Dacusville Elementary School

Enjoy the rest of your summer, but be sure to mark your calendars for our Meet the Teacher event on Tuesday, July 29th from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. We can't wait to see all of our new and returning students and their families. More information is coming soon about 4K.

We know that you have all been anxiously awaiting the release of our School Supply Lists for this upcoming school year! You don't have to wait any longer. Go to https://des.pickens.k12.sc.us/o/des/page/school-supplies now and click the button to see the lists for 2025-26.

📢 Local Businesses – We Need You! 📢

Sponsor our Dacusville Fun Run t-shirts and get your name/logo seen by 750+ students, staff & families all year long! 🏃‍♂️💙🐬

Sponsorships start at $250. Deadline to secure your spot: Aug. 31!

📩 Nina Eller – dacusvilledso@gmail.com | 📞 864-395-5696

#DacusvilleElementary #FunRun #CommunityPartners #SupportOurSchool

🐬 Meet Your Kindergarten Dream Team! 🐬 Kindergarten is where big dreams start small, and our amazing teachers and assistants make sure every little learner feels loved, supported, and ready to shine! 🌟 Ms. Freeman & her assistant Mrs. Howard Mrs. Winchester & her assistant Mrs. Grissop Mrs. Edwards & her assistant Mrs. Hardin Mrs. Thompson & her assistant Mrs. Bridges This incredible group is patient, creative, and full of energy — they’re ready to guide our tiny Dolphins through their first big splash into learning! 💙

Starting the day with smiles and sunshine ☀️ The best days begin at school — right on time! 💙 Let’s keep showing up for the fun! #HereToLearn #DolphinPride #DolphinDays #HereAndHappy

🌟 Meet Your Preschool & 4K Team! 🌟 From left to right: 👩‍🏫 Mrs. Lord – Lead teacher of one of our 4K classes, creating a warm and engaging space where little learners grow every day. 🎨 Ms. Cole – Lead teacher of our other 4K class, inspiring creativity and curiosity through hands-on learning and fun activities. 🎉 Mrs. Tori – Brings fun and joy to the preschool classroom, nurturing young minds with kindness and a big smile. 🎉 Mrs. Gosnell – kindly supports our preschool and 4K classrooms, making sure every day runs smoothly and smiles abound. Together, this amazing team lays the foundation for our youngest Dolphins to explore, learn, and thrive! 🐬💛

🎨🎶 Meet Your Related Arts Teachers! 🎶🎨 Back left: 🏃‍♂️ Coach Moody & 🏃‍♀️ Coach Joye — These two bring the party to PE every day! From fun games to exciting activities, they keep our students moving, laughing, and loving fitness. 📚 Mrs. Pittman — Our tech whiz in the library! She’s the go-to for troubleshooting technology and supporting both students and staff to make learning smoother. 📖 Mrs. Anderson — Our Librarian and Media Specialist who sparks a love for reading and also helps solve tech puzzles so nothing slows down the fun! Front left: 🎵 Mrs. May Berry, Music Teacher — She fills our school with melodies and joy, helping students discover the magic of music and the rhythm in their hearts. 🎨 Mrs. Flowers, Art Teacher — With a splash of color and creativity, she inspires students to express themselves and bring their imaginations to life. 🌎 Mrs. Albarracín, Spanish Teacher — She opens the door to a new language and culture, making learning Spanish a fun and exciting adventure for every student!

🎤✨ 4th & 5th Graders! Love to sing, dance, & act? Join the DES Chorus and perform for our school & community! Applications due Aug. 20. Questions? Contact Mrs. May-Berry. Don’t miss this chance to shine! 🌟 #DESChorus #JoinTheChorus @dacusvilledolphins

💙 Meet Your Support Services Team 💙 (Left to right) 🌟 Mrs. Salinas – Our Multilingual Learners Leader. She supports students whose first language is not English, helping them transition smoothly and excel in their new learning environment. 🧠 Mrs. Sterlachini – Our School Psychologist who ensures students receive the services and accommodations they need to thrive academically and emotionally. 📚 Mrs. Gainey – Our Special Education Leader for 4th and 5th grade. She provides small-group instruction and individualized support so each student can shine. 🗣 Mrs. Freeman – Our Speech Pathologist who works with students of all ages to help them find their voice and communicate with confidence. 🍎 Dr. Hart – Our Special Education Leader for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. With patience, creativity, and a big heart, she meets students right where they are to help them grow and succeed. This dedicated team works behind the scenes and alongside teachers every day — ensuring that every Dacusville Dolphin has the tools and support they need to succeed. 🐬💛

