Hollymead Buzz

May 22, 2025

Hello, Hollymead Families,

As you can see in the Hollymead Highlights below, these last weeks of school are busy times filled with learning! It is at this time of year that we see students celebrating, exploring and enjoying their classroom communities together. We are looking forward to these coming weeks with many end of year celebrations and creative learning opportunities. Summer may be close, but there's still a lot of learning ahead!

As we look ahead to summer and even to the year ahead, we know that for some families there are many questions, wonders and worries. This is to be expected in any school year, but also following a year where we have seen so many shifts and challenges. As a school, we take these challenges as opportunities to reflect and adjust and respond to the needs of our school.  We will be watching the summer enrollments very closely to prepare for the coming year. As of this time, we are staffed fully for classroom teachers in K-5, and anticipate having four classrooms in Grades 1-5 based on our current enrollment projections. That being said, things may shift, depending on families that move out or move in. Should we need to make adjustments in the projected plan, we will. You can expect a more detailed message in regards to these specifics closer to the start of the school year. In the interim, please feel free to contact either member of the administrative team any time.

Reminder - our School Wide Morning Meeting is this Friday, May 23 at 8:00AM. All are welcome!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Joe McCauley Kim Gentry

Principal Assistant Principal

This Week's Hollymead Highlights

Canva and Octostudio

 This week our 2nd graders took a nature walk, captured images with their iPads, engaged in writing about what they saw and made interactive videos! And there's more!

RED NOSE DAY - May 28, 2025

On Wednesday, May 28th, 4th graders will be hosting "Red Nose Day" which is a fundraising event to raise awareness for children who face poverty every day. In addition to all students and teachers wearing red noses (which have already been purchased!), 4th grade is asking for baked good donations in small baggies that 4th grade can sell for .25 - .50 cents a piece. The bake sale will take place from 8:30 to noon. All classes will have an opportunity to purchase the baked goods during that time. Please let your child's teacher know if you can help contribute to the cause by completing the form that went home earlier this week. We are also collecting "loose change" donations. Please reach out to you child's teacher with any questions. Time to get your bake on! Thank you!

Important Updates

Parent Portal Closes at the End of the Day Friday, May 23

The portal will re-open no later than 8:00AM, June 9.

Registration for 2025-26 is Now Open!

Registration for Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) has opened!  Find out more on the ACPS Student Registration Page (linked here). We encourage all families to register at their earliest opportunity.

How to Register for Kindergarten: Please help by spreading the word to neighbors, friends, or relatives who may be preparing for kindergarten.

• Check eligibility: Your child must be 5 years old by September 30, 2025, and live in Albemarle County.

• Gather required documents: State law requires proof of identity, residency, and health records. Our online registration form allows you to upload these documents. If you’re missing anything, you can submit the form and work with your child’s school to provide the necessary documentation.

• Complete the online registration form (linked here) : Be sure to select the 2025-26 Registration Form when applying.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to our Registrar, Ms. Sandra Mitchell: smitchell2@k12albemarle.org

Ask the Principal

Use this link to ask questions directly to the principal, Joe McCauley. Questions are anonymous and responses may be shared in future newsletters.

Order your 2025-2026 School Supplies Now!

Shop now for your 2025-26 school supplies! Here is the link! PTO worked with Hollymead teachers to determine the supplies students will need next year and have partnered with EPI to provide school supply packs. These contain all the items and brands our teachers requested and are delivered straight to the school before the school year starts. Not only is this convenient for you, but it is a fundraiser to help our school. Order by the deadline, Sunday, June 22 using our school ID HOL194.

Calendar Dates

May 22nd - 5th Grade Science - 8:15AM

May 23rd-  School Wide Morning Meeting Hosted by the Hollymead Intervention Team 

May 24th - Parent Portal Disabled

May 26th - Memorial Day Holiday - No School 

May 28th - Red Nose Day Bake Sale - 8:30AM

May 30th - Field Day

June 4th - 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony - 10:00AM

June 4th -  1st Grade Ice Cream Party on K/1 Playground - 1:30PM (In hall between rooms 10-12 if rains)

June 5th - 3rd Grade Ice Cream Party 3-5 Playground - 12pm 

June 5th - HES 5th Grade Pool Party Location TBD

June 6th - Parent Portal Enabled

June 6 - Last day of school - IT IS A HALF DAY

EDEP Registration Information

Albemarle County Public Schools’ Extended Day Enrichment Programs (EDEP) will open registration for the 2025-26 school year this month!

