Chimney Lakes Elementary -

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers,
We hope you are off to a great start to the week. Today was the first day that students had to walk themselves into the building and they did a great job. While they may leave you with a bit of a broken heart, the more independence you give them, the more self confident they become.

Each month, I will share with you a newsletter filled with things happening at Chimney Lakes. Please take a few minutes to read through the newsletter. It will make your experience at Chimney Lakes an easier one for all.

Don't forget to send in your PTA dues!

Sincerely,
Marianne G. Lee
Principal

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers:

It's Back to School time! i hope everyone had a smooth transition back to school. I know how much those early mornings can be tough, especially after a summer break. Here are a few reminders for the first week back to school:

*Make sure your child's teacher knows how your student is getting home each day. You can connect with them on Rooms or you can assign it in your child's calendar in PikMyKid. During the first week of school, it seems like everyone wants to be a car rider. Which is fine, just expect to have to wait in line. There are other dismissal options like the school bus, Park and Pick Up, Walkers, Day Care vans and Extended Day. If not, please make sure to follow the map for the car dismissal line. We ask for your patience as the line is long.

*After 2;15 pm, we will not be dismissing students from the front office. Children are checked out early do not get a full day of their education. There are signs posted in the front office for your attention. You will be directed to follow the dismissal procedures.

*If you need to make a change in dismissal, you will need to do so in writing or change it in the PikMyKid option in the parent OneView account.. If you call the school, you will be asked to complete this survey to put it in writing. https://forms.office.com/r/xPVswsk7ug?origin=lprLink
You will find this on our website or you will be able to call to get the survey.

During the first week of school, you will be able to walk your student into the building. Classroom doors will be closed due to teacher planning requirements. We have instructed the students how to sit in the hallway in the mornings. Please allow them to follow this procedure.

We ask for your patience as we dismissed close to 900 students in about a 30 minute (on most days). However, during the first week, it is longer. Everyone here wants your children dismissed quickly and safely Doing your part will go a long way to helping everyone.

If you have any questions, please call the front office at (904) 573-1100.

Sincerely,
Marianne G. Lee
Principal

Hello Chimney Lakes Families!

We are just days away from Orientation! Postcards for teacher assignments were mailed today. Please look for them in the mail.

Here are some tips for a great start to the new school year!

Extended day registration opened 7/14 @8:00am, families should be notified of their acceptance by 7/31. Register here: https://www.duvalschools.org/.../2025-2026-extended-day.

🚌 You must register your student to ride the bus. Register here now: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/page/bus-registration
🗂️ Register at your school if you have accepted a new school choice seat (per your school choice acceptance letter you need to complete registration at that school by end of day on 8/13/25 or you will be unenrolled).

🚸 Schools are open Monday-Friday! Try not to wait to enroll the first day/first week of school. This includes new enrollments for KDG or even new enrollments to the district as a whole. Enroll now!

👩🏽‍💻School Supply Lists are posted on our website. You can also go to www.teacherlists.com to get the ones for Chimney Lakes.

Know if you have any questions, our office is open from 8-4 daily. Please get these tasks and get them as soon as possible. It will make a much smoother transition back to daily routine.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on August 8th for Orientation!

Hello Chimney Lakes Families!

We are one week away from Orientation! This weekend starts Florida's Tax Relief for Back to School. Take advantage of it this weekend to save on supplies and clothes.

Here are some tips for a great start to the new school year!

Extended day registration opened 7/14 @8:00am, families should be notified of their acceptance by 7/31. Register here: https://www.duvalschools.org/.../2025-2026-extended-day.

🚌 You must register your student to ride the bus. Register here now: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/page/bus-registration
🗂️ Register at your school if you have accepted a new school choice seat (per your school choice acceptance letter you need to complete registration at that school by end of day on 8/13/25 or you will be unenrolled).

🚸 Schools are open Monday-Friday! Try not to wait to enroll the first day/first week of school. This includes new enrollments for KDG or even new enrollments to the district as a whole. Enroll now!

👩🏽‍💻School Supply Lists are posted on our website. You can also go to www.teacherlists.com to get the ones for Chimney Lakes.

