Wow! This first nine weeks has flown by! I am so impressed with everyone adapting to our new COVID safety procedures. I know it is different, but our students are really doing a great job wearing masks and social distancing. Duval HomeRoom families are doing a wonderful job keeping up with technology and engaging in virtual learning. I really enjoy visiting brick and mortar and virtual classrooms each day. We are learning and leading at ABE!
Student leadership clubs are also off and running! I am thrilled to be a part of a school where students are encouraged to make an impact in their community. We have running, yoga, beautification, technology, and so many more. It is amazing to see the children get excited about giving back and making the school a better place.
Thank you all for welcoming me this year. I am so grateful to be here and partner with teachers and families to grow our students. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of students and families during arrival, lunch, and dismissal. I cannot wait for you all to join us, hopefully soon, and see the great things happening at ABE!
Thank you for your continued support!
Samantha Thompson
PTA Member Spotlight: Emily Holloman and Duval HomeRoom
Hello, my name is Emily Holloman, and my kids (Grades K and 2) are virtually homeschooled with ABE teachers in Duval Homeroom. My oldest daughter was in 1st grade back in March when, like all ABE families, I was thrown into remote schooling over Spring Break. I just did what I had to do. It was different. It was disorganized. It was chaotic. Then summer came and I pretended that it was just an extra long summer. We stayed away from people, including my mother, for months. I was a hermit. We all were. I’m sure for a lot of people it has felt like the lowest of lows. It was really depressing. But.. we persevered. We had picnics outside, we made a lot of sidewalk chalk art, and we played games I hadn’t played in years. It felt like an “80’s summer.” You know, drinking from the hose, riding bikes through the neighborhood, taking things slow. I somehow found an appreciation for it.
But then, finally, schools were planning to open up again and we had a big decision to make. My youngest would start Kindergarten this year, and to me, Kindergarten is an important milestone. It’s a time when little kids step out of their comfort zone and into a new school, a new classroom, and meet new friends. It’s a big step for those littles. They have to learn to sit still and start behaving as a big kid. It’s a time for me to cry my eyes out because my baby is getting so big. It was also supposed to be a big year for me -- after being a stay at home mom for 8 years, I thought it was finally going to be my time to go back into the working world, finally commit to more barre classes, and catch up on who I was as a person. But ultimately my husband and I decided to keep them home. I don’t know what the right answer is or if I'll ever know. I’m just taking this day by day until we’re ready to send them back. I’m not sure when I’ll be fully ready though because, you see -- and I know this is an unpopular opinion -- I have actually enjoyed homeschooling my girls. It has given me purpose. I get to see what they are learning and I’m better able to help them with their schoolwork.
Virtual home schooling for us looks like one kid at the kitchen table and one kid in
the playroom/guest room. I usually wake up early like I would for work, make my coffee, and prepare myself for the day. Usually that involves frantically cleaning the part of the room that can be seen from the camera. We’re lucky to have the help of my father-in-law, who is one of those rare jewels who lives to help others. He comes over every school day and sits with my oldest daughter while I sit with my youngest daughter. He handles the 2nd grade math and I try keeping my Kindergartener still in front of a computer for two hours at a time. It has also given him a sense of purpose and it has been good for all of us.
Duval Homeroom is pretty self explanatory. All you really do is make sure to attend the live classes, follow the assignments the teachers post, print off any paperwork, and make sure your kiddos do their work and send it in. And make sure they stay focused ... while resisting the temptation to argue with their sister...or play with their toys...or watch TV...or eat snacks... or...
Bless those sweet teachers. I’m thankful for them and their patience. It has definitely been eye-opening for me to see them at work.
I’m learning to adjust to the new “normal”. I actually hate the sound of that phrase because none of this is normal and I don’t want things to stay this way. It’s just something that we have to get through. This too shall pass. I like that phrase better. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy these extra moments we have been blessed with and soak up the time I have with my girls. I know one thing for sure, I now have a deep respect and appreciation for teachers.
Dolphin Fest
Saturday, November 7th
10 AM - 2 PM
This is the premier fundraising event of the PTA, bringing together students, teachers, parents, local businesses and our wonderful neighbors for a fun-filled day.
Virtual Silent Auction
Covid has drastically altered our event but we are ABE strong and are adapting so that we can maintain things that make our little pink school so special.
Though we will not be having the outdoor portion of our festival we WILL be having our class basket raffle, teacher treat auction and our traditional silent auction. These events will all take place on a virtual silent auction platform.
Items for the auction as well as class baskets will be up for Viewing Only on Friday the 30th.
Be on the look out for the link and instructions on how to navigate.
Raffle Tickets
Tickets for the class basket raffle will be exclusively sold online. Because we are using a virtual platform, ticket prices have increased to $1 each. However, there are still discounts for multiple ticket purchases. Pricing is as followed:
1 ticket = $1
5 tickets = $4
10 tickets = $7
20 tickets = $15
Tickets will go on sale Wednesday the 21st and run until 2pm, Saturday November 7th. The winner for each basket will be randomly chosen via automated draw.
