🌅 🥪 School’s (almost) Out

It’s Tuesday! It’s Tuesday and we’re back. Hope everyone had a restful Memorial Day weekend. I sure did.

I’ve always thought of Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer. Anyone else feel that way? We’ll throw a poll in at the end to settle it once and for all.

Also, a big shoutout to my cousin who dropped off over 100 books to the little free library outside the future home of Sunland Bookstore. More on that soon, I promise.

In the meantime, if you or your kids need something to read this summer, swing by and grab a book. They’re free, they’re good, and there might even be a bookmark waiting inside.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this. Let’s get into today’s stories.

TL;DR: As the school year wraps up in St. Lucie County, many families are navigating what comes next, especially when it comes to food. While summer brings a break for teachers and students, it also marks the end of guaranteed school meals for thousands of children who rely on them. And with shifts in funding and ongoing discussions around school lunch programs statewide, there’s a larger conversation emerging about access and support.

✍️ A Personal Note: My mom has been a schoolteacher in the system for over 30 years. One thing that’s always stayed with me is how school means different things to different kids. For some, it’s just a place to learn. But for others, it’s a lifeline, a place where they know they’ll be fed, seen, and safe. Two meals a day, every day, isn’t just routine. It’s stability.

🥪 School’s Almost Out: St. Lucie Public Schools will end the 2024-25 school year on Monday, June 2. For many kids, this marks the start of summer fun, but also the end of consistent access to breakfast and lunch provided at school.

💬 Why It Matters: School meals are more than just food. They’re part of a daily routine that helps kids stay focused, nourished, and ready to learn. For students in households experiencing food insecurity, the loss of those meals over summer is deeply felt.

📊 By the Numbers: In 2024, 64.4% of elementary students in St. Lucie County qualified for free or reduced lunch. The statewide average was 53.8%. That means thousands of students in our county rely on school meals and are directly impacted when school lets out.

🍽️ What’s Available This Summer: The Treasure Coast Food Bank is stepping in to help fill the gap with its Summer Meals Program, offering free breakfast and lunch to children 18 and under from June 3 through August 8 at various sites across St. Lucie County. No ID is required.

👉 Find a summer meal site here

📉 Program Reductions: We’ve also previously reported on how summer school programs are being downsized this year. Fewer students will be eligible. Fewer programs are running. That means more kids who might have been in school all summer won’t be, and that means fewer guaranteed meals, too.

👉 Read our past report: newsletter.sunlandnews.com/p/summer-school-cuts

🗣 The Bigger Picture: Across Florida, districts are reevaluating how they deliver meals. Pandemic-era relief funds that temporarily expanded access to free meals are winding down. Senate Bill 74, which proposed universal free school meals, was indefinitely postponed in early May.

🔎 What We Know: As of now, St. Lucie Public Schools has not announced any changes to its lunch program for the 202526 school year. We’ll keep watching and let you know if anything changes.

If you have an event, send it to me here

Summer doesn’t officially start until June 20, but if you’ve stepped outside lately, you know better. In South Florida, summer tends to arrive early and according to the National Weather Service, this year could be hotter than usual.

📊 The Forecast: Florida has a 50% chance of seeing above-average temperatures this summer. The wet season also began May 15, with the bulk of our annual rainfall expected between now and mid-October.

🗓️ The Real Start Date: A government study of climate data from 1956 to 1997 pegged May 21 as the median start of summer in South Florida, with temps staying high through October 17.

🥵 What to Expect: July and August are usually the worst of it. The heat index can regularly top 100°F, especially during afternoon hours. The NWS says to expect above-normal rainfall, so prep for humid afternoons.

📍 Why It Matters: This isn’t just about comfort. Hotter days impact everything from outdoor work and events to energy bills, water usage, and even local ecosystems. Be safe, stay hydrated, and maybe find some new indoor favorites from the Sunland Eats guide.

👋 Thanks for reading! If you found it useful, consider sharing it with a friend.

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