Dear Parents/Guardians of Current and Prospective Eagle Students!
The School Enrollment Expo is approaching and we want to see you there!
All of the wonderful schools in Duval County will be on display, with representative there to answer all of your questions.
It's a great opportunity to chart your child's future by looking at all of the options available to them.
Current Families:
Families with students in 5th grade should attend the Expo to explore your school options as your child prepares for their transition to middle school.
Students in 4th grade should attend to assist with preparing for middle school.
Prospective Families:
Please attend the Expo and visit our booth to learn more about the programs, opportunities, and amazing resources we have to offer at Rufus E. Payne. It will be time well spent.
We hope to see you there!
The School Enrollment Expo is approaching and we want to see you there!
All of the wonderful schools in Duval County will be on display, with representative there to answer all of your questions.
It's a great opportunity to chart your child's future by looking at all of the options available to them.
Current Families:
Families with students in 5th grade should attend the Expo to explore your school options as your child prepares for their transition to middle school.
Students in 4th grade should attend to assist with preparing for middle school.
Prospective Families:
Please attend the Expo and visit our booth to learn more about the programs, opportunities, and amazing resources we have to offer at Rufus E. Payne. It will be time well spent.
We hope to see you there!
📚 Literacy Night is almost here! 📚
Join us Wednesday, October 28, from 5:00–6:00 PM at Rufus E. Payne Elementary! There will be:
*Free books
*Delicious refreshments
*An eye-opening presentation on the power of reading
*Grade specific strategies to support learning at home
And so much more!
We can’t wait to see you, so come out and join us!
Join us Wednesday, October 28, from 5:00–6:00 PM at Rufus E. Payne Elementary! There will be:
*Free books
*Delicious refreshments
*An eye-opening presentation on the power of reading
*Grade specific strategies to support learning at home
And so much more!
We can’t wait to see you, so come out and join us!
Coming Soon: A Better Way to Stay on Top of Attendance
We're excited to announce that Duval county Public Schools, is launching Attendance Pro by Apptegy, a new way for families to stay connected with their child's school around attendance — all through a simple text message.
Starting Wednesday October 14, 2026, you'll receive real-time attendance updates directly to your phone when your child is marked absent or tardy. No app to download, no phone call to the front office, no portal to log into — just a straightforward text that makes it easy to stay informed and respond in seconds.
Say hello to a better attendance experience!
● Get notified instantly. Receive a text message the moment your child is marked absent — no waiting for a call or checking an app.
● Reply by text, in your preferred language. Simply text back to confirm an absence, share the reason, a photo of the doctors note, or ask a question. All messages are automatically translated to your preferred language.
● Send proactive notices. Know your child will be out? Text us ahead of time and we'll document it — no need to call the front office.
Families will automatically begin receiving messages once the platform launches on Wednesday October 14, 2026. Once you have received a message, save the contact so you can reply and reach out, whenever you need!
Attendance matters, and everyday counts. We’re excited to bring forward a better, more modern experience to help you, and us, drive better attendance across every day.
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School Book Fair!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the school media center November 2-6, 2026. Students will have the opportunity to shop for exciting new books and encourage a love of reading.
To make shopping easy and cash-free, families can set up a Scholastic eWallet for their child at: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/payneelementaryschool
We look forward to seeing our students at the Book Fair!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the school media center November 2-6, 2026. Students will have the opportunity to shop for exciting new books and encourage a love of reading.
To make shopping easy and cash-free, families can set up a Scholastic eWallet for their child at: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/payneelementaryschool
We look forward to seeing our students at the Book Fair!
It's Time to Fall Into Reading!!!
Get ready Eagles! Rufus E. Payne is proud to present "Fall Into Reading, Literacy Night!" A time to learn all about the joy of reading, benefits of reading, ways to support reading at home, and develop even stronger reading skills.
It will feature literacy stations, partner tables, FAST reading support, a celebration of our September Top Eagle Readers, a FREE bag of books, and refreshments courtesy of the I'm A Star Foundation!
