The Hornet Newsletter

• December 1st: Intermediate Orchestra December Feeder Chain Concert at Satellite High School Auditorium, 6:00 pm
• December 5th: Select Students Perform at Holland Holiday PTO Event, 5:30 pm
• December 7th: Chorus Performance Satellite Beach Fire Department at 5:15 pm
• December 16th: Concert for Students, 8:30 am, Chorus & Orchestra Concert for Family and Friends, 6:00 pm

Dear Holland Families,

We hope everyone had a joyful and refreshing Thanksgiving break! As we look ahead to the holiday season, I want to share my sincere appreciation for the incredible support you give our school. These past months have been filled with meaningful learning, exciting accomplishments, and special moments, none of which would be possible without the strong partnership we share with you, our Hornet Families.

Thank you for everything you do, whether it’s volunteering your time, joining us for school events, or offering encouragement from home. Your involvement lifts our students, strengthens our programs, and truly makes Holland the exceptional school community it is. The Holland Hornet spirit shines brightly because of each of you.

I also want to extend heartfelt gratitude to our incredible, hard-working faculty and staff, whose dedication inspires and supports our students every day. A special thank you to our wonderful PTO, whose tireless efforts enhance our school community in countless ways. And of course, we celebrate our amazing students, whose kindness, dedication, and commitment to excellence inspire everyone and make Holland a truly exceptional place to learn.

Our Winter Break will be from December 22 – January 2, and we look forward to welcoming our Hornets back on Monday, January 5th, refreshed and ready for an exciting start to 2026.

With the holidays upon us, I hope you are able to slow down and enjoy time with the people who matter most. May your days ahead be filled with rest, joy, and celebrations that warm your heart. On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, I extend our warmest holiday wishes to you and your family!

Warmest wishes,
Samantha Alison
Principal

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our families and distinguished guests who joined us for our recent Celebrate America Program in honor of Veterans Day. The event was a meaningful celebration of service, patriotism, and community, and it was made truly special by your presence.

Our students worked hard to honor our veterans, and seeing so many families, service members, and supporters in attendance made the program even more memorable. We hope you enjoy the photos shared below, capturing just a few of the incredible moments from the day. We also want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we navigated the unexpected issues with our sound system.

We offer a special thank-you to Lt. Col. Atkinson, our inspiring guest speaker, for sharing heartfelt words about service, sacrifice, and the importance of honoring our nation’s veterans. We are also grateful to Kristen Warren, parent and featured vocalist, whose beautiful performance added a powerful and emotional touch to the program. Finally, we extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. John Perrine, our dedicated music teacher, for his leadership in preparing our students and bringing the program to life with music that celebrated American pride.

To everyone who attended and helped support this special event—thank you. Your participation is what makes our Holland community so strong, connected, and proud.

Come celebrate the season with us at Holland Holiday on Friday, December 5th at 5:30 PM! Enjoy sweet treats, fun holiday games, a visit with Santa, and plenty of festive fun with our wonderful Holland community. We’ll also have themed baskets you won’t want to miss!

Annual Themed Baskets

We recently sent out information regarding themed class baskets for our Holland Holiday Annual Holiday Basket donations. Each class's theme was sent out in the letter with ideas/items to contribute, if you would like to participate. It is recommended to keep any donations to $5 or less. Items are requested to be donated on or before Tuesday, December 2nd and the basket auction will take place at PTO's Holland Holiday event on Friday, December 5th from 5:30-8:00 pm.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Aimee at amolineaux8@gmail.com or 321-298-7785.

Thank you in advance for your help! 😊

Please see the sign up links to see how you can help!

Can you volunteer?

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E0449AFAD2FA3FD0-60173375-decorating

Can you donate?

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA4AF2DAAFFC07-60474740-holland

*We really need more lights if you have them*

Whether you find it fit to dedicate your time or make a donation, we appreciate you!

Join us for a special showing of Zootopia 2 at Satellite Beach Cinemas!
📅 Saturday, December 6
🕤 9:30 AM

Tickets are $10.00 each and include popcorn and a drink. Bring your family and friends for a fun morning at the movies with our Holland community!

We can’t wait to see you there! 🎥✨

What can you purchase?
Holland Holiday Tickets for $5.00 each
Zootopia 2 Tickets for $10.00 each
*Package Deal* includes a Holland Holiday AND Zootopia 2 Ticket for $15.00!

Order forms will be going home tomorrow with your students so be on the lookout! The deadline to turn in your order is December 3rd.

