Sanford Middle School Marine Biology Students Work with UCF to Raise Mangroves

Sanford Middle School's Marine Biology 2 students helped load up mangrove propagules that they have been taking care of this school year.  

Marine Biology students grew these propagules as part of UCF’s Living Shoreline Stabilization project.  UCF will continue taking care of these propagules until they are tall enough to be transplanted out on the coasts to help restore the mangrove forests which help reduce erosion and create nurseries for our fish populations.

Midway Students Give Test Prep a Glow Up

Ms. Niquette’s Knights and Gators gathered to review for their Math F.A.S.T. test with a Glow Day!

Students got into the spirit and declared they were ready to show up and "glow-up" those tests. We know there is Midway Magic happening here! We can't wait to celebrate all your hard work.

Way to GLOW, Midway!

Heathrow Elementary Becomes Art Gallery

In an incredible feat possible only with amazing teachers like Ms. Bose, and of course, student artists, Heathrow Elementary transformed areas of campus into an art gallery with beautiful displays featuring several artistic styles that students had learned about this year. Way to go, Knights.

Dividend and Partner in Education of the Year Celebration

SCPS celebrated the Dividends and Partners in Education of the Year with a beautiful event to honor the outstanding volunteers and business partners across our county who give their time, energy, and heart to support our students and schools.

Each school had the opportunity to select a Youth, Adult, and Senior Dividend volunteer as well as a Partner in Education of the Year as their 2025 award nominees. We also celebrated those individuals who reached milestones in total number of volunteer hours donated, with two Dividends reaching over 10,000 hours of volunteering!

To all of our amazing Dividends and Partners in Education, we appreciate the contributions you make day in and day out. Thank you!

2024-25 Project SEARCH Graduation

SCPS proudly celebrated the accomplishments of the 2024-25 Project SEARCH interns during a heartfelt graduation ceremony that marked the end of a transformative journey. Project SEARCH is a nationally recognized transition-to-work program that equips young adults with disabilities with the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed to gain meaningful employment.

This year’s success was made possible through our strong partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation and the incredible support of AdventHealth Altamonte and Apopka locations, which provided our interns with hands-on training, mentorship, and opportunities to grow in a professional healthcare setting. Together, these partnerships created a powerful foundation for learning, independence, and future employment.

Throughout the year, interns participated in worksite rotations, developed essential job skills, and received individualized support from dedicated mentors and job coaches. The graduation ceremony honored their achievements, perseverance, and the exciting paths that lie ahead.

Special recognition was given to interns who demonstrated exceptional growth, leadership, and commitment to their personal and professional goals. We also celebrated the unwavering support of our business and community partners, who continue to make programs like Project SEARCH a reality.

As we send off this remarkable group of young adults, we are reminded that with collaboration and opportunity, every student can thrive. Congratulations to the Project SEARCH Class of 2025, your journey is just beginning!

Goldsboro Elementary Student Places in Top Five in the Nation

Sanjivsai Saravanan, a fifth-grade student at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet, recently secured an impressive fifth-place finish at the 2025 US Chess Supernationals tournament. In the highly competitive K-5 Championship section, Sanjivsai's strategic thinking and resilience earned him a spot among the top five in the country.

This is an outstanding accomplishment, congratulations to Sanjivsai! We're excited to see what the next tournament season holds for you!

SCPS Health Services Coordinator Named FSHA Coordinator of the Year

We are thrilled to announce that Mike Weiterman, the SCPS Health Services Coordinator, has been named the 2025 School Health Services Coordinator of the Year by Florida School Health Association (FSHA). This prestigious award recognizes outstanding dedication and impactful contributions to student health and wellness within the school community.

Throughout the year, Mr. Weiterman has demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the health services provided to our students. His proactive approach to health education and services has not only benefited students but has also positively impacted families and staff members.

Congratulations to Mr. Weiterman for this well-deserved recognition. Your unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our students continues to inspire and set a standard for excellence in school health services.

Hagerty High Receives 2025 FAFSA Trailblazer Award

Hagerty High School was recently awarded the 2025 FAFSA Trailblazer award! Through the dedicated, collaborative efforts, the Florida College Access Network chose to recognize Hagerty as the 2025 FAFSA Trailblazers.

We are immensely proud of Hagerty for this pretigious accomplishment. Being the only school honored from the Central Florida region, they truly embody what it means to be a trailblazer. Nice job, Huskies!

Walker Elementary Student Takes Home First Place in National SECME Essay Competition

Wyn Swanson, a Walker Elementary fifth grader, recently won the 2025 SECME essay contest! This year's national SECME theme was "Energy is Everywhere." 

The essay prompt that Wyn chose was, "What are some sources of energy that could be harvested that are currently not being used? Explain how you would harvest the energy and how it would be used." Wyn's essay was about her invention of the Kinetic Animal Technology (KAT) Treadmill. Animals that don't have the space to exercise can use the KAT Treadmill, and the kinetic energy can be harnessed to make electrical energy. Her message is to help out the environment while helping animals.

Way to go, Wyn, for this prestigious accomplishment. You are truly a force to be reckoned with!

SCPS Students Win Big at the Florida Solar EnergyWhiz Event

K-12 student teams from SCPS recently participated in the Florida Solar Energy Center and University of Central Florida’s EnergyWhiz event.

“EnergyWhiz provides an opportunity for youth to showcase innovative energy concepts in a fun, creative, and purposeful format,”

- Brooks Rumenik, director of Florida’s Office of Energy.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this event. It's such a joy to see the amazing creativity displayed by our students

Milwee Middle School's Band Director Accepted into American School Band Directors' Association

Milwee Middle's Band Director, Joshua Autrey, was recently accepted into the American School Band Directors' Association (ASBDA).

Members of the ASBDA must be nominated and sponsored by a peer who is a current member of the ASBDA. Potential members must demonstrate a high level of experience, excellent moral character, and quality of musicianship. Needless to say, the standards are high, and Mr. Autrey checks every box!

Congratulations to Mr. Autrey, our 2024 Middle School District Teacher of the Year, on being accepted into such a distinguished association. Thank you for your excellence in leading Milwee's Band program.

Dr. Washington has been an SCPS principal for close to six years, currently serving at Seminole High's 9th Grade Center. When asked about her favorite part of being a principal, she replied, “Making a positive connection with all of the students that I come in contact with on a daily basis. Along with seeing the collective efforts of the school come together for the benefit of all students."

A surprising fact about Dr. Washington is that prior to becoming an educator, she conducted sleep studies to help diagnose patients with sleep disorders. She also worked as a respiratory therapist.

Thank you, Dr. Washington, for your dedication to our staff and students!

It's not too late 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.