The Weekly Owl

February 27, 2026

IMPORTANT DATES & REMINDERS:

March 2-6: Read Across America Week. Daily themes to be announced.

March 4-5: Elementary/Middle School Spring Pictures

March 6: EPCOT Permission Slips are due. (Building 2 event)

March 13-20: Spring Break. Classes resume for Elementary March 23. Optional Care for Tawny and Spotted (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) Classes continue as normal for infants, ones, and two-year-olds.

March 26: International Day

March 31-April 2: Lower School Spring Pictures

Re-enrollment Reminders

Re-enrollment for the upcoming school year is now open. Current families can confirm re-enrollment status through FACTS. This helps us plan class placements, staffing, and resources for next year. To communicate your 2026-2027 decision, please log into your FACTS account and complete all required steps by the designated deadline. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, our office is happy to help.

Summer Camp Registration is Open!

Collage Day School's Summer Camp registration is now open! We have on-site and off-site options available. Each week is a new and exciting theme! Be sure to sign up soon in order to save your child's spot!

Summer Camps - Collage Day School | Ponte Vedra, FL

LOWER SCHOOL

Children's Week in Florida 2026

Building the Future for Every Child Florida’s Capitol will come alive with the voices, creativity and energy of children and advocates from across the state as Children’s Week Florida 2026 kicks off from Sunday, February 22, to Friday, February 27. This annual celebration, now in its 31st year, is the state’s largest event dedicated to honoring and advocating for the well-being of Florida’s children and youth. This year’s theme is Building Blocks for Every Child.

As part of Children’s Week, artwork created by young children, teens, teachers, families, and legislators across the state comes together to form the larger‑than‑life Celebration of the Hands display inside the Capitol Rotunda each year. This incredible and unique installation serves as a daily reminder to all who visit the Capitol that the future of our children rests in our hands.

All of the children and teachers in Building One participated in this year’s Celebration of the Hands, and we are proud to share that our artwork is currently on display.

https://youtu.be/dWHIr993LgA

UPPER SCHOOL

Why Attendance is Important

Regular school attendance is essential for academic success. Each school day provides valuable instruction, hands-on practice, and opportunities for collaboration that cannot always be replicated at home. Frequent absences can lead to gaps in learning, making it more challenging for students to keep up with new concepts and skills. Consistent attendance helps children develop routines, responsibility, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Equally important is a child’s social and emotional well-being. Elementary and Middle school years are a critical time for developing skills such as empathy, self-regulation, communication, and resilience. When students feel safe, supported, and connected to their teachers and peers, they are more engaged and better able to focus on learning. Schools that prioritize social and emotional growth alongside academics help children build the confidence and coping skills they need to thrive both in the classroom and beyond.

READ ACROSS AMERICA

March 2nd through 6th

Read Across America Week is a nationwide celebration of reading that takes place each year around March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. Organized by the National Education Association, this special week encourages children of all ages to discover the joy and power of books.

We celebrate Read Across America to inspire a lifelong love of reading, highlight diverse stories and authors, and remind students that reading opens the door to imagination, knowledge, and opportunity. Throughout the week, classrooms and schools participate in fun literacy activities, themed dress-up days, guest reader visits, and special story times.

We invite parents and family members to join us in celebrating by volunteering to come read to your child’s class during Read Across America Week. Sharing a favorite book is a wonderful way to model the importance of reading and create meaningful memories with our students. Together, we can help foster a strong community of readers!

Please email your child's teacher to set a date and time that works best for you and the classroom schedule.

WELLNESS CORNER

Monthly Visit:

Tri-State Canine Response Team Program

Visiting Collage is one of the favorite things our Tri-State Canine Response Teams do in the area. Your bright, smiling, well-mannered students are a delight to interact with.

There are Tri-State Canine Response Teams serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Louisiana, and Florida. Locally, we have 15 handlers with 19 dogs. All our dogs start out as therapy dogs providing comfort, stress relief, and emotional support. Our volunteers have community wellbeing and resilience training as well as psychological support skills development. We keep busy visiting a variety of locations. Along with Collage and The Mandala School, we regularly go to Flagler College, The Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, nursing homes like the Clyde Lassen Veteran’s Home and Silver Creek Retirement Home, the Anastasia Island Public Library where the children read to our dogs, and a few Preschools in the area.

After additional training for our handlers and canines, we now have 6 Critical Response Teams here that can provide support and crisis intervention for people affected by traumatic events on a local and national level.

Thank you to the Collage Day School family for inviting us to share your school’s active learning experiences!

Note from Nurse Chelsea

Week 6 – Natural Movement for Winter Months

Seasonal focus: Indoor movement

Short bursts of movement help immune circulation.
Try stretching, yoga, or dance breaks at home.
Outdoor play still counts—even bundled up!
Movement before homework improves focus.

Our Coaches Corner... A message from the PVB Performance Center

Collage Day School Families- We've Got You!!

We’re excited to offer something special for all Collage students, faculty, parents, and families!

🔥 ONE FREE WEEK of Group Training

💪 $100 OFF Any Personal Training Package

This is for:

✔️ Kids

✔️ Athletes

✔️ Adults

✔️ Parents

✔️ Faculty & Staff

Whether your child wants to build confidence and coordination, your athlete wants to get faster and stronger, or you’re a parent ready to level up your health — we have a program for YOU.

At PVB Performance Center, we focus on:

• Empowering kids through movement

• Speed, strength & injury prevention

• Confidence & leadership

• Adult fitness & performance

• A positive, high-energy culture where fitness feels like family

We are proud to serve as your PE coaches at Collage and even more excited to support your family outside of school!

📲 Contact Coach Squats – 973-723-7388 for details and to claim your free week or discount.

Let’s get stronger together 💥

___________________________________________________________________________________

🥦 HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK: WHY BROCCOLI IS A SUPERFOOD 🥦

Want a simple way to boost performance, immunity, and recovery?

Eat your broccoli.

Here’s why it matters:

✅ Packed with Vitamin C – Supports immune health and recovery

✅ High in Fiber – Improves digestion and gut health

✅ Rich in Sulforaphane – A powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation

✅ Supports Hormone Balance – Great for growing kids and active adults

✅ Low Calorie, High Nutrient Density – Big benefits, minimal calories

For athletes, broccoli helps:

• Reduce inflammation after workouts

• Support muscle recovery

• Keep the immune system strong during busy seasons

Pro Tip:

Lightly steam it or roast it with olive oil and sea salt to maximize nutrients and flavor.

Strong bodies are built in the kitchen AND the gym. 🥦💪

PARENT COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (PCA) NEWS

Looking for a simple way to support Collage? Join our PCA Volunteer List!

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet other families, and make an impact. From fun nights to fundraisers, we rely on our amazing volunteers.

Whether it’s helping with set-up, check-ins, clean-up, or behind-the-scenes tasks, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand. When an event is scheduled, we’ll send out a sign-up form outlining the roles needed—just choose what works best for you!

📌Click here to learn more.

Stay connected: Follow us on Facebook at CDS Parent Community Alliance.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567861563027.

Bridget L. Van Landingham

President, CDS Parent Community Alliance (PCA)

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Phone: 904.900.1439

171 Canal Boulevard

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

info@collagedayschool.org