Home of the Lions
Our Mission:
To provide a high quality education for all students
Rainy Day Dismissal Procedures
In the event of a rainy day dismissal, please be aware of our procedures for each dismissal group.
Students, staff, and guests are reminded to wear face coverings when on campus, maintain social distance, and follow one-way directional signage and arrows. As a reminder, early student check outs should be done prior to 2:30 PM.
Car Riders
- Car riders will exit their classrooms at 2:50 (Grades K and 1) and 3:00 (Grades 2 – 5) and proceed down the main sidewalk to the dining room and music room maintaining social distance.
- Car line signs should be on the dashboard of the vehicle. This is critical in keeping the line moving quickly and safely. If you need a car line sign, please stop by the office with photo identification.
- Pull through the east gate by the fire rescue building and proceed up the gravel driveway to the dining room. Stay in your vehicle at all times.
- Pull up to the staff member calling car numbers on the walkie talkie. Your child/children will exit the dining room and will be loaded into your vehicle.
- As you leave campus, please be careful going home.
Bus Riders/Day Care Vans
- Bus riders and day care vans will exit their classrooms when their bus/day care van is called and proceed down the main sidewalk maintaining social distance.
- Bus riders and day care vans will load buses/day care vans under the covered sidewalk in front of the school.
- Please give buses a few extra minutes to get to their bus stops during rainy weather.
Walkers/Bike Riders
- Walkers and bike riders will exit their classroom and proceed down the main sidewalk maintaining social distance.
- Walkers and bike riders will exit the campus through the front gate.
- Walkers and bike riders will not be dismissed if weather conditions are unsafe. Students will remain in their classroom until it is deemed safe to dismiss. Please understand the decision to hold students is for the safety of your child/children
Please call the school at (863) 499-2950 if you have any questions regarding rainy day dismissal procedures. Thank you.
Teacher and School Related Employee of the Year
It is with the greatest Lion pride, indeed, that the administrative team of Philip O’Brien Elementary School recognizes the School-Related Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year for 2020 – 2021.
Congratulations Mr. Rudy Brooks, daytime custodial professional, for being nominated by your colleagues as School-Related Employee of the Year. Mr. Brooks has been part of the Philip O’Brien Elementary family for 16 years and has previously been named School-Related Employee of the Year. You can often find Mr. Brooks encouraging students, helping staff, and welcoming parents.
Congratulations to Ms. Amber Screen, fifth grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, for being nominated by your colleagues to be the Teacher of the Year! Ms. Screen joined the Philip O’Brien Elementary family in 2019 and has become an integral member of the team! She currently assists new teachers as the campus Teacher Engagement Ambassador.
Our students, staff, and community are fortunate to know these wonderful Lions!
Title One Annual Meeting Survey/Evaluation
Please click the link below to complete the Title One annual meeting survey/evaluation. Thank you!
Title One Annual Meeting
Hello Lions! Unfortunately, the file size of the Title One annual meeting video is too large to upload to the school Web site. Please go to the Philip O’Brien Elementary Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/philipobrienelementary/) at 5:30 PM on September 17, 2020, to view the video. Once you’ve viewed the video, the link for parent input will be posted on our Web site and on our Facebook page. Thank you for understanding!
Switching Learning Format Ends September 11
We are asking all families to finalize their choice of learning format — Campus Learning (taking classes on campus) or Campus eSchool (taking classes online through your school) — by the end of Friday, Sept. 11. Our office closes at 4 PM.
As of Monday, Sept. 14, students must remain in their chosen option until the week of Oct. 12-16, at which time they will have another opportunity to choose either Campus Learning or Campus eSchool.
Prior to the start of the school year, PCPS asked families to commit to either Campus Learning or Campus eSchool for at least a nine-week period. However, we understand that this is a very different kind of school year, and we decided to provide more flexibility after families had a chance to experience the first week of school.
We are now moving forward into the fall, and stabilizing our enrollment will help ensure that students and staff can focus on the work ahead and have a successful year. Thank you for your understanding.
