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October 2025 | Edition II
| | To view this newsletter in its entirety, click on 'View entire message' found at the bottom of your screen. | | DISTRICT & COMMUNITY UPDATES | | |
It is truly incredible that we find ourselves in the heart of October once again…a month that offers both reflection and renewal. As we welcome the shift into fall, even in our Florida way, it brings with it a gentle reminder that change, while inevitable, can also be healing.
This month, we proudly celebrate National Principals Month…honoring the incredible leadership, dedication, and heart our School Principals bring into our schools every single day. You are the cornerstone of school culture and the champions of student success, especially during times when the world asks more from us than ever before. Thank you for your tireless efforts, unwavering commitment, and the care you show to your entire school communities.
As we continue to embrace the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model across our District, your leadership ensures this framework is not just a concept…it is a living, breathing part of how we care for students, staff, and families alike. It is through your example that wellness, safety, belonging, and learning are woven into the very fabric of our schools.
In a time when conflict and division can seem louder than connection and care, let us all choose to be ambassadors of peace…in our classrooms, our conversations, and our communities. Peace is not only the absence of struggle…it is the presence of understanding, kindness, and resilience. Our students are watching, learning, and following our lead.
Let us take this season as a moment to ground ourselves in what truly matters: community, compassion, and the collective strength we bring when we stand together.
Let's keep pressing on and...
Never Give UP!
Continue being a beacon of LIGHT for all the children and each other...
let's grow STRONGER together!
~ Be healthy and safe ~
Paula
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Whole School, Whole Community,Whole Child
~ WSCC UPDATES ~
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The District Earns Prestigious Academically
High-Performing Designation
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The School District of Palm Beach County is one of 13 school districts in the state
to be officially designated as an Academically High-Performing School District
by the Florida Department of Education for the 2024-2025 school year.
| | | | “Earning the Academically High-Performing designation is an honor and a significant achievement for The School District of Palm Beach County,” Superintendent Mike Burke said. “This isn't the result of just one metric. This is a reflection of the collective effort of 'Team Palm Beach.' It speaks to the work our teachers and staff do every single day, the focus of our students, and the partnership we have with our families and community. When you combine this recognition with our 'A' rating and our highest-ever graduation rate, it paints a clear picture that Palm Beach County schools are preparing our students for success.” | | |
Burke at Work:
Medical Academy at Jupiter Community High
| | Supercharge your future with Jupiter Medical Center Academy at Jupiter Community High School! 🚀 In this episode of "Burke at Work," Mr. Burke gets a hands-on look at this premier science honors program in the District. He experiences the innovative, integrated learning environment that prepares students for success in both post-secondary healthcare education and the workforce. From a rigorous academic curriculum to real-world clinical and lab experiences, Mr. Burke jumps in with students as they teach him all about the program. | | | School Food Service - National School Lunch Week | | Happy National School Lunch Week! School lunch is a critical part of the school day, providing students with the nutritional foundation they need to succeed in the classroom and build healthy habits for life. We appreciate our School Food Service teams for all they do each and every day. | | |
SHAPE Florida Recognizes
Physical Education Excellence in the District
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Gabriel Montañez,
Forest Hill Elementary
"2025 Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year"
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Tunisia Cielo
Howell L. Watkins Middle
"2025 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year"
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Marcela Mendoza & Eddie Riccio,
West Boynton Middle School
"Manny Harageones Program Recognition Award"
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Sammantha Donovan & Michael Fritz,
lnlet Grove Community High
"Manny Harageones Program Recognition Award"
| | | Walk and Roll to School Day 2025 | | Take a look back at the Walk and Roll to School Day 2025 event at Manatee Elementary School! Sixty-eight schools participated, as students, parents, and community members walked, biked, and rolled to school, promoting safe routes and healthy habits. The event was part of Florida's Safe Routes to School Walk, Bike, and Roll Days Initiative. Learn about the importance of teaching safe travel rules and how these events encourage a fun, active, and safe commute for thousands of children in the District. | | | The 11th Annual Heroes for Education 5K was nothing short of incredible...a sold-out event with more than 2,000 runners, walkers, volunteers, and cheerleaders coming together in support of our schools! This year’s event saw participation from 127 schools across the District and raised $121,500 through registrations and sponsorships, all benefiting our local students, teachers, and classrooms. | | | Click the image to view the winners and photos from the event. | | Calling All Volunteers for Spookyville! | | |
Where: Yesteryear Village
️ What you’ll do: Help us hand out swag and share important info on substance use prevention and mental health support at this kid & teen–friendly Halloween event.
Bonus: High school students can earn community service hours!
