May 10, 2024

What's Cool in Our Schools

Lake Mary Elementary Students Use the Force to Prepare for Exams

Teachers and 4th graders at Lake Mary Elementary are getting creative and using the force to guide them through FAST review for reading and math. Padawans are earning their ranking of Jedi Knight as they complete trials in the reading and math wars. May the force with them during testing.

We love how our teachers use their creativity and out-of-this-world lesson plans to facilitate meaningful and engaging learning experiences.

Physics Bus Fleet Visits the District Office

The fleet of physics buses came to visit our educational support center so staff could experience the hands-on learning and lessons our students are able to enjoy.

From mechanics and optics to electrical and magnetism, team members were able to return to the "classroom" in style and experience a physics lesson as part of their day.

Special thanks to all of our ePathways team members and the physics bus drivers and teachers for giving us such an incredible way to end our work week. This is yet another reason we have earned the nickname "STEMinole" County.

Local Company Makes Recess "Cool"

We want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to Wharton-Smith, Inc. who donated an entire shading structure for the Pre-K playground at Layer Elementary. Students joined in on the celebration and had a chance to play in the shade and thank members of the Wharton-Smith team.

Our school district achieves at a high level not only because of what happens in the classroom, but because of the support of our community. It takes all of us to educate the future of Seminole County.

What's Your "e"

In the Spotlight

Highlands Elementary Math and Scienced Teacher Recognized

Story Courtesy of Spectrum News 13

Celebrating Clinic Assistants of the Month for May

The SCPS Health Services Division continues to recognize the hard-working individuals working in our school clinics caring for our students each and every day. Congratulations to Ms. Francheska Pabon of English Estates Elementary, Ms. Ramona Davanzo of Heathrow Elementary, and Ms. Miriam Avelar De Gaetan of Jackson Heights Middle for receiving the honors of being our Clinic Assistants of the Month for May!

Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and passion for caring for our students!

Ramona Davanzo Heathrow Elementary

Francheska Pabon English Estates Elementary

Miriam Avelar De Gaetan

Jackson Heights Middle

Lawton Chiles Middle School Student Takes Top Award in Public Speaking

Beckham Draus, a 6th grade student at Lawton Chiles Middle School was selected as the winner of the Florida 4-H Public Speaking Competition presented by Florida Power and Light (FPL).

Congratulations to Beckham on his presentation entitled "Being Short." We also want to say congratulations to Zachary Rodriguez from Jackson Heights Middle Schools for placing in this competition with his entry "Why Google is Helpful to the Community."

Mom and Daughter Team Up to Teach at the Same School

Story Courtesy of WESH 2

Seminole Students Win Big at State History Competition

Florida History Day is an annual, statewide activity that enhances the teaching and learning of history in middle and high schools.

This year, the theme was "Turning Points in History" which invited students to consider questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, impact and significance.

Congratulations to the following students for their well-earned recognition:

Junior Individual Documentary

2nd place

Anna Koszulinski

Earth Day - The Beginnings of a New Environmental Era

Junior Group Documentary

2nd place

Steven Goodman, Aarav Amin

The Spark of a New Era: How the War of the Currents Conducted an Electric Revolution

Junior Group Exhibit

1st place

Neil MacMillan, Pranoy Roy

"Assembling" Progress: The Highland Park Ford Plant's Moving Assembly Line

Junior Individual Website

2nd place

Stella Pham

Rosemary Kennedy's Influence on the Kennedy Family: A Turning Point in Developmental Disabilities

Senior Group Website

1st place

Afsheen Chowdhury, Nikitha Gaddipati, Trisha Gokhale, Tanvi Kundarapu

Project MK-ULTRA: Exploiting Minds for Power

Jackson Heights Middle School Choir Sing National Anthem

Led by Ms. Machuga, the JHMS Choir performed the National Anthem at the Orlando Pride soccer game, and by all accounts, their rendition was beautiful and well received! We are proud of you, Bobcats!

Early Release Schedule for May 22-24th

SCPS VPK Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2024-2025 VPK School Year at SCPS locations is now open. To be eligible for VPK, a child must be four years of age by September 1, 2024.

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.

LEARN MORE

SCPS Seniors - Free Summer College Classes at Seminole State

Graduating SCPS Seniors - Free Summer College Class Opportunity at Seminole State

SCPS graduating seniors are invited to get a jumpstart on their college education by taking two classes this summer with no out-of-pocket costs during the Summer B Session from June 26-Aug. 7. The deadline to submit an interest form and apply is May 31.

The Summer Bridge program helps first-time-in-college students easily transition to college and develop crucial skills for success.

No matter whether a student plans to go all the way to a bachelor's degree, use a university transfer pathway such as DirectConnect to UCF®, or is just trying to see if college is right for them, the Summer Bridge program can help set them on the right path!

To learn more, sign up to attend a virtual information session or email summerbridge@seminolestate.edu.

Kindergarten Registration Now Open

Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year is now open! LEARN MORE

SCPS School Board

School Board: Kelley Davis, Autumn Garick, Kristine Kraus, Amy Pennock, Abby Sanchez

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

Any form of discrimination or harassment can be devastating to an individual's academic progress, social relationship and/or personal sense of self-worth. As such, the School Board will not discriminate nor tolerate harassment in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender status, or gender identity), disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information, which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law (collectively, "protected classes").

The Board also does not discriminate on the basis of protected classes in its employment policies and practices as they relate to students.

Equal educational opportunities shall be available to all students, without regard to the protected classes, age (unless age is a factor necessary to the normal operation or the achievement of any legitimate objective of the program/activity), place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in this District. Educational programs shall be designed to meet the varying needs of all students.