Welcome Families, Guests, and

Future Manatees

to Paterson Elementary

#OnceaManateeAlwaysaManatee

Agenda

• Paterson Journey and Information
• Questions
• Photo Opportunity
• Specific Questions or Concerns
• Kindergarten Building and Media Center Visit

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Your student’s

Journey at

Paterson Elementary

Our goal is to provide students and families with a quality academic educational experience as well as promote growth and development as responsible citizens. Your student’s experience will be a foundation for their success and preparation to compete and succeed in the 21st century.

About

Founded in 1992, Paterson Elementary is situated on a serene residential street in Fleming Island, Florida. The school occupies a sprawling campus of twenty-five acres, consisting of buildings and portables. Driven by our commitment to support students, stakeholders, the community, and staff, PES has always been known as a community based school that fosters a sense of pride and connection for Fleming Island.

Vision & Mission

Vision

Paterson Elementary School’s vision is to provide students with:

• tools for lifelong learning
• a care and stimulating environment
• a supportive interaction of home, school, and community
• a quality education for a changing world

Mission

Our mission is to create and maintain a culture for all stakeholders to ensure their educational experience fosters high academic exposure, metacognition and is personally rewarding for all students. We will increase student achievement by providing students with learning opportunities that are rigorous, relevant, and transcend to meet the expectations of the twenty-first century beyond the boundaries of the school walls. We will ensure a culture and learning environment built upon integrity, respect, and accountability. Through these values, we will maximize student potential and promote individual successes.

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EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Each grade level’s growth is done through academic exposure and experiences. This process is a foundation for their Paterson journey and beyond, developed through standards-based instruction.

• Grade-level state standards and curriculum.
• Common terminology
• Teacher PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities)
• Vertical PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities)
• Adopted and approved by the State of Florida Department of Education

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Kindergarten by the Numbers

Five Teachers:

• Mrs. Lisgaris
• Mrs. Bendig
• Ms. Houston
• Ms. Frendahl
• Mrs. Redford

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• Average of 16 to 18 students per classroom.
• Kindergarten is located in Building 5.
• All kindergarten classrooms are in a self-contained format.

A-Z Theme Days

Holiday Celebrations

Easter Egg Hunts

Kindergarten Events

Our Kindergarten Teachers host a range of events throughout the school year designed to foster learning, enjoyment, and the development of friendships.

Mother’s Day Tea

ABC Fashion Show

Educational Field Trips

Ice Cream Social

Parental and guardian involvement is strongly encouraged and essential in the classroom.

Resources

• S.T.E.M
• Art
• Media
• Music
• Physical Education

During the academic year, we provide a resource schedule that rotates five subjects weekly:

Students also have access to any of the three playgrounds for their physical activities.

Grade Specific Activities

Educational Field Trips at every grade level

3rd Grade Presidential Reports

Classroom Celebrations

1st Grade Thanksgiving Play

6th Grade Greek Olympics

6th Grade vs. Faculty Kickball Game

Turkey Trot with Coach Vann

Santa Shuffle with Coach Vann

3rd Grade Extended Studies World of Nations

6th Grade Extended Studies Holiday Market

Pre-K through 6th Grade Cultural Lessons with

Ms. Richards

Science Lab

Thanks to the grants, local high school resources, and generous parent donations, we are now able to offer a science lab for all our students.

• Run/Walk Club with Coach Vann
• Lacrosse in collaboration with Fleming Island High School Lacrosse Team
• Track & Field Team
• Art Club with Mrs. Bramlitt
• Chorus with Mrs Lotze
• Bricks 4 Kidz
• Drama Kids
• Manatee Morning News Crew
• Safety Patrol
• Anchor for Life with MIlitary Family and Life Counselor with Mrs. Vinson
• Robotics Team and Club
• Math Team
• Battle of the Books School Team

Manatee Clubs & Extracurricular

Paterson rolls out a treasure trove of extracurricular activities, perfect for your student to sharpen skills, forge epic friendships, and uncover hidden passions!

• The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, oversees a curriculum followed by over 10,000 schools across more than 160 countries.
• This curriculum is globally accepted and recognized.
• Schools can tailor the Cambridge curriculum to fit their students' learning preferences. The programs are designed to enhance critical thinking skills, independent research abilities, and deep subject knowledge.
• Inspire a love for learning, help students discover new skills and abilities essential for life, and promote achievement in school, secondary education, and future careers.
• The Cambridge curriculum seamlessly transitions into the secondary level through the Pre-AICE and AICE programs.

THE FUTURE AND ANTICIPATED CHANGES

Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, Paterson Elementary will be officially designated as a Cambridge School.

What does this mean for your student?

• Our Partners in Education business sponsorships generate in excess of $20,000 annually. These proceeds go directly back into our students, faculty, and staff.
• Our Adopt a Classroom Program allocates thousands of dollars directly to classrooms each year.
• Each school year begins with an Orientation featuring business sponsor booths and an Open House with a “tail gate” atmosphere.

