SCPS Celebrates Literacy Week

Students across our district celebrated Literacy Week with activities focused on reading, writing, and the joy of learning. Schools participated in events and programs that encouraged students to engage with books and explore the world of stories.

The week was filled with excitement as students and staff came together to recognize the importance of literacy and foster a love of reading throughout the district. In the words of Dr. Seuss, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Jackson Heights Middle School's Collaborative Art Project

Jackson Heights Middle School recently unveiled a massive 36-foot quilt mural, a collaborative masterpiece created by Mrs. Elizabeth Rodney’s 2D Art program. Inspired by Rachel Gloria Adams and Ryan Adams’ mural, “The More I Wonder, The More I Love,” the project explored themes of open-mindedness and empathy. Utilizing fabric donated by Disney and acrylic paint from the Seminole Cultural Arts Council, students transformed traditional materials into fine art. This project was made possible by The SCPS Foundation ​through their "Grants for Great Ideas" program as well as the Oviedo community, who donated additional supplies. 

Many students learned the practical skill of sewing for the first time and eventually worked in teams of six to engineer and manage the lengthy panels. This project redefined what it means to be an "artist" for many, bridging the gap between museum art and the cherished quilts made by their own family members. Much like this quilt, Jackson Heights is built through the collective efforts of students, families, and its local partners.

This is an amazing way to bring students together through creativity. Great work, Bobcats!

Layer Elementary's Spot-filled 101st Day of School

Layer Elementary students celebrated the 101st day of the school year on Monday. The first graders dressed as adorable Dalmatians, filling the campus with spots and smiles. It was a fun way to recognize the students’ hard work and achievements during the first 101 days. The celebration highlighted student engagement and reminded everyone that the adventure of learning continues every day.

Evans Elementary's Delicious Math Lesson

Mrs. Quagliani’s students at Evans Elementary, enjoyed a fun and interactive math lesson this week that they could eat when they were done. Using snacks to model each section of the place value chart, students practiced representing numbers in a hands-on way. Numbers were randomly called, and students showed the correct value on their mats. The activity kept all students engaged while encouraging excellent math discussion and teamwork. Tasty work, Sunrays!

Step Into the Spotlight with Millennium Middle School's Dance Program!

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be part of a dance team that competes at the state and regional level or to express yourself through movement in a fun, creative class? Millennium Middle School’s Dance Program offers Advanced Dance, Fusion, Dance Team, Falcon Dance Company, and Dance Tech classes for every student, whether competitive or recreational.

Hear from our dancers as they share how dance shapes their personality, challenges them to grow, and builds teamwork and school spirit. From mastering new skills to supporting each other on and off the stage, these students are passionate, dedicated, and having fun while doing it.

Watch the Millennium's Classroom Close-up to see the magic of dance in action!

Christie Rey Named 2027 SCPS Teacher of the Year

SCPS held its annual Teacher of the Year Celebration to honor the amazing teachers who keep our A-rated school district going strong! Congratulations to our 2027 Teacher of the Year, Christie Rey, from Geneva Elementary School! The Teacher of the Year Gala at the Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate her and all the outstanding educators representing each of our Seminole County Public Schools. Congratulations again to our 2027 SCPS High School Teacher of the Year, Trevor Southworth from Lake Mary High School, and to our 2027 SCPS Middle School Teacher of the Year, Cianetta Saunders from Indian Trails Middle School. Finally, thank you to Eric Burris - Wesh 2 News' Meteorologist for emceeing this year and creating a magical night for all to remember!

It was a pleasure to have Addition Financial Credit Union join us, once again, as this year's Presenting Sponsor.

“At Addition Financial, our roots in education run deep. It is a privilege to support education and educators for almost 90 years! Thank you for having us as the presenting sponsor of the Seminole County Public Schools Teacher of the Year ceremony to celebrate the dedication and passion that this year’s honorees bring to their classrooms, schools, and communities daily.  Congratulations to Christie Rey, from Geneva Elementary School, for being recognized as the 2027 SCPS Teacher of the Year!”



-Stefanie Mizrahi, Assistant Manager, Community Development

Layer Elementary Students Win County Reflections Art Contest

Congratulations to our County Award winners in the Reflections Art Contest who are advancing to the state level. These talented students earned Awards of Merit in the following categories: Ruby in Film Production, Emerson in Literature, Akshath in Music Composition and Accessible Arts, Saraya in Photography, Liam in Visual Arts, and Lucas in Visual Arts and Accessible Arts.

