Greenland Pines Parent Connection

Dear #TeamGPE Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! I hope your family has enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with fun, relaxation, and special memories. We are excited to open our doors and welcome both our returning families and those joining Greenland Pines Elementary for the very first time.

This year, our theme is One Team. One Goal. #TeamGPE. We believe that the greatest success happens when students, families, and staff work together with a shared purpose. By supporting one another, celebrating successes, and facing challenges as a team, we create an environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

As we begin this school year, I encourage you to stay connected with us through our newsletters, social media, and school communications. Your partnership is one of the most important factors in your child's success, and we truly value the trust you place in us each day.

Thank you for being an important part of the Greenland Pines family. We are honored to serve your children and look forward to an amazing year of learning, growth, and celebration together.

Here's to a fantastic school year!

Go Cougars!

Michelle Hinkley, Principal

Do you know a family looking for an exceptional elementary school? We'd love to welcome them to the Greenland Pines Elementary family! We are currently enrolling students for the upcoming school year. Families can call our front office at (904) 260-5450 or stop by the school, and our team will be happy to assist them through the enrollment process.

Help us spread the word—we can't wait to welcome more amazing Cougars to #TeamGPE!

Our PTA does SO much to support all of the students at GPE. Please consider joining. It is $11 for the year. The first 200 students/families to join will receive a surprise at the start of the year!

Since orientation is outside of the school day, families can park in the car and bus loops. Additional parking will also be available at the Hindu Society located at 4968 Greenland Road.

If you need to create a FOCUS account, use this link: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/focus

Due to enrollment and the leveling of classes, class schedules will not be finalized and may change until the week of August 3rd.

We are excited to welcome our Cougars back to campus on Monday, August 10! Students may begin arriving at 8:00 a.m., and the instructional day begins promptly at 8:30 a.m.

To help everyone ease into the new school year, parents are welcome to walk their children to class during the first two days of school (August 10–11). Beginning on Wednesday, August 12, we ask that students be dropped off and enter the building independently. Our safety patrols and GPE staff will be stationed throughout the campus and at arrival and dismissal locations to greet students, help them find their classrooms, and ensure a smooth start to each day.

Thank you for partnering with us as we build confidence and independence in our students. We can't wait to kick off another amazing year with #TeamGPE!

Click the link below to access the supply lists for all of our classrooms including PreK VE, CSS, VPK and K-5. Individual teachers may have additional "wish list" items to share with families at orientation.

School Supply Lists: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/gpes/page/supply-lists/

Our Open House for all students PreK-5 will be Thursday, September 10th at 6:00pm. This will be an opportunity to meet your child's teacher and hear a presentation from them to learn more about their expectations and this school year. Hope to see you here!

We are so thankful for the many parents, family members, and community volunteers who support our students throughout the year!

If you plan to volunteer at Greenland Pines Elementary this school year, please be aware that Duval County Public Schools has updated its volunteer background screening requirements to enhance student safety and comply with state law.

The most significant change is that some volunteer opportunities—particularly serving as a field trip chaperone or in roles where volunteers may not always be under the direct supervision of a district employee—now require a Level II background screening, which includes a fee. These updated requirements apply to both new and returning volunteers.

If you think you may want to volunteer this year, we encourage you to review the updated requirements and complete the necessary screening process as early as possible.

Thank you for partnering with us to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching learning environment for all of our GPE Cougars!

Website: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/humanresources/page/volunteer-hr

Parents will need to download the NEW DCPS app and then access rooms to see their child's classroom and message the teacher. If you do not see your child's room in the app, check if you have a linked Parent Portal account. You must have a linked account to see the room. Join today!

All parents will need a linked parent portal. Click the button below and follow these steps to ensure your account is linked. Without a linked account you won't have access to school emails, classroom communication, student grades and report cards or attendance. Each parent that wants access will need a parent account.

School Cash online will be used for all payments this year including field trips. Please make sure you sign up for an account today!

Link: School Cash Online

Arrival will begin at 8:00am daily. Dismissal begins at 2:45pm daily. As a reminder, the car rider line/gate will close at 3:10pm daily. Please make sure you are in line before 3:10pm 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:

• All PreK and VPK students and siblings will use the car loop in the front of the school for arrival and dismissal. All other students (including CSS) will use the main car loop on the west side of the school.
• ✅Hang tags will be given out at orientation. Please make sure to stop and pick one up. All families will need these starting on the first day of school to pick students up. Each family will be given 1 tag. Additional tags can be purchased. We encourage all families (including those with bus riders and walkers) to get a hang tag in case you need to pick them up from school or a school event (after-school dance.)

Walkers:

• Please do not drop children off in the parking lot or park and walk them up to the building. Students who are walkers should cross with the crossing guard in front of the school. Walkers will be dismissed at 3:00 daily.
• Parents who are meeting their children should wait for them at Greenland Road. A staff member will walk students out.

