"Living on My Own" Financial Literacy Experience Teaches Important Life Lessons

"Living on My Own" is a financial literacy program occurring on our middle and high school campuses.

Students arrive to the experiment and are told they are all 25 years old. Each of them is the sole provider for their family situation. Each student is given card that tells them about their career field, salary, if they are married or single and if they have children. Based on this information, they must visit each station and work within their budget for groceries, insurance, housing, transportation, banking, childcare, entertainment, and more. Students practice writing checks and balancing their account.

As you can imagine, it's an eye-opening experience when the cost of life begins to add up. However, the simulation doesn't stop there! As we know, life hands you many surprises including things like a flat tire or a traffic ticket. Students also receive a "life happens" card and must make accommodations for the situation they are presented with.

This program is made possible through our partnership with the University of Florida IFAS Extension, Seminole County 4-H, Additional Financial, and our SCPS Community Involvement team. Each station is facilitated by volunteers from each of these organizations as well as SCPS Dividends. If you are curious to see this program in action, and you're excited to help students learn life lessons like these, you can sign up to serve as a Dividend.

Friendship Fruit Salad

At Bear Lake Elementary, Mrs. Doyle's 2nd grade class learned all about friendship and accepting others through an experiment called "Friendship Fruit Salad." Students experienced how different fruit comes together to make a delicious salad that tastes even better when the ingredients are paired together! Mrs. Doyle shared with her class that just like the variety of fruit being used, students in a classroom are also special and unique and them coming together is the key ingredient for their classroom to be a magical place of learning they all enjoy. Not a single student wanted to add the rotted banana to their special friendship fruit salad.

This is a great example of how our amazing teachers inspire others and bring to life their school mottos and culture. Bear Lake Elementary is focused on #Community #Connection and #Communication. That sounds like a recipe for success!

Rock Lake Middle School Supports Community 5k Honoring First Responders

The Beta Club from Rock Lake Middle School came out in force to cheer on local firefighters and police officers who participate in the Tunnel to Towers 5k in full uniform to honor those that lost their lives during the 9/11 tragedy.

Rock Lake Middle School student and staff participants also took home honors of their own including Eva Haberjan, who placed 2nd in her age group, Mrs. Singer, who placed 3rd in her age group, and Ethan Pruett, who placed 14th in his age group.

We also want to recognize Rock Lake Alumni, Carolina Hernandez, now 25 years old who ran in full firefighter gear.

We love being a part of our community and the cities where we live, work, play and learn.

Longwood Elementary Student Receives State Award for Poster Contest

Longwood Elementary student Fabien Di Vicenzo Villalba along with Longwood Police Department K9 Officer Michael Camejo were in Tallahassee while Fabien received his award for being selected as the Student Poster Contest winner for the entire State of Florida!

The poster contest theme was "Bring Our Missing Children Home," and his artwork is now included in the U.S. Department of Justice gallery.

We are so proud of you, Fabien!