Zukeran Tribune Parent Newsletter
Zukeran Tribune Parent Newsletter
Dear Zukeran Elementary Families,
Please see my weekly email for the latest commentary from the Principal's Desk. If you're not receiving my weekly email message, or if you have any questions, please reach out to elise.rosch@dodea.edu.
With appreciation,
Elise Rosch, Principal
Kerwin Jones, Assistant Principal
Principal's Coffee and Connect
School Coffee and Connect with the Principals
Every Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 at Zukeran Elementary School
Zukeran's Principal's Coffee and Connect is a weekly open forum with our school Principal where various topics are introduced, ideas are shared, and questions are answered. These informative meetings take place inside the school, face-to-face, and parents may join virtually as well via the meeting link.
| Date | Event |
| 25 March | Jump-a-thon / Spring Field Day End of Quarter 3 |
| 26 March | Teacher Work Day - No School for Students |
| 27 March - April 3 | Spring Recess |
| 6 April | Instruction Resumes - Beginning of Quarter 4 |
| 13-17 April | Month of the Military Child Spirit W |
| 24 April | Professional Learning Day - No School for Students |
| 4 - 8 May | Summative Testing for Grades 3-5 |
Overseas DoDEA Meal Pricing Set for 2026-27 School Year
DALLAS – To comply with federal law, school meals will increase by 25 cents at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools outside the continental United States (OCONUS) for the 2026-27 school year.
The lunch price for elementary (grades UPK-five) and secondary (grades six-12) students’ meals will be $3.75 and $4, respectively. Breakfast for all (grades K-12) will be $2.25. Per federal guidelines, families who qualify for free meals receive lunch and breakfast at no cost, and families who qualify for reduced meals will still pay $0.40 per lunch and $0.30 for breakfast.
Each year, the USDA requires DoDEA schools to compare costs for a paid student lunch to the difference between two federal reimbursement rates: the free meal rate and the paid meal rate. If the current price is too low compared to that difference, the USDA requires school meal prices to be adjusted to achieve parity. The 25-cent increase for paid lunches at DoDEA school overseas keeps the program fully compliant with federal guidelines.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s school meal program has provided meals to Warfighters’ children since 1957 at OCONUS DoDEA schools. Last year, the Exchange provided 3.6 million meals at more than 70 schools in Europe and the Pacific. The Exchange provides school lunches as a service to the military community, pricing each lunch, on average, approximately $2 below the actual cost of $5.50 per plate. DoDEA and USDA reimburse the Exchange for direct costs not recouped by sales.
Student menus are set by the Exchange’s registered dietitian in accordance with current USDA guidelines and are based on recommended Dietary Guidelines. All school lunch menus meet or exceed nutrient standards based on grade level for calories, sodium, sugar and fat.
For more information on the Exchange’s school meal program, visit http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/school-lunch-program.
Free and Reduced Meals
DoDEA families can apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits during the government shutdown.
The assistance is intended for the duration of the shutdown. Per USDA requirements, free or reduced-price meal eligibility is based on income and family size.
Parents can visit the linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/newsubmit and search for “AAFES DoDEA” to submit an application online.
Upcoming Month of the Military Child Spirit Week
All after-school clubs have begun meeting. Year-long clubs will run until the week of May 22nd, 2026. Multi-session clubs will run with start and end dates indicated on our School Activities page. More details, including club sponsor contact info, can be found there as well. If you're new to Zukeran and interested in signing your child up, please reach out to the club sponsor listed or Mr. Kerwin Jones.
Is your child having a rough go of it at school? Is something getting in the way of their academic success? We want to help!
Counselors
Diane.Jackson@dodea.edu (Grades 3-5)
Justin.Armstrong@dodea.edu (Grades Pre-K-2)
Kenneth.Gamon@dodea.edu (School Psychologist)
MFLCs (Military Family Life Counselors)
- Ms. Cordia Smith - 080-6485-7715 or 571-621-3594 (Lower Grades)
- Ms. Tiffanee Gale - 080-6485-7776 or 571-621-4418 (Upper Grades)
📰 More News from 3–5 Counseling
This school year is off to a strong start with exciting initiatives and student engagement!
🐣 Newcomers’ Groups & Toucan Trailblazers
We welcomed new students through our Newcomers’ Groups and introduced the Toucan Trailblazers—our student ambassadors from grades K–3. These Trailblazers help new students feel at home by:
• Sitting with them at lunch
• Playing together at recess
• Showing them around the studio and neighborhood routines
• Helping them make new friends
🌏 Life on Okinawa & Friendship Building
Students in grades 1–5 met with the Military Family Life Counselor and School Counselors to learn about:
• Life on Okinawa
• Zukeran Elementary routines.
• Strategies for making and maintaining friendships
- 🎤 Meeter-Greeters & Morning Broadcasts
Our 4th and 5th grade Meeter-Greeters continue to welcome new students by escorting them to class and introducing them to peers. They also lead our daily morning broadcast, which covers:
• Zones of Regulation
• Problem-solving strategies
• Coping techniques for everyday challenges
🚫 Bullying Prevention Lessons
We’ve launched our bullying prevention curriculum for October and November. Students are doing an excellent job learning:
• What bullying is—and isn’t
• How to respond and refuse bullying confidently
💌 Friendship Groups
We’ve received an overwhelming number of permission slips for our upcoming Friendship Groups, and we’re thrilled to begin working with students soon! These groups focus on:
• Building positive peer relationships
• Conflict resolution and communication skills
Our SY 25-26 SAC elections have concluded. Positions filled are:
1) SAC Chairperson: Morgan Bates
2) SAC Vice Chairperson: William Rallya
3) SAC Secretary: Mykiah Willis
4) Teacher Member: Carina Castro
5) Teacher Member: Jessie Saunders
6) Teacher Member: Natalie Miles
School Advisory Committee meeting minutes may be found on our Get Involved / Partnership page. Keep an eye on our social media pages for scheduled meetings and minutes postings.
THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) or the U.S. Department of Defense of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein. DoDEA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of DoDEA.
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Contacts
| Name | Position Details | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Kerwin Jones | Transportation | 098-970-1042/1019 |
