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Homosassa Elementary

Home of the Dolphins

Dolphin Developments Staff Newsletter Week of 11/9/26

Posted Date: 11/06/26 (05:00 PM)
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A cartoon dolphin mascot in a baseball uniform stands with arms crossed in front of baseballs and a stadium.

Dolphin Developments

A school marquee for Homosassa Elementary School reads, 'Teacher of the Year Karen Pritt.'
A sign for Homosassa Elementary School announces Samantha Harris as Para of the Year.
Two women stand smiling outdoors in front of a white wall, both wearing maroon tops and lanyards.
Dear Dolphin Family,

Please help us wish Karen Pritt and Samantha Harris the best of luck as they conducted their interviews into the next round of Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year.  We are so proud of you both and thank you for being exemplary representatives of our school!  

What a great week at Homosassa! We kicked off our American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge and have already raised almost $1,000! Thank you for helping us get off to such a wonderful start and for supporting this important cause. 

Our fourth graders enjoyed their time at the Marine Science Station, making memories while learning about our local waterways, ecosystems, and the animals that call them home. 

Mrs. Regan has been working diligently to prepare for the Arts Festival this weekend.  Best of luck to all our young artists!!  In addition, we have been busy preparing for CCEF's Dragon Boat Festival. Best of luck to our team competing this weekend! Have fun, be safe, and row hard! We are cheering you on!

Looking ahead to next week, we will have Wednesday off in observance of Veterans Day. We hope you enjoy the day with family and friends, and we extend a heartfelt thank-you to our military families for their service and sacrifice. We will also be hosting our Veterans Day service on Saturday at the memorial across the street from our school. We encourage everyone to come out, show their respect, and help us honor the men and women who have served our country. It is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together in gratitude and appreciation.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Together We Can, Together We Will,
Jaime & Mindy
 

Staff Shout Outs

Tutoring is in full swing! Thank you to our afternoon tutoring team for working so hard with our students.  Your dedication is appreciated!!

Shout out to Lee Ann Bisesto for leading us into CCEF events!  Our Dragon Boat team is ready for fun, festivities, and a little competition on Saturday!  Way to go Dolpins and thank you Ms. Bisesto!! 

Thank you to our 4th grade team for taking our students on the Marine Science Station field trip.  You did a great job representing our school and making memories on the water!  If you've never been to the Marine Science Station, stop by 4th grade and let them share all the wonderful experiences it offers!

Thank you Larry for going above and beyond to ensure our school is clean even when we are short-handed. Thank you, Julie Miele, for jumping in, grabbing a vacuum and helping Larry finish the office one morning.  You both are shining examples of one team, one dream!  

Shout out to Ms. Quezada for delivering exemplary UFLI instruction.  Students were engaged and enthusiastic about learning!  Way to go, Ms. Q!

Congratulations to a fabulous start to the American Heart Association Challenge.  We have raised almost $1,000 in our first week.  Way to go, Mrs. Hatto, teachers for promoting it, and students and families for making it a successful challenge!! 

Thank you Mrs. Regan for the outstanding Veteran's Day cards you made with your students.  We wish you the best of luck with the Arts Festival this weekend!!

Thank you, Mrs. Pyfrom, for teaching our students Patriotic songs and the importance of Veteran's Day. 

Congrats to both 1st and 3rd grade for having a day of 100% attendance in your grade levels!
 

Upcoming Events

  • Monday - 11/9 - Happy Monday! 
  • Tuesday - 11/10 - Standards Playbook (ELA)
  • Wednesday - 11/11 - No School for Veteran's Day
  • Thursday - 11/12 / Literacy Leadership Team Meeting @ 8:15 in Principal's Classroom
  • Friday - 11/13 / World Kindness Day!
  • Saturday & Sunday - 11/14-15 - Seafood Festival Parking!
*Next week is our Thanksgiving Family Luncheon on Tuesday, November 17th!

Staff Birthdays
November 8 - Stephania Desir
November 10 - Deputy Martin
November 13 - Samantha Harris
November 13 - Marcia Brown
Happy Birthday!!
 

