The Hornet Newsletter

Dear Holland Families,

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! I am thrilled to welcome our students, families, and staff back to Holland Elementary. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, we are so glad to have you as part of our school community.

At Holland, we believe in creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment where every student feels challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. This year, we are excited to build on our strong foundation of academic excellence, character growth, and community partnership. Our theme for the school year is Hornets Rising! Growing Minds. Growing Hearts. Reaching New Heights! 🐝

Congratulations to our hard-working students and staff for once again earning a grade of A on the Florida Department of Education School Report Card! We gained points and showed improvement in seven out of the eight areas of the accountability requirements. Through determination and consistent daily effort, many of our students and grade levels met or exceeded their performance goals. Way to go, Holland Hornets!

Our dedicated team has been working hard to prepare classrooms, plan meaningful lessons, and ensure a smooth transition into the new year. We want to extend a special thank you to our custodial team, who has worked tirelessly to clean, repair, and refresh our building; to our front office staff, who have supported families and kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes; and to our technology associate, who has been instrumental in getting our devices and systems ready for learning. We are excited to continue our focus on innovation, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Families play an essential role in our school’s success, and we encourage you to stay connected, get involved, and partner with us throughout the year. Together, we can make this another truly exceptional year for our students.

Thank you for your continued support and trust. Here’s to a fantastic year of growing minds, building character, and rising to new heights—together!

In partnership,

Samantha Alison

Principal

As we gear up for another exciting school year at Holland Elementary, here are some key dates to mark on your calendars:

• Complete Online Annual Re-Enrollment: Monday, July 14th (ALL families, both new and returning)
• Class Placements: Sent via US Mail early August
• Meet Your Teacher & Holland Family Social: Friday, August 8th from 10:00 am - noon
• First Day of School Grades 1-6: Monday, August 11th (arrival begins at 7:30am, tardy bell 8:00am)

• Kindergarten Readiness Assessments: Monday, August 11th - Wednesday, August 13th
• First Day of School for Kindergarten: Thursday, August 14th
• Boohoo Breakfast for Kindergarten Parents: Thursday, August 14th at 8:00 am

Please join us in welcoming new staff members to Team Holland!

Instructional Staff:

• Dr. John Perrine, Music Teacher
• Jocelyn Gomez, Support Specialist
• Kathryn Williams, Third Grade

Grade Level Updates:

• Stacy Cirino, Sixth Grade Math
• Jessica Flores, Fifth Grade Science/Social Studies
• Jennifer Hodge, Third Grade
• Sandra Keegan, Second Grade
• Katie Larson, Fourth Grade
• Jodie Wiebusch, Sixth Grade Science/Social Studies

Support Staff:

• Daniel Bogden, Custodial Team
• Susan McCauley, School Secretary
• Dr. Xzondra Bergman, Behavior Technician

Welcome to the Holland Family! 😊

We want to share that our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Cirino, is transitioning into a 6th grade teaching position here at Holland Elementary for the 2025-26 school year. She is a master mathematics teacher and we’re truly excited for her to embark on this role with us! We sincerely thank Mrs. Cirino for her dedication and hard work as Assistant Principal, and we are thrilled that she will continue to be part of our school community in this new capacity.

We are also excited to welcome Ms. Kimberly Walling to the Holland Elementary family as our new Assistant Principal! With over 20 years of experience in education, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for supporting students, families, and staff.

She holds degrees in Elementary Education and English from Kean University, along with a Master’s in Educational Leadership. Her career includes roles as a classroom teacher, Title I teacher, Media Specialist, and most recently teaching middle and high school Honors ELA.

Ms. Walling believes that strong schools thrive on trust, collaboration, and respect. She’s dedicated to supporting our amazing educators, strengthening instruction, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Please join us in giving her a warm Hornet welcome! 💙📚

View video from Mrs. Cirino and Ms. Walling here: https://youtu.be/9_LXNldfbLg

Greetings!

My name is Jocelyn Gomez, Holland's new ESE Support Specialist. I am excited to join the Holland Elementary staff and service this amazing community. As a child-centered Exceptional Student Educator (ESE) with over 27 years of experience in Osceola County, I am excited to be transitioning to our beautiful Brevard County which I have called home for the past few years. I received my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communicative Disorders and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) from the University of Central Florida.

My passion lies in partnering and collaborating with fellow educators, staff, and families to address your student specific needs while delivering essential support that enhance your students learning experience and overall performance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I can be of any assistance. I embrace the opportunity to work alongside our community and the dynamic staff of Holland to make the 2025-26 school year a successful one!

Jocelyn Gomez

ESE Support Specialist

(321) 773-7591 ext. 45720

We are excited to welcome our littlest Hornets to Holland on Thursday, August 14th! If you would like to walk your child to class on the first day of school, please sign in with your ID at the front office beginning at 7:30 am and before 7:50 am. Honey the Hornet will be available for a quick photo, and then we hope you'll join us for PTO's Boohoo Breakfast, after your kindergartner is settled in. See details in the flyer below.

We look forward to working with you and your child this year!

