School News

New Schools for OCPS

Four new Orange County Public Schools, including three in the rapidly growing Horizon West community, opened to students for the first day of school last month. These openings increased the district’s number of non-charter public schools to 199.

• Castleview Elementary, Horizon West, relieves Bay Lake and Sand Lake elementary schools

• Horizon West Middle, Horizon West, relieves Bridgewater Middle School

• Water Spring Elementary, Horizon West, relieves Keene’s Crossing and Independence elementary schools

• Pershing School, Conway area, is the district’s newest K-8 school. It blends Pershing and Pine Castle elementary schools and adds middle school students for the first time. 

SCPS Partners with Goodwill Jobs Program

In August, Seminole County Public Schools announced a partnership with GoodSource Staffing Services to help connect Central Floridians with job opportunities. Created by Goodwill Industries of Central Florida in 2017, the GoodSource program screens, evaluates and places job-seekers in temporary positions suited to their skills and abilities. With the pre-employment training provided by GoodSource, candidates can begin working immediately.

“GoodSource seeks to tackle two social issues greatly impacting Central Florida — joblessness and homelessness,” says Yvette Hernandez, vice president of staffing for GoodSource. “This partnership with Seminole County Public Schools will mean affording even more people an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.”

The partnership is designed to help SCPS fill dozens of support staff openings, such as custodial and cafeteria workers, throughout the school system. These positions can lead to permanent employment.

First Day at Holy Family Catholic School

School is in at Holy Family Catholic School, and students and parents were excited to get back into the swing of things last month for the school’s 23rd year of being open. 

The new school year started with several additions to the HFCS media center, including two collaboration rooms and three MakerBot Replicator+ 3D printers. The printers are an extension of the school’s STREAM program. There is also a new after-school program called Champions that offers STEAM-centered enrichment activities. 

The school year also kicked off with one of HFCS’s largest fundraisers, Raising the Dough. Tickets can be purchased online for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000. The drawing will be held at the Fall Festival on Oct. 26.

“We are ready for a wonderful year, always growing in faith, knowledge and love,” says Principal Sister Dorothy Sayers, M.P.F.