Principal’s Corner :

Dear JCE families,

March is upon us with the feeling of spring in the air! Students and teachers continue to work hard and push forward. We

are learning and growing and having a great time doing both!

A special thank you to our PTO for a wonderful Family Dance last month. What a fun community activity for our

students and families! We know how much work that takes and the time that goes in to organize and decorate. We are so

grateful to all that helped with this event. Coming up we have our Family Fun Day on March 12. We invite all to attend

and enjoy another community building activity that our PTO is organizing for us. I, myself, am looking forward to being

dunked in the dunk tank and I am trying to talk my colleagues into joining me. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for warm

weather on that weekend. Could be chilly!

March also marks the start of state wide testing for our upper grades. Our students are ready - we have no doubt! Please

help them do their best with a good night’s sleep and a strong, protein filled breakfast to get them started putting their

best foot forward. Class schedules and routines will be altered during this time for all our students so please be aware of

that as well. Check with your classroom teacher for any changes to your child’s schedule.

I want to let you know about a couple of projects that we are planning for the near future. We are moving the east bike

rack closer to the school for safety and security reasons. I have been advised by law enforcement officials that I

coordinate with that the current location, so near the busy road, is not the safest for our students and families and I agree.

We hope to add a new concrete pad and move the racks later this spring, closer to the building, so that bikes, students

and parents are safer. More details will follow as this project materializes. We continue to work on our technology plan

for JCE – adding devices, upgrading wireless technology, adding updated projectors and other AV equipment to

classrooms. This is a big project and will take several years but we are actively working on this daily. We are excited to

bring the best that the 21st century has to offer to our school. Lastly, we are looking to revamp our K-2 playground this

summer to get more equipment for our little friends. I am in the midst of getting several quotes and looking into the best

structures to help build strength and offer the most fun. This will be a great addition to our school and hope to have this

completed this summer.

Whew! We are busy and sure love what we are doing. Thank you for sharing your children with us. We love them!

Thank you for your continued support for our wonderful staff and teachers. They work very hard each day for you and

your children. We are lucky to have each of them. Enjoy your March!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Olson

Allison Olson, Principal

Natalie Gitto, Assistant Principal

Cindy Leeber, Assistant Principal

2316 Race Track Rd., St. Johns, FL 32259

Phone: 904-547-7980 Fax: 904-547-7985

www-jce.stjohns.k12.fl.us

March 2016

Be sure to look throughout the newsletter for important infor-

mation about the upcoming PTO events, Pasta Night on March 11

and Family Fun Day on March 12!!

Calendar of UPCOMING EVENTS Reminder – early dismissal Wed. at 1:50

March

1 FSA Writes—no volunteers, no lunch visitors

8 SAC Meeting 3:15 pm

10/11 Spring Pictures

10 ‘16-’17 Kindergarten Registration 1-5

11 Family Fun Pasta Night 6:30-8:00

12 Family Fun Day 11-4

17 PTO Family Night at Tropical Smoothie

18 Teacher Planning Day—No School

21-28 Spring Break—No School

29 Classes Resume

30/31 FSAs—no volunteers, no lunch visitors

April 1 & 4 FSAs—no volunteers, no lunch visitors

4 Report Cards

8 ‘16-’17 Kindergarten Registration 9-1

Please check the school calendar on the website often for additional dates and

resource schedule.

St. Johns County School District

Transportation Dept. is currently hiring

diesel mechanics! Please contact Alex

Vasquez at 904-338-2077 if interested.

Join the Piranhas Swim Team! It’s time to register for the Julington Creek Piranhas Swim Team summer

swim season! This year the team will hold 2 registrations for new swimmers at "Food Truck Friday” at the Aquat-

ics Complex in Julington Creek on March 18 and April 1. Please join us to learn more about our great summer

swim team. The Piranhas welcome swimmers ages 5-18. We have openings for both experienced swimmers and

those that have never been on a swim team before. Go to jcppiranhas.org for more information.

Yearbooks are on Sale!

Preorders for yearbooks are still being accepted. Visit our school

website to download an order form. Orders need to be mailed directly

to Leonards. You can also order online at: www.leonards.com/

yearbooks . Our order number is 33650. Please DO NOT send the

order form to school. MAIL IT TO LEONARDS. Books are now

$25. Contact Mrs. Jones in the computer lab if you have any ques-

tions.

