The Hornet Newsletter

As we work to ensure that every student develops strong mathematical understanding, confidence, and readiness for future success, we are committed to selecting instructional materials that reflect the needs and values of our community.

We invite parents, guardians, and community members to participate in one or both of the following opportunities:

1. Community Survey: Share your feedback through a brief survey. The survey is open from August 3rd and will remain available through September 4th. Your feedback and participation and valued and will help guide the selection of high-quality instructional materials that support the success of all Brevard Public School students. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdV2zUU9qJVNsGdfuMKyIWVLFCf1f9_9P3dfiYY1O6fpjVYrA/viewform

• Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Committee: Community members and parents who are interested in serving on the adoption committee are encouraged to apply. The application opens August 3rd and will remain available through September 4th. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuLY3EDiNk-YZy1RfUqfxcuWUdoSQbo-4C9M6donvAU14bag/viewform

Are you looking for a meaningful way to support our students, staff, and school community? We invite all parents and guardians to attend our Volunteer Orientation Breakfast on Friday, September 11th at 8:30 am in the Cafetorium.

Volunteers play an important role in helping make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow. Whether you have a few hours each month or can help occasionally with special events, your time and talents can make a lasting difference for our students.

Why Volunteer?

Getting involved at school is a great way to:

• Support student success
• Build relationships with teachers and staff
• Meet other parents and families
• Stay connected with school activities and events
• Make a positive impact on our school community

What to Expect at the Orientation

During the breakfast, you'll learn about:

• Volunteer opportunities available throughout the school year
• Expectations and procedures for volunteers
• School safety and confidentiality guidelines
• Ways to match your interests and availability with volunteer needs
• The steps required to become an approved school volunteer

How to Get Started

Whether you're a first-time volunteer or a returning helper, this orientation will provide everything you need to begin. Our staff will be available to answer questions and guide you through the volunteer application process.

We encourage all parents and guardians to join us, enjoy a light breakfast, and discover how you can become an active partner in your child's education. Together, we can strengthen our school community and help make this a successful year for every student.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, September 11th at 8:30 a.m. in the Cafetorium!

Get involved. Make a difference. Support our school community!

The following individuals are on our ballot as parental members of our School Advisory Council for the 2026-2027 school year. Please take a moment to submit your vote for parent members to serve on our SAC:

• Seth Gilpin
• Shandrea Jackson
• Aimee Molineaux
• Christie Riley
• Bryan Wolford

The council meets once per month at 2:45 pm in our Media Center. If you would like to join Holland's SAC, please contact the front office at 321-773-7591.

School Advisory Council (SAC) Ballot – Fill out form

Join us for Walk & Roll to School Day! We will meet in front of the Schechter Center at 7:15 am. After a safety talk, we will walk down the sidewalk on the north side of Jackson Avenue to Holland Avenue beginning at 7:25 am. There will be special guests, and all are welcome to join us. Hope to see you there!

Hello! I am thrilled to be joining the staff and students at both Freedom 7 Elementary and Spessard Holland Elementary. I began working with children in 1999 in private childcare. In 2014, I transitioned into teaching at Grace United Methodist Preschool in Merritt Island and returned to school at Eastern Florida State College to study Early Childhood Education. Two years ago, I earned certification in Children's Yoga, giving myself an additional avenue to support children's well-being and self-confidence.

Off campus, I'm a busy Mom to two energetic boys, ages 5 and 6, who are both attending Freedom 7 Elementary this year. Being both a parent and educator gives me a great appreciation for the importance of creating a caring, supportive, and engaging environment for every child.

I look forward to building meaningful relationships with the students, families and staff who make these school communities so special.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Monk

Hello! My name is Ms. Ava Michelle Byrd, and I’m honored to serve as the ESE Support Specialist here at Holland Elementary. I’m thrilled to join this welcoming community. I am excited to meet and support the Holland Hive including families and students.

