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May 20, 2026
Dear Hollymead Families,
These last days of school are filled with so many celebrations in our school and in our classrooms. Today we had our 5th grade Tug o' War, tomorrow, our School Wide Morning Meeting will bring our school together. Red Nose Day, Field Day, and the grade level and classroom celebrations are all part of providing closure for our students. The end of this school year also comes with looking ahead to a well deserved summer break, and then into the next school year!
Below is information about the Parent Portal and report cards, end of year information from our School Nurse, clarification on staffing procedures, and more!
Sincerely,
Joe McCauley & Kim Gentry
Hollymead Administrative Team
Report Card Timelines
The Parent Portal is currently disabled and will re-open the end of the day on May 29
Important Clinic Reminders from Nurse Ashleigh
If you stored a rescue medication such as an epi pen, inhaler or seizure medication please plan to pick it up from the clinic by the end of the last day of school, Friday May 29th. We do not send medication home in students backpacks and are unable to store them over the summer. Thank you so much for taking care of this!
If you are returning next year and will plan to store the medication again, please be sure to update your health forms over the summer, we need new ones at the start of each school year. Please reach out to nurse Ashleigh if you have any questions or concerns!
Staffing Procedures & Communication Timelines
Every spring we begin the planning and preparation for the school year ahead, which includes staffing and hiring. This is a months long process that remains very fluid over the course of weeks and months. The ACPS approved staffing standards are what the division uses to allocate staffing resources to schools.
Because student enrollment over the summer may shift as families move in and out of our attendance area, our grade-level sections and teaching assignments are not typically finalized until mid-July. We monitor this movement very closely, partner with the division and when necessary advocate for additional staffing. To ensure we provide the most accurate information to you, we officially announce our new hires and final staffing updates in our newsletters just before the school year begins.
Calendar Updates
May 21: Red Nose Day Bake Sale 8:30am
May 25: NO SCHOOL - Holiday
May 26: Red Nose Day Celebration at 1:30pm
May 27: Field Day
May 28: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
May 29: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, Early Dismissal
School Wide Morning Meeting Calendar - Updated
SWMM Schedule - Last Friday of Every Month
May 21 - Hosted by the Intervention Team
May 26 - SWAM/Red Nose Day Celebration @ 1:30
Red Nose Day - May 21st
Get your NOSES on! Red Nose Day is tomorrow!
PLEASE NOTE: We still need baked goods! Anyone bringing in an item for the bake sale should do so as early as possible on Thursday morning and bring it directly to the teachers lounge. Thank you!
Red Nose Day is celebrated to raise funds and awareness for children and families facing poverty, hardship, and injustice worldwide. Using humor and fun, the campaign aims to create positive change, supporting projects that provide safety, health, and education to those in need
Fundraising for Charity: The main goal is to generate funds for Comic Relief, which supports various charities and community projects.
Fighting Poverty: It focuses on tackling poverty and empowering communities.
Supporting Children: Many initiatives supported by Red Nose Day are designed to help children facing hardship.
Using Humor for Good: The iconic red nose is used to bring joy, promote laughter, and encourage people to come together for a good cause
The event encourages everyone to take part in fun challenges and acts of kindness to make a difference. (This is also why we do our Everyday heroes! It comes from this program.)
The theme of Red Nose Day 2026 is helping people get what they need to eat, sleep and feel safe.
Hollymead has been celebrating and participating in Red Nose Day since 2017, and we are excited to be able to continue this big event! This year 2nd grade will be hosting and we will be holding our big day on May 21st.
Thank you for your support and get your noses on!
~ Hollymead Second Grade Team
Common Sense Media
Empowering Our Digital Citizens
Our school has been working to renew their Common Sense Media Certification. To achieve this, our teachers have completed specialized professional development, and our students are engaging in hands-on lessons in the library and in the classroom designed to help them. Click the link below to learn how families can partner with us!
Bike & E-Scooter Safety Reminders
With warmer weather, more students are riding bikes and e-scooters in the neighborhood. We have observed unsafe riding near our school and in the community. We want to remind everyone about the importance of safe riding.
Please be sure to reinforce these important safety habits with your children:
Always wear a helmet when riding a bike or scooter. Helmets protect your head and prevent serious injuries.
Ride safely and follow traffic rules. Obey stop signs, traffic signals, and posted speed limits.
Stay alert. Drivers and pedestrians may not watch for riders, so ride carefully.
Keep both hands on the handlebars and do not carry items while riding.
One rider per scooter or bike. Extra riders increase the risk of accidents.
Watch for obstacles. Small scooter wheels can stop suddenly on bumps, rocks, or uneven pavement.
Yield to pedestrians and ride respectfully on sidewalks and neighborhood paths.
In Virginia, electric scooter riders must be at least 14 years old, and scooters are generally allowed on sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less. While helmets are not required for all riders statewide, they are strongly recommended for everyone and may be required for younger riders depending on local rules.
