Santa Rosa County District Schools

Santa Rosa Online will now offer full-time enrollment for grades 3-5 for the 2025-2026 school year. If you are interested, please see the flyer below and plan to attend the information session on Tuesday, June 3 at the SRO Campus at 6556 Firehouse Rd in Milton. Call (850) 981-7860 for questions or to register!

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION WEEK During the week of April 7-11, we celebrate and recognize the amazing work of our Assistant Principals throughout Santa Rosa County! We appreciate the leadership, dedication, and hard work they bring to our schools. Drop a comment to show your appreciation for an AP who has made an impact!

REPORT CARDS Reports cards are now available for the 3rd quarter. You can access your child's grades and review progress by logging into your FOCUS Parent Portal account. Link: https://santarosa.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN DAY Did you know? Today is School Librarian Appreciation Day! We are so thankful for our library media specialists at our school sites that help inspire love of learning and reading with our students. Thank you to our school librarians for creating welcoming spaces where students can explore, learn, and grow!

The School Board of Santa Rosa County, Florida, hereby gives notice that it will conduct a public Board Meeting on April 10, 2025. This meeting will begin at 5:30pm and the meeting will be held at 5086 Canal Street Milton, FL 32570.

Today, Dr. Karen Barber, Superintendent of Schools, had the incredible opportunity to surprise two outstanding students with the Florida Prepaid Superintendent’s Scholarship! Please join us in congratulating these students. Scholarship Recipients: 1. JimJin “Angel” Powell, Pace High School 2. Jackson Stewart, Pace High School Angel, a talented artist and chorus member, dreams of becoming an art teacher. This scholarship will help her take the next steps toward that goal! Jackson, an ROTC cadet with a passion for mechanics, is eager to pursue a career as an auto mechanic. He shared, “This is going to get me so much further in achieving my goal than I ever imagined.” These students will be recognized at the School Board Meeting on April 10, 2025. Congratulations to Angel and Jackson! Our mission in Santa Rosa County is to love, educate, and prepare ALL students for graduation and a successful future. We look forward to seeing the success from these students with this amazing opportunity. Way to go! #SRCDS1stChoice More about this scholarship: Santa Rosa County District Schools is pleased to partner with Florida Prepaid to offer two deserving high school seniors the chance to earn a 2-Year Florida College Plan Scholarship valued at approximately $8,000.

SRCDS Earns Cognia Systems STEM Certification Santa Rosa County District Schools announced today that it has earned Cognia® Systems Accreditation as a STEM Certified District. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. “Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Santa Rosa County District Schools a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system,” shared Dr. Karen Barber, Superintendent of Schools. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” Cognia recognizes schools and districts across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Cognia Systems Accreditation, a school district must submit to internal and external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school system meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools and districts in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term. The STEM Certification highlights the work our district is doing to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics throughout our district. To read the full press release, please click the link below. Link: https://conta.cc/4jgBCGA

PARAPROFESSIONAL APPREICATION DAY Please join us in recognizing our amazing paraprofessionals today on Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! These individuals play a vital role in our schools. Thank you to all paraprofessionals for your commitment, patience, and care! You are truly the heart of our schools! Drop a comment below to show your appreciation!

LEAPS & Bounds - April 2025 Santa Rosa County School District’s multi-media, interactive magazine for the month of April is now available online at https://bit.ly/April2025LEAPSandBounds. This edition highlights recognitions around the district including Numeracy Week, Month of the Military Child, Mock Trial Success, Amazing Shake Competition, upcoming events, parent and family resources, safety information, and more.