Pick Up
Claiming your winnings will be done Saturday, November 7th in the front loop of the school from 3-5pm. Please bring valid identification. If you are unable to collect your item(s) at this time please contact Joy Carsonor Margaux Jurasic no later than Tuesday, November 10th.
If no communication has been made to retrieve the winning item(s) by Nov. 10th, the next highest bidder will be contacted for item purchase. (You will receive a refund minus any transaction costs associated with the purchase.)
What special item did you find to add to your child's Class Basket this year?
If you haven't already found the perfect item there's still time. Coordinate with your Homeroom Parent to find out what is needed.
The Baskets are part of what makes this event so special -- especially for the kids. Check out all of the fun baskets that are planned for this year.
This Year's Basket Themes
Crayola
Play-Doh
Disney
Outdoor Toys
Emoji
Science
Mine Craft
Razor Scooter
Roblox
Backyard Campout
Beach
Slime & Squishy
Skateboard
American Girl
Exploration
Fun Around Town
Hot Wheels
Cooking
Lego
Camera
Family Game Night
Redbox Movie
H2O
Marvel Superheroes
Arts-n-Crafts
The Class Basket raffle will be virtual through the auction website. Each ABE student will still receive their free raffle ticket to be entered in the class basket of their choice. Additional tickets can be purchased online for $1.00 a piece.
Please note: Only ABE students can win the Class Baskets.
Silent Auction
Have you bid on an item in our Silent Auction in the past? If so, you already know about the awesome items that have been kindly donated. All of those items were solicited by ABE parents or teachers.
PTA’s Silent Auction is a FUNdraiser sponsored by the Atlantic Beach Elementary PTA. Funds are raised through local business and parent donations for silent auction, class basket ticket drawings and the teacher’s treat auction. This is the PTA’s BIGGEST fundraiser for the year; so don’t miss your chance to help make a difference at our little pink school!
The Silent Auction will be held online this year. The Auction website will host a public silent auction, ABE student only class basket raffle, and ABE student only teacher treat auction.
Spirit Night at Whit's: November 18, 2 - 10 PM
Save the date for ABE Spirit Day "Friendsgiving" at Whit's Frozen Yogurt Atlantic Beach on Wednesday, November 18th, 2 PM - 10 PM. Come out and join us in supporting our amazing school, PTA, and Business Partner.
Whit's Frozen Custard Atlantic Beach will donate 20% of all sales between the hours of 2pm and 10pm to ABE PTA. Tell your classmates, neighbors, friends and family and enjoy a sweet treat together!
School Advisory Council (SAC)
Join The Student Advisory Council (SAC) at a new date and time for our first in-person meeting of the year on Wednesday, November 4th at 6 PM in the ABE Cafeteria. Learn the latest ABE news from Mrs. Gallagher, F.A.B.E. (Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary), PTA, community partners and more! Those who choose to join us in the cafeteria, must wear a mask and remain socially distanced.
This month we would like to celebrate a special mom who is our Volunteer of the Month: Anna Dyer. As we continue to find ways to help serve our sweet school, children, and teachers; for the time being our efforts must be from a distance. Anna has exemplified being a volunteer from a distance by serving in many ways. She has helped tremendously with the PTA survey, the PTA website, as well as updated the ABE merchandise available online. These services are all vital in helping the PTA connect and stay in touch with our ABE families, and we are so grateful to Anna for her time donated to keeping our online presence current. We look forward to the day we can all come back to the school and help in person, but until then we appreciate our members who look to help in creative ways. Thank you Anna for being such a valuable volunteer!
Business Partners
We are pleased to announce our 2020-2021 Business Partners!
Donations from our Business Partners specifically assist programs that impact students directly, and without the continued partnership of Business Partners and PTA Members, these programs would not be possible. As ABE Lights the Way for Leadership and Learning in our 2020-2021 school year, ABE PTA is committed to ensuring our Business Partner program continues with exposure to ABE families and students both in-person and virtually.
Platinum
Fishman Pediatric Dentistry
Bach to Rock Jacksonville Beach
MBody Yoga
HC Brands
Gold
The Brace Place
Farmers Insurance Jim Jordan Agency
Aqua East Surf Shop
Jacksonville Mom
Jax Surf & Paddle
Jumpin’ Jax House of Food
Mathnasium Beach Blvd.
Johnson's Cabinetry & Flooring, Inc.
Beaches Wellfest
Silver
The Tutoring Center
Palm Insurance - Tom Alford
Bronze
The Healing Playroom
Coastal Pediatric Therapy Center
Dolphin Donation Partners
HC Brands
Rockaway
Sumo Design Studio
If you know a local business interested in becoming a part of our Business Program, we want to know!
Contact Lindy Mullen, Business Partner Liasion or visit
