We have had a terrific start to the second semester of learning. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

SPES CRANES ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD!

First, our school building is getting a fresh paint job. After working with the district paint team to narrow down to a few colors, our staff voted last week on the color scheme: gray and teal to match our school colors. Be on the lookout for pictures to document the progress!

Second, our school has been outfitted with security cameras that are now operational. All schools in Pasco County must have cameras to comply with the school security measures mandated by the state in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. These cameras are in common areas around campus and are not in areas where privacy is an expectation.

Finally, the entrance to the front office now has a video doorbell. The exterior doors will remain locked during the school day, so all visitors will need to access campus through this door by speaking with the office staff before being buzzed in.

In honor of the month of love and friendship AND National Random Act of Kindness Day, February 17, our school will be taking part in a Kindness Challenge. Every day, we will encourage students to perform an act of Kindness towards others. We ask that you also encourage your child to participate in these acts and to recognize that acts of kindness are not only special for the receiver, but also feel good to the doer! It is easy to think of kindness as an innate quality, but that is not the case. Kindness is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed with practice and repetition. We know that each student, as well as the whole school and community, will increase positive feelings from participating in these simple short tasks. Please see the kindness calendar below for the daily challenges. Also, please visit Mrs. Cortez's bitmoji room for some cool videos and activities here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17lfzaOMHFxqyYJduniE7G-dsghoucTrhlyqOmtZoqMY/preview?rm=minimal

Our staff will also be participating in showing each other kindness by posting compliments and notes of gratitude on a heart tree and graffiti wall in the front office!