Ortega Elementary

Girls on the run is cancelled today. Students will need to be picked up.

If your student rides bus 329 to get home in the afternoon, please come to school to pick up your student in the front office. There is no bus driver available for bus 329 today. For questions call the front office at 904-381-7460.

If your child has not turned in the NASA Speaker/Heart Association permission slip that was sent out this week, please sign it TONIGHT and send it back with you child TOMORROW. Those who do not turn in a slip will not be allowed to attend. If the slip is misplaced, give your child's teacher permission via email.

Ortega will be represented at the elementary art exhibition at the Murray Hill library. Artwork by pur 5th graders Grace, Rosemary, Martha-Alice, and Olive will be displayed. Their work will be on display March 27-April 29 and the reception at the Murray Hill library is Tuesday, April 1 from 5:30-6:30. https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/blog/elementary-art-show

The Kids Heart Challenge is in full swing, and we’re having a blast! But we need your help to reach 50% of our students registered online. Here’s how you can make a difference: Download the AHA Schools app for iPhone or Android to search for our school or Click Here to sign your student up. Then you can customize and share a video to send to family and friends where they can learn Hands-Only CPR and warning signs of a stroke and ask for donations! Already signed up? Thank you! Now, take it further: Make a personal donation to support the cause. Send a quick message to friends and family to rally their support! Not Signed up yet? There’s still time to join the excitement! Simply: Click Here to sign up online and be part of the action. Complete Finn’s Mission together with your family to learn life-saving skills and become a lifesaver.

Spring Break is from March 17th to March 24th. School will resume Tuesday, March 25th.

Reminder, there will be no school Monday, March 17- Friday, March 21st. School will resume Tuesday, March 25th. Everyone have a happy and safe Spring Break!

Hello Team Duval Families! Bus registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open! Registration is required for any student riding the bus in the 2025-26 school year – that includes students in self-contained ESE programs. The earlier you register, the better. Registration forms are in Focus, but you can head to www.duvalschools.org/busregistration first to find simple registration directions. Best, Duval County Public Schools

Ortega Elementary School Families, Quack, Quack! The Heart Heroes are coming back! Our school is participating in Kids Heart Challenge, and it’s time for you to sign up your student to become an official Heart Hero. Download the AHA Schools app and search for our school or visit our school's page to sign up your student: http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=11255&pg=company&company_id=486729 Then you can make your first donation and ask your family and friends to help make donations, too!

We know that many of our students and their families face challenges that can impact their well-being and success. With funds courtesy of Henry Clay Brown, Full Service Schools is here to help! We can now offer support to assist families during hardship, ensuring they have access to the financial resources they need. To make it as easy as possible for families to connect with us, we provide multiple ways to apply for assistance: Digital Application - Available with immersive reader and multilingual tools https://tinyurl.com/FSSERFund Paper Application - Attached for those who prefer a printed form. If families choose to complete the paper application, please have them read the policy and email the application to me at DesiraeG@uwnefl.org.

Two pieces of information to share: Picture day is on Friday, March 7! Only those who prepay will be photographed! You can place your order at www.leonards.com/photoprepay and the access code is C661004. Students will only have their individual photo taken if they pay online before 7:00 am or bring in a payment on photo day. We strongly encourage paying online. If you are sending in payment, it is your child's responsibility to remember to give that payment to their teacher that morning so the photographer can be notified. Also, our next Ocelot Shop is scheduled for Friday, March 14. We need a few volunteers to help with the shop and we need donations. If you are an approved volunteer and can help for any amount of time on the 14th, please let me know (tibbitsm@duvalschoolsorg). If you would like to donate we could use individually wrapped chips, candies, snacks, etc or any small reward items (toys, stickers, etc). If you need ideas, we have an Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3LHSGFKMEXWMS?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_cGSjyIZIEdWo6 Thanks so much!

Good afternoon, Girls on the run is cancelled today. Students will need to go home their normal routes. Thank you!

Our next All Pro Dad meeting will be this Friday, February 28 at 7:45 AM in the media center. Dads (and other male role models) are invited to bring their child for a light breakfast and some bonding activities. We must have a headcount today so if you are coming and have not yet RSVP'd, please do so TODAY! The link to RSVP is: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/11211

Just a reminder that today is Early Dismissal. Ortega Elementary will dismiss at 1:15.

Picture day is on Friday, March 7! Don’t forget to order your Spring photos . Only those who prepay will be photographed! You can place your order at www.leonards.com/photoprepay and the access code is C661004. Students will only have their individual photo taken if they pay online before 7:00 am or bring in a payment on photo day. We strongly encourage paying online. If you are sending in payment, it is your child's responsibility to remember to give that payment to their teacher that morning so the photographer can be notified.

Dear Robotics Club Students & Parents, I sincerely apologize for the last-minute cancellation of our Robotics Club meeting on Monday. Unfortunately, I had an unexpected health issue that prevented me from attending. I truly appreciate your understanding and patience. To make up for it, we will hold our final Robotics Club meeting this Thursday at the usual time and place. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there for one last session to celebrate all your hard work this season! Thank you for your support, and again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Best, Ms. Faciane

We cannot accept any more permission slips or money for the dance. If your child has already turned in their permission slip and money then please remember that the dance will end at 5:15 tomorrow. Extended Day students will return to Extended Day and then will need to be checked out in the normal manner. All other students will need to be picked up in our car line. Please make sure to bring your ID when picking up your child. Thank you!

Our next All Pro Dad meeting will be Friday, February 28 at 7:45 AM in the media center. Dads (and other male role models) are invited to bring their child for a light breakfast and some bonding activities. If you are attending please RSVP online by Monday, February 24. The link to RSVP is: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/11211

FDOT has pushed the closure back to February 27th. Work still expected to take one week.  

Don't forget that our Safety Patrol sponsored Valentine's Dance is this Friday from 3:15 to 5:15. All money and permission slips are due tomorrow by 3:15 p.m....None will be taken after that!