We hope you can join us in bringing in the holidays with either or both events!

Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST)

Progress Monitoring Two (PM2)

Grades 5-6

Tuesday, December 2nd ELA

Wednesday, December 3rd Math

Grades 3-4

Tuesday, December 4th ELA

Wednesday, December 8th Math

Grades K-2

Tuesday, December 9th ELA

Wednesday, December 10th Math

It's time for our mid-year progress check, FAST PM2, in reading and math! We are excited to see how much progress our students have made thus far this year. Your child's results from PM2 are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided with directions on how to access the results after testing is completed. We are so proud of all our learners!

If you have any questions related to testing, please contact Kimberly Walling, Testing Coordinator, at 321-773-7591 or Walling.Kimberly@Brevardschools.org.

As the holiday season approaches, we know many of you are thinking about ways to show appreciation to our wonderful teachers. To make gift-giving a little easier, we've put together a "Staff Members' Favorite Things" book, which contains a sheet of each Holland Staff Members' favorite things. The book is available in the front office. Whether you're looking for inspiration or just want to see what might bring a smile to your child's teacher or other staff member, this list is a great resource.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. We hope this helps make your holiday shopping a bit more joyful!

The Lost and Found rack will be set up in front of the cafeteria throughout the month of December. Please stop by! We have lots of items needing to be reclaimed.

Holland thrives because of the incredible support of our families, and we are always excited to welcome new volunteers into our community. If you’ve ever considered lending a hand in the classroom, supporting school events, or helping on campus, now is the perfect time to get involved!

Becoming a registered volunteer is quick and easy—and it opens the door to many meaningful ways to support our students and staff. Registered volunteers can assist teachers with classroom activities, help at school events, and even serve as chaperones on field trips, creating memorable experiences alongside our students.

Ready to Get Started?

Click the link below to begin the volunteer registration process:
https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NjE6ZW4tVVM=

If you’re not sure where your help might be needed, simply reach out!

• Ask your child’s teacher about classroom support opportunities

• Check with the front office for schoolwide volunteer needs and upcoming events

• Check in with our wonderful PTO for ways to support events and our school

Your time and involvement make a real difference. Thank you for supporting Holland and helping us continue to create a warm, welcoming, and enriching learning environment for every child!

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!

We’re excited to announce that Morning Movers is now up and running! This fun and energizing club is open to all students in grades 1 through 6 and meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 7:50 AM.

Students will start their day with light physical activity including running, jogging, and walking. It’s a great way to boost energy, focus, and mood before the school day begins!

Meeting Location: Basketball Court

If you would like to volunteer, the link is: Mrs. Hosken: Morning Movement 2025/26. We hope to see your student there and moving with us in the mornings!

Congratulations to Holland’s own Hornet Stingers for their incredible victory at the Soccer Jamboree on November 8th! The team showed amazing teamwork, determination, and school spirit throughout the event. A big thank you to Officer Matt and Mr. Ryan for their support and guidance—your efforts helped make this success possible. Go Hornets!

We are excited to announce that our 4-6 grade classes will be participating in the Holland Elementary Science Fair, which will take place on Wednesday, February 4 in the school commons area.

The Science Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore scientific concepts, practice critical thinking, and showcase their creativity. Each student will be responsible for completing a science project that follows the scientific method and demonstrates a clear understanding of their chosen topic.

Expectations:

• Project Topic Selection: Students should choose a topic that interests them and is age appropriate. Topics must be approved by October 24, 2025.

• Scientific Method: Projects should include a question, hypothesis, experiment, results, and conclusion.

• Display Board: Students will create a tri-fold board to present their project, including visuals, data, and explanations.

• Due Date: All projects must be completed and brought to school by Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

• Judging & Awards: Projects will be judged based on creativity, scientific accuracy, and presentation. Awards will be given in various categories. Wednesday, February 4.

Parent Support:

We encourage you to support your child by helping them gather materials, stay on schedule, and talk through their ideas. However, the work should reflect the student’s own effort and understanding.

If you have any questions or need guidance, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher.

Thank you for your continued support in making science fun and meaningful for our students!

Warm regards,

Holland Science Teachers

We want to make sure you’re aware of an important update regarding the Educational Location Option (ELO) application process for the 2026–27 school year. This year, the application window is starting earlier than usual and will follow a different schedule.

New Application Window

December 1 – January 16

This will be the only application window available during the winter.
Please note: The window will NOT reopen again until May.

