April 2025 Newsletter
Apollo Elementary School
- 3rd Quarter Awards
- THS Graduation Fundraiser: EGG MY YARD order deadline 04/12
- PTO Meeting 04/14 at 5:30pm
- 6th Grade Parent Meeting 04/14 at 5:30pm
- SAC Meeting 04/14 at 6:00pm
- Movie Night: WICKED 04/17 at 5:00pm
- REGULAR SCHOOL DAY!! 04/18 (Hurricane Milton make-up day)
- Purple Up! Wear purple to show support and recognizing military children. 4/18
- BOGO Book Fair 04/18-04/25
- FAMILY BINGO NIGHT/Summer Slide 04/24th at 5:30 PM
- NEW KINDERGARTENER Fair 04/30 at 5:00pm
Apollo's Staff is Out of this World
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week - May 2025
We are beginning our planning for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week in May, and we need your support to make this event a success! If you're interested in donating items or coordinating activities, please reach out to Aimee DiLago. Your contributions, big or small, will make a meaningful difference in showing our gratitude for the hardworking teachers and staff at our school.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
I am honored to serve as your new school counselor and look forward to working with you and your child to make the last two months a successful and positive experience.
As the school counselor, my role is to support students in their academic, social-emotional, and career development. I work with students individually, in small groups, and in classrooms to help them develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Whether it’s problem-solving, building friendships, managing emotions, or setting goals, I am here to help all students grow and thrive.
I also collaborate with teachers, staff, and families to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn. If you ever have questions or concerns about your child’s well-being or success at school, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
I look forward to getting to know you and working together to help our Eagles S.O.A.R. this year!
Best,
Mr. Pavlak
School Counselor
Apollo Elementary
The theme for World Autism Acceptance Month in 2025 is “Celebrate Differences.” It encourages us to see that each person is unique and their differences are a normal part of life. Instead of thinking of autism as a condition that needs to be fixed, we should celebrate the differences autism brings.
What is autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States today.
We know that there is not one type of autism, but many.
Autism looks different for everyone, and each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Some autistic people can speak, while others are nonverbal or minimally verbal and communicate in other ways. Some have intellectual disabilities, while some do not. Some require significant support in their daily lives, while others need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
5 Tips to Tame Screen Time
February 20, 2025 by Jodi Hogan, B.A.
Winter brings shorter days, longer nights, and more time indoors. And what do kids naturally reach for? That’s right—screens.
Kids often gravitate to screens when they’re bored, whether it’s a tablet, gaming console, TV remote, or phone. And what could be more boring than being stuck inside on a cold, wintery day? Let’s discuss their screen time use and how we can help them (and ourselves!) manage it better.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has found that on average, children ages 8-12 spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens; teens spend up to 9 hours on screens. Nearly half of all children under age 8 have their own tablet and spend an average of 2.25 hours on screens daily.
What does all this screen time do to our children?
The Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics published a study that found a link between screen usage by young children and delayed development. That includes delays in communication and problem-solving. Think about it: if we pass off the jobs of talking with our kids, engaging with them in activities and conversations, and teaching them problem-solving skills to a screen or tablet, they won’t truly learn or master any of those things. They will become passive observers of the characters on the screen rather than being the active learners they are designed to be.
When it comes to parenting, we are the ones our children look to as the leader in the home. One of the most significant predictors of childhood screen use is the parents’ screen use, so we need to demonstrate our ability to engage with what’s happening around us and disengage as much as we can from our screens. To truly tame the monster, we must Create Shared Solutions. The sudden pivot away from so much screen time may surprise your kids and put them on the defensive.
To create lasting change, we must include them in the solution-making process. In our Parent Coaching, we teach you how to engage with children of all ages to understand the why behind our boundaries and to increase the chances of compliance by having the kids create them with us.
We need tips, strategies, and solutions to tame the screen monster that lurks within us all!
Here are the top 5:
1. Set clear time limits.
One of the best places to start with screen time is deciding how much time is enough for your child. Your child should be involved in the process. Let them suggest a reasonable time for them; then, you can share your thoughts. Together, you can decide on what will work for both of you.
Once you agree on the time, discuss how they can be accountable for the agreement. You could discuss using tools such as a phone’s built-in screen time monitor or setting screen-time limits on your child’s device. You can also set a simple Time Timer so the child can see how much time they have and how much time is left. When the buzzer sounds, the screens go dark. Working together to create a shared solution is an effective way of teaching your child problem-solving skills and responsibility. Our Parent Coaches can help you learn how to have these important conversations to help your children learn the skills of collaboration and effective accountability.
2. Watch what your kids are watching.
We can engage with them about what they see when we watch with them. Just commenting on things you notice or asking your child about what is happening in the scene can help them understand what they are seeing and be used to teach concepts after the show ends. You also get the bonus of spending one-on-one time with them. When you start spending this special time with your kids, they will naturally want to connect with you more and fill their emotional buckets, which can decrease screens’ pull. It’s a win-win.