FSA proctors needed!

We will need FSA proctors for the following dates:

March 30, March 31, April 1 and April 4. All tests are 80 minutes. If you are able to help proctor any of

these tests, please sign up in the front office or contact Guidance to be added to the list! Thank you!

FSA Testing Schedule

On the following testing dates no lunch visitors will be allowed and volun-

teers may only enter after 12:30pm: March 1, March 30, March 31, April

1, and April 4.

Third Grade: FSA ELA: March 30 & March 31 (paper based)

FSA MATH: April 1 & April 4 (paper based)

DE Test D Window: May 2-May 19 (computer based)

Resource Test: May 20 (computer based)

Fourth Grade: FSA WRITES: March 1 (paper based)

FSA MATH: April 1 & April 4 (paper based)

FSA ELA: Group A: April 11 & April 12 / Group B: April 13 & April 14

(computer based)

DE Test D Window: May 2-May 19 (computer based)

Resource Test: May 20 (computer based)

Fifth Grade: FSA WRITES: March 1 (paper based)

FSA MATH: Group A: April 15 & April 18 / Group B: April 19 & April

20 (computer based)

FSA ELA: Group A: April 21 & April 22 / Group B: April 25 & April 26

(computer based)

FSA SCIENCE: May 3 & May 4 (paper based)

Resource Test: May 20 (computer based)

K-1st Grades: DE Test D Window: May 2-May 19 (computer based)

2nd Grade: DE Test D Window: May 2-May 19 (computer based)

Resource Test: May 20 (computer based)

Needs Assessment Surveys for the School

Advisory Council (SAC) are open until April

1. Please be sure to complete this very important

electronic survey. A link has been emailed to you,

and the survey is also available on the JCE

website.

BeaTPAC (Bartram Trail High School Performing Arts Summer Camp)

Registration Opens Tuesday, March 1, 2016. To register and receive information go to www.Beatpac.com.

This year’s theme is BeaTPAC Goes to Hollywood. The dates are June 20, 2016-July1, 2016 from 9am-3:30pm at

Bartram Trail High School. Be sure to register early since space is limited.

Monday, Mar. 14 Homestyle Mac & Cheese OR BBQ Chicken Max Snax OR Chicken Nuggets Tues., Mar. 1/Mar. 15/Mar. 29 Max Cheese Sticks OR Mini Cheese Ravioli OR Mini Corn Dogs Weds, Mar. 2/Mar. 16/Mar. 30 Chicken Nuggets OR Cheese Pizza OR Pepperoni Pizza Thurs, Mar. 3/Mar. 17/Mar. 31 Cheeseburger OR Chicken Sandwich OR Chicken Nuggets Friday, Mar. 4/April 1 Chicken Nuggets OR Hot Dog OR Max Cheese Sticks Monday, Mar. 7 Chicken Quesadilla OR Max Cheese Sticks OR Chicken Nuggets Tuesday, Mar. 8 Cheese or Pepperoni Calzonettes OR Chicken Sandwich OR Mini Corn Dogs Wednesday, Mar. 9 Cheese Pizza OR Pepperoni Pizza OR Chicken Nuggets Thursday, Mar. 10 Chicken Marinara & Penne OR Hot Dog OR Chicken Nuggets Friday, Mar. 11 BBQ Chicken OR Cheeseburger OR Mini Corn Dogs

Mondays: Cookies 35¢ Wednesdays: Papa Johns $1.85

Fridays: Ice Cream $1.00

Teresa Butrimas, Manager

(904)-547-8000

Note to Parents from the School District: To view the instructional materials recently approved by the school board, please visit this site: http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/textbooks/adoption/

PRACTICAL PARENTING MAGIC

St Johns County Schools (SJCS) Welcomes

Author and Behavior Specialist, Melisa Genaux

Topic: REDUCING CONFLICT AND CREATING

A PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD Date/Time: 3/8/16 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: Pacetti Bay Middle School – 245 Meadowlark Lane,

St. Augustine, FL 32092

Cost: FREE!

