Ozona Elementary
Parent Update: First Quarter 2024
A Message from Principal Freeman
Dear Ozona Families,
It was so great to welcome our Ospreys back on campus. As you know, we have enhanced safety protocols to follow and I am proud to say that parents, staff and students work together every day to maintain the safety & security of Ozona Elementary School.
This month we hosted opportunities for you to meet your child's teacher and to receive classroom specific information. In September we will be assessing students and in late September or early October you will be having a one-on-one parent-teacher conference. At that time teachers will share how your child performed and next steps to continue learning as we work to master grade level standards and provide one year's learning gain for each child.
The more you, as a parent, know about the Florida Standards the better you can partner with your child's teacher to ensure an awesome year of learning. Access these resources to build your knowledge.
https://www.pcsb.org/domain/230
Also check out the parent guides on our Ozona website. Click the tab titled Academics then go to Standards.
Thank you and Go Ospreys!
Lisa Freeman
Principal
A reminder:
- Stay tuned to our school marquee, our school website, and our PTA Facebook page & PTA Instagram page to keep updated with school information throughout the year.
A Message from Assistant Principal Mrs. Downes
Hello Families!
Welcome to the 2024-25 school year!
Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) is up and running to support our whole-school positive climate. Students have been learning routines and processes within their classrooms as well as the expectations all around campus.
Teachers have been awarding PBIS points already in our PBIS Rewards system. Students are able to view the amount of points earned through the PBIS Rewards app found in their student Clever apps area. Teachers have sent home a PBIS Parent Link letter with your students’ name on the letter. As a parent, you can download the PBIS Rewards Family app and scan the QR code found on the Parent Link letter. You will then be connected to your child’s PBIS account, and you will be able to view the points they earn and which Guideline for Success they are demonstrating to earn these points.
We will be sharing with teachers the specific dates that we will have the School Store up and running and which dates students will be able to purchase items from the school store monthly as well as enter to win raffles each month. Your teacher will communicate those specific dates once we have that on our school calendar.
Our PM1 (Progress Monitoring cycle 1) time has begun. We will be testing from Sept. 3rd-September 27th. You should have received a Parent Testing letter with information about your students’ grade level and their specific tests they will be taking this PM cycl1. Teachers will be analyzing the results of these assessments and sharing the beginning of the school year data with you at October parent conferences.
We are thankful for your support, and we look forward to working together with you to help your child success throughout this school year.
Mrs. Downes
No Student Drop Off Prior to 8:15 AM: IMPORTANT!
Parents,
Per new safety legislation. there are to be no students on campus prior to 8:15 AM. This is non-negotiable.
If you arrive prior to 8:15 in car line, the student is to stay in the car with you. If you walk or ride a bike, please adjust your schedule so that your child arrives between 8:15-8:45 AM. The school does not provide supervision for students prior to 8:15 AM. Club students & Patrols are the only exceptions and will be greeted by their sponsor. We need YOU to adhere to this safety concern. Thank you!
Ozona's School Improvement Plan
Student Hours
- Student hours for K-5th grade: 8:45 AM- 2:55 PM.
- PPK, Blended PPK and ASD PreK hours: 8:45 AM -2:45 PM
- VPK and Blended VPK hours: 8:30 AM -2:30 PM
Attendance matters. We do expect children to be in attendance for the entire learning day.
Important Dates
- Back to School Parent Information Night for Mr. Jessie (3rd gr.) and Mrs. Larsen (4th gr.) 5:45 pm, classrooms
- Boy Scout Presentation 6 PM, cafe
- PTA Meeting 6:30 pm, media center
- Midterm Reports
- Dot Day! Wear dots!
- All Pro Dad Bowling at Maple Lanes 2-4 pm
- Fall picture day
- No students (hurricane make up day)
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm, media center
- Walk & Roll to School
- End of grading period
- SAC 6 pm, media center
- PTA 6:30 pm, media center
- No school for students
- All Pro Dad breakfast
- Book Fair
- Report Cards
- Fall Fest
- Spirit Night: Dairy Rich
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm, media center
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm, media center
- Great American Teach In
- Midterm Reports
- All Pro Dad breakfast
- Spirit Night: Thirsty Marlin/Salty Lime Cantina
- Thanksgiving Break
- SAC 6 pm
- PTA Members Holiday event
- End of grading period
- Winter Break
- Students return
Ozona's Electronic Devices Policy
FortifyFL
FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.
