Layer Elementary 5th Graders Get Their Feet Wet on the Iconic Mud Walk

5th-grade students from Layer Elementary School enjoyed a field trip to the Environmental Center filled with exploration and discovery.

From getting muddy to meeting new creatures, students participated in hands-on experiences that created great memories and extended learning beyond the classroom.



Experiences like the Mud Walk bring the message “Adventure Awaits” to life and reflect the exciting learning opportunities at Layer Elementary. Way to go, Lynx!

Millennium Middle School 6th Graders Put Engineering to the Test

At Millennium Middle School, Ms. Dixon’s 6th-grade LEAP Learning Pathways students put the Engineering Design Process into action through a fun, hands-on cup stacking challenge.

Students brainstormed ideas, worked collaboratively in teams, tested their designs, and reflected on how teamwork and collaboration help solve problems. The activity showcased students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Hands-on learning at its best! Go Falcons!

The Academy of Engineering at Lyman High

Lyman High School’s Academy of Engineering offers students engaging, career-focused learning opportunities that connect classroom instruction with real-world applications. Through specialized programs, students gain hands-on experience while building technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

The academy includes a Welding Program, where students learn practical skills and techniques used in the field, as well as a Civil Engineering and Architecture Program, which introduces students to design, planning, and engineering concepts. These programs provide meaningful pathways for students interested in engineering, construction, and related careers. Interested in Engineering? Take a look at Lyman High's Engineering program!

Watch our video on Lyman High's Welding program

Watch our video on Lyman High's Civil Engineering and Architecture Program

Oviedo Police Officers Bring Joy to Jackson Heights Middle School Student

At Jackson Heights Middle School, a powerful moment of kindness and care made a lasting impact on a student and the entire school community.

Officer Lopez and Officer Velez, from the Oviedo Police Department, worked together with The Christmas Bike Program to donate a bicycle, helmet, and lock to a student who had been walking to school each day while her friends rode their bikes. The officers wanted to help her travel safely and enjoy riding alongside her peers.

When the bike was presented, the student was overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness, creating a truly moving and memorable moment. She even took the bike for a short spin before heading back to class.

What began as a moment of surprise ended with smiles, tears of joy, and heartfelt appreciation. This experience reflects the care and support our community surrounds our schools and students with.

SCPS would like to thank the Oviedo Police Department for continually ensuring the safety and well-being of our students!

Lawton Chiles Middle School Teacher Receives a CHS/CoBank Foundation Classroom Grant

Congratulations to Cara Maiden, a Lawton Chiles Middle School teacher, for being selected to receive a 2025 CHS/CoBank Foundation Classroom Grant!

Ms. Maiden's project, “Advancing Soil Literacy Through Middle School Agriscience,” was recognized for its innovation, the number of students it will impact, and strong support from school administrators and local partners.

The $491.65 grant award will provide hands-on learning opportunities that help students explore agriscience and develop a deeper understanding of soil literacy. With nearly 240 applications submitted and only 40 grants awarded, this accomplishment highlights the creativity, dedication, and excellence of our educators at Lawton Chiles Middle School.

This recognition celebrates the inspiring work being done to engage students in real-world learning experiences and foster a love of science and discovery. Great Work, Ms. Maiden!

SCPS' Inaugural Big Wheels Bright Futures Event

Seminole County families came out in full force for the first-ever Big Wheels, Bright Futures VPK & Kindergarten event! The event was a wonderful opportunity to meet our littlest learners and their families, helping them enroll and get ready for an exciting start to their educational journey.

A special thank you goes to the incredible community partners and SCPS student volunteers who made the day so memorable. Their support and dedication ensured that families felt welcomed, informed, and celebrated as they prepared for the next step in their children’s learning.

This event highlighted the Seminole County community’s commitment to early education and set the stage for a bright future for our youngest students.

SCPS Celebrates Increase in Graduation Rate for the Class of 2025

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) is proud to announce a graduation rate of 94.4% for the 2024-2025 school year, representing an increase of 2.6% over last year, and SCPS continues to outpace the state average of 92.2%. This result reflects the collective efforts of students, educators, staff, and families who remain committed to academic success across the district. 

“This achievement belongs to our students and to the dedicated professionals who support them every day,” said Superintendent Serita D. Beamon. “Our graduation rate demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring that each student earns a diploma that holds real value and supports their individual aspirations, so they are well prepared for their next chapter, whether it be employment, enlistment, or enrollment in a post-secondary opportunity."

SCPS continues to emphasize preparation beyond the diploma, focusing on delivering learning experiences that build readiness for college, career pathways, and active citizenship. Graduates leave our district prepared to pursue their futures and meaningfully contribute to their communities.



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We Need Your Voice!

Thank you to the students, families, staff, teachers, and community members who shared their voices through our initial Strategic Plan Survey. Your feedback plays a critical role in ensuring a high-quality education for more than 60,000 students. 

