Home  »  Articles by: SJCSD

SJCSD

Spelling Bee Winner 2026

/ , ,

 

From left: first place winner Jahnavi Doneparthi, School Board Member Bev Slough, and second-place winner Betty Teplova

Jahnavi Doneparthi, a seventh-grade student at Liberty Pines Academy, won the annual St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) Spelling Bee held Wednesday at First Coast Technical College. She won by spelling the word “katana” correctly. The second-place speller was Betty Teplova, an eighth-grade student from Pine Island Academy.

It took 17 rounds for the winner to be determined. The participants were congratulated by School Board members Jennifer Collins, Dr. Linda Thomson, and Beverly Slough.

Forty-nine elementary and middle school students from 36 public schools and three private schools competed for the honor of representing St. Johns County in the First Coast Regional Spelling Bee scheduled to be held on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The winner of the regional spelling bee will advance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee scheduled in May in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Rebecca England, SJCSD Program Specialist for Elementary Language Arts, served as the spelling bee coordinator and the pronouncer was Kate Houston, Program Specialist for Secondary Language Arts. Judges for the event were Sam Evans, 2022 Regional Spelling Bee Champion, Eilea Van Scoy, community member and SJCSD parent, and Cheryl Freeman, Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

The Spelling Bee will be available for viewing at a later date on St. Johns Educational Access TV channels 99 or 262 and on the St. Johns County School District website.

Spelling Bee Winner 2026 Read More »

Apply Now for a High School Career Academy / Program of Interest

/ ,

Families of Current SJCSD 8th and 9th Graders,

Students in 8th and 9th grade may apply for enrollment in a Program of Interest for any of the St. Johns County School District high schools.

Programs of Interest include high school Career Academies, IB and AICE acceleration programs, JROTC, Early College Program, Early Career Program, and the St. Johns County Center for the Arts (SJCCA).

To learn more, please visit the Career & Technical Education website.

Ready to Apply?

All current 8th and 9th graders may apply by completing the general application in the Student’s Home Access Center (HAC).

Eligible students who are currently attending a private school, charter school, home school, or a virtual school may also apply to a Program of Interest. Preference is provided to full-time student applicants with opportunities for part-time students as seats are available.

The deadline for all applications is January 26th .

Apply Now for a High School Career Academy / Program of Interest Read More »

Instructional Materials Adoption Update

/ ,

The St. Johns County School District is in the process of adopting new instructional materials for English Language Arts and HOPE. The resources that were selected by adoption committees for submission to the School Board for adoption consideration can now be accessed by using the following links:

All selected resources appear on the Florida Department of Education adoption list.

Instructional Materials Adoption Update Read More »

District Committee Meetings for English-Language Arts and HOPE Adoptions

/ , ,

As a part of the instructional material adoption process for English Language Arts and HOPE, four committee meetings will be held in early December at the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 8:45 AM for Elementary English Language Arts
  • Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM for Middle School English Language Arts
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM for High School English Language Arts
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 10:45 AM for High School HOPE

The meetings will be broadcast live online and may be viewed on the SJCSD Media Services YouTube channel.

Visit our Media Services Department website to learn more about the Instructional Materials Adoption process.

District Committee Meetings for English-Language Arts and HOPE Adoptions Read More »

PVHS Marching Band Shines at FFCC Florida State Championships

/ , ,

The Ponte Vedra High School Marching Band, led by director Daniel Lezcano, achieved remarkable success at the FFCC Florida State Championships on November 8. The band earned a spot in the state finals, securing an impressive 2nd place overall, along with awards for Best Visual and Best Music in their division. This marks one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history, highlighting the dedication and talent of the students, faculty, and families involved.

In addition to their competitive achievements, the PVHS Marching Band is a pillar of school spirit, supporting the football team at every game with energy and enthusiasm. Their hard work and commitment have made them an integral part of the school community, and their recent accomplishments are a source of pride for the entire district. Congratulations to the band for their exceptional achievements!

PVHS Marching Band Shines at FFCC Florida State Championships Read More »

Come Drive the Bus With Us on Oct. 25

/ , ,

On Saturday, October 25, from 8am to 11am, the St. Johns County School District Transportation Department will be hosting a unique recruitment event called “Come Drive the Bus with Us” at First Coast Technical College’s Public Safety Campus located at 3640 Gaines Road in St Augustine. This is more than an open house for interested bus drivers, but an opportunity to drive it before you apply for it!

Come meet school district team members and take a test drive in a full size school bus on our test track.

OneBlood’s “Big Red Bus” Bloodmobile and Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center’s mobile mammography
unit, the “Buddy Bus,” will also be on site during the event. See the flyers for details.

Come Drive the Bus With Us on Oct. 25 Read More »

GRMS Best Buddies

/ , , ,

GRMS Best Buddies

The Best Buddies chapter at Gamble Rogers Middle School received a special recognition during the School Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Now in its fourth year at Gamble Rogers, the Best Buddies chapter continues to thrive and grow stronger each year. Gamble Rogers Middle School ESE teacher Lori DuFrain has been honored as Advisor of the Year twice, and the chapter has earned the title of North Florida’s Chapter of the Year for two consecutive years. Most impressively, this past year, the chapter was recognized by the organization’s founder, Anthony Shriver, with the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award—earning the distinction of being the #1 Middle School Chapter in the entire state of Florida.

The Gamble Rogers Middle School Best Buddies members are creating meaningful change—not just within the school, but throughout the community—by participating in service projects that support local organizations in need.

Best Buddies is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering inclusion through one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989, the organization works to eliminate the social, physical, and economic isolation experienced by people with IDD by promoting connection and belonging in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Congratulations to the Gamble Rogers Middle School Best Buddies Chapter!

GRMS Best Buddies Read More »