Mission: Educate All Students for Success
Vision: A Dynamic Educational System of Excellence
Open Enrollment for 2021-2022 Head Start and VPK Programs to Begin in February
The Martin County School District will begin accepting applications for its Head Start and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs next month. Read more...
Parent Information Sessions, Project Deadlines Announced for Elementary STEM Fair
The Martin County School District has announced several important dates for families in anticipation of the 2020-2021 Elementary STEM Fair. Virtual parent information sessions will be held on January 19, 2021, and January 21, 2021. View details...
Spectacular Spellers Shine During 55th Annual Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee
The Martin County School District held its 55th annual Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 14, 2021. The event was held in a virtual format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Named after Lillian A. Dassori, a founding member and charter president of the Soroptomist International of Stuart, the Bee provides Martin County’s elementary students with an opportunity to practice spelling and public speaking skills while also increasing their vocabularies. 
 
Five students and one alternate from each of the District’s twelve elementary schools were eligible to participate in this year’s competition. Fifth-grader Roman Tarpley of Jensen Beach Elementary School correctly spelled "terra-cotta" to earn first-place honors. He will advance to the regional competition with the hopes of ultimately competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June.  
 
“The Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee is always one of the highlights of the school year in Martin County,” Superintendent John D. Millay shared. “We know that literacy and students’ command of language is so important. It is always a joy to watch our youngest learners demonstrate their abilities during this friendly competition.” Read more...
The Flag We Love
Dr. Mark Malham, Coordinator of Social Studies for the Martin County School District, visited the Perkins Early Childhood Center to read a patriotic story to students last Friday.

Our youngest learners were excited to learn more about Old Glory with Dr. Malham, a veteran of the U.S. Army. After listening to him read The Flag We Love by Pam Muñoz Ryan, the students enjoyed drawing and coloring their own U.S. flags. Watch the video...
School Board Meeting to be Livestreamed on January 19
The Martin County School Board will hold its monthly Regular Meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, using communication media technology. Members of the School Board may be present at 500 SE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34994 in the School Board Meeting Room and/or participating by telephonic conference or other communication media technology.
 
 
In keeping with CDC recommendations and social distancing guidelines, all interested persons are invited to participate in this meeting by watching the livestream. Alternatively, members of the public may offer public comments by appearing in person. Such persons will be asked to follow current CDC guidelines as they pertain to social distancing and District protocols related to the wearing of masks. 
 
The complete meeting agenda is available here
Preschool Story Time
Principal Watkins and Ms. Maria of Crystal Lake Elementary School hosted Preschool Story Time on January 8, 2021. Families of toddlers and preschoolers enjoyed listening to Most Marshmallows in English and Spanish.
As Dr. Seuss famously shared, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." Guest readers throughout the Martin County School District are doing just that as part of an early childhood story time initiative. 
 
Families of toddlers and preschool-aged children are invited to join us on Facebook Live each Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. for story time. Principals and other District staff will read an engaging story to your child while also sharing an activity for the two of you to complete together. It's a great way for toddlers, preschoolers and their families to get to know the administration at their home-zoned school before they start VPK or kindergarten! 
 
For families zoned to attend J.D. Parker Elementary School, today's guest reader is Principal Rathnaw. Click here to tune in live at 9:30 and listen to the story in English and Spanish!
Martin Minutes With Millay
Interested in learning more about Superintendent Millay and his vision for the District? It has never been easier to get connected!
 
Join Dr. Millay on Monday mornings for his live segment on the WSTU 1450 Morning Show. You'll also want to follow @MCSDFlorida on Facebook and Twitter to view the latest Martin Minutes With Millay, a collection of video shorts designed to keep you informed about the latest MCSD news and information! 