It’s going to be fun for all and an event that you don't want to miss. It's also the perfect segway to our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair!
So be sure to scan the QR code to register to attend and then plan to spend an hour with us to make sure we are working together to help make reading fun and beneficial for your entire family!
See you there!
🎀🔴 Red Ribbon Week 2026: October 26-30 🔴🎀
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School is excited to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide campaign that encourages students to make healthy choices and live drug-free lives!
This year's theme is:
⭐ "Make a Difference, Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free!" ⭐
Join us as we participate in our daily spirit days:
🧦 Monday, October 26 – Crazy Socks Day
Wear your craziest and most comfortable socks!
🤝 Tuesday, October 27 – Team Up Day
Show your teamwork spirit and help make a difference at school.
🌟 Wednesday, October 28 – Bright Choices Day
Wear neon colors and shine bright by making healthy choices.
👩⚕️👨🚒 Thursday, October 29 – Future Hero Day
Dress as what you want to be when you grow up.
📚 Friday, October 30 – Book Character Day
Dress as your favorite book character.
We encourage all students to participate as we celebrate making positive choices, building healthy habits, and staying drug-free!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School is excited to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide campaign that encourages students to make healthy choices and live drug-free lives!
This year's theme is:
⭐ "Make a Difference, Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free!" ⭐
Join us as we participate in our daily spirit days:
🧦 Monday, October 26 – Crazy Socks Day
Wear your craziest and most comfortable socks!
🤝 Tuesday, October 27 – Team Up Day
Show your teamwork spirit and help make a difference at school.
🌟 Wednesday, October 28 – Bright Choices Day
Wear neon colors and shine bright by making healthy choices.
👩⚕️👨🚒 Thursday, October 29 – Future Hero Day
Dress as what you want to be when you grow up.
📚 Friday, October 30 – Book Character Day
Dress as your favorite book character.
We encourage all students to participate as we celebrate making positive choices, building healthy habits, and staying drug-free!
🧡 UNITY DAY 2026 • Wear Orange for Bullying Prevention! 🧡
On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School will join schools and communities across the nation in recognizing Unity Day, a day dedicated to promoting kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
We encourage all students and staff to wear orange to send a visible message that we stand together against bullying and support a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
🧡 Wear Orange
🧡 Promote Kindness
🧡 Support Inclusion
🧡 Stand Up Against Bullying
Together, we can make a difference and create a school culture where every child feels safe, valued, and respected.
On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School will join schools and communities across the nation in recognizing Unity Day, a day dedicated to promoting kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
We encourage all students and staff to wear orange to send a visible message that we stand together against bullying and support a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
🧡 Wear Orange
🧡 Promote Kindness
🧡 Support Inclusion
🧡 Stand Up Against Bullying
Together, we can make a difference and create a school culture where every child feels safe, valued, and respected.
🧡💙 Bully Prevention Spirit Week is October 19-23, 2026! 💙🧡
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all students and staff to participate in our Bully Prevention Spirit Week as we promote kindness, inclusion, and respect for all.
Spirit Week Themes:
🛌 Monday, October 19 – Pajama Day
"We Don't Sleep on Bullying!"
🤪 Tuesday, October 20 – Crazy Hair Day
"Bullying Drives Us Crazy!"
👯 Wednesday, October 21 – Twin Day & Wear Orange
"Pair Up Against Bullies!"
🕺 Thursday, October 22 – Decades Day
"Bullies Aren't Allowed in Any Decade!"
🏈 Friday, October 23 – Sports Day
"Team Up Against Bullies!"
Together, we can create a school environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported. We encourage all students to participate and help spread kindness throughout our school community!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all students and staff to participate in our Bully Prevention Spirit Week as we promote kindness, inclusion, and respect for all.
Spirit Week Themes:
🛌 Monday, October 19 – Pajama Day
"We Don't Sleep on Bullying!"
