Weis
Elementary School
Military Family Resources
Military Point of Contact
Dr. Kimberly Thomas, Principal
kthomas2@ecsdfl.us
Bridget Hill
bhill@ecsdfl.us
Enrollment Services
New to the area? Have questions about registering your child for school, or what documentation is needed for registration? Click here to visit our ECPS Enrollment Services department for this information, as well as the current Student Progression Plans.
Transition Planning
Mrs.Tenika Harris (tharris4@ecsdfl.us) is the Data Specialist at C.A. Weis Elementary and works closely with our families to assist throughout the registration process.
Prior to enrollment, all parents and guardians must create a Focus account at https://focus.escambia.k12.fl.us/focus/auth/.
- School Choice: If you elect Escambia County’s School Choice option, your next step is to visit the J.E. Hall Center located at 30 E. Texar Drive.
- Home-Zoned Enrollment: If C.A. Weis Elementary is your home-zoned school, please bring two proofs of residency, a valid photo ID, your student’s birth certificate, and their immunization records.
Once Mrs. Harris receives the required documentation, she will print the necessary forms to finalize your child’s enrollment. If your student has an active IEP or 504 plan, please bring a copy of the most recent plan with you so services can be aligned while official records are requested.
Transfers and Records Requests:
- Transferring Out: The receiving school must send a records request directly to C.A. Weis Elementary, and our staff will forward the required documentation.
- Transferring In: If your student is newly enrolling at C.A. Weis Elementary, our school will submit a records request directly to their previous school site.
Academic Planning
C.A. Weis Elementary School prides itself on aligning our curriculum to meet the rigor of Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards. We provide tier-based instruction across all grade levels to address areas of deficiency and accelerate student learning. Furthermore, we design specific learning pathways within core subjects and our afternoon tutoring program to foster continuous growth.
Every student receives a blue folder upon entry for daily handouts, parent communication, and homework traveling to and from school. The Focus Portal serves as another key communication tool where teachers upload grades and message guardians using the email and phone number provided by the enrolling guardian.
Resilience, work ethic, responsibility, accountability, and appropriate social interactions are qualities our C.A. Weis Owls practice daily to ensure their long-term academic and personal success.
Exceptional Student Education
Kelly Wilcox (kwilcox1@ecsdfl.us) is C.A. Weis Elementary’s ESE Specialist.
C.A. Weis Elementary School follows a sequential 10-step workflow governed by federal and state regulations regarding student eligibility and receipt of an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Once Mrs. Wilcox and her team receive written consent for initial placement, teachers and staff immediately begin providing the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services outlined in the plan.
C.A. Weis Elementary regularly monitors student progress data, sending home quarterly updates aligned with the student's IEP goals. Additionally, the team meets annually with parents and guardians to review progress, update goals, and adjust services as needed to ensure continuous student growth.
Click to visit the ECPS Exceptional Student Education department.
Sondra Hill, Program Director
shill@ecsdfl.us • 850-429-2977
Resources
The Joint Military Council for Education Excellence was established as a partnership between the Escambia County School District and Naval Air Station Pensacola in the Spring of 2020. Its mission is: Improving educational services and communication between the Escambia County School District and military families.
The Military Council convenes quarterly to address topics of mutual interest and to solicit input from community stakeholders, including military families.
NAS Pensacola Fleet &Family Support Center
Military One Source connects you to programs, services and products developed for military life. Turn to Military OneSource for tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more.
Military One Source also has a link to a tutoring service designed specifically for military students.
Military Child Education Coalition
The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission has a specific section for parents with resources detailing the role of the School Liaison as well as helpful articles on helping military children change schools and cope with moving, among others. They also have a section on supporting military families with special medical or educational needs.
The ASVAB CEP offers students a chance to explore all paths to careers - college, certifications, apprenticeships, licensure programs, and the Military - in one place. Contact your school counselor to find out when the ASVAB CEP is coming to your school.
Student to Student Peer Groups
C.A. Weis Elementary is proud to be a Leader in Me school. We build our leadership classroom by modeling leadership principles and consistently empowering each other to lead. Everything we do is designed, created, and owned by everyone in the class. We are preparing students for a global economy and equipping students with skills to successfully navigate a world of constant change and choice.