Community Involvement

Parent Involvement

• Families are invited to have lunch with their student(s) in the courtyard.
• Classroom and activities volunteers.
• Mentoring opportunities.
• Annual events such as Red Ribbon Week, the Halloween Parade, Dad’s Bring Your Students to School Day, Holiday Dress Up Days, Reading Literacy Week, and a Spring Carnival.
• Academic Recognition: quarterly, semester, and end of the year awards and recognition
• Social and personal growth recognition, such as Character Counts Luncheons each month.

Paterson is known as a school with an enormous amount of parent, family, and community involvement.

PARENT FACULTY ASSOCIATION

Our dedicated Parent Faculty Association (PFA) engages in various volunteer and mentorship initiatives. They are committed to supporting our school through funding essential projects, volunteering our time and skills, and having fun. Most importantly, taking great joy in creating lasting memories for the students and fostering school spirit at Paterson!

Opportunities to volunteer with the PFA include:

• Organizing Fundraisers
• Assisting with those fundraisers.
• Setting up and chaperoning dances for 3rd to 6th grades, an
• Setting up and chaperoning the Ice Cream Social for Pre-K to 2nd grade
• Helping with our hospitality committee for Teacher Appreciation Week, Back to School Breakfast for Teachers and Staff, a Teacher Holiday Luncheon, the Soup-er Bowl Staff Luncheon
• Assisting with community outreach.

• Designated as a “School of Excellence” by the Florida Department of Education from 2018 to 2024.
• Acknowledged as one of the TOP 5 schools in Clay County for educational climate for five consecutive years.
• Achieved an “A” grade for 26 out of the last 28 years.
• Recognized as the top-performing school in Clay County District Schools for 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• Ranked 10th among all elementary schools (2996 total) in the State of Florida.

ACCOLADES

• Scored above the top quartile in the district’s Instructional Culture Index across 9 of 11 categories, including Professional Development, Peer Culture, Learning Environment, Leadership, and Family and Community Engagement.
• Honored with the Golden Schoolhouse Award for Volunteerism.
• A charter member of the National Elementary Honor Society.
• Awarded the Purple Star School of Distinction by the Florida Department of Education.
• Named Community First School of the Month for the past two years.

ACCOLADES

• Kindergarten Screenings:
• Mon., July 28th
• Wed., July 30th
• The front office will call to set up a time to bring in your kindergartner.

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• Kindergarten Staggered Start Dates
• Monday, August 11th if 6 years old by January 31, 2026
• Tuesday, August 12th if 6 years old after January 31, 2026

*** All students are expected to be in class on Wednesday, August 13. ***

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• Kindergarten Orientation: Fri., August 8th at 1:00 pm.
• Open House: Mon., August 25th at 5:30-6:30

Important Dates

The Importance of Kindergarten Staggered Start:

A Smooth Start for Elementary Students

• Reduced Overwhelm on the First Day: Students experience less anxiety during their initial day at elementary school.
• Focused Learning Opportunities: Our teachers can effectively introduce various new experiences to a small group of students.
• Decreased Anxiety for Students and Parents: This approach helps alleviate worries for both students and their parents regarding the first day.

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Additional Information:

• To register for kindergarten, visit oneclay.net, click on REGISTER in the top left-hand corner, and then on Kindergarten Registration located on the left-hand-side drop-down menu.
• For any inquiries regarding registration, please reach out to the front office at 904-336-2575.
• Our school nurse, Mrs. Melzak, encourages all families to complete the consent forms through ParentVue and to thoroughly review the Student Handbook concerning medication policies. Details about the medication drop-off times for the 2025-2026 school year will be shared during the summer.

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• The school calendar is available on our website and will have important reminders about early dismissal days, upcoming events, and reminders about student report cards.
• The 2025-2026 Student Handbook will be accessible to all parents. We encourage you to review this handbook at the start of the school year.
• The 2025-2026 supply list is available on our website.

Kindergarten Arrival and Dismissal Times:

• Arrival Times:
• First Bell is 8:05
• Second Bell is 8:25
• Third Bell (Tardy Bell) is 8:30
• Dismissal Times:
• Car Riders to South Parent Pick Up at 2:32
• Bus Riders at 2:32
• Multi Sibling Car Riders to South Parent Pick Up at 2:36
• YMCA, Daycare, and Parent Walk-Ups at 2:42

6th Grade Graduation

We celebrate our annual PES 6th Grade Graduation off-campus at a local church in Fleming Island. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to conclude the students' ‘Paterson Journey’ and honor their hard work, growth, and educational achievements during their time with us.

We are hosting a live stream on our social media platform and warmly invite all our families to join us for this special event. Please follow the Paterson Elementary Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pesengage to tune in.

Follow Us on our Website, One Clay App, Social Media

oneclay.net/o/pes

https://www.facebook.com/pesengage

pesmanatees

One Clay App on Apple and Android

904.336.2575

5400 Pine Ave, Fleming Island, FL

904.336.2576

From our Current Students

From our Current Students

If you know friends, neighbors, or family members who would like to explore Paterson Elementary, our next school tour will be held on Monday, May 19th.