✨ Meet Your Front Office Dream Team! ✨ Left to right: 💛 Mrs. Owens – Our welcoming receptionist and the first smiling face you’ll see when you visit. She answers the door, fields phone calls, and makes sure transportation changes run smoothly. 💙 Mrs. Galloway – Our Student Data Manager who keeps our records, attendance, coding, state reporting, and enrollment in perfect order. She greets families with a warm welcome and ensures every new student starts off on the right foot. 💚 Mrs. Waters – Our School Secretary who manages school payments and sales, coordinates volunteer training, and keeps our field trips running without a hitch. These three are the heartbeat of our front office — keeping things organized, welcoming, and running smoothly every single day! 🌟

Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination! 🎵✨ This week, our halls were filled with 4K wonder, creativity, and play as we welcomed our newest students. What a magical start to their school journey!

It’s not just the students who love a first day photo! 📸 Our amazing Dacusville staff are kids at heart too, and we couldn’t resist capturing our own first day smiles. Here’s to a year full of learning, laughter, and growing together! 💙 #DacusvilleDolphins #KidsAtHeart #FirstDayVibes

The Countdown Is On! In less than 12 hours, our halls will be filled with smiling faces, excitement, and endless possibilities! 🚌✨We are ready to launch into our greatest year yet—full of learning, laughter, and unforgettable memories. 💙 We cannot wait to see YOU tomorrow! 🐬

Help us welcome back a familiar face in a new space. Mrs. Amanda Pittman has been working in our After-School Care program, but this year she is in a new role as our Technology Assistant. Mrs. Pittman has a dental assisting certificate from Greenville Tech, and she spent 15 years in orthodontics, where she served as an assistant and treatment coordinator! She is a hard worker and a self-starter who is going to be fantastic! When asked about this upcoming year, Mrs. Pittman said, " I am excited to continue my journey at DES serving as the new technology assistant! I am looking forward to seeing old faces and meeting new ones! I can't wait to see what new things we can do that will make a big difference!"

https://secure.smore.com/n/tmb4q

Our After School Care registration is now live! If you are interested in your child joining our afterschool care program you may sign up using the link below.
https://forms.gle/GbUuQkPhciYzTLed9

Welcome Mrs. Sarah Traynum to Dacusville Elementary! Mrs. Traynum brings a **wealth of experience**, with over **25 years of teaching 4K** and most recently **teaching 3rd grade at Ambler**. She earned her **BS in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood add-on** from **Anderson University**, graduating in **December 2024**. Her heart for young learners and her passion for teaching make her a perfect fit for DES! 💙 Outside the classroom, she loves spending time at the lake and **thrift shopping for vintage treasures**. She’s also a proud mom to her son **Tanner**, who’s getting married this October to Bri — and let’s not forget her sweet cat, **Finn**! 🐱💍⛵️ Join us in giving Mrs. Traynum a warm Dacusville welcome! #WelcomeToDacusville #NewTeacherSpotlight #WeAreDES #EarlyChildhoodEducator

We are thrilled to welcome our new Spanish teacher to Dacusville Elementary—please join us in giving a warm DES welcome to Roccio Albarracin Carreno!
From Colombia, she brings with her 22 years of experience in education, having worked with children, teens, and adults alike.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Spanish and English from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional and a Master’s in Education from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
💬 In her own words:
"I became a teacher because I believe education is a journey of the heart. I’m excited to share the joy of learning Spanish and celebrate culture with the DES community."

We’re so excited to learn and grow with her this year—bienvenida to DES! 💙💛

Dacusville Elementary will be a Title 1 school this year. We are so pleased to welcome Mrs. Caroline Taphorn as our Title 1 Curriculum Specialist. Caroline is from Clemson, SC. She has a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Furman University, a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education (also from Furman), and she will finish her Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Clemson in August of this year. Caroline has been teaching for 6 years. "I became a teacher because I believe every child deserves someone in their corner cheering them on, and that's the kind of teacher I've always tried to be. " - Caroline