Central Elementary School

09/25/2026

We were so excited to welcome WPTV and Christy Waite to our campus today and show them just some of the amazing things happening thanks to being a Guy Harvey conservation school. We are excited to continue growing the love of learning through conservation efforts.

🦈🌊 AMAZING NEWS for Okeechobee! Central Elementary is now the ONLY public school in the county to be named a Guy Harvey Conservation School!

These lucky students are getting hands-on education focused on protecting Florida's waterways and wildlife.

Fifth graders are already learning about shark anatomy and conservation - some even getting to dissect sharks.

Watch the full report in the comments below:

09/21/2026

Today we have the privilege of recognizing three very special members of our Central Elementary family. These individuals represent the dedication, heart, and commitment that make Central such a wonderful place for our students and staff.

First, we are proud to announce our 2026–2027 Teacher of the Year — Mrs. Martha Cruz! Mrs. Cruz’s dedication to her students, her positive spirit, and her commitment to helping every child succeed are just a few of the reasons she is so deserving of this honor. Congratulations, Mrs. Cruz!

Next, we are excited to recognize our 2026–2027 School-Related Employee of the Year — Ms. Tifani Mejia! Tifani is always willing to help, support our students and staff, and do whatever is needed to keep Central running smoothly. We are so grateful for everything she brings to our Panther family. Congratulations, Tifani!

And finally, the Green Apple Award recognizes an outstanding new teacher who has already made a positive impact at Central Elementary. This year’s Green Apple Award winner is Mr. Tommy Purvis! Mr. Purvis has jumped right into the Panther family with enthusiasm, creativity, and a genuine love for our students. We are so happy to have him at Central. Congratulations, Mr. Purvis!

Please join us in giving a HUGE Panther congratulations to Martha Cruz, Tifani Mejia, and Tommy Purvis!

We are incredibly proud of each of you, and Central Elementary is a better place because you are part of our family. Congratulations!

09/15/2026

We are having our first 4h meeting tomorrow after school, if your child would like to be a part of our group please come! If you have any questions please message Kristal Sumrall

09/14/2026

What a special day at Central Elementary!

Today, our campus was filled with smiles, hugs, laughter, and so much love as we welcomed grandparents and special family members to celebrate with our Panthers. There is something truly wonderful about seeing our students light up when someone they love walks through the doors of their school.

Days like today are a beautiful reminder that Central is more than a school—we are a community, and our families are such an important part of what makes our school so special.

A very special thank you to Cecilia Laws, Amber Denton, Mercedes Widdifield, Nancy Boyer, and Martha Cruz for the time, care, and effort they put into making today so wonderful for our families. We are also incredibly grateful to the many people who donated treats and helped make our guests feel so welcome and appreciated.

Thank you to every grandparent and special family member who spent part of their day with us. We loved having you at Central and hope you left knowing just how much you mean to your Panther—and to all of us.

These are the moments our children will remember—the hugs, the smiles, the time spent together, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who love them. Thank you for showing up, making memories, and helping us make Central such a special place to grow and learn.

We are so grateful for our Central families, and our hearts are especially full tonight. 🐾 Happy Grandparents Day from our Panther family to yours!

09/08/2026

CES Family Newsletter is here.

08/28/2026

🚗❤️ Special thanks to our community partners at Gilbert’s Chevrolet for providing FREE oil changes to Central Elementary staff members!

Your generosity helps our hardworking team feel valued and appreciated. Thank you for all you do to support CES and our Panther family! 🐾🖤

08/28/2026

Thank you to the staff of the Okeechobee Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office for their generous donation of school supplies! Your kindness helps ensure CES students have the tools they need to learn and succeed. We appreciate your support of our Panther family!
Okeechobee County Schools

08/27/2026

Get Involved! Join us for our School Advisory Council meeting on Monday, 8/31 at 8:15pm after student drop off.

08/27/2026

Staying connected with Central Elementary is easy!

Download the Okeechobee County Schools app and use Rooms to connect directly with your child’s school and teachers.

With the app, you can:

📨 Send and receive messages
📅 Keep up with events
📚 Access your child’s classes and Rooms
📄 Find important documents
📰 See school and district updates
🔔 Receive important notifications

Already have the app?

Please take a minute to make sure you are logged into Rooms AND have your notifications turned on. This is important so you don’t miss messages and updates from CES or your child’s teacher.

Need help getting started? Check out the Rooms Quick Start Guide for Families attached to this post. It walks you through logging in, setting your notification preferences, viewing Rooms, and sending messages.

❤️🐾 Download. Log in. Turn on notifications. Stay connected.

We want every CES family to be in the know!

08/14/2026

Central families, thank you for helping us start each school day safely and smoothly! ❤️🖤 please review our morning arrival times and procedures so we can get everyone off to a great start each day.