Spessard L. Holland's School Advisory Council is an active organization that meets once each month after school throughout the school year. SAC is a committee representing various segments of the community, including parents, teachers, administrators, support staff, business partners, and other interested community members. The purpose of the SAC is to support the development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan. Nominations are currently being accepted to fill open positions on Holland's School Advisory Council. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the front office to express your interest on or before end of business on Friday, August 15, 2025.

We’re excited to welcome all families to our Annual Open House! To help accommodate families with children in multiple grades, we’ll be offering two identical presentations, one at 5:00 pm and another at 6:00 pm. Open House is a wonderful opportunity to learn about classroom and grade-level expectations. Each classroom will host a presentation with details specific to that grade’s curriculum, routines, and expectations. *If children are present, they must remain under parent supervision for the entire evening. No students are permitted on playgrounds.

We can’t wait to see you there and kick off an exceptional school year together!

Start Routines Early

Ease into school-year bedtimes and morning routines at least a week before school starts to help the transition feel smoother.

Talk About What to Expect

Discuss the school day—drop-off, lunch, recess, and pick-up—so your child knows what to expect and feels reassured.

Attend Meet Your Teacher & Open House Events
Visiting the school, seeing the classroom, and meeting the teacher ahead of time can ease first-day nerves and help kids feel more comfortable.

Label Everything
From backpacks to water bottles and jackets—labeling helps avoid mix-ups and lost items.

Create a Homework Station
Set up a quiet, well-lit spot at home with basic supplies where your child can read, do homework, or draw.

Encourage Independence
Practice skills like tying shoes, opening lunch containers, and packing their backpack—it builds confidence!

Stay Positive
Share your excitement about the school year and remind your child that it's okay to feel a little nervous.

Get Involved (When You Can)
Volunteering, joining the PTO, or simply checking in with the teacher shows your child that school is important and supported at home.

Keep School Security in Mind

Any time you would like to visit our campus, please bring your driver’s license, as no visitors are permitted without checking in with ID.

Wishing all our families a joyful, confident start to the school year! Let’s make it a great one!

Thank you for your patience and cooperation with our arrival and dismissal procedures during the first few weeks of school. We appreciate your understanding, as these processes may take a bit longer while everyone adjusts at the start of the year.

ARRIVAL:

• Students arriving between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. will report to the cafeteria, where they may enjoy free breakfast and wait with their grade-level peers until the first bell rings, when students are released to classrooms. Kindergarten students are escorted to their classrooms each day.
• Students arriving between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. will go directly to their classrooms.

For security purposes, each BPS school uses a single point of entry during the school day, which is our front office. All visitors must ring the doorbell and state their business. Driver licenses will be checked at every visit. During arrival and dismissal, student entry points are as follows:

• Walkers and bikers: Door near the bike rack
• Car riders: Cafeteria/front office entrance
• Visitors or other needs: Front office

DISMISSAL:

• Walkers and bikers (all grades) will be escorted to the bike rack and dismissed through one of three walker/biker gates:
• Polaris Drive
• Pelican Coast
• Gate near the pavilion (for those entering/exiting from Jackson Avenue)
• Holland Funseekers and daycare students will be taken to their designated locations.
• Car riders will dismiss directly from their classrooms to the car loop.

To ensure a smooth dismissal process, please follow these important guidelines:

1. Dismissal begins at 2:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Please do not arrive before this time to help prevent traffic congestion on Jackson Avenue.
2. Keep sidewalks clear—do not stop on the walkway that crosses Holland Court.
3. Display your dismissal tag clearly in your windshield until your child is safely in your vehicle.
4. Pull all the way forward to Station 1 before stopping to load or unload your child.
5. Students should load and unload from the passenger side of the vehicle only.
6. Remain alert for students and families walking or biking, and please refrain from cell phone use while driving on campus.
7. When the road becomes two lanes on Holland Court, stay in the right lane to allow emergency vehicle access. The left lane is for passing only unless directed otherwise by SBPD.
8. Use the crosswalk to safely walk from the parking area to the front of the school.

⚠️ For safety and security reasons, please do not approach the car loop on foot.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work together to keep all students safe during arrival and dismissal!

When creating your dismissal tag, please print your child's last name in large, bold letters, followed by their first name and grade level underneath. This format helps staff quickly identify your child(ren) during dismissal. Thanks for helping us keep the car line running smoothly!

Policy 5511 – STUDENT DRESS CODE

Click the link below to view Brevard Public Schools’ Board updates to the student dress code policy: Updated Student Dress Code Policy

https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/brevco/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CTGPVU65766B

Families who placed 1st Day School Supplies orders by July 1, your supplies will be delivered directly to classrooms before the Meet Your Teacher event on Friday, August 8.

For those purchasing supplies on your own, see the button below for supply lists for each grade level.

Breakfast:

Free to all BPS students

Lunch:

Elementary students $2.80

Elementary students reduced lunch $ .40 (with free/reduced lunch application)

• Parents may create a MySchoolBucks account at www.myschoolbucks.com or on the MySchoolsBucks app.

