No School for Students - October 12 & 13, 2026
Reminder, families! There will be no school for students on Monday, October 12, 2026, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Monday, October 12 – Teacher Planning Day
Tuesday, October 13 – Teacher Inservice Day
Classes will resume on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We hope our students enjoy a safe and restful extended weekend. Thank you for your continued support of our teachers and school community!
Reminder, families! There will be no school for students on Monday, October 12, 2026, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Monday, October 12 – Teacher Planning Day
Tuesday, October 13 – Teacher Inservice Day
Classes will resume on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We hope our students enjoy a safe and restful extended weekend. Thank you for your continued support of our teachers and school community!
📣 Transportation Update for Bus 346 Families 🚌
During the week of October 5-9, 2026, Bus 346 will have a backup driver. To ensure we can communicate important transportation updates, please complete and return the blue contact information card sent home with your student. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe and informed! 💙
During the week of October 5-9, 2026, Bus 346 will have a backup driver. To ensure we can communicate important transportation updates, please complete and return the blue contact information card sent home with your student. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe and informed! 💙
Join Us for Our School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all families and community stakeholders to attend our upcoming School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting.
🗓 Date: October 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 A.M.
📍 Location: Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
During this meeting, we will discuss: ✅ School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Needs Assessment
✅ Distribution of the PFEP Plan
✅ School Data Review
✅ Collaboration on the SIP Plan
✅ Upcoming School Events
Your input and participation are essential as we work together to support student achievement and school success. We hope to see you there!
Rufus E. Payne Elementary School invites all families and community stakeholders to attend our upcoming School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting.
🗓 Date: October 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 A.M.
📍 Location: Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
During this meeting, we will discuss: ✅ School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Needs Assessment
✅ Distribution of the PFEP Plan
✅ School Data Review
✅ Collaboration on the SIP Plan
✅ Upcoming School Events
Your input and participation are essential as we work together to support student achievement and school success. We hope to see you there!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Throughout the month of October, our school community will honor breast cancer survivors, celebrate those who have overcome challenges, and support those who are currently battling this disease.
We invite all students, staff, and families to join us in showing our support by wearing pink every Thursday in October.
Together, we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and remind those affected by breast cancer that they are not alone.
💗 Wear Pink Thursdays 💗 Honor Survivors 💗 Support Fighters 💗 Celebrate Hope
Throughout the month of October, our school community will honor breast cancer survivors, celebrate those who have overcome challenges, and support those who are currently battling this disease.
We invite all students, staff, and families to join us in showing our support by wearing pink every Thursday in October.
Together, we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and remind those affected by breast cancer that they are not alone.
💗 Wear Pink Thursdays 💗 Honor Survivors 💗 Support Fighters 💗 Celebrate Hope
World Heart Day Week is Coming to Payne!
Join us September 28 - October 2, 2026, as we celebrate healthy hearts through fun spirit days and wellness activities!
❤️ Monday: Healthy Heart Opening & CPR Day (Dress as a superhero)
❤️ Tuesday: Red Out Day (Wear red)
❤️ Wednesday: Move Your Heart Day (Wear athletic gear or sneakers)
❤️ Thursday: Healthy Choices Day (Wear green)
❤️ Friday: Heart Heroes Celebration Day (Wear school colors or spirit shirts)
Let's work together to teach our students the importance of healthy habits, staying active, and making heart-smart choices!
Join us September 28 - October 2, 2026, as we celebrate healthy hearts through fun spirit days and wellness activities!
❤️ Monday: Healthy Heart Opening & CPR Day (Dress as a superhero)
❤️ Tuesday: Red Out Day (Wear red)
❤️ Wednesday: Move Your Heart Day (Wear athletic gear or sneakers)
❤️ Thursday: Healthy Choices Day (Wear green)
❤️ Friday: Heart Heroes Celebration Day (Wear school colors or spirit shirts)
Let's work together to teach our students the importance of healthy habits, staying active, and making heart-smart choices!
Northeast Florida Goes to College Week is coming to Payne!
Join us September 21-25, 2026, as we celebrate college, career, and military opportunities through fun daily spirit days!
Mon. 9/21: Dream Big Day (Dress as your future career)
Tue. 9/22: College Pride Day (Wear college gear)
Wed. 9/23: Military Appreciation Day (Wear camo or patriotic colors)
Thu. 9/24: Future College Student Day (Dress like a college student)
Fri. 9/25: Mascot Day (Represent your favorite college mascot)
Let's inspire our students to think about their future and all the possibilities ahead!
Join us September 21-25, 2026, as we celebrate college, career, and military opportunities through fun daily spirit days!
Mon. 9/21: Dream Big Day (Dress as your future career)
Tue. 9/22: College Pride Day (Wear college gear)
Wed. 9/23: Military Appreciation Day (Wear camo or patriotic colors)
Thu. 9/24: Future College Student Day (Dress like a college student)
Fri. 9/25: Mascot Day (Represent your favorite college mascot)
Let's inspire our students to think about their future and all the possibilities ahead!
