2025/2026 General Information

Welcome Back to Grand Oaks Elementary School!

Dear Gator Students, Families, and Community Members,

We are delighted to welcome you to the 2025-2026 school year!  We hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer break and are ready for an exciting year of learning and growth.  Tentative classroom placements will be mailed home to families the first week of August. You can view class placement on Parent Portal after August 4th.

Our Commitment: At Grand Oaks Elementary, we are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where every child can thrive. Our goal is to foster a love of learning, cultivate curiosity, and support each student in achieving their fullest potential.

What's New:

Talking Points: This will be our new communication tool for families. The program will translate into multiple languages and you will be able to contact staff members with questions.

Playground Repainted: Playground has been updated this summer. 

Fall Play-Annie Kids: This will be an opportunity for students in grades 3-5. **Rehearsals: Monday, Thursdays, and Fridays 7:30-8:30 am.

Spring Play-The Granny Awards: This will be an opportunity for students in TK-2 with the help of some 3-5 students. Sign ups will be in November.

Monthly Coffee Chat with the Principal - Please keep an eye out on the Gator Gazette for dates and information.

• 	TK-5th Grade (M, T, W, F)	TK-5th Grade (Thursday)	SDC Kindergarten	Blended Preschool (Tuesday-Friday)
  Start Time	8:55 am	8:55 am	8:55 am	AM Class 8:55 am PM Class 12:35 pm
  Dismissal	3:30 pm	2:15 pm	12:55 pm	AM Class 11:50 am PM Class 3:30 pm

   

• Back to School Night: August 28th from 5:30-6:00 MP Room for all families.
  • Session 1 (in classrooms): 6:00-6:30
  • Session 2 (in classrooms): 6:30-7:00 

Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 17th-November 21st                                        

• This week will be minimum days for TK-5 Students. Students will be dismissed at 11:55. 

Meet Our New Staff: 

We are pleased to welcome new members to our team who bring fresh perspectives and expertise:

• Anne Nava, 1st Grade

• Krista Bitonti, 2nd Grade

• Lindsay Pickett, 3rd Grade

• Christina Casares, 4th Grade

• May Reid, Intervention

• Na'Lani Smith, Attendance Clerk

• MaryAnn Kauffmann, Music Teacher

• Kimberly Foree, Principal

Get Involved: We value the strong partnership between home and school and encourage families to get involved in various ways:

• Join the PTA: Support school activities and connect with other parents.

• Volunteer: Assist in classrooms, during events, or with school projects.

• Assist with our school play(s): We are in need of handy guardians to help with set creation and supervision of students during tech week and during the performances.

• Stay Informed: Visit our website regularly, read our newsletters, and follow us on social media for the latest updates and news.

• School Site Council This council is comprised of parents, community members, classified staff, certificates staff and the principal. The council votes on school budget, reviews current budget and instructional supports for students to monitor student achievement and student  needs.

• Contact Us: If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our office staff is here to support you, and we are committed to making this a successful and enjoyable school year for all.

We are excited to see our students' smiling faces and look forward to a year filled with learning, discovery, and achievement. Let's make 2025-2026 the best year yet!

Warm regards,

Kimberly Foree
Principal                                                                                                                                    

Grand Oaks Elementary School