December 16, 2022

SCPS Points of Pride

Success begins with us.

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) has consistently maintained superior educational programs for its students and aims to ensure they graduate future-ready.

Sixty Seconds with the Superintendent

Each week, we receive questions for the Superintendent from students in pre-K through 12th grade. In this video series, Ms. Beamon will answer these questions and help our families and the community we serve get to know the leader of our public schools.

Happy Holidays!

Special Event for SCPS Families

Tickets for these events are complimentary and will be available after Winter Break. Please look for this information in upcoming issues of Seminole Spotlight or on our social media platforms.

What's Cool in Our Schools

Heathrow Elementary Knights Score a Special Visit for Good Behavior

The team at Heathrow Elementary think outside the box when they come up with incentives for students who display good behavior. The November and December "Armor Award" winners were treated to a visit with Deputy Kirkland and furry friend, Tucker. From the photos shared with us, it looks like K9 Tucker has probably experienced other days a bit more "ruff" than this one!

Special thanks to our amazing school resource deputies who create relationships with our students each day.

Lawton Chiles Middle School Builds Hurricane Resistant "Panther City" for Special Project and Earns Media Recognition

“How can schools be built to sustain a CAT5 Hurricane? What do we need to do to create a more sustainable, eco-friendly city? How does urban sprawl impact affordable housing?"

These and many other questions were explored and answered during our semester long Urban and City planning project called "Panther City." Students were given a problem to solve: build a city which sustains rain and winds of a CAT5 hurricane using principles of urban and city design. Click the button below to view some of the media coverage.

View Media Story

Seminole High Students Launch Effort To Make Threatened Florida Scrub-Jay Official State Bird

Featured in the Orlando Sentinel, Written by Martin Comas

A group of environmental science students at Seminole High School have joined a decades-long effort to knock the mockingbird off its perch as the state bird and replace it with the Florida scrub-jay.

The students launched their campaign about a year ago when science and ecology teacher Kris Cole wanted to teach his advanced-placement students about effecting environmental change through the political process. They kicked off their project by urging Florida lawmakers through a letter-writing campaign to designate the Florida scrub-jay as the official state bird.

Read the Full Article Here

Seminole High students first row from left to right, Emily Cummings, Caitlyn Campbell, Caitlyn Nawrocki, Lucy Guo, Navya Sharma and second row from left to right Jane Flores, Hayden Emmans, Felipe Quiroz and Olyvia Collins show their Scrub Jay wing sign in this portrait as a group working to make Florida’s official state bird to be the scrub jay in Sanford, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

SCPS Spotlights

SCPS Student Wins Big at Art in the Capitol Competition

Florida State Statutes require that every school district hold an art competition for students in grades 6-8 with the winning entry displayed in the Capitol during the legislative session which begins on March 7, 2023.

Thank you to those of you that submitted artwork for the Art in the Capitol Competition. The artwork was judged by a panel of high school art teachers.

The winning entry was created by Ivana Valentina, a student at Rock Lake Middle School. The artwork will be on display in the Capitol during the upcoming Florida legislative session.

Thank you to all of the students that submitted artwork and big congratulations to Ivana! Her art is pictured here.

Giving Tree Provides Gifts for SCPS Students in Need

We are so incredibly thankful for the many donors and volunteers who came together to support the SCPS Giving Tree program. Nothing beats helping our students experience the magic of the holiday season!

A special thank you to our Seminole County Sheriff's Department, Seminole County Government, Florida Free Wheelers and all of the organizations who come together to make this event possible.

Oviedo High School Food Pantry Receives Generous Donation

We want to say a huge thank you to the Oviedo-Winter Springs Kiwanis Club for providing a $1,000 grant to fund the OHS food pantry.

Senior Erin Kurth reached out to the Kiwanis Club about an opportunity to help replenish the food pantry knowing that it helps many Oviedo families in-need, especially after the hurricanes.

Pictured are 3 generations of Kurths that serve the Kiwanis Club. Also pictured is Kiwanis Club member Kathy McDonald, OHS food pantry manager Angie Williford, and OHS principal Dr. Trent Daniel.

Seminole County Winter Break Activities

Click the image below for a wide variety of activities to do with your children during the upcoming Winter Break.

SCPS School Board

Our Mission

The mission of the Seminole County Public Schools is to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be productive citizens.

400 E. Lake Mary Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32773

407-320-0000

www.scps.us

Seminole County Public Schools

Educational Equity - Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Educational Equity Administrator for Seminole County Public Schools has the responsibility of assuring compliance with the educational equity requirements by providing technical expertise, monitoring activities or programs related to compliance, and responding to equity complaints. One of the responsibilities is to administer the Educational Equity Complaint/Grievance Procedures as adopted by the School Board.

It is the policy of the School Board of Seminole County, Florida, that no employee, student, or applicant shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination and/or harassment under any educational programs, activities, or in any employment conditions, policies, or practices conducted by the District. The School Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity), disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age, religion, ancestry, or genetic information which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. Additionally, the School board of Seminole County provides equal access to public school facilities for the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups as required by 34 C.F.R. 108.6.

Every employee, student, or applicant for employment at Seminole County Public Schools has a solemn right to be treated fairly, equally, equitably, and with dignity. If for any reason you - the employee, student, or applicant for employment - find that you have been victimized by acts of discrimination and or harassment, whether intentional or unintentional, you are strongly encouraged to file an Educational Equity Complaint or Grievance with the Educational Equity Administrator, or any county or school-level administrator. All such complaints must be immediately forwarded to the Educational Equity Administrator for dissemination, action, and resolution. Forward to: SCPS Educational Equity Administrator, Seminole County Public Schools – Human Resources, Educational Support Center, 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773-7127. 407.320.0317.