🤪 Tuesday, October 20 – Crazy Hair Day
"Bullying Drives Us Crazy!"
👯 Wednesday, October 21 – Twin Day & Wear Orange
"Pair Up Against Bullies!"
🕺 Thursday, October 22 – Decades Day
"Bullies Aren't Allowed in Any Decade!"
🏈 Friday, October 23 – Sports Day
"Team Up Against Bullies!"
Together, we can create a school environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported. We encourage all students to participate and help spread kindness throughout our school community!
The Rufus Readers October Challenge Is Here!
In September, we kicked off our 20-minutes-a-day reading challenge, and our students are reading and enjoying learning more!
This October, every Rufus Reader is expected to read 20 minutes a day. That’s 31 opportunities to read!
Did you know? Children who read 20 minutes a day see nearly 2 million words in a year. The benefits last a lifetime, so let’s keep celebrating our readers and getting them into books!
Save the date: Literacy Night is Wednesday, October 28, 5:00–6:00 PM, to show you more ways to support your child’s reading.
Report Cards Available October 19, 2026
Student report cards will be posted in Focus and distributed to students on Monday, October 19, 2026.
We encourage all families to check student bookbags for a paper copy of student report cards and review their child's academic progress and celebrate their accomplishments. If you have any questions or concerns regarding grades, progress, or classroom performance, please contact your child's teacher to schedule a conference.
Working together helps ensure every student has the support needed for success!
Report Cards Available: October 19, 2026
Posted in Focus
Sent Home with Students
Contact Teachers for Conferences
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.
No School for Students - October 12 & 13, 2026
Reminder, families! There will be no school for students on Monday, October 12, 2026, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Monday, October 12 – Teacher Planning Day
Tuesday, October 13 – Teacher Inservice Day
Classes will resume on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We hope our students enjoy a safe and restful extended weekend. Thank you for your continued support of our teachers and school community!
Reminder, families! There will be no school for students on Monday, October 12, 2026, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Monday, October 12 – Teacher Planning Day
Tuesday, October 13 – Teacher Inservice Day
Classes will resume on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We hope our students enjoy a safe and restful extended weekend. Thank you for your continued support of our teachers and school community!
📣 Transportation Update for Bus 346 Families 🚌
During the week of October 5-9, 2026, Bus 346 will have a backup driver. To ensure we can communicate important transportation updates, please complete and return the blue contact information card sent home with your student. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe and informed! 💙
During the week of October 5-9, 2026, Bus 346 will have a backup driver. To ensure we can communicate important transportation updates, please complete and return the blue contact information card sent home with your student. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe and informed! 💙
Join Us for Our School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all families and community stakeholders to attend our upcoming School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting.
🗓 Date: October 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 A.M.
📍 Location: Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
During this meeting, we will discuss: ✅ School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Needs Assessment
✅ Distribution of the PFEP Plan
✅ School Data Review
✅ Collaboration on the SIP Plan
✅ Upcoming School Events
Your input and participation are essential as we work together to support student achievement and school success. We hope to see you there!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all families and community stakeholders to attend our upcoming School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting.
🗓 Date: October 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 A.M.
📍 Location: Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
During this meeting, we will discuss: ✅ School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Needs Assessment
✅ Distribution of the PFEP Plan
✅ School Data Review
✅ Collaboration on the SIP Plan
✅ Upcoming School Events
Your input and participation are essential as we work together to support student achievement and school success. We hope to see you there!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Throughout the month of October, our school community will honor breast cancer survivors, celebrate those who have overcome challenges, and support those who are currently battling this disease.
We invite all students, staff, and families to join us in showing our support by wearing pink every Thursday in October.
Together, we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and remind those affected by breast cancer that they are not alone.
💗 Wear Pink Thursdays 💗 Honor Survivors 💗 Support Fighters 💗 Celebrate Hope
Throughout the month of October, our school community will honor breast cancer survivors, celebrate those who have overcome challenges, and support those who are currently battling this disease.
