Loyal Lions- Monthly Edition

Parent/Guardian(s),

Welcome back to San Mateo Elementary “Where your story begins!” We are excited to welcome you for the 2025-2026 school year. Our success last year was confirmation of the dynamic students, parents, teachers, and staff at San Mateo Elementary School. We could not have done it without you.

First and foremost, I want to assure you of our continued commitment to academics, health and safety. As a parent and an educator, I want nothing more than to see our children in our school building learning and growing. We know that we must do this in a very intentional and thoughtful way to ensure that every child and adult that walks into our school is protected. As you will see outlined below, some of our procedures have changed. The biggest way our parents and families can support SME this year is by following these procedures to help us have a smooth opening of school.

Please take a few minutes to review and complete the paperwork for registration, as well as update your FOCUS account to ensure you have access to your child’s information. These forms must be returned to ensure we have continuous communication throughout the school year. All forms should be returned to your child’s teacher as soon as possible but no later than Friday, August 16, 2025.

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. If you plan to volunteer during the 2025-2026 school year, you must complete the volunteer application which is found online at http://www.duvalschools.org (Community/Volunteer section). This includes parents who wish to eat lunch with their child(ren) and/or chaperone field trips.

Some important notes about this year:

• The first bell rings at 8:25 A.M. and school begins promptly at 8:30 A.M. Students should not arrive to school before 8:00 A.M. unless they are enrolled in Extended Day. Students should be in attendance every day (unless illness or emergencies prevent them from being here). Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for information regarding excused absences.

• Parents will be allowed to walk students to class for the first two days of school. Beginning Wednesday, August 14th we ask that you drop your child(ren) off in the car loop as normal to allow them to get used to the morning routine.

• Volunteers are needed in every aspect. You will need a current DCPS volunteer application completed before you can volunteer. You will need to communicate with your child’s teacher to schedule a time to volunteer. All volunteers must check in with the front office before going to the classroom. Parents wishing to eat lunch with their child will also need to check in at the front office.

• Students will be allowed in the building beginning at 8:00am.

• Patrols may be dropped off in the front loop at 7:45am. Please wait in your cars until the patrol sponsors signal students entering the building.

• Birthday celebrations will take place in the cafeteria during lunch. Please make sure to check the lunch schedule to ensure the cupcakes arrive at least 10 minutes before lunch time.

• For dismissal, please try to keep your child’s way home consistent. We know emergencies arise, but it is especially important that children leave the same way daily. If your child rides a bus, please make sure you have registered them in FOCUS for a bus route. All car riders (K-5) will need to use the main car loop for dismissal. Walkers will be dismissed from the front entrance. Please be patient with us for the first few weeks. As always, dismissal will get faster and easier with time. We appreciate your support!

• We will be using PikMyKid for dismissal. This app will help us have a smooth and safe dismissal. If you have not already, please download the app. You will be able to make dismissal changes for your student before 2:15pm using the PikMyKid app only. Dismissal changes are not accepted by email or telephone.

• Rooms will be our number one form of communication. Please download the app and enroll. We don’t want you to miss a single moment at San Mateo.

• Students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. Ala carte items may be purchased separately.

• We will not be able to check out students after 2:15 P.M. This is a district policy. For early checkouts, please come to the front desk with your ID.

• To drop off medication, come to the front office and speak with one of our staff members to help you. You will need medical documentation signed by a doctor for us to administer medication on campus.

• Please download the DCPS mobile app and FOLLOW San Mateo Elementary. This is how you will receive event and emergency updates from the school.

• Please follow us on Facebook (@SanMateoElementarySchool) and check our school website for school updates, event reminders and to stay informed on what is happening at SME!

Open House is September 5th for K-5th grade at 5:30pm. We look forward to seeing you at Open House and partnering with you throughout the year!

Yours in education,

Tammy H. Boyd, Principal

The first day of school for students is Monday, August 11th. We will start accepting students on campus at 8:00am. School begins at 8:30am.

Parents will be allowed to walk students to class the first two days of school. Beginning Wednesday, August 13th, we ask that students walk independently to their classrooms. We will have patrols and staff members positioned throughout the building at arrival/dismissal locations to assist students in finding their classrooms.

You will be able to view your child's teacher assignment the week of August 4th in FOCUS. In order to see your child's schedule and teacher, you will need a parent FOCUS account. Your child's teacher can be found under their schedule. This account will also allow you to view your child's grades throughout the year and make updates to your contact and emergency pickup information. Please log in before school starts and ensure all of your information is updated.

Please note that although you may see schedules prior, due to enrollment and the leveling of classes, class schedules will not be finalized and may change until the week of August 11th.

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.

All students who will ride a bus to and/or from school this year need to be registered for bus transportation. This can be done following the steps on the link below through your parent FOCUS account. Bus routes will be created based on addresses of students riding so please sign up as early as possible and make sure your address is correct in FOCUS. Once available, you will also be able to view your child's bus stop information in your parent FOCUS account. Make sure to register each child that will be riding.

Use the link below to learn more about Extended Day and to register your child for the LSE Extended Day program. PLEASE NOTE: Submission of an application does not guarantee enrollment in the Extended Day program.

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.

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.

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.

Our First SAC Meeting?

August 28th at 5:30 in SME Library

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