UPDATED: March 24, 2020
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Florida Department of Education recommended that all Florida school districts extend their Spring Breaks by adding one additional week in an effort to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, FDOE issued an additional recommendation that schools campuses remain closed through April 15, 2020.
During this time, we are committed to providing information that will address questions and concerns, as well as provide any needed support to families and employees as we transition to a digital learning environment. Our school campuses are closed; however, St. Lucie Public Schools is open for teaching and learning virtually.
| Watch Superintendent Gent's video to the community in which he provides information about campus closings, state assessments, the Instructional Continuity/Digital Learning Plan, laptop distribution and meal service for students. |
Distance Learning for Students
Beginning Monday, March 23rd, students will have access to on-line lessons and programs to begin learning at home.
SLPS has posted an Extended Spring Break Resource Page at www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/seasonal/extended-spring-break with learning programs available now for all grade levels; Pre-K through 12. For this initial week, students should access these resources as they transition to learning digitally. These resources include fun games and programs along with suggestions for educational activities that parents can do with their child at home.
In addition, Elementary Students should complete 45 minutes of iReady instruction in reading and math daily. Middle and High Students should continue to work daily on all programs they are already enrolled in which varies based on individual student schedules. These programs include, but are not limited to, iReady, Reading Plus, Achieve 3000, Math (Algebra) Nation, Kahn Academy and Edgenuity Credit Recovery.
Parents will be contacted by their child's teacher(s) next week and can expect regular communication with their child(ren) to continue weekly going forward.
Beginning March 30th, all students will learn how to log on daily to Canvas for attendance, lessons and teacher guidance in all subjects. Middle and High School students will have core content lessons through Edgenuity and additional teacher directed lessons or tutoring through Canvas.
Student schedules will be flexible and include off line activities as well which will allow for sharing of devices within each home. Parents and students will receive very specific instructions from teachers based on grade level and subject. Hotlines will also be available for additional assistance.
Parents can download Microsoft office for use at home at www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/its/microsoft-office-students.
SLPS Laptop Deployment
Phase I of St. Lucie Public Schools Laptop Deployment will take place Wednesday, March 25th, at various school sites around the district.
A school messenger phone call was sent home yesterday evening, March 23rd, to all families who will be checked out a laptop tomorrow for the family to use while their students are engaged in digital learning at home.
We are asking that ONLY the parents who received the district phone call yesterday evening show up to their designated location to pick up their laptop. Once again, we are asking for the cooperation of our parents and ONLY come to pick up a laptop if they received a phone call yesterday.
Phase II will take place on Friday, March 27th, and parents will be notified via a school messenger phone call on Wednesday evening, March 25th, for their pick-up time and location.
SLPS wants to thank our parents in advance for their support, patience and understanding as we work to meet the needs of all our families. We are committed to making sure that all families have at least one digital device in their home for Distance Learning.
Free Meals for Children
St. Lucie Public Schools Child Nutrition Services will serve free meals to children in St. Lucie County, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The meals include both breakfast and lunch.These new sites will begin distribution on Monday, March 23, 2020.
- North County
- CA Moore Elementary, 827 N 29th St, Fort Pierce 34947
- Dan McCarty Middle School, 1201 Mississippi Avenue, Ft. Pierce 34950
- Forest Grove Middle School, 3201 S. 25th Street, Ft. Pierce 34981
- Francis K. Sweet Elementary, 1400 Avenue Q, Ft. Pierce 34950
- Lakewood Park Elementary, 7800 Indrio Road, Ft. Pierce 34951
- Weatherbee Elementary, 800 E. Weatherbee Road, Ft. Pierce 34982
- Westwood Academy, 1801 Panther Lane, Ft. Pierce 34947
- White City Elementary, 905 W 2nd St, Fort Pierce 34982
- East County
- Morningside Elementary, 2300 SE Gowin Drive, Port St. Lucie 34952
- Northport K8, 250 NW Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie 34983
- Port St. Lucie High School, 1201 NE Jaguar Lane, Port St. Lucie 34952
- Rivers Edge Elementary, 5600 NE St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie 34983
- West County
- Bayshore Elementary, 1661 Bayshore Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34984
- Manatee K8, 1450 SW Heatherwood Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34986
- Oak Hammock K8, 1451 SW California Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34953
- West Gate K8, 1050 NW Cashmere Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34986
- Windmill Point Elementary, 700 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34953
Staff will be on-site to prepare and distribute breakfasts and lunches, which will be bagged and distributed to families in the bus loop.
Free WiFi For Families
Comcast has taken steps to implement the following new policies for the next 60 days:
- Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.
- Internet Essentials Free to New Customers: New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month. Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has been increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward. Learn more at www.internetessentials.com.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) proudly serves students and boasts a traditional high school graduation rate of 97% percent. As a high-ranking B-rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS ranks among the top one-third of Florida’s districts for student achievement. The District also has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