Thank you for helping us keep our students and neighborhood safe!
HELPme! App Info
Albemarle County Public Schools uses the HELPme! app as it's 24/7 student support system. Whether a student is facing bullying, needs help with food or shelter or is facing a personal challenge, they can report it in the app anonymously and receive support.
HELPme! provides three options for reporting a need:
GET RESOURCES is a safe space for users to explore essential needs and wellness resources at their own pace. It provides a confidential way to connect with local resources, ensuring privacy and dignity for those seeking assistance.
CRISIS TEXT LINE provides users with immediate mental health support. With a network of 27,000+ trained crisis counselors, users can text with a counselor (day or night), making sure no one feels isolated in their time of need. Counselors are available 24/7, 365 days of the year.
ASK FOR HELP is an anonymous communication channel between users and designated school personnel. It allows users to request help directly from their school without the pressure of disclosing their identity. Users may also request help for a friend or family member.
School Family Lunch Visits
At Hollymead, we have a practice that allows families to come to school from time to time and have lunch with their children. Below is an outline of the essential procedures for a positive experience for you, your children and their peers:
Make sure to sign in at the Front Office and get a Visitor’s Badge
Please wait for your child’s class to come to the Cafeteria
Be sure to sit with your child(ren) at the cafe tables along the side
Please refrain from any cell phone use (taking pictures, sharing videos, etc) due to the privacy needs of students
At the end of lunch, please have your child line up with their peers and then exit the cafeteria.
Please do not walk your child to their classroom as this causes a disruption to the transition and to their classroom environment.
Hollymead Lunch Schedule:
11:10-11:35 - Kindergarten
11:15-11:40 - 3rd Grade
11:40-12:05 - 1st Grade
11:45-12:10 - 2nd Grade
12:20-12:45 - 4th Grade
12:15-12:40 - 5th Grade
Family Lunchtime Visit FAQs:
Q: Can I have lunch with more than one of my children?
A: Yes! If they are in the same grade, or in grades that eat at the same time, you certainly may. If not, we ask that you eat separately and keep with the lunch schedule above.
Q: Can I invite one of my child’s friends to join us?
A: We ask that you take this as an opportunity for special time with your child. Inviting peers can often leave other peers feeling left out.
Q: Can I sit with my child at their table?
A: Please sit at the high cafe tables with your child along the side of the cafeteria.
Q: Can I bring birthday treats to lunch?
A: We do allow modest treats to be shared by parents. Please check with your child’s teacher about any potential allergies of any students in the classroom and avoid foods that may contain them.
When all are in keeping with these practices, it truly helps make lunchtime a fun and orderly time for all of our learners. We look forward to seeing you throughout the school year!
Reminder: Regular, Daily, On-Time Attendance Matters
A new year brings fresh opportunities for learning, growth, and new beginnings. Regular, on time, daily attendance plays a key role in student success. Being at school on time each day helps students stay engaged, build confidence and feel connected to their learning community. Consistent attendance ensures that students are in place to learn with their peers, with their teachers and with their learning.
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Families can go to the Child Nutrition Page to fill out the application (linked here). To apply for the free and reduced lunch program, you must submit a new application each school year. This is required even if your child qualified in the past. Applications, both online and in paper form, can be found on the ACPS Child Nutrition webpage.
Student Lunch Accounts
To put money on your students lunch account, use this site to monitor and add funds as you need: www.mySchoolBucks.com
Kindergarten Registration for 2026-27 School Year
Starting kindergarten is a big milestone—and we’re excited to welcome your child to Albemarle County Public Schools! 🎉
If your child will turn 5 by September 30, 2026, it’s time to register for the 2026-27 school year. School begins on Wednesday, August 12, and we encourage families to register early.
Not a kindergarten family? Please share this message with others who may be getting ready to register.
You can find everything you need to register at:
k12albemarle.org/kindergarten
Who can register?
Who can register?
Your child must:
Be 5 years old by September 30, 2026
Live in Albemarle County
How to register:
How to register:
Find your child’s school
Your assigned school is based on your home address.Gather required documents
You will need proof of identity, residency, and health records. You can upload these during registration. If you are missing something, you can still submit the registration form and follow up with your school.Complete the online form
Select the 2026-27 Registration Form. You will be asked to create an account with our registration partner, PowerSchool Enrollment, using your email address.
Need Help?
Need Help?
📞 Contact your child’s school for questions or in-person support.
🌍 For multilingual support or help with documents from another country, call the International & English Learners Program at 434-296-6517.
Linked here is information for registration for our families of studnets with EL needs.
We can’t wait to welcome our newest learners this August!
PTO CORNER
Click here for the latest edition of Hornet Happenings: Hollymead PTO Newsletter: 5/13/26
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