Greenland Pines Parent Connection

Dear #TeamGPE Families,

We have had a wonderful first month back to school! Thank you for all your support in making this a smooth and successful transition for our students. Many of our children have already taken their first state assessment, and teachers will send home assessment scores within two weeks of testing. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.

A reminder that the DCPS App is our primary source of communication. Be sure you have downloaded the app (details are included below) so you don’t miss important classroom updates, school news, or emergency notifications. You can also use the app to message your child’s teacher directly. In addition, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook for celebrations and school highlights.

We are also excited to welcome families to our Open House on Thursday, September 10th. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers, see classrooms, and learn more about the exciting year ahead.

Michelle Hinkley, Principal

Our PTA does SO much to support all of the students at GPE. Please consider joining. It is $11 for the year. The first 200 students/families to join will receive a surprise at the start of the year!

Picture Day is coming on September 17th. Please have your child camera ready! Students will take individual photos. Information to purchase pictures/packages will be sent home soon.

Our Open House for all students PreK-5 will be Thursday, September 10th at 6:00pm. This will be an opportunity to meet your child's teacher and hear a presentation from them to learn more about their expectations and this school year.

Session 1: 6:00pm-6:30pm

Session2: 6:35pm-7:00pm

We are so thankful for the many parents, family members, and community volunteers who support our students throughout the year!

If you plan to volunteer at Greenland Pines Elementary this school year, please be aware that Duval County Public Schools has updated its volunteer background screening requirements to enhance student safety and comply with state law.

The most significant change is that some volunteer opportunities—particularly serving as a field trip chaperone or in roles where volunteers may not always be under the direct supervision of a district employee—now require a Level II background screening, which includes a fee. These updated requirements apply to both new and returning volunteers.

If you think you may want to volunteer this year, we encourage you to review the updated requirements and complete the necessary screening process as early as possible.

Thank you for partnering with us to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching learning environment for all of our GPE Cougars!

Website: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/humanresources/page/volunteer-hr

Every election is important, but the 2026 upcoming general election is very important to our teachers, students, and schools.

Why the 2026 Election is Important to Our School
Four years ago, voters approved a voluntary 1-mill property assessment to support salary enhancements for our teachers and staff, as well as providing a dedicated funding source for arts and athletics for students. Under state law, this funding source must be renewed every four years.

Our Goals is to Help You Be Informed

Over the next several weeks, we will share information with you through our social media and email to ensure that you are fully informed as you go to the polls. Attached is a flier with basic information about the continuation of the 1 mill. We encourage you to take just a minute to review this information. You can also learn more at www.DuvalSchools.org/Vote.

What You Can Do Now

Most important, we encourage you to participate in the election and let your voice be heard on this issue. If you need to register to vote, you can do so at Florida Online Voter Registration System.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to be informed on this issue, and we encourage you to check out our website or ask me if you have any questions.

Parents will need to download the NEW DCPS app and then access rooms to see their child's classroom and message the teacher. If you do not see your child's room in the app, check if you have a linked Parent Portal account. You must have a linked account to see the room. Join today!

All parents will need a linked parent portal. Click the button below and follow these steps to ensure your account is linked. Without a linked account you won't have access to school emails, classroom communication, student grades and report cards or attendance. Each parent that wants access will need a parent account.

School Cash online will be used for all payments this year including field trips. Please make sure you sign up for an account today!

Link: School Cash Online

Arrival will begin at 8:00am daily. Dismissal begins at 2:45pm daily. As a reminder, the car rider line/gate will close at 3:10pm daily. Please make sure you are in line before 3:10pm this to help us get all students dismissed on time. Be mindful that the first few days of school will take a little longer as we get parents and students acclimated to our procedures. We appreciate your patience as we ensure the safe arrival and dismissal of all students.

Car Riders:

• All PreK and VPK students and siblings will use the car loop in the front of the school for arrival and dismissal. All other students (including CSS) will use the main car loop on the west side of the school.
• ✅Hang tags will be given out at orientation. Please make sure to stop and pick one up. All families will need these starting on the first day of school to pick students up. Each family will be given 1 tag. Additional tags can be purchased. We encourage all families (including those with bus riders and walkers) to get a hang tag in case you need to pick them up from school or a school event (after-school dance.)

Walkers:

• Please do not drop children off in the parking lot or park and walk them up to the building. Students who are walkers should cross with the crossing guard in front of the school. Walkers will be dismissed at 3:00 daily.
• Parents who are meeting their children should wait for them at Greenland Road. A staff member will walk students out.

Bus Riders:

• Parents should download PikMyKid for updated information. This allows you to know when your child's bus leaves GPE in the afternoons and get messages when the bus is running late.

• September 7 Schools/Admin Offices Closed

You can view the DCPS calendar here: https://www.duvalschools.org/page/calendar2627

Below is our 26-27 School calendar.

Make sure to start the year on the right foot by ensuring your child attends school daily, stays all day and is on time. See the flyer below for more information on absences.

