The Hornet Newsletter

Our Field Day & Family Picnic is happening Friday, March 20th! Your child will be bringing home a Field Day Waiver. This form must be signed and returned in order for your child to participate in the Field Day events. Please return the form no later than Friday, March 13. You will get the Field Day schedule and lunch tickets from your child's teacher the morning of the event. Families are welcome to come and watch their child at Field Day and enjoy lunch under our pavilion as well. If you plan to join us, please register at this link: Holland Field Day and Family Picnic on March 20, 2026 – Fill out form

If you would like to assist our PTO and serve as a VOLUNTEER, please click the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA4AF2DAAFFC07-61724133-field. You must be a registered volunteer in order to volunteer for this event.

Hamburger

Corn Dog

Vegetarian Salad or PB & J

Sides: Fries, Fruit/Juice

Purchase lunch tickets through FOCUS for adults. The cost of a lunch ticket is $3.90. Your child's teacher will hand out tickets the day of the event.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the wonderful team at Beachside Smiles for visiting our kindergarten classes and bringing along the Tooth Fairy! The children had a fantastic time learning about the importance of dental health in such a fun and engaging way. The Tooth Fairy's visit was a magical touch, making the experience even more memorable!

We truly appreciate the time and effort Beachside Smiles put into making this event so special. Your visit helped our students gain a positive attitude toward oral care that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for making learning about healthy habits so much fun!

• FIELD & FAMILY PICNIC DAY, FRIDAY, 3/20
• FAMILY MOVIE DAY: THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY, SATURDAY 4/11
• LAST PTO MEETING: MONDAY, 4/13
• 1ST DAY SCHOOL SUPPLY KICKOFF-PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2026/27 WITH JUST A COUPLE OF CLICKS
• TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK: MAY 4-8
• SPRING FUN RUN: FRIDAY, 5/15

Sign up to join the PTO for the 2026-2027 School Year!!! Ballots available in the Front Office.

For those families who attend Holland Elementary on an Educational Location Option, may now renew on FOCUS. Renewals can be found under Forms Summary. New students who would like to attend Holland Elementary for 2026-2027 with the Educational Location Option, the window for completing the NEW ELO applications is May 1.

Kindergarten enrollment week is fast approaching! We look forward to enrolling our newest Hornets for the 2026-2027 school year beginning the week of April 6-10, 2026.

We want to invite all kindergarten families interested in joining the Holland school community to join us on April 23rd for our Kindergarten Orientation, even if you live outside Holland's zoned area of attendance. See the flyer below for additional details. We look forward to seeing you there!

Grab your popcorn and get ready for a morning of family fun! We're excited to invite everyone to our Movie Day at Satellite Cinemas on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00 am. It’s a perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy a great film with friends and family. If interested, click here to help us get a head count!

Progress Monitoring 3 (PM3)

Please take notice of the testing dates in advance for planning purposes. The FAST PM 3 will be here before we know it! It is a special opportunity for your child to showcase everything they’ve mastered in Reading and Math. We are so proud of the incredible progress our students are making and look forward to celebrating your child's success!

Grades K-2

Tuesday April 21- FAST K-2 ELA

Wednesday April 22- FAST K-2 Math

Grades 3-6

Tuesday May 5th- FAST PM 3 ELA- 5/6

Wednesday May 6th- FAST PM 3 Math-5/6

Thursday May 7th FAST- PM 3 ELA- 3/4

Tuesday May 12th FAST- PM 3 Math-3/4

Wednesday May 13th Science 5th Grade

The results from PM3 will show how well your child has mastered grade level content standards. For more information about the Florida Assessments program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org.

If you have any questions related to these test administrations, you may contact Ms. Walling, Testing Coordinator at 321-773-7591 or walling.kimberly@brevardschools.org.

Thank you for continuing to support your child and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during these test administrations.

Our ASP, Academic Support Program, for select students in grades 3-6 will begin March 16th. Permission forms will be sent home with identified students. This program will assist students who require extra support with mastery of grade-level standards, so if your child is invited, please return the permission form to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

For questions, please contact Ms. Walling, Assistant Principal at walling.kimberly@brevardschools.org.

Thank you for your support of our ASP Program!

During Holland Elementary’s Kindness Month and as part of our Bee the Change Campaign featuring the February character trait of KINDNESS, the entire school participated in a special “No One Eats Alone” initiative during lunchtime. Students in all grade levels, from kindergarten through sixth grade, paired up with new friends and enjoyed lunch together.

This activity encouraged students to reach out to others, include classmates they may not usually sit with, and practice kindness in a meaningful way. By taking this simple step, students helped create a more welcoming environment and showed how small acts of kindness toward one another can positively impact the entire school community.

Last semester, our 5th grad students are learning more about STEM at the PSFB Starbase Academy! They participated in STEM-related activities such as coding robots, 3D computer aided design, the engineering design process, and more!

