Santa Rosa County District Schools

Congratulations to our Class of 2025 graduates! 🎓 We have enjoyed celebrating our amazing students! 🎉 While we have had 5 commencement ceremonies, we still have 5 more coming up this week. Remaining Graduations: ⭐️Jay High School - Thursday, May 29 - 5:00pm @ Jay High School Gymnasium ⭐️Central High School - Thursday, May 29 - 7:30pm @ Pine Terrace Baptist Church ⭐️Navarre High School - Friday, May 30 - 11:00am @ Pensacola Bay Center ⭐️ Gulf Breeze High School - Friday, May 30 - 2:30pm @ Pensacola Bay Center ⭐️ Pace High School - Friday, May 30 - 6:00pm @ Pensacola Bay Center 🎥 You can watch the live stream during these ceremonies or the recorded videos from these ceremonies, or any of the others, on our 2025 Graduation page at the link below. 🔗 https://www.santarosaschools.org/page/graduation-2025

LEAPS & Bounds 4th Quarter Special Edition - NOW AVAILABLE! Our Special Edition of LEAPS & Bounds for the 4th quarter is now available online at https://bit.ly/LEAPSpecialEdition4thQuarter2425. This is Santa Rosa County School District’s multi-media, interactive magazine. This edition highlights updates about our project-based learning platform, Defined Learning, as well as Student Led Academic Teaming updates. Additionally, we will now incorporate Career and Workforce Education updates in our special editions. We have so much to be proud of and share in Santa Rosa County! We hope you’ll take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to see the amazing things happening throughout our district.

Memorial Day Reminder (5/26) We are almost into the last week of the school year! As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸 We look forward to seeing our students back on Tuesday, May 27. As a reminder, exams for middle/high school are on May 27 and May 28. 📝 These are FULL days for students. ⏰ Last Day of School 🏫 Thursday, May 29 - Early Release for all Students

CONTROLLED OPEN ENROLLMENT TRANSFER PERIOD REMINDER (4/11-5/27) As a reminder, the Controlled Open Enrollment transfer period for Santa Rosa County will end on May 27st. You can access the Transfer Form, the 25-26 School Choice Plan, and the 25-26 Controlled Open Enrollment Capacity Chart on our school district’s website under Resources & Services > Parents > School Choice. Directions for completing the transfer form and submitting it can also be found on the district’s website. Parents without internet can pick up a paper copy from the front office at a school site or at the Dillon Administrative Complex (6032 Hwy 90 in Milton). If you have questions regarding the transfer process, please contact your student’s Grade Level Director at 850-983-5150.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month We want to remind our families and students about the vital local mental health resources available to you, especially with summer fast approaching! 🌞 Your well being matters! ✨ Lakeview Center - Mobile Response Team 📞 866-517-7766 | Available 24/7 ✨ Suicide & Crisis Line 📞 Call or Text 988 | Available 24/7 ✨ Hope Florida 📞 850-300-HOPE | 🌐 hopeflorida.com ✨ Access Discount Healthcare 💻 Free Telehealth therapy | 📞 800-354-9308 Remember, you're never alone—support is just a call or text away! 💚 #MentalHealthMatters

Congratulations to Our Social Studies Teachers of the Year! We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Social Studies Teachers of the Year! Under the guidance of our Coordinator of Social Studies and World Languages, Amy Parker, we set out to honor a dedicated teacher from each educational level: elementary, middle, and high school. These exceptional educators were nominated by their department. They were selected their innovative and engaging approaches to teaching social studies by a panel consisting of grade level directors, SRPE, and two former history teachers who reviewed and scored their applications. Congratulations to Our Winners! Elementary: Katelyn Kent, Gulf Breeze Elementary School Middle: Brandi Williamson, Wallace Lake K8 High: Jackie Sines, Gulf Breeze High School Additionally, we extend a heartfelt thank you to Jewelers Trade Shop in Pensacola and Dr. Kevin Welch, MD, for their generous contributions, which help make our teachers feel truly special! Your support for our schools and district is greatly appreciated. #SRCDS1stChoice

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Physical challenges and serious health struggles in friends and family can impact their mental health. Although we might not be able to change someone’s illness, we can change how they experience it. During #MHAM2025, take the time to share a meal, take a walk, or just listen—it can make a world of difference. 🌎💖samhsa.gov/find-support/helping-someone

National Speech Language Pathologist Day 🗣️ Let's give a huge shout out to our amazing Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) in Santa Rosa County! These dedicated educators assist our students with speech, language, fluency, voice, social pragmatic skills, and so much more! They are an integral part of our team of educators! #SRCDS1stChoice 👏 Thank your favorite SLP below! 👇

Thank you to Dr. Michael Toth and the Instructional Empowerment team for joining us in Santa Rosa County today to host the Why Regional Workshop! We had so many participants from not only Santa Rosa, but other counties and organizations as well to include Leon, Gadsden, Calhoun, Dixie, Escambia, Bay, and the University of West Florida. It was a great day of learning, connecting, collaborating, and planning for how we can utilize Student Led Academic teams to support our student and instruction.

