Fordham Family Times

Hello families!

I am happy to be back for year three here at Fordham Early Learning Academy. As always with each passing year as we have continued to grow, I look forward to welcoming in our new group of children, and seeing those that have grown with us, return.

This year is the beginning of my 26th year working for Marion County Public Schools. I began my journey working as a student in high school, completing on-the-job training in the mailroom at the county office. Soon after graduation, I was hired full-time. I spent fourteen years at the district office before moving into the best profession- teaching!

I taught at Maplewood Elementary School before moving into the role of a VPK Coach. In this position, I worked with teachers all over the district to support them with instruction. Almost five years ago, I transitioned to the role of Early Learning Coordinator, where our team collectively worked with each VPK teacher at our 31 elementary schools. Mrs. Beck and I joined forces nearly three years ago to go on a remarkable journey to create THE Fordham Early Learning Academy! We welcome you all!

I am excited for another great year. Together with our amazing staff, students, and families, we will continue to strive to create BIG beginnings for our LITTLE learners.

The October Monthly Calendar has been printed and sent home for your convenience. The calendar can also be referenced using the link below.

October 11 is school picture day. Please remind your child to wear their best smile. You will have the opportunity to pay online if you are interested in purchasing pictures. Cash or check is also an acceptable form of payment when using the envelope that will be sent home with your child.

Mark your calendars for a fun, family-friendly event on Friday, October 25, from 5:00-6:30. Children will trick or treat from trunk to trunk and enjoy some treats and games along the way. More information, including ticket sales, will be sent home with your child soon.

If you are interested in being a part of our virtual Trunk or Treat Planning Meeting on October 1, at 3:00 PM, please send an e-mail to Joy Baxley at Joy.Baxley@marion.k12.fl.us. She will be happy to send you the Teams meeting link.

Do you have a child at home from birth to school-age and looking for a one-hour weekly interactive play group? Look no further. The Stepping Stone Program at Fordham Early Learning Academy begins on Friday, October 4th at 9:00 AM-10:00 AM and runs for six weeks. Take the first step within Marion County Public Schools and join us for a play-based parent/young child learning group.

• All parents and caregivers welcome
• Birth to Pre-Kindergarten age
• Interactive learning
• Music, movement and art activities
• Weekly story rime provided by the Marion County Public Library
• Parent education
• Snack
• A free book a week to build your child's home library

Join all the fun and register today!!!

Thank you to everyone who sold boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. We appreciate your support! Doughnuts will be delivered on Friday, October 4. Doughnuts will be available for pick-up beginning at 7:30 AM. If you are picking up doughnuts in the AM, a separate doughnut pick-up line will be available on the "side" of our school, in the parking lot facing Anthony Road. If you drive through that parking lot, keeping closest the sidewalk, the gate will be open, and Fordham staff will load your doughnuts into your car. Pick-ups after 8:20 AM, will be available through our front office. Doughnuts not picked up in the AM or throughout the day, will be sent home via afternoon carline or through the Marion Afterschool Program.

At our recent School Advisory Council meeting, we discussed campus safety protocols and the topic of student light up shoes came up. We discussed in lockdown situations, school staff turns off the classroom lights and quickly moves students to their safe location. There were several concerns from parents regarding the ability to "see" students from the classroom or from their safe location because of light up shoes. At this time, I am recommending that students do not wear light up shoes to school. This is not a mandatory policy, however, we are always looking for continued ways to keep students and staff as safe as possible while at school. I appreciate your support and encourage continued attendance at our upcoming School Advisory Council meetings.

The Fordham Early Learning Academy Schoolwide Improvement Plan and Parent and Family Engagement Plan link (English and Spanish) are under our school website's "Recent News" section to seek stakeholder consultation, feedback, and public approval.

https://fel.marionschools.net/news/what_s_new/2024-25_survey

Each pdf is linked to a "live" stakeholder survey at the end of the document labeled "We Value Your Opinion!" Surveys are available now until October 9.

If you participate in afternoon car line, thank you for your continued patience as we work to quickly load students into cars each afternoon. In an effort to move cars off the main road, please pull all the way up to the car in front of you each afternoon. Please do not leave any gaps. We want to ensure we are maximizing the space we have in our parking lot to keep as many cars as possible off the main road. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Check out this month's official newsletter from the Office of Early Learning for all VPK families.