St. Johns school board names new Rivertown K–8 'Hallows Cove Academy'

The St. Johns County School Board voted to name the district's new Rivertown K–8 facility Hallows Cove Academy on March 11, 2025, following a community naming process and a board motion by board member Lori Slough.

Board Chair Mike Forsen opened the naming agenda item and introduced the district staff who led the community process. Ben Hathaway, the school's assigned principal, summarized community outreach, survey results and committee recommendations. Hathaway said the district received 331 name suggestions, 78 of them unique, and that the naming committee and community survey produced five leading name choices: “Hallows Cove Academy,” “River Cove Academy,” “River Oaks Academy,” “Riverview Academy,” and “Rivertown Academy.” He described the construction progress and neighborhood engagement and noted the community word cloud favored “family.”

The board approved Hallows Cove Academy after Slough moved to adopt that name and Jennifer Collins seconded the motion. Slough said the name reflects a nearby and culturally significant water feature; Collins said she had researched local native history and supported the choice. The motion passed on a voice vote with board members answering “Aye.”

Hathaway and staff also presented mascot and colors input gathered from the naming committee. The top mascots suggested by the committee were gators, raptors, ravens, rays (intended as a sunshine motif), and riptides; Hathaway said the group continues to refine whether “raptors” would reference birds of prey or prehistoric raptors. The design team showed sample mockups generated for community feedback.

District staff described the engagement: two community meetings, a naming-committee meeting, and multiple surveys that logged hundreds of responses and produced lists for board consideration. Hathaway said the design and construction work is on schedule and highlighted the school's two carlines and separate bus loop intended to ease arrival and dismissal.

Board and superintendent remarks placed the naming in broader context: the superintendent noted the new school will likely convert to a middle school in the district's long-range plan and urged choosing a name that adapts well if grade configurations change. No formal action on mascots or colors was taken at the March 11 meeting; staff will return to the community with final mascot/color recommendations.

The board recessed to other business after the naming vote.