Congratulations to Gulf Breeze High School student, Christian Burgess, on his outstanding achievement at the 2025 Incubate Debate Fall Championship, held October 13 and 14 at Jacksonville University.
Christian ranked fourth place out of over 70 participants, while exhibiting rigor, grit, and dedication to debate and public speaking in his time with us over the weekend. 👏 He debated timely and timeless topics facing our country, and did so with poise, clarity, and respect. Being selected out of an applicant pool of nearly 500 students, with a 24% acceptance rate, Christian excelled in his participation and skill. Way to go!! 🐬#SRCDS1stChoice
Christian ranked fourth place out of over 70 participants, while exhibiting rigor, grit, and dedication to debate and public speaking in his time with us over the weekend. 👏 He debated timely and timeless topics facing our country, and did so with poise, clarity, and respect. Being selected out of an applicant pool of nearly 500 students, with a 24% acceptance rate, Christian excelled in his participation and skill. Way to go!! 🐬#SRCDS1stChoice
We are thankful for the Chancellor's Leadership Academy, hosted annually by the Florida Department of Education.
For the 2025-2026 school year, Kasie Windfelder and Rachelle Wood are attending this professional learning opportunity.
Mrs. Windfelder is the current principal at Navarre High School and the future principal at Soundside High School (beginning in January 2026). Mrs. Wood serves as the assistant principal at East Bay K8.
We look forward to the knowledge they bring back to our students and schools!! 💙💚#SRCDS1stChoice
‼️ Rooms Issues Due to Amazon Web Services Outage ‼️
We are aware some Apple/iOS users are having trouble logging in to the Thrillshare app (staff) and SRCDS Rooms app (parents) for communication due to issues related to Amazon web services.
Temporary Solution:
We recommend parents use a browser to login to Rooms while we wait for Amazon to repair their services. They can log in via www.edurooms.com and use their credentials (phone or email) linked to their child in FOCUS.
When we have an update, we will make you aware. Thanks for your patience! Have a great night!
We are so proud of the amazing instruction and opportunities in Santa Rosa County! We are proud to showcase some of these items through our LEAPS & Bounds magazine.
Take a look at the 1st Quarter Special Edition which features:
➡️Workforce Education
➡️Student Led Academic Teaming
➡️ Project Based Learning.
This is an interactive way to see what is happening throughout our district through pictures, video, and upcoming information for families. We hope you'll take a few moments to see the success in Santa Rosa. Just click the link below!
🔗https://bit.ly/SpecialEditionOctober2025
Take a look at the 1st Quarter Special Edition which features:
➡️Workforce Education
➡️Student Led Academic Teaming
➡️ Project Based Learning.
This is an interactive way to see what is happening throughout our district through pictures, video, and upcoming information for families. We hope you'll take a few moments to see the success in Santa Rosa. Just click the link below!
🔗https://bit.ly/SpecialEditionOctober2025
💙 Safety Starts With Us - Week 4💙
Taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies. 🧠✨
Students—remember, you are never alone.
💬 Talk to a trusted adult, counselor, or teacher.
💛 Connect with your school’s HOPE Squad for peer support if you are in middle/high school.
📞 Help is always available through Lakeview Center, 988, or HopeFlorida.
Together, we’re building safe schools and strong futures. #SRCDS1stChoice #SafetyStartsWithUs
Mental Health Resource Website for SRCDS:
🔗https://www.santarosaschools.org/o/srcds/page/mental-health-services
Taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies. 🧠✨
Students—remember, you are never alone.
💬 Talk to a trusted adult, counselor, or teacher.
💛 Connect with your school’s HOPE Squad for peer support if you are in middle/high school.
📞 Help is always available through Lakeview Center, 988, or HopeFlorida.
Together, we’re building safe schools and strong futures. #SRCDS1stChoice #SafetyStartsWithUs
Mental Health Resource Website for SRCDS:
🔗https://www.santarosaschools.org/o/srcds/page/mental-health-services
What a week for Santa Rosa football! 🏈
Our teams brought the heat with big wins across the district. 🔥 Check out Friday night’s scoreboard from October 17 and join us in celebrating these outstanding athletes.