Know if you have any questions, our office is open from 8-4 daily. Please get these tasks and get them as soon as possible. It will make a much smoother transition back to daily routine.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on August 8th for Orientation!

📢 Important Update: DCPS Volunteer Policy for 2025 To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, DCPS has updated its volunteer policy. All volunteers must complete an application and background screening before participating in school activities. 🟢 Level I Volunteers These volunteers: Are always supervised by DCPS staff. Never work alone with students. Undergo a basic screening, which includes: A check against the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website. Examples: Helping in the classroom with a teacher present, assisting at school events under staff supervision. 🟡 Level II Volunteers (New Requirement) These volunteers: May be unsupervised or responsible for supervising students. Must complete a comprehensive background check, which includes: Fingerprinting A review of felonies and other criminal offenses A national sexual offender registry check Examples: Chaperoning field trips, leading small groups, or assisting in areas where staff are not always present. 📝 How to Apply Visit the DCPS Volunteer Page. Click “Apply to Volunteer” and complete the application. Allow 5–10 business days for processing. Contact your child’s school or the Department of Family and Community Engagement at 904-390-2960 for questions or status updates ❗ Reminders All volunteers must be cleared before participating in any school activity. No volunteer cards will be issued by the district; schools manage their own volunteer records. Children not enrolled in the field trip may not accompany chaperones

📋 **How to Enroll in the Extended Day Program** **Step 1: Mark Your Calendar** - 🗓 **Applications open on July 14, 2025.** - Be ready to apply as soon as the application window opens—spots may be limited! **Step 2: Complete the Online Application** - Visit our Extended Day Program website. https://duvalschools.reg.eleyo.com/ - Fill out the **online application form** with your child’s information. - Submit the application for review. **Step 3: Wait for Contract Approval** - After submitting your application, please allow time for your contract to be reviewed. - You will receive a notification once your contract is **approved**. **Step 4: Make Your First Payment** - Once approved, log in to your account. - Pay the **first month’s fee** to secure your child’s spot in the program. **Step 5: Confirmation** - After payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your child’s start date and additional program details. Thank you!

Hello Chimney Lakes Families! We are 1/2 way through the summer break and weeks away from the start of school! Time is flying by this summer. Here are some tips for a great start to the new school year! Extended day registration opens 7/14 @8:00am, families should be notified of their acceptance by 7/31. Register here: https://www.duvalschools.org/.../2025-2026-extended-day. 🚌 You must register your student to ride the bus. Register here now: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/page/bus-registration 🗂️ Register at your school if you have accepted a new school choice seat (per your school choice acceptance letter you need to complete registration at that school by end of day on 8/13/25 or you will be unenrolled). 🚸 Schools are open Monday-Thursday during the summer for limited hours, try not to wait to enroll the first day/first week of school. This includes new enrollments for KDG or even new enrollments to the district as a whole. Enroll now! 👩🏽‍💻School Supply Lists are posted on our website. You can also go to www.teacherlists.com to get the ones for Chimney Lakes. Know if you have any questions, our office is open from 8-4 daily. Please get these tasks and get them as soon as possible. It will make a much smoother transition back to daily routine. Looking forward to seeing everyone on August 8th for Orientation!

Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers: Just a friendly reminder to register your student for the bus. Last year, we had 272 bus riders. At this point, only 53 of those students have registered for the bus. It is a requirement and a safety precaution for ALL students who ride the bus to be registered. I've attached the directions for you to go onto the parent FOCUS page to add your bus rider today!

Hello to all of our Chimney Lakes Parents, Families & Care Givers: The end of the year is now here. Tomorrow (Friday), May 30th is the last day of school. Students will be dismissed starting at 11:40 pm. Bus routes have also been adjusted for the 12:00 Noon dismissal time. Finally, there is NO Extended Day. We hope everyone has a great summer! We will see everyone on Friday, August 8th for Orientation and August 11th for the first day of school! Don't forget to join our Facebook and Instagram pages for information throughout the summer. Like: *Bus Registrations *Supply Lists *Class Assignment Info and much more!