2025-26 Program Information

EDEP serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are enrolled in an Albemarle County elementary school. Children must be at least 5 years old to attend.

Based on the 2025-26 School Year Calendar, EDEP will offer two programs:

• After School Enrichment Program (ASEP):
  ASEP will operate each full school day at every elementary school. The program runs from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Families can choose full-time (4-5 days per week) or part-time (1-3 days per week) enrollment. ASEP does not operate on half-days.

• Student Holiday Program (SHP):
  SHP will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on student holidays when teachers are working. SHP will be hosted at Agnor Elementary School, except on November 4, 2025, when it will be hosted at Greer Elementary School.

Registration Process

Space is limited. Enrollment will depend on staff availability and the space at each school.

To keep the process fair, EDEP will use a random selection (lottery drawing) to offer available spots.

If you would like your child to be included in the lottery, please register during the window for your child’s school:

Registration Group

Elementary Schools

Registration Opens

Registration Closes

1

Agnor, Broadus Wood, Brownsville, Crozet, Greer, Ivy, Murray

April 18 @ 8 a.m.

April 25 @ 11:59 p.m.

2

Baker-Butler, Hollymead, Mountain View, Red Hill, Scottsville, Stone-Robinson, Stony Point, Woodbrook

April 25 @ 8 a.m.

May 2 @ 11:59 p.m.

How to Register for the Lottery

If your child is already enrolled in Albemarle County Public Schools and has a PowerSchool ID number:

1. Log in to or create your MySchoolBucks account at MySchoolBucks.com.

2. Add your student(s) to your account, if you haven’t already.

3. Register for the EDEP lottery at MSBactivities.com using your MySchoolBucks username and password.

3. • Choose your child’s school from the drop-down menu to register for the After School Enrichment Program (ASEP).

   • Choose “Student Holiday-EDEP” from the drop-down menu to register for the Student Holiday Program (SHP).

   • If you are interested in both programs, you must complete a separate registration for each.

If your child is new to Albemarle County Public Schools and does not have a PowerSchool ID number:

• Please complete this EDEP Lottery Registration Form for each child you are registering.

• This form allows you to register your child for the After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) lottery, the Student Holiday Program (SHP) lottery, or both.

Important: Completing the lottery registration process does NOT guarantee enrollment.

Lottery Results and Next Steps

• Families will receive enrollment notifications as follows:

• • Group 1: May 9

  • Group 2: May 16

• Students who do not receive a spot will be placed on a waitlist, based on the order of the lottery drawing.

After receiving an enrollment offer, registration fees must be paid by:

• Group 1: May 23 @ 11:59 p.m.

• Group 2: May 30 @ 11:59 p.m.

Note: No payment is due if your child is placed on the waitlist.

Registration Fees and Tuition Rates

• One-time, non-refundable registration fees:

• • After School Enrichment Program (ASEP): $50

  • Student Holiday Program (SHP): $30

• Tuition rates: (Each billing cycle is about 4 weeks.)

• • ASEP Full-Time: $400 per cycle

  • ASEP Part-Time: $290 per cycle

  • SHP: $65 per day

For more information about the registration process, tuition and fees, financial assistance, and the parent handbook, please visit our EDEP Registration web page.

PTO Corner

Hello, Hornets!

This week’s edition of Hornet Happenings, the Hollymead PTO newsletter, includes

• info about ordering next year’s school supplies through EPI by Sunday, June 22

• details for our last Dining Night Out at Woodbrook Chick-fil-A on Monday, June 2

• how you can contribute your family’s info to the Hollymead School Directory by June 2

• a Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week wrap up

• our PTO year in review and call for board members

• news from Hollymead faculty

Read now >> https://secure.smore.com/n/0crxf