Parent Newsletter

Dear Andersen Families,

Happy Summer! We hope all families are settling into their summer routine and enjoying a less structured schedule to recharge and refresh. Work and life still go on, but hopefully you can bank some extra family time together.

Have you been using your summer backpack resources? Even though it is summer we don't want learning loss to occur over the summer. We recommend that you allocate some time each day to complete a learning activity. Big sister can "teach" little brother, little brother can ask big brother to work with him, big sister can practice flash cards with little little sister. Or you can just set them up at the dining room table to have 30 minutes of "school time". Whatever works for your family, but this will help combat the Summer Slide that occurs during longer breaks. Let us know below how you are using the materials. :-)

Also, we are planning now for the school supply backpack drive with Faith Baptist Church. We have been so fortunate to partner with the Faith Baptist Community for the past two years. They graciously supply our families with all the supplies needed to start school for our students specific grade levels. But you need to reserve your backpack! **Please complete the google form link below to reserve a backpack for your child(ren). Details will follow as to the date and time of the event to pick up your backpacks.

We miss you!!
Mrs. Harris
Proud Principal, Hans Christian Andersen Elementary

https://forms.gle/UgbbDUMVcAA2Ng9GA

Andersen's Summer Team is enjoying hosting 3rd Grade Reading camp and Summer Enrichment classes!

Friday 5/22

Last Day for students

Saturday 8/1

Faith Baptist Backpack supply event- Sign ups will be sent out late June in Focus.

Friday 8/7

Meet and Greet 1-4 PM

Monday 8/10

First Day of School grades 1-6

Thursday 8/13

First Day of Kindergarten

Monday 8/17

First Day of VPK

Tuesday 8/25

Open House

Focused on helping families save as early and affordably as possible, Florida Prepaid’s annual Open Enrollment period is now underway—giving families the chance to lock in future college costs at today’s plan prices.

This year brings several enhancements designed to make planning for higher education even more streamlined and accessible. Prepaid Plan options remain flexible, including the ability to purchase one year at a time, with low monthly payments starting at just $29 for the Prepaid Plan Open Enrollment period from February 1-April 30, 2026.

Prepaid Plans allow families to secure tomorrow’s tuition with predictable, fixed monthly payments. With the improvements introduced this year, it’s easier than ever to build a personalized path toward college savings.

Prepaid Plans are made to fit growing families:

• Use in-state or nationwide at public, private, trade and technical schools

• Complements scholarships and financial aid

• Transfer to another student or cancel anytime

• Earnings grow tax-free

Every child deserves the opportunity for higher education. Florida Prepaid’s mission is to make saving simple, affordable, and accessible for every Florida family. The earlier you begin, the greater the long-term benefit—take advantage of Open Enrollment and secure your child’s future today with a Florida Prepaid 529 Plan.

https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4kk7bB7&data=05%7C02%7CHarris.Kimberly%40Brevardschools.org%7Caab9476d2097435db0e808de70bb19c2%7Cad85662c69df488b85a48ec2870232c0%7C0%7C0%7C639072146419981239%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mAvCKdv%2Fb2pbwUbeDZK5eJyRdpjprdHte56%2BBBJ2uPw%3D&reserved=0

New to our process this year is a Change Form that is available to parents . This form is available in the FORMS SUMMARY section of the FOCUS Parent Portal. This new form will allow parents to make changes to their address and contact information as well as upload any enrollment documents such as birth certificates, physicals and immunization forms.

Here are all the parent involvement events that we encourage all parents to come to. Learn more of what your students are learning, have fun with hands on activities, meet the teachers and other parents, and most of all BE INVOLVED! We would love to see you at all the events!

Thursday 8/7

Meet & Greet 12-4pm

Tuesday 8/19

Open house 5:00-7:00pm

Tuesday 9/16

PTO 6:00pm

Wednesday 10/8

Walk & Roll to school 8am

Thursday 10/9

BPS Math & Reading Night 6:00- 7:30 pm

Tuesday 10/21

PTO 6pm

Wednesday 10/22

Andersen Math Night /Title 1 Annual Mtg 6pm

Wednesday 10/29

Parent Conference Night 5:00-7:00 pm

Thursday 10/30

Ooglie Googlie Concert - 2nd grade performed

Friday 11/7

Veterans Day Ceremony 9am

Saturday 11/8

Soccer Jamboree all day

Thursday 11/13

Family Thanksgiving Lunch (during grade level lunch times)

SAC 6pm

Friday 11/14

PTOs Fall Festival 4-6pm

Thursday 11/20

Books Alive!