As a reminder, we can not dismiss students after 2:15pm per DCPS policy. In addition, please reserve early pick up for days when it is absolutely needed. We understand that appointments and emergencies come up at times but please ensure your child is in school the entire day when possible.

This is a district policy and includes our PreK and CSS students leaving early. Please be mindful that once students are of compulsory school age (6), they are required to be in school daily. Therapies and appointments should be scheduled after school hours.

At the beginning of the school year, every student will receive a school-issued picture ID badge. Students use their ID badge each day to ride the bus, purchase breakfast, and purchase lunch, so it is important that they bring it to school daily.

Please do not remove or alter your child's ID badge. If an ID badge is lost or damaged, a replacement badge can be purchased for $5.00. Every student is required to have a current, active ID badge at all times. If your child needs a replacement, please send $5.00 and a note to your child's homeroom teacher, and we will print a new badge as soon as possible.

Thank you for helping your child keep track of their ID badge so they can have a smooth start to each school day.

We love having families join their children for lunch! To help ensure the safety of all students, anyone wishing to eat lunch with a student must first be approved as a Level I DCPS volunteer.

Due to the large number of students in the cafeteria during each lunch period, we ask that parents and guardians enjoy lunch with their child in our designated outdoor picnic area rather than inside the cafeteria. To help us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all students, only the approved parent or guardian and the GPE student may attend lunch. Friends, or other guests are not permitted during lunch visits.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Please plan to send a reusable water bottle with your child to school daily. Our students may drink from these in class throughout the day as well as take them to recess and PE. Thanks to PTA fundraising efforts, and your support, we have installed water bottle refill stations for our students to use as needed.

Families who may qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits must complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application or be directly certified by the State to receive assistance. The online application will be available through Duval County Public Schools during the first week of August. Students with a pending application will be able to receive free lunch for up to 10 school days while their application is being processed.

If your child will be purchasing meals, we encourage families to add funds to their MySchoolBucks account rather than sending cash to school. Using MySchoolBucks is a convenient and secure way to manage your child's meal account throughout the year.

Breakfast is free for all GPE students and is served daily from 8:00–8:30 a.m. Students who plan to eat breakfast at school should arrive with enough time to finish eating and be in their classrooms ready to learn by 8:30 a.m.

We have teamed up with Varsity Tutors to offer DCPS students personalized learning support when they need it. Students across the district will receive unlimited live support from highly qualified tutors in all core subject areas. They can also attend interactive extracurricular classes and clubs ie. coding and financial literacy via enrichment classes. Additionally, they can receive essay review and writing support.

How do students access the platform?

Students click on Blended Learning, then the Varsity Tutors icon, and log in with Clever.

Parents can visit https://www.varsitytutors.com/school-solutions/duval for support for their students. There are also a document attached below for parents to get more information about this opportunity.

We will use PikMyKid again this year for dismissal. All families should download the app. This will allow you to have access to change your child's dismissal as well as who is allowed to pick up. All changes must be completed by 2:00pm daily. Due to safety considerations, we will not take any dismissal changes by phone throughout the day. We also encourage families of bus riders and walkers to download the app. You will be able to receive updates if your child is delayed being released and change their dismissal as needed.

Directions for installing the PikMyKid app can be found here: https://www.pikmykid.com/parent-support

By accessing FortifyFL, students can provide a description of the threat, share pics and videos and optionally submit their contact information.

• Anonymous or Non-Anonymous - You decide whether you want to include your name and contact information.

• Convenient - Submitting a tip is quick and easy using our mobile app or website.

• Include Photos and Video - You can also include photos or video with your tip report.

💚 September with GPE PTA 💚

We have lots happening with PTA this September! Join us for Bruster’s Spirit Night on September 3 from 5–7 PM and Jet’s Spirit Night on September 18 from 4–8 PM — a fun and easy way to support our school while enjoying a family night out!

Our PTA Membership Drive runs September 7–21, and we have some exciting class incentives planned! Every membership helps us support our students, teachers, staff, and programs throughout the year.

We’re also excited for All Pro Dad on September 18 from 8–8:30 AM in Room 177. Dads and other important father figures are invited to join their students for a special morning together.

Thank you, GPE families, for continuing to support our school and PTA! 💛🐾

GPE PTA Website: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/gpepta

What is SAC?

Become a SAC member!

Get involved! Being a School Advisory Council member is a good way to be an important part of your child's education. Please contact the school for more information.

Meeting Dates

3rd Wednesday of Each Month at 5:30pm

Meetings are held in the GPE Media Center

Next Meeting

September 16, 2026 at 5:30pm

GPE on Facebook: @GreenlandPines

GPE Website: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/greenlandpines

Please support those who support GPE. Click on the business logos below to support these local businesses. If your business is interested in becoming a GPE sponsor, email our AP, Ms. Eiseman at seybertj@duvalschools.org for more information.