Lyman High Students Become the First to Obtain Welding Certification

The Welding program at Lyman High, an SCPS engineering magnet, is proud to congratulate their first two students to pass their welding certification, Nick Lopez and Amora Burton!

27 students were tested, and Nick and Amora were the first two to be inspected. After passing, they are now American Welding Society D1.1 Stick Welding Qualified welders!

There are 25 other students who are awaiting their certification, so please wish them well. Go Greyhounds!

Goldsboro Elementary Presented with the 2025 Merit School of Excellence Award

Goldsboro Elementary was recently recognized as a 2025 Merit School of Excellence Award winner!

The Magnet School of Merit Awards recognizes member magnet schools/programs that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to academic standards, curriculum innovation, specialized teaching staff, and parent and community involvement.

Wonderful work, Goldsboro! You've earned it. Go Gems!

Lake Howell High Celebrates Senior Week

Every year, SCPS high schools celebrate 'Senior Week'. Dedicated to honoring the final year of high school for Seniors by allowing to seniors to participate in fun themed days during the school week.

LHHS' Senior Week Themes

1. Senioritis
2. Anything But a Backpack
3. Senior Switch/College & Career Day
4. Senior Citizens
5. Dress to Impress

On each of these themed days, seniors coordinate their style with the corresponding theme along with participating in exciting activities. With only a short amount of time until graduation, we hope all of our seniors are enjoying their final weeks of high school. Make it count!

Go Silverhawks!

Milwee Middle Named a 2024-2025 ITEEA School of Excellence

Milwee Middle is a recipient of The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) STEM School of Excellence recognition, honoring outstanding schools that have demonstrated a commitment to providing a robust integrative STEM education program.

"We at ITEEA are incredibly proud of and grateful to all schools for their dedication to fostering STEM literacy for all students. Congratulations to this year’s ITEEA STEM School of Excellence recipients! Your hard work and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring. We celebrate your achievements and look forward to seeing the amazing things you will continue to accomplish."

-Mark Harrell, Director of ITEEA's STEM Center for Teaching and Learning

The recognition is a testament to the dedication and innovation of educators, administrators, and stakeholders who strive to deliver meaningful STEM education to their students. Schools receiving the award have undergone a rigorous application process, showcasing their exemplary STEM programs and best practices.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. Go Spartans!

High School Latinos-In-Action Students Travel to State Capitol

Latinos-In-Action (LIA) high school students had the opportunity to travel to Tallahassee for the Close-Up Foundation Program. This event serves as a platform for students to unite and engage in meaningful discussions about policies. With the help of program instructors, students experienced history and government, considered a variety of viewpoints on important current issues, and built the skills of engaged citizenship. 

We love to see our students use their leadership skills to spark change.

Goldsboro Elementary Science Teacher Named Shell Science Teaching Award Finalist

Mary Hess, a science teacher at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet, is a finalist for the 2025 Shell Science Teaching Award. This award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher (K-12) who has a positive impact on their students, school, and community through exemplary classroom science teaching.

Ms. Hess is a hard-working, determined, and knowledgeable teacher who is driven to transform her classroom into an inspiring environment where curiosity, imagination, and innovative thinking thrive.

Ms. Hess has cultivated a space where students feel safe, encouraged, and excited to support one another and celebrate each other's successes. Her overarching philosophy is to cultivate a spirit of innovation through her enthusiastic role as a leader. Her commitment to the teaching profession and dedication has elevated her science expertise to new heights, opening doors to fresh ideas that will benefit her personally and professionally.

Bear Lake Elementary Teacher is About to Lift Off with NASA

Janan Hodges, a teacher at Bear Lake Elementary School, has been selected for the prestigious LiftOff Summer Institute. This nationally competitive program, sponsored by the University of Texas Center for Space Research, Louisiana Space Grant, and Wisconsin Space Grant, selects teachers who will increase their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math through space education. 

This year’s LiftOff Education Institute theme, Flight Paths to Innovation, highlights NASA’s groundbreaking research and technologies, like the X-59 supersonic aircraft, which promises quieter, faster, and more eco-efficient air travel. Innovations aboard the ISS and in satellite technology are essential for both space exploration and Earth’s future. NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon and lay the groundwork for Mars exploration. Participants will increase their understanding of NASA’s ongoing advancements in aerospace science and technology, which are crucial for the future of space exploration.

Program Features:

·      Presentations by NASA scientists and engineers

·      Hands-on, inquiry-based classroom activities aligned to educational standards

·      Career Exploration

·      Teacher Feature (sharing of classroom lessons and activities)

·      Opportunity to interact with researchers dedicated to space missions

We are so excited for Ms. Hodges to represent Seminole County Public Schools, and for all of the incredible lessons she will bring back to share with her colleagues and students!

