Citrus Springs Elementary School
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Welcome to April! There is a special kind of energy in our hallways this month. As the flowers begin to bloom outside, we are seeing a similar "bloom" in our classrooms as students begin to master the complex skills they’ve been working on all year long. April is a vital bridge in our school calendar—a time to celebrate our progress while staying focused on our finish line.
As we move into this busy season, I want to encourage our students to keep their momentum strong. While the warmer weather is a welcome change, we remain committed to high-quality learning every single day. Our goal is to ensure every child feels confident and supported as they get ready to show off what they know on our final state assessments of the year!
As we approach our upcoming state testing window, it is natural for students (and parents!) to feel a bit of "spring fever" mixed with testing jitters. We want to remind our families that these assessments are a tool to show how much our scholars have grown this year—they do not define your child’s worth or potential. To help lower anxiety, we recommend keeping routines consistent at home: prioritize a full night’s sleep, offer a protein-rich breakfast, and keep the morning atmosphere calm and encouraging. A simple "I'm proud of your hard work" goes much further than focusing on a score. By approaching these days with a "do your best" mindset, we can help our kids walk into school feeling confident, prepared, and ready to shine.
Testing Dates:
April 1st - 4th grade writing
April 2nd - 5th grade writing
May 1st and 4th - Kindergarten ELA & Math
May 5th and 6th - 3rd grade ELA & Math
May 7th and 8th - 1st and 2nd grades ELA & Math
May 12th and 13th - 5th gr ELA & Math
May 14th and 15th - 4th grade ELA & Math
May 20th - 5th grade science
Thank you for your continued partnership. Whether it’s checking a daily folder/planner, reading for 20 minutes a night, or simply ensuring your child arrives with a smile, your support makes all the difference in our success.
~ Julie P Jones
Principal
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Staff Appreciation Week is May 4-8, 2026, and it will be here before we know it. We would like to express our gratitude for the hardworking staff members who contribute so much to our students. In an effort to make this week memorable and enjoyable for our staff, we are seeking sponsors for breakfast or lunch. If you are interested in contributing to this meaningful week, please feel free to email Mrs. Damewood, principal secretary, damewoodk@citrusschools.org |
This event has become a yearly tradition, raising thousands of dollars for the improvement of our school, including purchases for student rewards and incentives, staff recognition and appreciation, unique classroom needs, and schoolwide celebrations. Jump-a-Thon fund-raiser envelopes were sent home on March 13th. We appreciate your support of CSE! |
In April, we join schools across the country to celebrate the Month of the Military Child. This is a special time to recognize the incredible resilience and strength of our students who are part of military families. To show our collective support, we invite all students and staff to "Purple Up!" on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Why Purple? Purple is the color that symbolizes the combined colors of all military branches: Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, and Navy blue. When we wear purple, we send a powerful message to our military-connected students that we see them, we support them, and we thank them for their "service" as part of a military family.
How to Participate:
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Wear Purple: On April 15, wear your favorite purple shirt, socks, or accessories!
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Share Your Story: If your family is military-connected, we would love to have your child share their journey.
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Spread Kindness: Take a moment to thank a friend who has a parent serving in the armed forces.
We are so proud of our military kids and can't wait to see a "sea of purple" filling our hallways!
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We are already beginning to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year. If you have a child that will be entering Citrus County Schools for the first time, please go to the link below to register your child:
Registration Requirements
Parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) of all children entering Citrus County Public Schools for the first time are required to have the following items to register: • Birth Certificate • Certificate of Immunization (DH 680, Religious Exemption form from Department of Health) • Physical Examination (completed within 1 year of entry date) • Proof of Florida Residency • A Social Security Card is requested, but not required
PreK registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. All documents, including their certificate of eligibility, must be uploaded for your child's registration to be able to be processed. Registration opens on April 1st.
For additional registration information, please contact Mrs. Wells, our data secretary.