Because seats for ELO placements are limited, we strongly encourage families to apply as early as possible to secure their child’s spot at Holland for next school year.

What You Need to Do

• Mark your calendars for December 1–January 16

• Complete your child’s ELO application on FOCUS during this time

• Submit early to avoid missing the priority window

We value having your family at Holland and want to ensure your child continues their educational journey with us without interruption. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please contact our front office—we’re happy to help!

Thank you for being a part of the Holland community!

Please see below to access at-home resources to assist your child with grade-level academic expectations!

Reading

Read-at-Home Resources:
BPS Read-at-Home

Florida Read-at-Home Resources:

FLDOE Read-at-Home

New World’s Reading Scholarship:

http://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/reading/

Embracing Neurodiversity:

Embracing Neurodiversity

Math

Mathematics-At-Home

BPS Math at Home

Florida Math-at-Home Resources:

BEST Math-at-Home Plan_Final.pdf

Brevard Math at Home:

Math At-Home Resources

FL Math 4 All:

https://flmath4all.org/

Varsity Tutors:

On your child’s Launchpad with the Varsity Tutor’s icon or

https://www.varsitytutors.com/

We are proud to share wonderful news with our Holland community that our school has once again been named a Purple Star School of Distinction for 2025–2028 by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)!

This prestigious, multi-year recognition is awarded to schools that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. Being designated for the 2025–2028 cycle highlights the strength and consistency of our programs, as well as the dedication of our staff and community.

At Holland, we work diligently to ensure that military families feel welcomed, supported, and connected. From transition resources to student leadership opportunities and family outreach, our school continues to foster a culture where every military-connected student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, and families—especially our military families—whose resilience and involvement make this honor possible.

Congratulations, Holland! Thank you for helping us remain a proud Purple Star School of Distinction for 2025–2028! 💜🌟

Holland is Proud to Serve Military Families!

Please visit our military website at https://www.brevardschools.org/o/hes/page/military for information on ways we can support our military-connected students and parents/guardians.

If you would like support for your child as you deploy or if you would like support from our MFLC at any time, please complete this form below and submit to hollandelementary@brevardschools.org or feel free to drop it by the front office.

On November 19th our school participated in the annual World Record STACK UP! event! The World Record attempt is for the “Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations”. The goal is to beat the current record of 752,632 people Sport Stacking! All students came to PE during theiractivity time and all that stacked for 30 minutes counted in this RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT! Way to go, Hornets!

LEARN MORE at https://www.speedstacks.com/stackup/2025/the-sport/?rid=45202

A big thank you to Sean, an Eagle Scout, for building a fantastic gaga pit for our school! The students are absolutely loving this new addition to our playground, and it’s already become a favorite spot for fun and active play.

We appreciate your hard work and dedication to making our school an even better place for our children!

According to the American Heart Association research shows that active parents raise active children. Join your child with these American Heart Association tips to work activity into your daily routine:

Get outdoors! Hike a local nature trail or ride bicycles along a bike path.

Schedule family playtime. Take a walk or play a family game of tag. Play catch or kick a ball around the yard.

Select toys that encourage movement, such as balls, kites, skates, and jump ropes.

Limit screen time to no more than two hours per day. Don’t put a television in your child’s bedroom, and limit computer and tablet use for school projects.

Plant a garden. Caring for plants provides a reason to get outside, teaches kids where their food comes from, and lets your child sample fresh-grown foods to encourage healthy eating habits.

Do chores, such as raking leaves, as a family. The work will be completed more quickly, leaving more time for outdoor play!

We are excited to announce Brevard Public School's Partnership with Varsity Tutors! Varsity Tutors is an online learning platform with tutoring resources, to provide our students with powerful supplemental learning tools. Whether studying core subjects, learning new topics, or working to improve grades, Varsity Tutors provides the extra support our students need, when they need it through 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring, on-demand essay review, and live tutoring resources to help students with homework or test prep. Elevate your child’s learning experience with the Varsity Tutors Platform! All students need to do is log-in through the Launchpad Link and click on the Varsity Tutors app. The How-To Guide for students to log-in is attached. Parents, see the attached documents which provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Varsity Tutors Platform and a Getting Started Guide for the various Learning Resources available with Varsity Tutors.

Resources:

Getting Started: https://aptg.co/3dNt65

Student: https://aptg.co/jlc7SN

Parents: https://aptg.co/mL9Xhy

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. Prices will go up on December 1st!

