SJCSD

Secondary Grading Update

Dear Parents and Guardians of Students in Grades 6-12,

I hope that all of you are staying safe. As we move toward the end of the 2019-2020 school year, I would like to share some additional information regarding 4th quarter grading.

The following protocols are now in place to ensure our goal to exercise care and compassion for our students. Our intent is to recognize the challenges of the sudden move to distance learning, but also to be clear that students are expected to engage in learning during the 4th quarter.

For middle school students who are demonstrating their best work, attempting assignments and communicating with teachers, grades will be addressed as follows:

  • Yearlong courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than average of Q1, Q2 & Q3.
  • Second semester middle school courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the Q3 grade.
  • High school courses taken in middle school: refer to the high school student section below

For high school students who are demonstrating their best work, attempting assignments and communicating with teachers, grades will be addressed as follows:

  • Yearlong courses that have an EOC exam: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the average of Q1, Q2 & Q3.
  • All other high school courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the Q3 grade.

For any student in grades 6-12, who willfully refuses to complete schoolwork during the 4th quarter, teachers may, in consultation with the principal, assign an F for Q4. The F will be recorded as a 59%.

Algebra 1

For students enrolled in Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 Honors during the 2019-2020 school year, the requirement to take the EOC and the requirement that the EOC counts as 30% of the final grade have been waived. However, there is still a math graduation requirement that must be met via one of the following options: passing score on a future Algebra 1 EOC, passing score on a future Geometry EOC, approved math concordant score on the PSAT/NMSQT, ACT or SAT.

SJCSD Students who take the Algebra 1 EOC during the summer 2020 administration or the fall 2020 administration will be eligible for the opportunity to include the EOC score in the Algebra 1 grade. Only if the score raises the final grade, will the grade be changed. Testing date information will be provided by each school.

Thank you for supporting your children with online learning! Our success has been a team effort and from my seat, SJCSD teachers, parents and students have been virtually amazing!

Together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent

Secondary Grading Update Read More »

Instruction Continuity Parent Survey

Dear SJCSD Parents and Guardians,

As we progress through the last quarter of this school year, I ask that you continue to stay connected with your child’s teachers and encourage your child to keep giving his/her best effort. I am so appreciative of the commitment you have made to assist our teachers in providing valuable learning experiences for your child. The interaction between teachers and students has been remarkable even in this remote world.

Please take a moment to complete the Instruction Continuity Parent Survey. This brief survey that will assist us when making adjustments to our virtual platform. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. Please stay safe as we work together to rid the community of COVID-19.

The survey will be open until noon on Friday, April 24.

Working together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools
St. Johns County School District

Instruction Continuity Parent Survey Read More »

Message from the Superintendent – April 17, 2020

Dear SJCSD Parents,

I hope that you and your child are becoming more confident and comfortable in this virtual environment. If you recall, we began this online learning at the beginning of the fourth grading period and teachers continue to review and assess work completed in this virtual model.

There are several adjustments to grading that will be implemented this grading period. I am also providing some clarification to other related issues such as interim reports, final exams, and promotion. The documents included on this web page provide information that you should find helpful.

 

While we have not received guidance from the state regarding a recommendation to end school closures on May 1, we will continue to communicate what we know in a timely manner.

Working together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools
St. Johns County School District

Message from the Superintendent – April 17, 2020 Read More »

Message from the Superintendent – April 15, 2020

Dear SJCSD Parents,

How quickly we have found ourselves in the world of virtual learning. I hope that your child has been able to engage with his/her teacher and has received meaningful feedback regarding academic progress. Since transitioning to a virtual platform I expect that you and your child are receiving confirmation of assignments being accepted as well as feedback on quizzes and assessments.

Given the structure of this virtual environment, you will not receive interim reports in the format you have received in the past. If you do not feel you have received adequate feedback on a specific class, please email your child’s teacher.

