Red Bug families,
On Saturday, February 7, 2026, our Odyssey of the Mind Teams showcased the incredible creativity, teamwork, and problem‑solving they’ve been developing since beginning their work right after Club Night in late October. With three teams of seven students each, everyone had the opportunity to contribute, collaborate, and shine. Students are selected through a thoughtful process that includes spontaneous problem‑solving tasks and teacher input, ensuring commitment, creativity, and readiness for the hard work involved. We are grateful to the volunteers who make these teams possible, and we welcome additional volunteers to support future teams!
Team Highlights
Mrs. Thompson & Mrs. Jackson’s Team
Problem 3: Epic Quest
Moving on to States!
Their set fell apart during transport, but the team rebuilt it on‑site with resilience, quick thinking, and a lucky blue tablecloth! Their determination earned them a coveted Omar Award for perseverance.
Mrs. Middleton & Mrs. Herod’s Team
Problem 5: Taller Tales
Moving on to States!
Primary Team with Miss Allegra & Mrs. Boudreau
Clowning Around with Science
They were AMAZING!
A special shout‑out to Mrs. Wilder, who supports all our teams with dedication and encouragement.
Spotlight on a Veteran Coach: Mrs. Herod
This year marks 20 years of Odyssey of the Mind coaching for Mrs. Herod! She began coaching when her own boys were in kindergarten, and her passion for sparking student creativity has never stopped. For two decades, she has inspired students to think deeply, create boldly, design imaginatively, write creatively, and perform with confidence. Her leadership continues to enrich our Red Bug community and build a legacy of imaginative problem‑solvers.
A School Filled with Pride
We are incredibly proud of the creativity, collaboration, courage, and perseverance displayed by all our Bugs. They represented Red Bug Elementary beautifully and now both Problem 3 and Problem 5 Teams are heading to State! We wish them the very BEST! Please enjoy some of the highlights through the photos below!
Stay Connected!
Please be sure to read the full newsletter and enjoy all the new articles!
This week we are celebrating Deputy Mac, highlighting our Lightning Bugs, and reminding families that we have one week left in the Kid’s Heart Challenge.
We will also share updated tardy data in next week’s newsletter to keep our families informed.
As always, please let us know if you have any celebrations or questions.
Thank you for your partnership and support!
Kindly,
Dr. Teresa Thacker
Principal ~ Red Bug Elementary
BUGS: Spot the Clues!
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We are so grateful to our families for being mindful of arrival times, ensuring students stay for the full school day, and supporting strong daily attendance whenever children are healthy and able to be at school. Thank you for reinforcing with your children the importance of being present, on time, and fully engaged in their learning. Your partnership makes a tremendous difference!
Next week, we will share updated attendance and tardy data from the past several weeks so we can continue working together to support student success.
Please continue to refine your morning routines to help your child arrive on time, and whenever possible, plan appointments outside of school hours so students can stay for the full day of learning.
Thank you for partnering with us! You are truly appreciated!
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Way to glow, Lightning Bugs!
This week, their academic growth and positive BUGS behavior truly stood out. Kindness, respect, and responsibility were on display all over campus! We are so proud!
BUGS: Spot the Clues!
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Today we are honored to recognize Deputy Mac in celebration of National School Resource Deputy Day. Deputy Mac is truly a step above and an invaluable part of the Red Bug Elementary family!
We are grateful for every safety walk he takes, often joined by his Junior Deputies and for the daily security and reassurance he provides to our campus. Deputy Mac consistently supports our school beyond the school day, attending evening events and bringing fellow deputies along to ensure our families feel safe and supported.
Through his kindness, consistency, and dedication, Deputy Mac has built strong, lasting relationships and maintains an outstanding rapport with our students, staff, and families. He is a true community staple and, as many of us know, the proud creator of some unforgettable Smoky Mac Barbecue!
Thank you, Deputy Mac, for your service, your heart, and your commitment to Red Bug Elementary. We are so grateful for you!
