Ortega Elementary

Good afternoon! We hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's Day. Thank you to everyone who joined us for Pastries with Parents and SAC this morning. Reminder, there is no school on Monday in observance of President's Day. In addition, we received word that the Ortega River Drawbridge will be closed next week for repairs. Please plan accordingly. Thank you!

Good morning! Just a reminder that tomorrow (Friday, February 14, 2025) we will be having Pastries with Parents at 8:00 followed by our SAC Mid-Year Stakeholder Meeting at 9:00. Please remember to check-in at the front office with your ID. All adults MUST have an ID with them. After checking in, please head over to the cafeteria. We will have a light breakfast and you will receive some tips and tricks to help your child succeed. Before leaving please be sure to fill out an evaluation form. We must submit these forms to continue receiving funding for our family engagement activities. Thanks so much!

The 2025 Florida Missing Children’s Day Poster and Essay Contest! Attention: All 5th Grade Students In recognition of child safety issues, the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse will hold Florida Missing Children’s Day on September 8, 2025. To help create awareness amongst children in Florida, a poster contest and an essay contest are held each year. The winner of these contests will be invited to Florida Missing Children’s Day and receive an award and prize package at the ceremony. Please see below for the following contest information. All applicants must submit a completed contest packet with a signed parental release form. Additional information can also be found in the documents attached to this email. Thank you so much for your consideration in having your 5th graders participate. POSTER CONTEST: DUE BY FEBRUARY 14, 2025 The slogan “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” MUST appear on the poster. The poster MUST be 8 ½ by 14 inches. The posters MUST be created by hand. Crayons, pencils, markers, spray paint, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors are accepted. A completed submission form and parental release form MUST be sent for each poster submitted. All 5th graders may participate and will receive a certificate of excellence from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their participation. Certificates will be sent to the teacher and school before school’s end. While only 5th graders may win the contest, we encourage schools that have interested students in alternative grade levels and non-graded levels that may have intellectual disabilities or cognitive challenges to participate as well. Those students will receive a certificate of excellence as well. Please mail original posters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), MEPIC, Attn. M. Peoples, Post Office Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. ESSAY CONTEST: DUE BY MARCH 19, 2025 The essay’s topic should be “How I Stay Safe All Day”, with a focus on things children can do to keep themselves safe from abductions and predators. Essays should be no longer than one typewritten page (Times New Roman, size 12 or 14 font) or two handwritten pages (which must be legible). A completed submission form and parental release form MUST be sent for the essay submitted. Please only submit 1 essay per school. Please email essays to fmcd@fdle.state.fl.us You may find additional information about Florida Missing Children’s Day and the contest by visiting Contests & Links | FMCDF.org or MEPIC :: Crimes Against Children (state.fl.us). A Spanish version of the poster contest packets can be found on the websites. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Please don't forget that Friday, February 14 will be an important day at Ortega Elementary. Pastries with Parents will be at 8 AM and our SAC Mid-year Stakeholder Meeting will be at 9 AM. We hope all parents/guardians can join us for these events. If you plan on attending Pastries with Parents, please return the RSVP form by tomorrow. If you have misplaced the form you can email Mrs. Tibbits (tibbitsm@duvalschools.org) to let her know how many will be attending. We need an accurate headcount ASAP so we can plan for food.

JEA cordially invites students to participate in our 2025 "Drop Savers" poster contest. Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both. The contest teaches elementary aged school children and reminds middle and high school aged teens about the importance of water conservation. We feel that our best opportunity to conserve water is through a long-range education and awareness program, and what better way than to begin with our young people. Posters will be designated under one of the following categories: Division 1: Kindergarten and First Grade Division 2: Second and Third Grade Division 3: Fourth and Fifth Grade Division 4: Middle School; Grades Six, Seven and Eight Division 5: High School; Grades Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve Please see attached flyer for more information. Thank you!

Attention 5th grade parents - Remember that school choice applications are due tomorrow (1/31/25). Visit https://dcps.duvalschools.org/page/magnetspecial-transfer-option-sto-application-process if you have any last minute questions or need any guidance.

Good morning Ortega Parents and Families, Please see attached photo regusrding Literacy Week which is taking place next week. We hope all students will participate. Thank you!

This is a reminder that Robotics Club will be meeting today, January 23rd, and tomorrow, January 24th. Please note that pick-up is at 4:15 PM. We look forward to seeing students there! Best regards, Ms. Faciane

Good morning! Hope everyone is staying warm. Even though it is January, we are already thinking ahead to our next Exhibit Night on March 27. We would like to form a committee of parents (and other adults) who might have some extra time to assist in the weeks leading up to the event. We would need help with tasks such as: taking old exhibits off the bulletin boards, putting up new border/paper, hanging up new exhibits, etc. You do have to be an approved volunteer. For some of these tasks we can be flexible and many can be completed after school hours (during the time frame of 3:00 - 6:00). If you think you may be able to help some please send me an email (tibbitsm@duvalschools.org). Thank you!

