The Paw Print

Our students are leaders who are empowered to succeed through compassion, perseverance, and innovation.

To build a strong community of leaders.

¡Somos Wildcats! We Lead, We Learn!

Drop off begins at 8:15am

Tardy bell rings at 8:30am

Student Hours: 8:30am-2:40pm

Office Hours 7:30am-3:15pm

Thank you for helping us celebrate the amazing staff members who make a difference each and every day. We encourage staff and families to share shout-outs recognizing those who go the extra mile to support our school community.

Dear Rodney B. Cox Elementary Families,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I introduce myself as the new principal of Rodney B. Cox Elementary. I am honored to join this wonderful school community and eager to begin a year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful connections.

As we launch a new school year, I look forward to partnering with our students, families, teachers, and staff to create an environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to achieve their very best. At Rodney B. Cox Elementary, we are committed to fostering academic excellence while also nurturing the social and emotional well-being of each student.

This year, our focus will be on building strong relationships, maintaining high expectations, and creating engaging learning experiences that spark curiosity and a love of learning. Together, we will celebrate successes, overcome challenges, and ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive.

I firmly believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential to student success. I encourage you to stay involved, communicate openly, and join us as active participants in your child’s educational journey. Your support and collaboration make a tremendous difference.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Rodney B. Cox Elementary family. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to meeting each of you throughout the year. Together, we will make this an outstanding school year for our students.

Here's to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and success!

Jodi Legg

Principal

Car Line Protocols

• Stay in your car, one of our staff members will load your student(s)
• If your child needs buckled in, please wait until your car is released and then you may pull over and park in one of the spots to do this. Adults must stay in the car at all time for safety
• Car Tags:
• • Everyone should have received car tags at meet the teacher day, if you didn't receive one, please stop the front office with your ID to get one.
  • If you have forgotten your car tag, you will need to go to the front office with your picture ID.
  • Please note, for safety, the front office will need to check your ID every single time if you do not have your car tag even if staff know you. This is for your child and our safety.

Bus Riders

• If you are needing your child to ride the bus, please go into Pasco ONE and request a bus pass or contact the school to assist you.
• Students are expected to show Wildcat PRIDE and follow the same rules on the bus as we follow at the school.
• Students must have their ID tag to scan as they enter and exit the bus each day. Please be sure that it stays secure on their backpack.
• If students do not follow the bus expectations, they will be retaught the expectations and then the district protocol of bus referrals is followed:

District Discipline Matrix for Bus Transportation:

• First offense: Up to 2 days off the school bus
• Second offense: 3 days off the school bus
• Third offense: 5 days off of the school bus and a behavior plan put in place
• Fourth offense: 10 days off the school bus
• Fifth offense: may lose the privilege to ride the bus

• Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, walker pick-up will take place near the cafeteria. Parents and guardians should walk along the sidewalk toward the cafeteria, where a staff member will be available to provide directions and assist with the pick-up process.

• If you are arriving by vehicle, please use the car rider loop. Walker pick-up is intended for families who are walking to and from campus.

• For student safety, adults will stop at a designated location before reaching the cafeteria. A staff member will check the student's pick-up tag and safely release the student to their parent or guardian. To help ensure an orderly and secure dismissal, parents should not walk beyond the designated stop point or approach students or staff in the dismissal area.

• In the event of severe weather, all students will be dismissed through the car rider line. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process for everyone.

Independent Walkers

• Students with parent permission will be escorted by staff to the walker gate located between the Kelly Boyd Center (dental office) and the main building. Once they arrive at the gate, students will be released to walk home independently.

• To participate in the Walk Alone program, all students must have a signed permission form on file with the school. Students without a complete permission form will not be allowed to leave campus on their own.
• During severe weather, students will not be released as Walk Alone students. A parent or guardian will need to pick them up through the car rider loop. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe during dismissal.
• Walker gate pick up is at 2:40pm. If your student is not picked up on time for more than 3 times, they will lose the privilege of being a walk up pick up and be switched to a car rider.
• Independent walkers must have a signed permission slip and will be released without a parent at the gate. When there is lightning, hard rain, tornado watches, or unsafe conditions, walk alone students will not be released without a parent/ guardian picking up.

• When there is lightning, hard rain, tornado watches, or unsafe conditions, walk alone students will not be released without a parent/ guardian picking up.
• Dismissal may be delayed if there is severe weather or lightning in the area per district protocols.

Parents and guardians are welcome to walk their child to class on the first day of school only. To do so, families must arrive on campus before 8:40 a.m. All parents and guardians must exit campus when the second bell rings at 8:40 a.m. After that time, staff members will be available to assist any students who need help getting to their classrooms.