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February
- 16 Presidents Day-No School
- 18 Doug the Bug Birthday Club
- 18 Wendy's PTA Spirit Night 5:00-9:00 PM (Winter Park)
- 19 Vision & Growth Development Screenings
- 20 Grade 2 Sea World Field Trip
- 20 Grade 4 & 5 Physics Bus on Campus
- 21 Elementary Music Festival, Millennium MS 2:00 PM
- 21 Cross Country Meet at Hagerty HS 8:00-11:00 AM
- 25 VPK Parent Night 5:00-7:30 PM
- 26 Grade 4 & 5 Physics Bus on Campus
- 27 Grade 4 & 5 Physics Bus on Campus
- 27 School appropriate Pajama Dress-Up Day all school
- 28 Cross Country Meet at Lyman Hight School 8:00-11:00 AM
March
- 4 PTA Spirit Night Texas Roadhouse
- 5 SAC Meeting 5:00 PM
- 5 PTA Board Meeting 6:30 PM
- 6 Clue into Classrooms, Helping Hands 8:30 AM-1:00 PM
- 7 Math Festival Millenium MS 8:30 AM-2:30 (tentative time)
- 7 Lake Mary Heathrow Festival of the Arts 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- 12 Field Day and Family Picnic (more info to come)
- 12 End of Quarter 3
- 13-22 Spring Break
- 13 Teacher Workday
- 23 School resumes
- 25 Doug the Bug Birthday Club
- 25 PTA sponsored Skate Night, Semoran Skateway 6:30-8:30 PM
- 26 Dress-up like a Ladybug or wear spirit wear
- 26 PTA sponsored BMX Bike Show
- 30 BEST Writing grades 4 & 5
- 30 Kindergarten Group 1 Butterfly Garden
- 31 BEST Writing grades 4 & 5
- 31 Kindergarten Group 2 Butterfly Garden
- 31 Special Olympics
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Last chance, families! Kids Heart Challenge ends this week! If you have already signed up and completed Finn’s Mission – great job! If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time! Click Here. or Download the AHA Schools app for iPhone or Android to search for our school and sign your student up! Next up, ask 5 people to help support kids with special hearts and complete Finn’s Mission!
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Red Bug Yearbook $25!
For $25 the 2025-2026 Red Bug Yearbook is something you don't want to miss. Packed with this year's memories.
Yearbooks are not guaranteed for student/parents that have not pre-ordered.
Personalization
No longer available.
5th Grade Recognition Ads
No longer available.
Order Online at:
Enter School ID: 1169829
*A 5% service fee will be added to online orders.
Yearbooks will arrive on campus in May 2026.
Thank you!
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Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-2027 School Year is happening now! For more information, please visit https://www.scps.us/enroll
or click on the picture above.
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The on-time VPK application period for the 2026-2027 School Year at SCPS locations is January 10 to February 10. To be eligible for VPK, a child must be four-years of age by September 1, 2026. SCPS VPK offers a high-quality program designed to prepare students to enter Kindergarten ready to learn! Full-day and half-day programs are available. For more information visit, https://bit.ly/scpsvpk
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Saving for college just got easier! Florida Prepaid’s annual Open Enrollment is now live, and new tools make planning simple and affordable.
Here’s what’s new:
· A redesigned website to help you build a personalized plan in minutes
· Flexible Prepaid Plan options — pay for one year at a time or choose what fits your budget
· Low monthly payments starting at just $29
The sooner you start, the more you save. Lock in today’s college costs and take the first step toward your child’s future with a Florida Prepaid 529 Plan. Learn more at https://bit.ly/45xJS0j.
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The Dividends School Volunteer Program is a district-wide effort that encourages and promotes community involvement in the Seminole County Public Schools. You must be a registered Dividend to volunteer during school events or chaperone any field trip.
All Dividend volunteers are required to re-activate their applications each year. Apply to be a Dividend here: https://dvd.scps.k12.fl.us/
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🌞 Morning Drop-Off
Times
- Students eating breakfast may be dropped-off at 7:20 AM
- Official drop-off begins at 7:30 AM when an adult is on the car line.
- First bell: 7:50 AM
- Tardy bell: 7:55 AM → After this time, you will need to park and walk your child to the front office to sign in (no staff outside to ensure safe entry).
Car Line Flow
- Double lane starts inside the parking lot and merges to one lane at the cones. Use the every-other-car rule.
- Pull all the way forward to maximize unloading.
- Do not park and cross the car line on foot at any time. Parked cars will not be able to exit via the second lane until 7:55 AM.
- Do not stop for pedestrians in the unloading zone—staff will manage crossings once traffic is stopped.
- Students should exit once you reach the “Unloading Zone”.
- Make sure backpacks are zipped, breakfast finished, goodbyes said— and students are ready to exit immediately.
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🌞 Dismissal
🏫How Pickup Works:
- Students will wait in the cafeteria until called.
- They will walk to the correct pole and wait for directions from an adult.
- All students will be loaded into their vehicles at the same time.
- No cars will move until both lanes are fully loaded, and then one lane will be directed to exit at a time.
