The enrollment window for the St. Johns Virtual School (SJVS) Full-Time Program opened on April 9 and will close on July 10. To learn more about virtual options and apply to the program, please visit http://www-sjvs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

The SJVS full-time program is a program of choice meaning that students must apply and meet very high standards for acceptance. SJVS offers a unique online program that provides students flexibility to learn on terms suited to their needs. A full-time virtual student is expected to complete a minimum of six courses per semester.  Online students must be self-disciplined, self-motivated, responsible, and challenged by rigor. Parents and guardians must play an active role in monitoring their child’s progress and make sure their child maintains a regimented schedule.

While the full-time program does allow students to establish their own weekly schedule as to what day and time they complete schoolwork, students must achieve adequate weekly progress in order to continue with SJVS as a full-time option. Adequate weekly progress is defined as 6 percent completion per class per week.  Students who fall behind in their weekly progress will be required to complete schoolwork at the SJVS office until they reach and maintain the proper pace. Students not able to maintain the proper pace will return to their zoned school.

SJVS has seen students reach extraordinary goals with teacher and family support through the full-time program. If you would like to learn more about the virtual program, do not hesitate to contact Michael Eisen, Program Coordinator, St. Johns Virtual School at [email protected].

The Home Education Office is in the process of revising procedures to support proactive program compliance.  Families recently began receiving notifications regarding upcoming annual evaluation dates to help families avoid non-compliance concerns.

Home educators may simply reply with the required documents attached or a letter of concern. Evaluations that are received after the deadline are referred to the portfolio review committee made up of district staff and parents in the home education community. Home educators are invited to visit the district home education website frequently to receive updates and information at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/homeeducation/.

The application window for Controlled Open Enrollment (COE) program is closed for the 2018-2019 school year.  Students who received seats via this process must enroll at the designated school by July 1, 2018 to keep the option available. The COE school choice application process for the 2019-2020 school year will take place in early 2019.  For details regarding COE visit http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/coe/

No charter school applications were received by the February 1 new application submission deadline.  The next deadline is February 1, 2019 for schools planning to open fall of 2020.  SJCSD charter schools include: St. Johns Community Campus (ARC). Therapeutic Learning Center (ARC) and St. Augustine Public Montessori.

High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may
feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for
information and guidance on how to react. For guidance with talking to your child, please read the following recommendations from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

From January 29 – February 26 families residing within and outside of St. Johns County may apply for their child to attend PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School or The Webster School for the 2018-2019 school year through the Controlled Open Enrollment Process.  For detailed information and access to the application, please visit http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/coe/.

SJRSC’s new Collegiate High School Program is a three-year program that outlines the path for qualified students to complete 60-credits of dual enrollment coursework, culminating in both a standard high school diploma as well as an Associate of Arts (AA) degree upon completing four years of high school.

SJRSC will begin accepting applications from current freshmen who meet the minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA application requirement for the 2018-19 inaugural class of 10 graders.  All eligible students will receive an invitation to attend one of the following information sessions:  February 5 at Nease High School auditorium, February 6 at Pedro Menendez media center, or February 7 at Creekside High School auditorium.  All sessions begin at 6 p.m.

For more information, speak with your school counselor or contact Denise Sumerix, SJCSD Director for Guidance and Programs of Choice, [email protected] or Meghan Deputy, SJRSC Director for College Access and Dual Enrollment, Meghan [email protected].

The purpose of the Johns County School District Crisis Response Team (DCRT) is to prepare for and respond to a crisis with a goal of helping individuals and groups cope and begin the healing process after a tragedy.  Our team is comprised of diverse members with a passion for helping when an incident occurs.  The DCRT provides multiple levels of service to our school community: responder training for team members, administrators, school counselors, faculty and staff; consultation to school leaders and families; and core and extended team on-site services.

Support is provided in situations such as a student or staff death (trauma and grief); Natural Disaster (emotional recovery); tragedy and violence (resources for students and families to cope and build resiliency). For additional information or to donate resources such as children’s books to the DCRT please contact Dr. Phyllis Ingram, SJCSD Crisis Team Lead, at [email protected].

2018 National School Counseling Week, “School Counselors: Helping Students Reach for the Stars,” was celebrated February 5-9 to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

This year, SJCSD celebrates our first School Counselor of the Year, Angela Fusco!  Ms. Fusco is the school counselor at Sebastian Middle School.  She received the honor from our local Florida Counseling Association‘s local chapter, Coastal Counseling Association.

In addition, we are proud to highlight that this year four school counselors were nominated by their school for excellence in their role and recognized at the recent Teacher of the Year Celebration.  They are:  

Bailey Benoit – Teacher of the Year, Crookshank Elementary School
Amy Bishop – Rookie Teacher of the Year, Picolata Crossing Elementary School
Tami Treaster – Rookie Teacher of the Year, Bartram Trail High School
Sarah Vance – Teacher of the Year, Liberty Pines Academy