St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS): COVID-19 Update
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL: 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.
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 https://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 https://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/its/microsoft-office-students/
SLPS Laptop Deployment
SLPS is preparing for distance learning by distributing digital devices to students that do not have at least one digital device in their home and who are enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program. Each household will be permitted one laptop for the use of all students within the household.
Parents who have requested a laptop via the Digital Readiness Survey and meet the criteria will be contacted directly by the District on Monday, March 23rd to inform them of where and when they can pick up their laptops. Laptops will be distributed to identified families on Wednesday, March 25th at the following locations from 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the school’s bus loop.
Lincoln Park Academy, 1806 Avenue I, Fort Pierce Fl, 34950
Ft. Pierce Central High School, 4101 S. 25th Street, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34981
Southport Middle School, 2420 SE Morningside Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl 34952
Northport K8, 250 NW Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34983
Treasure Coast High School, 1000 SW Darwin Ave, Port St. Lucie Fl 34953
West Gate K8, 1050 NW Cashmere Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34986
Process for Obtaining a Laptop:
- An adult listed in the student’s Skyward account must be present with identification to check out the laptop.
- SLPS staff will work with each family to complete the Emergency Mobile Device Agreement.
- The laptops have been sanitized and software updated to allow students to login to the laptops at home.
St. Lucie Public Schools Child Nutrition Services Department will serve free meals to children in St. Lucie County from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday – Friday. The meals include both breakfast and lunch. These new sites will begin distribution on Monday, March 23rd.
North County
Dan McCarty Middle School, 1201 Mississippi Avenue, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34950
Forest Grove Middle School, 3201 S. 25th Street, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34981
Francis K. Sweet Elementary, 1400 Avenue Q, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34950
Lakewood Park Elementary, 7800 Indrio Road, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34951
Weatherbee Elementary, 800 E. Weatherbee Road, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34982
Westwood Academy, 1801 Panther Lane, Ft. Pierce Fl, 34947
East County
Morningside Elementary, 2300 SE Gowin Drive, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34952
Northport K8, 250 NW Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34983
Port St. Lucie High School, 1201 NE Jaguar Lane, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34952
Rivers Edge Elementary, 5600 NE St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34983
West County
Bayshore Elementary, 1661 Bayshore Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34984
Manatee K8, 1450 SW Heatherwood Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34986
Oak Hammock K8, 1451 SW California Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34953
West Gate K8, 1050 NW Cashmere Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 34986
Windmill Point Elementary, 700 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie Fl, 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 visithttp://www.stlucieschools.org.