SWAT Workshop Below you will find a few photos from a SWAT Workshop on Saturday, May 10. In attendance were students from King Middle School, Woodlawn Beach Middle School, Gulf Breeze High School, Navarre High School, and Pace High School. Thank you to Deputy Sevilla (SRO at Woodlawn) and the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office for making a difference in our schools. We are thankful for your education and leadership to encourage students to make healthy choices about tobacco and nicotine.

Do you want to help your child both learn and love to read while building a FREE collection of books at home? New Worlds Reading is Florida’s free reading program that mails eligible kids a free book each month during the school year, along with resources and activities for families to use together to help students strengthen their literacy skills. Visit www.newworldsreading.com today to see if your child is eligible!

We had an incredible time at the annual "Val and Sal" Luncheon hosted by Superintendent Barber, celebrating the Valedictorians and Salutatorians from our high schools! Thank you to Mr. Thorpe (Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment) and Mr. Noack for joining! ✨ It was inspiring to hear their stories about experiences in Santa Rosa County, their most memorable moments, and their exciting future plans. Congratulations to these outstanding students! 🎓 Central School Gabe Martin, Valedictorian Bryce Bowers, Salutatorian Gulf Breeze High School Connell Bartling, Valedictorian Derek Smith, Salutatorian Jay High School Levi Blackman, Valedictorian Ramsey Reaves, Salutatorian Milton High School Andrew Henry, Valedictorian Elliott Wilson, Salutatorian Navarre High School Aaron Pinkerton, Valedictorian Lily Bayard, Salutatorian Pace High School Caden Crow, Valedictorian Casey Gunter, Salutatorian Santa Rosa High Gabrielle Hashbarger, Valedictorian Caleb Reasner, Salutatorian Keep shining bright, future leaders! 🌟#SRCDS1stchoice #Classof2025

Did you know? May is National Speech Language Hearing Month! The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has a free and interactive quiz that provides valuable information for families! Take the Communications Milestones Quiz at the link below! 🔗 https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-quiz/

Join the Santa Rosa County District Schools team and make a difference in the lives of students every day. Positions for the 2025–2026 school year are now open! Apply today at santarosa.schoolspring.com! 🏫

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Serious mental illness (#SMI) affects millions, yet stigma keeps many from seeking help. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Let’s make sure everyone gets support. Learn more: samhsa.gov/mental-health/serious-mental-illness/managing-life #EndtheStigma #MHAM2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and mother figures in our lives! 💐Today we recognize all that you do for others and remind you that your well-being matters too! 💝 If you are struggling: findsupport.gov #SelfCare #HappyMothersDay

The East Bay PE Department hosted a "Blacklight Bootcamp" with fun, hands-on, and engaging exercises and activities in honor of Month of the Military Child! 🌟 Check it out! Way to go, Eagles! 🦅 #SRCDS1stChoice

☀️Santa Rosa Community School Summer 2025 Camp ☀️ Mark your calendar... 🗓️ Registration opens on Monday, May 12! Check out the flyer for more information. ✅ Santa Rosa Community School Website: https://coms.santarosaschools.org/o/coms ✅ Registration: https://santarosa.reg.eleyo.com/

Library Media Specialist at East Milton Elementary, Mrs. Michelle Barlow, takes learning to prehistoric levels! As the elementary winner for Defined Learning, Mrs. Barlow received a prize basket that included a custom bobblehead. However, this bobblehead isn’t just for display on shelf for Mrs. Barlow! From dino jaws to dragon dens, this figure became the star of student-led teaming and creative writing activities in the library at EME. Students were fully engaged, building scenes, writing adventures, and bringing their imaginations to life. Way to go, Mrs. Barlow! This is proof that learning can be both educational and wildly fun with creative educators like Mrs. Barlow! #SRCDS1stChoice

ESE PARENT SURVEY We value your feedback! 🙂 The survey closes June 30. If you have a child in our Exceptional Student Education Program, please take a few moments to complete this brief survey. Thank you! Link: bit.ly/ESEParentSurvey