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We will be holding a "kindergarten kick off" on Thursday, April 30 from 4:30-6:00 pm. Families that are not already enrolled through PreK are encouraged to come in that evening to register their child. We will have staff on hand to assist with using our new program, Focus, for enrollment. You will need to have the required documents in order to enroll your child (see above). Please bring your incoming child with you, as kindergarten teachers will be completing a quick screener with your child to help with class placement for next year. We will also provide a tour of CSE for those who are interested.
If you know of any families that have incoming kindergarteners, please share this information with them.
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April
April 1st - 4th grade state writing assessment
April 2nd - 5th grade state writing assessment
April 3rd - No School
April 6th - 3rd Quarter honor roll, 5:00 at Citrus Springs Community Center
April 7th - Mrs. Frati's and Ms. Hersh's classes to the Mermaid Encounter
April 8th - Jump-a-thon, Mrs. Dowd's and Mrs. Simpson's classes to the Mermaid Encounter
April 9th - Ms. Serrano's and Mrs. Downing's classes to the Mermaid Encounter
April 11th - School House Hustle (@ CREST)
April 13th - SAC 4:15 (media center), PTO 5:15 (media center)
April 14th - Upward Bound
April 15th - Purple Up Day
April 16th - Chorus Concert 5:00 (cafeteria)
April 20th - No School
April 23rd - 5th grade middle school orientation, 9:30-11:30
April 30th - 4:30-6:00 Kindergarten Kick-off
Each Friday, we encourage our school community to show their spirit - wear school spirit shirts or school colors. We can't wait to see that CSE pride!
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Asher Goodbred was one of our 5th graders that advanced to the county level last month for his science fair project. His project focused on measuring the aerodynamics of paper airplanes. He was awarded the Tim Herndon Innovator award, and received $100 in recognition!
We are so proud of you Asher!
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Congratulations to our Hawk Leaders of the Month!
This month, our hallways were a little brighter and our hearts a little fuller thanks to our focus on Compassion. In our Hawk's Nest, being a leader isn’t just about taking charge—it’s about noticing when a peer needs a hand, listening with an open heart, and choosing kindness even when no one is watching.
We are incredibly proud to announce our Hawk Leaders of the Month! These students were nominated by their teachers for consistently demonstrating empathy and care for our school community.
Congratulations, Hawk Leaders! Keep soaring! 🦅💙
Way to go, Hawks!
Pre-Kindergarten
Paris Fratini
Serenity Wager
Aria Phillips
Kindergarten
Hunter Trail
Connor Pomposelli
Jaxon Fleming
Denver McPeak
Maddison McKelvain
Peyton Pritchard
1st Grade
Isabella Gonzalez
Jolene Artley
Aubree Pegel
Kylie Capabianco
Natalie Stineman
Everitt Ball
Aiden Rivera
2nd Grade - start here
Brielle Toussaint
Axel Brownstein
Alexia Gravel
Weston Kunkle
Ellie Bosanko
Dean Gravel
3rd Grade
Jessalynn Kirk
Kenshin Adorno
Caydence Trent
Emma Rhode
August Perez
Trew Wells
Jazmier Clinton
4th Grade
Adrianna Gamble
Carter Patel
Lukas Ohrt
Caressa Greer
Isabella Varas
Lariya Vickers
5th Grade
Mason McDowell
Alick Simon
Viktoriya Bonilla
Charles Simms
Ayla Sprague
Corina Murillo
Dylan Salinas
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Dress Code - As we are entering the warmer months, many students will go back to wearing shorts. Citrus County's dress code policy is included in the Student Code of Conduct: https://www.citrusschools.org/281891_2 Please review this document not only for the dress code, but other vital information as well. |
Our 2025-2026 yearbooks are now on sale. If you would like to purchase a yearbook, please go to Lifetouch's website:
Our yearbook ID code is: 13774826
Yearbooks need to be ordered by March 31, 2026 and are $28 each.
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Citrus Springs Elementary is proud that all of our teachers and administrators who work with our students are certified by the State of Florida or other governing board. We appreciate the following teachers who have volunteered to teach a subject outside their primary certification and are currently taking classes or exams to obtain certification in the area they are teaching out of field.