Wednesday 12/3

Orlando Science Center Night 5:30-7:00pm

Tuesday 12/16

PTO 6pm

Tuesday 1/20

PTO 6pm

Thursday 1/22

Parent Conference Night 5-7pm

Wednesday 1/28

New World's Reading Night 5-6:30pm

Tuesday 2/17

PTO 6pm

Friday 2/27

PTO walk-a-thon Donation link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/walk-a-thon-2026-71565/fundraiser/details

Wednesday 3/4

Seuss Night 5:30-7:30 pm

Tuesday 3/16

PTO 6pm

Thursday 3/19

Field Day (all day)

Saturday 3/21

Spring Fling hosted by Faith Baptist Church

Thursday 4/2

Hans Christian Andersen Bday - activity TBA

Tuesday 4/21

PTO

Tuesday 5/12

Night of the Arts

Tuesday 5/19

PTO mtg 6pm

6th grade informational nights as shown in flyers below- various dates

More to add as we get dates: SAC meetings, Book Fair volunteer opps, cafeteria volunteer opps coming soon, every Thursday lunch is open for lunch with students, spring football jamboree,etc

We try to vary the days and times to give everyone a chance to be involved. We hope you take advantage of the many opportunities to be involved and get to know our school.

School hours are 8:30-3:00pm. (8:30-2pm on early release Fridays) We open the gates for breakfast at 8:00 and instruction starts at 8:30. Be on time. Every minute counts!

We dismiss at 3pm (Fridays at 2pm). The car line takes a little longer at the beginning of the year, but it will get faster day by day. If you are late picking your child up, your child may be sent to aftercare and you will be charged the registration fee + the daily rate. The car line is typically done by 3:20-3:25, so please be in the car line on time to pick up your child.

Office hours are 7:30-3:30.

The FortifyFL app is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows anyone to instantly relay information to law enforcement and school officials. Students, staff, families, and members of the community can use the app to report school safety concerns anonymously and easily. Click the photo for more information.

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.

AM: All gates do not open until 8am. Students should NOT arrive earlier than 8am to campus unless arrangements are made prior with their teachers. Please keep them home and time their arrival for 8am or after. There is no supervision before 8am. The side car loop is single lane only during morning drop off. Drop off begins at 8:00am . And the gate is locked at 8:30 promptly. Please arrive on time so your child gets to their classroom on time.

PM: The car line is double laned for afternoon pick up. Please pull all the way forward to the next open gate. If you are in the front, watch the teacher holding the stop sign for hand signals when to move up and when to stop. Do not use your phone in the car line to ensure everyone's safety.Once everyone is loaded we will release the group of cars all at once. If, for some reason, your child is delayed coming out we will ask that you pull into a handicap parking spot to wait for them. We have been finishing in 10-15 minutes, so please be in line to pick up your child by 3:10 M-TH and 2:10 on Fridays.

We are asking for your support in speaking with your child(ren) about the seriousness of making any kind of threatening statement at school. Please remind them that threats—whether said in anger, as a joke, or without intent to act—are not acceptable under any circumstances.

According to Brevard Public Schools policies and Florida Statute, all threats are taken seriously and must be thoroughly investigated. Even statements a student claims they “didn’t mean” can result in significant consequences.

Your partnership in reinforcing this message helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and secure learning environment for all students. Thank you for your continued support.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires that a Local Educational Agency prepare and disseminate an annual Local Educational Agency report card and provide information on state, local, and school performance and progress in an understandable and uniform format.

District and School grades provide an easily understandable way to measure the performance of a school. Parents and the public can use the grades and their components to understand how well each district and/or school is serving its students.

Use the links provided below to view either the 2024-2025 Brevard School District Report Card or Andersen Elementary School Report Card. (CTRL + Click to view)

Andersen Elementary's Report Card Link: https://edudata.fldoe.org/ReportCards/Schools.html?school=1141&district=05

District Report Card Link: Brevard School District Report Card

Car Drop off: Please use the South Car loop to drop off your child in the mornings if you are arriving by car. Please stay in your car. No one is allowed to cross the car line or walk their child to the gate. We will have adults and safety patrols there to assist your child opening the door. Pull all the way forward until the traffic line stops. When it stops you may allow your child to exit the vehicle on the PASSENGER side of the car. Parents should not get out of their cars or have the child exit from the rear driver's side. Only use the right lane of traffic in the mornings. If you need to assist your child out of the car please use the front car loop. But stay with your car and do not leave your car to walk them to the gate.

Morning Walkers:Walkers will enter through the gate located on the North side of campus closest to the traffic light on Fiske. The gate does not open until 8am. Do not allow your child to arrive earlier than 8:00am. We do not have supervision. This is too close to Fiske for the students to be waiting by themselves or play around before 8:00am. Time your child leaving your home so they arrive between 8:00am-8:25am. Thank you in advance for helping to keep your child safe.

