Please note, the next issue of the Seminole Spotlight will be on Friday, December 1, 2023. | |
What's Cool in Our Schools | |
Thank you to all who participated in our Teach-In 2023. This is an annual event which provides opportunities for parents, business leaders, and community members to step into a classroom to share information about various careers. Check out some of our highlights from this year. | |
Seminole High School's Model UN Students Headed to Princeton
Seminole High School's Model UN students are heading to Princeton this weekend for the Model United Nations Conference. This event allows students to represent either countries or historical figures in a forum that mimics a United Nations conference and engages students through an experience that promotes diplomacy.
Our delegates will be participating in various committees ranging from the World Health Organization to the IMF/World Bank as well as historical re-enactments of the Manhattan Project and the First Republic of China.
They will be representing Seminole High School alongside high schools from all over the United States and even schools from Europe and South America. This experience will leave our students with invaluable skills and unforgettable memories.
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Lawton Elementary Students Have an Out-of-this World Experience at Kennedy Space Center!
Last week, Lawton Elementary third graders had an incredible visit to the Kennedy Space Center. Students explored interactive and engaging exhibits, experienced a rocket launch in a simulator, and learned all about the work that goes into being an astronaut and working in the space industry. We'd like to say a special thank you to all the chaperones who played a vital role in making this day of exploration and discovery possible.
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Goldsboro Elementary Magnet and Teacher Take Top National Honor
Goldsboro Elementary Magnet has been named the 2023 National CAP ACE School of the Year, with STEM teacher, Mr. Robert Wakeland, as the 2023 National CAP ACE Teacher of the Year. These honors included the opportunity for Goldsboro to serve as the site of this academic year’s ACE lift-off for over 500 schools across the nation.
The Civil Air Patrol’s Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program is a K-6 multidisciplinary school educational experience that uses the aerospace theme to promote academics with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), character education, and physical fitness for living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
At Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School, the ACE program is integrated into the “Kids Space Center,” which is part of the school’s magnet program. "We are thrilled to be named the National CAP ACE School of the Year,” said Dr. Chris Mulholland, Principal of Goldsboro Magnet Elementary. “We have incredibly dedicated and passionate teachers like Mr. Wakelyn who engage our students each day.
We also have students who love to come to school and learn, and parents who are actively engaged in our school community, and their children’s academic journeys."
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The SCPS Health Services Division launched a new campaign this school year to recognize the hard-working individuals in our school clinics caring for our students each and every day. Congratulations to Ms. Francheska Hernandez of Lake Mary High School and Ms. Dayana Bridgman of Lake Mary Elementary School for receiving the honors of being our inaugural Clinic Assistants of the Month for November. | |
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Dayana Bridgman
Lake Mary Elementary School
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Francheska Hernandez
Lake Mary High School
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Perfect Score Celebration
This week, 55 students were recognized at the 11/4 School Board Meeting for achieving a perfect score on two or more statewide assessments during Spring of 2023.
Each child will receive an award certificate from the Superintendent and Board Members and an award certificate and letter from the Governor.
SCPS is proud to celebrate another 684 students who achieved a perfect score on one statewide assessment. Those students will also receive a recognition letter from the Superintendent, and an award certificate and letter from the Governor.
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Luke Browning, a senior at Hagerty High School enrolled in the Automotive 3 after-school Career and Technical Education (CTE) course, won first place in the Central Florida Automotive Dealership Association (CFADA) High School Automotive Technician competition.
Browning has been involved in the after-school Automotive program at Oviedo High for three years. Thomas Sterling, the program's teacher, shared that Luke is one of his most talented students, his "go-to attitude" making him a leader among his peers.
Students who participate in this program graduate with certifications that can range from suspension and brakes to electric and more. Previous graduates with program experience have gone to work as engineers at organizations like Siemens and NASA.
Congratulations to Luke on all of his accomplishments!
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Problem Solvers of the Future
by Kevin Fritz; Story provided courtesy of Lake Mary Life Magazine
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At Markham Woods Middle School, students have the unique opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary program known as biomechatronics. Simply put, biomechatronics combines the study of biology, mechanics, and electronics.
Dr. Eric Basilo, an assistant principal at the school, has an even simpler way to describe the futuristic-sounding program.
| “Biomechatronics is how the body can be improved through technology,” Dr. Basilo explains. | |
The Biomechatronics Program of Exploration is the only one of its kind in Florida and the only such program at a middle school in the entire country. The electives – open to any Markham Woods student – teach kids valuable skills that can be transferred to fast-growing careers as data scientists, information and security analysts, and medical and health services managers, to name a few fields. Launched in 2017 by Linda Mumey (former principal at Markham Woods), the program utilizes a problem- based approach to learning that builds students’ skills in critical thinking and analysis.
The electives offer kids an introduction to anatomy, physiology, electronics, robotics, and computer programming through research and collaboration. In addition, a creative course called Game of LIFE teaches pupils practical life skills they’ll need in adulthood.
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Middle and High School Magnet Options Application Window Closes December 1st | |
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The 2024-2025 application period for Middle and High School magnet programs are currently open! The application window closes on December 1, 2023.
Come explore all of the options your child has for middle or high school magnet programs. If your child is passionate about pursuing healthcare, engineering, graphic design, IB programs, or a number of other career fields, this is their opportunity to meet the faculty and learn more about programs onsite!
As a champion for choice, Seminole County Public Schools is an open enrollment district, and we provide transportation at no cost to families for their children to participate in magnet programs.
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We Need Your Help!
Please consider helping us spread holiday joy in the community by donating to SCPS students and families in need.
If you're shopping online, please consider choosing an item from our SCPS Giving Tree Amazon Wishlist and have it shipped directly to SCPS!
For questions, please contact Misa Mills at misa_mills@scps.k12.fl.us.
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Pack the Patrol Car Events
On December 2, 2023 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., please join SCPS School Resource Deputies in support of our homeless and economically disadvantaged SCPS students. Please consider donating for a student in need of a little holiday magic. Gifts will be provided to SCPS Community Involvement to be matched to families on our annual Giving Tree.
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Our Mission
The mission of the Seminole County Public Schools is to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be productive citizens.
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400 E. Lake Mary Blvd.
Sanford, FL 32773
407-320-0000
www.scps.us
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Seminole County Public Schools
Educational Equity - Notice of Nondiscrimination
Any form of discrimination or harassment can be devastating to an individual's academic progress, social relationship and/or personal sense of self-worth. As such, the School Board will not discriminate nor tolerate harassment in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender status, or gender identity), disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information, which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law (collectively, "protected classes").
The Board also does not discriminate on the basis of protected classes in its employment policies and practices as they relate to students.
Equal educational opportunities shall be available to all students, without regard to the protected classes, age (unless age is a factor necessary to the normal operation or the achievement of any legitimate objective of the program/activity), place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in this District. Educational programs shall be designed to meet the varying needs of all students.
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© 2023 Seminole County Public Schools | | | | |