To help ensure a safe and smooth dismissal process for all students, please notify the front office of any dismissal changes by 1:45 p.m. We kindly ask that dismissal plans remain consistent whenever possible and that changes be made only when absolutely necessary. While a dismissal change may seem minor, it can impact student safety during one of the busiest times of the school day. Our staff works hard to ensure every child gets to the correct location, and limiting last-minute changes helps us do so as efficiently and safely as possible. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and support.

If your child needs to leave early for an appointment, they must be checked out by 2:00 p.m. After 2:00 p.m., students will remain in class and be dismissed at the regular dismissal time of 2:40 p.m..

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and accounted for each day.

• Parents who walk or bike with their child to school may bring them to the car loop or the bus gate. Please do not arrive before 8:15 am. If dropping off at the bus gate, please be sure to utilize and listen to the crossing guard.

Cars:

• Cars will be unloaded beginning at 8:15am, please do not drop off students before this time, this for safety reasons
• At 8:30am, the car loop gate will close and parents will need to escort their child into the front office.
• For safety reasons, students may not be on campus prior to 8:15am
• The front parking spaces are reserved for families who need to park and come into the office for school-related matters. It is not intended for drop-off or pick up. Also refrain from parking in our bus loading zone.
• When dropping off students in the car loop, the driver must pull up to the next available numbered space, stay in the vehicle, and have the child exit on the passenger-side. Students must not get out of the driver-side of the vehicle.
• Follow all arrows and campus traffic signs to ensure the proper flow of traffic.
• Please drive at the appropriate speed within the parking lot.
• All school personnel have the authority to address the appropriate expectations on school campus (which includes parking lot and car loop)
• For safety purposes, please refrain from talking on your cell phone or texting while dropping off and picking up your child and also turn your music down.

Arrival: The PreK Car Loop gate will be open from 8:15-8:30

Dismissal: The PreK Car Loop gate will be open from 2:40-2:55

For safety purposes, please refrain from playing loud music, talking on your cell phone or texting while dropping off and picking up your child.

Late Arrival/Early Pickup: EHS/HS parents and guardians are responsible for bringing their child(ren) directly to the classroom if they arrive tardy, and they are also responsible for walking to the classroom to pick up their child if checking out early. Parents/guardians must bring a picture ID to sign in and will recieve a visitor tag to walk directly to and from the office.

Per ECP regulations, Early Head Start (EHS) children must be accompanied by an adult escort. School-aged students are not permitted to serve as escorts.

• No applications or services have been removed. Existing resources have simply been reorganized, simplified, and redesigned for easier navigation and streamlined access.

• All parent and guardian services will now be accessible through one platform, reducing the need to search across multiple websites, emails, and applications.

• This will be a SSO platform for families, as they previously had to navigate and log into each app separately.

• School payments, including lunch account deposits, will now be processed through Rycor via the "ONE Wallet" link within the Pasco ONE app. This change helps streamline where families manage student-related payments and fees.

• Additional quick-access links have been added, including district and school communication channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and other commonly used resources, making it easier for families to stay informed and connected.

• The goal is to provide families with one convenient location for the tools, resources, information, and updates they rely on throughout the school year.

Consistent, on-time attendance is essential to your child’s academic success. Every moment of the school day is valuable, and we ask for your partnership in ensuring students are present and ready to learn each day.

Please make every effort to avoid scheduling vacations or out-of-town trips during the school year, as these can significantly disrupt your child’s learning. Be sure to consult the school calendar when planning any time away. If no reason is provided for an absence, it will automatically be marked as unexcused.

It is very important that students attend school regularly and BE ON TIME.

All students who are absent will be marked “unexcused” (U) until the parent/guardian notifies the school via link above or on our school website.

• Failure to do so within three (3) school days will cause the absence to be recorded as “unexcused”.
• In the case of excessive or extended absences, which are claimed to be due to illness, upon request of the principal or designee, a parent must provide documentation (doctor’s statement) of a student’s illness.
• Excessive or extended absences are considered five (5) in one calendar month or ten (10) in one semester, or a history of excessive absences per period as defined below under Student Consequences for Unexcused Absences.
• Absences that meet this threshold as defined above will require a doctor’s note. If doctor’s notes are not provided, absences will be marked as unexcused (Source: Portion from District School Board of Pasco County Student Code of Conduct).

How to Report an Absence

From a Web Browser

• Log in to Pasco One
• Go to Forms from your menu on the left or top.
• Select Absence Reporting

From the Pasco One app

• Tap Open Focus in the District Announcement message or Absence Reporting from your links page to log in through your browser.
• Android: Tap the three dots in the top-right, then select Open in Chrome.
• iOS: Tap the share icon at the bottom, then select Open in Chrome or Safari.
• Once in your browser, follow the web browser steps above.

