Dear Nelson Families,
As the final days of summer approach, it is with immense excitement that I extend a warm welcome to you all for the 2026–2027 school year at Nelson Elementary! Our entire team, from teachers to support staff, has been hard at work preparing our campus for your return, and we cannot wait to greet our wonderful Nelson Eagles.
Campus Updates & Improvements
We have been busy making fantastic upgrades to our school over the summer! We painted the entire exterior, installed a brand-new roof, and replaced and extended the stairwell overhang. While we are thrilled about these improvements, please note that some construction projects are still ongoing. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding—and please excuse our dust—during our upcoming Meet the Teacher event!
Important Back-to-School Information
Finding Your Child's Teacher (Going Digital!)
Say goodbye to postcards! To streamline how we share information, all teacher assignments will now be available digitally. You will no longer receive a postcard in the mail. Instead, you can view your child's teacher starting August 4 by logging into your Focus Parent account.
Focus Portal: Hillsborough Schools Focus
Canvas Portal: Hillsborough Schools Canvas (Used for class grades, assignments, and ongoing teacher communication)
Meet the Teacher Event
We invite all families to join us on Thursday, August 6, to visit classrooms, meet our dedicated staff, and get acquainted with your child's learning space:
Access & Pre-K Students: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Kindergarten – 5th Grade Students: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Our fantastic Nelson PTA will also be present, ready to share opportunities to join, volunteer, and learn about future events.
New Uniform & Spirit Wear Policy
Our new uniform policy begins this year, offering flexible and comfortable options for our students:
Tops (Solid Colors: Royal Blue, Navy Blue, White, or Gold): T-shirts, polos, button-downs, etc. While shirts featuring the official Nelson Elementary logo are encouraged to show school spirit, they are not mandatory. No other outside logos, writing, or graphics are permitted.
Bottoms (Colors: Jeans, Khaki, Navy Blue, or Black): Jeans, shorts, pants, capris, skirts, skorts, dresses, or jumpers. Students can wear jeans every day as part of the uniform policy, provided they are free of tears or rips.
Before school begins, please take time to review the Nelson Parent Handbook. It is a valuable resource covering our school's policies and procedures, ensuring a safe and efficient environment for everyone.
First Day of School & Campus Safety
We are thrilled to welcome our Nelson Eagles for their first day of school on Monday, August 10. School doors will open for students between 7:10 AM and 7:40 AM.
Campus Access & Visitor Policy
First Day of School (August 10): On this special day only, two adults per family may walk their child directly to their classroom.
Starting August 11: For the safety of all, only Nelson students and employees will be permitted on campus beyond the drop-off areas. Our teachers and staff will be stationed throughout the campus to warmly greet students and guide them to class.
All Visitors: Any visitor needing to enter the campus must schedule an appointment in advance, check in at the Front Office with a valid ID, and wear a Visitor's Badge (issued starting at 8:00 AM).
Parking & Car Line Procedures
Overflow Parking (First Day Only): On August 10, parents may utilize the West Entrance Gate (Faculty/Staff parking) for overflow parking.
Regular Drop-Off/Pick-Up (Starting August 11): Parents will exclusively use the drop-off loop adjacent to the cafeteria.
Remain in Your Vehicle: For student safety, drivers must remain in their cars during drop-off. Our staff and Safety Patrols are on hand to assist students out of vehicles and keep traffic moving efficiently. Parking and walking your child through active car traffic is significantly more dangerous than using the designated curbside drop-off.
Traffic on Durant Road
We recognize the concerns many families have voiced regarding traffic on Durant Road. While our School Resource Officers are dedicated to campus safety, directing traffic on public roads falls outside their scope of work and has proven hazardous due to aggressive driving.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is responsible for traffic control on public roads and actively monitors school zones. If you encounter unsafe traffic conditions on Durant Road, please contact the HCSO non-emergency number at 813-247-8200. Let's all drive safely, take turns, and exercise patience so our car line runs smoothly for everyone!
Enjoy these last few precious days of summer. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, and community, and we can't wait to see you soon!