VPK, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade Dismissal:
- Dismissal begins at 2:05 PM (or 1:05 PM on Wednesdays).
- Only VPK, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade families may use BOTH car line lanes before 2:15 PM (or 1:15 PM on Wednesdays).
- Both inside and outside lanes are reserved for these grades until that time.
- If you're not picking up a VPK/K/1st student, you will be asked to return at 2:15 PM (1:15 PM Wed).
Second Grade to Fifth Grade School Dismissal:
- Begins at 2:20 PM (or 1:20 PM on Wednesdays).
- If you get in car line before 2:15 (1:15 on Wednesday) you will be asked to return to car line at 2:15, we will be using both the inside and outside lanes for VPK/K/1 dismissal
- If you have students in both younger and older grades, plan to arrive at the full dismissal time of 2:20 PM to pick up all children together.
🛑 Safety Requirements:
- You must have a 2025–2026 Red Bug Hang Tag to pick up your student in the car line.
- No tag? Please park and go to the main office with your driver’s license or security code to verify pickup authorization.
🚦 Traffic & Safety Reminders:
- Follow the direction of school staff at all times.
- Be alert and patient—dismissal requires coordination and teamwork.
Dismissal relies on two lanes, so stay in your lane and wait for the signal to move.
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Red Bug is proud to be a PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) School! We expect all students to follow our BUGS Behavior so we can keep our school a happy and safe place for all students.
We appreciate family support as we link all behavior choices to our expectations across our campus!
Click on the BUGS Behavior picture to the right to access the Seminole County Public Schools Student Code of Conduct. These are the expectations that all students follow to keep our school safe.
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Did you know that children can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school year? If a student misses 2 days a month, that is equivalent to 20 days a year (30 hours of math a year and 60 hours of reading/writing a year). Those days can add up before you know it. We know there will be days when your child will miss school, especially when they are sick. Let’s work together to make sure that students are at school on time every day!
Parents and families are essential partners in promoting good attendance because they have the bottom-line responsibility for making sure their children get to school every day. Just as parents should focus on how their children are performing academically, they have a responsibility to set expectations for good attendance and to monitor their children’s absences, so that missed days don’t add up to academic trouble.
Helpful Tips for Awesome Attendance:
•Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning
•Talk about the importance of regular attendance and about how your child feels about school
•Don’t permit missing school unless your child is truly sick. Use a thermometer to check for a fever. Remember that stomach aches and headaches may be signs of anxiety
•Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session
•Keep a chart recording your child’s attendance at home. At the end of the week, talk with your child about what you see
•Develop back up plans to get to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, neighbor, or another parent for help
•Seek support from school staff or community groups to help with transportation, health problems, or if you have no safe path to school.
Remember students may arrive on campus at 7:20 AM for breakfast and the first bell rings at 7:50 AM and the tardy bell rings at 7:55 AM.
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Meal Viewer is available to Red Bug Elementary! It allows you to view more menu details, see pictures of meals, and access nutrition tools. This innovative platform is available on desktop, mobile, and via the app. Get ready to enhance your dining experience!
Want to apply for Meal Benefits, but not sure how to start?
Here’s a handy-dandy video guide that will show you where to go and how to begin your application! All SCPS families are encouraged to apply and may receive free / reduced-price meals in addition to other benefits for the 2025-2026 school year.
Nota: La aplicación se puede completar en español también.
his is an example of a sentence to begin a paragraph.
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Seminole County Public Schools will utilize the My Ride K-12 App for the 2025-2026 school year. This website and mobile app will allow families and students to look up bus route information (beginning on August 4) and receive real-time notifications and alerts. For more information, please visit: www.scps.us/buses by clicking on the bus image. |
This is the time of year when we often have stormy weather in the afternoons, which can lead to delayed dismissals. While they may be inconvenient, please know that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and all decisions made to delay dismissal are made in an effort to keep children and staff safe.
We wanted to share information about the safety protocols during inclement weather, so we have listed out the steps taken by schools during inclement weather.
Detect
Schools monitor weather conditions 15 minutes prior to dismissal to check for lightning or weather in the area.
Delay
Delayed dismissal protocols will be activated should there be severe weather warnings, lightning, or deteriorating conditions. During a delayed dismissal, students are in a safe, permanent, and supervised location. Families will be notified of delayed dismissal as soon as possible and will continue to communicate the status every 15-20 minutes during the delay until the weather has been deemed safe for dismissal.
Dismiss
Once the weather conditions have improved enough for safe dismissal, families will be notified.
