DCPS News

Media Advisory: Duval County Public Schools' Holiday Events

WHAT:
To help celebrate the upcoming holidays, several Duval County public schools will be hosting special events.

Don't forget to check out our holiday calendar for a listing of school closures for the upcoming holidays.

WHEN & WHERE:

• Wednesday, December 1, 2010
  • Biltmore Elementary, 9 a.m., 2101 West Palm Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32254. Students, parents, faculty and volunteer readers are invited to break out their fleece and flannel pajama sets for the Polar Express Pajama Day, featuring games, crafts and a reading of The Polar Express.

• Thursday, December 2, 2010
  • Twin Lakes Academy Elementary, 6 p.m., 8000 Point Meadows Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32256. The Polar Express Night will feature holiday crafts and storytelling, followed by the showing of the movie The Polar Express. Holiday cookies, popcorn and hot chocolate will be provided, and guests are asked to come wearing their comfy pajamas and favorite slippers and robes.

• Friday, December 3, 2010
  • Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center, 9:30 a.m., 1301 Palm Ave. W., Jacksonville, FL 32254. This year’s Holiday Magic Parade, under the inspiration of Dr. Seuss's Oh! The Places You'll Go, will feature students transformed into characters from around the world. The parade will include holiday floats, Andrew Jackson High’s Marching Tiger Band and ROTC, the Golden Wings Bicycle Club and Duval County Public Schools’ dignitaries.

  • R.V. Daniels Elementary, 11:30 a.m. Second-grade students will be bringing holiday cheer to one of their business partners, Holland & Knight, by singing favorite holiday songs from around the world. The students will be visiting Holland & Knight's law offices downtown in the Bank of America building.

• Tuesday, December 7, 2010
  • West Riverside Elementary, 6 p.m., 2801 Herschel St., Jacksonville, FL 32205. The school will be hosting its Holiday Gala.

• Thursday, December 9, 2010
  • Arlington Heights Elementary, 6 p.m., 1520 Sprinkle Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32211. Join the school for its Holiday Arts Event, featuring art, music and dance. After the presentation, parents and volunteers will be helping children create holiday crafts to take home. Representatives from different local organizations committed to promoting the arts in Jacksonville will be in attendance to provide information about their programs. There will also be crafts for sale created by the students to benefit the school's art program.

  • New Berlin Elementary, 6 p.m., 3613 New Berlin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32226. Students and parents are invited to join the staff in wearing their pajamas as they enjoy several holiday-themed learning stations while listening to a special reading of The Polar Express.

  • Enterprise Learning Academy, 6:30 p.m., 8085 Old Middleburg Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32222. Cocoa and Caroling, a PTA-hosted event featuring a holiday sing along and hot cocoa.

  • Twin Lakes Academy Elementary, 7 p.m., 8000 Point Meadows Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32256. The music/drama club will present Once on a Housetop, an international-themed winter musicale that will consist of music and merriment honoring the upcoming holiday season.

• Friday, December 10, 2010
  • The Biscayne Elementary chorus will perform holiday favorites at Jacksonville International Airport (9:30 a.m.), Winn Dixie at the Airport and Dunn Avenue (10:15 a.m.) and the Chick-fil-A at River City Marketplace (11 a.m.).

• Saturday, December 11, 2010
  • LaVilla School of the Arts, 6 p.m. The Chamber Orchestra will be playing for Holiday Magic in the Square in San Marco.

• Monday, December 13, 2010
  • Pine Forest School of the Arts, 7 p.m., 3929 Grant Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Student production of "North Pole Star."

• Tuesday, December 14, 2010
  • Nathan B. Forrest High, 6 p.m., 5530 Firestone Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32244. Come and enjoy a Holiday Celebration with an art and drama show; special presentations from the Spanish and French classes; a showcase of the elective departments; music by the Rebel Brigade Band, the Holiday Rebel Chorus and Glee Club; and a special appearance from the Jefferson Davis Middle School Band.

  • Englewood Elementary, 6:30 p.m., 4359 Spring Park Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Kindergarten through second-grade students will present Celebrate December Nights, December Lights, a holiday program focusing on different ways of celebrating during the month of December and recognizing the importance of light in various celebrations.

  • Arlington Middle, 7 p.m., 8141 Lone Star Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32211. The chorus will be putting on a very formal performance with the students and stage decked out in holiday cheer.

  • Pine Forest School of the Arts, 7 p.m., 3929 Grant Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Student production of "North Pole Star."

• Wednesday, December 15, 2010
  • Alden Road Exceptional Student Center, 8:30 a.m., 11780 Alden Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. During the annual Multicultural Holiday Event, students will represent 15 different countries and cultures by creating booths with food samples, music, costumes and historical information.

  • Mt. Herman Exceptional Student Center, 10:15 a.m., 1741 Francis St., Jacksonville, FL 32209. Students from Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center will visit to perform a Holiday Showcase.

  • Westview K-8, 5270 Connie Jean Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32210. Students are having a Polar Express Day and will wear pajamas, participate in activities and watch the movie in the afternoon.

• Thursday, December 16, 2010
  • Kings Trail Elementary, 6 p.m., 7401 Old Kings Rd. S., Jacksonville, FL 32217. Parents and students will come to school dressed in their pajamas for Polar Express night. They will enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, a visit from Santa Claus and a special presentation. One teacher in each grade level will be reading The Polar Express and handing out bells.

  • Lake Forest Elementary, 6 p.m., 901 Kennard St., Jacksonville, FL 32208. Join students and staff for the Polar Express and Literacy Night.

  • Ortega Elementary, 6 p.m., 4010 Baltic St., Jacksonville, FL 32210. Students will participate in an Exhibit Opening to showcase their Museum Studies magnet school theme, and will also host a Seasonal Celebration and perform musical pieces to celebrate the holidays.

  • Ruth N. Upson Elementary, 1090 Dancy St., Jacksonville, FL 32205. The school is hosting Family Reading Night, and the school theme is All Aboard the Learning Train...Destination Success. Therefore, the theme for Family Reading Night is The Polar Express.

  • Englewood Elementary, 6:30 p.m., 4359 Spring Park Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. The third- through fifth-grade students will present Celebrate December Nights, December Lights, a holiday program focusing on different ways of celebrating during the month of December and recognizing the importance of light in various celebrations.

  • Biscayne Elementary, 7 p.m., 12230 Biscayne Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32218. Students will present their Christmas Showcase.

• Friday, December 17, 2010
  • Beauclerc Elementary, 9 a.m., 4555 Craven Rd. W., Jacksonville, FL 32257. Kindergarteners will come to school dressed in their pajamas like the characters in the story for the "Polar Express Pajama Read-Aloud." Principal Kornblum will read this magical tale, and then students will sing a variety of holiday songs.

  • Fort Caroline Elementary, 3925 Athore Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32277. Dr. Nancy Snyder will read The Polar Express via closed circuit TV to the entire school, as she has done for the past 15 years. Then the entire school will walk the neighborhood for a Dare to Read walk chanting "Read to Succeed" and other reading chants.

  • Pine Forest School of the Arts, 7 p.m., 3929 Grant Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Kindergarteners will participate in Polar Express activities.

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