Car Pick up: Car pick up is on the South side of campus weaving through the side parking lot. You will enter using one lane and then split into two lanes right before the last turn. An adult will be at the last turn calling names using your car tag. Have your car tag hanging from your rear-view mirror clearly displayed so it can be read. Your child will be called to a numbered pick-up location. You will move your car forward to that numbered gate. You don't need to hear the number, just pull up until the car line stops. Watch the teachers and they will direct you. The lane closest to the building will be lined up first, then the left lane will be lined up. Both lanes will wait until all students are loaded before being released. Upon release, both lanes of traffic will go, arranging yourselves either to turn left or turn right out of the parking lot.

Crossing Guards: The City of Rockledge employs crossing guards to direct traffic and keep drivers and pedestrians safe. Please follow their lead. They have entry and exits timed and coordinated so traffic can move smoothly in and out of the school. Slow down when you are in the school zone, stay off phones, and be kind. We love and care for our crossing guards and appreciate them taking care of our students.

Walker/Biker Release: Walkers & bikers will be released at 3:00pm. They exit campus through the North gate closest to the traffic light on Fiske. The intent of walkers is for them to walk off campus. If you use a car to pick up your child, I encourage you to use the car line. Parking is limited on the side streets next to the school. It is a public road, but it is a residential street. Be mindful not to block driveways, park in the grass, or block the street. Please show all the neighbors our kindness and be respectful of their property. Parking across the street is also limited. Do not park in the business parking lots as those are reserved for their customers.

*You may not park in the school parking lots to walk to the gate to pick up your child. This includes kindergarten parents. Cars may not enter the front parking lot or park in the front grass area for dismissal purposes. Only daycare vans and buses are to use the front parking lot. Walkers must walk off campus. This is for the safety of our students loading buses.

Daycare and Bus Pick up: Daycare and Bus riders will be released also at 3:00pm to load in the front parking lot. If your child is absent from school- please notify the day care. It saves us and them time locating your child who is not at school.

Rainy Day Dismissal: Rainy day dismissal will be called if the rain is more than a sprinkle where the students would get significantly wet were they to walk home OR if we hold students due to lightning

in the vicinity. If we hold students due to lightning in the vicinity, we will release them when it is safe according to their rainy-day plans. Please communicate with your teacher how your child will be going home if rainy day dismissal is called. The office will send out a text notification if we hold students due to lightning or if we will be dismissing according to their rainy-day plans. Please discuss with your child what they should do now, so they know.

Rainy day plans choices would be:

1. My walker/biker will be picked up in the car line. or

2. My walker/biker can ride/walk home in the rain (or after threat of lightening is over)

https://www.brevardschools.org/o/bps/page/code-of-student-conduct

Please click the link to become familiar with the student code of conduct. Administration has reviewed the Student Code of Conduct with all the classes and sharing the student responsibilities. We will continue to follow BPS discipline plans, included here for your review.

All students should follow the code of conduct so that there is an atmosphere of learning at school. We look forward to pushing all students to be successful. Please review the student responsibilities and the Code of Conduct as a family, so your child is set up for success.

Breakfast is free in all BPS schools. Lunch is free for all students here at Andersen. You are encouraged to set up a MySchoolBucks account to add funds so that your child can purchase a la cart items or snacks, if you allow.

Family members can eat with your students on Thursdays beginning August 22. Adult meal price is $3.90. You must first come to the front office and check in. Then you may drive your car around to park in the side parking lot. You will use the gate closest to the cafeteria. You may only eat with your child. The picnic tables outside are there for you to eat together. When the student's assigned lunch time is over, he/she will go to their teacher's line as they come out from the cafeteria. They must be released to the teacher at the end of their lunch period. Family will then exit out the same gate. Families may not accompany their student to the playground, class, or have them stay longer at table.

Click here to view the BPS wellness policy and classroom party information : https://www.brevardschools.org/o/bps/page/food-nutrition-services

Birthday Treats

All birthday treats need to be prearranged with the teacher. For student safety, all treats must be store-bought. Did you know you can order class/birthday treats from our cafeteria and have delivered to the class? Click the link above. Orders must be submitted 10 days in advance.

Our partners at Faith Baptist Church have a food pantry available in the summer for families in need from our Rockledge community. Please call the front office at 321-633-3610 to get connected with a representative at the church.

Andersen PTO

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Hans-Christian-Andersen-Elementary-PTO-149345531760536/

Website: www.andersenpto.org

Thank you to the follow businesses/groups for your generous donations of school supplies:

1. Faith Baptist Church

2. Office Depot

3. Valderrama Orthodontics

4. Realty Hub

5. Domino's Pizza for sponsoring beginning of year staff lunch

If your family is still in need of school supplies, please come by or call the front office.

Please be sure to like and follow us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/AndersenElementarySchool