Congratulations to those students who placed in the Regional Science & Engineering Fair! Our scientists did an outstanding job. Here are the results:

Category: Animal

5th Place - Lucy Therrian & Mia Fudela

Category: Physics & Astronomy

3rd Place - Levi McRae

Category: Mechanical Engineering

5th Place - Asher Noke

Category: Coding

4th Place - Wyatt Smithson

Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader

Our students continue to amaze us! During the month of February, students in grades 3-6, read just under 13 million words...WOW! 🎉

Students in grades 3–6 are working hard toward their Accelerated Reader (AR) goals, and every book completed makes a difference. Please continue encouraging your child to read nightly. Once a book is finished, students can take an AR quiz at school. Passing the quiz adds words to their goal and builds both confidence and comprehension!

Thank you for supporting strong reading habits at home. Every page counts!

Read Across America Month

March is National Reading Month, and we are excited to continue celebrating literacy all month long!

🌸 Spring Break Reading Challenge – Students will be encouraged to keep reading over Spring Break! More information will be shared soon about how to track reading and earn recognition for participating. Let’s keep those pages turning even while school is out!

🏀 i-Ready March Madness Tournament – Get ready for some friendly competition! Students will compete in an i-Ready March Madness-style tournament, focusing on growth, effort, and perseverance in reading. We can’t wait to see our students rise to the challenge!

March is going to be filled with fun, motivation, and lots of reading! Thank you for supporting literacy at home and helping us build lifelong readers.

Read Across America Week begins March 2, celebrating the joy and power of reading. Throughout the month, students will participate in special reading celebrations and activities. We will also continue drawing names from our “Caught Reading” bucket, giving students the chance to earn new books and special prizes! Let’s keep the reading momentum going!

At-Home Literacy Activities

Here are some fresh and fun ways to build literacy skills at home:

Family Book Talks

After your child finishes a book, host a quick “book talk” at dinner or before bedtime. Ask:

• Who was your favorite character and why?

• What problem did the character face?

• Would you recommend this book to a friend?

This builds comprehension and speaking skills!

Create a Reading Nook

Design a cozy reading space at home with pillows, blankets, and good lighting. Let your child help decorate it. A special reading spot makes reading feel exciting and important.

Vocabulary Hunt

Choose 3–5 new words from your child’s book. Write them on sticky notes and place them around the house. When your child finds a word, they must use it in a sentence. This builds vocabulary in a fun, active way!

Real-World Reading

Encourage your child to read more than just books!

• Recipes while cooking

• Directions for a board game

• Grocery lists or store signs

• Newspaper articles or kid-friendly magazines

Reading in everyday life shows children that literacy is everywhere.

Family Writing Challenge

After reading a story, challenge your child to write an alternate ending or a short sequel. Parents can write one too! Share and compare your creative ideas.

Thank you for partnering with us to grow strong, confident readers. With your continued support, we know our students will keep soaring one word at a time! 🐝

Crystal Rice

Literacy Coach

I am excited to share details about our Annual 2nd Grade Superintendent’s Beanstack Reading Challenge, a month-long celebration designed to encourage independent reading and foster a lifelong love of books among our students. And February is the perfect month for this challenge - It Love Your Library Month!

Challenge Details:

• Who: All 2nd grade students

• Goal: Read 420 independent reading minutes total

• Daily Target: About 20 minutes per day

• How: Students will log their reading minutes in Beanstack

• Rewards: Students earn digital badges throughout the month

• 
  

Completion & Recognition:

• 420 independent reading minutes is all that is needed to successfully complete the challenge.

• Students who complete the challenge will receive:

• Beanstack digital badges

• A certificate

• A special reading brag tag from Dr. Mark Rendell

On March 2nd, Missy Slack, will run the Beanstack report to determine which school has the highest percentage of 2nd grade student completion.

Grand Prize School Celebration:

The school with the highest completion percentage will receive a special visit from BPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell. During his visit, Dr. Rendell will:

• Read his favorite picture book to all 2nd graders

• Gift each 2nd grade student a book of their choice to take home and add to their personal home library

• 
  

Purpose of the Challenge:
This challenge is designed to:

• Engage students in independent reading

• Build reading stamina

• Increase word exposure

• Grow a love of reading

• Celebrate the LOVE of Reading with a little friendly competition among schools

Thank you for your continued support in promoting literacy and encouraging our young readers. Best of luck to all our schools and our amazing 2nd grade readers!

Mrs. Wittock

Media Specialist

As we continue on our academic journey this school year, we want to encourage you to partner with us in helping your child reach their full potential. At school, we are working hard to help all students grow, but your support at home is crucial in fostering a positive and productive learning environment.

Here are some simple ways you can help your child reach their academic goals:

1. Set a consistent routine: A regular schedule for homework, reading, and bedtime helps children stay focused and ready to learn each day.
2. Encourage a growth mindset: Remind your child that learning is a journey. Celebrate their efforts, not just the outcomes, and encourage them to keep going even when things get challenging.
3. Communicate with teachers: Stay in touch with your child’s teachers to understand their progress and areas where they might need extra help. Working together ensures we provide the best support.
4. Create a positive learning space: Set up a quiet, distraction-free space for studying and reading. This shows your child that learning is a priority.
5. Celebrate achievements, big and small: Recognizing milestones and academic successes—whether big or small—motivates children to continue their hard work.

