News from the Nest

Happy April!

In March we had so many exciting things happening on and off campus!

On March 10, we held the Sunshine State celebration for those students that read and passed 11 quizzes. We had so much fun playing board games together!

On March 12, we had our Day of Awesomeness! The entire school enjoyed inflatables, obstacle courses, dance parties and so much more. Special thanks to our PTA for leading this fundraiser and all of the volunteers that helped to make this special event a huge success for our students.

Our fifth graders took a field trip to John Long Middle School to learn about their experiences for the fall. We are so thankful for this community partnership!

All of our students have had the opportunity to enjoy the Star Lab with sessions led my Mrs. Simmons! This is always a fun and engaging learning opportunity.

Finally, on March 31, our 2nd grade team hosted our annual Living Museum. All of our 2nd graders did an amazing job, and we are so proud of them!

We hope everyone enjoyed a restful Spring Break with family and friends.

If either of us can ever be of any assistance to your child or family, please reach out to us.

#CranesALLin

Mrs. Shauger and Mrs. Chmurzynski

National Assistant Principals Week, April 7-11, 2025, is a celebration of the unsung heroes in our education system. These dedicated folks work tirelessly to bolster teachers, motivate students, support their principal, create a positive learning community, and face the many unpredictable challenges that land on their desk.

Assistant Principals play a crucial role, and this week is a dedicated time to recognize them for their hard work and commitment to our schools, students, and profession. We are so thankful for Mrs. Chmurzynski and all that she does for our Sand Pine community!

K - 2: April 16 - May 30 (F.A.S.T.)

3 - 5: May 1 - May 30 (F.A.S.T.)

K - 5: May 5 - May 30 (District Finals)

Refer to your child's parent letter for PM3 that will provide you with exact testing dates and resources.

• * Please assist us in making sure your child is well-rested and arrives on time for their testing days.
• * Please keep these dates in mind and do not schedule appointments or trips out of town on testing days.
• * A quiet campus will be observed on every testing day, and campus will be closed to volunteers and visitors. Daily schedules may be adjusted to accommodate testing needs.

Do you have an incoming Kindergarten student? Don't miss out! Join us on Monday, April 7 at 6:00 pm to see what Kindergarten is all about. Meet your teachers, explore the classroom, and get all the information you need as a parent. We can't wait to see you and meet our newest Cranes!

Our next Sunshine State Celebration will be for students that have read and passed ALL Sunshine State books by May 2nd. Our celebration will be on May 9th! Special thanks to Mrs. Simmons, our Instructional Trainer Coach, for heading up this incentive program!

Walkers and bikers should not arrive at the corner outside the school gate until 8:55 A.M. at the earliest. There is no staff supervision before then. We have had reports from our crossing guards that students are arriving much earlier and are unsupervised. Also, no dropping students off at the bus loop entrance to walk or on the side of the road. These are safety concerns, and we appreciate your assistance with this.

If buses are late, you will be notified by transportation. For real time information, you can download the Where's My Bus app. Here are the directions: https://pasco.k12.fl.us/transportation/full-page/wheres-the-bus

To reach transportation directly, please call: 813-320-2562.

Changes of transportation - If you need to change your child's mode of transportation for the day, please fill out the MACH form on our school website no later than 2:15 pm. We will no longer take changes over the phone for safety reasons. We want to ensure that all students get home the correct way and safely.

Once again, we are welcoming our families back on campus to have lunch with their child. This began on September 9. Family lunches will be on Monday and Friday only.

Here are the lunch procedures:

1. Parents must show a physical ID (a photo of your ID will not be accepted). You will check in at the front office and be Raptored in prior to joining their child for lunch. They must wear badge the entire time they are on campus. Only family members listed on the emergency card of the child may visit for lunch.

2. Parents may not sit at the table with the class. There are some tables inside the cafeteria, outdoor lunch tables, and in the Butterfly Garden where you can enjoy lunch.

3. Parents may only eat with their own child (no classmates).

4. Once lunch is over, parent should go back to office to check out. They may not join their child at recess or walk them back to the classroom.

Please be sure to follow our school Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SandPineElementarySchool, our Sand Pine PTA page at https://www.facebook.com/SPESPTArocks, and our school X account (@SPES_Cranes). Throughout the school year, we will be posting information for families and photos of all the amazing things happening on campus!