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A Message of Gratitude

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Dear St. Johns County School District Families, Residents, and Staff,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the residents of St. Johns County. In the most recent 2024 general election, this county made an investment in the future of our children, the employees of SJCSD, and the quality of life locally. There is nothing more important than the children in our communities and the decisions that were made at the voting booth this year ensured vital resources in the schools of SJC.

By approving the renewal of the half-cent sales tax, both residents and visitors will support the construction of new state-of-the-art facilities, new safety and security assets, high-quality technology, and the preservation of our current school campuses. Students will continue to benefit from the best learning resources because this community is invested.

The commitment to the 1 mill increase in property tax is recognized as another clear message that public schools in SJC are valued. Thank you to all residents for your individual support to recruit and retain the highest quality workforce in our school system and to enhance the programs that support the children in this county.

This is a very special place to live and raise a family and the decisions made this week by the voters of SJC are paying it forward for the children who live and play here. Our future is bright and the SJCSD is committed to providing the same high level of education for years to come.

Together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools

A Message of Gratitude Read More »

Honoring Our Veterans

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With students now in school on Veterans Day on Monday, November 11, a wide variety of events have been planned throughout the school district to honor veterans and teach students about the importance of the holiday.

While the list below is not a complete list of activities and events taking place at our schools, all schools will be supplementing their regular instruction on Veterans Day with lessons that honor and celebrate veterans.

Elementary Schools

Osceola Elementary School

Classrooms at Osceola Elementary are scheduled to bring in guest speakers.

Ketterlinus Elementary School

Ketterlinus will be doing a fundraiser for the “Home for Heroes” Program.

South Woods Elementary School

South Woods creates a veteran wall in its hallways each year to recognize family and friends who served or have served in the Armed Forces.

Hickory Creek Elementary School

Hickory Creek creates a Veteran Wall of Recognition in its main hall.  The school chorus also hosts a Veterans Day performance.  All service men and women who are a part of the Hickory Creek community are invited to the performance. Light refreshments are also served.

PVPV-Rawlings Elementary School

PVPV-Rawlings’ Veterans Day events include:

  • Instruction on the branches of the military
  • Guest speakers (parents) that are in the military or have served come to classrooms
  • Making cards and writing letters to veterans
  • Themed art projects (service men/women, branches of military, patriotic, poppies)
  • 1st graders completing a project where they interview an armed forces member, complete a template with information, and add a photo or drawing of their person. The front hallways are decorated with red, white, and blue where the projects are displayed.

Wards Creek Elementary School

Wards Creek will have its 2nd Annual Veterans Day Parade from 8:45am-9:45am on Friday, November 8th. Veterans and their families are invited to walk around the bus loop while all the Warrior family is dressed in red, white, and blue. The school’s PTO then invites the veterans to our courtyard for refreshments.

A photo will be taken from the rooftop of a portable classroom of students spelling out U.S.A. in red, white, and blue.

K-8 Academies

Patriot Oaks Academy

Veterans Day concert with first graders.

Liberty Pines Academy

This year will be our 16th annual Liberty Parade where we cater a continental breakfast for our local Veterans and then celebrate them through our presentation of all students singing a variety of songs to them directly one grade level at a time. We will end the celebration with all 1,800 students singing “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood. It is a wonderful event. We also have a bulletin board with our staff and family pictures of those who have served or our currently serving.

Pine Island Academy

A Veterans Day Concert will be held on November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Middle Schools

Alice B. Landrum Middle School

Landrum will be having a special luncheon for veterans who work at the school. The morning announcements will also include a Veterans Day commemoration.

Gamble Rogers Middle School

Social studies classes at Gamble Rogers will show a brief video, complete a “Kahoot,” and then have students write letters to soldiers. The “Hugs for Soldiers” organization will send the letters to soldiers overseas. Students are also given the option to write their letter to a veteran in their own life.

The school will also make a video of students thanking veterans which will be shared with the V.F.W. near the school.

Pacetti Bay Middle School

Veterans Day events at Pacetti Bay will include:

  • NJHS members will be dropping artwork at the Clyde E. Lassen Veterans Home.
  • Classroom instruction with veteran stories and district curriculum
  • A “Wall of Veterans”

Fruit Cove Middle School

Fruit Cove’s Veterans Day events include:

  • Reading about Veterans Day and creating a news report about the origins of Veterans Day and the reasons it is celebrated.
  • Showing a video from the approved curriculum
  • Completing an escape room about Veterans Day
  • School-wide, student-led, door decorating contest honoring veterans

High Schools

Tocoi Creek High School

On October 25, during the last home football game at Tocoi Creek, past and current military members were recognized with a special moment of silence, and an honorary flag raising by a military member.

Creekside High School

Creekside High School will host a luncheon for its staff members who are veterans. Student clubs will also create personalized cards for staff members who are veterans. In additional, the school’s news crew will run a clip recognizing and thanking veterans for their service.

Ponte Vedra High School

On Friday, November 8, Ponte Vedra High School is hosting its campus veteran employees for lunch and creating signage for their classroom doors.

Also, on Monday, November 11, staff and students may participate in a dress-up day where everyone on campus is encouraged to wear red, white, and blue or shirts of their favorite armed service.

