Ortega Elementary

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!

Good morning, Ortega Parents and Families!! Do not forget that tonight is Exhibit Night here at Ortega! Students will be showing off their curriculum-based art pieces that they have worked so hard on! There will also be musical performances, special guests, and our Holiday Shop led by our PTA will be open in the media center! This is going to be a fun and educational evening. Please be sure to attend! See you all tonight at 6:00!

Each December the PTA board sponsors a soup luncheon for the Ortega Elementary faculty and staff. The board handles the soup, but we need help, from parents, with other items (like drinks and desserts). If you can help, please sign up using the link below. All items need to be dropped off in the front office (or car line) by 10 AM on December 17. Thank you so much! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AFA722A4FE3-53650233-desserts

Good morning Ortega 5th Grade Families! We just wanted to share a quick note of La Villa's audition dates. General auditions will be held at La Villa Middle School on January 14th and 21st at 6:00pm. The auditions for music only will be held Monday, January 27th at 6:00pm. You must make an appointment to audition. If your child wants to audition for visual arts, there are two artworks that must be completed at home prior to the audition date. To schedule an audition or for more information, follow this link: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/sams/page/audition-prep-guide Thank you!

Join the Fun at the Polar Pals Holiday Shop! Get ready to shop, wrap, and celebrate the season! The Polar Pals Holiday Shop will be open in the media center from December 11th-13th (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), with a special evening opening during Museum Night on Thursday. Students can find the perfect gifts for friends and family, all while practicing their money skills and getting into the holiday spirit. Items are budget-friendly, ranging from $1-$5, and free gift wrapping is available to make everything extra special! Parents can send kids with cash or purchase gift cards through the website: Buy Gift Cards at: https://www.schoolshoppes.com/buy Use school code: XEAC787 All proceeds support PTA-sponsored events throughout the year! Want to join the festive fun? We’re looking for volunteers to help out. Contact Sarah Shull at sarahjshull@gmail.com to lend a hand. Let’s make this holiday season magical—see you at the shop!

Good morning Ortega Parent and Students! We wanted to share that Jacksonville Public Library is having a writing contest! Students can write a persuasive book review and submit it to the library. Four finalists will be chosen to attend a celebration, and the winner will receive a $100 prize! This contest is open to grades K-12! See this link for further information: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/blog/kids-and-teens-win-100-writing-best-book-review

Good morning! Just a reminder that our Saturday Showcase is tomorrow starting at 9:00am. If you know any families of upcoming kindergarteners or any families looking for a new school, please share this information with them! See attached flyer for more information. Thank you for your support!

Hey Ortega families, be sure to invite friends and neighbors with elementary-age children to visit us Dec. 7 for School Showcase Saturday here at Ortega for Saturday Showcase. More info can be found here: https://www.duvalschools.org/page/showcase

Good morning Ortega! We just want to take a moment to congratulate Avianna H. on being a winning contestant for Angels for Allison! Her angel design will be used on cards to help raise funds for the Angels for Allison foundation that helps Northwest Florida families in need with financial assistance for funeral costs for their loved ones. It is a wonderful organization, and we are very proud of Avianna and her hard work.  Congratulations Avianna!!!

Good morning, Our wonderful PTA is doing a Holiday Plant Sale to benefit our school. Pre-orders are due by Monday December 9th. Pick up will be after Exhibit Night, December 12th or Friday December 13th. Please contact Ms. Stone for more information at eperky.stone@gmail.com. See attached flyer for more information! Thank you!

Good afternoon Ortega Parents and Community Members, We’re looking for a few parents/community members to volunteer as Girls on the Run Coaches. The season begins in February and ends at the end of April. Coaches will need to attend one training session and then hold two practices per week. Practice will be held here at Ortega right after school. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Traci Taylor at Taylort10@duvalschools.org or Michelle Tibbits at Tibbitsm@duvalschools.org. Thanks! More information about Girls on the Run: "Girls on the Run organization, designs programming that strengthens third- to eighth grade girls’ social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by caring and competent coaches who are trained to teach lessons as intended."

Good afternoon Ortega Parents, Students, and Staff! This week our Safety Patrols will be selling scented gel crayons and stickers for $1.00 a piece to benefit their end of the year patrols trip. Our patrols work very hard in the mornings and afternoons to assist with busses and car riders as well as helping to monitor our auditorium and cafeteria. Please consider bringing your dollars in tomorrow to purchase some pens and stickers! Thanks so much for your support!

* If you received a permission slip for your child to participate in the vision van, please return those ASAP. If they are not returned by December 5, your child's spot will be offered to a child on the wait list. * We have an All Pro Dad breakfast on Friday at 7:45 AM in the media center. If you are attending, please make sure to return the RSVP by Wednesday. If you have misplaced your RSVP, please email Mrs. Tibbits (tibbitsm@duvalschools.org) by Wednesday to let her know you will be there. It is important we have an accurate headcount.

Did you know about the amazing support available at the Westside Family Resource Center? 🎉 Located behind Jacksonville Heights Elementary School adjacent to the playground. The center is dedicated to eliminating non-academic barriers for students and families. Please see attached flyer for more information!  

Here are just a few reminders for this short week: * Turkey Trot is tomorrow. We could use some water bottle donations. If you are able to drop a case or two off today or tomorrow morning, we would greatly appreciate it. Also, please make sure your child dresses appropriately for a "trot" around campus. And, don't forget to continue to bring in canned goods to donate. * If your child received a vision clinic permission slip, please return those by tomorrow, 11/26. * There is no school Wednesday-Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. We hope all of our families have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We will see everyone back on December 2.

Don't forget to send in your donations for our food drive. We are accepting any type of non-perishable food. The class that brings in the most cans will win a popsicle party. Currently Ms. Killgore's class is in the lead, followed by Ms. Cary and then Ms. Faciane. See the picture to see how your child's class is doing.

Vision Is Priceless will bring a mobile vision van to Ortega Elementary on January 10 and 13. They provide full, dilated eye exams and prescription glasses for our students.  All exams and glasses are free of charge for the school and the student’s family. We have a LIMITED number of spots open for eye exams. If you are interested in an exam for your child, please email Mrs. Tibbits at tibbitsm@duvalschools.org. She will send home a permission slip for you to complete. Again, space is LIMITED. We will take names on a first-come basis.