Bus Riders:

• Parents should download PikMyKid for updated information. This allows you to know when your child's bus leaves GPE in the afternoons and get messages when the bus is running late.

• August 10 First Day of School
• September 7 Schools/Admin Offices Closed

You can view the DCPS calendar here: https://www.duvalschools.org/page/calendar2627

Below is our 25-26 School calendar.

Make sure to start the year on the right foot by ensuring your child attends school daily, stays all day and is on time. See the flyer below for more information on absences.

As a reminder, we can not dismiss students after 2:15pm 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.

This is a district policy and includes our PreK and CSS students leaving early. Please be mindful that once students are of compulsory school age (6), they are required to be in school daily. Therapies and appointments should be scheduled after school hours.

At the beginning of the school year, every student will receive a school-issued picture ID badge. Students use their ID badge each day to ride the bus, purchase breakfast, and purchase lunch, so it is important that they bring it to school daily.

Please do not remove or alter your child's ID badge. If an ID badge is lost or damaged, a replacement badge can be purchased for $5.00. Every student is required to have a current, active ID badge at all times. If your child needs a replacement, please send $5.00 and a note to your child's homeroom teacher, and we will print a new badge as soon as possible.

Thank you for helping your child keep track of their ID badge so they can have a smooth start to each school day.

Picture Day is coming on September 17th. Please have your child camera ready! Students will take individual photos. Information to purchase pictures/packages will be sent home soon.

We love having families join their children for lunch! To help ensure the safety of all students, anyone wishing to eat lunch with a student must first be approved as a Level I DCPS volunteer.

Due to the large number of students in the cafeteria during each lunch period, we ask that parents and guardians enjoy lunch with their child in our designated outdoor picnic area rather than inside the cafeteria. To help us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all students, only the approved parent or guardian and the GPE student may attend lunch. Friends, or other guests are not permitted during lunch visits.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Please plan to send a reusable water bottle with your child to school daily. Our students may drink from these in class throughout the day as well as take them to recess and PE. Thanks to PTA fundraising efforts, and your support, we have installed water bottle refill stations for our students to use as needed.

Families who may qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits must complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application or be directly certified by the State to receive assistance. The online application will be available through Duval County Public Schools during the first week of August. Students with a pending application will be able to receive free lunch for up to 10 school days while their application is being processed.

If your child will be purchasing meals, we encourage families to add funds to their MySchoolBucks account rather than sending cash to school. Using MySchoolBucks is a convenient and secure way to manage your child's meal account throughout the year.

Breakfast is free for all GPE students and is served daily from 8:00–8:30 a.m. Students who plan to eat breakfast at school should arrive with enough time to finish eating and be in their classrooms ready to learn by 8:30 a.m.

We have teamed up with Varsity Tutors to offer DCPS students personalized learning support when they need it. Students across the district will receive unlimited live support from highly qualified tutors in all core subject areas. They can also attend interactive extracurricular classes and clubs ie. coding and financial literacy via enrichment classes. Additionally, they can receive essay review and writing support.

How do students access the platform?

Students click on Blended Learning, then the Varsity Tutors icon, and log in with Clever.

Parents can visit https://www.varsitytutors.com/school-solutions/duval for support for their students. There are also a document attached below for parents to get more information about this opportunity.

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 as well as who is allowed to pick up. 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. We also encourage families of bus riders and walkers to download the app. You will be able to receive updates if your child is delayed being released and change their dismissal as needed.

Directions for installing the PikMyKid app can be found here: https://www.pikmykid.com/parent-support

By accessing FortifyFL, students can provide a description of the threat, share pics and videos and optionally submit their contact information.

• Anonymous or Non-Anonymous - You decide whether you want to include your name and contact information.

• Convenient - Submitting a tip is quick and easy using our mobile app or website.

• Include Photos and Video - You can also include photos or video with your tip report.

PTA is looking forward to another great school year!

Memberships are good for one year and help with funding the PTA programs and events. Single memberships are $11 and two person family memberships are $16.

If you are interested in joining the PTA board, we do have several open positions. Contact PTA President Kara Coleman at gpeptapresident@gmail.com.

Keep up with what is going on with PTA via our website (http://gpe.my-pta.org) or our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GreenlandPinesPTA}

What is SAC?

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 the school for more information.

Meeting Dates

3rd Wednesday of Each Month at 3:30pm

Meetings are held in the GPE Media Center

Next Meeting

September 16, 2026 at 5:30pm

GPE on Facebook: @GreenlandPines

GPE Website: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/greenlandpines

Please support those who support GPE. Click on the business logos below to support these local businesses. If your business is interested in becoming a GPE sponsor, email our AP, Ms. Eiseman at seybertj@duvalschools.org for more information.