We invite all students, staff, and families to join us in showing our support by wearing pink every Thursday in October.
Together, we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and remind those affected by breast cancer that they are not alone.
💗 Wear Pink Thursdays 💗 Honor Survivors 💗 Support Fighters 💗 Celebrate Hope
World Heart Day Week is Coming to Payne!
Join us September 28 - October 2, 2026, as we celebrate healthy hearts through fun spirit days and wellness activities!
❤️ Monday: Healthy Heart Opening & CPR Day (Dress as a superhero)
❤️ Tuesday: Red Out Day (Wear red)
❤️ Wednesday: Move Your Heart Day (Wear athletic gear or sneakers)
❤️ Thursday: Healthy Choices Day (Wear green)
❤️ Friday: Heart Heroes Celebration Day (Wear school colors or spirit shirts)
Let's work together to teach our students the importance of healthy habits, staying active, and making heart-smart choices!
Join us September 28 - October 2, 2026, as we celebrate healthy hearts through fun spirit days and wellness activities!
❤️ Monday: Healthy Heart Opening & CPR Day (Dress as a superhero)
❤️ Tuesday: Red Out Day (Wear red)
❤️ Wednesday: Move Your Heart Day (Wear athletic gear or sneakers)
❤️ Thursday: Healthy Choices Day (Wear green)
❤️ Friday: Heart Heroes Celebration Day (Wear school colors or spirit shirts)
Let's work together to teach our students the importance of healthy habits, staying active, and making heart-smart choices!
Northeast Florida Goes to College Week is coming to Payne!
Join us September 21-25, 2026, as we celebrate college, career, and military opportunities through fun daily spirit days!
Mon. 9/21: Dream Big Day (Dress as your future career)
Tue. 9/22: College Pride Day (Wear college gear)
Wed. 9/23: Military Appreciation Day (Wear camo or patriotic colors)
Thu. 9/24: Future College Student Day (Dress like a college student)
Fri. 9/25: Mascot Day (Represent your favorite college mascot)
Let's inspire our students to think about their future and all the possibilities ahead!
Join us September 21-25, 2026, as we celebrate college, career, and military opportunities through fun daily spirit days!
Mon. 9/21: Dream Big Day (Dress as your future career)
Tue. 9/22: College Pride Day (Wear college gear)
Wed. 9/23: Military Appreciation Day (Wear camo or patriotic colors)
Thu. 9/24: Future College Student Day (Dress like a college student)
Fri. 9/25: Mascot Day (Represent your favorite college mascot)
Let's inspire our students to think about their future and all the possibilities ahead!
Hello Families! Due to an overnight district data center outage that impacted internet and phone services on Sept. 10, Progress Reports will be posted in Focus and sent home with students on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Thank you for your patience and support.
Schools will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. We hope all of our families enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend!
We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
🦅 RUFUS PAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 🦅
OPEN HOUSE & ANNUAL TITLE I MEETING
Thursday, September 3
Title I Meeting: 4:45 PM | Open House: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Dear Eagle Nation Families,
We are excited to invite you to our Open House on Thursday, September 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit your child's classroom, meet teachers, and learn more about the exciting learning experiences taking place this school year.
Prior to Open House, we will hold our Annual Title I meeting at 4:45 p.m. During this meeting, families will learn about our school's Title I program, parent involvement opportunities, and the resources available to support student success.
We encourage all families to attend both events. We look forward to partnering with you and sharing the wonderful learning that is taking place throughout Eagle Nation!
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you there!
Meet your child's teacher
Visit classrooms
Learn about student learning goals
Explore family involvement opportunities
Connect with Eagle Nation staff
Together We Soar to Success!
REGISTER FOR A BUS TODAY - Bus registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All students who plan to ride a school bus next year must be registered in advance, including students enrolled in self-contained ESE programs. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Registration forms are available in Focus. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process, visit:
http://www.duvalschools.org/busregistration
http://www.duvalschools.org/busregistration