Hamilton Elementary's 1st Graders Hunt for the Treasure

Hamilton Elementary’s first graders recently took a well-earned brain break with a fun and adventurous twist!

Students set off on a treasure hunt that put their learning into action, as these young innovators became map masters. Using a map key and cardinal directions, they worked together to follow each clue and navigate their way to the hidden treasure.

Step by step, the students demonstrated their growing skills while having a great time. It was a creative and engaging experience that showed Hamilton’s first graders are right on track for success!

Go Innovators!

Sabal Point Elementary's Special Olympics

Sabal Point Elementary recently brought the excitement and spirit of the games to campus with its very own Special Olympics, and it’s safe to say there were plenty of golden moments to celebrate!

Students proudly participated and gave it their all, with gold medals earned and big smiles all around. The energy continued off the field as Mrs. Acree and Mrs. Kelsey brought their students out to cheer on the school’s Olympic Gators!

From start to finish, the event was filled with enthusiasm and encouragement. Nice work, Gators!

Winter Springs High's SERVE Academy

SERVE Academy students from Winter Springs High School had an amazing hands-on experience at the Seminole County Emergency Management EOC

They participated in a real-world simulation, stepping into the role of emergency management professionals and learning what it takes to respond to crises.

Thank you to Emergency Management of Seminole County, who made this opportunity possible. We truly appreciate your time and dedication to our students! Go Bears!

Walker Elementary's Playful Pathways

Walker Elementary is helping its youngest learners dream big and discover how their futures begin today.

Through “Playful Pathways,” a creative program designed by SCPS school counselors, kindergarten through second grade students are exploring the world of careers in ways that are engaging, hands-on, and meaningful. Over six weeks, students dive into six exciting career clusters: nature, creative, business, health, building, and fixing, connecting what they learn in the classroom to real-world possibilities.

The journey culminates in a joyful Career Day celebration, where students dress up as those they aspire to be, bringing their dreams to life and sharing their interests with classmates and teachers.

More than just a program, Playful Pathways sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and helps students see the purpose behind their learning, showing them that what they do in school today can shape who they become tomorrow.

Watch this week's Classroom Close-up to see how Walker Elementary is inspiring future scientists, artists, builders, and leaders, one pathway at a time.

Team Seminole Earns State Runner Up In Division I of 39th Annual Commissioners Academic Challenge

SCPS is excited to share that Team Seminole finished as state runner-up in Division I of the 39th annual Commissioner's Academic Challenge, held April 9-11, 2026, at Universal Orlando.

Made up of players from across the district and coached by Ms. Nikki DeRosa of Seminole High School, they powered through several rounds of stiff, fast-breaking competition to answer questions about language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, and world languages.

Pictured above are:

• Julia Miller - Oviedo High School,
• Hannah Seth - Seminole High School,
• Pranav Srijit - Lake Mary High School,
• Aarav Singhvi - Lake Mary High School,
• Andrew Ni - Seminole High School,
• Matthew Ham - Lake Brantley High School.

Based on his outstanding performance throughout the tournament, Senior Andrew Ni was named to Team Florida, making him the second SCPS student in two years to be honored as one of the top six players in the state.  

Regardless of these accomplishments, Team Seminole should be commended for the conduct, sportsmanship, and collaborative spirit they demonstrated throughout the 2026 CAC.

Congratulations to this wonderful team on a job well done!

Oviedo High's Varsity Winter Guard's Performance at the WGI World Championships

Oviedo High School’s Varsity Winter Guard delivered a historic performance at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, this past weekend. They earned a score of 98.15, which is the highest in program history by 6 points. They were crowned Open Class Champions and are #1 in the nation, which is the first time in our school's history.

With this incredible achievement, they will move up to compete in Scholastic World Class next year, which is the highest level you can compete in out of the 8 classes. Congratulations, Lions!

2026 Machine Masters Competition

The gears were turning, and creativity was flowing at this year's Machine Masters Competition. This creative, hands-on STEAM competition encouraged students to build, lift, and achieve. by designing chain-reaction machines that raised their school’s flag or mascot banner.

Students from Kindergarten through 8th grade participated in different categories, from poster designs to full team machine builds. The event encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity while reinforcing Florida Science and ELA standards.