St. Augustine Youth Services to Observe April National Child Abuse Prevention Month

The 3

rd Annual Pinwheel Parade Against Child Abuse will be

on Saturday, April 2nd

at the SAYS campus from 10:00-11:30am. There will be a ceremonial “parade” around the campus, refresh-ments, free children’s activities, plus tables set up with parenting information and people on hand to answer questions about the resources available in St. Johns County. School and community groups are welcome to participate. For more information, please call 904-829-1770.

Music News:

The Music Department is having a “Reading Re-

wards Program” fundraiser this first week of

March! Please check with your child for the in-

formation that was sent home on Mon., Feb. 29th, and please check out

the short video that explains the fundraiser at: http./

gafundraising.weebly.com/readingrewards.html

All 3rd

graders need to begin bringing their recorder and book to each

music class now. Those who ordered a recorder, book, and/or CD from

Mrs. Isabelle will receive them at their next music class.

Kindergarten Registration Dates for 2016-2017 School Year

Thursday, March 10 from 1:00pm—5:00pm

Friday, April 8 from 9:00am—1:00pm

Monday, May 9 from 1:00 pm—5:00pm

Volunteers are needed to help mat and label completed student

artwork. It’s easy!! Those interested in helping may stop by the art room any time!

News for 5th Graders Art Project Needs Please remember to bring in a pair of white canvas shoes (Walmart has the cheapest) for a art project. Donations of fabric markers would also be appreciated.

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Progressing to FCMS Next Year? Please join us for a FCMS PTO meeting Thursday, March 10, 9:30 a.m. in the FCMS media center conference room. Hope you can make it! Several PTO positions will become available next year as parents move on to high school. If you would like to learn more about what officers and chairpersons do, please visit our web site at: http://www.fcmspto.org/

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Summer Marine Science Program Applications for the summer Marine Science Program will be passed out by science teachers at all schools during the week of February 16th. Applications will be due back to science teachers by March 4th. Applications can also be downloaded from the website. Go to http://www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us and click on the Marine Science link on the left side of the home page. Three eight-day sessions, starting May 31, June 9, or June 23, will be held this summer at Gamble Rogers Middle School with bus transportation provided. Learning is “hands on” in the field with students kayaking, canoeing, boating, hiking, snorkel-ing, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, etc. Email John Gordon at John.Gordon@stjohns.k12.fl.us for more information.

Important PTO Information Fall Cleaning Time! As you clean out your closets, please set aside your gently used books for this year’s AR (Accelerated Reader) Store. There is a bin in the front office now to collect them. All levels are needed, howev-er we really are in need of chapter books for grades 3-5. Students who have completed at least one AR quiz will receive one of the books at the AR Store in May.

Your PTO is dedicated to Julington Creek Elementary maintaining its top ranking as one of the best elementary schools in all of Florida. To do that, it takes both financial and vol-unteer support from our parents. Providing a superior education and positive learning environ-ment for our children is the best investment we can possibly make. Our current board has served 2 terms, so we are looking for new parents to take the lead in the 2016-2017 school year. The open positions are President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Chairperson, Newsletter Editor, Key Communicator Chairperson and Family Fun Day Co-Chair. If you are interested in learning more about open positions, please email Larissa.prendergast@mac.com. Elections will take place in May.

Join us for JCE Family Fun Day! Order forms due by Wednesday 3/9 Bounce houses, games & prizes, food & fun! Join us on Saturday, March 12th from 11am-4pm. Enjoy one of the biggest attractions, our classroom basket display! Every classroom designs a themed basket to give away in a drawing on Family Fun Day. PTO wants to thank all parents helping to create your class basket and teachers for creating teacher time activities. Baskets can be previewed in the library starting March 8th and at Family Fun Day Pasta Night on March 11th at 6:30pm. Highlights from some of our prior years’ classroom baskets can also be previewed at this link….https://www.facebook.com/JulingtonCreekElementaryPto/posts/467991406691835?comment_id=468040146686961¬if_t=feed_comment Jazzy Jaguar will make an appearance at Pasta Night and Family Fun Day! Make sure to bring your camera! We also will need many student volunteers and adult volunteers. Please view this link to learn more….http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044da9a72eab9-jcefamily1/