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Dear families,

I want to make you aware that a few classrooms at our school are currently experiencing air conditioning issues. We have notified the district’s HVAC team, and they are working to address the issue as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, we are taking steps to keep our students comfortable and maintain a positive learning environment. We are closely monitoring the affected classrooms and will make adjustments as needed.

Please know that the safety and well-being of our students remain our top priorities. We will continue to keep you updated as we work through this issue.

Thank you for your patience and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school.

Best,
Casie Doyle
Principal

about 9 hours ago, Casie Doyle
Reminder: Open House is next Tuesday August 25th beginning at 5:45PM.
1 day ago, Chaffee Trail Elementary
Open House
IMPORTANT DISMISSAL Reminder and information

NO transportation changes will be accepted through the Front Office after 12:00 noon.

Parents may make transportation changes directly through PikMyKid until 2:00 p.m.

Whenever possible, please establish permanent and consistent dismissal arrangements for your child rather than making frequent changes. Frequent transportation changes can create confusion and, most importantly, impact student safety during dismissal.

Thank you for helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and efficient for all of our Mustangs!
2 days ago, Casie Doyle
Dismissal Changes

Mustang Families — We’re Off to a Great Start!

Dear Mustang Families,

What a GREAT first week of school! In spite of a little Florida weather, a few unexpected bumps in the road, and some very long days, our Mustangs had an incredible start to the 2026–2027 school year!

Our students spent the week learning and practicing the rituals and routines that will help make this a safe, successful, and productive school year. Students attended our Welcome Back assemblies, where we talked about what it means to be a Mustang, reviewed important parts of the Student Code of Conduct, discussed FortifyFL, and introduced the safety drills and procedures we will practice throughout the year. Our goal is always for students to understand not only what we do to stay safe, but why we do it.

We also welcomed our youngest Mustangs to the corral! Our Pre-K and Kindergarten students did an amazing job learning their new routines, meeting new friends, and adjusting to their school days.

And yes…those days were LONG! As you will see in a few of our pictures, some of our littlest travelers simply ran out of gas while waiting for dismissal. They played hard, learned a lot, and apparently decided dismissal was the perfect time for a quick roadside nap!

Throughout this week’s slideshow, you’ll see just a glimpse of the learning, laughter, friendships, and special moments that made our first week so memorable.

We are excited about all the possibilities a new school year brings, and even more excited that we get to take this journey with YOU!

A Few Reminders for the Week Ahead
Arrival
Our instructional day begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. Please help us get students to school with enough time to arrive in their classrooms and be ready to learn.
Please make sure students have their backpacks and dismissal tags with them each day.
A few things will help us keep our car line moving safely and efficiently:

Please have students ready to exit when you enter the unloading area. Backpacks, lunch boxes, and other belongings should be in their laps rather than in the trunk or elsewhere in the vehicle.
Once you have passed the crosswalk, pulled forward, and come to a complete stop in the unloading area, students who can exit independently do not need to wait for a patrol to open their door. They may safely exit the vehicle and head toward the building.
If your younger Mustang needs assistance getting out of the vehicle, we completely understand! Please pull as far forward as possible so one of our team members or patrols can assist.
Please continue to follow the directions of staff members working the arrival line. Having everyone follow the same procedures helps us move hundreds of Mustangs into the building quickly and safely!
Dismissal

Thank you for your patience as we worked through first-week dismissal—and especially through our weather challenges!

Please continue to follow your child’s assigned dismissal procedure and have your school-issued car tag ready and visible when using the car rider line.

If you make a dismissal change in PikMyKid, please also communicate that change directly to your child’s teacher. This extra step helps us avoid confusion and ensures everyone has the same information.

Transportation Changes

Please communicate dismissal or transportation changes as early as possible. This gives our team time to make sure the correct information reaches everyone responsible for getting your child home safely.

Stay Connected

Please continue checking Rooms for classroom updates, important information, and pictures from your child’s teacher. Staying connected helps make sure you don’t miss anything happening along the way!

Saddle Up Assessments Begin This Week!

