Names of 2 new St. Johns County schools narrowed to 6 choices

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – In just a few days, parents, students and school administrators in St. Johns County will know the names of two new K-8 schools.

It comes after hundreds of suggestions from members of the community were voted on and some were voted out.

There are six names on the table as possibilities.

"What you name it, it's there forever, so we put a lot of thought into it," Superintendent Joe Joyner said. "We're looking forward to not calling it II or HH. That gets kind of annoying after a while."

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The II School is located in Nocatee and could be named either Valley Ridge Academy, Discovery Trail Academy or Palmetto Cove Academy.

HH School, on the the other hand, is located in Durbin Crossing and could be named Crossing Oaks Academy, Islebrook Crossing Academy or Patriot Oaks Academy.

"There names that are endemic to the area," Joyner said. "Some are like the geographical landmarks that are endemic to that area."

The names were suggestions from surveys that the public weighed in on last year. Parents say they are appreciative that they had a hand in the decision-making process.

"I think the kids, they don't take the name for granted, and they want to support their school, whether they are in it at the time or graduating from that tier of their life," one parent said.

Students' opinions vary on the choices.

Once the school board decides on the name of both schools, the work isn't over. It has to choose the school colors and mascot.

"It's really exciting and exhausting because everything starts from scratch -- (Parent Teacher Organization), to where are you going to drop off the children, to where are you going to eat," Joyner said.

The board will vote Tuesday.

Joyner said regardless of the chosen names, the new schools are evidence that the county continues to grow.


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Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.