Bess Maxwell Elementary School

08/31/2026

SEPTEMBER 2026
COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

BESS MAXWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LEARN - GROW - BELONG

OUR VISION
Del Norte Community Schools create strong relationships between families and partners to empower students with safe, inclusive and culturally rich experiences.

Welcome Back Dolphins!
We are so excited to have the children back on campus this year and are looking forward to seeing everyone at one, or hopefully ALL of our fun events that we have planned throughout the year!! There are many ways to become a part of Bess Maxwell Elementary!! You can join our PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization) or become an acting member of our School Site Council -- we would love your help guiding our school! Our first fun event is coming up quickly!! MARK THE DATE and come visit with staff and teachers at Back to School Night and PTSO BBQ on Sept 16th from 5:30-7:00 PM. We are looking forward to a great year!!

Pictured L-R: Principal Daron Lindsey, Family Engagement Liaison Janelle Sweet, Social Worker Maddie Pyles and Counselor Justin Robinson at the 3rd Annual Family Summit on August 15th.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS
PTSO Meeting, Tuesday, 9/1, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Back-To-School Night & PTSO BBQ, Wednesday, 9/16, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Picture Day, Tuesday, 9/22
School Site Council Meeting, Tuesday, 9/29, 5:15 p.m.

Adventure TIME!
Starting school is always a new adventure. Here are some ideas to help with this new time. • Visit with neighbors to see who is going to the same school. It’s always fun to have a buddy. • Explore a pick-up and drop off sharing plan with neighbors, or a “Walking School Bus.” • Respond right away to outreach from your child’s teacher. Ask any questions you have! Come to the Back-To-School Night and PTSO BBQ are Wednesday, September 16th from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Get Involved - Volunteer Opportunities
SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
One of the most valuable assets for any school is the school volunteer. We are always looking for those special people who can assist with classroom activities and field trips. If you are interested in being a Level 1 or Level 2 volunteer, you would need to fill out a volunteer application, present a picture ID and have our Principal’s authorization. Level 2 volunteers would require a fingerprint scan background check and Keenan safeschools training.

PTSO
The Parent Teacher Student Organization is always looking for new members. It costs nothing to be a member. We meet one hour every first Tuesday of the month in Room 22 or via Zoom. We like to plan activities and fundraise for school assemblies, honor our families through dinners and honor the staff. If you like planning events, then we’d love to have you join us!

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
The School Site Council is made up of parents and school staff who review the policies and budgets for our school and help determine what needs to be focused on. The council meets once every two months for an hour or more. Those who are interested in a position on the School Site Council need to contact the office and apply for a position.

Interested? Please contact our office for a application and/or more information.

NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY MONDAY, SEPT. 7

SEPTEMBER 2026
SUN, MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT
Tues, September 1, PTSO Meeting, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Mon., September 7, NO SCHOOL Labor Day Holiday
Wed., September 16, B-T-S Night & PTSO BBQ, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Tues., September 2, Picture Day
Tues., September 29, School Site Council, 5:15 p.m.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.

GOALS:
THERE’S 365.25 DAYS IN A YEAR.
THERE ARE ONLY 180 DAYS OF SCHOOL PER YEAR.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO BE THERE ALL 180 DAYS!
TO DO LIST
DENTAL OR MEDICAL APPOINTMENT THIS MONTH?
GET SIGNED UP FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY

I NEED TO SET TIME ASIDE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WOULD I LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?!
CAN I SET A GOAL THAT CAN GET ME THERE?

DAILY SCHEDULE:
LAYOUT CLOTHES
HAVE BACKPACK READY BY THE DOOR
GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME
TALK NICE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS

NOTES:
INDEPENDENT STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 15 DAYS IN A SCHOOL YEAR.
CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL TO SETUP INDEPENDENT STUDY OR CULTURAL INDEPENDENT STUDY.
REQUESTS MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE.

IMPORTANT:
MISSING 2 DAYS
OF SCHOOL EVERY MONTH IS
TOO MUCH!

BESS MAXWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LEARN - GROW - BELONG

BESS MAXWELL ELEMENTARY
Principal Daron Lindsey
1124 EL DORADO CRESCENT CITY CA 95531
MAIN OFFICE: (707) 464-0310

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

**Bess Maxwell Elementary School Notice 8/28/2026**

This afternoon, an altercation involving three individuals who are **not students or employees of Bess Maxwell Elementary School** occurred in front of the school while they were passing through the area.

Law enforcement was contacted and responded to the incident and is currently investigating.

We want families to know that **no Bess Maxwell students or school employees were involved or injured in the incident**, and the incident was not connected to Bess Maxwell Elementary School other than occurring in close proximity to the campus.

We would like to thank our local law enforcement partners for their prompt response and thank our families for their understanding.

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

Share Your First Day of School Memories

✨ The first day of school is here, and we’re excited to welcome students back for a new year of learning, growth, and connection!

We’d love to see your family’s special first-day memories. 📸 Share a photo or a short story from your student’s first day in the comments below, and help us celebrate the start of another great school year together! ❤️

08/19/2026

Participating in a Cultural Ceremony or Event?

Families are reminded that California law allows students to receive an excused absence when they are away from school for the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.

Under California Education Code Section 48205, “cultural” refers to the habits, practices, beliefs, and traditions of a group of people.

If your student will be participating in a cultural ceremony or event during the school year, please contact your school in advance so staff can help you plan for the absence and any schoolwork that may be missed.

DNUSD students may also have opportunities to complete an Independent Study Contract and receive additional academic support surrounding their absence.

For more information, contact your child’s school.

08/19/2026

Help Us Stay Connected With Your Family

Strong communication between families and schools helps us share important information quickly and keep families informed throughout the school year.

Please take a moment to make sure the contact information on file with your child’s school is current. This includes phone numbers and email addresses for parents and guardians, emergency contacts, and anyone authorized to pick up your child. Accurate information is especially important when schools need to reach families quickly or during an emergency.

Families are also encouraged to contact their school office as soon as possible when they know their child will be absent. The earlier we know, the better our staff can work with families around attendance and any available opportunities to recover missed days.

DNUSD schools communicate with families through phone calls, text messages, email, school websites, and pages.

If you are not receiving school or district communications, first verify your contact information with your school office. If your information is correct and you are still having trouble receiving messages, contact the DNUSD Communications Department at 707-464-6143.

Visit dnusd.org and select Schools to find your school’s website and contact information.

08/18/2026

Registration is open for the DNUSD ELO-P After School Program!

The After School Program provides students with a fun and supportive place to learn, create, stay active, and connect after the school day. Program activities include academic support, STEM, creative arts, sports and fitness, and social-emotional learning (SEL).

Families can learn more and access the registration form at dnusd.org/asp-register.

Questions? Contact the Expanded Learning Department at (707) 464-0753.

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

School bus registration is now open for the 2026–27 school year!

Families who need DNUSD school bus transportation are encouraged to complete the registration process as soon as possible to help ensure transportation is arranged for their student.

Register online at dnusd.org/bus

Questions? Contact the DNUSD Transportation Department at (707) 464-0250.