This week, we will begin assessing the skills included in our Saddle Up Summer Learning information.

These skills will look different depending on your child’s previous grade level. They represent important skills students learned during the previous school year and were encouraged to practice over the summer.

Flag Raising Friday

We will hold our Flag Raising Ceremony this Friday!

We invite all of our Mustangs to show their school spirit by wearing their Mustang Spirit Shirt or patriotic colors as we come together as a school community for this special tradition.

We made it through Mile #1, Mustang families, and we are just getting started!

Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and partnership during our first week. We are looking forward to another wonderful week of learning, growing, and making memories together.

Buckle up, Mustangs…Life is a Highway, and we have a whole country—and an entire school year—ahead of us!

With Mustang P.R.I.D.E.,
Mrs. Doyle
Principal
Chaffee Trail Elementary

Mustangs Across America — Our Journey Continues!

Slide show link: https://youtu.be/d5mv0VuWPpg?feature=shared

Link for how to videos for rooms: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/duval-schools-app

3 days ago, Casie Doyle
School Shirt
How to app

Good Morning Chaffee Trail Elementary School families

I want to make you aware that the school experienced an air conditioning outage prior to student arrival this morning. District maintenance teams responded quickly, and the AC unit has been repaired and is now up and running.

The school is beginning to cool down and should return to normal temperatures soon. Please know that your student’s safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we will always keep you informed about what is happening on our campus.

Thank you for your patience and continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at the school. Thank you, and have a good day.

6 days ago, Casie Doyle
Good evening, Mustang Families

First, we want to sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding during dismissal today. We experienced quite a few unexpected challenges. First lightning, then a power outage, followed by an issue with PikMyKid. We know delays can be frustrating, and we truly appreciate your patience as we worked to safely dismiss all students.

We also want to celebrate our students! Today, we practiced our first schoolwide safety drill, and our students did a wonderful job learning and practicing our lockdown procedures. Safety drills will be practiced monthly so that our students and staff are prepared and confident in knowing what to do.

Additionally, students participated in training today where we reviewed our Student Code of Conduct and learned more about FortifyFL, which provides a way for students to report potential or immediate dangers and safety concerns.

Thank you for your continued partnership & entrusting us with your students. Have a wonderful evening & we look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.
7 days ago, Chaffee Trail Elementary
parents we are hoping this weather moves quickly. We apolgize for the wait we want to keep everyone safe...As soon as the lightening moves a safe distance we will pick up back up...
7 days ago, Casie Doyle
Parents at this time we are holding all dismissal per district guidelines due to the proximity of lightening. We will resume dismissal as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thank you for your understanding
7 days ago, Erin Rock
Parents/Guardians:
Due to inclement weather in the area, we are cancelling walkers for this afternoon. You can pick your student up at the main office with your ID. Or if you have your car tag you may stay in the car rider line. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to dismiss all students safely at this time.
7 days ago, Erin Rock
VOLUNTEER RECOGNIZED - Congratulations to Douglas Ridgway, a Team Duval volunteer whose dedication is making a lasting impact at Chaffee Trail Elementary School! At this month’s Board Meeting, we recognized Mr. Ridgway as a 2026 Senior Volunteer Finalist in the Florida Department of Education’s Outstanding School Volunteer Awards. Through countless hours of service, he transformed an overlooked space into Mustang Meadow, a vibrant outdoor learning environment where students can learn, explore, and connect with nature. Please join us in thanking and congratulating Mr. Ridgway for his incredible service to the Chaffee Trail community!
7 days ago, Duval County Public Schools
Douglas Ridgway, Volunteer at Chaffee Trail Elementary, recgonized by the School Board
Bus 8 is late... Once they arrive on campus, we will let you know. Transportation 904-858-6200
8 days ago, Casie Doyle
STUDENT CHECK-OUT NOTICE

For the safety of our students and to keep dismissal moving smoothly, all parents/guardians should remain in the car rider line during dismissal.

If you choose to park because you need an ID check, please understand that your student cannot be released through the Café/car rider doors. Students requiring an ID check will ONLY be released through the Front Lobby once the car rider dismissal line has ended.