Over the next few days, I will share additional information regarding fourth quarter grading, promotion decisions, and other policy considerations to be reviewed or revised while using the online format. Presently, I do not know if we will continue in a virtual platform after May 1. As soon as we receive state guidance on this issue, we will share our decision with you. At this time, we also do not know how summer programs and camps will be impacted. I appreciate your patience as we navigate through this situation.

Working together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools
St. Johns County School District

Message from the Superintendent – April 15, 2020 Read More »

Message from the Superintendent – April 2, 2020

Dear SJCSD Parents and Guardians,

I hope you and your child are starting to adapt to the online environment. This has been a learning week for everyone, and I am confident that the problems we have faced are being resolved. Our teachers continue to do amazing work for the benefit of all children.

Today, I have made the very difficult decision to cancel all traditional high school graduations. The UNF arena is no longer available and I believe our high schools need to be consistent in how we celebrate the Class of 2020. In addition, COVID-19 could still be a threat into the summer, we simply do not know. Your school will communicate virtual graduation plans as soon as they are finalized.

Have a great Friday, and a restful weekend. Stay safe and enjoy your family.

Sincerely,

Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools
St. Johns County School District

Message from the Superintendent – April 2, 2020 Read More »

Message from the Superintendent – April 1, 2020

Dear SJCSD Parents and Guardians,

Today we faced additional challenges with connectivity to Schoology. I share this frustration with you and assure you that we are working with the vendor to solve these issues. In the meantime, I encourage you and your child to reach out to his/her teacher via email. As I wrote yesterday, patience and flexibility are paramount. We will keep getting better.

Meal service will continue at designated school and community sites until further notice. This is an essential service offered to children 18 years or younger in need of breakfast and lunch while we are closed. In the last few days there have been posts on social media encouraging others to visit specific schools to receive these meals. Some of these posts encourage community members with children to drive through more than once to prevent the service from ceasing and preserve job functions at these sites.

While we want families who need the meals to receive them for their children, prompting the community to show up just to get meals puts a strain on distribution. It prevents us from allocating funding, efforts and resources where the need is greater.

Today Governor DeSantis issued an executive order to stay at home except for individuals who are essential employees providing essential community services as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this guidance, “educators supporting public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing other essential functions” is included in the essential critical infrastructure workforce. We are continuing to review and define essential staff through job functions while promoting a work at home model for employees who can.

I appreciate your commitment to your child’s education. I value the support and trust you have placed in the St. Johns County School District to instruct your children while we continue to learn in this new environment.

Sincerely,

Tim Forson
Superintendent
St. Johns County School District

Message from the Superintendent – April 1, 2020 Read More »

Meal Service

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services and USDA have approved meal service during the time of unanticipated school closures. This program focuses on areas of eligibility based on economic need. For meal service locations, please refer to the website, http://www.summerbreakspot.org.

  • Meals will be provided through a walk-up and drive-thru service in the parent drop off loop at the participating locations.
  • The meals will be provided to children 18 years or younger. Children must be present to receive meals.
  • Children may receive meals at the nearest participating site, even if it is not where they attend school. This eliminates the need for families to drive to multiple schools.
  • Each day, lunch for that day and breakfast for the next day will be provided at the same time.
  • All school sites will operate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 23 – 27.
  • All community sites will operate 11 a.m. to Noon, March 23-27.

The following sites will be participating under this program:

Schools:

John A. Crookshank Elementary Gamble Rogers Middle
The Evelyn Hamblen Center Sebastian Middle
Otis A. Mason Elementary South Woods Elementary
R.J. Murray Middle The Webster School
Osceola Elementary

Community Sites:

W.E Harris Community Center in Hastings Woodlawn Apartments

Meal services will be provided at select schools that are not included in the need-based Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and USDA programs.