I began my career in education thirty-five years ago, teaching 5th grade general education students in Plant City at Cork Elementary. From there, I moved to Brevard County where I’ve been teaching for 35 years. Since then I’ve had the pleasure working in a variety of positions including Exceptional Education, General Education, and activity roles within the district. Every role I took on was to learn, grow and experience every aspect of education. I will never know everything, but I can continue to learn, and I know that I will learn many things from the Holland Hive.

Although I’ve called Brevard County my home for the last thirty-five years, I grew up in North Mississippi. Outside of school, you can usually find me spending time with my amazing grandbabies, crafting, or building projects of all types such as refinishing furniture, repurposing pallets to build beautiful items, building a deck on my house and remodeling the inside of my house. I also have a passion for gardening and allowing my Great Pyrenees, boxer/bulldog mix and my cat to bully me in to doing things they want to do. I believe that every event and experience rather positive or negative is about learning and you are NEVER too old to learn something new.

I LOVE what I do and want to continue for as long as I can to be in schools supporting children in learning and growing into adults who meet their full potential. It melts my heart to see how my former students have grown. My goal is to support all stakeholders as well as learning from all stakeholders. I look forward to partnering with you this year as we continue to build a school environment rooted in respect, support and continued growth. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m excited to learn together and to be part of Holland Hive!

Warmly,

Michelle Byrd

To help us maintain accurate attendance records and ensure the safety of all students, please review the following procedures:

Attendance and Absence Documentation

If your child is absent, please notify their teacher as needed; however, all absence-related documentation, including doctor's notes and written excuses, must also be emailed to the school clerk at HollandElementary@brevardschools.org. Sending documentation directly to the clerk ensures that attendance records are updated correctly and in a timely manner.

Student Pick-Up Authorization

For the safety of our students, if someone other than a custodial parent listed in FOCUS will be picking up a student and does not have a Holland Elementary car tag at dismissal, the custodial parent must email HollandElementary@brevardschools.org with the following information:

• A photocopy or photo of the custodial parent's ID
• The student's first and last name
• The first and last name of the individual authorized to pick up the student

Providing this information in advance will help ensure a smooth and secure dismissal process.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in helping us keep our students safe and our records accurate.

🚧Jackson Avenue Construction Update – Beginning Monday, August 31🚧

Beginning Monday, August 31, and continuing for approximately three weeks:
🚫Jackson Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic between Pineapple Street and the exit-only driveway for DeLaura Middle School.

🚫Orange Street will also be closed to vehicle traffic between Lee Street and Jackson Avenue.

❌There will be no through traffic permitted westbound on Jackson Avenue beyond DeLaura Court.

✅Residents will always be able to access their homes.

🔶Holland Elementary School will continue to have access as it has since the beginning of the school year. Vehicle traffic will still be able to travel north on Pineapple Street, cross Jackson Avenue, and continue to Stinger Lane.

🔶Traffic exiting the DeLaura Middle School drop-off area will travel south toward Jackson Avenue and will only be permitted to turn east on Jackson Avenue. The westbound lane of this area will be temporarily dedicated to pedestrian traffic, providing a safe route for students to cross Jackson Avenue and enter the school.

🚸Pedestrians using the sidewalk on the east side of Orange Street will still have access. They will be directed to turn east onto Jackson Avenue, continue along the sidewalk on the south side of Jackson, and use the temporary pedestrian crossing near the DeLaura Middle School exit-only area.

📌As a reminder, families traveling to DeLaura Middle School and Satellite High School are strongly encouraged to use Scorpion Court from A1A for student drop-off and pick-up whenever possible. This will help reduce congestion around the construction area.

⚠️Please also be aware that Magnolia Street is expected to experience increased traffic, since vehicles will not be able to travel southbound on Orange Street.

We continue to ask for everyone’s patience and cooperation as this work progresses. Please slow down, follow the posted traffic patterns, and watch carefully for students traveling on foot, bicycles, e-bikes, and other devices.

