DeSoto County School District

FSBA/FADSS Annual Summer Conference Unites School Board Members and Superintendents to Strengthen Impact
Our board members, Mrs. Jami Schuneman, Chair, Dr. Sharon Goodman, Vice Chair, and Mrs. Kelly Mercer represented our District at the annual summer conference. We are grateful for their leadership and support! Click the link below to see the press release.

Link: https://shorturl.at/vwGcO

We are , all for kids.

FREE Summer Movie Fun Starts NOW!
Looking for something fun, affordable, and family-friendly this weekend? The Turner Center's got you covered!
FREE Sunday Movie Funday at the Turner Agri-Civic Center! Bring the kids, invite the grandparents, grab your friends, and enjoy an afternoon filled with laughter, memories, and a great movie.

Every Sunday This Summer | 2:00 PM
Turner Agri-Civic Center | 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, FL
Movie Dates: June: 7, 14, 21, 28 | July: 5, 12, 19, 26 | August: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

FREE Admission | Movies rated G, PG, or PG-13
Affordable concessions with snacks and drinks available

We are grateful for our amazing community partners! Tag a friend, gather the family, and let’s make this a summer to remember!

📚🦊 Dive Into Reading – Day 6! 🦊📚
Today, our summer readers enjoyed Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke by Pamela Duncan Edwards, a fun and engaging story filled with alliteration, adventure, and plenty of laughs! As students followed the clever foxes on their quest for food, they explored the power of language and discovered how repeated beginning sounds can make reading both exciting and memorable.

A special thank you to our volunteers for helping bring stories to life and encouraging a love of reading in our students each week. Together, we're building confident readers, expanding vocabularies, and creating meaningful connections through literacy.

📖✨
We are , all for kids.

☀️🍎 FREE Summer Meals for Kids & Teens! 🍎☀️
School may be out, but nutritious meals are still available all summer long through the DeSoto County Schools Summer Break Spot Program! Children and teens 18 years old and younger can enjoy FREE healthy meals at multiple locations throughout DeSoto County. Breakfast, lunch, multi-day meal pick-ups, and food pantry options are available at select sites.

📅 June–July 2026
📍 Multiple locations across DeSoto County
💲 No cost to families
🚫 No meals served on Fridays
Help us spread the word so every child has access to healthy meals this summer!

📞 For more information, call 863-494-4222

We are , all for kids.

📚🌟 Dive Into Reading – Day 5! 🌟📚
Today, our young readers enjoyed Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, a heartwarming story that teaches valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, and looking beyond first impressions. Through this engaging read-aloud, students discovered that sometimes the best way to turn an enemy into a friend is simply by spending time together and getting to know one another.

A special thank you to our volunteers for helping make reading fun, meaningful, and memorable for our students this summer! Together, we're building stronger readers and stronger relationships, one story at a time. 💙


We are , all for kids.

📚 Dive Into Reading – Day 4! 🥭
Today, our young readers enjoyed Mango, Abuela, and Me, a heartwarming story about family, language, and the special bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother. Through reading and discussion, students explored themes of love, communication, and embracing cultural differences.

Thank you to our volunteers for helping make reading come alive and inspiring a love of learning in our students!
📖 Every story helps build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and open the door to new perspectives.


We are , all for kids. 💙

📚 READ EVERY DAY
Make the most of your summer! Spend at least 20 minutes reading a book, magazine, comic, or article.

Reading helps:
⭐ Build imagination
⭐ Strengthen vocabulary
⭐ Improve learning skills
⭐ Prepare for the new school year

One Book. One Adventure. Every Day.


We are , all for kids.

📚✨ Dive Into Reading – Day 3! ✨📚
Today, our students enjoyed Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, an inspiring story that encourages creativity, perseverance, and the courage to keep trying, even when things don't go as planned.

Thank you to our volunteers for helping our students discover the joy of reading and the power of believing in themselves!


We are , all for kids.

📢 💉Attention Parents of Incoming 7th Graders! 💉📢
Florida law requires all students entering 7th grade to receive a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) vaccine before the start of the school year.

Now is the perfect time to check your child's immunization records and schedule any needed appointments to ensure they are ready for a successful start to the new school year. For questions, please contact your healthcare provider or your school's health clinic.


We are , all for kids.

🌎 📚 ✏️ We are excited to announce we are forming Early Scholars & Gifted Classrooms for the 2026–2027 school year.

✨ This new initiative is designed for students in grades K–2 who demonstrate advanced academic potential and are ready for increased rigor, accelerated learning opportunities, and deeper exploration of grade-level standards.

The Early Scholars & Gifted Program is a full-time classroom experience. Students selected for the program will learn in dedicated Early Scholars classrooms where accelerated instruction, enrichment, and advanced learning opportunities are embedded throughout the school day.

The program will be available at all elementary schools.

Students may be considered for the program using multiple measures, including:

✔ Academic performance and achievement data
✔ District assessment results, including STAR Reading and Mathematics
✔ Kindergarten Readiness Screener results (for incoming kindergarten students)
✔ Teacher recommendations
✔ Demonstrated character and behavior
✔ Gifted eligibility (where applicable)

We know many of our students are ready for additional academic challenge. Across our district, we have students reading chapter books in first grade, participating in novel studies in second grade, and performing at and above state averages in foundational literacy skills. 🙌

The Early Scholars & Gifted Classrooms will provide these students with opportunities to learn alongside other high-achieving students while engaging in accelerated literacy, advanced mathematics, enrichment, leadership development, and character education.

Families interested in having their child considered for the program should complete the application linked below.

Important Notes:
• There is no application fee.
• Submission of the application does not guarantee placement.
• Additional screening information may be requested.
• If your incoming kindergarten student has already completed the Kindergarten Readiness Screener as part of enrollment, there is no need to complete the screener again unless you would like your child considered for this program.

Early Scholars & Gifted Program (Grades K–2)
📋 Application Link: https://forms.gle/rW6ngLxdTieFjfuM7