St. Johns County School District reports
141 student cases of COVID-19 on Aug. 17
As of Aug. 17, there were 141 cases of COVID-19 in the St. Johns County School District student population, and 69 positive cases with St. Johns County School District employees. There were also 221 St. Johns County school students in quarantine and 34 employees, according to the school district’s daily COVID update.
There were five students and one employee who tested positive at Ponte Vedra High School as of Aug. 17, and seven students at Nease High School who were reported positive. Valley Ridge Academy reported six positive student cases and one employee case.
The total number of COVID-positive students and total number of quarantined students shown in the update are based upon reporting from parents/guardians.
For more on COVID cases in the St. Johns County School Disrict and a daily breakdown by school, go to www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/covid-19.
High School Essay Contest celebrates
Bill of Rights
The lawyers and judges of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida and the members of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association announced the launch of the 2021 High School Essay Contest commemorating the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.
The contest is open to students currently in grades 10 through 12 in counties in the Jacksonville Division of the Middle District of Florida (Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union).
The personal freedoms we cherish as citizens of the United States are set forth in, and protected by, the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. Known as the Bill of Rights, these amendments have shaped our democracy for 230 years. The 2021 Essay Contest prompt asks students to select the amendment most important to students attending public schools, and explain how the decisions of the United States Supreme Court have shaped that amendment’s meaning.
Student essays must be submitted via the Middle District website at www.flmd.uscourts.gov under the “Court in the Community” section by noon on Sept. 24.
For the past three years essays have been submitted by students residing in nine of the 12 counties of the Jacksonville Division and more than $17,000 in cash prizes have been awarded to students and teachers. This year an additional cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the school with the most qualifying essay submissions.
Cash prizes are made possible by the lawyers and judges of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida Bench Bar Fund.
Prizes are: first place – $2,000; second place – $1,000; third place – $500; fourth-10th places – $50 each
Classroom grants for teachers of top three winners (one per teacher) is $500.
Winners will be recognized in November at a ceremony at the Bryan Simson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville.
In addition, the first-place winner will be given the opportunity to shadow a federal judge for a day.
For the contest rules and additional information about the essay contest and how to enter, go to www.flmd.uscourts.gov under the “Court in the Community” section.
