Sawgrass Bay Elementary School

(Continued) Although there is a zero tolerance for bullying policy it is prevalent and an issue. I have witnessed teachers gossiping about students, parents, and other teachers. I have witnessed teachers and other school staff being rude to students and have heard plenty about students being targeted, bullied, and harassed by school staff including teachers. This school has the potential to be GREAT with the right leadership, and getting rid off the teachers who don't want to be there.
—Submitted by a parent

the school is a good it just needs more activities for the kids like four corners, and yes people in the office are very very rude. my little girls is in 3rd grade she'sbeen in this school for 3 years.
—Submitted by a parent

I have paid top dollar to send my kids to an elite private school in downtown Orlando. To be perfectly honest, I wasted so much money! My children have learned equally the same lessons while learning to bond with other kids of all different social levels (which is vitally important in life). The teachers have always been approachable, call me or email me with any issues, I feel part of a unique family. You get what you GIVE to your school. If you come willing to help, friendly, and approachable...you will receive in that same manner.
—Submitted by a parent

We just moved here from Seminole County and I must say I'm not very impressed with Sawgrass Bay. They are not very people friendly here. The school itself was hugh and beautiful but, the office staff was mediocre and overwhelmed. Registration was a major pain. We had to make several trips just to get them the right paperwork. They had my wife in tears. Secondly, what's up with all these silly rules? Mandatory school uniforms? Come on this is public school; it should be entirely optional. They also don't allow any wheeled backpacks even though pediatrician recommended to prevent back strain. This school is run by a bunch of old prudes; who are more caught up in the rules than the enjoyment of teaching our kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a teacher at SBE for the last few years and have recently decided to move on. Parents , beware! If you notice recently there are lots of good teachers and support personnel leaving the school. The administration has resorted to pitting teachers against each other, promoting rumor mongering and not supporting highly qualified teachers in their efforts to discipline students.It has become a good ole boy system where its not what you know, but whose business you are in and the first one to run to an administrator and spread untrue rumors. I implore the administration to check the facts before drawing conclusions on staff rumors.
—Submitted by a teacher

This is the second year my children are going to attend SBE. I love Ms. Miller 4th grade teacher, she gave my son the academic support needed to succeed. Ms. Lees was also an outstanding teacher. The staff is very friendly and professional. The principal is great.Excellent school...A++++!!!! I sawgrass Bay Elementary!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My child attended SBE last year and I have never in my life been involved in such a complicated school. So many papers go home, so much unessary activities the teachers must be incredibly overwealmed. I agree, the office staff needs to be more approachable. The instructional staff turnover there scares me a bit. I talked to a few of the teachers and they are just overworked and recieve little support from the Administration, they expect 200% of their time. My child was in the bilingual program and it appears incredibly disorganized and not supportable. Although the staff puts in their best the school needs to get back the basics.
—Submitted by a parent

1) My son's kindergarten teacher was great. 2) There needs to be a bigger parking lot. 3) The office staff needs to be more approachable. They also need to learn how to return calls. 4) They need to keep the online calender updated. They just posted this week that the first day of school is the 23rd. Shouldn't they have known this at the end of this last school year? They didn't. I asked. 5) There is WAY TOO MUCH paper sent home. I'm not talking about art projects...I welcome that stuff. But, the random information papers sent home every day adds up. They've killed a huge forest just this year alone. And, I've only got 1 child there so far. They need to utilize their website for those of us with a computer, and only send the papers home to the parents without computers.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very impressed with the kindergarten teacher Mrs. Fitzgerald.She rocks!! The principal Mr. Valle also is very in touch with all the kids and has always helped me when i have gone to him. Thanks Mr. Valle and Mrs Fitzgerald
—Submitted by a parent