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers! This is our last FULL week of the school year! Seems like it went by soooo fast! Based on our most recent test scores, it also looks like a lot of learning has taken place as well. We are so proud of Chimney Lakes Cheetahs! This week is super busy with LOTS of activities. Here is the rundown: *Tuesday, May 20th: CLE Cheetah Celebration! Students who scored a 3, 4 5 on their last state assessment OR showed at least a year's growth will get to go to the outside activities. There was a special permission slip that came home for the bouncy houses, so please make sure students have that for tomorrow. If not, they will not be allowed on the bouncy house. Also, The Icy Spot truck will be here. The Icy Spot serves New York Italian Ice. The students can choose these flavors: Cotton Candy-Blueberry-Pineapple Mango - Strawberry - Pina Colada - Miami Vice (Strawberry & Pina Colada). The cost of the Icy Spot is $5 for a small, $7 for a medium; $10 for a large . Please bring cash for the Icy Spot. Students will also get treats that we have provided for them include movie and drink PLUS a Glow Party Dance! We love celebrating our kids who work hard and now get to play hard! Please make sure they dress for a fun, athletic day! Wednesday is our Transition Day.. We will kick it off by celebrating our graduating Chimney Lakes alumni! That will begin at 9 am. If you know of anyone graduating high school who attended Chimney Lakes, please have them complete this survey (see photo attached). These alumni will walk the halls of Chimney Lakes for the last time with a clap out from our students and staff. In addition, Wednesday night, we kick off our awards ceremonies. VPK will have their very first graduation Wednesday @ 6 pm. Thursday: Kindergarten Awards Ceremonies @ 9 and 11 am; 5th Grade Awards @ 6 pm Friday: 1st Grade Awards @ 9 am; Final Bizi Payday (2nd & 5th grades......don't forget to spend your money by May 21st!) Next Monday is Memorial Day. We will continue our awards ceremonies next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday, May 30th is a 12:00 noon dismissal for all. Have a great week!

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers: With just a few weeks away from the end of another school year, we have so much to do. This week will be filled with FAST Testing. for grades 2nd-5th grade. Please make sure you check with your teacher's ROOMS page to see important messages to when your child will test. It is very important to have them in school every day they test. Students actually do much better when they test with their peers. Also, this week is our grades 3-5 Sneaker Ball. There are a few conditions to attend. 1. The student must be in attendance for the full day (no tardies/no early check outs). 2. No discipline referrals for May. Next week, we begin our closing of school activities for students. This includes: *CLE Celebration: Students who earned a level 3, 4 or 5 on their state testing OR made a year's gains will be invited to participate. Field trip forms will be sent home to participate on the bouncy houses. If you do not return the form, your child cannot participate in the bouncy house. *Graduation Walk & Transition Day is Wednesday, May 21st. We welcome back our former CLE students who are graduating seniors from their respective high schools. We will begin the walk at 9 am. If you know of any graduates, please feel free to share this photo. Transition Day will follow the graduation walk. This is an opportunity for our students to experience what the next grade level might look like. Our goal is to ease the transition from one classroom to another. While it might not be the classroom they end up being in, it at least gives them the opportunity to feel comfortable about being in that grade. It's wonderful to see our current grade level students encourage our upcoming grade students. *Awards Ceremonies: start on Wednesday, May 21st at 6 pm with VPK kicking off the awards season. Please see the flyer for the dates and times. Finally, please consider supporting our Anchored4Life community service initiative to the animal rescue center. Attached you will find the list of acceptable items. We have a donation box in the front hall of the school. Donations end on the 16th! We hope you have a great week!

Good Morning Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers: Just a few updates as May will be very busy this month. Please make sure you check your teacher's Rooms accounts for updates. *Teacher Appreciation Week is THIS week! There are all sorts of ways to show your appreciation for your child's teacher. There is a photo attached encouraging little ways to show your appreciation! *Choral Concert for our 4th/5th grade Chorus students will be held on Thursday, May 15th @ 6 pm *3rd-5th Grade SNEAKER BALL will take place on Friday, May 16th with the emphasis on SNEAKERS! Students can come and have a fun dance party from 3:15 - 5:15 pm. Students who leave early and/or not in school on this day will not be allowed to attend the dance. Students with referrals from now until May 16th will not be allowed to attend. Check out the flyer below. *Awards Ceremonies: Check out the attached flyer for dates. *Cheetah Champions Celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 20th. This is to celebrate the accomplishments of those who have met their academic goals. Look for permission slips to go home. *Transition Day will take place on Wednesday, May 21st. This will take place right after our Chimney Lakes Graduation Walk for those students who went to Chimney Lakes and are now celebrating their graduation from high school. Finally, please have your child check our Lost & Found for items that are just sitting in the Cheetah Cafe. Any clothing item that is left at the end of the school year will be donated. If you have any questions, please let us know. Sincerely, Marianne G. Lee Principal

