May 3, 2024

May 6-10th is Teacher Appreciation Week!

Classroom Close-up

What's Cool in Our Schools

Evans Elementary Students Welcome New "Kids" to Campus

2nd graders at Evans Elementary have been enjoying hands-on learning about the life cycle of chickens!

They have been incubating eggs, and this week, they watched their baby chickens begin to hatch! The first born was named Chippy Anna Jones and the students are so excited for the rest to come. Their excitement even led to them crocheting a scarf for the babies to wear to make sure they will be warm.

Indian Trails Middle School Celebrates Class Collaboration and Learning

Students in both Culinary and Sustainable Living Clubs collaborated to make pesto using freshly harvested nasturtium, broccoli leaves, and spinach! All the pesto creations were a different shade of green but absolutely delicious! Being able to blend the learning opportunities and bring students with different interests together to create something is an invaluable lesson for the real world.

Rainbow Elementary Hosts Informances

Elementary students at Rainbow Elementary hosted "informances" where they host their parents and family members and teach them how to play the violin.

Students get so excited to share what they have learned. The best part of this year's informances were parents being taught to play “Ready, Steady, Bow!"

We know that arts is an important part of a well-rounded educational experience. This is a great example of the "triple A" experience, which includes academics, arts, and athletics.

In the Spotlight

Lake Mary High Takes Top Honor at State Chemistry Competition

Students from Lake Mary High recently competed against 37 teams (approximately 150 chemistry students) across the state at the University of Florida, and you guessed it, our Lake Mary High students came out on top!

Twelve students participated in a written chemistry test, a quiz-bowl style competition, a hands-on lab in the University’s general chemistry labs, tours of research labs, a Q&A with undergraduate chemistry students, a demonstration show, and an awards ceremony.

It was a big day and an amazing experience. Way to go, Rams! This is another reason why we are known as #STEMinoleCounty

Seminole High Student Selected as US Presidential Scholars Semifinalist

Pranav R. Eada, a graduating senior at Seminole High School, has been named one of 625 semifinalists in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from over 6,000 candidates expected to graduate from US high schools in the year 2024.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 60th year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments in many areas - academic and artistic success, accomplishment in career and technical fields, leadership, strong character, and involvement in school and the community.

Congratulations to Pranav!

Meet Another Spectrum News 13 A+ Teacher

Story courtesy of Spectrum News 13

SCPS Celebrates Graduation of Newest Cohort of UF Coaches

Through a decade-long collaboration between SCPS and the University of Florida Lastinger Center, we recently celebrated the graduation of our eleventh cohort of instructional coaches. The most recent group of 70 graduates brings the total number of SCPS UF Coaching Instructional Coaches to nearly 800, by far the largest district cohort in the UF program.

Participants in the program attend a year-long professional learning experience, which is comprised of fifty hours of face-to-face sessions as well as job-embedded coaching work targeted at the support of our new educators, especially those in their first year of service. Each participant must provide videotaped evidence of successful coaching conversations which must be vetted by and receive a passing score from UF in order to achieve certification. In each of the eleven years of the program, SCPS has received a 100% pass rate for participants in the program!

We are proud of the teacher leaders who have developed the skills to support their colleagues in meaningful ways through our coaching program, and we know that their continued support of their peers makes a positive difference for our students!

Hagerty High Coach Named Finalist for National Award

Story Courtesy of WESH 2

SCPS VPK Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2024-2025 VPK School Year at SCPS locations is now open. To be eligible for VPK, a child must be four years of age by September 1, 2024.

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.

LEARN MORE

SCPS Seniors - Free Summer College Classes at Seminole State

Graduating SCPS Seniors - Free Summer College Class Opportunity at Seminole State

SCPS graduating seniors are invited to get a jumpstart on their college education by taking two classes this summer with no out-of-pocket costs during the Summer B Session from June 26-Aug. 7. The deadline to submit an interest form and apply is May 31.

The Summer Bridge program helps first-time-in-college students easily transition to college and develop crucial skills for success.

No matter whether a student plans to go all the way to a bachelor's degree, use a university transfer pathway such as DirectConnect to UCF®, or is just trying to see if college is right for them, the Summer Bridge program can help set them on the right path!

To learn more, sign up to attend a virtual information session or email summerbridge@seminolestate.edu.

Kindergarten Registration Now Open

Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year is now open! LEARN MORE

SCPS School Board

School Board: Kelley Davis, Autumn Garick, Kristine Kraus, Amy Pennock, Abby Sanchez

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.

400 E. Lake Mary Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32773

407-320-0000

www.scps.us

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.