Hello Venetia Vikings!

Welcome to Venetia Elementary School of the Medical Arts, where our belief is, "Healthy Lives. Strong Minds." It is an honor to serve as the Principal of this exceptional school and community. As I begin my 22nd year in education and my 10th year as Principal of this remarkable elementary school, a true hidden gem of Jacksonville's Westside, I am filled with excitement and gratitude.

Our theme for the 2026–2027 school year, "Growing & Thriving...Anywhere We Are!", reflects our commitment to embracing every opportunity for learning and growth. We are especially proud to begin the year celebrating our A School Grade, a testament to the dedication of our students, staff, families, and community.

This year marks the beginning of a unique journey as we temporarily relocate to the Hyde Grove building for the next two years while our new school is being built. Although our location will change, our mission remains the same. We are committed to maintaining academic excellence, cultivating a positive and resilient school culture, fostering a growth mindset, and supporting the social-emotional well-being of every student. Together, we will continue to grow, thrive, and achieve success—wherever we are.

At Venetia Elementary, we strive to provide excellent instruction through embedding medical arts and health standards and implementing strong instructional practices that meet the needs of students through differentiated instruction, student ownership, and higher order thinking activities that encourage collaborative problem solving.

We truly believe in doing what is BEST for our children and showing them genuine care through building meaningful relationships. It is my belief that an educator’s job is to make students fall in love with learning by being passionate about our way of work in every classroom, reaching every student, every day. I am honored to have this opportunity to make this year a unique and valuable experience for everyone involved in the success of your child. Your active support and cooperation, combined with our professional efforts, will ensure academic success for your child.

It is my top priority to provide students with a safe and effective learning environment, full of rich experiences. I am eager to get to know all our wonderful students and families this year. I look forward to personally meeting you.

Wherever we are planted, we have the power to grow. Whatever challenges we face, we have the strength to thrive. Let’s make this our best year yet!

Your Principal,

Monique L. Worthen

Excellence is the Standard Every Day!