A "Mission" and "Vision" brings FOCUS and EXCITEMENT!

I hope you and your family had an enjoyable time playing and hanging together over the holiday break. The old adage, “the family that plays together, stays together,” comes to life during the holiday season. As for me and my family, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. 

As we return, I wanted to share a reminder, for returning and new families, our vision at Pine Island Academy. My passion is LEARNING FOR ALL, and it is reflected in everything we do at Pine Island which starts with our vision!

The staffulty(Staff & Faculty) at PIA have committed to a student-centered learning organization where ALL means ALL. To bring clarity to the meaning of ALL means ALL, we function in our learning environment to ensure students are learning at a high level. Learning looks different for each learner, some learn in different ways, some learn at different rates, and some take learning the same concept more than once, BUT, NO MATTER WHAT, at PIA we do WHATEVER IT TAKES to ensure learning! 

As we kick off 2024 and welcome our new families, reminding ourselves of who and what we are about at PIA is important! The work we were doing as a Professional Learning Community must ensure we constantly reflect our passion and commitment to being a learner and learning for ALL organization.   

Our mission -“Discovering Strengths & Pursuing Dreams” identifies “who” we are at Pine Island. Every day that we come to school we want to provide opportunities for students to extend their learning AND feel they are valued, and their voice is heard. Our vision identifies “How” we ensure this happens is our commitment to be

“Focused on building an Inspiring, Nurturing, Safe environment -

Unlocking,

Unlimited

Potential”

– One Pod, Making WAVES – FINS UP!



Developing a vision that helps define a learning culture keeps us grounded in our core being. 2024 only brings bigger and better things to Pine Island Academy as we continue to grow as a community of learners, peers, colleagues, and family. 

I look forward to advancing the learning of our students, staffulty, and community as we challenge ourselves in 2024 to a year of greatness!

Additionally, I wanted to inform our families of a few Leadership changes! Mrs. Naylor has joined the Durbin Creek Elementary School family. Mrs. Naylor's expertise will serve the Durbin Creek team in great ways. We will miss her tremendously as she was my co-leader opening Pine Island. Should you choose to contact Mrs. Naylor, she is always available at her St Johns county email.

We are very excited to announce that Dr. Michelle Jackson, whom currently served as our Testing Coordinator, will join our Administrative Team as Assistant Principal. Please help us welcome Dr. Jackson to her new role. As Dr. Jackson transitions into her new role, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Cortes, Mrs. Lippo, or myself with ay questions.

It is great to be a Pine Island Dolphin!

FINS UP,

Mrs. Riedl

Highlights for ALL below:

• District Family Technology Workshop
• Yearbook Purchase
• PTO Highlights

K - 5 Highlights

• Kids Heart Challenge coming

Middle School Highlights

• 8th grade Yearbook Ads

PIA Athletics

Please read through each section of the NEWSplash to ensure you have all the details. 

Yearbooks for Sale

• Yearbooks are on sale until sold out or until 4/30-
• Yearbooks will not be available after 4/30 and a second round of orders WILL NOT be ordered once we sell out.
• Yearbooks are $30.00 until 11/30. After 11/30 yearbooks will increase to $35.00
• You can add personalization to the covers until 12/31/2023

School Access(IMPORTANT)

• Please make sure you have school access approval now so that when you attend events on campus, you are cleared to attend.
• Your application is good for 3 years. Please do NOT submit another application, original application will be renewed.
• Instructions were in the back to school packet but can also be found here.
• If you are unsure of your approval status, please contract the front office at 904-547-4300.

• Our students will be participating in the Kids Heart Challenge over the next few weeks (January 9^th – 30^th).
• Your child will be bringing home a KHC donation envelope and parent letter on January 9^th. 
• Collection envelopes can be turned in to your child’s classroom teacher (or homeroom for middle school) anytime between now and January 30^th. 
• Online donations are the easiest option. 
• You can register at https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?pg=company&fr_id=9740&company_id=437634
• Participation in fundraising is optional. 
• Elementary students will be learning about jump roping and the benefits it has on their heart during physical education classes over the next couple of weeks.
• Thank you in advance for supporting such a worthy cause. Please feel free to contact Coach Anderson (cindy.anderson@stjohns.k12.fl.us) or Coach J (alexandra.janowiak@stjohns.k12.fl.us) if you have any questions

3rd - 5th grade opportunity-

• Please click on flyer below for details

8^th Grade Yearbooks Ads

Attention Middle School students -

• Click on the flyer below for details

CORRECTION FOR BASKETBALL GAME ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 9 -

• JANUARY 9 - PIA VS PVA @ HOME

PTO Weekly Updates

ATTENTION!!! Click on the graphic below to read PTO weekly updates!