Stellar Newsletter

Family Month

Students achieve MORE when families are actively involved —whether attending school events, communicating with teachers, or supporting learning at home

• TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10th is the LAST DAY to reserve a spot for Family Lunch Week
• Active Level 1 Volunteer Application required
• Participate in our month of family engagement activities, where you can, then share with us!

Progress Reports

• This week is the midway point of the 2nd quarter
• Progress reports will be sent home and available in FOCUS next week

Progress Monitoring Assessments

• We have just 7 days of instruction left before Progress Monitoring 2 begins
• Please ensure your student leader is Present, On Time Daily to school and Stay for the Full Day of Instruction as we continue to prepare students

School Expo

• DCPS School Expo is THIS SATURDAY (see flyer below)
• BELA 5th grade parents and parents who want to stay informed on what our district has to offer, please plan to attend

• NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 11/11 in observance of Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of our veterans. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication have protected the freedoms we enjoy every day

• Come eat lunch with your student leader. MAX: 2 persons
• Create memories
• MUST RESERVE SPOT BY NOVEMBER 10th . Click link below to sign up !
  

• See BELA Family Engagement Calendar full of ideas to engage with your family during this month
• Participate every day or on the days that represent your HOUSE
• Each activity corresponds with one of our house meanings
• Share an activity your family completed !

STRONGER FAMILIES CREATE BRIGHTER FUTURES

• These gifts allow us to directly celebrate and pour love into our STELLAR teachers and staff. I am unable to spend school money on food, tokens, holiday gathering, or other items to boost morale.
• We rely entirely on community generosity and personal contributions from our admin team to make these special moments happen.
• I send this request out twice per year; however, you can contribute at any point throughout the school year.
• The $25 your family chooses to give goes directly to help me take care of our teachers and staff who work everyday to ensure your student leader has a STELLAR school experience

Our F.A.S.T Progress Monitoring 2 (PM2) State Testing for students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade will begin on Monday, November 30, 2026

Specific testings dates will be shared in upcoming newsletters

• BELA is collecting aluminum pop tabs to support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
• Ronald McDonald house provides housing, meals, and support to families with sick or injured children. How can you help?

1. Remove the tab from your can
2. Collect tabs in a disposable container or Ziplock bag
3. Once you've collected enough drop off with Ms. Alvarado (1st grade) or Ms. Rodgers (5th grade)

• Collecting NOW until 11/19

• 5th grade Parents AND Parents who want to know more about what the district has to offer! Discover at the upcoming School Expo

• Learn about the Lottery Process, Special Assignment and more via online Webinar THIS THURSDAY
• Click below to register to attend

• 4th grade Book Character Pumpkins turned out AMAZING! Our students and families creativity is on display in our School Media Center
• Come view all of our pumpkins in the Media Center at the SAC Meeting next Tuesday at 5:30p

• 2nd grade students learned about the Election Process and how their voice matters when they participate

• 5th grade brought their States of Matter module to life in a project on Solid, Liquids, and Gas

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.

DCPS requires all volunteers and chaperones to have an active and valid volunteer application

ALL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES DURING SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM HOURS AT BISCAYNE ELEMENTARY REQUIRE AN ACTIVE LEVEL 2 BACKGROUND SCREENING

We encourage any parents, grandparents, family members who may want to get involved at BELA to complete ASAP

• EVERY student expected to be in :
• Tops: RED, BLACK, GREY
• Bottoms: Khaki and Black
• Show your school pride EVERY FRIDAY! Wear your school spirit shirt!

• School Doors Open at 8a.
• Please do NOT drop off before 8a
• *THERE IS NO ADULT SUPERVISION BEFORE 8A
• Please keep your student safe, by allowing them to wait in the car, or standing with them until the doors open
• Car Rider loop should be utilized for drop off until 8:25a
• Instruction begins at 8:30a PROMPTLY
• Arrival after 8:30a is considered TARDY
• Please follow proper drop off and pick up procedures to ensure safety
• ALL CHANGES to STUDENT route of dismissal MUST be made in PikMyKid App ** changes cannot be made over the phone to front office staff**

Principal McBride Book of the Month' is intended to encourage family reading at home. The goal is to:

1. Encourage your student leader to READ and build reading stamina
2. Foster critical thinking thru book related ACTIVITY

The activities will help foster LITERACY and INDEPENDENT THINKING which will help students with:

• Decision Making
• Solving Problems
• Completing task on their own
• Actively engaging with information and forming their own opinions

Chapter book readers: Parents can select a book for your leaders and create an activity or questions to ask your student leader about the selected book. This will help your child apply the information they just read.

See Current District School Calendar below, click link for more details and most up to date changes

• The district has implemented weapons detection systems in elementary schools beginning this school year. Biscayne systems have been installed and implementation begin Wednesday 10/21/26. The Weapon Detection System/OpenGate:
• Provides additional level of safety and security
• GOAL= Keep students and staff safe
• We ask our students and families to be patient with this safety upgrade to help ensure a successful implementation
• The CEIA OPENGATE systems are designed to efficiently screen large numbers of people, including backpacks, while maintaining a steady flow of entry

per DCPS : ALL parent-teacher communication should be via Rooms in Duval Schools App

Please ensure you have downloaded the DUVAL Schools APP, once connected you will have access to:

• Communicate with your childs' teacher via classROOMS
• Receive all school and district communications, texts, and emails, and alerts

See below to link Parent Account to Student Account.

• Parent Account needed to view students grades
• View progress reports that will post this week
• Update Contact information
• Register for school bus or do School Choice application for Middle School

We utilize PikMyKid 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 12:00pm daily.

Click attachment below for complete User Guide