Welcome, students! We’re so glad you’re here. It’s a new school year filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and make new memories. Let’s make this year your best one yet—reach for the stars and enjoy every moment. We’re so excited to see what you’ll achieve!
Welcome Back, Students! Read More »
Press Release from the Office of the State Attorney R.J. Larizza, 7th Judicial Circuit
BUNNELL – Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza in partnership with Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore, Putnam County School District Superintendent Dr. Rick Surrency, St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson and Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin announce the launch of ‘Safety First, Success Always.’ The initiative was created to help better address substance use (vaping/THC/fentanyl) and violence (fighting/threats/guns), which are happening in our schools and communities circuitwide.
For almost a year, the five Seventh Circuit leaders and members of their staff have been working on a proactive, collaborative approach, which focuses on three pillars: education, awareness and accountability. Stakeholder meetings were also held in May with parents and students from each school district to get their feedback.
The following is a breakdown of the initiative’s three pillars.
1. Education: All four school districts will implement circuitwide curriculum on substance use and violence in the five hours of Character and Life Skills through Resiliency Education, which is required to be provided monthly to public school students grades 6-12. A video component from State Attorney Larizza will also be included, which will teach students what consequences they could face if they break the law.
Additionally, assembly presentations will be brought to all school levels circuitwide in an effort to be more proactive and give some early education about substance use and violence to younger students.
2. Awareness: Public service announcement videos regarding substance use and violence will be distributed into the community by the school districts and state attorney’s office to raise awareness of the risks and consequences.
3. Accountability: All four school districts have identified circuitwide, age-appropriate and meaningful consequences and a required education component related to substance use and violence that will be applied consistently through each district’s Student Code of Conduct.
“We are excited to announce this Seventh Circuit initiative, which is a first of its kind in Florida,” the group said in a joint statement. “Safety is our top priority. It is critical we partner together to create a strong response to substance use and violence. We are confident the ‘Safety First, Success Always’ initiative will change the script from substance use and violence to empowering our students and community to help us foster a safe environment for success.”
As the Seventh Circuit initiative gets underway during the 2024-2025 school year, the school districts and state attorney’s office will be looking to include other circuit leaders who can aid them in accomplishing the three pillars.
Four Superintendents Launch Seventh Circuit Initiative Read More »
The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 12, and the newly built Trout Creek Academy, located at 855 Timberwolf Trail St. Augustine, will welcome its inaugural class to campus. Drivers traveling in the vicinity of Trout Creek Academy on County Road 16A and Timberwolf Trail will notice new signs and flashing beacons installed by St. Johns County Public Works. This is the newly installed intersection conflict warning system, and it’s the first warning system of its kind on St. Johns County roads.
The St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs produced the following video to highlight this new safety feature.
This new warning system uses radar to detect vehicles on Timberwolf Trail that are approaching CR 16A. When a vehicle is detected on Timberwolf Trail, the system will activate flashing yellow warning beacons on CR 16A. This will prompt drivers on CR 16A to slow down and watch for vehicles coming out of Timberwolf Trail. On Timberwolf Trail, the stop sign has a 24-hour continuous flashing beacon to remind drivers to come to a complete stop before entering onto CR16A. Drivers on CR 16A will also be alerted by the newly installed oversized signs that read, “VEHICLE ENTERING HIGHWAY WHEN FLASHING.”
“Public safety is our top priority,” St. Johns County Public Works Director Greg Caldwell said. “The newly installed vehicle detection system will help promote more cautious driving and elevated awareness in this area.”
Drivers should take note that weekday morning drop-off starts at 7:40 a.m., and afternoon pick-up begins at 2:20 p.m.
Approximately an hour before and after these times, drivers should anticipate a higher volume of traffic with sudden slowdowns and intermittent back-ups.
“Patience and planning are paramount during the first days, sometimes weeks, of school,” Dr. Brennan Asplen, Deputy Superintendent for the St. Johns County School District, said. “Students will arrive to Trout Creek Academy as car and bus riders, walkers, and bikers.”
The St. Johns County School District encourages the public to carefully review the arrival and dismissal overview map. Trout Creek Academy parents also received a copy of these materials via the School District’s internal messaging system in advance of the school year.
In addition to the intersection conflict warning system, there will be a public service assistant at Trout Creek Academy for the beginning of the school year to monitor traffic flow and provide assistance if needed. Schools in the St. Johns County School District have a Youth Resource Officer assigned to them from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office or the City of St. Augustine Police Department. Trout Creek Academy has designated areas for both the car line and the bus line for walkers, bikers, and cart riders to travel safely.
“The overall safety of students, staff, and visitors at our schools is a priority for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO), and traffic safety is a major component,” Sheriff Rob Hardwick said. “Plan for the usual delays that come with the first few weeks of school as families are establishing their routines, and we are evaluating the traffic flow at new locations to determine if additional resources are needed. In addition to the increase in traditional vehicle traffic, there will be an influx of school buses, pedestrians, bicycles, and golf carts on our roadways, and it’s important to understand the related laws and regulations. SJSO resources will be in full force, and we look forward to a safe and productive school year.”
County Encourages Public Safety Ahead of First Day of School at Trout Creek Academy Read More »
When outdoor temperature exceeds 85 degrees, school leaders will monitor and communicate decisions regarding outdoor activities for K-12 Physical Education, K-12 School Sponsored Activities, Recess and Extended Day. The heat index (“real feel/feels like”) will guide decisions. What is heat index? How hot it feels to the body when the air temperature (in Fahrenheit) and relative humidity are combined. Also known as “real feel” or “feels like.”