Congratulations to all of our winning teams! Way to represent Santa Rosa County! #SRCDS1stChoice
Schools of Excellence in Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County District Schools is proud to recognize FIVE schools that have received the School of Excellence Designation for the 2024-2025 school year.
These schools include:
👏Gulf Breeze Elementary
👏Oriole Beach Elementary
👏Gulf Breeze Middle School
👏Sims Middle School
👏Gulf Breeze High School
The State Board designated a school as a School of Excellence if the school's percentage of possible points earned in its school grade calculation is in the 80th percentile or higher for schools comprised of the same grade groups (elementary, middle, high, and combination) for at least two of the last three school years. For 2024-2025, only 744 total schools in the state were recognized in 49 school districts.
We are extremely proud of the students, staff, and families for receiving this designation in five of our very own schools. Our mission in Santa Rosa County District Schools is to love, educate, and prepare all students for graduation and a successful future. Congratulations! 🎉 #SRCDS1stChoice
Sponsor Shoutout ✨
Thank you to Dr. Clay Sims and Jennifer Sims with Sims Orthodontics for your generosity and sponsorship of our upcoming Trunk or Treat event hosted by the ESE Department! We couldn't do what we do without support from local business partners like you! ❤️
LEAP Teacher Advisory Council
What an incredible group of educators! Our Teacher Advisory Council is off to a great start for the 2025–2026 school year. We had an evening full of collaboration, inspiration, and shared ideas. We’re excited for the year ahead with these outstanding leaders as we continue to love, educate, and prepare students in Santa Rosa County! #SRCDS1stChoice
Soundside High School is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. As more information, zoning decisions, and/or student placement decisions are made, we will post updates for parents, families, and our community. We can't wait to welcome our future Hurricanes soon! 🌀
Taco Mama will be hosting a SPIRIT NIGHT for Soundside High School on Monday, October 27 from 4-9pm. A percentage of the proceeds will go back to SHS - so mention SHS when ordering! You can come by and meet Principal Windfelder from 6-8pm! We hope to see you there! 🌮
Taco Mama will be hosting a SPIRIT NIGHT for Soundside High School on Monday, October 27 from 4-9pm. A percentage of the proceeds will go back to SHS - so mention SHS when ordering! You can come by and meet Principal Windfelder from 6-8pm! We hope to see you there! 🌮
It's almost that time again! Let's support our Santa Rosa athletes! Check out this week's line up for Friday, October 17! 🏈
October is both National Internet Safety Month and National Bullying Prevention Month. We have an upcoming event that is tailored to help protect your child’s confidence by supporting positive student behavior!
Join Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber along with SmartSocial for a LIVE virtual event, designed to help parents understand how to combat online bullying and foster positive student behaviors. 🎙️
When: Thursday, October 23 @ 6:00pm
Where: This is a free, virtual event! Register at the link below. 💻
🔗 https://www.smartsocial.com/event/combat-online-bullying-supporting-positive-student-behaviors-on-campus-and-at-home-live-session-3?org=santarosacsd
Trunk or Treat Reminder
As we celebrate Disability Awareness Month, we invite our special needs families to join us on Friday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Dillon Center (6032 Hwy 90 in Milton) for a sensory friendly and safe event! We hope to see you there! 🎃
As we celebrate Disability Awareness Month, we invite our special needs families to join us on Friday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Dillon Center (6032 Hwy 90 in Milton) for a sensory friendly and safe event! We hope to see you there! 🎃
🌟 Day of Caring 2025 is Almost Here! 🌟
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 24 — one of the biggest volunteer events of the year! With more than 60 projects across Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, we’re proud that over a dozen of those projects will take place at our Santa Rosa school sites.
If you or your organization would like to make a difference, there’s still time to sign up! 🙌
➡️ Visit https://www.uwwf.org/dayofcaring
📧 Contact Julia Helton at julia.helton@uwwf.org or call 850-912-8177 to get connected with a project today!