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers: A quick reminder for a few items: *No School tomorrow (Friday, April 18th). School will resume on Monday, April 21st. *VPK/Kindergarten Round Up is this Wednesday, April 23rd @ 9 am. If you know of an incoming Kindergarten student, please share. *Campus Beautification Day is next Friday, April 25th (flyer went home yesterday) Also, the end of the year is right around the corner. Attached is the flyer with the dates. So, you can "save the date" early! Enjoy the long weekend. Sincerely, Marianne G. Lee Principal

Hello Chimney Lakes Families! Please take a moment to this survey. This will help us with items you may see we need to look at. Thank you in advance. https://survey.5-essentials.org/duval/?target_name=parent&p=1

Hello Chimney Lakes Families & Care Givers, Hope you are off to another great week. We have a couple of events this week and a big event next Friday coming up! *Tuesday is PURPLE UP Day for our military students! We encourage everyone to wear PURPLE to show their support. We will have a special flag raising ceremony as well as a special parade for all of our students who have active duty parents and even grandparents. We invite those military personnel to walk with their student in the parade. We will have representatives from NAS Jax to perform at the Flag Raising and Parade. We will begin at 8:45 am *School Advisory Council (our final one for the school year) is this Tuesday, April 15th @ 4:30 pm. All are welcome to attend. *Square One Art orders are due online by Tuesday, April 15th. Just click to order: https://shop.square1art.com/shop *Friday, April 18th is NOT a school day! It is off for all students and staff. We will resume school on Monday, April 17th. *Do you know of an upcoming VPK/Kindergarten student? Have them join us for our Round Up on Wednesday, April 23rd at 9. Check out the flyer attached. *Next Friday, April 25th is our annual Campus Beautification Day! We need volunteers to assist us. Also, please look for the flyer coming home with students this week. Finally, K-2 families, please check with your child's teacher to see their most recent test results and the progress they have made! Hope you have a great week! Sincerely, Marianne G. Lee Principal *

Greetings CLE families, Papa Johns is offering a 20% off discount when you order pizza and mention "Chimney 10". This discount can be redeemed at multiple locations all over town. Please see the flyer/image for mor information!!

Greetings parents and guardians, BUS 814 does not have a driver for today. If you would like to come pick up your students that ride bus 814, please contact the front office at (904) 573-1100 as soon as possible.

We are so excited to be hosting our family paint night this Thursday evening. Please remember that only those who have pre-registered may attend the painting event. We will only have enough materials for them. There will be food trucks on campus from 5-7:30pm open to all in case you would like to get dinner, or a frozen treat. Frozen Scoops will be selling $4 icy treats ($5 if you add a topping). Mike's Yum Yum Come Get Ya Some food truck will be serving food items such as burgers, hot dogs and fries. The menu is attached. 🙂

Hello Chimney Lakes Families! Friday, April 11th is our annual Field Day. Here are a few logistics for Friday's event: *Each grade level will have a team color. Wear your team's colors based on the chart attached. They can wear a hat, t-shirt, socks, etc... *Frozen Scoops will be here on Friday. *Volunteers are needed. We have some military volunteers coming to the school, but not enough to cover all of our needs. If you'd like to sign up, there is a form that has been emailed to all parents (separately ). Please complete or call the office to speak to Ms. Lewis or Ms. Solano to submit your name and the time available. Others that are just observing will stay with their classroom teacher. We want the kids to have fun and enjoy some physical activity. Make sure they bring water, towel or some change of clothes. Finally, please contact your child's teacher for their particular Frozen Scoops time. Have a great day! Sincerely, Marianne G. Lee Principal