Q: What should my child know before starting kindergarten?

Most children come in with a wide range of experiences. It’s helpful if your child can:

• Recognize their name in print
• Identify some letters, numbers, colors, and shapes
• Listen to a story and talk about it
• Follow 2-step directions (e.g., “Hang up your backpack and sit down.”)

Q: My child didn’t go to Pre-K. Will they be behind?
Not at all! Teachers are prepared to meet your child where they are. Our goal is to grow their skills together throughout the year.

Q: What does a typical day look like in kindergarten?

Each day includes:

• Morning meeting & calendar time
• Reading and math lessons
• Centers and hands-on learning
• Snack, lunch, recess, and rest time
• Time for art, music, or PE
• Creating a consistent routine at home helps your child feel secure and ready to learn.

Q: Should my child be able to sit still for long periods?
Not yet! Kindergarteners learn best when they move. Our classrooms includemovement breaks and active learning throughout the day.

Q: What self-care skills should my child have?
Your child will feel more confident if they can:

• Use the bathroom independently
• Wash their hands thoroughly
• Open lunch containers and snacks
• Use tissues and cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing

Q: What if my child struggles with any of these?
That’s okay! We’ll model and support these habits at school. Practicing at home can make it easier.
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Q: How can I stay connected with my child’s teacher?

Teachers will share how they communicate—this might be via email, phone calls, apps like Remind, or paper notes. Never hesitate to reach out!

Q: What if I have concerns about my child’s learning or behavior?
We value your insight. Share any concerns early with the teacher. If needed, we can work together to connect you with additional supports.

Q: Can I visit the classroom or volunteer?
Absolutely! Contact your school about volunteer opportunities and visitor guidelines.
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• Talk positively about school—it helps ease nerves.
• Practice the morning routine a week before school starts.
• Label everything: backpacks, lunchboxes, jackets, etc.
• Let your child know it’s okay to feel nervous. Everyone is learning together!

The eligibility of students to receive school transportation services has been defined in Florida Statutes (F.S.) Section 1006.21, to include the following:

• Kindergarten through grade 12 students whose homes are more than 2.0 miles walking distance, from the assigned school.
• Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students with special needs or disabilities, regardless of the distance from home to school.
• All students enrolled in a Teenage Parent Program and the registered children of such students.
• Elementary age children who live within two miles of their assigned elementary school and who are subject to hazardous walking conditions as defined in Section 1006.23 F.

The school district determines the walking distance with the aid of a computerized mapping system. This system utilizes the current registered address information from the Student Information System (FOCUS) to locate the residence of each student and calculate the distance to his or her assigned school. The distance is calculated using the shortest route that a student can walk between the home and the school.

General concerns regarding student transportation should be directed to the Transportation Compounds.   

Parents and guardians are responsible for their child's safety at the bus stop.

The Transportation Safety Department, along with the city and/or county agencies, will review walking paths throughout the year following the guidelines outlined in Florida Statute 1006.23 Hazardous walking conditions.

Items that are not transported on the bus:

• Food and beverages, exception plastic water bottle
• Toys, such as laser lights, toy firearms, air guns, paintball guns, including noisemakers, such as party-poppers
• Pocket knives
• Pets or other animals, including animal cages
• Glass bottles or containers (fragile or breakable items)
• Aerosol cans such, as deodorant, hairspray, or perfume spray
• Large radios or boom boxes
• Oversized band instruments
• Items too large to rest on a student’s lap (items wider and/or taller than a seated student)
• Balloons
• Any other loose items that can become projectiles. 

Band instruments and any other large objects that are brought to the bus will need to be held in the student’s lap.  These objects are not to take up a potential seat for another student or interfere with the driver’s visibility.  Students who try to carry on over-sized objects will need to make other arrangements.  The driver has been instructed to immediately, notify the Compound Manager or designee, if there are large objects brought to the bus, since, they can become dangerous projectiles and interfere with the driver’s visibility.   

• All athletic equipment must be in a backpack, book bag, or duffle type bag. 

Examples: Skateboard, baseball glove, baseball bat, baseball, basketball, pool stick, tennis racket, tennis ball.  The bag is not to be opened and must remain in the student's lap.

• Any item that would distract the driver and create a nuisance.

Please contact your Compound Project Manager if you have additional questions.

That bus may be assigned to a different school than your child attends. You will need to call the

Transportation Department to get your child's correct bus number and bus stop.

Contact our “How’s My Driving” messaging center at (850) 487-7500, and provide as many details as possible (i.e. bus number, location, time of day, etc.).

Per Florida Statute 947.1405(7)(a)2 “Beginning October 1, 2004, a district school board may not establish or relocate a public school bus stop within 1,000 feet of the residence of a release who is subject to this subparagraph.”

• Sexual predator designation is defined in State Statute 775.21(4) & 775.21(5) of The Florida Sexual Predators Act.
• Sex Offender FAQ’s
• Sex offender website (FDLE)

No, due to privacy concerns of the student that the stop is assigned, the ESE stop is for the assigned student only.

Per school board policy, a student is assigned a stop based on their legal address. Students will not be permitted to board at any other location.

The parent/guardian is responsible for getting the student to and from the school bus stop or school. Parents are responsible also for the behavior of their child while at the school bus stop.

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Water Safety Information

 As per Florida State Stature 1003.225, see links below for information on the important role water safety education courses and swimming lessons play in saving lives.

• Printable Water Safety PDF
• S.S. 1003.225 Water safety and swimming certification

1. For the purposes of this section, the term “water safety” means age-appropriate education intended to promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water and reduce the risk of injury or drowning.
2. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each public school shall provide, to a parent who initially enrolls his or her child in the school, information on the important role water safety education courses and swimming lessons play in saving lives. The information must be provided electronically or in hard copy and must include local options for age-appropriate water safety courses and swimming lessons that result in a certificate indicating successful completion, including courses and lessons offered for free or at a reduced price. If the student is 18 years of age or older, or is under the age of 21 and is enrolling in adult education classes, the information must be provided to the student.

History.—s. 9, ch. 2021-35.