Loyal Lions- Monthly Edition

Picture Day is coming on October 3rd. Please have your child camera ready to take individual photos. Information to purchase pictures/packages will be sent home soon.

Save the date for 1st Quarter Awards!

Parents/Families are invited to attend the 1st Quarter Awards. They will be held in the classroom. Parents/Families must bring their ID to check in.

Responsibility is our character trait for the month of October. We are looking forward to celebrating our Student of the Month on November 7th! If your student is the student of the month you will receive further details about the celebration!

Art:

Texture

Drawing Skills

Background, middle ground, and foreground

Learning about different cultural holidays celebrated around the word this time of year.

Accepting applications for 5th grade 3D printer club starting at the end of this month.

Music:

For the month of October, we will continue to focus on reading rhythms, but also introducing instruments. Everyone will start on drumsticks/percussion instruments. Also still focusing on Hispanic Heritage Month as well.

Physical Education: 2-5 are beginning a "Leadup skills to Basketball". This includes Dribbling, Shooting, and passing as well as basic defense skills. K&1st are are developing basic bouncing and catching skills.

Media: Focus is on coding lessons planned that support student material in the classroom & science labs.

All parents will need a linked FOCUS account. Click on the button below and follow these steps to ensure your account is linked. Without a linked account you won't have access to the DCPS App, Rooms communication, student grades, report cards or attendance!

Under CEP, school meals at San Mateo are available to all students at no cost to them.

The CEP program has benefits for both students and schools!

• Kids get free meals – and when their nutritional needs are met, a student is more attentive in class, has better attendance, and may have fewer disciplinary problems.
• CEP promotes equity by eliminating the out-of-pocket costs for families.
  
  

Free and Reduced applications are not required and will not be processed.

Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria for all students from 8:00-8:25.

As a reminder, students will not be released after 2:15 PM per DCPS policy. In addition, 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.

Hazel Health has partnered with Duval County Public Schools to expand student health services at no-cost to families this school year. When your student needs help, they can connect with Hazel for same-day care.

We will use PikMyKid again this year for dismissal. All families should download the app. This will allow you to have access to change your child's dismissal, who is allowed to pick up and see when your child is dismissed from school. All changes must be completed by 2:00pm daily. Due to safety considerations, we will not take any dismissal changes by phone throughout the day.

Arrival will begin at 8:00am daily. Dismissal begins at 2:40 pm daily. As a reminder, the car rider line/gate will close at 3:00pm daily. Please make sure you are in line before 3:00pm this to help us get all students dismissed on time. 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 (second loop in front of the school) located Baisden Road. Please do not drop children off in the bus loop.

Walkers: In the morning, walkers should be escorted to the front office doors by a parent or guardian. Students who are walkers at dismissal will be release from the gates at the north end of the school at 3:00 daily. Parents who are meeting their children should wait for them outside the gate in front of the school. A staff member will walk students out.

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. All kindergarten bus riders MUST have a KG Bus Form filled out and on file in the office. KG students will not be allowed to ride the bus without this completed form.

Classroom volunteers may return to our classrooms on an as needed basis. If the teacher needs a volunteer, he/she will reach out to families. Volunteers may not bring younger siblings to LSE when they volunteer. If you would like to be a volunteer in our school when needed, please make sure you have filled out the volunteer information at https://dcps.duvalschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=29120 or click the icon below.

A volunteer application is good for two years. The same application is needed for those wishing to volunteer in the classroom, chaperone field trips and eat lunch with their child on campus. We encourage any parents, grandparents or other family members who may want to get involved at LSE to fill out this application as early as possible in the school year. Applications can take up to a few weeks to be approved.

We would love for you to get involved at SME this year. We are excited to share that we will have a PTA Program this year. I will share more information very soon. You are encouraged to join our School Advisory Council (SAC). These organizations do a great deal to support us, and we appreciate your support now more than ever.

Memberships are good for one year and help with funding the PTA programs and events. Single memberships are $10. Join Today!

Attendance is very important to us here at SME and in DCPS. While absences can be excused, it is essential to limit absences when possible. This continues the learning process for your child. The flyer below outlines important state attendance information. If you have challenges getting your child to school, please reach out to a school administrator at your convenience.

What is SAC?

A School Advisory Council is an elected committee made up of parents, staff, administrators, businesses, community members and students (in secondary schools) who work together to help a school improve. By state law, school boards must establish an advisory council for each school.

Become a SAC member!

Get involved! Being a School Advisory Council member is a good way to be an important part of your child's education. Please contact Tammy Boyd at habermant@duvalschools.org for more information

Meetings are held in the SME Media Center

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. Visit https://getfortifyfl.com/ to submit a tip online or download the FortifyFL app.

We need you! Interested in being a business partner here at SME? Our business partners are invaluable here at SME. If you own or manage a business and would like to learn more about the perks of being a SME business partner, please reach out to Mrs. Sandin at (904)696-8750 or SandinL@duvalschools.org

San Mateo Elementary School #218

600 Baisden Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218

Grades K - 5

District #16

School Telephone (904) 696-8750

School Fax: (904) 696-8748

School Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Extended Day Hours: 7:00am – 8:00am & 3:00pm – 6:00pm