3. Create Screen-Free Spaces.
There should be limits to where screens can and cannot go. It’s as simple as keeping all screens on the main floor or keeping them out of the bathrooms and bedrooms. Mealtime should always be a screen-free zone. Having that quality family time is crucial to connecting with your kids and creating a strong, lasting relationship.
4. Encourage Outside Play.
Getting outside can be one of the best things for your child—and yourself—to do for overall health, even in the winter! Going for a walk, playing in the snow, jumping on the trampoline, or throwing a ball around in the yard are easy ways to keep kids busy and improve their cardiovascular fitness.
5. Limit screen time before bed.
Try to make it a rule that everyone in the house has screen-free time for at least an hour before bedtime. Screen usage before bed impacts sleep and can make it harder to fall asleep.
Taking control of screen time may seem daunting, but small changes can make significant impacts.
Be realistic in your goals—you don’t need to drop all screens cold turkey! Cutting screen time usage in half would be a huge win, and any small change should be acknowledged and celebrated.
If you continue to struggle and need extra support, we are here to help with that and other tough transitions.
It all starts with one small step.
But if you keep stepping, imagine how much happier and healthier you can be without the screen monster in your home in 2025!
Calling All Apollo Families!
Apollo's School Advisory Council's next meeting is Monday, April 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Media Center, following the PTO meeting.
The meetings are rarely longer than 30 minutes and only once a month. Please consider attending and being a member of the School Advisory Council. We are in desperate need of diverse family voices. This means your voice is needed.
If we had 10 people on the committee, then we would need at least:
Caucasian: 4 members
African American: 4 members
Hispanic: 2 members
Multi-Racial: 1 member
Currently, we do not have enough representation of our African American, Hispanic, or Multi-Racial families.
If you have any questions, please contact Phyllis Thibideau at (321) 267-7890 ext. 41625 or by email thibideau.phyllis@brevardschools.org
School begins at 8:00am and ends at 2:30 pm. Gates open at 7:30am. Do not drop your child off prior to 7:30am as there will not be supervision.
7:30am - Breakfast is served
7:45am - Classroom doors open
7:50am - Morning Announcements begin
8:00am - Instruction begins
2:30pm - Dismissal
Reminder: No checkouts after 2:00 pm Monday-Thursday and no checkouts after 12:45 pm on Friday.
Every Friday is 1:15 dismissal for grades K-6.
Please have a plan for inclement weather dismissal. In case of emergency weather, we will hold biker's and walkers until it is safe to send them home. A shelter-in-place occurs when lightning is detected within 2 miles of the school. You can choose to pick your student up in the car loop during inclement weather dismissal. You will need your car tag and photo ID. Teachers will have a form available during Meet and Greet. You can let us know your plan during inclement weather.
Apollo will be partnering with the local Domino's in Titusville to have monthly spirit nights. These will occur on the second Tuesday of EVERY month. This is a great way for Apollo to earn money towards school initiatives while providing your family an easy dinner plan. We will send remembers the night before to all families through FOCUS messaging and students will be sent home with their sticker reminders.
1850 Knox McRae and their phone number is 321-268-8008
Just a friendly reminder or two. Since we are on the Community Eligibility Program here at Apollo (CEP for short), all our students eat at no cost for breakfast and lunch and snack if they attend Aftercare. If you are adding money into your student’s account @www.mealpayplus.com please remember to put it in the general fund so they may purchase ala carte items. Don’t forget the meet and greet on August 8,2024 I will be here for any questions or concerns. If I can assist you in any way please feel free to call me. We are looking forward to a wonderful year!
Jennie Cheesman
Cafeteria Manager
321-267-7890 ext. 41611
FortifyFL app
Speakout
The SpeakOut Hotline (800) 423-TIPS is designed to help you anonymously report any threatening behavior or situation that endangers you, your friends, family, community, or your school campus. Reporting isn't "snitching,” reporting is when you need to keep yourself or someone you know safe from threats, harmful behaviors, or dangerous situations.
By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity, SpeakOut allows the caller to give information without the fear of retribution.
If you want to check your students grades, attendance and communicate with your child's teacher. Just download the app from your app store on your phone and stop by the office to pick up your parent portal pin.
FOCUS is generating attendance letters for students with 5 or more unexcused absences. If you have any questions, please contact the front office.
PBIS Store
We also accept gently used items.
Apollo Bucks
Dress Code
Contact Information
Principal
Jennifer Landress
Assistant Principal
Email: ApolloElementary@brevardschools.org
Website: https://apollo.brevardschools.org/o/apes
Location: 3085 Knox McRae Drive, Titusville, FL, USA
Phone: 321-267-7890
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057704497888
