Q: Can you share the names yet of the two new schools scheduled to open this fall?
A: Yes, at our School Board meeting on March 12, the board named the schools. The school in Shearwater, previously known as K-8 NN, will be called Trout Creek Academy. The school in Beacon Lakes, previously known as K-8 OO, will be named Lakeside Academy. These names were chosen from lists developed by each principal as a result of multiple community meetings. There were around six or seven name suggestions on each list and the names we chose were the most popular on each of the lists developed by the respective communities.
Q: What is the next step?
A: The principals will continue with community meetings to determine the colors and mascots for each school. As is our tradition, naming the schools is done by the school board, but the school colors and mascots are selected by the principal and community. This should be accomplished in the next few months.
Q: Were there any other items of note determined at the March 12 meeting?
A: We also approved our annual five year plan — and it has a high school on the list. It’s planned for the latter years of the five year plan, but subject to being adjusted as circumstances change since we do revise this plan every year. Also in the five year plan are the RiverTown school, the school in Silverleaf, the next school in Nocatee, a new elementary school in the southern part of the county, and an expansion of South Woods Elementary. South Woods is the last of the schools to be expanded as a result of the class size amendment, which required smaller class sizes and subsequently more classrooms.
Q: Is the district hiring at this time?
A: We are actively hiring for next year. We have to staff the two new schools as well as account for growth throughout the district. We will have an in-person job fair on April 27 at Nease High School where we will be hiring teachers and all positions. Interested applicants can also check on our website to see all the job opportunities and apply online even before the job fair. Click on Staff Recruitment on the main page of the district’s website (www.stjohns.k12.fl.us).
Q: Is it too early to register for next year?
A: No, it is not too early. Registration for new students and kindergarteners has begun and we encourage parents to register as early as possible. Most of the registration can be done online by going to your zoned school’s website. If you don’t know which school you are zoned for, the district’s website (www.stjohns.k12.fl.us) has a school finder that allows you to input your address and learn your zoned school.
Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 1?
A: When students and teachers returned from Spring Break, it marked the start of the fourth and final quarter of the school year. There will be a lot of celebrations in the weeks to come, including graduation. It’s a fun time for students and teachers. The last day of school will be May 24.
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.