Designed to help protect students from incurring heat-related illnesses or problems, school personnel will reference the Heat Index Guide to modify and/or suspend outdoor activities. This guide applies to K-12 Physical Education, K-12 School Sponsored Activities, K-5 Recess and Extended Day. High School Athletics and Marching Band must reference the Zachary Martin Act linked below.
Playground equipment must be considered. Is it too hot for students to touch?
Hydration should be encouraged frequently before, during and after outdoor activities.
Medical Conditions must be considered.
If students are outdoors, teachers should be aware of medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, medications, or other conditions which may place students at higher risk for heat-related illness. Students should not be outside if the parent has advised the school their child should not participate in outdoor activities due to the possibility of heat-related illness.
Students may possess and use a topical sunscreen product while on school property without a physician note or prescription if it is approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration for over-the-counter use.
All teams are required to follow the Zachary Martin Act.
Extreme Heat Protocols for Schools Read More »
Parents and guardians may now view their students’ school bus information online by logging in to Home Access Center (HAC).
After logging in, visit the Registration tab.
Then scroll down to find the Transportation section.
For help logging in to Home Access Center, please contact the Computer Operator at your child’s school.
School Bus Routes Are Now Available Read More »
The SJCSD is looking for great teachers and support staff to join the ranks of one of Florida’s top public school districts. Mark your calendars, and please share with potential new hires who you may know.
St. Johns County students achieved remarkable scores on a number of annual tests in 2024 including the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), B.E.S.T. Science, End-of-Course (EOC) Exams and STAR statewide assessments. Not only were SJCSD student test scores first in the state in a number of major subject areas, but many students also scored a “3” or above on their exams, indicating that they are at or above grade level proficiency in the given subject area.
This data excludes test scores from virtual schools, lab schools, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB), and college authorized charter schools.
View the infographic for more details.
In preparation for the start of school on Monday, August 12, St. Johns County School District’s Transportation Department will have all operators and buses following their transportation routes for district-wide rehearsals on Wednesday, July 31, and Wednesday, August 7.
These rehearsals will ensure that operators are familiar with their assigned routes and stops and will exercise all buses which were in reduced use for the summer. They will also help alert the community that the buses will soon be returning to the roadways so they can adjust their commutes as needed.
Transportation Rehearsals Read More »
On July 9, 2024, we will be hosting a Summer BreakSpot Party at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center complete with:
View the Summer Breakspot Party Tour Flyer to learn more.
Summer BreakSpot Party on July 9 Read More »
After schools close for the summer, kids and teens can still get free meals through Summer BreakSpot! No application is necessary, just show up to one of the thousands of meal sites across Florida.
Summer BreakSpot offers balanced breakfasts, lunches, snacks or dinner. Locations include places like parks, libraries and churches.
Summer BreakSpot is available all summer long for kids and teens 18 and under.
Find a location near you by texting the word “Food” to 304-304 or by dialing 2-1-1.
View the flyer for details or visit SummerBreakspot.org
Summer BreakSpot Free Meals for Kids & Teens Read More »
Florida Senator Travis Hutson visited R. J. Murray Middle School on May 20th to honor student artist Olivia Rieder. Olivia’s artwork won the 2023-2024 Art in the Capitol Competition for St. Johns County School District and was on display at the Florida State Capitol during the 2024 legislative session.
Art in the Capitol is a statewide visual arts competition for Florida students in grades 6 through 8. The annual contest requires each school district to hold an art competition for all students in grades 6 through 8 attending public schools, private schools, and home schools in Florida. The artwork is judged by a selection committee of artists or teachers whose students have not submitted work for the competition.
Learn more about the Art in the Capitol Competition.
Art in the Capitol Competition Read More »
The St. Johns County School District announces the schedule of 2024 graduation ceremonies for St. Johns County high schools and First Coast Technical College.
Graduation Schedule 2024 Read More »
The St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) distributes information about its energy incentives through its public dashboard, which has earned it the “Best Public Dashboard” award in EnergyCAP’s 2023 Eco Champion Awards.
In September 2008, the School Board adopted an innovative Energy Management Program (EMP) to control and optimize the cost and consumption of energy and related products across all district facilities.
Since the inception of the EMP, the footprint of SJCSD’s facilities has expanded significantly; the district’s gross facility footprint grew by over 35% from 4,977,748 square feet in 2008 to 6,746,702 square feet by the end of FY 2020. Despite this growth, the district has demonstrated remarkable efficiency improvements and cost savings through its energy management strategies and has publicized the data through its EnergyCAP Public Dashboard.
The SJCSD’s efforts are highlighted through comprehensive dashboards that track energy, water, sewer usage and costs across more than 40 school sites and over 180 accounts. While natural gas utility bills are currently tracked outside of the Energy Management Program, the district is actively working to integrate all commodities into its energy management system.
View the SJCSD Utilities Overview Dashboard.
SJCSD Wins Eco Champion Award 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. View the flyer for details.
Summer 2024 High School Facility Use Read More »
We can’t think of a better way to wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week than with this amazing song by the Crookshank Cougar Chorus, led by music teacher Cameron Moten.
Teachers Light The Way Read More »
The Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest is a statewide program that provides students in grades 4 through 6 with the opportunity to develop their public speaking abilities through a multi-level competition. The program is funded in partnership with the Florida 4-H Foundation and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL).
View the videos below to see SJCSD students in grades 4 through 6 deliver their speeches.
Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest 2024 Read More »
St. Johns County School District’s Controlled Open Enrollment third application window will be open starting May 1, 2024 and will run through May 24, 2024. Learn more…
Controlled Open Enrollment Read More »
