REGISTER FOR A BUS TODAY - Bus registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All students who plan to ride a school bus next year must be registered in advance, including students enrolled in self-contained ESE programs. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Registration forms are available in Focus. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process, visit: www.duvalschools.org/busregistration

Congratulations to Principal Stalls of Hogan Spring Glen Elementary for receiving a Team Duval Shoutout due to her amazing work around literacy. Throughout the school year, Principal Stalls gave HSG students a meaningful way to share goals and celebrate reading gains. It was due in part to these efforts that the school strengthened its culture of literacy and moved from a C to an A rating. Thank you, Principal Stalls, for your leadership and guidance and congratulations on this momentous achievement!

The 2026 - 2027 school year started off on a high note for the Riverside High School Band, as they received new instruments due to a grant from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. The new band equipment - totaling over $38,000 - will help expand opportunities for student musicians and strengthen the school's band program for years to come. Congratulations, RHS Band!

Let’s give a big Team Duval Shoutout to Ms. Amber Terrill, a paraprofessional at San Jose Elementary, for her organization of this year’s “Back-to-School Bash.” Students attending the event received shoes, book bags, and school supplies while also enjoying face painting stations, organized games, and even a bounce house! This effort was all done to support students in being prepared for the upcoming school year. Thanks to Ms. Terrill’s thoughtful and dedicated planning, she inspired staff, family members, and community members to contribute essential items. We could not be more appreciative of your leadership, demonstrating the impact one person can have when they bring a community together for a meaningful cause!

A huge shout-out to our Duval County Public Schools Dual Language educators who inspired us during the Dual Language Early Return at Alfred Dupont Middle School. Your enthusiasm, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to providing high-quality bilingual education for our students are truly commendable. Over the two-day event, educators engaged in WIDA ELD Standards sessions in both English and Spanish, enriching their knowledge and instructional practices to better support multilingual learners, mastering ESOL Essentials, BE Glad Strategies, and Imagine Math. Embracing this year's theme, “One Team. World Class.,” your dedication to empowering multilingual learners and enhancing our dual language programs showcases our collective potential. Here’s to another remarkable year of learning, growth, and celebrating bilingualism. We eagerly anticipate the amazing impact you will make this school year!

LEADERS LEND HELPING HANDS – As our schools welcomed students and staff back for a new school year, members of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team were out and about, lending helping hands wherever they were needed most. From greeting students and supporting teachers to pitching in with the many moving pieces of the first week, our leaders were right alongside school teams, ready to help make the start of the year a success. Many also joined back-to-school community events, connecting with families and helping create the excitement and energy that make the first week so special.

That’s what Team Duval is all about—working together, supporting one another, and doing whatever it takes to help our schools thrive. Guided by our belief that “A Means All,” our priority is making sure every student, staff member, and school community feels supported and ready for a great year. Whether greeting families, helping behind the scenes, or simply being an extra set of hands, our Leadership Team is proud to show up, pitch in, and put our schools first!

Let’s give a big Team Duval Shoutout to the Pine Forest Safety Patrols! They had the privilege of representing Duval County this summer in a visit to Washington, DC. The agenda was filled with educational experiences and exciting activities, including a photo opportunity at the National Cathedral. Thank you, Safety Patrols, for all you do to keep our students safe!

PRINCIPAL AND STAFF STRENGTHEN SUMMER INSTRUCTION - We would like to extend a heartfelt and well-deserved shoutout to Principal Simpson of Central Riverside Elementary School for his outstanding leadership and unwavering support during the opening week of our ESOL Summer Maintenance six-week program. This six-week ESOL Summer Maintenance Program is vital to the ongoing English language development of our students, helping them maintain, strengthen, and build their language skills. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the outstanding teachers and ESOL paraprofessionals at Central Riverside ES. Thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of our students!

PRINCIPAL PROMOTES PROFESSIONAL GROWTH - Principal Suzanne Shall at Kernan Trail Elementary earns today’s Team Duval Shoutout for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to both teachers and students. “She fosters a welcoming environment through her open-door policy,” writes the submitting staff member, “and genuinely believes in the potential of every teacher on our campus.” Through initiatives such as WOW Wednesdays, Principal Shall promotes professional growth by giving teachers the opportunity to observe one another’s classrooms, reflect together, and bring new instructional strategies back to their own students. Principal Shall, thank you for your dedication, vision, and leadership!

MAYPORT MIDDLE STUDENTS TAKE TOP ROBOTICS HONORS – Congratulations to the Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School Robotics Team, who are earning today’s Team Duval Shoutout for their impressive showing at the International SeaPerch Robotics Competition in College Park, Maryland! Over 210 student teams from six countries and 30 U.S. states took part in the competition held at the University of Maryland, College Park. There, the Mayport Middle team was crowned overall champions in all three divisions: Middle School Stock, High School Stock, and Most Advanced. They also took home a total of 13 trophies! Way to go!