Kids who live in Wildlight get the benefit of living in one of the best school districts in the state. (As in #2 out of 67!) Nassau County School District consistently gets A ratings, thanks in part to impressive achievement scores and high graduation rates. And the way students feed into particular schools near their community means they have a strong support system from elementary through high school.
So, where will your kids go?
Wildlight Elementary (Pre-K to 5)
Located right in the neighborhood, just a short walk or bike ride from the homes here. The school’s mission is to foster a community of self-motivated learners, and help kids succeed academically, socially, and developmentally. And it shows: Wildlight Elementary is A-rated, and ranks in the top 5% in the state. And here’s something the kids will love — there are three (yep, three) playgrounds for adventure and exploration. (Is it any surprise that the school’s address is on “Curiosity Drive”?)
Yulee Middle School (grades 6 to 8)
Another A-rated school (are you sensing a pattern here?), with a commitment to providing each student with the best education possible. That drive for excellence shows in a curriculum that includes advanced and honors classes, fine and performing arts, and industry certification classes. There’s also plenty of opportunity to get involved and stay engaged outside of the classroom, with clubs and athletic teams for just about every interest.
Yulee High School (grades 9 to 12)
Holds students accountable to high standards, to prepare them for college or career readiness. The school’s varied class offerings include advanced placement, dual enrollment, honors, and career/technical programs. And students can participate in clubs, the school musical, and just about every sport, from basketball to weight lifting. Yulee High alumni have gone on to play college sports, attend dental school, serve in the armed forces … and even come back to teach at the school!
Nope, there won’t be a pop quiz on what you just read. But, if you remember one thing, it’s this: when you live at Wildlight, your kid is going to have amazing learning opportunities.
Feeding FLOCO’s Future with Aquaponics
As populations grow and fewer young people enter into farming, the need for new and cost-effective solutions to maintain food supply becomes more urgent. Aquaponics is one such innovative solution that yields ample crops with more efficient use of land and water than conventional farming techniques.
A collaboration between North Florida’s largest aquaponics farm, Traders Hill Farm, and Nassau County School District is giving Wildlight students the opportunity to learn about aquaponics. This mutually beneficial partnership allows West Nassau High School students to apply what they learn by growing lettuce for the school cafeteria.
Working with aquaponics in science classes also helps prepare Nassau County students for careers in sustainable farming.
“With our biotechnology and aquaponics program at West Nassau, we have all phases of a model workforce development program,” Director of Career and Adult Education Brent Lemond told the Nassau County Economic Development Board. “There is an employer, Traders Hill Farm, assisting us to plan curriculum and ready to hire our graduates. We have a post-secondary partner in Florida State College at Jacksonville.”
We look forward to watching this program continue to grow (no pun intended)!
Tech Gets Schooled
As tablets take over for textbooks and Smart Boards seriously cut down on chalk dust, more and more research is being done on the impact of technology in the classroom. And – good news! – the results are overwhelmingly positive.
Technology lets student learn at their own pace.
One of the greatest struggles teachers face is balancing the learning needs and speeds of an entire classroom of students. Almost all of today’s teaching apps allow for individualized instruction, letting students work at their own pace. This fights boredom in faster learners and frees up the teacher to work one-on-one with students who might need a little extra instruction.
Students are more enthusiastic about learning when technology is involved.
If you’ve ever seen a 3-year-old (or a teenager, or anyone in between!) with an iPad, you know a thing or two about what gets kids excited. Harnessing that excitement and bringing it into the classroom can make lessons more fun – and more likely to stick. Researchers have found that students and teachers alike tend to be more engaged and motivated when technology is an integral part of a lesson.
Early access to technology prepares student for the future.
The role that technology plays in our students’ daily lives is huge – but it’s nothing compared to the role it’ll play when they enter the workforce. Beyond basic computer literacy, students with access to technology learn to adapt quickly and solve problems in a distinctly 21st-century way. Early introductions to technology like 3D printers and robotics lab might even spark a talent that would have otherwise been left untapped!
Check out this video to see how Nassau County Public Schools are keeping their students up on the latest technology.
