
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - The countdown is on — just ONE month until the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10. Take small steps now to get ready: Adjust sleep schedules a little each week, gather school supplies and organize backpacks, keep learning going with 20 minutes of reading or math each day, mark important school dates on your family calendar, and start practicing morning routines. We can't wait to welcome everyone back for another amazing year!





Good afternoon and thank you all for an amazing 1st week of school and a great start to week 2. We truly appreciate the amazing work you do every day to make sure your children are ready for school! Here are a few updates as we move forward through the week.
Reminders
- Doors open at 8:00am each morning and students will begin breakfast at 8:10am.
- Now that we are into the second week of school, we will continue with dismissal starting at the regular time.
- Walkers Update: Students that are walkers will be released at 3:00pm. Kindergarteners will still need to be picked up by their parent.
- Bus Update: The bus company is still working to ensure buses are arriving on time. We appreciate your patience and grace as we work with buses.
- Car Riders: Please make sure to have your car rider numbers visible on your dashboard to help car riders move as smoothly as possible.
Instruction
- Our amazing teachers have been working extra hard making sure they are implementing high-quality instruction. It warms my heart to see these amazing students learning each and every day.
- Make sure you are checking your child’s classroom page on Thrillshare to get specific updates on what is happening in their classrooms.
Positive Behavior Intervention Systems
- Mrs. Charles-Jones had a blast with everyone on Friday for our House Assemblies. Each grade level is a part of a specific house. It was great seeing everyone show their house pride and getting excited for the maintaining good behavior.
- BIZI Update- Everyone is getting excited about BIZI. Students can earn BIZI bucks by showing good behavior and meeting behavior expectations. They can then spend those virtual bucks in the school BIZI store. We are so excited to be able to provide positive incentives for great behavior.
Thank you everyone for all you do! We truly appreciate your support and can’t wait to see how much we can grow together this year!

Due to bad weather, we are running behind on dismissal. Please be as patient as possible, because we want to make sure all students are released safely. We appreciate you understanding.
Good afternoon and thank you to this amazing community for a fantastic 2nd day of school. It was an amazing day! Now that we are getting in a good routine, tomorrow will start our regular arrival routine for VPK and kindergarten...
Arrival
- Doors will open again at 8:00 AM.
- VPK parents will not be able to walk students to class. VPK paraprofessionals and arrival monitors will bring VPK students into the cafeteria.
- Kindergarten will no longer meet in their classrooms. After tomorrow, arrival monitors will escort them to their classrooms.
- All 1st-5th grade students will be asked to walk straight to class to begin eating breakfast.
- If you have any supplies your child cannot carry, they can be dropped off in the cafeteria.
Dismissal
- Please ensure your students and their teachers are aware of how they will go home. If their dismissal mode changed, please make sure to let their teacher know.
- We will begin dismissal a little earlier than usual to help ensure we get all students out in a timely manner.
- Please try to be as patient as possible as we know there is a new traffic pattern and we are all trying to ensure your child gets home safe.
Car Riders Reminders
- Please have your green Pikmykid car tag displayed on the driver’s side dashboard.
- Announce your arrival in the Pikmykid app.
- Pull all the way forward as directed, stay in your car, and follow all directions from staff/patrols.
- As you leave, right turn only onto St. Augustine.
- If you do not have a car tag, write the Pikmykid car tag number on paper for the first day.
Bus Rider Reminders
- Please make sure you have registered your child for the bus.
- Kindergarten students are required to have the bus registration completed in order to ride the bus.
- Please be as patient as possible. We had some late buses today but we hope that as the week moves on they will be more on time.
Other than that, we are so excited for what tomorrow has to bring!
Good afternoon and thank you to this amazing community for a fantastic 1st day of school. It was so wonderful welcoming everyone back and starting this year off the right way! Here are a few reminders to hep tomorrow go as smoothly as possible…
Arrival
- Doors will open again at 8:00 AM.
- Tomorrow is the last day VPK will parents will be the only ones who can walk their students to class. They have been doing amazing things today already! After tomorrow, VPK students will enter the cafeteria where they will be greeted by the VPK paraprofessionals.
- Tomorrow is the last day Kindergarten will be dropped off at the cafeteria. Their teachers will collect them and bring them to class at about 8:25. After tomorrow, arrival monitors will escort them to their classrooms.
- All 1st-5th grade students will be asked to walk straight to class to begin eating breakfast.
- If you have any supplies your child cannot carry, they can be dropped off in the cafeteria.
Dismissal
- Please ensure your students and their teachers are aware of how they will go home. If their dismissal mode changed, please make sure to let their teacher know.
- We will begin dismissal a little earlier than usual to help ensure we get all students out in a timely manner.
- Please try to be as patient as possible as we know there is a new traffic pattern and we are all trying to ensure your child gets home safe.
Car Riders Reminders
- Please have your green Pikmykid car tag displayed on the driver’s side dashboard.
- Announce your arrival in the Pikmykid app.
- Pull all the way forward as directed, stay in your car, and follow all directions from staff/patrols.
- As you leave, right turn only onto St. Augustine.
- If you do not have a car tag, write the Pikmykid car tag number on paper for the first day.
Bus Rider Reminders
- Please make sure you have registered your child for the bus.
- Kindergarten students are required to have the bus registration completed in order to ride the bus.
- Please be as patient as possible. We had some late buses today but we hope that as the week moves on they will be more on time.
Other than that, we are so excited for what tomorrow has to bring!
San Jose Panda Parents,
Good afternoon and happy Saturday! We are so excited to welcome you back for another amazing school year! Our faculty and staff have been working extra hard preparing to welcome back your children and begin the next chapter in their learning journey. As we look forward to Monday, here are a few reminders…
Arrival
- Doors will open at 8:00am on Monday morning.
- VPK parents only will be allowed to walk their students to class. We know it is a big moment dropping them off for their very first day of school, but to ease the transition we ask that you drop them off, give them their hugs/kisses and let our amazing VPK teachers get them ready for the day.
- Kindergarten students will meet their teachers in the cafeteria and stay at their tables until teachers bring them to their classrooms.
- 1st-5th grade students are asked to be dropped off and will walk straight to their classrooms to begin breakfast and prepare for their day.
Dismissal
- Please ensure your students and their teachers are made aware of how they will go home. It will either be car, bus, walker, or extended day (if you have registered).
- We will begin dismissal a little earlier than usual to help ensure we get all students out in a timely manner.
- Please try to be as patient as possible as we know there is a new traffic pattern and we are all trying to ensure your child gets home safe.
Car Riders Reminders
- Please have your green Pikmykid car tag displayed on the driver’s side dashboard.
- Announce your arrival in the Pikmykid app.
- Pull all the way forward as directed, stay in your car, and follow all directions from staff/patrols.
- As you leave, right turn only onto St. Augustine Road.
- If you do not have a car tag, write the Pikmykid car tag number on paper for the first day.
Bus Rider Reminders
- Please make sure you have registered your child for the bus.
- Kindergarten students are required to have the bus registration completed in order to ride the bus.
- Please be as patient as possible. As we get students used to riding their bus, it may take a little extra time for the bus to arrive at their destination.
Other than that, we are so excited to welcome everyone back and look forward to Monday!

