Representatives from Burlington Coat Factory recently donated $10,000 to classrooms at Durbin Creek Elementary School. Pictured from left to right are Principal Angela Fuller, Store Manager Vanja Rogulj, Assistant Manager Latrell Acliese, Assistant Principal Laverne Walker, and School Board Vice Chair Beverly Slough.
Burlington Coat Factory Donation Read More »
As a result of school closing due to Hurricane Dorian, St. Johns County School District will adjust the master school calendar for this year. On the 2019-2020 school calendar, Monday, October 14 is scheduled to be a teacher planning day, but in order to provide satisfactory instructional minutes, it will be a regular school day with students in attendance.
Hurricane Dorian Make-Up Day Read More »
The Make a Mark Award is a special award honoring teachers in St. Johns County that encourage their students to make their mark on the world. When a teacher invests in their students they can inspire them to persevere and not give up! A winner will be chosen each month from an elementary and a secondary school by students & community business partners.
W.D. Hartley Elementary School first grade teacher Courtney Johnson won the INK! (Investing in Kids) Make A Mark award in August. Courtney always teaches straight from her heart. She shows students how to learn, play, love, respect one another, have dignity in themselves, show pride, and care. She shows compassion and never frustration. Courtney will go above and beyond to help parents and children with social development, homework, and projects.
She is so passionate about education. She continues to seek grants and raise awareness for educational products and projects that will stimulate students learning environment. She keeps it fun and exciting while teaching true life skills along with the required curriculum.
Congratulations, Courtney! You are INK-credible!
Nomination essay written by Mary Alice Hayes
In the month of June Kristen Meidling volunteered for the Summer FLY program at the Woodlawn Terrace Community. She came once a week for 3 weeks to teach the children sign language. She made learning fun through dancing with songs she taught them in sign language, and teaching them their names, as well as common phrases used. The children laughed and were delighted to learn! Kristen even brought her own young children to participate and help out. Each week, she brought a little gift to give to the children who participated. Kristen was a delight to work with and made a huge contribution to the Summer FLY program. For this reason, I think she should be nominated for Make a Mark!
Nomination essay written by Claudia Dencer of Leonard’s Studio
Ms. Stauble is an amalgam of love and inspiration for hundreds of students and alumni at St Augustine High School. Not only is she a dynamic Spanish teacher, she leads the Interact program, taking students on a journey of service Above Self, and the Link Crew, who makes sure freshman feel welcome and become involved. Ms. Stauble always makes time for her students and creates an atmosphere of trust and always keeps her students engaged. I know that just recently she helped rally her Interact students to make an exchange student feel like he was not only welcome but a part of the SAHS family. She rallied her Interact Club and drove the students to locations to help during the last two hurricanes. Last year she orchestrated a food drive that fed the homeless of St Johns County. Students lined up to mentor younger students on packing meals ready for the cause. In her off time she schedules community clean ups, fundraisers and education initiatives to further the reach of all community service projects. I do not know how she does it… she balances it all and students desire to be apart of her ever glowing atmosphere. It is my honor to nominate her for the Make A Mark award. There is no doubt in my mind she deserves this moment as she is always going above and beyond the call of duty in everything she does for SAHS and the community.
Nominate a teacher who is making a mark on our students. Go to INK-stjohns.org and select “Make A Mark.”
THE PLAYERS Make A Mark Award Winners for August 2019 Read More »
During one week in August, Winn Dixie ran a “round up” campaign, allowing shoppers to donate to St. Johns County School District’s A.S.S.I.S.T. Program at the check out line which resulted in a donation of $4,046. Their support also included $10,000 in food to be distributed through Hugs Across the County and $5,000 in gift cards to help homeless students and unaccompanied youth in our county.
Pictured from left to right are Superintendent Tim Forson, Winn Dixie Coordinator of Community Engagement & Charitable Giving Amy Pierce, SJCSD Director for Student Services Kelly Battell, SJCSD Homeless Liaison Michael Israel, and Winn Dixie Regional Vice President for North Florida Shawn Sloan.
Generation WOW founder, women’s pro basketball pioneer & former WNBA president, Donna Orender, recently spoke to students at Pedro Menendez High School about her book, WOWsdom – The Girl’s Guide to the Positive and the Possible.