We are making great progress and truly appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this temporary traffic pattern!

The Parent Resource Guide is a helpful tool from BPS that connects families with important school information, community services, and resources to support student success. Here is a link: Parent-Resource-Guide-2025-26-web.pdf.

Also, the flyer below, Resources to Support Your Child at Home, contains several links to learning resources such as instructional videos, required curriculum items, and more! If you would like a hard copy of this flyer, just let us know!

As we head further into storm season, we want to remind families of our procedures during inclement weather:

• Regular Dismissal: If there is light rain and no lightning, dismissal will proceed as normal.

• Rainy-Day Dismissal: If there is heavy rain, even without lightning, we will hold walkers and bikers indoors. Car loop dismissal will continue as usual.

• Lightning Dismissal: If there is lightning in the area, all students will remain indoors until it is safe to dismiss.

All Brevard Public Schools follow district emergency protocols in the event of severe weather. Brevard County is located in a region with a high risk of lightning strikes and related injuries. Because weather conditions can change rapidly, a lightning dismissal may not be announced until the last minute.

During severe weather, dismissal may be temporarily suspended. When our technology systems are functioning properly, updates are sent to families via FOCUS (email and text alert). If the radar indicates the potential for severe weather close to dismissal time, we will begin by sending a message to inform families that we are actively monitoring conditions. A follow-up message will only be sent if dismissal procedures change to a rainy-day or lightning dismissal. If no message is sent, we will conduct a regular dismissal.

We truly appreciate your patience during these delays, as safety remains our top priority. Students will be released only when conditions improve, and it is safe to do so.

Thank you again for your support as we work together to keep our students and staff safe!

Student safety is always a top priority at Holland Elementary, and we would like to remind families of a few important bicycle safety guidelines for students who ride to and from school.

This year, students who are observed riding without a helmet may receive a Bicycle Safety Information Notice. This notice is simply a friendly reminder for students and families about the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet every time they ride. The notice is informational only and is not a citation or disciplinary consequence.

To encourage safe riding habits, students who are seen wearing their helmets while riding to school may receive an Awesome Ticket from a staff member. Students can turn their tickets in to Mrs. Hosken to be entered into a weekly prize raffle. We are excited to recognize and reward students who demonstrate safe choices.

We would also like to remind families that students riding e-bikes or e-scooters must turn off the electric-powered functions when entering school grounds. For example, students entering campus through the black gate on Jackson Avenue should disable the electric mode as soon as they reach school property. Students may continue riding with the electric power turned off or choose to walk their bike or scooter. This helps ensure the safety of pedestrians, younger students, and other members of our school community.

Thank you for partnering with us to promote safe transportation practices. Together, we can help make this a safe and successful school year for all Holland Elementary students.

Hello, Holland Hornets!

Be on the lookout for our "Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader" program beginning in September! This initiative is designed to inspire all students to develop a love for reading, which is a key factor in academic success. Research shows that students who read regularly tend to perform better across all subject areas, as reading enhances vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

The more you read, the more you learn—and the more you lead! Let's embark on this journey together and make reading a fun and rewarding part of our daily lives.

Happy reading!

Mrs. Myer
Literacy Coach

Our 6th grade students are meeting in the STEM lab every Friday to participate in digital tools instruction to learn about the various features of Google Slides. The BPS Career and Technical Education department is providing this opportunity to all 6th grade students so that they can take a proctored TOSA exam in just a few months and earn an industry certification. TOSA (Test on Software Applications) assessments and certifications will determine and validate students’ proficiency and skill level in software applications used in a professional environment. Ask your 6th grader to tell you about Google Slides!

We were excited to have members of our local Satellite Beach Fire Department join us on the first day of school, welcoming students with smiles and high-fives during morning arrival in the car loop.

We truly appreciate their support and thank them for helping us kick off the school year in such a special way!