The attachment below will take you to our Parent Resources Flyer that contains links for several FREE academic support sites to include Varsity Tutors, BPS ELA and Math sites, and more! The following links will take you to the BPS reading and math family pages:

Reading At-Home Resources

Math At-Home Resources

When we all work together—teachers, parents, and students—we create an environment where everyone can succeed. Thank you for being such an important part of your child’s educational journey!

The following students were recognized for showing love to the people around them, by having a friendly, considerate and generous nature.

Kindergarten

Hanalei James - Bonomo

Genevieve Strickland - Terry

Teague Bayne - Harding

First Grade

Derek Winkeleer - Breder

Rylan Roark - Knox

Brynn Perez - McDonald

Second Grade

Amina Hollowell-McKoy - Culbreth

Easton Oleson- Grover

Madison Yafaie - Hering

Claude Larry - Keegan

Third Grade

Josh Lau - Brohel

Marlowe Mackinlay - Hodge

Sebastian McRae - Williams

Fourth Grade

Eliana Lopez - Demarco

Veda Johnson - Jones

Ember Brown - Larson

Kaylie Gallup - Wirta

Fifth Grade

Freya Oglesby - Christensen

Noel Sorrels - Flores

Alice Price - Lane

Sixth Grade

Lena Oliver - Corrado

Ceci Jesse - Cirino

Teagan Gresham - Wiebusch

Yearbooks are on sale now for pre-order for $21.00! Help your student preserve their memories in a cherished book!

Go to Buytheyearbook.com and search for our school or use the code: 1168288.

6th Grade Families! Limited quantities of Recognition Ads available. Ads must be purchased and designed online by March 1st.

1/8 Page - $5

1/4 Page - $10

Hello! My name is Mrs. Roxanne Blais, and I am very excited to be your new music teacher. I am ready to become a member of the amazing Holland family.

I have been teaching music for twenty years, both in my home state of Colorado as well as here in Florida. I have had experience teaching private piano, voice and guitar as well as in public, private and charter schools with one on one, small group and large group instruction.

I myself play many instruments and have been classically, pop and broadway vocally trained. If I am not reading a good book, or enjoying the theme parks, you will probably find me enjoying a theatrical performance at one of our fine local performance venues.

My teaching style is enthusiastic fun while maintaining rigorous expectations. Any day in my classroom, you will see my Off-Schulwerk certification in action ensuring that, during every class, children will sing, say, move, play and create. Being in theater myself, I value the opportunities to prepare students for programs and performances both at school as well as opportunities in the community.

I believe in inclusivity, and that we can all work together to raise the whole child with a collaboration from adults and children alike to foster a lifelong love of music. I want to share the importance that music has played in my life with each student. So, buzz into the music room, pick up an instrument and join in! Let's make musical memories together!

Congratulations to our student musicians for representing Holland Elementary at the 2026 Brevard Schools Music Festival! They performed with students selected from other southern Brevard schools at the King Center for Performing Arts on Saturday, February 28!

These talented musicians are Luke Holland, Freya Oglesby, Parker Wise, Amelie Heyn, Penelopi Fahnestock, Jack Louden, Elizabeth Juetten, Lena Oliver and Evelynn Wheeler. We are so proud of you! Many thanks to Ms. Mott, Sea Park music teacher, and Mrs. Loman, our strings consultant from DeLaura Middle School, and Matthew Hosken, who have provided outstanding instruction to our student musicians!

Holland Sixth Grade Families,

Please see below for 2026-2027 enrollment information from our secondary feeder schools:

DeLaura Middle School and Satellite High School are both open for enrollment for the 2026-27 school year! This means students can enjoy their middle school experience at DeLaura and seamlessly transition to high school right next door.

Both schools are A-rated and ranked among the top in the state!

If you're not zoned for DeLaura and/or Satellite High, be sure to apply for the ELO (Educational Location Option). The ELO application window has closed but will open again May 1st for the waitlist.

Both schools are excited to welcome new and returning families to our Scottie and Scorpion communities!

Log in to FOCUS and complete your Education Location Option!

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

Thank you for joining us for our Hornet Hive Lunch Date. Please have your IDs ready. You are welcome to bring lunch or purchase lunch from our cafeteria (adult prices: $3.90). Please see time lunch time slots. (Teacher times vary.) signupgenius.com

We love when parents join their children for lunch—it’s a special time! If you plan to eat with your child, please remember to bring cash to pay for your meal. Unfortunately, we’re unable to charge your child’s lunch account for additional meals, including yours. Also, only legal guardians are permitted to join their children for lunch.

Thank you for understanding and helping us keep our lunch procedures running smoothly!