Weekly Staff Update
Week 18 - December 18th - 21st
Quarter 3, Week 1!!
Staff Update: Week of January 5th, 2026
Happy New Year, Team! I hope you all had a restful and restorative break.
First, a huge Welcome Back to Ms. Christopher! After three weeks without her, we are thrilled to have her back in the building. We missed you!
As we relaunch into the new year, I want all of us to walk in tomorrow with something special to look forward to. There will be donuts, coffee, creamer, and fruit waiting for you in the teacher's lounge. 🍩☕️🍎
Alright. Let's go. We've got this!
🚨 A Reminder as We Head Back In 🚨
Not every kid had a magical break. ❤️🩹
Some students went home to chaos. Some went home to food insecurity. Some went home to stress, conflict, or situations no child should have to navigate. Some went home to zero structure, unlimited screen time, and expectations that look NOTHING like school. So when they come back “extra,” distracted, irritable, clingy, exhausted, or checked out… don’t take it personally. This is your reminder to do what great educators do:
✅ Reteach.
✅ Model.
✅ Practice.
✅ Repeat.
Just like the first week of school, we might need to reset routines, expectations, transitions, and emotional regulation. Not because we’re lowering the bar, but because we’re building the bridge.
And most importantly, kids need to feel this loud and clear: “I see you. I’m glad you’re here. You’re safe with me. You belong here.”
Belonging is the key. So lead with grace, hold the line with love, and remember… connection comes before correction. 🩷
🌟 Weekly Highlight: The "Report Card Crunch"
This week is a balance of welcoming students back and finalizing Semester 1 data. Please note that Final Grades are due this Friday, Jan 9th at 4:00 PM. To help us catch errors early, we are asking everyone to aim to post grades by Tuesday, Jan 6th so we can run PDF previews and check for missing data.
📝 Operational Reminders
Morning Duty: Please be vigilant. Please be sure that all doors and gates are being physically manned and that we are greeting every student as they walk into school.
Attendance: We are pushing an "Every Minute Counts" campaign. Please mark attendance accurately and on time daily.
Routines: Take time this week to explicitly practice hallway transitions, lunch procedures, and dismissal routines.
✨I am honored to start this new chapter with you all. Thank you for your heart, your hard work, and your commitment to our students. Let’s take a deep breath, lean on each other, and make 2026 our best year yet.✨
Warmly,
Principal Jones
- Secure a sub ... use the approved substitute list
- Complete the absence request form (link below)
- Add it to the faculty calendar and invite Mrs. Jones, Ms. Christopher, Ms. McCarty, and Mrs. Rodriguez
- Once accepted by Admin, day is approved.
- Times when the day(s) may not be approved = too many other faculty out, no sub or coverage available, or FSA testing.
Reminder: Teachers have 10 PTO days, any unused days are paid back to the teacher in the summer at $100 per day not used.
Plato Academy Seminole
Home of the Phoenix
Igniting the Fire Within
Email: PrincipalSeminole@PlatoAcademy.net
Website: https://platoacademy.net/seminole/
Location: 10888 126th Avenue North, Largo, FL, USA
Phone: 727-205-6360