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

Dear Families,
As we enter the holiday season, December is a wonderful time to slow down, get cozy, and enjoy the magic of reading together. Whether you’re celebrating a special tradition or simply enjoying winter break, reading is an easy way to keep your child learning and connected. ❄️📚

Here are some simple, meaningful ways to support reading at home this month:

Winter Break Reading Moments
Set aside a few minutes each day for a “warm and cozy read.” Snuggle up with blankets, turn on soft lights, and enjoy a favorite book together. This small routine builds comfort and joy around reading.

Holiday & Winter-Themed Books
Visit the library or explore digital books about winter, celebrations around the world, kindness, or new beginnings. After reading, talk about what your family traditions look like and how they compare to the story.

Make Reading Part of Your Traditions
Read a short story before opening gifts, choose a “family book of the week,” or let your child read a card, recipe, or holiday message aloud. These small moments strengthen reading without feeling like schoolwork.

Create a Reading Nook
A small space with pillows, stuffed animals, or twinkle lights can encourage quiet reading during the busy holiday season. Let your child help decorate it!

Try a “Read & Do” Activity
After reading a winter book, do a simple activity together:

• Draw your favorite scene

• Bake a recipe inspired by the story

• Create a snow-themed craft or card for a family member
  Connecting reading to hands-on fun helps stories stick.

Keep the Conversation Going!
Ask questions that spark thinking and connection:

• What did this story make you think about?

• Which character did you connect with the most?

• What’s one thing you learned from the book?

• If this story had a sequel, what might happen next?

Most importantly, enjoy the time together.
Reading with your child, even for just a few minutes a day, builds strong skills, confidence, and memories that last far beyond the holiday season. ❄️❤️

Happy reading!

Ms. Rice

Holland's Literacy Coach

Exciting news for Florida families! The New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Program has expanded to include VPK students and K–5 students who need extra support in reading or math. If your child has a substantial deficiency, shows characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia, or scored below Level 3 on state assessments, they may qualify for $1,200 in scholarship funds!

Families can use these funds for instructional materials, curriculum, tutoring services, or specialized after-school and summer programs.

In addition, all eligible K–5 students can participate in the New Worlds Reading Book Program, which delivers free, high-quality books to your home each month. These books are carefully selected to build literacy skills and a love of reading, making it easy to add reading to your daily routine.

Apply for scholarships or sign up for the book program through Step Up For Students at www.stepupforstudents.org.

The following students were recognized for demonstrating the greatest amount of our November Character Trait, GRATITUDE! Students were nominated by each teacher for being thankful and showing appreciation in their classrooms.

Kindergarten

Delia Kirschner - Bonomo

Isla Strickland - Terry

Arden Turner - Weatherspoon

First Grade

Harrison Thompson - Breder

Valentin Cerdan - Knox

Marley Rowley Snyder - McDonald

Second Grade

Bayleigh Brohel - Culbreth

Bailey Urice - Grover

Wilma Jones - Hering

Ava Desormeaux - Keegan

Third Grade

Avalee Rendon - Brohel

Dash Gaudy - Hodge

Amaya Burns - Williams

Fourth Grade

Esme Vega - Demarco

Miriam Charest - Jones

Drew Turner - Lason

Obed Velasquez - Wirta

Fifth Grade

Kana Riley - Christensen

Avah Green - Flores

Aurora Long - Lane

Sixth Grade

Penelopi Fahnestock- Corrado

Diana Naumkina - Cirino

Vanessa Pereira - Wiebusch

Thank you to our amazing Character Trait Sponsor, GRILLS!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing PTO and volunteers for turning our hallways into a holiday scene even Kevin McCallister would envy! Your creativity and festive spirit have filled Holland with joy, cheer, and a little bit of harmless mischief, making this season truly unforgettable for our students and staff!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Generous Partners in Education

As we reflect on the spirit of giving this holiday season, we would like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible business partners who generously donated gift cards, food, and other items to support our school family. Their kindness and generosity have made such a meaningful difference! Thanks to the contributions of local businesses such as National League of Junior Cotillions South Brevard Chapter, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Beachside Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Shari Tabat(Remax), Latraverse Family, Texas Roadhouse, Krispy Kreme, Panera Bread, Domino's Satellite Beach, Pizza Hut Satellite Beach, Route 7, Clark Construction, Pizzavola, Beachside Bagels, Starbuck, Beachside Speech Therapy we were able to spread the warmth of the holiday season. Their generous gifts are truly appreciated.

We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen these bonds of generosity in the future. We thank our partners again for brightening the holidays for all of us!

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