We are so appreciative of our volunteer groups that are generously giving their time on this day. We can't wait to see the impact of DOC 2025! 💙💚
Sharing again as many of our middle schools are announcing their winning teams for the tournament! Way to go! 🏀
🏀 Middle School 3-on-3 Basketball Tournaments! 🏀
Get ready for some fast-paced hoops action!
📅 Saturday, November 1 – Boys tip off at 8:00 AM, with girls’ games to follow shortly after.
📍 Locations
• North End Schools & WLK8 – Pace High
• South End Schools & EBK8 – Gulf Breeze High
🏆 Championship
Winners advance to the 3-on-3 Championship Tournament on Saturday, November 15 at Pace High (8:00 AM).
🎟 Fees & Concessions
• $5 entry fee (Ages 12+)
• Concessions available on site
Come cheer on our amazing middle school athletes and show your Santa Rosa spirit! 💚💙
Congratulations to the School Related Employee of the Year for Canal Street Complex/TSS, Mr. Bobby Lewis!
Bobby works in the Finance Department at Canal Street and serves as an Accounts Payable Specialist III. We are thankful to have Bobby on our team and for all of his hard work and dedication! Way to go, Bobby! 👏✨ #SRCDS1stChoice
Bobby works in the Finance Department at Canal Street and serves as an Accounts Payable Specialist III. We are thankful to have Bobby on our team and for all of his hard work and dedication! Way to go, Bobby! 👏✨ #SRCDS1stChoice
🦺 Safety Volunteers Needed! 🦺
Santa Rosa County District Schools is looking for dedicated community members to serve as Safety Volunteers — helping us keep our campuses safe and welcoming. 💙
✅ Volunteers must be board approved and complete training before starting.
📲 Scan the QR code or visit www.santarosaschools.org
to apply today!
📞 For more information, contact your school’s site administrator.
Together, we’re building safe schools and strong futures. #SafetyStartsWithUs #SRCDS1stChoice
Santa Rosa County District Schools is looking for dedicated community members to serve as Safety Volunteers — helping us keep our campuses safe and welcoming. 💙
✅ Volunteers must be board approved and complete training before starting.
📲 Scan the QR code or visit www.santarosaschools.org
to apply today!
📞 For more information, contact your school’s site administrator.
Together, we’re building safe schools and strong futures. #SafetyStartsWithUs #SRCDS1stChoice
PNJ Student of the Week
Voting is open now through Friday 10/17 at noon! You can vote once per day. Our student nominees this week are:
Kennedy Gardner - Milton High School
Marcus Rodriguez - Navarre High School
Caroline Smith - Gulf Breeze High School
Let’s show our Santa Rosa students our support! 👏👏👏 Use the link below to read their nominations and vote! #SRCDS1stChoice
🔗 https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2025/10/14/who-should-be-named-pnjs-student-of-the-week-cast-your-vote/86670595007/
Hispanic Heritage Month
Spanish students at Gulf Breeze High School explored the artistic legacy of Hispanic culture by studying the origins and evolution of Hispanic tile work (azulejos). Students learned how tile art became a symbol of cultural fusion and creativity across Latin America.
As part of the project, students designed their own tiles inspired by traditional Spanish and Latin American patterns, contributing to a collaborative class mural that celebrates unity, heritage, and artistic expression.
Their displays highlight how history, art, and math come together to tell the story of Hispanic culture: past and present. Way to go, Dolphins! 👏#SRCDS1stChoice
Congratulations to the School Related Employee of the Year for the Douglas A. Dillon Center, Jamie Kemmermer! 👏
Jamie serves as the Human Resources secretary, where she juggles a wide range of responsibilities and plays a key role in onboarding new employees. Her dedication, organization, and positive attitude help keep everything running smoothly! You can always find her with a smile on her face! 🙂 We’re so proud of you and appreciate your commitment to our school district! #SRCDS1stChoice💙💚
Jamie serves as the Human Resources secretary, where she juggles a wide range of responsibilities and plays a key role in onboarding new employees. Her dedication, organization, and positive attitude help keep everything running smoothly! You can always find her with a smile on her face! 🙂 We’re so proud of you and appreciate your commitment to our school district! #SRCDS1stChoice💙💚
