This week's free family webinar is on the SNAP Program, offered by CDS Family and Behavioral Services for children ages 6 to 11 and their families. The webinar is set for Thursday, October 8 at 6 pm. Join the webinar at alachuaschools.net/pazoom
Check out this month's issue of iNews, with information about some important upcoming events, support for home-school connections, and achievements by local students. https://alachuacountypublicschools.edurooms.com/newsletters/alachua-county-public-schools/newsletters/inews-october-2026
PreK-9th grade families can learn more about the district's highly-successful academic/career tech magnets at the Magnet Showcase on Oct 24, 10am-1pm @ Alachua County Sports & Event Center (Celebration Point). More information at alachuaschools.net/magnets
Middle and high school families can learn more about the options available at Santa Fe College after graduation and how students can prepare for their college career now through SFC's Achieve program. Free family webinar is Oct 1 at 6pm at alachuaschools.net/pazoom
Connect with your child's teachers on Rooms for announcements, group chats, one-on-one communications and more! It's available on your web browser or on the free ACPS mobile app. Get started at alachuaschools.net/apphelp.
ACPS families can learn more about the opportunities available to their students through the Dual Enrollment program, a partnership between the district and Santa Fe College through a free webinar on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6pm. The link is alachuaschools.net/pazoom
Yesterday, local first responders and emergency management partners came together for a joint meeting focused on one shared priority: keeping our schools, students, faculty, and staff safe.
The meeting brought together agencies from across Alachua County to proactively discuss school safety, strengthen communication, share resources and expertise, and continue building strong partnerships that help us respond effectively when it matters most.
We’re grateful to the following agencies for their commitment to protecting our communities and campuses:
Alachua County Emergency Management
Alachua County Fire Rescue
Alachua County Sheriff's Office
City of Alachua Police Department
City of Gainesville Fire Rescue
Gainesville Police Department
City of High Springs Fire Rescue
High Springs Police Department
City of Newberry Fire Rescue
Santa Fe College Police Department
University of Florida Police Department
School safety is a shared responsibility, and strong partnerships make our communities stronger. Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to work together to keep our students, staff, and campuses safe.
📚 Building Strong Teachers. Building Strong Readers. 📚
Alachua County Public Schools is excited to kick off the 2026–2027 Alachua County Reads initiative with K–2 educators and school leaders from Lake Forest, Metcalfe, Rawlings, and Williams Elementary Schools! 🎉
This important partnership brings together ACPS, the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI), the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and other community partners to strengthen foundational literacy instruction and support reading success for students across Alachua County.
Through the project, educators and school leaders will receive ongoing professional learning, coaching, school-based support, and resources to strengthen the implementation of UFLI Foundations throughout the school year.
We are grateful to all of our partners for their continued investment in our educators and students and their commitment to building a stronger foundation for literacy across our community! ❤️📖
Progress reports have been posted in Skyward Family Access. For instructions on accessing reports, visit alachuaschools.net/progressreports. Hard copies may also be requested from your child's school.
🎓 Planning for college? Join us for our next Parent Academy Webinar!
ACPS families are invited to a live Parent Academy webinar on Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m. focused on college admissions and financial aid for ACPS students.
Topics will include:
- Navigating the college admissions process
- Federal, state and local financial aid opportunities
- Support for high school students with special life circumstances
Our special guest will be Bill Goodman, retired educator and school counseling specialist.
💻 Live on Zoom
Visit www.sbac.edu/PAZoom to join.
Whether your student is beginning to think about college or already working through the application and financial aid process, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the resources and support available.
ACPS families are invited to a live Parent Academy webinar on Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m. focused on college admissions and financial aid for ACPS students.
Topics will include:
- Navigating the college admissions process
- Federal, state and local financial aid opportunities
- Support for high school students with special life circumstances
Our special guest will be Bill Goodman, retired educator and school counseling specialist.
💻 Live on Zoom
Visit www.sbac.edu/PAZoom to join.
Whether your student is beginning to think about college or already working through the application and financial aid process, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the resources and support available.
🎉 Congratulations to 20 outstanding Alachua County Public Schools seniors who have been named National Merit Semifinalists!