Title One Annual Meeting and Open House
eSchool Technology Assistance
Families can call (863) 733-0331 for help with eSchool technology questions and issues. Campus eSchool teachers can use the hotine as well. Staff will be available to answer calls on weekdays from 8 AM to 3 PM.
Important Notice!
If your child has been tested for coronavirus, please do not send your child to school until you receive a negative test result. Please notify the school about the situation so that arrangements can be made for your child to participate in online learning.
If a member of your household has tested positive, please do not send your child to school and call the Florida Department of Health at 863-519-7911 for further direction.
Thank you for your cooperation.
eSchool Meal Distribution
Students enrolled in Campus eSchool may pick up five breakfasts and lunches in the front driveway of the school from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM each Wednesday.
To help our parents/guardians, we will have eSchool class lists printed to verify that your child is enrolled at Philip O’Brien Elementary. PCPS prefers that Campus eSchool students pick up meals at their enrolled school if possible, but families can request an alternate site if they have children in more than one school, or if they live far from their enrolled school. To request an alternate meal site, please fill out this form.
If you have children at other schools and want to pick up meals for them, we must have one form of student identification.
Examples include:
- School identification card
- Page printed from parent portal showing student’s name and ID number
- Record from the school showing the student’s name and ID number (report card, interim report, schedule, etc.)
- Child’s passport
- Government-issued child identification card
- Other legal document identifying the child
Please call the school at (863) 499-2950 if you have any questions.
Schoology Guide for Students
This year, all students will be using Schoology for some or all class assignments. The Schoology Guide for Students, which provides useful information for navigating Schoology, can be found here: Schoology Set-up 2020-2021 STUDENTS.
School T-Shirts Available
POBE t-shirts are available in the front office for $8.00. We have staff available during today’s orientation times to assist with t-shirt purchases. If you have a virtual orientation and need to purchase t-shirts, please call the office at (863) 499-2950 to schedule a time to pick up your order.
eSchool Workbooks and Supplies
Hello Lions!
Students that are new to POBE and have selected eSchool as their learning option will have paper based workbooks and supplies ready for pick up during their orientation appointment on Thursday, August 20, 2020. Stop by the dining room for device distribution and materials pick up. Don’t forget your face covering for in person appointments. Temperatures will be taken for all in person appointments.
Students that are returning to POBE and have selected eSchool as their learning option will have paper based workbooks and supplies ready for pick up from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Friday, August 21, 2020. Enter the campus via the east gate by the fire rescue station. Pull up to the dining room. Our fantastic staff will be available to assist you. Guests must remain in their vehicle during the device distribution and supply pick up time.
Please call the school at (863) 499-2950 if you have any questions.
Updating Contact Information
Hello O’Brien’s Lions!
We need up to date contact information for students. If you have access to the Polk County Public Schools Parent Portal, you have access to update contact information. If you do not have access to the portal, please call the school at (863) 499-2950 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Mrs. Stauffer, Ms. McCloud, and Mrs. Peick will be glad to assist you in updating contact information.
Student Immunizations
All students who attend brick and mortar, eSchool, and Polk Virtual School, must be up-to-date with their immunizations to start school. Students may not be admitted without immunizations. Should students require immunizations, including Kindergarten immunizations, parents/guardians may go to their own physician, a walk-in clinic, or call for an appointment at the local Health Department. Appointments at the Health Department are available from 8 AM to 4 PM. You may contact the Health Department at (863) 519-7910, select option 3, and then select option 1 when prompted.
2019 - 2020 POBE Yearbook
We have a few 2019-2020 yearbooks available for purchase. Each yearbook is $15. We accept cash, check, or money order. Checks and money orders must be made payable to Lifetouch. We cannot accept checks or money orders made out to Philip O’Brien Elementary.
Call the school at (863) 499-2950 if you have any questions.
2020 Census
The next census count is happening this year. Residents will begin receiving mailers for the 2020 census in March. Please read the card, participate and be counted!
