The Okaloosa County School District has been made aware of scam phone calls targeting parents. In these calls, individuals falsely claim that a student has an outstanding lunch balance and instructs the parent to "press 1" to make a payment immediately.
Please be advised:
• The Okaloosa County School District does not contact families by phone to request payment in this manner.
• Any legitimate communication regarding student meal accounts would come through official district channels.
• In the recently reported case, the scammer provided incorrect student information and used what appeared to be a local phone number, which may have been spoofed.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not provide personal or payment information. Instead, hang up and contact your child's school or the district's Food Services Department directly for verification. Thank you for helping us keep our families informed and protected.
FAST state testing kicks off this week and continues thru May 21. So excited to show what we know!!
𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
Next Thursday, March 13, is the last day of the 3rd 9-week grading period. Spring Break begins on Friday, March 14, and continues through Friday, March 21. Monday, March 24, is a Teacher Workday. Students return for the 4th and final 9-week grading period of the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday, March 25. We hope everyone has a safe and restful week off!
Shalimar Elementary School proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new cafetorium with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, welcoming community partners, school leaders, and media representatives. The state-of-the-art facility, which includes a modern music classroom and a newly paved bus ramp, enhances both the learning environment and overall campus functionality. The event also marked the unveiling of the school’s vibrant new playground, providing students with an engaging space for recreation. These transformative projects, made possible by the voter-approved Half-Cent Sales Tax, highlight the community’s dedication to investing in local schools and ensuring student success. Superintendent Marcus Chambers emphasized the impact of these improvements, stating, “This new cafetorium is not just a building; it’s a symbol of our community’s unwavering commitment to providing our students with the best possible learning environment. It represents an investment in our children's future and demonstrates the power of community support.”
Principal Amy Klugh, Superintendent Chambers, and Dr. Lamar White delivered remarks during the ceremony, celebrating the significance of these enhancements for students and staff. The event featured special musical performances by 5th-grade students and members of the Sinfonia Strings after-school program. Music teacher Ms. Shalyce Kauzlarich, who previously taught in a trailer for 20 years, expressed her excitement about having a dedicated space for instruction, noting that the new cafetorium provides a versatile environment for student activities without disrupting scheduling. The Okaloosa County School District extends its gratitude to the community for its continued support in creating safe, innovative, and inspiring spaces for students to learn and grow.
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸!
This week, we celebrate and honor our incredible school counselors who play a vital role in supporting our students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. From guiding students through their educational journeys to providing a listening ear and valuable advice, our counselors are always there to help. Thank you to all our dedicated school counselors for your unwavering commitment and the positive impact you make every day. Your hard work and compassion truly make a difference in the lives of our students.
This week, the Okaloosa County School District and the State of Florida are celebrating the joy of reading and the power of literacy! We are highlighting the importance of literacy in our schools and communities. From engaging classroom activities to exciting reading challenges, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you to all our dedicated teachers, librarians, and staff for fostering a love of reading in our students!
VPK Registration opened January 1st! Okaloosa County VPK schools include: Southside Primary School, Mary Esther Elementary School, Walker Elementary School, Northwood Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, Edwins Elementary School, Bob Sikes Elementary School, Okaloosa STEMM Academy, and Longwood Elementary School. Before registering at one of the school sites listed above, you must obtain your child's VPK Certificate of Eligibility. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and spots at each site are limited.
Registration information can be found at: https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/
We hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Winter Break! We can't wait to welcome our students back to campus on Wednesday, January 8th to start the second semester strong! Please be alert as School Zones will be active!
Register for a K-2nd Grade Dynamx Youth Sports Clinic being held on January 3rd and 4th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Preston Hood Athletic Complex in Fort Walton Beach. Cost is $45 per child. What to expect: skill-building activities, daily sports and games, team competitions with fun, learning, growth and a special gift on the last day.
For more information, email dynamxsports@gmail.com.
A line of storms is expected to move into our area overnight and continue through tomorrow evening. We anticipate heavy rainfall, which may lead to brief flash flood conditions and pooling on roadways.
At this time, we do not expect any changes to school start times or dismissal. However, we encourage everyone to exercise caution during your commute. If your child is late or misses school due to weather in your area, please provide a note when they return.
We will keep you updated if any changes arise. Thank you, and have a great evening!
Hope everyone has a safe evening! Mrs. Klugh just checked the Reading Rally participate page and we have already raised $3400 towards our goal! We think you deserve a Pajama Day tomorrow. Thank you for helping us raise funds for student supplies (like planners and folders) and teacher supplies.
Also, if your student is tardy---please park, walk up to the front office, and sign them in. Students must not be dropped off unattended at the curb. Tardy students must be accompanied by an adult to the front office. Thank you for your continued support of Shalimar Elementary and have a great evening!
Happy Monday- please disregard Friday afternoon's text as it was scheduled to be sent to you before a final decision was made about group pictures. TOMORROW- Holiday Pictures & Make up Picture Day only. We will WAIT on our group pictures until February. Holiday Pictures are prepaid only. You should have received a proof from our first picture day. If you would like your child’s picture redone on makeup day, please notify your child’s teacher. Thank you for your support of Shalimar!
Phones at all schools have been restored!
Good morning! Phones are down at some of our schools. We appreciate your patience as we work to fix the issue.
Reminder for SAC Members - Join us Wednesday, September 25th at 7:15 am for meeting! Be in the know with what is happening at Shalimar.
Join us for Celebracion Del Mes De La Hispanidad - September 16th from 6pm - 8pm at Bruner Middle School.
Tonight’s text message- Hey Shalimar Families! Don’t forget tonight is our first Spirit Night of the year at Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina in Shalimar. We greatly appreciate them supporting our school. Monies generated from all of our spirit nights will go into the teacher appreciation and student recognition fund to help pay for our teacher appreciation, treat trolley, and student lunches with the principal.
Tomorrow our Fundrays coupon book sale begins and extends until September 12. Look for more information coming home in your students backpack. Thank you for your continued support of Shalimar and have a great evening!
Text set to go out at 5:15 today: Happy Friday Shalimar! Thanks for a great first week of school. We appreciate your patience as we learn our arrival & dismissal routines. As a reminder, beginning Monday, students in K-5 will walk to class independently at drop off in the AM. Remember if you have a transportation change, you may email ShalimarFrontOffice@okaloosaschools.com and cc your child's teacher. Check outs and changes end at 1:50 each day to allow us time to prepare for dismissal. Here are a few other helpful links: If you would like to check your bus route information, you may do so here with the infolocator: https://routing.vmaxcompass.com/Infolocator/Info.aspx?OrgGuid=ORG-OKALOOSA To complete your volunteer application check out this OCSD webpage: https://www.okaloosaschools.com/o/ocsd/page/volunteer To apply for free and reduced lunch : https://www.myschoolapps.com/ We hope you have a great weekend!
We hope our students and staff have a restful summer break! We look forward to seeing our OCSD Family again on the first day of school, August 12, 2024. The 2024-2025 School Calendar can be found on our website: https://www.okaloosaschools.com/page/calendars
OCSD is working with County Emergency Management Officials who are monitoring a storm system moving into our area Wednesday afternoon.
Following weather updates from County Emergency Management Officials, the District will communicate any potential adjustments to Wednesday's school day or after school activities.
No adjustments to Wednesday's schedule have been made at this time. Thank you.