Business Leader Donna Orender Visits PMHS Read More »
Due to Hurricane Dorian, the release of interim grades will be delayed. First quarter interim grades will now be available on Friday, September 13.
Interim Reports Delayed Read More »
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 »
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 »
The St. Johns County School District is hosting a districtwide orientation Friday, August 9 from 8-11 a.m. Orientation is an opportunity for students and parents to get supply lists, receive class schedules and meet teachers.
While many schools have scheduled orientations on other dates and times, staff will be available at all schools Friday, August 9 from 8-11 a.m. Parents are encouraged to call or visit the school website to verify any changes in orientation and open house dates.
The district, including schools, is currently operating on summer hours 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. These summer hours are in effect until Friday, July 28.
Districtwide Orientation 2019 Read More »
School grades released by the Florida Department of Education show that the St. Johns County School District continues to be a top performing district in the state and is one of only two that has consistently remained an “A” rated district. St. Johns County had 31 “A” schools, seven “B” schools, one “C” school and one “D” school.
Fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, all six of the district’s K-8 academies, five high schools, St. Johns Virtual Franchise and St. Johns Virtual Instructional Program all received a grade of “A” this year.
“Our students have benefitted from the hard work and dedication of our teachers, and I am extremely proud of their efforts,” said Superintendent Tim Forson. “Our school grades reaffirm that our focus and resources are applied to help our students succeed. They also provide the opportunity for us to hone in on areas and schools that may need additional support in the coming year.”
The elementary schools receiving an “A” are Cunningham Creek Elementary, Durbin Creek Elementary, W.D. Hartley Elementary, Hickory Creek Elementary, R.B. Hunt Elementary, Julington Creek Elementary, Ketterlinus Elementary, Ocean Palms Elementary, Osceola Elementary, Palencia Elementary, Picolata Crossing Elementary, PVPV/Rawlings Elementary, Timberlin Creek Elementary and Wards Creek Elementary.
The middle schools with an “A” are Fruit Cove, Alice B. Landrum, Pacetti Bay and Switzerland Point. Freedom Crossing, Mill Creek, Liberty Pines, Patriot Oaks, Valley Ridge, Mill Creek, Freedom Crossing and Palm Valley academies received an “A” as did Bartram Trail, Creekside, Allen D. Nease, Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine high schools. St. Johns Virtual School also received an “A”.
Otis A. Mason Elementary, R.J. Murray Middle, St. Augustine Public Montessori, Gamble Rogers Middle, Sebastian Middle, Pedro Menendez High and South Woods Elementary schools received a “B” this year. John A. Crookshank Elementary School received a “C”, and St. Johns Technical High School received a Maintaining rating this year. The Webster School received a “D”.
Additional details and information can be found at http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org.
School Grades 2019 Read More »
THE PLAYERS Championship was recognized as the 2018-2019 St. Johns County School District Outstanding Business Partner of the Year by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation at the 2019 Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards (CBRA) held last month in Orlando.
The CBRA program honors innovative partnerships between businesses and public schools to help ensure the success of Florida students. THE PLAYERS Championship was one of only seven businesses statewide to be awarded $1,000 to be invested in the program that the school district and business partner created.
Outstanding Business Partner of the Year Read More »
Allen D. Nease High School Sophomores Logan Graham, Joshua Pantano, Daniel Fedchenko, and Alan Michael won 2nd Place in the state in the Senior Group Performance category at the Florida History Day competition held last month in Tallahassee. Their project titled “Tragedy on the Trail of Engineering Triumph: A Panama Canal Flashback” moves on to compete at the national competition at the University of Maryland June 10-13.
History Fair Winners 2019 Read More »
In an effort to promote community health and well-being this summer, the St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) will open its high school facilities to the public on select Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. Outdoor facilities at Allen D. Nease, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Pedro Menendez, Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine high schools will be open the following dates and times.
Access to the tennis courts, track and outdoor basketball courts will be encouraged. Access will NOT be provided to the gymnasiums, stadium fields, batting cages, baseball fields, softball fields, or multi-purpose fields. The facilities will NOT be open to any organized practices, games or sport-sponsored, fee-based training. Pets are NOT permitted. All St. Johns County School Board Policies will apply.
