Suffolk Public Schools

Bus routes for the 2024-2025 school year can be found in our Division News on the Suffolk Public Schools division website: Looking For Your Child's Bus Route for the 2024-2025 School Year? As you are reviewing the bus routes with your student, please be sure to also discuss the importance of practicing bus safety. While our bus drivers are provided concentrated training, we all have a responsibility to make our children's ride on the school bus a safe one. The drivers not only rely on school administrators and office staff to help them keep their buses safe at all times, but they also need support from the children who ride the bus and their parents. Visit www.spsk12.net for helpful tips to help you and your children practice good school bus safety habits.

Suffolk Public Schools would like to thank the students, teachers, and staff for their hard work and dedication for the 2023-2024 school year. We are pleased with the growth that our data shows in areas such as English and Math, and we have incorporated additional resources for Science and History as a part of our Comprehensive School Support Plans for all of our schools. Four of our schools barely missed accreditation due to Science student achievement results, but we are confident that the instructional support that has been put in place will lead to success in the 2024-2025 school year.

Our goal in Suffolk Public Schools continues to be having all of our schools accredited and to achieve "Level One" status for all school quality indicators. Our schools that have "Level Two" indicators have shown tremendous growth in student reporting groups and core content areas. For more information, please review the instructional presentation from Dr. Branch, Chief Academic Officer, and leader of the Teaching and Learning Department, and Dr. Stenette Byrd III, Chief of Schools, leader of the School Leadership and Innovation Department, from the August 15, 2024 School Board meeting. The link can be found here. https://www.youtube.com/live/yjuPl4-F_CI?si=quAxrAXah4tJE67E&t=16473

Also, see the following Instructional Overview Presentation from the August 15, 2024 School Board Meeting.

To ensure the utmost safety of our students, particularly those in Early Start and Kindergarten, Suffolk Public Schools does not permit students in Early Start or Kindergarten to walk home or leave the school premises unaccompanied by a parent or adult designee. We are taking this measure to adhere strictly to our hand to hand transportation guidelines, which we believe is essential for the safety of our young learners. Please know that this decision was taken with the best interests of our students in mind. Your understanding and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

The Suffolk Public School Board is scheduled to meet on the second Thursday of each month, unless otherwise advertised or modified by a board vote. School Board work sessions are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., and the public meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Unless otherwise advertised, meetings will be held in the Suffolk City Hall Chamber, located at 442 W. Washington Street, 2st Floor. Meetings are streamed live on our SPS YouTube channel-Suffolk Schools. To learn how to sign up as a speaker to address the board, visit www.spsk12.net.

Suffolk Public Schools uses digital flyer delivery as part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly and reach more families. We provide the service of electronic flyer (e-flyer) dissemination via Peachjar. This online service is free for our students and parents to receive announcements from their child's school and community enrichment organizations.

How can you sign up?

Visit www.peachjar.com, click Sign-Up, and join under Parent/Guardian.

Provide your email address and the name of your child's school to start receiving flyers. It's that easy!

You can select to receive electronic flyers from as many schools as you need. Contact our SPS Office of Communications & Community Engagement at 757-923-5244 for assistance.

If you are a parent and you are not receiving SMS text messages, emails or automated phone calls from Suffolk Public Schools, please opt-in to receive messages by providing a phone number in your Home Access Center account. The steps to update your contact information are provided below:

How To Update Your Contact Information in the Home Access Center:

1. Navigate to the Home Access Center link from the Suffolk Public Schools website or Student Portal. Parent link: https://bit.ly/34vfBPB ; Student link: https://bit.ly/36nYaTB

2. Sign in with the appropriate credentials

3. Select the Registration icon

4. Click on the Edit button beside Contacts (on the right side of the screen)

To opt in to SMS text, check the mobile number in the section for Guardian. If this number needs to be corrected, please update this information. If there is no number listed, please add the desired cellular number. Click "Save" and allow 24 to 48 hours for it to be updated. Please follow the same steps for adding an email address to receive emails from the school division, and a home phone number different from the mobile number, if preferred. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our Office of Communications and Community Engagement at 757-923-5244 or comments@spsk12.net. Staff members who are not receiving communication will need to update their contact information in MyAlio.

Every day, students and teachers across our school division benefit from the generosity of volunteers who take the time to share their talents with our students. To become a volunteer, you must create an application in the Raptor system. Click here for a link to the 2024-2025 Raptor Volunteer Application. If you completed the application last year, an application renewal or a new application will be required each school year.

Volunteers have the option of selecting the school they prefer to volunteer. They can select one location or multiple locations. Volunteers can also select the functions they wish to volunteer and select one or multiple functions. Once complete, the volunteer will receive an automatic notification to their email address, letting them know the application has been received. Once approved, the volunteer will receive a second automated email informing them that the application has been approved and that they are authorized to volunteer until June 30, 2025. In most cases, all applications are approved unless adverse information is disclosed in the background check.

When schools are in need of volunteers, they will reach out to you based on the preferences you selected and the functions / activities they have open for volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Guidelines

Volunteers should sign in at the school's main office and receive a volunteer or visitor badge each time they visit a school. Volunteers work under the direction and supervision of school personnel and should know and follow school policies and rules. All volunteers will:

• Report to the office to sign in and out.

• Obtain and wear an identification badge provided by the school while volunteering.

• Wear appropriate attire for service and working with students.

• Follow the directions of school staff, recognizing that instructing, supervising, grading, and disciplining students is the responsibility of the school staff.

• Work collaboratively with school staff to develop and choose appropriate activities aligned with your talents.

• Communicate with designated staff members to obtain clear expectations and give feedback on volunteer activities.

For any questions related to volunteering in Suffolk Public Schools, or how to use the Raptor System, please visit or website (www.spsk12.net) or contact our Office of Communications and Community Engagement at 757-923-5244.