Alisha Damon - Currently certified in Social Science 6-12 and Middle Grades Social Science; teaching out of field for school social worker
Rohma Jatt - Currently certified in Elementary Education; teaching out of field in Art
Madison Kaufman - Currently certified in Elementary Education, Middle Grades Social Studies, Middle Grades Science, and Biology; teaching out of field in ESOL
Lisa Kearse - Currently certified in ESE and PE; teaching out of field in Elementary Education
Jessica Kunkle - Currently certified in PreKindergarten/Elementary; teaching out of field in ESOL
Sarah Hersh - Currently certified in Elementary Education, ESOL, and Reading; teaching out of field in ESE
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Our School Advisory Council (SAC) meets quarterly on Mondays at 4:15. All parents, students, staff and community members are welcome, and encouraged, to attend. You do not need to be a voting member to participate.
Our final meeting of the year is
Monday, April 13 at 4:15
SAC plays an important role in shaping the direction of our school, and your voice can make a real difference. We strongly encourage you to join us and be part of this collaborative team!
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Please be sure to bring your ID any time you come on campus. This is needed for Navigate 360 (our system we use for visitors).
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The "Adopt-a-Class" program is a wonderful opportunity for businesses, individuals, and community organizations to directly support our students and teachers. By "adopting a classroom," partners help ensure our students have additional resources to support their learning.
- What is it? It's a partnership where a sponsor provides financial support to a specific classroom, grade level, or school program (like Art, Music, or PE).
- What does the donation cover? The funds are used directly by the teacher to purchase additional materials to expand on current lessons.
- Why is it important? Teachers often spend their own money on supplies to meet classroom needs. The Adopt-a-Class program helps lighten this financial burden and enhances the educational opportunities for all students in that classroom.
If you are a parent who owns a business, know of a community group, or simply wish to make an individual contribution, you can help us by reaching out! Donations are tax deductible.
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Research continues to confirm that parents are a vital part of the educational process and of the educational experiences of their children. When school personnel and families work together, relationships are developed that support learning and children are provided an enhanced opportunity for success in school and throughout life. As a parent, you play an important role in your child’s education. We encourage parents to be involved as much as possible. Volunteering, mentoring, and attending parent conferences are all parent involvement activities. Gain information and be part of the decision making process by joining advisory committees at the school and district level.
For further information, visit
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· No person shall, on the basis of race (including anti-Semitism), color, religion, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, gender/sex, age, disability, marital status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or genetic information, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity, or in any employment conditions or practices conducted by Citrus County School Board (CCSB), except as provided by law.
· CCSB shall comply with all state and federal laws, which prohibit discrimination and are designed to protect the civil rights of applicants, employees, and/or students, or other people protected by applicable law.
· CCSB prohibits discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment, and in access to educational programs and activities, and prohibits harassment of any individual or group based on race (including anti-Semitism), color, religion, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, gender/sex, age, disability, marital status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or genetic information.
· Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation. CCSB may assess each student’s ability to benefit from specific programs through placement tests and counseling, and if necessary, will provide services or referrals to better prepare students for successful participation.
· CCSB will comply with all Federal requirements regarding discrimination and harassment including, but not limited to, 34C.F.R. Part 108.
District Equity Contact:
Todd Goolsby
Coordinator of District Student Services
2575 S. Panther Pride Drive Lecanto, FL 34461
Telephone: (352) 527-0090
District Section 504 Contact:
Jacquelyn Dillersberger
ESE Specialist
1007 W. Main Street
Inverness, FL 34450
Telephone: (352) 726-1931 Ext. 2304
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Our Hawk Pledge represents what we want our students doing each day to help them continue to grow as a learner and be a positive part of our school community.
Please take a few minutes to discuss this pledge with your child and what it means so we can all support learning and citizenship.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following:
- 352-344-4079
- https://cse.citrusschools.org/
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