Welcome Students & Families!

Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year!

The new school year will begin on Monday, August 12th. All enrolled students will receive a postcard in early August with instructions to check our school website to view important back-to-school information. The label on the postcard will include your child’s name and a number code that will be used to determine the teacher assignment (an attachment with directions is included below). IF your postcard does not arrive prior to your child's scheduled Meet the Teacher session, you may come to the school office when you arrive for the session to receive your child’s teacher assignment (please bring ID and proof of current residence).

Please plan to join us for our Back to School MEET THE TEACHER(S) Event! A flyer with more information and a schedule is included in the body of this newsletter.

The following information is attached below:

• 2024-2025 Teacher Assignments (directions for determining teacher w/ number codes on postcard labels)
• First Day Student Nametag (with arrival/dismissal info)
• Quick Reference Guide for Parents
• School Supply Lists
• Pride Uniform Policy

Additional information including school nutrition and medication administration are also included in this newsletter. All information will also be included in our student folders which will be available at our Meet the Teacher Events.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS AN EARLY RELEASE MONDAY. WE WILL BEGIN DISMISSAL AT 12:55 (one hour early).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 558-5400 or email us at pride.elementary@hcps.net.

Again, welcome to an exciting year as we embark on our 25th Year of Excellence!

Preparing students for life,

Paulette English, Principal

Heather Moncrief, Assistant Principal

Parents may choose to walk their children to classrooms the first three days of the school year. If you choose to walk your child to class, please park in the back of Cross Creek Park near the basketball court and leave the graveled lot by the playground available for parents who arrive early and wait for the car line to begin moving at 7:05. Please note that it may take some time to exit the park once you have walked your child to class. We are happy that HCPS is allowing us to welcome parents on campus to help orient students as we begin the new year, but we also know that this will add to the traffic congestion entering and exiting the school. Please consider allowing older students and students who are confident and familiar with the campus to arrive their usual way beginning the first day (bus, car, walker, bike rider).

To ensure the safety and efficiency of our school dismissal process in the car line and carpool areas, we will be using QR codes to uniquely identify students for pick up. Families will be provided with numbered car tags to display on rear view mirrors and business-sized cards with associated QR codes printed on them to be scanned upon arrival in the dismissal line. PLEASE NOTE THAT PARENTS MUST PRESENT THE QR CODE AND CAR TAG IN ORDER TO PICK STUDENTS UP IN THE CARLINE. Parents without their assigned QR code and car tag will be required to go to the front office to sign students out.

At our Meet the Teacher event, staff members will be in the cafeteria to assist you with signing up for carline or carpool. Your family will be assigned a dismissal number, and you will be given car tags and cards with the associated QR code printed on them. Car tags and QR code cards may also be picked up in the front office if you are unable to attend our Meet the Teacher event.

Every day matters when it comes to attendance! There is a strong link between regular attendance and academic success. Research indicates that missing 10% of the school year, which is 2 days a month, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. Compared to students who are chronically absent, students who attend school regularly have greater success in all grade levels.

1. Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.

2. Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.

3. Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.

4. Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.

5. Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Please take a few moments to review the information posted below which highlights the importance of regular school attendance.

Purchase Spirit Shirts and join and PTA by visiting our PTA Memberhub store. https://pridetampa.givebacks.com/ Shirts and memberships will also be available at our Meet the Teacher(s) Events on August 7th and 8th.