Construction at Lake Point Academy is nearing completion, teachers will soon be hired, and a mascot has been chosen to represent the district’s newest school, which will open in Four Corners this fall serving students in kindergarten through 8th grade.
Students, families and community members participated in a survey late last year and chose the blue jay as the official mascot of Lake Pointe Academy, which is to open in August as the district’s newest school. Respondents found the blue jay a fitting symbol because the birds are frequently found in Lake County and are known for their intelligence and tight family bonds.
With an environmental curriculum that weaves in science, technology, engineering and math, Lake Pointe Academy is touted as the first E-STEM school in the state. It will feature an Eco-Courtyard, Eco-Trail, and Eco-STEM lab to enhance the curriculum, along with a garden to support culinary arts lessons and mini-collaboration areas within and across classrooms. The building décor will feature a yellow, green, and blue color scheme to reflect the environmental focus.
With that in mind, the committee of community stakeholders who narrowed down the choices for the survey thought it important to also have a mascot that reflects the theme. The other mascot choices were tortoise, tortuga (“tortoise” translated in Spanish), and ibis.
Principal Andrea Steenken, who formerly led Sawgrass Bay Elementary School, said she is eager to build community support for the school and excitement about its opening. Choosing the mascot was one of the first steps.
Now, as construction nears completion, she is turning her attention toward hiring teachers for the school. Steenken expects to start the 2021-22 school year with 500 elementary students, 230 middle school students, and 45 teachers. Jobs will be posted on the district website soon.
Virtual meetings with parents of students zoned for the school will follow shortly after teachers have been hired, and kindergarten registration is planned for the spring.