Summer 2019 High School Facility Use Read More »
Four sophomores from Allen D. Nease High School won 2nd place in the state in the Senior Group Performance category at the National History Day Competition in Tallahassee. Their project is titled “Tragedy on the Trail of Engineering Triumph: A Panama Canal Flashback.” They will now move on to compete at the national competition at the University of Maryland on June 10th.
National History Day Competition Winners 2019 Read More »
The 2019 Players Character Cup was held on Wednesday, April 24th, at St. Augustine High School. The Players Character Cup is a student-centered event highlighting physical education which links academics and character education through athletic competition.
2019 Players Character Cup Read More »
Dear Parents,
Last week I made the decision to cancel district-created and teacher-created final exams due to technical issues that could not be corrected in a timely manner. This decision does not apply to the following assessments: iReady, Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), state End of Course (EOC) exams, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Enrollment or Cambridge AICE.
Given the decision above, I feel it is important “to do no harm” to student final grades for this year. Elementary students’ grades will not be impacted by the cancellation of these exams. After consulting with various school-based administrators, teachers and students, I have determined that students in grades 6-12 will receive the maximum value possible for the district final exam in the affected courses. There are students who were counting on this opportunity to earn percentage points that could make a difference in their grades. We will give students the full benefit of the doubt and the maximum exam score (100%) will be provided in the affected courses.
Second semester final grades in the affected middle and high school courses will be calculated as follows: The 3rd quarter and 4th quarter grades each maintain a weight of 45% to the final grade. The district final exam maintains a weight of 10% and maximum points will be given. The district final exam portion of the grade will have the greatest impact for students who are within a point or two of the next higher letter grade (for example: with maximum points on the district final exam, a student with an 89, B, average will advance to a 90, A, for the final grade).
Again, I am sorry for this change so late in the school year, but feel it is the right decision for both students and teachers. Thank you for your support and I look forward to a positive close to the 2018-2019 school year.
Sincerely,
Tim Forson
Superintendent
St. Johns County School District
Message from the Superintendent – April 23, 2019 Read More »
Dear school district staff and school families,
After thorough review and monitoring, I have made the decision to cancel our District final exams. This decision does not include iReady testing.
During this first week of testing, we have experienced significant issues with the administration of the computer based tests. I am thankful for our District staff that have worked many hours into the evening trying to resolve the issues we have observed. I am also appreciative of the patience of school staff and students as we have worked diligently to improve the performance of the computer based testing system. Ultimately, I felt we needed to cancel the District computer based and paper based exams to remove the frustration of inconsistent test administration and protect instructional time.
Students need the opportunity to continue to learn each day from our teachers and be at their best for other required upcoming assessments. On the horizon are several high stakes assessments including the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), state End Of Course (EOC) exams, and several other secondary exams such as AP, AICE, IB, and Industry Certification. These assessments are not done on the same testing platform as our district exams and I have full confidence in their administration.
We will be certain to adjust our second semester grading scale so that the absence of a final exam will not penalize a student. We will also adjust the student performance element of the teacher evaluation in a fair and equitable manner. As soon as an alternative grading plan is finalized it will be communicated to our teachers, parents, and students.
I am sorry for this change so late in the school year, but feel it is the right decision for both students and teachers. Additional communication will follow as soon as a revised grading plan is finalized.
Sincerely,
Mr. Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools
St. Johns County School District
Message from the Superintendent – April 18, 2019 Read More »
Over 600 runners and walkers of all ages participated in the 2019 Annual CHARACTER COUNTS! 6 Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 2nd. Race proceeds support CHARACTER COUNTS! initiatives throughout the St. Johns County School District.
View the results of the race on RaceSmith.com and view exclusive race photos provided by 904 Fitness.
2019 CHARACTER COUNTS! 6 Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk Race Results Read More »
The 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 2, 2019 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-February 1, $35 on race day
3K-$20 before January 1, $25 January 1-February 1, $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. Last year these schools were Ocean Palms Elementary, Alice B. Landrum Middle and Valley Ridge Academy. 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. Action News Jax CBS47/FOX30 is the official media sponsor of this run/walk.
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.
2019 CHARACTER COUNTS! Six Pillars 6K/3K Run/Walk Read More »
