Category: Elementary

Animal Lovers Club helps Mandarin Oaks students foster a love for science and animal care

March 31 – Chickens, chinchillas, and a baby pig aren’t what you see in an average school classroom. But for one class at Mandarin Oaks Elementary, they have become a staple. The Animal Lovers Club, started by teacher Ana Andenmatten, focuses on teaching children how to take care of animals. Andematten says she also hopes […]

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Teacher and students building a robot.

Students showcase STEM skills at Computer Science and Robotics festival

March 28, 2023 – From flight simulators, to robotics and 3D printing, students from schools across the county got the opportunity to show off their technology projects and better understand how their studies can start them on a path to scientific-based jobs. Held at the 121 Financial Ballpark on March 21, the Duval County Public […]

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Riverside High mentor talks with his Ruth Upson Elementary mentee.

‘I feel like I’m looking up to the right person’: Mentoring program pairs up Riverside High and Ruth Upson Elementary students

Jan. 30, 2023 – Behavior problems. A lack of confidence. A lack of motivation in school. These were some of the symptoms Ruth Upson Elementary School staff observed in a group of fourth and fifth graders, and they knew something needed to change. This prompted staff to reach out to the nearby Riverside High School, […]

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District taking further steps to comply with Florida laws on library books

Jan. 23, 2023 – Duval County Public Schools continues to take steps to ensure compliance with all recent legislation regarding books and materials available to children through school media centers and classroom libraries. The Florida Department of Education has trained all Florida schools districts to “err on the side of caution” in determining if a […]

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Students participating in the Early College Education Academy

Training the next generation of teachers through the Early College Education Academy

Dec. 6, 2022 – With a focus on education, one Duval County Public Schools program is creating a pipeline for students who want to be the newest generation of educators in Duval classrooms. The Early College Education Academy — available at First Coast High School and Westside High School — is an accelerated program equipping […]

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Impact your child’s learning by completing the 2022 Federal Impact Aid survey

(Editors Note – This story has been updated. While the deadline has passed for paper applications, the deadline has been extended for online applications in FOCUS. That new deadline is Friday, Dec. 23, 2022.) Nov. 21, 2022 – A form that takes five minutes to fill out can generate thousands of dollars for textbooks, hiring staff […]

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Helping students become better readers from home

Nov. 18, 2022 – Educators say it’s no different than riding a bike, playing basketball, or mastering a new skill. “The more you do it, the more you practice, the better you get,” says Alicia Henderson, a Secondary Reading Curriculum and Instructional Specialist with the district. Henderson is speaking to the importance of students making […]

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District awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to support STEM programs

Nov. 2, 2022 – STEM education is getting a big boost in Duval County Public Schools with more than $2.5 million in grants being awarded to support instruction in robotics, flight simulation, engineering, cybersecurity, coding, and more. The grants – two in total – will augment STEM education in select schools throughout the district at […]

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