Orientation will include:
A welcome from the administrative team
Middle School Overview
An opportunity to learn about student organizations and athletic teams
Campus Tour
We look forward to seeing our Sharks and their families.
AFTERSCHOOL EVENTS ENGAGE LEARNERS - Congratulations to Jessica Fernandez from Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School, who is receiving today’s Team Duval Shoutout. A beloved vocational technical teacher, her passion for organizing successful school events is celebrated by students and staff alike – especially the 8th Grade week which featured many fun events including a game truck and foam party. Mrs. Fernandez, we appreciate you for all the planning, preparation, and execution involved in coordinating these events. Thank you for all that you do to make the middle school experience fun and engaging!
CIVICS TEAM PLANNING FOR SUCCESS – The Civics team at Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School earns today’s Team Duval Shoutout for hosting an impactful Civics Parent Night, led by social studies teacher Jennifer Nagy. Parents were able to stop in at their convenience, pick up a Civics EOC review folder, and explore valuable resources to support student success. Attendees walked away with practical strategies to support student learning at home. Thank you Ms. Nagy, for showing what strong school-home partnership looks like!
REGISTER FOR A BUS TODAY - Bus registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All students who plan to ride a school bus next year must be registered in advance, including students enrolled in self-contained ESE programs. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Registration forms are available in Focus. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process, visit: www.duvalschools.org/busregistration
SHOUTOUT FOR MAYPORT MS TEACHER – This shoutout comes from a parent praising her daughter's Algebra teacher –– Aurelie Drexler of Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School! Parent Jeanette Mignone says, “She goes above and beyond and is so organized, sending weekly emails detailing the plans, homework, and tests. It is obvious she truly loves her job and loves kids! My daughter has learned so much and is consistently testing well. I often consider her to be our 'go to' teacher, and in all of our interactions, I feel genuinely supported. We will always remember her as one of the best!”
MAYPORT TEACHER AND VETERAN HONORED – This Team Duval Shoutout honors Donyale Garvey, an ELA teacher at Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School, for earning a Teacher Salute from Naval Station Mayport. Base Commander Captain Mike Trumbull, School Board member April Carney, and Base Liaison Sharon Kasica were on hand to present the 22-year Army Veteran and former medic with the honor. Fellow teachers say that Garvey, who is also endorsed to teach gifted, “works daily to provide rigorous, differentiated, standards-based curriculum to students of all ability levels and learning styles.” Congratulations!
MAYPORT MIDDLE STUDENTS ENJOY ENGAGING COURTHOUSE FIELD TRIP – Students attending Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School received an interactive, inside look at the justice system thanks to a recent field trip to the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse downtown. The trip, which was made possible by the Jacksonville Federal Court Bar Association, gave students in the school’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program the chance to speak with a judge, participate in an interactive demonstration by the ATF, and learn the differences between federal and state courts. GATE Lead Teacher John Meeks says, "It is one thing to learn about our government in a book or on a screen, but it really hits home when we see it in action where we live." What an exciting opportunity!
MAYPORT MIDDLE ROBOTICS TEAMS SCORE BIG AT COMPETITION – Congratulations to the Stingrays of Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School for winning the top prize at the 2025 International SeaPerch Challenge! This marks the second consecutive year the Stingrays were named Overall Champions in the Open Class category, and the third consecutive year Mayport has earned an Overall Championship prize! This year’s competition took place at the University of Maryland in College Park with middle and high school competitors from around the world. The Stingrays – along with the school’s sixth-grade Flying Fish and seventh-grade Anglerfish teams – earned multiple awards in several categories, including Mission Course, Obstacle Course, Technical Report, Community Outreach, and the Real-World Innovation Poster Project. Great work!
Shout out to Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School! Students are applying educational concepts to learn how to grow food in their own community garden, as well as give back to those in need. Students across all grade levels are receiving hands-on lessons on how to grow crops through the school’s Agricultural Science class and with help from volunteers with BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry). Principal Aaron Lakatos shares that through a $100,000 USDA Farm-to-School Grant, the school will provide crops to the local food pantry. In fact, students recently harvested and provided broccoli to BEAM. This is especially valuable in the Mayport community, which is considered a “food desert” due to the limited number of grocery stores in the area. Awesome work!