Hello Families! Due to an overnight district data center outage that impacted internet and phone services on Sept. 10, Progress Reports will be posted in Focus and sent home with students on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Thank you for your patience and support.
Schools will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. We hope all of our families enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend!
We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
🦅 RUFUS PAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 🦅
OPEN HOUSE & ANNUAL TITLE I MEETING
Thursday, September 3
Title I Meeting: 4:45 PM | Open House: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Dear Eagle Nation Families,
We are excited to invite you to our Open House on Thursday, September 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit your child's classroom, meet teachers, and learn more about the exciting learning experiences taking place this school year.
Prior to Open House, we will hold our Annual Title I meeting at 4:45 p.m. During this meeting, families will learn about our school's Title I program, parent involvement opportunities, and the resources available to support student success.
We encourage all families to attend both events. We look forward to partnering with you and sharing the wonderful learning that is taking place throughout Eagle Nation!
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you there!
Meet your child's teacher
Visit classrooms
Learn about student learning goals
Explore family involvement opportunities
Connect with Eagle Nation staff
Together We Soar to Success!
REGISTER FOR A BUS TODAY - Bus registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All students who plan to ride a school bus next year must be registered in advance, including students enrolled in self-contained ESE programs. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Registration forms are available in Focus. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process, visit:
http://www.duvalschools.org/busregistration
http://www.duvalschools.org/busregistration
Start the school year informed, prepared, and ready for success! Join us for "Pop Out with the Principal," a special event designed to help families learn about important school policies, procedures, and expectations before the school year begins.
This is a great opportunity to connect with school leadership, get your questions answered, and ensure your child is ready for an amazing school year. We look forward to seeing you there!
#RufusEPayneElementary #PopOutWithThePrincipal #ReadyForSuccess #ParentPartnership #BackToSchool
This is a great opportunity to connect with school leadership, get your questions answered, and ensure your child is ready for an amazing school year. We look forward to seeing you there!
#RufusEPayneElementary #PopOutWithThePrincipal #ReadyForSuccess #ParentPartnership #BackToSchool
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - The countdown is on — just ONE month until the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10. Take small steps now to get ready: Adjust sleep schedules a little each week, gather school supplies and organize backpacks, keep learning going with 20 minutes of reading or math each day, mark important school dates on your family calendar, and start practicing morning routines. We can't wait to welcome everyone back for another amazing year!
🎉 You’re Invited! 🎉
Join us on Wednesday, May 27th at 9:00 AM as we celebrate our amazing 1st–4th grade students and all of their hard work this school year! 👏📚
We can’t wait to celebrate with our families! 💙
#StudentSuccess #ProudMoments #SchoolCommunity
Join us on Wednesday, May 27th at 9:00 AM as we celebrate our amazing 1st–4th grade students and all of their hard work this school year! 👏📚
We can’t wait to celebrate with our families! 💙
#StudentSuccess #ProudMoments #SchoolCommunity
Join us for a very important meeting as we assess the needs of our school community and our school improvement plan. This meeting will occur on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 9:00am in the cafeteria. Your input is crucial.
Eagle Nation! Report Cards will go home with students on March 31, 2026. Please make sure to schedule a conference to discuss your students' progress with their teacher.
Join us this morning for our Developmental Meeting. Flyers went home on March 25, 2026.
Hi families! This is a reminder that students will take the Florida B.E.S.T. Writing Assessment on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Please help your child be successful by ensuring they are present, on time, and well-rested for the assessment. Thank you for your support!
REGISTER FOR A BUS TODAY - Bus registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All students who plan to ride a school bus next year must be registered in advance, including students enrolled in self-contained ESE programs. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Registration forms are available in Focus. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process, visit: www.duvalschools.org/busregistration
Eagle Families! We invite you to participate in our upcoming Data Drive on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. in the car rider zone.
During this event, teachers will be distributing important student data to help keep you informed about your child’s academic progress. The information you receive will include:
Student scores from the State FAST PM2 Assessment
Teacher contact information to schedule a parent‑teacher conference, if you would like to review the data more closely or discuss your child’s progress in detail
This quick morning pickup is designed to keep you connected and informed while supporting your child’s continued success.
Thank you for your partnership and engagement!
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning!
During this event, teachers will be distributing important student data to help keep you informed about your child’s academic progress. The information you receive will include:
Student scores from the State FAST PM2 Assessment
Teacher contact information to schedule a parent‑teacher conference, if you would like to review the data more closely or discuss your child’s progress in detail
This quick morning pickup is designed to keep you connected and informed while supporting your child’s continued success.
Thank you for your partnership and engagement!
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning!
Join us for Middle School Transition Night on Wed., Jan. 15 from 5:30–6:30 PM in the Media Center with MS administrators and a District Enrollment Specialist. 4th & 5th graders encouraged to attend—other grades welcome!
Science Extravaganza Night will also be held in the Cafetorium! Enjoy science activities, games, door prizes, raffles (including a gift card!), and dinner while supplies last.
Science Extravaganza Night will also be held in the Cafetorium! Enjoy science activities, games, door prizes, raffles (including a gift card!), and dinner while supplies last.