We are unable to check IDs or approve student check-outs while dismissal is in progress.

If you are waiting for an ID check, please remain patiently in your vehicle until you see that the car rider line has ended. We anticipate being able to welcome you into the lobby for ID verification and student check-out by approximately 3:30 p.m.

Thank you for your patience and for helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and moving efficiently!
8 days ago, Casie Doyle

Mustang Families,

Thank you for a wonderful first day of school! 💙🐴 We loved welcoming our Mustangs back to campus and appreciate your patience as we worked through those first-day arrival and dismissal routines.

A few important reminders as we prepare for Day Two:

🚗 Car Rider Tags
Today, we had many families arrive without their school-issued car rider tag. If you do not yet have a tag, please make arrangements to pick one up.

Beginning tomorrow, families who arrive in the car line without a school-issued car tag will be asked to park and wait until the regular car line has finished(today it did not finish until 3:40). Once the line is complete, you will need to come to the front office with your photo ID and wait to have your child checked out.

Please help us keep dismissal safe and moving by having your car tag displayed and ready each afternoon.

🚌 Bus Riders
We also had many students today without confirmed bus assignments. Please remember that students must have an approved bus assignment, including a bus number and stop, before we can place them on a bus.

⏰ Dismissal Will Get Faster!
Thank you for your patience today! Each day, our car line will get a little faster as students, families, and staff become familiar with the routine. Our goal is to have dismissal completed by 3:10 p.m. by the end of the week.

📱 Stay Connected Through Rooms
Please be sure you are checking Rooms for important updates and information from your child's teacher. This will be one of our primary ways of keeping you connected to what is happening in the classroom.

🌟 Day Two Arrival Reminder
Tomorrow, only Pre-K and Kindergarten parents may walk their children into the building, they may enter the front lobby doors. Students in grades 1–5 should arrive through their normal arrival method: car rider line(car rider doors), walker entrance(car rider doors), or bus(bus doors)

We are excited for Day Two and grateful for your partnership, patience, and support as we get our routines rolling!

Have a wonderful evening, Mustang Families!

#MustangsAcrossAmerica

9 days ago, Casie Doyle
Day 2
Parents/Guardians,
We are having to hold walkers due to weather. Students will be at the school and can be picked up with an ID. Thank you for your understanding as we work to dismiss all students safely.
9 days ago, Erin Rock
What a wonderful first day it has been! We hope you've already had a chance to check out the photos your child's teacher has been sharing in Rooms. It has been a joy seeing our Mustangs learning, smiling, and settling into the new school year!

As we prepare for dismissal, we want to send a few important reminders:

Please make sure your child's teacher knows how your student is getting home today. If we have not received transportation information, we cannot safely release your child.

We are also keeping a close eye on today's weather. We are hopeful the rain will move through before dismissal.

Please note:

Walkers will be dismissed even if it is raining.
The only time we delay walker dismissal is if there is lightning in the area. If lightning is present, we will temporarily hold dismissal until it is safe to resume. The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work through the first days of school. The line will be particulary long today as the first few days typically are . Please make sure you are allowing traffic to merge. Evey other car merges. BE KIND BE PATIENT....We appreciate your support in helping us ensure every Mustang gets home safely!

Go Mustangs!
9 days ago, Casie Doyle
UPDATE
Join your students class page!!!
10 days ago, Casie Doyle
First Day photos
Tomorrow's the Day, Mustangs!

We are so excited to welcome our returning Mustangs back home and to greet our newest members of the Mustang family—our Pre-K and Kindergarten students! Tomorrow marks the beginning of another amazing year, and we can't wait to see everyone.

🏫 Morning Arrival

Our doors will open for student arrival at 7:50 a.m.

Tomorrow only, families are welcome to walk their child to class. We ask everyone to be patient and use extra caution as our parking lot will be much busier than usual.

Kindergarten families may continue walking their child to class through Wednesday. Beginning Thursday, all students (including Kindergarten) should follow our normal arrival procedures.