We are incredibly proud of our Layer Elementary artists and their amazing creativity! We wish you all the best of luck as you compete in the next round of the contest. The adventure truly awaits at Layer!

Lawton Chiles Middle Student Wins 2025-2026 WonderWorks WonderKids Contest

We are proud to recognize Elijah Soto-Berrios, a Lawton Chiles Middle School student, for his outstanding achievements and creativity. He was nominated by Design teacher Mrs. Amanda Bond for the WonderWorks Orlando WonderKids Contest in recognition of his remarkable work ethic and his consistent ability to go above and beyond in creating unique and imaginative designs in her Design class. His creativity and talent shine through in every project he completes.

We are excited to share that Elijah has been selected as a winner of the 2025–2026 WonderWorks WonderKids Program! This prestigious recognition honors students who demonstrate excellence in science, mathematics, community involvement, and creativity, and he exemplifies all of these qualities.

Please join us in congratulating Elijah on this well-deserved honor. We look forward to seeing all of your amazing accomplishments ahead!

Seminole High's Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics National Honor Society Earn First Place at Regional Competition

20 members of Seminole High's Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics National Honor Society, under the leadership of Dr. Kristen Springfield, competed in their first regional competition and earned first place overall. Students participated in multiple categories, including Precalculus, Calculus, Statistics, and Algebra 2.

Seven freshmen from the 9th Grade Center competed in the Algebra 2 category: Sanjay Krishnan, Samual Rajan, Nichchay Gupta, Aryan Singhal, Gavin Partin, Sidhanth Hari, and Shaivi Sarkar.

The Algebra 2 team: Sanjay Krishnan, Samual Rajan, Nichchay Gupta, and Aryan Singhal earned first place in their division!

We are proud of all of our Mu Alpha Theta mathletes for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance at the regional level.

Oviedo High Student Wins FCEE Art Contest

Jeweliet Jenkins won an Economic-related Art contest recently with the attached work, sponsored by the Florida Council of Economic Education. 

She was one of only a dozen chosen in the state and the only one in Seminole County!

An Oviedo High student, Jeweliet Jenkins, recently won an economic-themed art contest sponsored by the Florida Council on Economic Education! Her submitted artwork was selected as one of only twelve winners statewide, and she was the only student from Seminole County to receive this recognition.

Congratulations, Jeweliet, on this outstanding accomplishment. Your SCPS family is extremely proud of you!

SCPS Partners in Education's Tremendous Support of the 2027 SCPS Teacher of the Year Gala

Thank you for your support of SCPS Teacher of the Year Gala!

On behalf of Seminole County Public Schools, thank you to our Partners in Education for their generous support of our 2027 SCPS Teacher of the Year Celebration, held Friday, January 23rd at the Westin Lake Mary. Your commitment to our educators made this special evening truly memorable!

This is Charlotte Little's third year as a proud SCPS principal, currently serving at Lake Mary Elementary.

When asked about her favorite part of being a principal, she responded, "I find it incredibly fulfilling to see students unlock their full potential, and the joy they express when they achieve their goals is truly rewarding!"

Fun fact about Principal Little: she has a strong talent for knowing lyrics. Unfortunately...she says she doesn't have the best vocals to match!

Thank you, Principal Little, for leading with heart, passion, and a genuine love for helping students reach their full potential.

The on-time VPK application period for the 2026-2027 School Year at SCPS locations is January 10 to February 10. To be eligible for VPK, a child must be four years of age by September 1, 2026. SCPS VPK offers a high-quality program designed to prepare students to enter Kindergarten ready to learn! Full-day and half-day programs are available. For more information, visit the SCPS VPK website.

It's enrollment time for our unique elementary magnet schools. Families interested in an elementary magnet school for the 2026-2027 School Year are encouraged to attend the upcoming Magnet Nights to interact with school teams, and learn more about program offerings. The on-time application period for Elementary School Magnet Programs for the 2026-2027 school year is open from January 1 through March 1. Learn more

2025-2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

Seminole County students are invited to participate in this year’s National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, themed “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.” The contest encourages students to think about what safety means to them and to recognize bus drivers and community members as everyday heroes who help them get to school safely.

Students can showcase their creativity while highlighting the important role bus drivers and other community members play in keeping school transportation safe. This annual contest is a fun way to express artistic talent while reinforcing the critical message of school bus safety throughout our schools and neighborhoods.

Submit your poster and join us in celebrating the everyday heroes who make safe rides possible for everyone!

Learn more

Attention Class of 2026: The FAFSA Application is Now Open!