Ready to join? Email prevention@pbcbhc.org to sign up.
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Celebrating community, creativity, and cognitive wellness during a football-themed afternoon - The Muck Way!
This event will engage seniors in art activities, memory boosting games, music & movement, and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite Muck Bowl football team colors—Maroon and Gold or Royal Blue and White.
📅When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
📍Where: Lois Lewis/Mary O. Evans Community Center, Belle Glade, FL
No registration required
Contact annie.glades@htpbc.org with event questions.
| | | "HALLOWEEN TOWN" in Downtown Delray Beach | | | | |
From the early morning Witches Ride to Trick-Or-Treating on the Ave - the Halloween Parade and KidsFest - Delray Beach turns into "Halloween Town!"
📅When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
7:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
📍Where: Downtown Delray Beach, FL
| | Showcase of Schools - SDPBC | | This event will feature more than 125 elementary, middle, and high schools offering Choice and in-house programs, as well as District representatives and community organizations. Families will have the opportunity to gather important information in preparation for the Choice application period, which opens on November 3, 2025, for the 2026–2027 school year. | | |
📅 When: October 28, 2025
4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
📍 Where: South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Florida
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Training: HOPE in Times of Crisis
Building Resilience Together
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Offered by the Center for Child Counseling in partnership with United Way of Palm Beach County, the American Red Cross, and Palm Beach County.
Learn how to apply trauma-informed care to support both the community and yourself during times of crisis—whether following natural or human-caused disasters.
📅 When: Friday, October 31, 2025
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
📍 Where: UB Kinsey Community Center, West Palm Beach, Florida
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NAMIWalks Palm Beach County
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Whether you walk, run, or simply show up in support, your participation helps fuel NAMI’s mission to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
🗓️ When: Saturday, November 1, 2025
8:15 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
📍 Where: Eric Call Pavilion
John Prince Park, Lake Worth Beach, FL
| | | American Heart Association Heart Walk | | |
The Heart Walk is a family-friendly event that unites the community to get active, raise funds, and make a difference together.
🗓️ When: Saturday, November 8, 2025
At 7:30 A.M.
📍 Where: Meyer Amphitheater,
West Palm Beach
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ATTN District Employees:
Get moving with the Road to the Heart Walk Steps Challenge!
From October 13th – November 7th, join fellow employees in a weekly challenge to boost your step count and build momentum for the upcoming AHA Heart Walk.
Click the banner to join!
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TrustBridge invites families to participate in Camp Good Grief, a special one-day event offering children and families who have experienced the loss of a loved one a supportive day of bonding, healing activities, and horse handling. The camp will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee Groves.
Applications are due by October 24, 2025, and can be emailed to bereavementevents@trustbridge.com
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Learn more about America’s unsung heroes—Caregiving Youth. These students balance their studies while also providing care at home for family members who are ill, injured, elderly, or living with a disability. Their responsibilities include helping with daily activities, managing medications, translating at medical appointments, and providing vital emotional support.Though their contributions are vast, they often go unseen; this conference highlights their experiences, challenges, and how we can better support them.
Tickets are $50 for the general public. A special $35 pre-registration rate is available for District employees and will be honored at check-in with a District badge.
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🗓️ When: Thursday, November 13, 2025
8:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
📍 Where: Safe Schools Institute,
Boca Raton, Florida
| | | 25th Annual Run 4 The Pies | | Palm Beach Roadrunners presents the 25th Annual Run 4 the Pies in Tequesta on Thanksgiving Day morning. Gather your flock and join them for a fun-filled morning featuring a 4-miler, a 1-mile run for youth ages 8-12, and WaterPointe Realty Group Li’l Pilgrim Dash for kids 7 and under. Run 4 the Pies has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition for runners, walkers, and spectators in Tequesta, FL since 2000. This race benefits Good Shepherd Food Pantry. | |
Click the banner to view the October Skills for Learning & Life Newsletter. | | The District's Wellness Promotion Task Force (WPTF) purpose is to create an educational forum that allows students, staff, parents, community partners, and members of the public to successfully collaborate in the promotion of healthier lives. With the District's ultimate goal of improving student performance, the direction of the Wellness Promotion Task Force is to encourage a proactive approach to holistically address the health, wellness, and safety of all school children and staff. | | Disclaimer: Information, viewpoints, opinions and comments expressed in this 'Wellness Promotion: District & Community Updates' newsletter are those of the individual organization(s) and/or presenter(s), are for informational purposes only, and may not indicate ratification or sponsorship by The School District of Palm Beach County. We are sending out this newsletter to provide information that may be helpful to our students and their families, staff, and the community-at-large. | | | | |