  • These meals are intended for children in need of meals during the unanticipated school closings, typically those who participate in the school lunch program based on need.
  • Meals will be provided through a walk-up and drive-thru service in the parent drop off loop at the participating schools.
  • The meals will be provided to children 18 years or younger. Children must be present to receive meals.
  • Children may receive meals at the nearest participating school, even if it is not where they attend school. This eliminates the need for families to drive to multiple schools.
  • Each day, lunch for that day and breakfast for the next day will be provided at the same time.
  • All sites will operate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 23 – 27.

Meals will be available at the following sites:

Bartram Trail High Pedro Menendez High PVPV-Rawlings Elementary
Fruit Cove Middle Allen D. Nease High St. Augustine High
W.D. Hartley Elementary Pacetti Bay Middle Switzerland Point Middle
R.B. Hunt Elementary Palencia Elementary Timberlin Creek Elementary
Ketterlinus Elementary Palm Valley Academy Valley Ridge Academy
Alice B. Landrum Middle Patriot Oaks Academy

 

Meal Service Read More »

National History Day Winners 2020

National History Day 2019-2020 Award Ceremony

The SJCSD National History Day competition was held on Wednesday, March 4, at First Coast Technical College and our awards ceremony was held on March 5. Over 100 students presented a total of 64 projects at the competition.

National History Day 2019-2020 District Winner

Adam Bernstein & Sreeniketh Vogoti of Allen D. Nease High School won “Best Overall Project” and 28 other students were named state competition qualifiers.

View the full list of National History Day 2019-2020 District Winners.

 

National History Day Winners 2020 Read More »

Revised Attendance Zoning Proposal

A revised Attendance Zoning Proposal was discussed at the School Board Workshop on March 3rd and is now posted on the District’s website.

The revised proposal would leave River Oaks Plantation (Geocode 050103), Cunningham Creek Estates and Fruit Cove Woods (Geocode 038106) at Bartram Trail High School. This revised proposal creates no changes to the Creekside High School Attendance Zone.

Another component of the revised proposal would split the Orangedale area (Geocode 034109) into two separate areas with Trout Creek as the dividing line. Areas West of Trout Creek are proposed to remain at Bartram Trail High School. Areas East of Trout Creek and along SR 16 are proposed to attend High School HHH.

Revised Attendance Zoning Proposal Read More »

Proposed Calendars 2021-2024

The St. Johns County School District is seeking comments on the proposed 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024 school calendars.

Survey links are now available on the school district website for community members to provide input on the calendars. Individuals are encouraged to submit any ideas, suggestions or concerns about the proposed calendars.

Feedback will be collected through Thursday, February 27.

The final proposed calendars must be approved by the School Board.

Proposed Calendars 2021-2024 Read More »

Science Fair Winners

Middle and high school students from schools throughout St. Johns County participated in the 2020 Science Fair on February 5th. Winners were honored at an awards ceremony held the following day. This annual academic competition is designed to challenge students to meticulously apply science process skills and content knowledge in order to investigate scientific questions of their own choosing.


Science Fair Winners


American Psychological Association Award

Amrita Ketireddy – Freedom Crossing Academy

ASM Materials Education Foundation Award
Rohan Bongu – Creekside High School

Broadcom Masters Award
Lily Pierce – Fruit Cove Middle School
Kylie White – Fruit Cove Middle School
Pranavi Nagpal – Liberty Pines Academy

Carlisle Interconnect Industries Award
Alan Michael – Allen D. Nease High School
Hannah Dykeman, Jordan Klucharich & Emma Wettlaufer (Team) – Pacetti Bay Middle School

Florida Association of Science Teachers Award
Hannah Dykeman, Jordan Klucharich & Emma Wettlaufer (Team) – Pacetti Bay Middle School
Stephanie Hernandez – Ponte Vedra High School

Florida Power and Light Award
Alan Michael – Allen D. Nease High School
Aneesh Sattiraju – Freedom Crossing Academy

Honorable Mention – Junior Chemistry Award
Kyle Jackson – Cathedral Parish School
Caden Byas – Pacetti Bay Middle School

