👉Registration will be available on our website: www.okeeschools.org
https://lakeonews.com/.../new-early-learning-center-to-be...?

🌟These programs also help students build confidence, social-emotional skills, and classroom routines that make the transition into kindergarten smoother.
🍎Investing in high-quality early education sets children up for stronger performance in school and creates lifelong learners from the very beginning.
Register for VPK - Okeechobee County Schools today: https://www.okeeschools.org/page/vpk


⌨Saving for college just got easier! Florida Prepaid’s annual Open Enrollment is now live, and new tools make planning simple and affordable.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3NI9Xni

🍎We are excited to announce the appointment of Britani Stanley as the new Principal of Pine View Academy Early Learning Center!
📚With a strong passion for early childhood education and a commitment to creating a nurturing, engaging learning environment, Mrs. Stanley will help lead Pine View Academy as we inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning in our youngest learners.

Will your child be turning 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026? If so, he or she is eligible to participate in VPK. Register for Okeechobee County Schools' new Pine View Academy VPK by visiting www.okeeschools.org/vpk. Registration opens today and space is limited.
¿Su hijo o hija cumplirá 4 años el 1 de septiembre de 2026 o antes? Si es así, es elegible para participar en el programa VPK. Inscríbalo en la nueva Academia Pine View de las Escuelas del Condado de Okeechobee visitando www.okeeschools.org/vpk. Las inscripciones abren hoy y las plazas son limitadas.




Inside this edition:
📚Literacy Week
🌟Early Learning Center Coming 2026-27
🎉OHS Debate Team competes in Orlando
😊Parents as Partners in Education
https://app.smore.com/n/xyb3f

🎉 Welcome to the Leadership Team!
✨Please join us in welcoming Derek Hickman, the new Assistant Principal at North Elementary School. Mr. Hickman was formerly a teacher at Yearling Middle School and Central Elementary School. With a strong commitment to students, staff, and our school community, we look forward to the leadership and support he will bring in this new role. Please join us in welcoming him!

All Florida students are invited to participate in contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers, and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.
Learn more: https://www.floridablackhistory.com/
🌟Health screenings and lunch are also provided!

Okeechobee County Schools is announcing a series of campus transitions that will take effect beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. These changes are designed to better serve students at every grade level, align programs with the right facilities, and maximize the benefits of recent and upcoming capital investments across the district.
With the completion of the new Okeechobee High School campus, the school will expand to serve students in grades 9–12 full-time. Ninth-grade students will attend school at the new high school campus. This transition provides students with a more cohesive high school experience and expanded access to programs and opportunities.
As part of these changes, secondary students currently enrolled at Okeechobee Achievement Academy will relocate to the former Freshman Campus building. Elementary students participating in the IBP program will transition to Seminole Elementary School. These moves allow academic programs to be better aligned with facilities designed to support student needs and focused services.
In addition, the district will open a new Early Learning Center dedicated exclusively to VPK students. Having VPK as the only students on this campus allows for a safe, welcoming, and age-appropriate environment focused on early childhood development, early literacy, and kindergarten readiness.
To support these transitions, capital improvement projects will take place at the newly configured Okeechobee Achievement Academy and the future Early Learning Center. These improvements will focus on refreshing facilities, enhancing learning spaces, and ensuring students and families are welcomed into modern, engaging environments. The district will also work closely with families to support student transportation needs wherever possible.
These campus transitions reflect a thoughtful, long-term approach to serving students at every stage of their educational journey. Additional details, timelines, and family communications will be shared as planning continues.
💜Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support student success across Okeechobee County Schools.



Next week, we’ll join schools across the state for Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!
🦅Each school has some amazing events planned for our students and families, all centered around celebrating 250 chapters of America.
📚Events include guest readers, dress-up days, reading about America's history, daily mystery readers, and much more.
🌟As a district, we wrap up Literacy Week at the OHS Football Stadium on Friday, January 30th, at 6 pm for "Read Under the Lights." This event is free and for all families!




🌟Health screenings and lunch are also provided!
✨Beginning soon, at some elementary schools, families will have the opportunity to walk their students to the classroom in the morning, creating meaningful moments to connect with teachers and staff and fostering open lines of communication from the very start of the day.
🙌This family-oriented approach is designed to help our schools feel welcoming, supportive, and connected, while maintaining our highest priority: student safety. Security measures and clear procedures will be in place to ensure a safe, structured, and positive experience for everyone.
🏫Together, we’re building school communities where families feel valued, informed, and confident in the care of their children because strong partnerships make strong schools.
Stay tuned for more information in the coming days!
https://app.smore.com/n/dg4x8
In this edition:
🌟Students and staff shine at the annual Christmas Parade!
🚍Bus driver HERO- Mr. Joyner
✔OFC's attendance initiative gets results
📖Holiday Read-a-long with Mr. Tededer's
🦋FFA Students clean up the butterfly garden
and much more.....
🌟Our CTE Okeechobee County Schools- Career & Technical Education students have been hard at work earning industry certifications, learning hands-on skills, traveling across the country for conferences, and leaving their mark on the world 🌎



🌟We are excited to share a full lineup of festivities for students and families-
🎶Celebrate the sounds of the season with our talented band students! Three winter concerts to get into the holiday spirit:
12/9/25 - Okeechobee High School Bands at 7pm- OHS Auditorium
12/10/25 - Yearling Middle School Band at 7pm- OHS Auditorium
12/11/25 - Osceola Middle School Band at 6pm- OHS Auditorium
🎅Aftercare will also be celebrating with holiday crafts, gift and snack bags for local nursing homes, and holiday art activities.