Coach's Corner

⚾ Coach’s Corner: Step Up to the Plate with READ & RECITE!
As we continue strengthening our SPQ3R (Survey, Predict, Question, Read, Recite, Review) strategy, let’s focus on two important steps that help students hit a home run with comprehension: READ and RECITE!
READ: Step Up to the Plate! During this step, students actively read a section of text to find answers to the questions they developed earlier. Encourage students to pause, identify important information, make connections, and use text evidence to support their thinking. Just like a batter watches the pitch, readers should pay attention to details that confirm or challenge their predictions and answer their questions.
RECITE: Make the Play! After reading a section, students pause and explain the most important information in their own words. They can orally summarize, answer guiding questions without looking back, or record key details. If students strike out on recalling information, encourage them to revisit the text and try again!
Research on retrieval practice and active learning shows that recalling information from memory strengthens learning and improves long-term retention. Explaining ideas in their own words also encourages deeper thinking and helps teachers identify misunderstandings.
⚾ Put It into Play!
  1. Model the Swing: During whole-group instruction, read a short section, think aloud about important information, and model how to pause and explain key ideas without looking at the text.
  2. Build Your Small-Group Lineup: Incorporate SPQ3R into small-group instruction using a short, standards-aligned passage that reinforces the Tier 1 lesson. Have students read, pause, recall, and discuss their understanding. Use their responses to identify misconceptions and provide targeted support.
Remember, SPQ3R is another tool in our instructional playbook! Small-group practice gives students another opportunity to strengthen the skills and concepts introduced during Tier 1 instruction. Let's keep helping every student get up to bat and make meaningful gains!

 

iReady Data Dashboard

A table titled Personalized Reading Instruction Summary displays data across grades K through 5 for Homosas.
A table titled Personalized Math Instruction Summary displays student performance data across various grades.
 

Homosassa Happenings

A police officer stands on a grassy park field, facing a child near a playground.

Deputy Martin building relationships and making a difference.

 
A woman smiles while holding up a split-artwork piece depicting a green-toned illustration on the left and a detailed black and white sketch of a soldier on the right.

Mrs. Regan working with students to make cards for Veterans.


A guest speaker presents to a large group of attentive elementary students seated in a school library.

4th Grade students listen to and learn from our beloved veteran!

 
A large group of children pose together for a photo in front of a playground structure on wood chips.

1st Grade had 100% attendance in all 3 classes! Way to go 1st grade!

 
Two smiling women pose together indoors, one holding a decorated certificate inside a classroom setting.

Mrs. Gibbs received a kindness from Janie Bennett for her positivity using Benchmark.

 
Two smiling women pose together indoors, with one holding a decorated certificate.

Ms. Kaufman received a kindness from Janie Bennett for her positivity and team spirit!

 
A uniformed officer and a teacher lead a group of young children sitting on a colorful alphabet rug in a classroom.

Sheriff Deputies came to read to our PreK!

 
A police officer sits on a chair in a brightly lit classroom, reading a book to a group of young children seated on a colorful fish-patterned rug.

Sheriff Deputies came to read to our PreK!

 
Five students sit around a wooden table in a classroom, writing and using tablets.

Tutoring students practicing SPQ3R with AR Books!


Three students sit at a wooden classroom table, holding up copies of "The Bill of Rights in Action" magazines to hide their faces.

Using Benchmark BEST texts to support our standards.


A person holds a spiny pufferfish in their hand on a boat with three children looking on.

Fourth Grade at Marine Science Station!

 
Four children wearing life jackets sit smiling on a boat during a sunny day trip on the water.

Fourth Grade at Marine Science Station!


A group of students on a boat listen attentively as an instructor holds up an orange sea creature.

Fourth Grade at Marine Science Station!

A group of people wearing life vests relax on a boat passing under a large bridge on a sunny day.

Fourth Grade at Marine Science Station!

 
A cartoon dolphin mascot with muscular arms stands proudly above the text 'ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM'.

School Improvement Plan Focus

Our Vision
At Homosassa Elementary, we empower students through positive relationships and authentic learning experiences,
enriching their lives for a brighter future.

Our Mission
To inspire and develop avid learners and provide a safe, positive,
and inclusive learning environment, driven by benchmark aligned explicit instruction, collaborative strategies, and engaging student-centered activities.

Deliver Explicit, Systematic Instruction
Strengthen Reading Proficiency
Increase Math Achievement
Increase Achievement in SWD Subgroup
Respect with an Emphasis on Empathy
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