Stellar Newsletter

Welcome back to Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy, affectionately referred to as BELA. We are excited to welcome you for the 2026-2027 school year. If you missed the announcement in our summer communications, WE DID IT! Biscayne is an "A" school!

Our theme this school year is POWER: BUILDING 'A' LEGACY OF STELLAR. This theme highlights what we can achieve when school, home, and community work together for our student leaders. Our AMAZING success last year was a result of this partnership and we look forward to continuing these efforts and aiming even higher this year with YOUR help.

We remain committed to the health and safety of our students and staff and ensuring each student reach their academic goals. We are intentional in our efforts to ensure students are learning and growing every day in a safe environment. We have made a few changes this school year in an effort to protect our students and staff. Please review all updates and procedures below. The biggest way our parents and families can support BELA this school year is by following these procedures to help us have a smooth OPENING of the school year.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE***

Drop off and pick up lines will be 'challenging' the first 1-2 weeks, PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Many families are learning the process and want to drop their student off the first week. It will improve every day, and by the 2nd week it should flow smoother. Again, THERE WILL BE A WAIT! Our school serves 800+ students. We ask that you review and follow proper drop off and pick up procedures and exercise patience and kindness as we safely receive and dismiss all 800+ student leaders to their correct destination.

- Principal Sanaa McBride

• Meet your teacher(s)
• Visit classroom(s)
• Purchase Uniforms and school spirit shirts
• Ask questions before the first day of school

Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy is a Uniform School

Uniforms can be purchased in person from our vendor on the day of Meet and Greet or online at myspiritwear.com/biscayne

TOPS: RED, BLACK, GREY

BOTTOMS: KHAKI, BLACK

FRIDAYS we wear SPIRIT shirts - The 2026-2027 school year Spirit shirt will be available for purchase at our Meet and Greet and online

• ONLY CLEAR BACKPACKS will be permitted on campus
• Clear Backpacks are available at all major retailers
• For your convenience, you can also purchase from our uniform vendor online or at Meet and Greet 8/7

Please see general school supply list by grade level below.

Teachers may request class specific items during Meet & Greet or first week of school

The first day of school for students is Monday, August 10th. We will begin accepting students on campus at 8:00am. Our first bell rings at 8:25am. Please DO NOT drop students off before 8:00a-- there is NO ADULT SUPERVISION. ONLY Safety Patrols allowed on campus prior to 8:00a

Parents will be allowed to walk students to class the first two days of school. All parents must exit building by 8:25a bell. Beginning Wednesday, August 12th, we ask that students walk independently to their classrooms to get used to their daily morning routine. We will have patrols and staff members positioned throughout the building at arrival/dismissal locations to assist students in finding their classrooms

Please exercise patience during arrival and dismissal the first week of school as students and families get acclimated to school procedures. Our FIRST priority is the safety of our student leaders

Please review Dismissal map and procedures below

• Car Riders will utilize the PikMyKid App for dismissal

You will be able to view your child’s teacher assignment in FOCUS this week. All student schedules will be entered no later than Friday August 7th. To access your child’s schedule and teacher information, you must have an active parent FOCUS account. The teacher’s name will appear under your child’s schedule. This same account will allow you to monitor your child’s grades throughout the school year and update your contact and emergency pickup information as needed. Please log in before the first day of school and ensure all information is current.

If you need to create a FOCUS account, please view information provided below

Please note: While schedules may be visible before school starts, they are not finalized and may change due to enrollment adjustments and class balancing until the week of August 11th.

- Save the Dates

- Open House specific times will be shared at a later date

Use the link below to learn more about Extended Day and to register your child for the BISCAYNE Extended Day program. BEFORE and AFTER SCHOOL care available

PLEASE NOTE: Submission of an application does not guarantee enrollment in the Extended Day program. Parents/guardians will receive an acceptance email from Extended Day

Use the link below to learn more about Boys and Girls Club and to register your child for the BISCAYNE club. This is an AFTER SCHOOL Program ONLY

Program begins Week 2 of school - August 17th

PLEASE NOTE: Submission of an application does not guarantee enrollment. Parents/guardians will receive an acceptance email from Boys and Girls Club

Please ensure you have downloaded the DUVAL Schools APP, once connected you will have access to:

• Communicate with your childs' teacher via classROOMS
• All school communications, texts, and emails
• District update communications
• District Academic Calendar
• School Cash Online
• and much more

Once DUVAL SCHOOLS APP is downloaded and you're logged in--- communicate with teacher and view class announcements by following the steps below

See below to link Parent Account to Student Account

• Parent Account needed to view students grades
• View progress reports and report cards electronically
• Update Contact information
• Register for school bus or do School Choice application for Middle School

• School Doors Open at 8a.
• First bell rings at 8:25a and school begins promptly at 8:30a
• Please do NOT drop off before 8a, unless your student is in Extended Day
• **THERE IS NO ADULT SUPERVISION BEFORE 8a **
• Please keep your student safe, by allowing them to wait in the car, or standing with them until the doors open
• Car Rider loop (side of building) should be utilized for all car drop off
• Car Rider Loop closes at 8:25p
• Arrival after 8:30a is considered TARDY
• Please follow proper drop off and pick up procedures to ensure student safety

• NOTE: Safety Patrols may be dropped off at designated location at 7:45am. Patrols will enter the building once signaled by patrol sponsor.

