Prospective Parent FAQ

What is a Choice School?
Choice schools are optional schooling alternatives, created to meet specific needs and interests. They are designed to be smaller and use innovative approaches to education that are different from traditional public schools. Read more!

Where do I learn more about the specific details about DCS?
The DCS Handbook contains information on the mission, history, and philosophy of DCS, bylaws, policies, financial information, community group structure, and classroom workings.

Does DCS have a Parent, Teacher, Student Association?
Yes, DCS/Sandburg has a PTSA which planning, discussing, implementing, and supporting school sponsored events, activities, and facilities. Volunteering for PTSA sponsored events or attending their meetings does count toward DCS parent volunteer hours.

Communication FAQ

What if my child is going to be absent or late?
Call the Attendance Line at 425.936.2704 between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. You may also want to send an e-mail to your child's teacher.

What is Kidmail?
Kidmail refers to the folder that comes home with your child every evening.

What are the e-mail group lists?
A series of group lists used for communication from staff and between DCS families. At a minimum, you'll need to subscribe to the "DCS-Business" list and your child(ren)'s class list (see below).

DCS Business List
Used by staff, Committee Chairs, event coordinators, and parents for official communication around school-related activities.

Class Lists Class Lists
Used by teachers to communicate announcements specific to their classrooms and by parents for classroom-related communications and questions.

DCS Steering List
Used by the Steering committee for official communication around steering-related activities and decisions.

Community List
Used by families as a virtual bulletin board for all sorts of non-official information sharing.

Walking List
Walking List Used by families that enjoy sharing walks together at local parks.

How do I know which to use: Constant Contact, DCS business e-mail list, or the community e-mail list?

• Use Constant Contact for large newsletters to the entire community and for event/activity registration.
• Use the DCS Business list when you need to send an immediate message about an event, activity, or other DCS information to the entire community.
• Use the community list when you have general community information such as bike for sale, lost dog information, request for childcare, etc.

Volunteer FAQ

What can be counted towards volunteer hours?

• Time spent volunteering for a DCS, Sandburg, or PTSA event or activity
• Time spent volunteering in the classroom (Please wait for instructions from individual teachers at Curriculum Night before volunteering in the classroom.)
• Time spent at community and steering meetings
• Time spent at planning meetings for activities and events
• And many other ways! E-mail the current volunteer coordinator with any questions.

How can I log my volunteer hours?
Log your hours in the volunteer book located just inside the youngers' classroom or e-mail your hours to Janet Zins.

How do I volunteer in the classroom?
Each teacher has their own processes for requesting and assigning volunteers in the classroom. Information on volunteering in the classroom will be given by the individual teacher at Curriculum Night.

How do I get on the steering committee? Can anyone go to a steering meeting?
Be elected or volunteer for one of the committee chairs and you are on the steering committee. Any community member is welcome at steering meetings at any time. See the Meetings page for more information.

How do I volunteer for a position on the Org Chart?
Send an e-mail to the current volunteer coordinator.