Good morning, Ortega Parents! If you have any incoming kindergarteners, or if you know anyone who does, please share this information about kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year! See the link for more information: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/07fff647-b8a0-4e3e-b685-08d923f09348@8deb1d4d-d0a4-4d04-89ae-f7076cbaa9fb

Good morning fifth grade parents and families, Just a reminder that the Middle School Saturday Showcase is tomorrow, Saturday January 11th. Middle schools (with a few exceptions) will be open and available for tours from 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:00 PM. If you have older children, high schools will also be open during this time. If your student is hoping to attend a school that is not your zoned school for your home address, this is a great time to go take and tour. Magnet seat applications need to be filled out as soon as possible. For more information visit: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/showcase Thanks so much!

Just a reminder that Book Fair will be next week. Shopping will be Tuesday through Friday. Students may bring in cash or you may create an online e-wallet with money for them to spend. Visit https://www.scholastic.com/bf/ortegaelementaryschool2 to set up an e-wallet. Book Fair will also be open after the New Worlds presentation at BEST Night. Finally, we could use some volunteers to help with book fair. If you are an approved volunteer and would be willing to help, please sign up using the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AFA722A4FE3-54193590-book

5th grade parents: Remember that applications for magnet middle schools are due at the end of this month. If you have not yet had the opportunity to tour possible middle schools, the School Showcase Saturday is this Saturday. Middle Schools will be open for you to tour. See the attached graphic for times. In addition, Ortega will be holding a brief meeting for any 5th grade parents that want an overview of the process. This meeting will be tomorrow (Thursday, January 9) at 9 AM in the media center. If you plan on attending, please let me know (tibbitsm@duvalschools.org).

Best Night is Thursday, January 16 at 5:30 PM. Families who have pre-registered will be treated to dinner courtesy of New Worlds Reading. New Worlds Reading will share tips and strategies to improve reading. In addition, MOSH will have a fun science show to entertain students who attend. And, families will have a chance to learn more about grade-specific curriculum. If you have not already registered, please do so by using the QR code on the flyer that was sent home. It is important that families do this ASAP so we can have an accurate headcount. Thank you!

Lego Robotics Club Meeting Announcement Lego Robotics Club will be held this Thursday, January 9th, from 3:15 PM to 4:15 PM in Portable 54 to make up for the missed meeting this past Monday due to no school. All other details remain the same. We will resume our regular meeting schedule on Monday, January 13th. See you there!

Happy New Year Ortega Families! We hope everyone had a nice break. We have a lot of upcoming events so be sure to read below for reminders: * This Thursday at 9 AM we will be having a brief meeting for 5th grade parents regarding applying to magnet middle schools. If you plan on attending, please email me (tibbitsm@duvalschools.org) so I can have a headcount. * We will be having a book fair during the week of January 13. Look for more information in Tuesday folders today. We are looking for some volunteers to help, so if you are an approved volunteer and are able to help, please visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AFA722A4FE3-54193590-book * New Worlds Reading is hosting a Family Fun Night on January 16 at 5:30 PM at our school. They will provide a free meal for registered participants and will provide tips and strategies to support reading. In addition, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) will be here that night with a fun and educational science show for students to attend while parents are meeting with New Worlds Reading. Look for a flyer in Tuesday folders to register for this event.

Hello 5th grade parents! Please see attached photo for application and audition dates for Fort Caroline Middle School of the Arts. Thank you!

In recognition of child safety issues, the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse will hold Florida Missing Children’s Day on September 8, 2025. To help create awareness amongst children in Florida, a poster contest and an essay contest are held each year. The winner of these contests will be invited to Florida Missing Children’s Day and receive an award and prize package at the ceremony. Please see below for the following contest information. All applicants must submit a completed contest packet with a signed parental release form. Additional information can also be found in the documents attached to this email. Thank you so much for your consideration in having your 5th graders participate. POSTER CONTEST: DUE BY FEBRUARY 14, 2025 The slogan “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” MUST appear on the poster. The poster MUST be 8 ½ by 14 inches. The posters MUST be created by hand. Crayons, pencils, markers, spray paint, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors are accepted. A completed submission form and parental release form MUST be sent for each poster submitted. All 5th graders may participate and will receive a certificate of excellence from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their participation. Certificates will be sent to the teacher and school before school’s end. While only 5th graders may win the contest, we encourage schools that have interested students in alternative grade levels and non-graded levels that may have intellectual disabilities or cognitive challenges to participate as well. Those students will receive a certificate of excellence as well. Please mail original posters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), MEPIC, Attn. M. Peoples, Post Office Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302.

Good evening Ortega! Don't forget tomorrow is early release! Have a great evening!

Thank you to all the students and families who have shopped at our Polar Pals holiday shop! Friendly reminder that the shop will be open tonight for Museum Night. Come to the media center at 530 or anytime throughout the evening! We are not able to accept debit or credit cards at the shop but we do accept cash and gift cards which can be purchased at https://schoolshoppes.com/buy/polar-pals Use the school code XEAC787 See you there!