SCES News
April Parent Newsletter
2023-2024 Student Calendar of Events
The link below provides a student calendar of events for the 2023-2024 school year. The calendar informs everyone of dates for school activities, progress reports and report cards, breaks, and celebrations. Please check this calendar out to keep up to date with what's going on at SCES.
Solar Eclipse
As many of you already know, we will experience a solar eclipse on Monday. For our location, the eclipse will begin around 1:45 and end around 4:00 with the peak of the eclipse occuring around 3:00.
Seminole County Schools will plan for a regular school day on April 8, 2024. Teachers and staff will make every effort to keep students indoors during this afternoon to limit opportunities for students to look directly at the eclipse. Parents should talk with their students about the dangers of looking directly at the eclipse and the importance of listening to their teachers on this day. Parents with concerns may elect to keep their students out on this school day or may pick their students up before our normal 2:50 PM pickup time. Students will be excused on this day with the return of a parent note. Students out on this day without a parent note will be considered unexcused. If you have any questions at this time, please call SCES at 229-524-5235.
Attendance Protocol
Seminole County School System Attendance Policy & Procedure:
Upon enrollment Parents/Guardians receive State Compulsory Law and County Attendance Policy
1-3 Unexcused absences parent and student contact made by teacher(s)
4 Unexcused absences parent & student contact made by principal designee(s)
5 Unexcused absences parent contact via letter
6 Unexcused absences parent contact via home visit from school social worker
7 Unexcused absences Attendance Support Team meets and creates an attendance contract. A certified letter is mailed to the parents/guardians requesting a meeting to discuss and sign the contract.
8+ Unexcused absences which breaks attendance contract; parent contact via home visit from the school social worker with a recommendation for referral to law enforcement and complaint filed with the court system.
Further unexcused absences will result in continued referral to law enforcement
The full attendance protocol is attached below. Please be mindful of the number of days your students miss. If no action is taken after an absence, it will be classified as an unexcused absence.
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School Staff Appreciation Days
We have a few jobs in our school that have appreciation days in the upcoming days. We are blessed to have awesome staff members that make our school the best. Please let these staff members know how much we appreciate them.
- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day- Monday, April 8
- School Librarian Appreciation Day- Friday, April 12
- Assistant Principal's Appreciation Day- Monday, April 15
- Administrative Professional Appreciation Day- Wednesday, April 24
March Indians and Staff of the Month
Check out the March Indians and Staff of the Month. Congratulations students and staff. Go Indians!
K-5th Grade Indians of the Month
Go Indians!
K3 and PreK Indians of the Month
Seminole's Got Talent
Family Connections will once again host Seminole's Got Talent for the students of Seminole County Schools on April 18 in the auditorium at Seminole County Elementary School. Parents and students may register using the QR code on the attached flyer. Students will audition their talents at SCES on Wednesday, April 10. Entry fee and registration is due the date of the audition.
4th Grade Parent Luncheon
SCES will host all 4th grade parents for a parent luncheon on April 30. We look forward to seeing you at this event. There will be some entertainment along with some academic instruction. The food will be amazing, along with the fellowship. Parents and students will also have an opportunity to attend the Spring Book Fair which is also taking place this week. Each plate is $4.00. Please return this form and the money by Monday, April 15, 2024. Forms returned without payment will not be accepted. The luncheon form is attached below.
Kindergarten and PreK Registration
PreK and Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school term began on February 1. We currently have spots still available. Parents can scan the QR code attached below to fill out the google form for each registration. Current SCES K3 students will automatically be enrolled into the PreK program and can bypass this process. Current SCES PreK students will automatically be enrolled into Kindergarten and can bypass this process. Students who registered before spring break should have received a letter in the mail to confirm their registration appointment. Anyone who has not received their letter should contact SCES at 229-524-5235.
SCES Spring Book Fair
SCES will host the Scholastic Spring Book Fair from Monday, April 29 until Friday, May 3. Family Night is scheduled on Monday, April 29 from 4:00 until 6:00. Classes will visit the book fair Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during school hours. A schedule of these visits will be shared later. 4th Grade parents will be able to visit the book fair on Tuesday, April 30 after the luncheon. The Book Fair webpage is linked below with the dates and information on merchandise and eWallet sign up. Look forward to seeing you there.
March Assessment Updates
GMAS- The schedule for GMAS testing for 3-5 graders is listed below. Included in this schedule is a practice test day. Additional directions and schedules will be shared soon. Please use the link below for GMAS assessment resources.
4th Quarter Progress Reports will be sent home Monday, April 22.
5th Grade Sports Physicals for 24-25 School Term
SCMHS will offer free sports physicals for our 5th Grade students on April 17th at SCMHS. We will transport students to and from SCMHS on this day. The parent portion of the physical forms must be completed and returned to their homeroom teacher by April 16th. Students without a completed physical form will not be allowed to receive a physical.
2024 Rodeo
Seminole County/Donalsonville Chamber of Commerce are excited to be bringing back the Boots & Roots Rodeo on April 26-27, 2024 at Seminole Industrial Park, 2841 Ash Crossing Road. The rodeo starts at 7:30 pm, gates open at 6:00 pm so be sure to come early and enjoy children’s activities and grab something to eat! It was such a hit last year, so we are bringing back the petting zoo, sponsored by First Port City Bank!
The Chamber has once again contracted with Justin Thigpen of T – T Rodeo Company, who was this year’s All Around World Champion, that will feature Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Bull Riding, Bareback Riding, Calf Scramble, Cowgirl Breakaway Roping, Diamond Dash, and Clowns.
Tickets are $12 in advance for adults 13+, $8 for ages 6-12 through April 19th. Gate prices are $15 and $10. Ages 5 and under get in free. Each SCES student will receive a free ticket of admission for one night.
Cell Phones
Students in possession of phones at school has become a major discipline issue since we've returned from Christmas Break. Students are not permitted to have phones at school. The student code of conduct in the SCES Student Handbook states:
Electronic Devices/Telephone Use
Students are not allowed to make or receive personal telephone calls at school. Members of the office staff will make emergency phone calls to parents or relay emergency messages to a student or teacher. Students are not allowed to have cell phones or other personal electronic devices, such as smart watches, tablets, laptops, game consoles, etc., at school. In special circumstances that MUST PREVIOUSLY BE APPROVED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR, students MUST turn in the cell phone to their teacher or the front office before the start of the school day. They will receive the cell phone back at 3:10 when school ends. Students in possession of cell phones or other electronic devices without permission or students who fail to turn devices into the proper authorities will face disciplinary consequences. Since these items are prohibited at school, Seminole County Elementary School will not be responsible for lost, stolen or damaged cell phones or electronic devices.
For true emergencies, i.e., sickness, hospital stays, etc, parents can communicate with teachers on a case by case basis. However, this should only be for one instance and not every day. In those instances, students should give the phone to thier teacher or the office in the morning and it will be returned at dismissal.
Violation of this policy will result in the phone being confiscated and a parent contact on each occasion. The phone will be returned at the end of the day on the first offense. On the second offense, the student will be punished and the phone must be picked up by a parent from the office. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Mr. Johnson or Mrs. Miller.