This fall, SCPS partnered with DeliverEd to gather community input through focus groups, interviews, surveys, and data review. We invite you to explore the initial Strategic Plan Survey results to see our top takeaways and key strengths.

We’ve made meaningful progress on our five-year strategic plan, and now we want to share where we are and hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey at https://tinyurl.com/SCPSStrategicPlan and help shape what’s next for SCPS. The survey is open through January 21, 2026.

Kaliegh's Closet and Action Church Partner to Assist our Students During Prom Season

SCPS would like to thank Kaliegh's Closet and Action Church for giving our students the opportunity to find their dream prom dress!

Last year, nearly 100 girls attended, and the event continues to grow each year. Each attendee can select one prom dress for a $20 donation to the Kaliegh’s Dream Foundation, helping make prom dreams come true while supporting a meaningful cause.

The 5th Annual Kaliegh’s Closet Prom Dress Pop-Up Shop takes place on Saturday, March 7th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Action Church Sanford, 650 East Airport Blvd, Sanford, FL.

With prom season quickly approaching, donations to Kaliegh’s Dream Foundation help ensure more students have the chance to celebrate this special milestone. Your support makes a lasting difference for our students. If you would like to make a donation, please visit the Kaliegh's Closet website.

This is Lenore Logsdon's 16th year as a proud SCPS principal, currently serving at Idyllwilde Elementary.

When asked about her favorite part of being a principal, she shared, "Providing teachers with the instructional support to help them be highly effective teachers. I also love seeing the excitement in kids' eyes when they are successful in learning a skill."

Interesting fact about Principal Logsdon: she ran the New York City Marathon and the Dopey at Disney, which consisted of a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon in 4 days!

Thank you, Principal Logsdon, for your continued support of the SCPS mission. We are truly stronger with you as a part of our SCPS family.

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

Interested in Project SEARCH?

Project SEARCH is a one-year, hands-on transition program that prepares students with disabilities for employment after high school through real workplace experiences. Students defer receipt of their standard diploma while building job skills, confidence, and independence with the support of school staff and job coaches. The application deadline closes today, January 16, 2026! Apply now, and if you have questions, please reach out to your school’s Transition Resource Teacher for support.

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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!

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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.

Kidzone & Beyond's Spring Enrichment Registration Now Open

Spring Enrichment is a 10-week, after-school, extracurricular program for all SCPS students in grades K-5. With the support of several elementary campuses and our KidZone & Beyond partners, we will be offering 1-hour weekly courses in dance, STEM, basketball, soccer, and more. SCPS students may attend classes at any school where classes are offered. Registration for enrichment will be open from January 12, 2026 to January 23, 2026.



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Join Special Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a FREE SCPS Parent Class on Internet Safety. Discover practical information and tools for protecting your kids online. There will be an opportunity for Q & A and a special guest in attendance. Special thanks to our partners Altamonte Springs Police Department for bringing this opportunity to life!

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, 2026, from 6 - 9 p.m. This will be a magical evening to make memories that last a lifetime. You won't want to miss it!

Location

Dr. Velma H. Williams Westside Community Center

919 S. Persimmon Ave.

Sanford, FL 32771

SCPS Retired Educator:

Leila Ross

Mrs. Lelia Ross, now in her nineties, continues to embrace the joys of life and share them with others, just as she did during her 35-year teaching career. She spent the final years of her career in Seminole County Public Schools, teaching K-2 at Lawton Elementary for 14 years and at Hamilton Elementary for seven years. Before joining SCPS, she devoted 14 years to Resthaven Daycare & Nursery Center in Sanford. Her positive attitude and dedication were recently recognized with the “Excellent Spirit Award” at her Grand Class Reunion.

Mrs. Ross earned her AA from Seminole Junior College, her BA from Florida Tech University, and her Master’s Degree from Stetson University. Alongside her husband, Bishop Hezekia Ross, she devoted many years to community service. Bishop Ross served as pastor of West Sanford Freewill Holiness Church, while Mrs. Ross supported him through roles in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She proudly shares that her husband was the first Black firefighter in Sanford, and his portrait is featured on the mural at the corner of Sanford Avenue and First Street.

Since losing her husband in 2020, Mrs. Ross has continued to embrace life. She volunteers as a Swift Turn Around Prayer Warrior, supports the Retired Educators of Seminole County Association, collects duck miniatures and pictures, and enjoys time with her daughter Rosalyn, son-in-law Michael, and three granddaughters.



Reflecting on education, Mrs. Ross notes that the biggest change she has seen in schools is the transition from books to computers, a testament to the evolving landscape of learning she has witnessed throughout her long and inspiring career.

Thank you, Ms. Ross! Your family's lifelong commitment to service is truly an inspiration to our community.