If you missed Dr. Millay's appearance on the January 11 episode of the WSTU Morning Show, please click here to access the replay. His segment begins at the 2:00:33 mark. In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18, Dr. Millay's next appearance on WSTU will be Monday, January 25, 2021.
Need to Know Info
If your child or anyone in the household is symptomatic, awaiting test results or has tested positive for COVID-19, your child must stay home from school and refrain from participating in activities (sports, clubs, gatherings, etc.) outside of your home. Please continue to monitor your child's symptoms each day using one of the screening tools shown below. 
Students are eligible to participate in remote learning only in the following scenarios:
 
·  A parent/guardian has registered them for the remote learning option with their school and they are successfully making adequate progress
 
· They are currently following quarantine or isolation protocols at the direction of DOH Martin or a healthcare professional
 
·  They are sick and staying home due to symptoms, but are well enough to participate in remote learning from home temporarily. Students must provide a note from their parent or physician if they will be temporarily participating in remote learning due to illness
 
·    They or a member of the household is awaiting testing results or has tested positive for COVID-19
Around the District Photo Gallery
Just a friendly reminder, families! Please click here to access the FOCUS Parent Portal and here to download our 2020-2021 instructional calendar.
Ms. Foohs of Jensen Beach Elementary School posed for a photo with her students in celebration of her graduation from Florida Atlantic University last week. The students were excited and inspired to hear about her journey in earning her master's degree.
Stuart Middle School celebrated its super spellers for their participation in the MCSD Middle School Spelling Bee last week. Congratulations to Luke Parr (8th place), Zane Price (6th place), Ashlynn Oram, Delaney Romeyk, Hailey Cox (5th place), Lucas Schwerdtfeger (3rd place), Maddie Parr, Samantha White, Killian Gosnell and Connor Stahlsmith.
Kudos to the Education Foundation of Martin County (EFMC) for responding to a request and donating windowed masks to teachers at Felix A. Williams Elementary School! The masks will help teachers as they read stories and teach phonics, music and speech. The masks will also allow hearing-impaired students to participate in lip reading.

Thank you to the EFMC for always going above and beyond in support of our #MCSDMagnificent teachers!

Mrs. Holland's students at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School recently participated in a classroom "book tasting." Students enjoyed sampling great titles in an ambient setting with one another.
School Board Member Victoria Defenthaler (District 3) visited with first-grade students in Ms. DiGiorgio's class at Port Salerno Elementary School this week. Students were eager to show off what they've been learning as part of the Fundations literacy program. A research-based reading, spelling and handwriting framework, Fundations makes learning to read fun while laying the groundwork for life-long literacy.
Students in Ms. Love's class at Warfield Elementary School took their math lessons outside this week, measuring things around campus in terms of inches, feet and yards.
Superintendent John D. Millay met with our graduation coaches last week for a discussion on improving outcomes for all Martin County students. Each high school has a dedicated graduation coach who works closely with the leadership and guidance teams to monitor students' progress and ensure they are on track to earn their diplomas.

2019-2020 graduation rates for all Florida schools and districts were released last week by the Florida Department of Education. Learn more...
Jensen Beach High School TV Production teacher Hans Heinz was recognized last week for the work he and his students have performed in support of the Library of Congress's nationwide Veterans History Project. In collaboration with Congressman Brian Mast's office, which is coordinating interviews with local veterans, Mr. Heinz and his students videotaped WWII to recent veterans who shared their experiences as members of our armed forces.

Pictured L-R: Dr. John D. Millay, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Mark Malham, Coordinator of Social Studies and Special Projects; Mr. Hans Heinz, JBHS TV Production Teacher; Dr. Tracey Miller, Chief Academic Officer and Lori Vogel, Principal of Jensen Beach High School.
Hidden Oaks Middle School celebrated its spectacular spellers at the conclusion of the Middle School Spelling Bee on January 7. Three Sharks - Nina Goyal, Bella Valade and Aiden Zamoysky - made it to the final round of competition, with Nina taking first place honors.
During his visit to Jensen Beach Elementary School last week, a student asked Superintendent Millay whether or not he had ever hit his head on a doorframe when entering a room. As Dr. Millay stands approximately 6 ft. 8 in. tall, this was a fair question. He gladly put the question to the test and found the answer, much to the delight of students.
All District-operated schools and offices will be closed Monday, January 18, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
Connect with us! Follow @MCSDFlorida on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and information about the Martin County School District.