
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Photos have been uploaded to Waldo, and parents should have received a text notification. You can also view and download photos from our shared photo drive. |
| April 23, 2025 Uniform Update: Vendor Details & Item Availability |
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The Flynn O'Hara Storefront is Now Open Availability of Uniform Items at Flynn O'Hara
For uniform policy questions and clarifications:
For uniform provider questions and interim uniform issues (i.e. the zipper just broke on my student's last uniform skirt; my student has outgrown their pants; what do they wear until Flynn O’Hara bottoms are available?)
For more information on the 15% educator discount, learn more here. |
| Summer Sports Camps with ESD Coaches |
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Join your favorite ESD coaches and program directors this summer for sports camps. Enhance your skills or learn a new sport from the Coaches your student will play for during the school year. |
To volunteer, please visit esdallas.org/parents.
Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner, and we need your help sending our teachers off to summer, showing them just how much we love them! Click the button below to see all volunteer opportunities for Teacher Appreciation Week:
VOLUNTEER FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
| Elementary School Division Rep Welcome |
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Dear Lower School Families, I can’t believe we are in the final weeks of this incredible school year! It's a busy time of year, so please take a moment to read your grade rep letter for important reminders and upcoming events you won’t want to miss! Please check these pages weekly for any updates or changes. Don't miss this great speaker! Join us on April 23 in the Bray Performance Hall at 7:00 p.m. for an engaging presentation by Dr. Jean Twenge, a leading psychologist and author of, "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents and What They Mean for America’s Future," and contributor to the book, "The Anxious Generation," by Jonathan Haidt. The students and teachers have been working hard to prepare for the Lower School Visual Arts Night. Please join us at the Lower School on April 24 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. to enjoy the art pieces created by our lower school students at "That 70s Art Show." Also, if you have time to help take down and package art between April 25 and May 6. Please click the link below to sign up for a volunteer spot. Reminder, you can still donate to the Staff Birthday fund below. Always know that this is an optional way to show thanks to our hard-working teachers and staff. ESDPA Lower School Birthday Fund: To celebrate the birthdays of our lower school faculty and staff equally, we ask families to donate to the Lower School Birthday Fund. The donation levels are $10, $20, or $40, with a maximum of $40 if you have multiple children. On their birthday, each lower school teacher, CAST teacher, and administrator will receive a gift card organized and distributed by the ESDPA. As always, please feel free to reach out to me or your grade reps with any questions or concerns. Go Eagles, 2025-26 Elementary Division Coordinator: Courtney Goss |
| First Grade |
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Hi First Grade Families, Wow—can you believe we’re already in the final stretch of first grade? It’s been such a wonderful year full of learning and growth. As we gear up for summer, this season is a busy one! Please mark your calendars for important upcoming dates in April and May, including field trips, special projects, and end-of-year celebrations. We’re excited to finish strong and make these last weeks memorable! Grade-level Dates:
Important Dates:
*Don’t forget that you can view your customized family calendar in your Veracross Parent Portal. Please reach out with any questions or concerns. Go Eagles! 2025-26 First-Grade Grade Reps: Elizabeth Putnam and Liza Olympitis |
| Second Grade |
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Dear Second-Grade Families, What an incredible year! There's a lot of fun in store for our kids as they wrap up their school year in the next month, so please take note and add these dates to your calendars. Thank you all for helping to create such special memories for our kids this year. On to third grade we go :) Grade-level Dates:
Important Dates:
*Don’t forget that you can view your customized family calendar in your Veracross Parent Portal. Best, 2025-26 Second-Grade Grade Reps: Lauren Mestre and Amy Brillhart |
| Third Grade |
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Dear Third-Grade Families, We have an exciting and busy couple of months left of third grade! Please take note of the dates below. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Grade-level Dates:
Important Dates:
*Don’t forget that you can view your customized family calendar in your Veracross Parent Portal. As always, please reach out with any questions. Best, 2025-26 Third-Grade Grade Reps: Lillian Greene and Katy Cosby |
| Fourth Grade |
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Hello Fourth-Grade Families, I hope you're all ready for our final weeks of lower school! As we gear up for April and May, here's a sneak peek at some awesome events and important dates to come. We've got a jam-packed schedule full of fun activities for Fourth Grade. From Easter egg hunts and plays to service trips and parties, there's so much to look forward to. Check out the key dates below. The Fourth to the Finish document that was carefully prepared by the school is linked below with a summary of all events leading up to summer (spoiler- there are lots)! CLICK TO VIEW FOURTH GRADE TO THE FINISH SCHEDULE Grade-level Dates:
Important Dates:
*Don’t forget that you can view your customized family calendar in your Veracross Parent Portal. Be sure to mark your calendars and let me know if you have any questions or need more info. Let's make the most of the final countdown! Thanks for all your support and involvement! 2025-26 Fourth-Grade Grade Reps: Jessica Asaff and Hayley Crowell |
