SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 14 - Don't forget that there is school on Friday, February 14, 2025. This is one of three hurricane make-up days that was previously a weather day on the calendar. We look forward to seeing everyone in school on Friday!
HIGHLIGHTING LITERACY WEEK - Several celebrity readers were spotted at Team Duval schools thanks to recent “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” events. At Dinsmore Elementary, guest readers included Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney, Jr., and District 4 School Board member Darryl Willie. At Hidden Oaks Elementary School, Jaguars Defensive Back Deshawn Dixon visited classrooms and read to students. What a great week!
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH - At Team Duval, we are proud of our dedication to ensuring that Black history is an integral part of K-12 education, in line with Florida statute 1003.42(2)(h). Visit www.duvalschools.org/blackhistory to learn more about our efforts and explore pivotal moments in Black history education.
SCHOOL CHOICE DEADLINE - Don’t forget that the school choice application window closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. This is an opportunity for families who want to apply for a magnet school or Special Transfer Option (STO) school for their child for the upcoming school year. Applications can be found in FOCUS, which is located in the Family Portal. For assistance, families can contact the school choice office by email at school_choice@duvalschools.org. Learn more here: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/magnetspecial-transfer-option-sto-application-process
HIGHLIGHTING ALDEN ROAD VOLUNTEERS - Staff at Alden Road Exceptional Student Center are shouting out over 40 volunteers who transformed the school's new media center! Volunteers with The Mission Continues, a veterans-based organization, helped staff relocate the library to a different room on campus. Volunteers did everything from painting the new space to assembling donated furniture from IKEA. Great work!
SCHOOLS REOPENING UPDATE - Duval County Public Schools will be open and fully operational tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 23. The weather is expected to be very cold for the remainder of the week. Parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure students are dressed in winter wear appropriate for the conditions. We look forward to seeing everyone back in school tomorrow!
SCHOOL CLOSURE UPDATE - Given the possibility for unsafe conditions, Duval County Public Schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22. In addition, all athletics and after-school activities scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22 will be canceled.
All regularly scheduled athletic and extracurricular activities taking place today, Jan. 21, will continue as planned. We will continue to share updates regarding the reopening of schools through direct emails, our website, our app, and our social media.
Congratulations to Vincent Taylor, a math interventionist at Cedar Hills Elementary School and author of the popular “Cornbread” series of children’s books, who was named the 2025 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year at the 34th Annual EDDY Awards Saturday, January 18th.
High School Students: 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, Inc., is hosting a free scholarship fair on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jesse Ball duPont Center, 40 W. Adams St. Get all the information at: https://100blackmenjax.org/january-is-national-mentoring-month-copy/
Please join us for our Middle/High School Showcase Saturday event on Saturday, Jan. 11. All district middle and high schools will be open for families to meet school leaders and educators and tour the campuses. Tours at each school will begin at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. This event will help families make informed decisions as they consider educational options for their child. Learn more by visiting the School Showcase Saturday webpage: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/showcase
Congratulations to Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts and its Quiz Bowl team for a first-place finish at the Big Bend Bowl at Florida State University! Winning team members Emmanuel Abay, Tyler McDonald, and Seth Van Deusen now qualify for the National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT) National Championship in May. According to NAQT, Quiz Bowl allows teams to go head-to-head answering questions from subjects such as science, popular culture, literature, history, and more. Quiz Bowl Coach Jeff Casner shares that Abay, McDonald, and Van Deusen’s impressive win involved competing against over a dozen teams from Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Bravo!
Shout out to Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School! Students are applying educational concepts to learn how to grow food in their own community garden, as well as give back to those in need. Students across all grade levels are receiving hands-on lessons on how to grow crops through the school’s Agricultural Science class and with help from volunteers with BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry). Principal Aaron Lakatos shares that through a $100,000 USDA Farm-to-School Grant, the school will provide crops to the local food pantry. In fact, students recently harvested and provided broccoli to BEAM. This is especially valuable in the Mayport community, which is considered a “food desert” due to the limited number of grocery stores in the area. Awesome work!
Congratulations to Kynlei Gibbs, a ninth grader at Riverside High School, who is the high school winner of the City of Jacksonville's Tomorrow's Leaders Award. Presented by VyStar Credit Union, this award honors local students who embody Dr. King’s service, leadership, and civic responsibility principles. Winners were chosen from essay, poetry, and visual arts submissions inspired by Dr. King’s powerful quote, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.” Gibbs and the other winners will be honored at the annual MLK Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 17.
Congratulations to Diego Munoz, a seventh grader at Westview K8, who is the middle school winner for the City of Jacksonville's Tomorrow's Leaders Award. Presented by VyStar Credit Union, this award honors local students who embody Dr. King’s service, leadership, and civic responsibility principles. Winners were chosen from essay, poetry, and visual arts submissions inspired by Dr. King’s powerful quote, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.” Munoz and the other winners will be honored at the annual MLK Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 17.
Congratulations to Tyson Jones, a fifth grader at Biscayne Elementary, who is the elementary winner for the City of Jacksonville's Tomorrow's Leaders Award. Presented by VyStar Credit Union, this award honors local students who embody Dr. King’s service, leadership, and civic responsibility principles. Winners were chosen from essay, poetry, and visual arts submissions inspired by Dr. King’s powerful quote, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.” Jones and the other winners will be honored at the annual MLK Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 17.
Sniffles, sneezes, and fevers—oh my! 😷 Keep your child healthy this cold & flu season.
Free telehealth visits are available for all Team Duval students. Sign up today and be prepared! https://getstarted.hazel.co/district/duvalschools
Enrollment and school choice season is here! New families looking to enroll their rising kindergarten students into a Team Duval school can do so beginning Dec. 1. Visit our Enroll Now webpage to see the five simple steps for enrollment: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/new-student-enrollment
School Choice applications are also open now. Current families looking to apply for magnet or Special Transfer Option (STO) schools for the upcoming school year can begin the process now. These applications will be in FOCUS, which is located in the Family Portal: https://oneview.duvalschools.org/. Note that kindergarten enrollment happens throughout the year, but there is a deadline for magnet and STO applications. This is Jan. 31. Learn more about the magnet/STO application process on our website: https://www.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/magnetspecial-transfer-option-sto-application-process
It's Thanksgiving week, and while this can be a joyful time, the holidays may also be stressful and overwhelming for many, including children and teens. Our partners at Hazel Health are committed to providing services to our students to help them navigate their hard times. Hazel Health will be available to students over the Thanksgiving break with online therapist visits at $0 for all students. To schedule a visit with a licensed therapist, visit https://getstarted.hazel.co/district/duvalschools
Don't Forget - Our elementary School Showcase Saturday event is just around the corner on Saturday, Dec. 7. This is a great event for families seeking the best choice for their new kindergarten student or elementary-aged child. All district elementary schools will be open for families to meet school leadership and tour the school. Tours at each school will begin at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. Learn more about the event on the School Showcase Saturday webpage: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/dcps/page/showcase
Team Duval welcomed three new Board Members on Nov. 20 during a special swearing-in ceremony. Please welcome: The Honorable Anthony Ricardo, District 1; The Honorable Reginald K. Blount, District 5; and the Honorable Melody Bolduc, District 7. Additionally, the Board held its annual re-organization meeting where it selects the Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year. Congratulations to the new Board Chair, Charlotte Joyce, and the new Vice-Chair, April Carney.
