El Dorado Elementary School

Welcome to the 24-25 School Year El Dorado Families!

It is my privilege and honor to continue serving as the Principal of El Dorado Elementary School. This past school year, our students and staff have carried on with developing strong relationships and have grown tremendously along the way. I am confident that our school community will have even more successes and achievements this new year as we all continue to learn, grow, and work together as we SOAR to new heights. As your principal, I am very eager and excited to provide my support in order to make this happen.

To all of our new students and their families, let me be the first to say we are happy you are with us! I know it can feel challenging to be the “new kid” at a “new school.” You might be feeling a little nervous wanting to make a good first impression and start the year off right. I am here to personally assure our new students and parents that everyone at El Dorado will make you feel like part of our family on the very first day. This is our commitment to you. You belong here and we welcome you with open arms to the 2024-2025 academic school year at El Dorado Elementary.

Here are some important details that you need to be aware of as we begin our new school year:

School Hours

• M, W, Th, F: 7:50 am - 2:33 pm
• Tuesday: 7:50 am - 12:05 pm

The first day of school:

• Monday, August 12th (Classlist Viewing from 3:00-4:00pm)
• Tuesday, August 13th

School Gates OPEN at 7:30am

El Dorado Elementary School has undergone a transformation this year, with a fresh new look including newly painted buildings and a new logo featuring a golden eagle, in line with our school name, El Dorado, which means gold. This symbolizes our vision to provide golden opportunities for our students, ensuring they shine brightly as they strive towards all of their goals.

El Dorado Elementary School continues to embrace the importance of building strong relationships, a principle emphasized by Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH). The entire El Dorado staff believes in the sentiment expressed by CKH founder Flip Flippen: “If you have a child's heart, you have a child’s mind.”

At El Dorado, Teacher Clarity is a priority practice. Teacher Clarity involves having a deep understanding of what to teach, why it should be taught, how to teach it, and what success looks like. This practice helps us focus on the essential components of instruction and communicate these aspects clearly to our students, fostering an environment where they can take ownership of their learning. The key components of Teacher Clarity include:

• Learning Intentions: These are clear statements outlining what students are expected to learn. They guide teachers on what should be taught and provide a basis for assessing student learning.
• Success Criteria: These are specific details that help students understand what is expected of them and how their work will be judged. It provides clear steps for success.
• Learning Progressions: These are the building blocks of instruction that students use to achieve the learning intentions. They represent the steps students take to move from their current level of understanding to mastery.

To support this practice, we encourage parents to refer to the signs posted on our dismissal gates and consistently ask their children these three questions:

1. What are you learning today?
2. Why are you learning it?
3. How will you know that you've learned it?

These questions will help reinforce the learning goals and success criteria discussed in class, ensuring that students have a clear understanding of what they are working towards.

We are also excited to welcome Brandon Farmer as our new Assistant Principal. Brandon comes to us with a wealth of experience, including almost 20 years of experience in elementary education. His extensive background and dedication to student success will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to our school community. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Farmer to the El Dorado family!

We at El Dorado understand the unique challenges that some of our families may face, and we are here to offer support and resources to ensure that your child's educational experience is as enriching as possible. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or if you need assistance.

Throughout the year, we will come together to celebrate the achievements of our incredible students, and I am eager to be a part of inspiring the growth and development that will undoubtedly take place. Your partnership is an essential piece of the puzzle. I am deeply grateful for your trust in us as we work together to make this school year a truly rewarding experience for each of your children.

In hopes of keeping the lines of communication open, weekly updates will be sent to our families via ParentSquare, Facebook, and email. Please visit the school website to get to know our wonderful teachers and support staff, access student schedules, and learn about other opportunities at El Dorado.

Let's all agree to start this 2024-2025 academic school year at El Dorado Elementary School with the understanding that together we will overcome obstacles, celebrate successes, and create a nurturing environment where every child can thrive! Welcome Back El Dorado Golden Eagles and always remember—El Dorado Eagles SOAR no matter the distance!  

Please continue to sign in to ParentSquare regularly for important updates. QR codes that will link you directly to El Dorado’s ParentSquare portal, Facebook page and webpage can be found below.