SJC School District

🍀Happy St. Patrick's Day! We are lucky to have you as part of our SJCSD family!🍀

Enjoy the break!🌞💮 See you next Monday!

Congratulations to Hallowes Cove Academy student Zachary Griffin who participated in the Regional MathCounts Competition, he was coached by Mr. Eric San Pedro. Zachary advanced to the State Competition at Embry-Riddle on March 20, and will compete against top students from across Florida! Good luck, Zachary!

🍎Shining a light on this week's #FeatureFriday employee, Traci Clark, ESE Program Specialist.

Tomorrow, Friday, March 13, is a teacher planning day - student holiday. Spring Break starts Monday, March 16. Woohoo!

Choose your path at St. Johns County Schools! 🚀Fine arts, performing arts, athletics, and student organizations are powerful parts of the public school experience. From band, chorus, and drama to competitive athletics and leadership opportunities, students build confidence, teamwork, and lifelong skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Explore the many ways your student can get involved by visiting your school’s webpage: stjohns.k12.fl.us/schools/.

Eight middle schools participated in the Regional MathCounts Competition on Friday, February 20, at the University of North Florida. Lakeside Academy, coached by Mrs. Beth McBride, and Switzerland Point Middle School, coached by Mrs. Miriam Amatangelo, have advanced to the State Competition at Embry-Riddle on March 20. They will compete against top teams from across Florida! Good luck, students!

Ms. Cheryl Freeman, coordinator for SJCSD Volunteer Services, reads a proclamation observing March 8-14, 2026, as AmeriCorps Week.

Ms. Jo Crowder, program specialist for K-12 Fine Arts reads a proclamation observing March 2026 as Fine Arts in our Schools Month.🎨🎶🎭

Congratulations to Sritha Gaddam of Tocoi Creek High School for earning fourth place in Impromptu Speaking at the National Civics and Debate Championship in Orlando!🎤🏆 Students from across the country competed in this challenging 3-day tournament showcasing civics knowledge, debate skills, and public speaking. We're also proud to celebrate two St. Johns County teachers recognized with the 2026 Inspiring Coach Award, Holly Chaker of Ponte Vedra High School and Brittany White of Beachside High School.🙌 Thank you for inspiring the next generation of civic leaders through speech and debate!

Congratulations to Yanetta Smith, Dean at Pedro Menendez High School, who is a Black History Month Excellence in Education Award winner. Ms. Smith received a $2,500 award from Volunteer Florida in recognition of her tireless service and lasting impact. This distinguished honor celebrates her dedicated leadership and commitment to shaping future generations. 🙌🎉

The School Board is proud to recognize the student winners in this year's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poster and Essay contest. We are all very proud of their amazing accomplishments! Congratulations!🎨📋

Congratulations to all of our All-State Middle School Band participants. These students are selected from thousands of auditioned students across the state to perform in the Florida All-State ensembles. They undergo a rigorous audition process which includes musicianship and written assessments.🎶🙌🏼

Congratulations to Lourdes Gallego of R.J. Murray Middle School (Art Teacher Amy Banton), the SJCSD Art in the Capitol winner. Her artwork will be displayed in the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee during the 2026 legislative session.🖼️

Congratulations to Allen D. Nease High School student Sophie Duan and Ponte Vedra High School student Anya Dorairaj for their winning projects at the St. Johns County Secondary STEM Fair. Both students will be representing the SJCSD at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Arizona in May.🧬🔬

🏆Congratulations to the SJCSD for earning two prestigious financial reporting honors! The SJCSD has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from both the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of School Business Officials International for the district's FY 2024 annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This is the highest recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting reflecting our strong commitment to financial transparency accountability and high quality reporting. Congratulations to Director of Accounting Elizabeth Moore and the entire Business and Fiscal team for this outstanding accomplishment!👏

The regular monthly School Board meeting is opened with a CHARACTER COUNTS! presentation by Audrey Hoffman, St Augustine High School senior and SSAA chorus member.

Learn how Tocoi Creek High School’s Academy of Innovation and NEFBA’s PWB are helping this student turn classroom concepts into jobsite-ready skills. When Samantha Colina Wuertter moved from Venezuela to Florida in 2020, construction was not part of her plan. She arrived at the height of COVID, adjusting to a new country, a new school system and a new language. For years, she assumed she would follow her family’s path and own a small business. That changed when she enrolled at Tocoi Creek High School’s Academy of Innovation in the Built Environment. “The academy changed me and my perspective,” Wuertter said. “It showed me..." Read more at haskell.com/insights/how-s…. Photo courtesy of Haskell.com

On Tuesday, March 10, the St. Johns County School Board will hold a Regular School Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium at 40 Orange Street and via the Webex virtual platform. For more information, visit stjohns.k12.fl.us/news/sjcsb-mee….

Congratulations to our Beaver Toyota Student of the Week, Olivia, a junior at Tocoi Creek High School. 🎉Olivia is actively involved in Yearbook, Women in Construction, the Academy of Innovation in the Built Environment, the National English Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, and Cards for Care. She earned her AutoCAD certification as a freshman and hopes to earn her Revit certification by the end of this school year. After graduation, Olivia plans to double-major in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. A self-described reptile lover, she has a lizard named Maui and hopes to add more in the future! She also dreams of visiting Germany to experience its historic architecture and cuisine. Olivia says she looks up to her dad for his strong work ethic and selflessness. Way to go, Olivia! 👏Be sure to listen to her full interview starting today on Beach 105.5 FM.