Mrs. Narkier's News
The Counselor's Corner
PE Information
Hello and welcome back to another eventful year of Physical Education!
We look forward to providing our Ospreys with a fun packed and enlightening year of PE! Some friendly reminders: Please remind your children of wearing the proper footwear on days they have PE. Crocs, sandals, and boots are not permitted. It's important to stay hydrated in this weather and encouraging them to bring a water bottle helps keep them hydrated. Lastly, keep an open line of communication. It’s important you keep us out your child's classroom teacher aware of any injuries or other factors that may impact their participation in class.
We’re looking forward to a fun year and want to thank anyone who donated supplies to the department!
Sincerely,
The PE Department
A Colorful Note from Art
Beginning of the year in the art room. Scholars in grades K-3rd have been working on their self-portraits. Each grade has a color scheme and learning standards for drawing. Kindergarten focuses on Lines and Shapes. 1st grade on Geometric and Organic Shapes. 2nd grade Complex Shapes and Movement. 3rd grade showing Depth and Space. 4th and 5th grade is working on a Patriotic themed piece that will be sent to be displayed at Curlew Hills Memory Garden for their 9/11 ceremony. 4th grade is creating an Optical Illusion art piece showing Pattern and Emphasis. 5th grade painted Analogous backgrounds then, carved into a styrofoam printing plate their patriotic design which was then stamped onto their painted backgrounds.
Keyed into Music
Ozona music is off to a busy start. In Kindergarten we are learning about steady beat. First and Second Graders are working on Strong and Weak Beats. Third grade is learning about Ostinatos. Fourth grade are working with Triplets and Sixteenth notes. Fifth grade is beginning the curriculum for our field trip to the Florida Orchestra at the end of October.
Volunteer Opportunities
Hello and welcome back for the 2024-2025 school year. We are so excited to get all our volunteers for events, field trips, classroom assistants, etc. running again very soon. If you aren't already involved in our incredible PTA, their next meeting is Monday, September 9th at 6:30 PM in our media center. Our PTA is essential to our school, and they support us in everything we do. As we get underway, just a couple of reminders:
- With the start of the school year, we need all volunteers to sign into their volunteer account to activate for the year. You log on at the volunteer link below. The district has been sending out reminders to activate, so look in your junk mail if you don't know your username and password. If you have any trouble logging in, email me and I'll let you know the information for your volunteer account. It is best to do this from a computer as phones often set you to inactive when answering the 8 criminal questions.
https://focus.pcsb.org/volunteer
- If you are not a registered volunteer and want to be, we would love to have you!!! The link below is where you will start. This is the Level 1 form, and it is best to complete on a computer. At the beginning of the year it can take a few weeks, but once you receive your registration confirmation, please email me and I can provide you with the Level 2 information.
https://asd.pcsb.org/schoolwiresforms/volunteer/
- If you are already a level 1 volunteer, but are ready to get your level 2 clearance, please email me at moncrieffj@pcsb.org and I will send you the instructions for the next step.
- Many teachers utilize classroom volunteers. If you are interested in helping in your child's classroom, please let your child's teacher know directly. They can let you know of opportunities they may have from time to time, or regularly such as tutoring or working in small groups with students.
- Have you ever considered being a mentor? Our amazing mentors meet with an assigned student once a week during the child's lunch time. These are wonderful students who have been selected to have an extra caring adult in their lives to help support them at the school. You can learn more about it here: https://www.pcsb.org/mentor
- Do you have a business that would like to support or partner with our school? We have many opportunities from hanging a banner and making a monetary donation, to donating items or time that directly benefit the school and students. Please email Jenny Moncrieff at moncrieffj@pcsb.org if you would like more information.
