Liza Jackson Preparatory School

🦁 Friendly Reminder: Open House Is Tomorrow Night! 🦁

📅 Tuesday, September 22
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM

Join us for an exciting evening at LJPS! Visit classrooms, shop the Book Fair, explore the PATHS Basket and Silent Auction, and enjoy performances by our talented students!

Evening Schedule

🏫 5:00–5:45 PM: Classrooms open
🚶 5:45 PM: Classrooms close
🎶 6:00 PM: Performances in the gym by our Drumline, Lionettes, Chorus, and Color Guard
🧺 5:00–7:00 PM: PATHS Basket and Silent Auction, plus other tables of interest in the Café
📚 5:00–7:00 PM: Book Fair open in the Media Center

🌱 Don’t forget! As you walk around campus, be sure to stop by Miss Jo’s Garden, our school greenhouse located in the outdoor classroom!

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night! 💙💛

12 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

📸 Picture Day, Take Two!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is make-up day for school pictures!

If your student has already had a picture taken but needs a retake, please send a note indicating that you would like a new photo.

Pictures will be taken in the morning. Students will be called to the gym when it is their turn to smile! 😄📷

12 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

FIC CARD REMINDER!

FIC cards were sent home with students last week, and we need every student to return their card as soon as possible.

The Federal Government recognizes that areas like Okaloosa County face an additional financial burden because land has been purchased for military use. Since this property is no longer on the tax rolls, the county loses the property tax revenue it would otherwise receive.

To help offset this loss, the federal government provides Impact Aid to the Okaloosa County School District. Liza Jackson Preparatory School receives a portion of these funds, which help support our school and students.

Please make sure your child returns their FIC card to their teacher. Every card is important, and we greatly appreciate your help in getting 100% of them returned!

Thank you for your continued support!

16 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

SEE YOU AT THE POLE (Student led prayer event)
September 23, 2026
7:00 AM
Meet at the LJPS Flag Pole
Staff, Students, & Family Welcome

16 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

🦁 LJPS BOOK FAIR IS COMING! Visit us in the Media Center from September 22 through September 29.🦁

Student Shopping Opportunities

Each teacher has been assigned a time to take students to the Book Fair during Book Fair Week.
Elementary students will visit with their homeroom teacher.
Middle school students will visit with their wheel teacher.
Also, the Book Fair will be open before school from 7:40–7:55 AM for students who would like to make purchases (with teacher permission, of course!)

View the class shopping schedule here: Book Fair Schedule September 2026

Open House Shopping

The Book Fair will also be open from 5:00–7:00 PM during Open House on Tuesday, September 22. Parents and guardians are invited to shop with their students during this time!

eWallet and Book Flyers

Guardians may set up a Scholastic eWallet for easy student purchases and preview the Book Fair flyers here:

Visit the LJPS Scholastic Book Fair page

Volunteer Opportunities

Our Media Center Specialist is few volunteers to assist with the book fair during the teacher rotation during the week and during open house. If you are willing to jump in and lend a hand, please contact Ms. Love at zlove@lizajackson.org.

We look forward to seeing our Liza Lions discover their next great read! 📖

18 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

Who: LJPS Grade Levels
What: Relay for Life Mad Minute ⏱️🎉
When: Friday, September 18 after the morning announcements.
How: Bring change for the money collection to help raise money for Relay for Life! (See attached information)
Reward: A giving heart! Also... The winning grade level will receive a bonus NURD day.

19 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

🧺 Open House Basket Donations Needed!

We still have a few grade-level baskets in need of donations for our Open House fundraiser. To allow families a little more time, we have extended the donation deadline through this Sunday.

Please check your child’s grade-level Facebook page for specific basket themes and requested items.

Thank you for helping make this event a success and for supporting our school and students!

22 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

In honor of Patriot Day, students and staff may wear a red, white, or blue shirt with uniform bottoms on
Friday, September 11th.

❤️🤍💙 Let’s fill Liza with red, white, and blue as we honor and remember.

23 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

Dear Military Families,

I am excited to share that Liza Jackson once again has a Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselor (CYB-MFLC) available to support our military-connected students and families.

Our connection to the military community is an important part of who we are at Liza. We know that military life comes with some unique experiences, transitions, and challenges for students and families. Having this resource available on our campus gives us another way to support our military-connected Lions and help them be successful both in and out of the classroom. I also know this is a resource that many of our families have expressed interest in having available, so I am especially excited to welcome the program back full time to Liza.

Please join me in welcoming Shalin Candelaria, who will serve as our Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselor.

CYB-MFLCs are master's or doctorate-level licensed counselors who provide confidential, non-medical counseling and support to military-connected children and youth. Mrs. Candelaria may work with students individually or in groups, as well as partner with parents, teachers, and staff. Support may focus on areas such as deployment and reunification, transitions, friendships, self-esteem, managing stress, problem-solving, and identifying and working through emotions.

In the coming days, our military-connected students will bring home a parent consent form with additional information about the program. Parent or guardian consent is required before a student can participate in MFLC services. Consent is also required for participation in certain small-group and social-emotional learning activities facilitated by the CYB-MFLC throughout the school year. The form will provide additional details about the services available and your options for participation.

We are grateful to have this additional layer of support available for our military families and look forward to having Mrs. Candelaria as part of our Liza family.

If you have questions, Mrs. Candelaria can be reached at 850-598-2729. Additional information will also be shared through the school and the Hurlburt Field School Liaison Program.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership with us and for the sacrifices your families make in service to our country. We are proud to support our military-connected Lions!

Sincerely,
Cathy Dewrell

25 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

💙💛 Introducing Dew & You! 💛💙

Year one as principal is officially under my belt, and now it’s time to build on the momentum we created together last year!

I’m excited to introduce Dew & You, a monthly opportunity for Liza parents and guardians to connect with me, chat about what’s happening around our school, and strengthen the partnership that makes our Liza community so special.

During each Dew & You, I’ll kick things off by sharing information, updates, or thoughts that I believe are important for our Liza families. From there, we’ll open up the conversation and spend some time connecting. I’ll alternate between morning and evening chats throughout the year so that as many parents and guardians as possible have an opportunity to join us. All chats will take place in the Liza Cafe.

For our first chat, I’ll share some thoughts and insights about the start of our school year and school safety. Then, we get to chat! This is a chance for us to get to know one another, ask questions, share ideas, and talk about what’s on your mind.

One important note: Dew & You is not intended to be a personal conference about an individual student or staff member. I absolutely want to hear your thoughts and questions, but our purpose during this event is to connect around our school community as a whole... Celebrate the strengths and work together to make Liza even stronger.

📅 Dew & You Schedule

Our first Dew & You is Thursday, September 10 at 9:00 AM in the Liza Cafe. I hope you’ll join me!

📱 Please scan the QR code in the attached image or click the link below to RSVP and let me know you’re coming. You’ll also have an opportunity on the RSVP form to share questions or topics you’d like to discuss.

Link: Dew & You RSVP

I’m looking forward to the first of many Dew & You conversations and another great year of working together for our kiddos!

Sincerely,
Cathy Dewrell

30 days ago, CATHY DEWRELL

We have three middle school students working towards their Girl Scout Silver Award! During the month of September, please help them reach their project goal by donating items for children impacted by domestic violence. Please see the attached image for the needed items. The collection box will be located in the LJPS lobby starting September 1st.