This is an invitation to partner with Holland Elementary School as a corporate sponsor. As a cornerstone of our community, Holland Elementary is dedicated to providing a nurturing and enriching educational environment for our students, helping them grow into responsible, and successful citizens.

At Holland Elementary, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom. We are committed to offering a wide range of programs and initiatives that support academic excellence, foster creativity, and encourage community engagement. To make these vital programs possible, we rely on the generous support of local businesses and community leaders like you.

We are seeking sponsorships for a variety of upcoming projects and ongoing needs.

By becoming a sponsor, your business will not only be supporting the education of local children but also gaining valuable recognition within our vibrant school community. We offer a few sponsorship levels with a range of benefits, which can be tailored to meet your company's marketing and philanthropic goals. These may include shout-outs and recognition in our school newsletters and social media channels, and/or other manners of recognition.

We believe a partnership with Holland Elementary would be a perfect fit, aligning your company's commitment to community with our mission to empower the next generation. We would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss how we can create a mutually beneficial partnership.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please reach out to Melanie Thompson at: thompson.melanie@brevardschools.org if you have any questions.

Melanie Thompson

PIE Coordinator

We’re excited to let you know that you can now make payments online using the FOCUS Parent Portal. This is for field trips, purchasing science fair boards, or any other school payments. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your parent portal. Under the Student Information tab, select Purchase & Pay on the left side of the screen.

2. On the Purchase & Pay page, look for an alert at the top notifying you that invoices are available. Click View Now.

3. Your available invoice(s) will appear.

4. Select the checkbox next to the invoice number you wish to pay, then click the green Continue button. This takes you to the Pay by Credit Card section.

5. Enter your credit card information: first name on card, last name on card, card number, expiration date, and CVC. Click Continue.

6. Once checkout is complete, a Checkout Complete confirmation will display, with an option to view the receipt. Click View Receipt to open a printable and savable version of your receipt for your records.

It’s that easy! Should you have any questions, please contact the front office at 321-773-7591.

Parents/Guardians, please remember to leave your dismissal tag visible in your front windshield until your child is safely loaded into your car in the car loop. Having the tag clearly displayed helps our staff load students efficiently and safely.

Thanks for helping make dismissal smoother and more secure!

We recently proudly recognized students who best demonstrated our August Character Trait: Respect! Each student was nominated by their teacher for consistently showing respect and serving as a positive role model in the classroom.

👏 Congratulations to these outstanding students for setting a great example for others!

Kindergarten

Peyton G. - Bonomo

Rosie T. - Hering

Amari H. - Terry

First Grade

Liliana B. - Knox

Aryn J. - McDonald

Cora H. - Williams

Second Grade

Noah G. - Culbreth

Silesla P. - Grover

Marley R. - Keegan

Third Grade

Jonah B. - Brohel

Amina H. - Hodge

Mila K. - Wasilewski

Gideon L. - Williams

Fourth Grade

Marley C. - Demarco

Kha'Mari S. - Fales

Bianca P. - Wirta

Maverick H. - Zuccarelli

Fifth Grade

Ember B. - Flores

Ayanna H. - Lane

Trenton P. - Tumang

Sixth Grade

Colton M. - Cirino

Jennifer S. - Corrado

Elina T. - Wiebusch

We love having our families involved! 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 been an approved volunteer 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!

Here is the link to order - Holland Elementary Apparel Site.

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: 26-27 Classroom Party Flyer & Order Form.pdf

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

BPS defines outside meals as food from a commercial establishment that is brought to school by a parent or guardian. These procedures are intended to minimize disruptions and protect instructional time.

Important Guidelines for Families

Elementary Schools

• Only individuals listed on a student's contact list may bring or drop off a meal for that student.
• Schools will provide an eating area separate from the cafeteria where parents or guardians may eat with their child.
• Meals that are dropped off will be held in the front office until lunchtime to help safeguard instructional time.