I encourage you to get involved in our school. We have an amazing community, and your support helps us to make Ozona an incredible place for all our students!
Sincerely,
Jenny Moncrieff
Family and Community Liaison
PTA
Dear Osprey families,
Thank you to the 168 members who have joined or renewed their PTA membership this year! We are aiming to exceed last year's membership numbers and reach 300 members in the next few weeks. Your membership does not mean signing up to volunteer. Joining PTA as a member supports our mission to advocate for, engage with and invest in our children's school. Shout out to our 2024-2025 business sponsors who have chosen to partner with us and support our school! We are grateful for you and welcome any other businesses who want to partner with us.
Thank you to our PTA volunteers who welcomed our new families at our first day of school BooHoo Yahoo! Breakfast. We enjoyed meeting several new families and helping to calm their first day feelings. Thank you to those who attended our annual Ozona Invades the (Palm Harbor Public) Library event on August 23rd! We welcomed 200+ people and always enjoy the dance party that our PH Library puts on at this event.
We hope to see you at our first All Pro Dad breakfast on Thursday, September 5 at 7:30am in our cafeteria. This is a free event to include all role models to attend with their Osprey students. PTA partners with our fabulous Cafe staff and provides breakfast as well as coffee for a great start to our day. Please RSVP, bring your State Issued ID and plan to join us for a wonderful morning together. The event will end by 8:10am.
We welcomed 50+ members at our first PTA meeting and are excited to hit the ground running with so many programs and events for our families! Our next meeting will be held Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:30pm in our media center. We hope you will join us.
Finally, please follow our Ozona PTA Instagram and Facebook social media pages for regular information on upcoming events, reminders, and fun! Tag us in your photos so we can share them too!
Sincerely,
Ashley Gonnelli
2024-2025 PTA President
Rays Spirit Night
The Tampa Bay Rays are sharing a ticket offer for Pinellas County students, employees, friends, and families. The Rays will play the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 1:40 pm. Tickets will be offered for $25 plus fees. All tickets will be sent directly to the MLB Ballpark App. Families can learn more and buy tickets at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/pinellasspring2024
Dr. Jane Goodall: "Hope in Action"
The world-renown Dr. Jane Goodall, along with the Roots & Shoots Alliance of Tampa Bay, are hosting “Hope in Action”.
Hope in Action is a youth summit for kids ages 10 through 21. The purpose of this summit is for these kids to learn about service and how, even those as young as 10 years old, can make a difference in our community and help preserve our environment.
The summit will be from 10a to 4:30p on the 14th. On that same day, at 7pm, as part of her 90th birthday tour, there will be an Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall, where Dr. Goodall will share her life story along with messages of hope.
The event last year with Dr. Goodall spoke was incredible.
The following day (September 15th), Summit participants will take part in a Day of Action around Tampa Bay, with the opportunity to select from multiple service projects.
We encourage you to register your child ages 10 through 21 for the summit, the evening with Dr. Goodall, and the day of action.
Please let Ms. Freeman if you & your children take part in any aspect of this event. Send pictures too! (freemanl@pcsb.org)
Here is a link to the website to register for the Summit, the Day of Action or to purchase tickets for the evening with Dr. Goodall - https://rootsandshoots.org/take-action/events/yes-2024/
Events & Activities
Volunteers Ride FREE on PSTA
The PSTA offers the PCS UPASS program where PCS staff, students and volunteers can ride the PSTA buses for free. Level 2 volunteers just need to show their PCS Volunteer Level 2 badge. Level 1 volunteers will need to complete the PCS Level 1 Volunteer Bus ID Request Form . The district will verify you are a PCS volunteers and send you an email with the digital ID below (with your name of course 😊). Volunteers just need to show the image to the PSTA bus drivers for a free ride!
Are You In the Know?
Ozona Elementary Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OEPTA?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Ozona PTA Instagram https://instagram.com/ozonapta?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
Ozona Elementary Website https://www.pcsb.org/ozona-es
Ozona Elementary
Email: freemanl@pcsb.org
Website: https://www.pcsb.org/ozona-es
Location: 601 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Phone: 727-724-1589