Jamaica Elementary Newsletter
October 2026
Every Student, Every Day!
We’re excited to share our weekly attendance totals with our Jamaica families!
Every day at school is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make great memories.
Thank you for helping your child arrive at school on time and ready to learn each day. Your support makes a big difference!
Week of: 8/31-9/4
Attendance Rate: 93%
Week of: 9/7-9/11
Attendance Rate: 97%
Week of: 9/14-9/18
Attendance Rate: 94%
Week of: 9/21-9/25
Attendance Rate: 95%
A year of growth, connection, and daily learning—for every student, every day.
Health Office Donation Request
We are asking for donations of gently used, school-appropriate shorts, pants, and leggings for our Health Office. Having these items available allows us to provide a fresh change of clothes for students who may need one during the school day. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
Important Forms
School Calendar: Stick on the fridge! (Calendar Link)
Physical Education News & Updates!
Thank you to all the students for all their hard work during Quarter One. I am very proud of them and appreciate the effort they give every time they are in my classroom. Thank you to the parents and families also for ensuring that the students have the proper attire and shoes to maximize their potential in physical education. Reminder, students will receive a reduced grade for not having appropriate footwear for that week's lesson. The first non-dress will be scored as a 5/10 (50%), the second non-dress will be scored as a 2.5/10 (25%), and the third and after will be scored as a 0/10 (0%). Please no Crocs, sandals, boots, slippers, or flip-flops (the expectation is closed-toed sneakers). Please keep in mind that physical education class is a participation-based grade.
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable start to this school year, and please remember to stay hydrated, as it is still warm outside. Our first unit for Quarter Two will be Frisbee. After Frisbee, we will transition into pickleball and hockey. Again, thank you for all your hard work helping your son or daughter succeed in class. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Andrew Branchik
News from the PTSO
Follow our PTSO social media pages for important updates! Facebook is "Jamaica Elementary PTSO" and Instagram is "jamaicacrocsptso".
October Events
10/1: Early Release- 1:00 pm - No Awards
10/2: No School
10/5-10/9: Fall Break- No School
10/16: Jamie's Trunk or Treat
10/19: Fall Picture Retakes
10/28: Red Robin Fundraiser
10/30: Orange & Black Spirt Day
Upcoming
11/11: No School
11/18: 2nd QTR PTSO Meeting
11/20: Mother-Son Dance
11/25:11/27- Thanksgiving Break
12/14: Music Showcase
Resources for Families
Parking Lot
To ensure a successful and safe start to the new school year, we would like to share some rules for the Parking lot. Please look these over and follow the procedures that we have put in place to keep ALL students safe. We are all in this together.
Parking Lot General Rules
1. SAFETY is our #1 Priority.
2. The inside lane is the circling lane, no pickup. You must park.
3. Outside lane along the sidewalk, may not park. This is the pickup lane. No stopping along the sidewalk until you have pulled all the way up by the playground to the end of the sidewalk.
4. DO NOT ask your child to cross in front of traffic. You may see your child, others may not.
5. Right Turns ONLY out of the parking lot.
6. Please refrain from parking in the handicapped parking spaces unless you have the proper permit. We do have families that need to use these spaces.
Before School Options
1. Park in a lined space and walk your child on the sidewalk using the crosswalk.
2. Drive up and around the outside lane to the sidewalk in front of the playground. Drop off as far up as you can to avoid backing up traffic. Your child can safely walk on the sidewalk up to the school. Do NOT park in this lane. Please only stop briefly for drop-off/pickup if you see your child in view.
For special needs (SDC) Families ONLY
1. Pull up to the side gate. DO NOT go past the crosswalk into the striped area. (Buses will be pulling up there to drop off students)
2. Parents may stay in their cars. We will have staff to assist your child in getting to class.
3. Reminder: this is for SDC families only.
After School Options
1. Park in a lined space and meet your child on the sidewalk using the crosswalk. Return to your parked car using the crosswalk.
2. Park in a lined space, and your child can use the crosswalk to walk to your parked car.
3. Drive up and around the outside lane along the sidewalk in front of the playground. Pull up as far as you can in the pickup line in a safe manner. Do NOT park in this lane! Stay in this lane to exit the parking lot. Please do not try to move around cars to get out sooner.
School Visitors
During school hours, all visitors must sign in at the front office and be issued a visitor pass. Please make sure that you sign out when you leave and return your visitor pass.
Lunch With Students
We welcome you to come to have lunch with your student. We even have a special table just for you to eat with them.
Per district policy, you may only bring food for your student. Please remember that only your child is permitted to join you at the parent table. All other students must sit with their class.
Safety and Security
At Jamaica, we take the safety of our students, staff, and guests seriously; therefore, we are a closed campus.
It is critical for safety that all guests, including parents and guardians, check in at the front office and sign in for a visitor’s badge. We ask that you do not go into the classrooms without an appointment.
The gates are staying locked in the mornings until 7:45 am. This is for the safety and security of our students in the mornings. Students should wait near the building and away from the drive-through lane. Parents, please drop off and pick up outside the gates.
In the parking lot, please use the crosswalk and do not walk in front of traffic. Thank you to our many parents who follow this rule to help model for our students. (This includes Jamaica Blvd. Please do not cross where there is no crosswalk.)