🚌 Transportation Reminder

If you did not register for transportation and receive a bus number and bus stop assignment, your child has not been approved to ride a school bus. Please make transportation arrangements to pick up your child no later than 3:10 p.m.

🚗 Car Rider Dismissal

The first week of school is always our busiest, so dismissal may take a little longer than usual. Thank you in advance for your patience and kindness as everyone learns the routines.

Please remember:

You must have your school-issued car rider tag displayed to pick up in the car line.
If you do not have your tag, please remain in the line. Once directed into the parking lot, park your vehicle and wait until after 3:30 p.m. to come inside with a photo ID to check out your student.
⭐ Extended Day Families

To help us safely dismiss our car riders, we ask that Extended Day families wait until after 4:00 p.m. to pick up students during the first week of school.

📱 Stay Connected!

Be sure to:

Download the DCPS App
Join your child's Rooms classroom communication

Our teachers will be sharing classroom updates, reminders, and photos throughout the year—you won't want to miss all the exciting learning taking place!

👕 Spirit Shirts

Our Mustang Spirit Shirts will be on sale this week! Watch for information coming home with your student.

📋 Orientation Reminder

If you were unable to attend Orientation, please be sure your child's teacher knows how your child will be going home tomorrow and for the remainder of the school year. Clear transportation plans are essential to ensuring a safe dismissal for every student.

Thank you for partnering with us as we begin another incredible year. We are honored to serve your family and can't wait to see our hallways filled with smiling faces once again.

See you tomorrow, Mustangs! Let's make it a fantastic first day! 💙🐴
10 days ago, Casie Doyle

The Mustang Minute
August 7, 2026 | Welcome Back Edition
Mustangs Across America

A Welcome Back Message from Principal Doyle

Dear Mustang Families,

Welcome back! We are so excited to begin another amazing school year at Chaffee Trail Elementary!
As we embark on our "Mustangs Across America" adventure, I can't wait to see our hallways once again filled with smiling faces, eager learners, and the excitement that only the first day of school can bring.
I also want to take a moment to celebrate YOU—our incredible students, families, and staff. Because of the hard work and dedication of our entire Mustang community, Chaffee Trail Elementary earned a school grade of a "B"! We are proud of this accomplishment, but even more excited about where we're headed next. Together, we'll continue traveling toward even greater success for every Mustang.
Monday is the beginning of another incredible journey, and we cannot wait to welcome our students back home to CTES!

📅 Mustang Calendar

Monday, August 10
First Day of School
Car tags available for families who missed Orientation

Friday, August 14
Saddle Up Beginning-of-Year Assessments Begin

August 25
Open House

September
Family Reading Night (Date Coming Soon!)

Transportation Reminders:
Please help us make dismissal safe and efficient.

Bus Riders
If you completed your district bus registration before the July 30 deadline, your student's:
Bus number
Bus stop
Pickup and drop-off information
can be found in your Parent Focus Portal.

If you did not receive a bus assignment, your student has not been approved for district transportation and you will need to provide transportation to and from school until approved.

Unfortunately, we cannot place students on a bus without district approval.

Car Rider Information:
Families who attended Orientation received their official CTES car tags.
If you were unable to attend Orientation, you may pick up your car tag on Monday in your childs classroom.
Please remember:
✅ Only official CTES car tags or the PickMyKid digital tag/QR code may be used.
❌ Handwritten signs cannot be accepted for student dismissal.

Need additional car tags?
A request form will be available to receive extra school-issued tags.

If you arrive without an official tag, you will need to:
Park your vehicle
Wait until the conclusion of dismissal
Bring a photo ID into the front office to check out your student.

❤️ Please Be Patient

Nearly 75% of our families did complete the required transportation form that was shared. The Form for recording transportation will close at 7pm this evening. Please do not change how you reported your childs dimissal at orienation.
When students are unsure how they are getting home, it creates confusion and slows dismissal for everyone. Please pick one mode and stick with it to eleminate room for error. We are dissmissing 900+ students at one time. Lets limit the confusion by sticking to one mode of transportation.
In addition, the first week always takes a little longer as our students learn new dismissal routines.
Your patience and kindness are greatly appreciated as we work together to ensure every child gets home safely.