Transition Tuesday Happy Tuesday! Join us as we expand on topics related to parents and families of students in our transition program. This week, we are covering guardianship topics for families. Why is Guardianship Important, if I have a student with a disability? When thinking about guardianship or other decision-making options for your youth approaching the age of 18, it’s important to choose a solution that provides them with the greatest possible independence, while also protecting their health and well-being. Some decision-making options to consider include: Full Guardianship is appropriate when a person is found to lack the ability to care for themselves and their property. The court (circuit court) appoints a guardian to take over all of the person’s rights and powers that can be legally transferred. Limited Guardianship applies when a person is found to lack the ability to exercise some, but not all, of their rights. The court will appoint a guardian to handle specific rights that can be legally delegated (Section 744.102, F.S.). Guardian Advocacy is an option for individuals with a developmental disability (DD). A person cannot be deemed in need of a guardian solely due to having a DD. However, if a person with DD lacks the ability to make some (but not all) decisions related to their care, a Guardian Advocate may be appointed by the circuit court to assist in those areas (Section 393.12, F.S.). Supported Decision-Making allows individuals to make their own decisions with support from trusted family members, friends, and/or professionals. This model gives the person the option to make decisions independently while accessing help when needed. Striking the right balance between autonomy and support is key to ensuring your youth can live the most self-determined life possible. More resources can be found on Project 10 at the link below. Understanding these options is essential in helping your youth transition to adulthood with the right level of support and independence. Link: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://project10.info/Documents/Considering_Age_of_Majority_Pages_One-Four_8.5_x11__9.11.23.pdf

Title I Parent Survey We need your feedback! If your child attends a Title I school, please complete this survey (open 4/1-4/11). You can scan the QR code or click the link below. Thank you in advance for your time and input. We appreciate it greatly! Link: https://forms.office.com/r/Uh9yuY8MyS

April is Month of the Military Child! This month, we honor the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of military children. Join us in celebrating and supporting our military families this month. Don't forget - we will wear PURPLE for Purple Up Day on Thursday, April 17.

Congratulations to Bennett Russell Elementary's very own student, Serenity Shannon, on being named as a finalist in the ESS national art contest! We can help her and Bennett Russell win the $500 prize by liking, sharing and commenting on the posts at the link below! Way to go, Serenity!! Link: https://www.facebook.com/ESSEducationStaffing and https://www.instagram.com/ess_education/#.

It's hard to believe we are already nearing the month of April! Please take a moment to review upcoming important dates for the month ahead. As always, please check with your child's school for additional dates and events as applicable. Thank you for your continued partnership! April Dates: April is Month of the Military Child 2- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day 4- Report Cards (3rd Quarter- Available in FOCUS) 7-11 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week 17- Purple Up for Month of the Military Child (Wear purple) 18- Good Friday (No School) 20-26 Volunteer Appreciation Week 23- Administrative Professionals Day

SPECIAL EDITION OF LEAPS & BOUNDS Our 3rd Quarter Special Edition of LEAPS & Bounds is now available online at https://bit.ly/LEAPSandBounds3rdQuarterSpecialEdition. In this exciting edition, we are thrilled to showcase the remarkable achievements from the 3rd quarter, focusing on our instructional initiatives with Defined Learning and Student Led Academic Teams. Discover our Defined Learning Contest Winners, read and see inspiring testimonials from teachers about Student Led Academic Teams, and explore much more! We hope you enjoy this glimpse into our schools throughout the district.

Milton High School is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated Staff vs. Students Basketball Game, set for Monday, April 7, at 6:30 PM in the MHS gym. This exciting showdown will feature administrators and beloved teachers taking on MHS basketball players in a fun and competitive matchup, all for a great cause. Adding to the night’s energy, the Powder Puff Cheer Team and the Mighty Black and Gold Band will bring high-spirited entertainment, making this a can’t-miss community event. All proceeds from the event will go to a student in need. Recently, a student underwent a heart transplant. The student is still recovering. This is an opportunity for the MHS community to rally around this Panther and the family to show their support. Tickets are just $5 and can be purchased via the S2 app or at the door with cash or card. Those unable to attend can contribute through digital donations on S2 under Milton High Merchandise → SGA. Join us for a night of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit — all for a great cause!