Completing the Absence Report

1. Choose your child from the dropdown — this auto-fills their school, your parent account, and your email.
2. Enter a valid phone number if one is not listed
3. Select the start date of the absence, and end date if it spans multiple days.
4. Pick the appropriate reason for the absence. If “Other,” explain in the text box.
5. (Optional) Add details in the Brief Description field.
6. Check the acknowledgment box.
7. Upload any supporting documents if needed.
8. Click Submit Request after reviewing for accuracy.

For more details, visit: https://pasco.k12.fl.us/attendance

We’re excited to welcome parents and guardians to join their child for lunch beginning September 9th on Wednesday or Friday only

Please remember:

• Bring a photo ID and check in at the front office.
• You must be listed on the student’s contact list.
• Lunch visitors may sit with their child at the outdoor tables outside the cafeteria. For student safety, adults may not enter the cafeteria.
• Lunch visits will not be available during rainy days or extreme weather, as seating is outdoors.

August 1st: Back to School Bash hosted by PTO 12p-3pm

August 10th: Meet the Teacher Day 10a-1pm

August 13th: First Day of School🌞

September 7th: No School!

September 9th: Picture Day

September 18th: Progress Reports released in the Parent Portal

September 21st- 24th Book Fair

• 4:45- 5pm Title 1 Meeting in Cafeteria
• 5pm-6pm Classrooms Open to visit
• Book Fair open for shopping

September 25th SAC Meeting, all are welcome! 1:30pm

Hello everyone!

My name is Mrs. Hobbs and I am excited to begin this school year as your new Academic Advisor! Many of you may already know me from my time as the art teacher last year, and I am so grateful to continue serving our amazing students and families in this new role.

As the Academic Advisor, I will work alongside students, teachers, and families to support academic success, social-emotional growth and student well-being. I look forward to encouraging students as they build confidence, develop positive learning habits, and reach their individual goals.

When I'm not at school, you'll usually find me working in my yard, fixing up the old cabin my husband and I recently purchased, or spending time with our family, dogs and ducks. I love being outdoors and am always excited to start a new project.

I am looking forward to another wonderful year at RBCES and can't wait to continue building relationships with our students and families. Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can support your child or answer any questions.

Here's to a fantastic school year!

Taryn Hobbs

352-524-5100

Thobbs@pasco.k12.fl.us

The SAC is a means for community/parent involvement in and support of the schools. It is composed of the principal, teachers, educational support employees, parents, business and community partners, and students. It is representative of the ethnic and economic makeup of the community it serves, and it participates in identifying school needs and developing plans for meeting those needs. Additionally, the SAC assists in the evaluation of the school's Success Plan.

The SAC typically meets about six times a year where it then provides recommendations on the goals of the school and proposes strategies to accomplish them. It also prepares and distributes school information to the greater community. A large part of the SAC's responsibility involves voting on how to spend allocated funding to accomplish various student-centered goals and projects. This is why attendance for SAC members is so crucial to its success.

Teachers, educational support personnel, and parents are elected members of the SAC. Members typically serve for two years. Business and community representatives are encouraged to be a part as well.

If you are interested in joining SAC for the upcoming school year, please contact Mrs. Legg at jlegg@pasco.k12.fl.us

Scheduled dates are:

Sept 25th 1:30

Oct 16th 7:30

Nov 13th 7:30

Jan 22nd 7:30

Feb 19th 7:30

April 23rd 7:30

Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our school community. By giving their time and talents, they help build strong partnerships among schools, families, community members, and local businesses while enhancing learning opportunities for students. We are truly grateful for the positive impact our volunteers make each day. All volunteers must be approved through the District School Board of Pasco County. Volunteer applications must be submitted annually on or after July 1 for each school year. Fingerprint clearances are valid for five years, as long as volunteers continue to complete the required annual application and submit it before October 1, 2026. https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/page/volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering on our campus, please contact our parent involvement coordinator, Moneice Griffin, who can assist with volunteer opportunities. Phone: 352-524-5100 Email: amgriffin@pasco.k12.fl.us

Join the PTO! Our mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Follow the Rodney B Cox PTO facebook page and look for them at the Back To School Bash or Meet the Teacher to find out more information!

We have many avenues of communication to stay connected with families. Keep an eye out!

The Paw Print - Parent Edition Newsletter

PascoONE

Rodney B. Cox Facebook Page: www.facebokk.com/RBCESwildcats

Website: https://rbces.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd. Dade City, Florida
Phone: 352-524-5100