• The account can be used to make payments online, set up recurring payments, monitor your child’s cafeteria purchases, and set up low balance notifications.

• There is no fee for using MySchoolBucks.

• Please allow 24 hours for your payment to process.

• For assistance with MySchoolBucks, call 855-832-5226, Option 1.

Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications for the 2025-26 will be available by August 1, 2025.

As a reminder, a new application must be submitted each school year.

Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services, Free and Reduced Coordinator, at (321) 633-1000, extension 11642 or 11655 if you need assistance.

We’re gearing up for another exciting year at Holland Elementary and Brevard Public Schools (BPS)! All registration and reenrollment will be through your FOCUS parent portal https://brevardk12.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/?skipSAML=true

🔁 All 2025-2026 Students:
Reenrollment for current Holland and new BPS students will begin on July 14, 2025.

📝 New to BPS?
Registration is now open for new students. Don’t wait — get started today!

📍 Not Zoned for Holland?
No problem! If you’d like to become a Holland Hornet, Educational Location Option (ELO) applications are open now. Apply at the link above.

We can’t wait to welcome our new and returning Hornets!

To register your child for before or after care here at Holland, click the blue button above. The enrollment process for the 2025-2026 school year program will open on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Supervision is available from 6:30 - 7:30 am and from 2:30 - 6:00 PM M-Th, and 1:30 - 6:00 pm F. There is additional information in the PDF above for kindergarten student registration in BAS. For more information contact our Holland BAS Coordinator, Mrs. Irma Lougee, at 321-372-3452.

We’re excited to share that all school-related payments including class t-shirts, field trips, yearbooks, planners, and more will now be made exclusively online through the FOCUS Parent Portal! This new process will help streamline payment collection and make things easier for families.

Please log in to your FOCUS account to view and complete upcoming payments. If you need help accessing the portal, contact our front office for support.

Thank you for helping us go digital this year!

• Scholastic Book Fair will be available for students in our Media Center from Friday, August 15- August 25.
• Our online fair is from August 15th-25th.
• Ewallets can be set up through August 25th.
• https://www.scholastic.com/bf/hollandelementaryschool11
  
• Parents and students stop by the media center during Open House!

Join our fantastic PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) and get involved! Our first meeting will take place on Monday, August 25th at 8:15 am. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our 2025-2026 Board Members:

• Aimee Molineaux-President
• Christie Riley-Vice President
• TBA-Secretary
• Carl Price-Treasurer
  
• Dominque Johnson-Ways and Means
• Shandrea Jackson-Parent Liaison

We love having our families involved!

Our 2025-26 Volunteer Orientation Breakfast takes place on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 8:30 am in our cafeteria. We hope you will join us!

To volunteer on campus or attend field trips, you must be an approved volunteer through Brevard Public Schools. The process is easy:

1. Visit www.brevardschools.org.
2. Click on “Parents & Students” → “Volunteer Information” → “Volunteer.”
3. Complete the online application and background check.
4. After completing the online application, you will proceed to BPS/Educational Services Facility-Office of District and School Security for Fingerprinting and Payment.

5. Wait for final approval before volunteering.

If you've volunteered in the past, please check that your status is still active. Thank you for supporting our students and school community. We couldn’t do it without you!

Thank you to our amazing Character Trait Sponsor, GRILLS!

If you would like us to display a birthday wish for your child's birthday on our marquee, please submit your request and payment through FOCUS pay. For $10.00, the birthday wish will be displayed from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm on the student's birthday. We must receive your request at least (3) days prior to the birthday date.

Step 1: Provide Information

https://forms.office.com/r/yRTy03Qrye

Step 2: FOCUS Pay

https://brevardk12.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/index.php?action=login&locale=en_US&online_app=N&return_to_login_page=1&type=

Please call 321-773-7591 for assistance. All proceeds will benefit our school! Thank you for supporting your Hornets!

Don't forget our wonderful cafeteria team can help with treats!

See link for options: 24-25 Classroom Party Flyer & Order Form.pdf

Have questions? Email our Cafeteria Manager at Decormier.Teresa@Brevardschools.org

Starting August 27, parents are welcome to enjoy lunch with their children at Holland every Wednesday! You may bring your own lunch or purchase one from our cafeteria (adult meals are $3.90).

Please be sure to bring a photo ID for check-in.

To let us know you’ll be joining us, please sign up using the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A8AA2FA3FDC07-hornet#/

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to give us a call at 321-773-7591. Thank you!

No asbestos removal activities or any other type of asbestos-response actions have taken place at Holland Elementary School during the past year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025).

Background Information: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all accredited school districts to provide building occupants with a yearly correspondence describing any/all asbestos materials removed from each school during the past year.

The EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986 required an asbestos inspection of each school facility nationwide. This inspection was completed in 1988. The scope of the survey included sampling building materials that might contain asbestos, assessing the condition of the materials, performing laboratory analysis of each sample, and writing a comprehensive report called an Asbestos Management Plan.

The management Plan document and subsequent Three-Year Re-inspection documents are on file at the school administration office. These documents are available to the public for review.