Honorable Mention – Junior Engineering/Intelligent Machines Award
Matthew Leitheiser – Palmer Catholic School

Honorable Mention – Senior Biomedical/Cellular/Microbiology Award
Kaitlyn Copland – Ponte Vedra High School
Natalie Byron – Ponte Vedra High School

Junior Animal/Plant/Biomedical Sciences Award
1st Place: Pranavi Nagpal – Liberty Pines Academy
2nd Place: Samay Patel – Alice B. Landrum Middle School
3rd Place: Eva Phelps – Palmer Catholic School

Junior Behavioral Award
1st Place: Amrita Ketireddy – Freedom Crossing Academy
2nd Place: Maya LeShane – Cathedral Parish School
3rd Place: Monica Brown – Cathedral Parish School

Junior Chemistry Award
1st Place: Kylie White – Fruit Cove Middle School
2nd Place: Jack Singletary – Fruit Cove Middle School
3rd Place: Derek Zangerle – Fruit Cove Middle School

Junior Earth & Enviornmental Sciences Award
1st Place: Carter Magnano – Alice B. Landrum Middle School
2nd Place: Taylor Willis – Valley Ridge Academy
3rd Place: Ethan Diachun – Fruit Cove Middle School

Junior Engineering/Intelligent Machines Award
1st Place: Aneesh Sattiraju – Freedom Crossing Academy
2nd Place: Hannah Dykeman, Jordan Klucharich & Emma Wettlaufer (Team) – Pacetti Bay Middle School
3rd Place: Wilson Wingate – Alice B. Landrum Middle School

Junior Physics Award
1st Place: Lily Pierce – Fruit Cove Middle School
2nd Place: Alexander Harris – Sebastian Middle School
3rd Place: Sawyer Tartt – Palmer Catholic School

Mu Alpha Theta Award
Skyler Demi – Ponte Vedra High School

Northrop Grumman Award
Lillian Fields & Windsyr Maughan – Ponte Vedra High School
Taylor Willis – Valley Ridge Academy

Office of Naval Research Award
Rishabh Singh – Allen D. Nease High School

Ricoh Sustainable Development Award Award
Yash Singh – Allen D. Nease High School

Senior Biomedical/Cellular/Microbiology Award
1st Place: Grace Littler – Ponte Vedra High School
2nd Place: Stephanie Hernandez – Ponte Vedra High School
3rd Place: Victoria Pham – Ponte Vedra High School

Senior Earth & Environmental Sciences Award
1st Place: Lillian Fields & Windsyr Maughan – Ponte Vedra High School
2nd Place: Kyra Brenneman, Kirstyn Palombo & Vanessa Esposito – Creekside High School
3rd Place: Nandini Bhikha & Makayla Parkes – Ponte Vedra High School

Senior Engineering & Physics Award
1st Place: Finnur Christianson – Ponte Vedra High School
2nd Place: Rohan Bongu – Creekside High School
3rd Place: Yash Singh – Allen D. Nease High School

Senior Intelligent Machines Award
1st Place: Alan Michael – Allen D. Nease High School
2nd Place: Rishabh Singh – Allen D. Nease High School

Senior Math Award
1st Place: Sarah Fraga – Ponte Vedra High School
2nd Place: Skyler Demi – Ponte Vedra High School

SJC Medical Alliance Award
Christian Bradley – Liberty Pines Academy
Grace Littler – Ponte Vedra High School

Stockholm Junior Water Prize Award
Alan Michael – Allen D. Nease High School

U. S. Air Force Award
Lily Pierce – Fruit Cove Middle School

U.S. Metric Association Award
Monica Brown – Cathedral Parish School

Yale Science & Engineering Assoc Award
Finnur Christianson – Ponte Vedra High School

Science Fair Winners Read More »

2020 CHARACTER COUNTS! Six Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk

Eighth Annual Character Counts! Run/WalkThe CHARACTER COUNTS! Steering Committee is calling all walkers, runners and fitness enthusiasts to participate in the CHARACTER COUNTS! 6 Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 9 a.m. The run/walk will begin and end at Palencia Elementary School located at 355 Palencia Village Drive, St. Augustine.