Class of 2026, a new year brings new opportunities and fresh beginnings. Start 2026 by investing in your future. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), now open, and take the next step toward your goals.



Filling out the FAFSA is an important step in exploring federal, state, and institutional financial aid options for college, career school, or trade programs.



We encourage all seniors to stay proactive this season. Start your FAFSA application today and take the first steps toward your post-secondary goals.

Please visit https://studentaid.gov/ to access the 2026-2027 FAFSA application!

Understanding FFAA vs. FAFSA

We want to remind students and families about the difference between the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).


• FFAA is used to apply for state financial aid, including the Bright Futures Scholarship.
• FAFSA is completed for federal financial resources, such as grants and loans.


Important: If you are applying for Bright Futures, you must submit your application through the FFAA website floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org.

Class of 2026: Show us the Money!

Hey Seniors! Have you earned scholarship money for college? We want to celebrate your hard work and achievements! Make sure Seminole County Public Schools knows about your scholarships by completing the scholarship reporting form.

Sharing your scholarship awards helps us recognize your accomplishments and highlight the incredible success of our graduating students.

Don’t miss the chance to have your achievements celebrated, let us know about your scholarships today!

SCPS Foundation Senior Scholarship Application

The Foundation's Senior Scholarship application is now live! It will award over 45+ scholarships to the Seminole County Public Schools Class of 2026 this spring, with recipients from all 10 high schools! Foundation scholarships range in value, and while most are available to all SCPS High Schools, some are specific to Hagerty, Lake Brantley, Lyman, and Seminole. Some opportunities focus on Areas of Study such as Trade Programs, Education, Nursing, the Arts, Engineering, and STEM fields, or to students who’ve participated in athletic programs, arts programs, extracurricular activities, and community service. Other factors are considered, such as students who have overcome challenges, experienced homelessness, or demonstrated financial need.

SCPS seniors can begin their senior scholarship application at the FSCPS AwardSpring site. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Review detailed scholarship descriptions at FSCPS.AwardSpring.com.

The Orlando Magic Classroom Makeover Contest

Have an exceptional teacher in your life? Help us recognize them by nominating them for a chance to win a classroom transformation from The Orlando Magic! All you have to do is share why they deserve it. Submit your nomination by January 31, 2026.

Unity Youth Organization's Father Daughter Dance

Calling all fathers and daughters! The Unity Youth Organization is hosting a Father-Daughter dance on Saturday, February 7, from 6 - 9 p.m. This will be a magical evening to make memories that last a lifetime. The deadline to register is Saturday, January 31. You won't want to miss it!

Location

Dr. Velma H. Williams Westside Community Center

919 S. Persimmon Ave.

Sanford, FL 32771

SCCPTA Mascot Games & Egg Drop

All Seminole County families are invited to join SCCPTA for their Mascot Games, a fun, free community event bringing families, schools, and mascots together for an afternoon of excitement and connection. The event will take place on Saturday, February 28, from 12:00 - 3:00 pm.

As part of the event, students in grades K–12 are invited to participate in our popular Egg Drop Challenge, where creativity and problem-solving take center stage as students design a way to protect an egg from a high drop. If you plan to participate in the Egg Drop Challenge, please register for the event.

Where:

Lake Mary High School

655 Longwood Lake Mary Rd

Local businesses are invited to participate in our in-person, hands-on Community Connections event where they will have the opportunity to showcase their business to families and PTA leaders from across Seminole County. Participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited. Are you a vendor planning to attend, make sure to register for the event!



If you have any questions about this event, please email vp2@sccpta.com for more information.

SCPS Retired Educator: Renee Pierce

Retirement has not slowed down Renee Pierce and she is now quite active enjoying her second career. However, teaching was her passion. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Florida, Ms. Pierce spent the next thirty years devoted to teaching Special Education at Crooms Academy, Lake Mary High, and Journeys Academy. When asked about her teaching career, it is easy to see why she says, “Let the work I’ve done speak for me!”

Ms. Pierce transitioned her classroom teaching skills to her second career as a financial coach. She opened her own business and now teaches, “How Money Works”.

Although she stays busy with her business, Ms. Pierce enjoys spending time with her two children, her nine grandchildren, and her 91 year-old mother, plus making time for another of her loves, dancing!

Ms. Pierce feels the fast-paced technology changes were the biggest difference she experienced during her time within the classroom, but notes it kept her learning and growing too. Renee exemplifies what teachers refer to as “life-long” learners!

Thank you, Ms. Pierce, for your lifelong dedication to education. Your hard work and commitment have made a meaningful difference and will be remembered with gratitude.