Sneak Peek into Next Week

Sometimes we need to pause our hectic pace and take a moment to appreciate the many blessings around us. There’s a saying: “I wish I knew I was in the good old days.” I truly feel that way right now.

I am fortunate to work with such a smart and caring staff. Our students are an incredible group—respectful, hardworking, and proud of their accomplishments. When I reach out to parents, they respond and take care of what needs to be done at home, which hasn’t always been the case in the past. This school runs smoothly because of our remarkable community, and it is truly a pleasure to be here.

As we approach the upcoming two-week break, I hope you take time to do what brings you joy—whether that’s relaxing or staying busy. Find time to rejuvenate. I plan to take my own advice as well. There is a reason for the season!

Please encourage your child to participate in the Superintendent’s Reading Initiative. Our school can earn funds, and it’s important for students to keep up with their reading during the break. Maintaining some structure will help them stay on track.

Before vacation, we have important work to complete. Students are taking their quarterly assessments, and it is essential that they are present and not making up tests later. We will use this data to plan for the remainder of the year, focusing on mastered standards and those that need attention. Our students have made impressive gains so far, and we want to keep that momentum going.

Thank you for ensuring your children are here and ready to learn.

If you need ideas for staff gifts click here

From Mrs. Stacy- Shout out to Liam Webb and Mustafa Al-Zaidi for reaching 100 IReady lessons! Their hard work is paying off with tremendous results!

From Mrs. Rodriguez- A want to give a shoutout to my son Sebastian Vazquez Rodriguez for going from level 2 to level 4 on the PM2 ELA, that was a 46 points increase.

From Mrs. Giesking- Shoutout to Jordan, Selise, Drew, and Sterling for getting greens and blues on all their exit tickets in this text set so far!

From Mrs. Powell- Shout out to Tyrell Mays and Rufina Garcia Mohando for making the greatest growth in Iready reading PM2 and Owen Price and Yarilyn Floring for making the most growth in Iready Math PM2!

From Mrs. Carlton- Shout out to Ariella Pena, Jaylen Daniel, and Michael Thomas for making great gains on their PM2 reading tests! 😊

From Mrs. Lavold- Shout out to Donovan Karp, 4th grade, in Mrs. Howard's class. Donovan has been working extremely hard in class and it shows. Donovan grew 33 points in BOTH reading and math on his PM2. He also made 67 point gain on his iReady reading and 15 point gain on his iReady math.

Way to go Donovan!

From Mrs. Collins- Shoutout to Selise Lazaroff, she went from a Level 1 to a Level 3 on PM2! A huge improvement from a girl who is working so hard and always gives her best effort! Shoutout to Quinn Gibson who went from a Level 2 to a Level 4 on PM2! This girl is a powerhouse and she shows up every day ready to rock! Shoutout to Sophia Alfonso who went from a Level 1 to a Level 3 on PM2! This is huge growth, and that is because she is focused, determined, and trying her best!

From Mr. Niebel- Big congrats to Carter Murphy for going from a 1 to a 4 (an increase of 44 scale points) on his PM2 math test. He has worked hard this year and is seeing the fruits of his labor!

From Mrs. Banks- Another for Alexandra de la Fuente Paredes! When I tell you she has been working so hard, it is no joke. Her growth academically and behaviorally has made such a huge impact! Not only did she go up to green in both iReady Reading and STAR, she went from Well Below in DIBELS to BENCHMARK!!! When she is my Cougar Pride winner for the second quarter, it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I am beyond proud of her!

From Mrs. Collins- Had two makeup tests today and so another shoutout...Shoutout to Thiago Padilla and Sterling Barse, both boys went up TWO levels on FAST PM2 in math, even with taking the test as a makeup., They both showed that they know their stuff and no matter the timing, are ready to rock!

From Mrs. Fishback- Shoutout to a sweet girl in Mrs Powell's class. I believe her name is Angelina. She is so very sweet with one of our friends with special needs. Everyday at lunch, she helps to guide him through the line, often holding his hand or even giving him hugs. I've never seen anyone ask her, she just does it with a beautiful heart. ❤️

From Mr. Gibson- Shoutout to Mason Heck and Luis Santiago! They both students went up 2 levels on the Star Math test.

December 15th-December 19th- QMT 2- These are very important tests for our students. They need to be in school to have the best results.
December 15th- Winter Concert- 6 PM- Always a fun event.
December 15th- Dorothy Gibson's birthday 🎂
December 17th- "Be Merry" Wear your favorite holiday colors
December 17th- Dental Presentation -2nd grade
December 18th- "Ready for a Long Winter's Nap" Wear pajamas
December 18th- Holiday Parties 🎉
December 19th- " Candy Cane Lane"- Wear red and white
December 19th- Candy Cane Run or Jingle Jog : )

8:00-8:40 all 2nd grade
8:45-9:15 all K and VPK
9:20-10:00 all 5th grade
11:05-11:45- all 1st grade
11:55-12:35 all 3rd grade
12:45-1:25 all 4th grade

December 19th- End of 2nd quarter
December 19th-December birthday celebrations
December 20th-January 5th- Winter Vacation.
January 5th- Teacher work day
January 6th- Students come back from break.

We want to keep you informed about an important safety policy. While Florida’s Open Carry law has recently changed, there is no change to the rules for schools.

It is still a felony to have a weapon on school property or at school events. If a weapon is ever seen on campus or in the car line, law enforcement will be called immediately. Thank you for helping us maintain a secure environment for all students and staff. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at Robert.Jones@hcps.net.