Saddle Up for Success!

We hope your family enjoyed working through our Saddle Up Summer Activities together!
Beginning Friday, teachers will begin using those foundational skills as part of our beginning-of-year assessments.
If you haven't looked through the activities recently, spend a few minutes reviewing them together before school starts. Every little bit helps our Mustangs begin the year strong!

❤️ Join Our PTA
Our PTA plays a huge role in creating memorable experiences for our students.
When you join PTA, you're helping support:
student events
family nights
teacher appreciation
school programs
campus improvements
PTA isn't just for a handful of volunteers—it belongs to all of us. Together, we can create incredible opportunities for our children.
📱 Scan the QR Code - found in attached documents

Patrol Spirit Shirts
$18
Missed Orientation-
Student Patrol Spirit Shirts will still remain available for purchase during the first week of school. Watch for a flyer with ordering information.

Safety First
The first day of school is exciting—and busy!
Please:
Drive slowly through our parking lot.
Use extra caution on Sam Caruso Way.
Follow staff directions.
Be patient as traffic moves through campus.
Parking will be limited, but we'll work hard to get everyone through safely.

Stay Connected
Don't miss important announcements!
Follow us on:
Facebook
Rooms
School Website
DCPS APP
These are the fastest ways to receive school updates, reminders, and celebrations throughout the year.

❤️ Have a Wonderful First Day!
We cannot wait to welcome our Mustangs back to campus and begin another incredible journey together.
Here's to a year filled with learning, growth, adventure, and Mustang PRIDE!
See you Monday!

Mrs. Casie Doyle
Principal
Chaffee Trail Elementary School

"Every Mustang. Every Mile. Every Dream."

12 days ago, Casie Doyle
join PTA
pta
Reminder for Our Mustang Families

If you have not already done so, please complete the Orientation Form as soon as possible. The information collected on this form is critical to ensuring your child's transportation and dismissal plans are correct for the first day of school. Please do not make changes to what you submitted to the teacher if you were at orienation yesterday.

If you were unable to pick up your car rider tag during Orientation, don't worry! You may pick it up from your child's classroom on the first day of school.

Kindergarten Families: Parents are welcome to walk their kindergarten student into the classroom on the first three days of school to help make the transition a little easier. 1st - 5th Can walk their students back the first day. Reminder parking is limited be patient.

We can't wait to welcome our Mustangs Monday! Thank you for helping us start the school year safely and smoothly.
12 days ago, Casie Doyle
Required info
Orientation is just 2 days away! We can't wait to welcome everyone back on Thursday, August 6th! Please refer to the orientation flyer for your child's scheduled time.

Complete This Before Orientation:

To help us ensure a smooth start to the school year, please complete the Parent Information Form before arriving at orientation. Your child's teacher will review and confirm the information with you during your visit.

This information is critical for making sure your child's transportation is accurate for. If you are new to CTE we use the PikMyKid Ap (free Ap) this will allow you to update your student's transportation during the school year. You can use the qr code on the attached flyer or you can use the link provided here.

📲 Complete the form here:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/ebyXCaHcxm

👕 Student Patrol Spirit Shirts

Our Student Patrols will be selling this year's Mustang Spirit Shirts during orientation for $18 each. We invite students to wear the spirit shirts for field trips, flag raising and assemblies and other fun dress up days. Be sure to stop by and support our student leaders!

⭐ Student Patrol Parent Meeting

Families of Student Patrol members are invited to attend our first Patrol Parent Meeting on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Room 158.

💙 Join Our Amazing PTA!

The most fabulous PTA on the Westside will be welcoming new members during orientation! Our PTA plays a vital role in supporting our students, staff, and school community, and we'd love to see 100% family participation this year.

Membership information and dues will be available at orientation.

We look forward to seeing everyone Thursday as we kick off another incredible year at Chaffee Trail Elementary. Let's make this our best journey yet—Mustangs Across America!
16 days ago, Casie Doyle
Tshirt 18$
Forms for transportation first day orientation
orientation schedule