This year’s total represents a 25% increase over last year. Fewer than 1% of high school seniors nationwide earn Semifinalist status in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Please join us in celebrating these exceptional students:
🎓 Buchholz High School: Jubili Bamzai-Wokhlu, William Bigger, Mira Bubenik, Alexander Hughes, Dylan Lamb, Jonathan Lin and Amy Xiao
🎓 Eastside High School: Derek Ai, Ethan Dodds, Neha Gupte, Noah Jang, Jaden Jeng and Matheus Ribeiro Do Vale
🎓 Gainesville High School: Gabriel Duterte, Navya Goyal, Sigrid Noah, Alejandro Probert and Anna Russ
🎓 Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School: Aurora Conklin and Evelyn Orsini
We are incredibly proud of these students and wish them the best as they move forward for the opportunity to earn National Merit Finalist status! 👏🎉
Alachua County Public School families, staff and high school students:
This is a reminder that spectators at high school home football games are permitted to bring one clear bag into school stadiums and Citizens Field. This requirement also applies to other middle and high school sporting events at Alachua County Public School venues.
Permissible bags include clear plastic, vinyl or PVC totes no larger than 12” x 12” x 6” and clear plastic resealable bags no larger than a gallon size. Items related to a medical condition are also permitted. (A person with a medical item may also bring one clear bag.)
All individuals and permitted bags are subject to search at any time. Spectators will be asked to return any prohibited items to their vehicles before entering a stadium. Weapons of any kind are NOT allowed in bags, on persons or in vehicles parked on district property or at school-sponsored events.
Prohibited items include but are not limited to: purses, backpacks, coolers, fanny packs, camera bags, computer cases, diaper bags and binocular cases. Again, medical items are permitted, but may be subject to search.
We appreciate your support as we work to maintain a safe environment for everyone participating in these events.
This is a reminder that spectators at high school home football games are permitted to bring one clear bag into school stadiums and Citizens Field. This requirement also applies to other middle and high school sporting events at Alachua County Public School venues.
Permissible bags include clear plastic, vinyl or PVC totes no larger than 12” x 12” x 6” and clear plastic resealable bags no larger than a gallon size. Items related to a medical condition are also permitted. (A person with a medical item may also bring one clear bag.)
All individuals and permitted bags are subject to search at any time. Spectators will be asked to return any prohibited items to their vehicles before entering a stadium. Weapons of any kind are NOT allowed in bags, on persons or in vehicles parked on district property or at school-sponsored events.
Prohibited items include but are not limited to: purses, backpacks, coolers, fanny packs, camera bags, computer cases, diaper bags and binocular cases. Again, medical items are permitted, but may be subject to search.
We appreciate your support as we work to maintain a safe environment for everyone participating in these events.
Check out the latest news and information from Alachua County Public Schools in this month's issue of iNews.
Families have until September 30 to update important information about their students through the Skyward Family Access Annual Updates process. Instructions to set up an account and complete Annual Updates are available at alachuaschools.net/familyaccess.
Protect your family from the flu by signing up your student for the FREE FluMist nasal spray immunization at school. Consent forms coming home, or complete online at alachuaschools.net/flumist
The Zonar Bus Suite Parent App is now operational. Track your child's bus, receive notifications and more. For instructions, visit alachuaschools.net/zonarbusapp
If you are receiving an error message when accessing the Skyward Family Access app, please delete it from your device and reload/reinstall it.
Bus information for the 2026-27 school year is available now. Visit alachuaschools.net/findmybus for stop locations, pick-up/drop-off times and bus numbers. For information about the district's new bus tracking app, visit alachuaschools.net/zonarbusapp
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Day 1 of the Leading Together: Building Excellence Conference!
Our theme of the day was America’s 250th anniversary, which gave us an opportunity to reflect on our shared history while looking ahead to the future we are building together. Thank you to everyone who brought their energy, ideas, and commitment to an outstanding first day of learning, collaboration, and connection.
Thank you to our special guest speaker, Brad Meltzer, for teaching us how ordinary people can change the world and how our teams can make magic happen in our schools!
We are also grateful to our generous sponsors for helping make this conference possible: Florida Credit Union, the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, and The Education Foundation of Alachua County.
We are looking forward to Day 2 as we continue Leading Together and Building Excellence!
Our theme of the day was America’s 250th anniversary, which gave us an opportunity to reflect on our shared history while looking ahead to the future we are building together. Thank you to everyone who brought their energy, ideas, and commitment to an outstanding first day of learning, collaboration, and connection.
Thank you to our special guest speaker, Brad Meltzer, for teaching us how ordinary people can change the world and how our teams can make magic happen in our schools!
We are also grateful to our generous sponsors for helping make this conference possible: Florida Credit Union, the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, and The Education Foundation of Alachua County.
We are looking forward to Day 2 as we continue Leading Together and Building Excellence!
