Q: Do you have an update on graduations for the Class of 2021?
A: Yes. We are very excited that all six of our biggest high schools will graduate in person at TIAA Bank Field. Ceremony dates and times are:
St. Augustine: June 1, 7 p.m.
Pedro Menendez, June 2, 7 p.m.
Nease, June 3, 7 p.m.
Bartram Trail, June 4, 7 p.m.
Creekside, June 5, 9 a.m.
Ponte Vedra, June 5, 7 p.m. 

Q: Looking ahead to next school year, what plans are in place so far?
A: We have already started a lot of work towards the 2021 – 22 school year. As of now, and definitely subject to change, the plan is to have full brick and mortar school for the St. Johns County School District. We are hopeful that with widespread vaccinations by then, this will be possible, but we are watching the situation closely. Parents who desire online education for their children can utilize St. Johns Virtual School or Florida Virtual School.

I really have to applaud our teachers who did such a stellar job this year, teaching online and brick and mortar. They are superheroes.

Q: Do you have a calendar update for the 2021 – 22 school year?
A: The school board has agreed to delay the opening of schools in August by one week because summer will be so short due to the later start and end dates of the current school year. This one week later start will allow for students to have a slightly longer summer and allow us time for the necessary inservice and planning days — all while still allowing us to finish the first semester before Winter Break. We will have to make up those six days, though, and so school will dismiss on June 2, 2022, a bit later than we are used to. By the 2022 – 23 school year, we will be back on track with an early August start and late May end.

Q: Do you have an update on High School III?
A: We began the zoning process on March 23 with a school board workshop and then a community meeting. The three plans that were submitted to the school board are available on the school district website, along with a dedicated email address for parents to comment and offer suggestions on the plans. The public will also have the opportunity to comment at our board meetings prior to the June 8 meeting, when we will adopt a zoning plan.

Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 1?
A: I want to highly encourage the early registration, going on now, of new students to the St. Johns County School District, especially kindergarteners. This can be accomplished online at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/student/enrollment/ or by visiting the student’s assigned school website. We need an accurate count to make sure we hire an adequate number of teachers and also for funding purposes. We anticipate a larger kindergarten class this year since last year’s was smaller than usual, perhaps due to COVID.

Q: How can our readers contact you?

A: They can email me at beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.

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