Happy Friday San Jose Parents! We are so excited to welcome you back on Monday to start another incredible year. I will be sending out an update tomorrow with information on arrival and dismissal. Our entire faculty and staff are so excited to see all the families that make this school such a special place to be! GO PANDAS!!!


Can't wait to see you at orientation on Thursday, August 6th!







Looking for a school where every child is valued, inspired, and empowered to succeed? Enroll your Kindergarten or First Grade student at San Jose Elementary today!
Visit our front office to register your child. For information about the documents you'll need to bring, please call us at (904) 739-5260.
Join our Panda Family—we can't wait to welcome you! 🎉


Saturday, July 25th
Work Day 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Meet and Greet with Principal Barr and your teacher! 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
We cannot wait to welcome our Pandas back for a year to remember!

We can't wait to see you this Saturday, July 25th for our Campus Beautification Day & San Jose Back-to-School Bash!
*Campus Beautification: 8:00–10:00 AM
*Back-to-School Bash: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Bring the whole family and join us for a fun-filled day as we get our campus ready for an amazing school year! Enjoy FREE giveaways, community resources, activities, and lots of fun!
We look forward to celebrating with our Panda families. See you soon!


My name is Angela Doss. I am thrilled to be joining the San Jose family as one of your assistant principals. For nearly 20 years, I’ve served in Duval County as an elementary teacher, school counselor, and assistant principal, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring that experience to San Jose.
During the 2026–2027 school year, I look forward to partnering with each of you to ensure your child feels safe, supported, and inspired every day. Together, we will create an educational experience that empowers every student to reach their highest potential.
I look forward to meeting each of you!

DEADLINE: July 22, 2026


We are excited to welcome you to San Jose Elementary's Back-to-School Orientation on Thursday, August 6, 2026!
Please attend the session for your child's grade level:
*VPK–2nd Grade @ 10:00 AM
*3rd–5th Grade @ 1:00 PM
We look forward to seeing you as we kick off an amazing school year together!

I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer! It is with great excitement, gratitude, and humility that I introduce myself as the new principal of San Jose Elementary School.
It is truly an honor to become a part of the Panda family. San Jose has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence, a caring school culture, and strong relationships among students, families, and staff. I recognize the incredible foundation that has been built over the years, and I look forward to working alongside you as we continue that tradition while embracing exciting opportunities for the future.
As a father, educator, and school leader, I understand that trusting someone with your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Please know that every decision we make at San Jose will continue to be centered on what is best for our students. Our goal is to ensure that every child feels safe, loved, challenged, and inspired each day they walk through our doors.
One of my highest priorities is building meaningful relationships with our students, staff, and families. I believe that schools are strongest when families and educators work together as partners. Your voice, ideas, and experiences matter, and I am committed to fostering open communication, listening to your feedback, and creating opportunities for you to be actively involved in our school community.
As we prepare for the first day of school, I hope your family enjoys the remainder of the summer making lasting memories. I am eager to meet each of you, learn your stories, and begin this exciting journey together.
Thank you for welcoming me into your school community. I look forward to partnering with you as we celebrate our legacy and launch an incredible future for every student at San Jose Elementary.
With gratitude,
Adam B.
Principal
San Jose Elementary School
Go Pandas!


🛠️ Campus Beautification Workday
⏰ 8:00–10:00 AM
Bring the whole family as we work together to prepare our campus for the new school year. Whether you're planting, painting, cleaning, or lending a helping hand, every volunteer makes a difference!
🎒 Back-to-School Bash & Community Resource Fair
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Stay after the workday to enjoy:
✂️ Free student haircuts
🎒 School supplies & backpacks
🏢 Community resources
🎉 Family activities
🤝 Opportunities to connect with community partners
This is a wonderful opportunity to serve alongside other Panda families and help ensure our students return to a beautiful campus and a strong start to the school year.
💙 We hope to see you there! Go Pandas!

SNAP is designed to help children who may be experiencing challenges such as difficulty managing emotions, problem-solving, or getting along with others.
The program includes:
-Skill-building sessions for children
-Support for caregivers
-Free dinner, transportation, and sibling care
If you feel your child could benefit, applications are available at the school, or families can contact the Youth Crisis Center directly for more information at hhampton@ycc.org.