Walkers and runners will enjoy a course running through the neighborhoods of Kensington and Las Calinas and can choose to participate in the 6K (3.73 miles) or 3K (1.86 miles) distance. Registration fees are as follows:

6K-$25 before January 1, $30 January1-January 31, $35 on Race Day
3K-$20 before January 1, $25 January1-January 31, $30 on Race Day

Registration forms and more information are available online.

Race proceeds will support CHARACTER COUNTS! initiatives throughout the St. Johns County School District (SJCSD). The run/walk is open to all ages, and the top three winners will be awarded in each of the age categories as well as the overall male and female finishers. A cash donation will be awarded to the top three to five schools with the most registrants. All race registrants will receive a tech t-shirt and lots of other goodies from area businesses and organizations. At the finish line, each race participant will receive a commemorative dog tag which is the fifth design in its series.

This event is produced by the CHARACTER COUNTS! Steering Committee and is presented by Beaver Toyota with support from businesses and community groups.

The SJCSD, along with area businesses, youth organizations and civic groups, selected the national character education program of CHARACTER COUNTS! as a countywide initiative to instill positive character traits in young people throughout the county. Additionally, the SJCSD became the first school district in Florida to implement Pursuing Victory With Honor in all of its athletic programs. Character education is an important part of every School Improvement Plan and a major component of the Student Code of Conduct and the school district’s Strategic Plan.

2020 CHARACTER COUNTS! Six Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk Read More »

Giving the Gift of Hearing

In December, the SJCSD Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing had the opportunity to provide free hearing aids to community members in Hastings. Lend an Ear, a local nonprofit dedicated to giving the gift of hearing to those in need, sponsored the event. Funding was provided by the Ponte Vedra Beach and District Rotary Clubs.

By the end of the day, 38 people had been fitted with free personal hearings aids and a year’s worth of batteries and maintenance supplies. Hearing aids can range from $4000-$8000 a pair and are often not covered by insurance. For many recipients this event enabled them to reconnect with their families, activities and communities through the gift of hearing. During the event, statements such as “I can’t wait to hear my grandchildren for the first time,” and “My family will be so excited to talk to me again,” were accompanied by tears of joy. Lend an Ear has begun the process of repeating the event in communities within St. Johns County and surrounding counties.

Giving the Gift of Hearing Read More »

Teacher of the Year Finalists 2020

The Teacher of the Year Finalists were recently surprised by the Ink St. Johns Prize Patrol Team,  Superintendent Tim Forson and School Board Chair Bev Slough. Congratulations to Julie Durden of Palm Valley Academy, Aletha Dresback of Valley Ridge Academy, Julie Haden of Freedom Crossing Academy, Lori Price of The Webster School and Evan Tisdale at the Transitions School.

Teacher of the Year Finalists 2020 Read More »

Program of Choice Showcase 2020

Program of Choice Booklet designer poses with booklet
The Annual Program of Choice Showcase for middle and high school students and their parents was held on Thursday, January 9th at the World Golf Village Convention Center. Joseph Faranda of the Nease High School Communications Academy designed the front cover of the Academy/Program of Choice booklet that was distributed during the event. Nice work, Joseph!

Pictured from left to right are Career & Technical Education Director Emily Harrison, Nease High School student Joseph Faranda, and Executive Secretary for Career &Technical Education Theresa Dodd.

Program of Choice Showcase 2020 Read More »

Celebrating 150 Years

Celebrating 150 Years

To celebrate St. Johns County School District’s 150 year anniversary, we will be highlighting historical facts about our school district during our regular School Board Meetings this year and on our website.

Celebrating 150 Years Read More »