This Year's Winners

Elementary

• 1st Era Explorers – Goldsboro Elementary
• 2nd Supply Stars - Goldsboro Elementary
• 3rd Team Lorax – Walker Elementary

 Middle School

• 1st Tinkering Titans – Tuskawilla Middle School
• 2nd Voyagers of Motion – Sanford Middle School
• 3rd The Chanting Spookers – Jackson Heights Middle School

Specialty Awards

Elementary

• Engineering: Koality Task Masters – Wekiva Elementary
• Spirit: Nano Skittlebots – Rainbow Elementary
• Theme: Team Detectives – Partin Elementary
• Perseverance: Two Men and a Plan – Layer Elementary
• Best Video: Walker Library – Walker Elementary

Middle School

• Engineering: Gumball Drops – Jackson Heights Middle School
• Spirit: Tinkering Titans – Tuskawilla Middle School
• Theme: Glasses – Milwee Middle School
• Perseverance: Queen of Gears – Sanford Middle School
• Best Video: Raising Canes – Sanford Middle School

Congratulations to all of our winners and a huge shoutout to all the participants who proved that with a little physics and a lot of imagination, anything is possible!

Calling All Dividend Volunteers

Living On My Own, a financial literacy program presented in collaboration with our partners at UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County, is being presented this spring at six area middle and high schools. We are grateful for the support of our Dividends, community partners, and staff who assist with hosting these events.

Living On My Own is a hands-on, real-life simulation where students learn about money management and consumer choices that can impact their future. In this activity, students role-play with an assigned 25-year-old identity (i.e. married or single, children, or without children), an occupation, and a monthly income. Students visit tables and make spending decisions on transportation, housing, insurance, rent/mortgage, utilities, etc. Stations for the simulation represent real life businesses, and volunteers assist students in understanding the costs involved and making informed choices. Please select one of the following options to register for your two-hour volunteer timeslot.

• Hagerty HS – Monday, 4/20/2026 – Tuesday, 4/21/2026

• Indian Trails MS – Wednesday, 4/29/2026 – Thursday, 4/30/2026

SCPS Community Members Come Together to Support Living On My Own Program

We appreciate our SCPS parents, community members, and Partners in Education who supported Living on My Own at Greenwood Lakes Middle School last Friday! Thank you to La Rosa Realty CW Properties, AdventHealth Orlando, FFVA Mutual Insurance Co., and UF IFAS Extension Seminole County. None of this would be possible without your support!

2026 Annual Voice Survey - Happening Now

We want to hear from you! Help us serve you better by participating in our parent voice survey!

This is Kelly Mitchell's 11th year as a proud SCPS principal, currently serving at Walker Elementary.

When asked about her favorite part of being a principal, she shared, "I love visiting classrooms and seeing all of the amazing teaching and learning taking place."

Interesting fact about Principal Mitchell: She has been training in tai chi and kung fu for over 20 years, and she has reached 3rd degree black belt.



Your leadership sets the tone for a strong and supportive school environment. Thank you, Principal Mitchell, for the care, commitment, and inspiration you bring to your community every single day.

SCPS Now Hiring!

SCPS is seeking teachers to join one of Florida’s top-performing public school districts. We are looking for external applicants who meet eligibility requirements to teach in Florida, as well as current SCPS staff not currently serving in a teaching role, including substitutes and long-term substitutes.

Location:

Saturday, May 2, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

Lake Brantley High School Auditorium

991 Sand Lake Road

Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Pre-registration is required for this event, please visit the career fair website to register.

If you know someone who may be interested in teaching with Seminole County Public Schools, please share this opportunity with them. If you have Questions, please contact careerfair@scps.k12.fl.us.

The SCPS VPK application is open for the 2026-2027 school year. 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.

2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration

The Kindergarten application period for the 2026-2027 School Year at SCPS locations is currently open! For more information please visit the enrollment page on the SCPS website.

Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment is Here – Start Saving Smarter

Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment is happening now with prices starting at just $29/month. Families who open a new Florida Prepaid Plan between April 1 and April 30 are eligible to receive a $50 account contribution. Use code SEMINOLE2026. 

Explore plans today!

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!

Seminole County Citizen's Academy

Are you interested in learning about how county government works? You're invited to join Seminole County's Citizen's Academy! A series of department specific open house events that provides Seminole county residents a look behind the scenes.

For more information, please visit Seminolecountyfl.gov/academy.