SJC School District

Need a backpack for the new school year? Catholic Charities is hosting a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway on Friday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, 86 MLK Ave, St. Augustine. Backpacks will be available for students in grades K–12 on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Students must be present to receive a backpack. See the flyer for complete details.

Last week, we were excited to welcome our newest employees during our New Hire Induction Days! Thank you to Tocoi Creek High School and its amazing administrators, staff, and students for hosting and making our newest team members feel so welcome. A warm welcome begins with a community that believes in its educators. We’re incredibly thankful to our partners, volunteers, and supporters who helped make this year's New Hire Induction extra special. Your generosity, encouragement, and commitment made our newest teachers and staff feel valued from day one. A special thank you to our community partners: 🍎 Investing in Kids (INK!) 🎓 Grand Canyon University 🥪 Paladar Cuban Eatery 💙 Equitable Finance 🥤 Daily's 🏡 St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors 🐄 Chick-Fil-A 🍪 Kyle's CAMP Cookies Together, we're building a strong foundation for an amazing school year. Welcome to St. Johns County School District!

✏️ 7 Days Until the First Day of School! The first day is just one week away! Now is the perfect time to check your school supply list and finish your back-to-school shopping. 🛍️ Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday continues through August 20, giving families extra time to save on many school supplies, clothing, shoes, and select school-related items. Need your child's supply list? Visit your school's website for the latest information.

🍎 Today is an Optional Pre-Planning Day and some of our dedicated staff members are returning to campus to begin preparing for the new school year! Students are not back yet—we look forward to welcoming them on Monday, August 10!

🍎 8 Days Until the First Day of School! Get a head start by completing your Free & Reduced Price Meal Application for the new school year. We encourage all families to apply, even if you're unsure whether you qualify. ✅ Apply online: stjohns.k12.fl.us/food/free/ Please remember: • A new application is required each school year unless your family has been automatically approved through Direct Certification. • Applications may take up to 10 business days to process. Students enrolled at the following Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools do not need to complete an application: Crookshank Elementary School, Gamble Rogers Middle School, Hartley Elementary School, Ketterlinus Elementary School, Murray Middle School, Osceola Elementary School, Otis Mason Elementary School, Sebastian Middle School, South Woods Elementary School, First Coast Technical College VPK Program, The Evelyn Hamblen Center, Webster Elementary School Every student deserves access to nutritious meals that help them learn, grow, and succeed.

🎉 9 Days Until the First Day of School! We're looking forward to welcoming our volunteers back for another great school year! Whether you're helping in the classroom, chaperoning field trips, assisting with school events, mentoring students, or supporting other campus activities, an approved volunteer application is required before volunteering on campus. ✅ Apply or renew today: 🔗 apps.raptortech.com/Apply/OTY0OTpl… Already approved? Volunteer access is valid for three years. As your approval period nears expiration, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to renew your application. Questions? Contact Volunteer Services at 904-547-3945. Thank you for partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of our students. We can't wait to see you this school year!

🏫 Every school has a story, and we're excited to share another one. The latest episode of All Access with Dr. Asplen takes us to Valley Ridge Academy, where students are challenged to learn, encouraged to lead, and supported by a team of dedicated educators. See how the school's commitment to academic excellence and student success comes to life each day.

There will be a School Board Workshop on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. The workshop will be held in the auditorium of the SJCSD Administrative Building at 40 Orange Street, St. Augustine, 32084 and via Webex. Visit stjohns.k12.fl.us for more information.

🎉 10 Days Until the First Day of School! The countdown is on! In just 10 days, we'll welcome students back for another exciting year of learning, growth, and opportunity. Our teachers and staff have been hard at work preparing classrooms, campuses, and schools, and we can't wait to see our students back on Monday, August 10. Let's make it a great year, SJCSD!

Academic excellence continues to define the SJCSD. 💡 Our students’ performance ranks first in Florida when it comes to reading, mathematics, science, and EOC performance. Explore more about our student achievement & programs: stjohns.k12.fl.us

🤖 We have an exciting new addition to the Sebastian Middle School STEM Program! Our new Booster robot has officially arrived and will be making appearances across campus throughout the school year. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to program it, complete engineering challenges, and explore hands-on STEM experiences. Even better, our students will get to choose its official name once the school year gets underway! 🎉 We can't wait to see all the creative ways our students will bring this new technology to life. Here's to an amazing year of innovation, creativity, and engineering!

🚌✨ Before the first day of school, a lot happens behind the scenes to make sure every bus is clean, safe, and ready to roll. Throughout the summer, our Bus Operators and Bus Attendants deep clean each bus from top to bottom - inside and out - to ensure they’re clean, safe, and ready for the first day of school. Thank you to our Bus Operators and Bus Attendants for all you do to help our students begin each school day safely. We appreciate you! 💙🚌

School is almost here - let's celebrate with a fun family activity! James A. Webster Elementary School is hosting its 2026 Back-to-School Block Party on Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event includes free school supplies for all students, a free hot breakfast, wellness services, community resources, and more. Check out the flyer for all the details!

Looking for personalized, high-quality learning opportunities? 🌟 St. Johns Compass is a pay-for-course (and other services) option designed for state scholarship students who are seeking high-quality academic opportunities within the St. Johns County School District. Take the next step and submit your course request form today by visiting: stjohnscompass.com

🚀 SAVE THE DATE! Something out of this world is coming to Freedom Crossing Academy! Join us on October 6, 2026 as we connect LIVE with the International Space Station. Additional event details will be announced soon. We can't wait to share more! 🌎✨

Digital Citizenship: Think Before You Share 💻 Help students stay safe online this summer by reminding them to protect their personal information. Encourage them to keep details like passwords, addresses, school information, and private family information private. When in doubt, pause and ask a trusted adult. #SJCSD #DigitalCitizenship #OnlineSafety

A big thank you to our incredible custodial teams! ✨ As the first day of school approaches, our custodial teams are busy preparing our campuses to welcome students and staff back for another successful year. Thank you for all you do!

Every role makes an impact. Join us! 💙 We’re seeking dedicated educators and support staff to help make the 2026-2027 school year a success. Current districtwide opportunities include: • Teachers • School Counselors • Paraprofessionals • Custodians • Extended Day Staff …and more! 📅 Apply here applitrack.com/stjohns/online… by August 14.

A Public Hearing for the adoption of the tentative budget and millage rates will be held on Thursday, July 30, at 5:30 p.m. The hearing will take place in the auditorium of the SJCSD Administrative Building, located at 40 Orange Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, and will also be available via Webex. For additional information, please visit stjohns.k12.fl.us

🚌 Important Transportation Dates for the 2026–2027 School Year! As the first day of school approaches, keep these important dates in mind: 📅 July 29 – Bus Route Rehearsal No. 1 📅 July 30 – Bus routes available in BusPlanner and the Chipmunk app 📅 August 5 – Bus Route Rehearsal No. 2 📅 August 10 – First Day of School! During both rehearsal days, our bus drivers will be on the road practicing routes to prepare for the first day of school. Reminder: Bus stop locations and pickup/drop-off times will only be available through BusPlanner and are not available in Home Access Center (HAC). Need help? Visit stjohns.k12.fl.us/transportation… or contact Michael Hope, Routing Coordinator, at michael.hope@stjohns.k12.fl.us or (904) 547-7810.