• We will use PikMyKid again this year for car rider dismissal.
• All families should download the app. This will allow teachers to know when you have arrived on campus so your student can make their way to the car rider loop quickly for dismissal

• ALL CHANGES to STUDENT route of dismissal MUST be made in PikMyKid App ** changes cannot be made over the phone to front office staff**

Arrival will begin at 8:00am daily. Dismissal begins at 2:50 pm daily (**changes may apply during first weeks of school). As a reminder, the car rider line/gate will close at 3:00pm daily. 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: will be dropped off and picked up in the car loop (on the side of the building). Please do not drop student leaders off in the front parking lot OR bus rider loop during student intake --- for student and staff safety.

Walkers: In the morning, walkers can be escorted to the morning intake doors by a parent or guardian. At dismissal, walkers will be escorted along the sidewalk by staff members to the front gate of the school on both sides. Parents who are meeting their children should wait for them outside the gate in front of the school.

Bus Riders: Please make sure your child knows their bus number AND bus stop location. We recommend writing this down and putting it in their bookbag in addition to communicating this information to their teacher.

Extended Day/After School Programs: Students will remain in their classrooms until their group is called and escorted by staff to their designated meeting location within the school for check in. At dismissal , parents will walk up to main office and sign their student out on designated clipboard-- student will be called to meet parent at the front office.

SEE MAP BELOW FOR GUIDANCE

• All students who will ride a bus to and/or from school this year need to be registered for bus transportation.
• To register follow the steps on the link below through your parent FOCUS account.

• Bus routes will be created based on addresses of students riding so please sign up as early as possible and make sure your address is correct in FOCUS.

• Once available, you will also be able to view your child's bus stop information in your parent FOCUS account. Make sure to register each child that will be riding.

Breakfast and Lunch at BISCAYNE are available to all students at no cost. Daily menu can be accessed below ONCE SCHOOL BEGINS.

Menus also accessible via Duval Schools App

Breakfast is served from 8:00a-8:25a

• DCPS requires all volunteers to have an APPROVED volunteer application on file
• The same application is required for volunteers and chaperones
• Click link below for more information
• Note: LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 applications
• LEVEL 2 is required for FIELD TRIP CHAPERONES and select ON CAMPUS volunteer opportunities
• A volunteer application is good for two years. Applications can take up to a few weeks to be approved (in peak seasons)

If you liked the exciting engagement events last school year.... JOIN US to do more this year!

Most of our student activities are funded by PTA memberships. Choose one or more ways to support our efforts

1. Pay $10 Membership fee

2. Attend PTA General Body Meetings -- 2 per year -- to give your input on activities

3. Get involved, join our PTA Board to become apart of a small committee to plan assigned event

4. VOLUNTEER !! Our SCHOOL NEED OUR hands

5. Don't want to join? DONATE !

Per DCPS policy -

Students will not be released after 2:15 PM. 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. Our teachers provide bell to bell instruction

In case you Missed It---

BELA has adopted The Ron Clark House System, it is an exciting and proven way to create a positive climate and culture for students and staff. Students will be celebrated for their efforts through a process that builds character, empowers academic excellence, fosters school spirit, enhances relationships, and promotes a culture of belonging for ALL.

• VPK-2nd grade students will represent a house as a class
• 3rd-5th grade students are each individually sorted into a house

At BELA, our student leaders work hard and play hard --

Duval County Public Schools utilize "SCHOOL CASH ONLINE" for all payments for school -related functions (field trips, school dances, fees, etc.) . CASH/CHECKS not accepted for payments to DCPS schools

• SCHOOL CASH ONLINE Notifications for your specific student(s) will be sent to the email address provided via FOCUS OR you can access via Duval Schools App
• Please note DUE dates assigned and make payment as soon as possible. Once due date is passed, event will expire on the website and payment link will no longer be accessible.

*** EXCEPTION: PTA-SPONSORED EVENTS will be paid for via PTA store/website (Givebacks) NOT SchoolCashOnline ** PTA support schools, but is not a DCPS organization

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.

By accessing FortifyFL, students can provide a description of the threat, share pics and videos and choose to 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.

12230 Biscayne Blvd

Jacksonville FL 32218

Grades VPK-5

School Hours : 8:25a - 3p

Extended Day Hours: 7:00a-8:00a | 3:00p - 6:00p