We also have several other groups where students work with each other:
- Elite and Elegant Ambassadors: The Elite Ambassadors program prepares students to represent the school with excellence, professionalism, and pride. Participants develop public speaking, leadership, and community engagement skills while serving as student representatives at school events, special programs, community partnerships, and outreach opportunities.
The Elegant Ambassadors program focuses on character development, etiquette, self-confidence, and personal growth. Students learn valuable life skills including respectful communication, leadership, professionalism, social etiquette, and personal presentation, empowering them to carry themselves with confidence and grace in school and community settings. - Student Leadership Council: The Student Leadership Council empowers students to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and serve as positive role models within the school community. Through service projects, team-building activities, and student-led initiatives, participants learn effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making while making a meaningful impact on their peers and school culture.
- Health Ambassadors: The Health Ambassadors program introduces students to the many career pathways and disciplines within the medical and healthcare field. Participants engage in hands-on learning experiences that explore nursing, medicine, public health, emergency response, mental health, nutrition, healthcare technology, and other healthcare professions while developing an understanding of how healthcare professionals work together to improve community wellness. Through interactive activities, guest speakers, medical simulations, and real-world exposure, students gain valuable knowledge, practical skills, and inspiration for future careers in healthcare.
Military Recognition Events
April is the Month of the Military Child, and every year the school hosts a Purple Up Day to recognize military students.
Additional Resources for Educational Opportunities
WES offers the SAIL (Students Achieving, Innovating, and Leading) afterschool program. The S.A.I.L. Academy is an innovative afterschool program designed to inspire academic achievement, creativity, and leadership development. Through hands-on enrichment activities, project-based learning, STEM exploration, career awareness, and collaborative problem-solving experiences, students are encouraged to think critically, embrace innovation, and develop the skills necessary to become future leaders. The program fosters a growth mindset while helping students strengthen academic, social, and leadership competencies in a supportive environment.
All Pro Dads
All Pro Dads is a family engagement program designed to strengthen the relationship between students and their fathers or father figures through meaningful conversations, activities, and shared experiences. Participants develop important life skills such as leadership, responsibility, respect, and character while building positive connections at home and school. The program encourages fathers and father figures, including military members, to be actively involved in their child's education and overall success, creating a strong support system that helps students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Military Family Life Counselor Contact
The MFLC Locator on the Military One Source website is the best way for families to identify a MFLC if they do not have one at their school. The Locator will show available MFLCs attached to the installations and various commands as well as the CDCs and Youth Centers on the base.
About the Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program
Weis Elementary School is honored to offer non-medical counseling to our military-connected students. MFLCs support military families through the unique challenges of military life, including cycles of deployment and reintegration, by providing non-medical, short-term counseling. Through a partnership between the school district, the installation and the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, counselors will be assigned to various schools during the school year.
MFLCs provide consultation, training, and educational presentations/workshops to program faculty, staff, parents, and children. MFLC support augments services are already in place. Our counselor provide professional development and training on the unique circumstances of military connected students. Additionally, training is provided to discuss the importance of recognizing struggling military students and resources available to them.
What is the counselor’s role in the school?
MFLCs provide consultation, training, and educational presentations/workshops to program faculty, staff, parents, and children. MFLC support augments services already in place at each school. Counselors take part in everyday school activities and events. They are available to support in areas related to deployment and reintegration; family dynamics; positive coping mechanisms; staff support and education; parent education and stress reduction. Counselors are also available to facilitate groups and trainings to build leadership skills; manage anger; build self-esteem and confidence and strengthen communication.
How are counselors selected?
Counselors are selected for their demonstrated expertise and training and are under the management of the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Counselors hold a master’s or doctoral degree, are independently licensed and have experience working with children and youth. Counselors go through rigorous background checks before being placed in schools.
Why are the counselors in certain schools and not others?
Schools were selected by the Service Branch to receive MFLCs based on the number of military connected students attending each school. Military families who have students in schools without counselors can typically receive the same support through the installation’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, Fleet and Family Services or the A&FRC.
Do counselors keep records about students and families?
No. Services provided by counselors are private and confidential with the exception of mandatory federal and military reporting requirements (i.e., child abuse, domestic violence and other life-threatening situations). No counseling records are maintained.
The Dandelion
The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why?
The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy. It's an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It's a survivor in a broad range of climates.
Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They're ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.
Experts say military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world, and that education doesn't only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences.
(Military Child Education Coalition, 2017).