As we move into a new year, we will continue to develop and embrace the district’s commitment to a Personalized Competency Based Learning system. Durango School District 9-R has adopted the following Guiding Principles that we will continue to focus on at Florida Mesa in order to develop a system of personalization and competency.
- All learning outcomes will be shared and understood by teachers, students, and families.
- Formative assessments will measure learning progress and results will be used to inform instructional adjustments, teaching practices and academic supports.
- Summative demonstrations of learning will be used to evaluate student achievement on Performance Indicators using district Scoring Criteria.
- Learning progress and achievement will be monitored and reported separately from Habits of Work, such as responsibility, perseverance, and integrity.
- Students will be given multiple opportunities to improve their work.
- Students will have voice and choice about what and how they learn and how they demonstrate learning progress and achievement through personalized demonstrations of learning.
- Academic grades will communicate learning progress and achievement to students and families and equip them with the information they need to make important decisions about their student’s education.
We invite you and your family to become involved mustangs!! We host monthly School Accountability Committee (SAC) meetings on the first Wednesday of the month at 8am. Our first meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 4th at 8am and we would love to have you join us and learn more about Florida Mesa Elementary! We also have a very active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 8am.
NEW STAFF: I am pleased to introduce our new staff members who are bringing immeasurable life and career experiences to Florida Mesa. They have varied and dynamic educational expertise to share with your students and an unwavering passion for helping ALL students achieve at the highest levels. We are so fortunate to have them joining Florida Mesa! Our new staff will be featured in an upcoming newsletter, so watch for that to learn more about them!
- Tony Roderick, Assistant Principal
Jennifer Rusk, Fourth Grade MATH
Meleana Young, Mindset and Behavior Interventionist
We will also have a new First Grade teacher and new Special Education Instructional Paraeducators who will be announced soon.
Important Back to School dates and information
Fall Check-In –Aug. 6th - 8am-3pm - This will be a great time for families to finish up any unfinished paperwork, as well as sign up for bus services, pickup lunch calendars, and sign up for the District’s Free & Reduced Lunch program. There will also be opportunities to fill out volunteer paperwork for any parent interested in helping in the classroom or attending field trips, check in with the nurse and lots of other information will be available for families.
Classroom Placements- Please feel free to call Florida Mesa at 970-247-4250 to find out who your child’s teacher will be beginning on Monday, August 12th.
Meet Your Teacher – August 19th (Monday) – 8:00am-9:00am --- This will be a great opportunity to bring in school supplies, meet your teacher and see your classrooms. For those families who preordered school supplies last spring, those supplies will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school. Preschool families are also encouraged to attend the Meet Your Teacher event.
First Day of School – August 20th (Tuesday) --- Kindergarten students will stagger-start the first week. Our kindergarten families will receive communication from their teacher about the staggered start soon. If you do not receive that information by August 15th, please call the school.
Kids Camp (after school care – sign up early!! – www.durangoschools.org – under the For Families tab) --- Kids' Camp registration will begin on Thursday, August 1st (sign up early – fills up fast). As always, the number of students we will be able to register at each school will depend on the number of staff hired as of the registration date (August 1st). In the past, the number of students we can serve has been very limited for the first month of school. You are encouraged to explore alternate afterschool options in the event that we find a waiting list necessary. It is also good to remember that the Boys and Girls Club is closed for the first two weeks we are back in school. PLEASE CHECK THE KIDS' CAMP WEBPAGE FOR RATE CHANGES. http://www.durangoschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=538092&type=d&pREC_ID=1003381
Daily Schedule
Daily Morning Schedule:
7:20am-Students can enter the building for breakfast and/or enjoy recess on the playground.
7:40am-Bell rings to line up and go to class
7:50am-Tardy bell rings and class begins. It is important to be to school NO LATER than 7:50am every day! Our classrooms start their day with Mustang Time, which is a short, dedicated time each day to build community and the classroom environment. Students who miss this time often feel left out which may cause anxiety as they transition into the classroom. Please ensure that your student starts their day in a positive way by having them to school by 7:50am EVERY DAY!!
Dismissal Schedule:
1:20pm Mondays
2:50pm Tuesday – Friday
Thank you again for partnering with Florida Mesa Elementary for your child’s education. We are certain that you will find our staff to be very special in how they care for each child’s success deeply. Please feel welcome to communicate any questions or concerns at any time-we would love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Shannon Morris, Principal
Tony Roderick, Assistant Principal