Dr. Chris Mulholland has been an SCPS principal for seven years, currently serving at Goldsboro Elementary. When asked about her favorite part of being a principal, she replied, “The relationships that are formed with the overall school community. This foundation is key as I have gotten to know so many families through the years and have seen students grow into wonderful adults. I love hearing about their accomplishments and knowing that I played a part in their overall experiences of being in school!"

A surprising fact about Dr. Mulholland, she was a child model. When she would appear in print advertisements, her teachers would hang them up in the classroom after asking for her autograph. 

We are overjoyed to have a celebrity like Principal Mulholland in our district! We hope to get Dr. Mulholland's autograph soon!

The Pathways to Possibilities Career Fair/Internship Expo is an opportunity for employers to meet bright, motivated individuals ready to make an impact, and for SCPS 10th, 11th, and 12th graders to look for potential internships and employment opportunities. We strongly encourage SCPS students to join us at this networking event. Students register here. Registration for students ends April 18, 2025.

Spring Has Sprung and So Have Scholarship Opportunities! 

Now is the perfect time for students to explore postsecondary scholarships. SCPS offers a one-stop shop for finding local, state, and national scholarships.

Students have two helpful tools for their search:

1. SCPS District Scholarship Page
2. Visit the Scholarship Database for a list of scholarships available to all SCPS students, organized by deadline.
3. Xello: Use Xello to search for local, state, and national scholarships customized to your interests.

• Access Xello through your Clever portal (look for the Xello tile).
• Use the Xello Scholarships Guide to learn how to search for scholarships in Xello.
• Check out these additional Xello Scholarship Resources 

Bright Futures & Florida Student Scholarships

The Bright Futures application also serves as the application for Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs. Students do not need to have met all eligibility requirements before applying. Once submitted, the state periodically reviews student information to determine eligibility. Please note: Eligibility requirements may change each year based on legislation. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Bright Futures website.

FAFSA 

Don’t forget to complete the FAFSA—essential for many scholarships and financial aid opportunities!

Students, please see your school counselor for support with all your postsecondary planning. 

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



SCPS graduating seniors planning to attend Seminole State in the fall 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 Jun 25 - Aug 6. The deadline to submit an interest form and apply is May 30.

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.  

The SCPS Living on My Own program, is a financial literacy program developed by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The goal of the program is to help students understand the cost of living for one month of their adult life and some of the ways their adult life can be impacted by the choices and decisions they make. After receiving information in class, students attend a 90-minute simulation where they are randomly assigned a job or career and family situation. They receive information about the education and training required, annual and monthly salary, and make transactions at the 10 “storefronts” in the Living on my Own “city”.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the upcoming Living on My Own opportunities, and what better time to volunteer then during Financial Literacy Month! If you are interested in volunteering at one of the dates below, please follow the link provided to sign up! In order to volunteer you must be a registered SCPS Dividend. Find our Dividend application on the SCPS Dividends/Volunteers website.

Upcoming Seminars:

• Sanford Middle School – Tues 4/15 – Wed 4/16

• Hagerty High School – Thurs 4/17 – Fri 4/18

• Indian Trails Middle School – Wed 4/23 – Thurs 4/24

• South Seminole Academy – Tues 4/29 – Wed 4/30

Interested in become a teacher in the #1 A-rated School district in the state of Florida? Attend our Teacher Career Fair on April 26 from 9am - 12pm! Administrators from all schools will be interviewing potential candidates and offering on-the-spot contracts!



Location Details:

Lake Brantley High

991 Sand Lake Road

Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

For more info and interview scheduling, visit the career fair site. Walks-ins are welcome. If you have any questions, please email SCPS-Recruit@scps.us

Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment Offers Plans with Prices Starting at Just $29/Month 

Focused on encouraging families to save as early and affordably as possible, our partner Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans has reduced Prepaid Plan monthly prices for newborns and infants to the lowest in more than a decade.

Prepaid Plans allow families to lock in the cost of college with fixed monthly payments. A risk-free 1-Year University Plan now starts at just $29/month for the Prepaid Plan Open Enrollment period from February 1 - April 30, 2025. The reduced prices result in savings of up to $850 per plan for a 1-Year University Plan – up to $3,400 in savings for four years.

Prepaid Plans are made to fit growing families:

• Use in-state or nationwide at public, private, trade and technical schools
• Complements scholarships and financial aid
• Transfer to another student or cancel anytime
• Earnings grow tax-free

Every child deserves higher education. Florida Prepaid’s goal is to make it possible for every Florida family to save simply and affordably.

Learn more

Reading Paws is Back!

READING PAWS: Young readers can paws-itively gain confidence in their reading skills and practice their fluency by reading out loud to a trained therapy dog.

Interested participants can call or stop by their desired library branch to registered for a 15-minute time slot. This free event is designed for kids and pre-registration is required.