It is important to note that prior to the conclusion of delayed dismissal protocols, students will only be released to an approved caretaker if:
- The approved caretaker presents proper identification and signs the child out in the front office, and
- The child is on campus in a location that will not require outdoor exposure prior to being delivered to the custody of the approved caretaker.
Should weather conditions deteriorate during dismissal, a weather delay will be activated, however, messaging for families may be delayed until all students and staff are safely indoors.
We would like to thank you for your consistent patience, support, and understanding as we care for your children and our staff during inclement weather while they are on our campus.
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Red Bug families,
Please read this important information! Thank you!
We want to make you aware that state law dictates how and when students can use cell phones and other wireless communications devices during the school day. This legislation is intended to support focused learning in the classroom and applies to all Florida public schools.
Here’s what families need to know:
Pursuant to Florida Statute 1006.07, a student may possess a wireless communications device while the student is on school property or in attendance at a school function; however, they must follow the guidelines for use during the school day as outlined for each grade level below:
-Elementary and middle school students may not use a cell phone or other wireless communication device (cell phone, tablet, ear buds, smart watch, smart glasses, etc.) at any time during the school day. The school day is defined as the school’s posted student hours.
-This law does provide exceptions for accommodations related to medical or educational needs of individual students.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we follow this statewide requirement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school directly.
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As we continue through the school year, we ask that you please remember to label your child's items! Jackets, sweatshirts, lunchboxes, and water bottles are common things we find around campus without names! We do have a Lost and Found in the Campus Restaurant, but it is helpful to help get them to the correct person when they are labeled! All items left in the Lost and Found do get donated at the end of each semester. |
Communication from Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) all in one place! Downloaded the app today!
Find out more information in the links below.
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Please review the attached letter about Health Services Consent and updating your clinic card in Skyward for the 2025-26 school year.
You now have the ability to easily access and complete these important documents online, streamlining the process and ensuring that all necessary information is up to date. By integrating these services into the Skyward Family Access Parent Portal, we aim to enhance communication and collaboration between parents, schools, and healthcare providers.
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If your child will need to take medication at school, please help us be prepared by bringing the medicine to school in the box/bottle with the prescription label. This must be brought in by the parent/legal guardian in person. |
In compliance with Chapter 1003.45, Florida Statutes, the District will observe a one-minute moment of silence each school day this year. This moment of silence will occur during first period or at the beginning of the day.
In accordance with the Statute, the District will not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence. Students may not interfere with another students’ participation. Families are encouraged to discuss the moment of silence with their child(ren) and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.
Please contact Administration with any questions about the moment of silence. We thank you for being our partner in education.
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Seminole County Public Schools respects that families have the right to make educational decisions for their child. In addition, as required by Rule 6A- 1.0955(8)(m), F.A.C., Education Records, the district is required to use a student's legal name in school, or a parent approved nickname. Parents/legal guardians have the opportunity to view the district’s Student Discipline & Code of Conduct, provide name deviation consent, and acknowledge the online applications that the district utilizes throughout the school year. These documents are now available online for completion for the 2025-2026 school year.
PLEASE NOTE: Without the signed name deviation consent form from parent/guardian, staff are required to use only the legal name of the student as listed in Skyward.
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Pursuant to Rule 6A-10.089 (5), F.A.C., Seminole County Public Schools requires parental authorization prior to students participating in school sponsored events and activities. Each student participating in the event or activity listed below must have this form completed and submitted prior to participating.
Please complete this form once for each of your students.
Description of the Events or Activities: Various Red Bug school sponsored and PTA sponsored activities including but not limited to: Book Fair, Field Day & Family Picnic, Picture Day, Teach-in, Egg Drop (5th), Turkey Parade (K), Veterans' Day Breakfast, Grandparents' Lunch, STEM Night, PTA Fun Run, PTA Events/Shows, Grade Level Activities/Celebrations, fundraisers and school performances.
Date(s) and Time(s): Events will be held on various dates and times during the 2025-2026 school year. All event dates and times will be published ahead of the event in the Principal's Newsletter and/or the Red Bug website.
Location: Red Bug Elementary
Sponsors/Guests: Sponsors, guests, speakers and performers will be approved by SCPS and/or the Principal.
Student Supervision: Student supervision will be provided by school personnel commensurate to the attendance at the event.
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Principal
Dr. Teresa Thacker
407-746-8300
Assistant Principal
Ms. Lisa Phillips
407-746-8303
School Administration Manager (SAM)
Mr. Richard Burkett
407-746-8350
Red Bug Elementary School
407.746.8350
4000 Red Bug Lake Road
Casselberry, FL 32707
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