Allen D. Nease High School

Nease High School’s Veterans Day events include:

  • The NJROTC hosting a Veterans Appreciation Lunch on November 7 in the NJROTC Conference Room.
  • Small flags on display in the front of the school. The JROTC will help with set up and take down.
  • A “WIRED TV” production featuring the veterans who work at Nease.
  • A Veterans Day display set up in the media center.

Honoring Our Veterans Read More »

Hurricane Make-Up

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Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused students to miss five days of instruction. Three of these days need to be made up.

The first hurricane make-up day will be Veterans Day on Monday, November 11. To make up the remaining instructional time, the following ten Wednesdays will now be full instructional days and will no longer be early release Wednesdays:

  • November 13, 2024
  • November 20, 2024
  • December 4, 2024
  • December 11, 2024
  • December 18, 2024
  • January 8, 2025
  • January 15, 2025
  • January 22, 2025
  • January 29, 2025
  • February 5, 2025

The regular early release Wednesday schedule will resume February 12 , 2025.

Hurricane Make-Up Read More »

November 11 Hurricane Make-Up Day

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Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused your children to miss five days of instruction. We have determined that three of these days will need to be made up. The first hurricane make-up day will be Veterans Day on Monday, November 11.  As a supplement to regular instruction, activities and lessons will honor and celebrate our veterans on this day.

Additional make-up time will be relayed soon.

November 11 Hurricane Make-Up Day Read More »

All Schools and Offices Closed Oct. 9, 10, & 11

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All SJCSD schools will conduct a normal school day on Tuesday, October 8. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and after-school extended day programs are canceled or closed. All district offices will also operate as normal tomorrow.

All SJCSD schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, October 9, Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11.  All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and extended day programs are also canceled or closed Wednesday-Friday.

Extracurricular activities and athletic events taking place after school hours and into the weekend are canceled.

We will continue to evaluate weather conditions and impacts with the SJC Emergency Operations Center. Any updates or changes will be relayed via School Messenger, social media and through our community partners.

Please continue to monitor weather conditions and stay safe.

All Schools and Offices Closed Oct. 9, 10, & 11 Read More »

Town Hall Meetings

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The St. Johns County School District will hold four Town Hall meetings to discuss two referendum items being brought to voters at the Nov. 5 election. One referendum is to continue the half-cent sales tax, which supports the school district’s capital outlay budget in four areas: safety, growth, maintenance, and technology. The second referendum is for an increase of one mill to support the operating budget to increase salaries of teachers and staff, invest in school safety and student welfare, and enhance educational programs including science, technology, art, music, and athletics. These represent two separate items on the ballot.

The four meetings will take place as follows:

  • Monday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at Bartram Trail High School, located at 7399 Longleaf Pine Parkway, St. Johns, FL 32259
  • Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at Gamble Rogers Middle School, located at 6250 U.S. 1 South. St. Augustine, FL 32086
  • Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at the St. Johns County School District Administrative Building at 40 Orange Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 and via Webex. Instructions to access the meeting virtually will be posted on the school district’s website.
  • Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at Allen D. Nease High School, located at 10550 Ray Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081

If you’re unable to attend a town hall meeting, you can still watch a brief presentation by Superintendent Tim Forson on our Referendum Information Guide website.

Town Hall Meetings Read More »

All Schools and Offices Closed on Fri. 9/27

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In an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of our students, SJCSD staff and families, all SJCSD schools and offices will be closed on Friday, September 27.

Any extracurricular activities or athletic events taking place after school hours and into the weekend will take place as scheduled. If there are any adjustments or changes to these, families of students involved or participating will be notified by coaches or sponsors of the activities.

All Schools and Offices Closed on Fri. 9/27 Read More »

All Schools and Offices Closed on Thurs. 9/26

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All SJCSD schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26. All extracurricular activities and extended day programs are cancelled or closed, respectively.

At this time, school will be in session and under normal operations on Friday, September 27. All schools and offices will be under normal operations. Extended day programs and extracurricular activities will also take place as normal.

We will continue to evaluate weather conditions and impacts and will relay any additional changes via School Messenger, social media and our community partners.

We respect doing what is best for your family and children and encourage you to put safety first and monitor the weather conditions.

All Schools and Offices Closed on Thurs. 9/26 Read More »

Message from the Superintendent, Sept. 16

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Since the horrific school shooting in Georgia, we have had a very high number of threats and false threats reported. We will pursue and investigate all reports, engage law enforcement in investigations, and enforce our Student Code of Conduct to the fullest extent.

Resources are being used and schools, staff and students are being negatively impacted due to these reports. Our community is more vulnerable due to the recent tragic school shooting which has redirected resources to focus on each and every one of these reports. We rely heavily on FortifyFL to receive reports of suspicious activity, threats, and dangerous behaviors within our district.  We do ask that if “you see something, say something”.

We need your help to ensure that what is being reported is of actual and immediate concern knowing that resources will be immediately deployed to investigate and address. When false reports are made, we will investigate the source of the threat and pursue charges as appropriate.

I truly believe that it takes our SJCSD families, staff, law enforcement and our community to make our schools safe and secure for our most precious asset…our students.

Together,

Tim Forson
Superintendent

Message from the Superintendent, Sept. 16 Read More »