Sawgrass Bay goes above and beyond in it's curriculumn, extracurricular activites, student achievment and character development. All of this combined with stellar leadership, a beautiful campus and top notch programs including Dual Language make this America's favorite school! I would also like to mention their traditional 9/11 Remembrance ceremony. I have never seen a group of Elementary school student's behave so well for an hour and a half and be filled with so much pride! Way to go Sawgrass Bay Elementary, keep up the good work!
—Submitted by a parent

From personal experience I did not want my children to attend school in Florida but Sawgrass Bay Elem has completely change my mind. My daughter attends the dual language program here. She absolutely loves it and I am very impressed with the staff and lessons.
—Submitted by a parent

I think Sawgrass Bay is a wonderful school. Yes, there are issues with the parking lot. Yes, there have to be teacher changes sometimes, but overall I think the administration and staff do a wonderful job maintaining high expectations for the students, parents and staff. Although the first year may have not been the smoothest, but I think everything was handled fine. I have never had any unfriendly encounters with the principal and the assistant principals have always been willing to speak to me anytime I have come to the school and I usually don't have an appointment. What parents need to remember is that the administration is always there at the school, but the time may not be always be right that minute. Thier time is valuable and parents need to understand and respect that.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a beautifull school, and most of the teachers my children have had are very good teachers. Unfortunately although they SAY the encourage parent involvement, by their ACTIONS they discourage it. The administration is not welcoming, and make you feel like you should not be there. The principal is very driven, but not because she is in it for the kids, she just wants to make sure she gets the bigger bonus for being an A school. Mrs. Hunt can be very warm and friendly, but when she is not having a good day/week she can be the rudest person I have talked to. She talks down parents as well as students, and can be very disrespectful. I feel sorry for the good teachers there that have a difficult time dealing with this principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Sawgrass Bay is an awesome school!! I have to disagree with those who say Mrs. Hunt is unapproachable. I've talked with her numerous times, and I didn't have an appointment ever. The school is run very well, and the ESE program is just absolutely wonderful! The one complaint that I think all of us parents have and will continue to have is lack of parking. Sawgrass Bay earned the A last year and it was well-deserved. I have 4 children and have had them in many different Florida schools. Sawgrass Bay is the best of them all!!!
—Submitted by a parent

this school is a wonderful
—Submitted by a parent

I am new at this school, but I enjoy my child's experience there. My child has enjoyed the Library experiences with Mrs. Tela.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very impressed with SBES. The school sits in a nice location, the school itself is very clean and organized, the staff is generally fantastic. Discipline issues are dealt with swiftly and fairly. Conferences are scheduled regularly and as needed, I have never had an issue communicating with my children's teachers, they have a quick response time when I send them an email or write a note. The front office staff and Nurse Anna are wonderful as well. The only complaint I have is that I was not able to walk my kindergarten student to class after the first day, but I am impressed at the school's security.
—Submitted by a parent

I really think this school is great! Everytime I have gone in there, I see lots of staff, which is very comforting. My daughter did get switched to a new teacher due to many enrollments after school had started. I was made aware and was able to go in and meet the teacher. It is still a new school and we all should expect some hiccups here and there. Alot of it is the parents who don't pay attention and enroll their kids ontime or participate. Yes I do have to agree that the parking stinks, just be sure to arrive to events early to get a spot! :)
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in Mrs. Lees second grade class and she is an awsome teacher we love the school, yes the parking is bad! I also agree that the front office staff isnt very friendly at times I know they have alot on their plate but they could be a little more friendly and maybe even smile a little! over all we love the school and hope that the kinks get works out soon!
—Submitted by a parent

This is our daughter's first year at Sawgrass Bay & so far, this has been a good year for her. Because of the high enrollment she was required to swap teachers after the first few weeks but the staff was very helpful in sending home information and comforting my child and making the move as easy as possible on her. She loves her new teacher just as much as the one she started out with. They even arranged a day that the parents could meet the new teacher and on this day the principal and vice principal were standing in the hallway & took the time to talk with me; I found them both to be very approachable. The only complaint I have is about the office personnel; many times they are a bit smug and they have a tendancy to ignore you.
—Submitted by a parent