Month: December 2012

Northport K-8 seventh and eighth students on the Clownfish team, under the direction of instructor Dru Dehart and with the support of her team of teachers have been raising much needed dollars to support Relay For Life in a variety of meaningful ways.  Clownfish boys previously sported high heeled shoes for a cost to raise funds. Recently, students participated in a pie eating contest to support cancer research. Students paid three dollars to participate and five dollars to make their own pies using pudding, vanilla wafers and whipped cream. Students raised well over three hundred dollars. Pictured, from left, are Christina Lambert, Paul … Read More

Garden City Early Learning Academy appreciates community involvement in the school. Recently, Pastor Teddy Sanders and volunteers from  Calvary Compassion Church presented holiday gifts to all students. To show their holiday spirit, the students sang songs for the volunteers. GCELA truly appreciates all that Calvary Compassion Church does for the school.

F. K. Sweet Elementary second grade students Lion Belcher, left, and Chandler Miller, are anxiously awaiting Santa’s visit to the school a little early. The school’s student council sponsored its annual Breakfast with Santa, and there was a large turnout. Parents and students enjoyed breakfast and crafts and then the long anticipated visit and picture with Santa.

Northport K-8 kindergarten students who are enrolled in the school’s 21st Century after school program received a special visitor recently to confirm their belief that Santa does really exist.  Students were thrilled to visit with Santa Claus who gave each child the gift of a coloring book and crayons and did indeed confirm the belief that “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!” Santa listened as each child express wishes and instilled in each child the real meaning of the holiday season. Local Civil War re-enacter Alyn Bryant played the role of Santa.

Southport Middle School’s Reading Counts tree had so many outstanding favorite book ornaments that they overflowed and had to be mounted on a board to be displayed. Teacher Evelyn Watson, pictured seated, joins a few of the students who created a small booklet to show their favorite book and why they liked it. Standing, from left, are Marissa Kalina, Briana Norman, Faith Papidero, Crystal Goodwin, Andy Jean-Pierre, Amy Chen and Samantha Lewis.

For Saint Lucia Day, students in Alicia Swink’s second grade class at Mariposa Elementary dressed up in Swedish traditional headdress and costume. The students delivered gingerbread cookies to all the second grade classes while reciting the St. Lucia Day song as part of their activity.

As part of the second grade science unit on animals, students at Mariposa Elementary enjoyed a visit from the WildLife Teaching Team from the Hobe Sound Nature Center, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting an environmental awareness in people of all ages. The center offers a variety of environmental education presentations to schools and organizations. The students enjoy the opportunity to see live animals up close. They viewed an osprey, and an owl, and were allowed to pet a baby alligator, a baby crocodile, and an albino snake. Pictured, from left, are Kindman Inniccherri, Esmeralda Cruz, and Jessica Simko.

The Mariposa Elementary School band and chorus performed recently at the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast. They presented their holiday musical called “Santa Goes Green” with a message of becoming environmentally friendly this holiday season. Pictured is Alex Perry singing a solo with the chorus behind her. The musical was made possible with a generous grant from Florida Power and Light, and the N.E.E.D. organization.

Students from Lawnwood Elementary were recently treated to a special PBS activity, Pies with the Principals.  Students enjoyed their lunch and pie with assistant principal Kim Cain and principal D’Jion Jackson during their lunch time. Pictured at left, from front, are Rigoberto Lara, Michael Sanford, Victoria Magana, and Kim Cain. On right, from front, are Chrishaun Gamble, Nyla Smith, Gabriela Mendez, Daniela Esquivel, and D’Jion Jackson.

Northport K-8 School third graders received a special visit from Sunset Rotary club member Joe the Biker recently. Joe Wojcik, known as Joe the Biker, gave a dynamic introduction in the use of the dictionary integrating words and information from a bullying presentation that has made his name synonomous with an anti bullying message. Joe the Biker demonstrated how to look up words and information in the dictionary and also donated a class set of a books written by Joe the Biker called “Call Me Yubby!” The students were thrilled with the presentation and many thanks go to the Sunset Rotary Club.

As Fort Pierce Central Medical Academy students Edward Winter, from left, Mischelle Sanchez, Kyle Glenton and Sendy Molinas lean over their own mannequins on the floor of the school’s medical lab, the song “Stayin Alive” by the Bee Gees starts pumping, which seems appropriate since that’s the goal of the Health Science class, to keep someone alive using CPR training. Medical Academy instructor Samantha Jackson uses the music to inspire the students to make the appropriate number of compressions — 100/minute — for success. Students in Jackson’s class will earn their American Heart Association certification in first aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) will be … Read More

Northport K-8 kindergarten students in Melody Nieves’ and Megan Castiglia’sclasses enjoyed a special holiday story time in the school’s main media center recently. Students listened to a rendition of the beautiful story  “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg, and then sang holiday songs together. Students sang Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other holiday favorites. Students each received a candy cane pencil and held teddy bears. Pictured are Northport media specialist Lynne Gruszka and media clerk Pam Crum with students in the beautifully decorated media center.

First grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently performed a multicultural holiday event for families. The students sang songs from different countries, such as Jingle Bells and Feliz Navidad which were led by music director Christine Hill. After the performance, the families were able to sample foods from many different countries and enjoy the company of families and friends. It was a great learning experience for all!

The Rocket Chorus from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently visited Torrey Pines Research Center in Tradition to sing for the WPSL Christmas Kids radio program. Pictured are Lillian Bloom, left, and Grace Lloyd, who were among the 63 students who participated in the performance. The Palm Pointe chorus has been singing for the local program since the school opened.

The Port St. Lucie High School JROTC Raider Team finished off their season strong by “surviving” their annual Raider campout recently. The Battalion Raider team spent a tough night out at Camp Ah-Ba-Lu-Fa in Fort Pierce. Throughout the overnight campout, the Raiders exhibited their mastery of survival skills, shelters, trap and fire building that they have learned throughout the season. The raiders are grateful for the outstanding survival class taught by Amanda Thompson from the Oxbow Environmental Center. The team enjoyed the campout and learned many useful survival skills. Pictured are the cadets at their campout.

Recently, 29 cadets from St. Lucie West Centennial High School Navy Junior ROTC toured Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach. In the morning, they visited the barracks, gym and souvenir shop. After lunch in the mess hall, cadets watched paratrooper squadron demonstration, toured the flight line fire station, had a briefing on education benefits, observed the security forces K-9 unit, and fire range simulator. Cadet Johanna Moody said the best part of the tour by far was the security forces because that is what she would like to have as a career. Pictured are the students by a helicopter.

“Ho, Ho, Ho,” proclaimed Santa, at Allapattah Flats’ Santa Breakfast recently. Parents, teachers and students alike enjoyed the festivities as they watched Danya Etter’s elementary chorus perform several Christmas songs to bring in the holiday season, and eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa. The morning included a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa and a holiday shop for all to enjoy. Students were overwhelmed with all the holiday decorations and couldn’t wait to tell Santa their wish lists. It was a great event for the whole family. Allapattah staff even took a quick moment to get their own picture with the man … Read More

Students at Allapattah Flats recently held a food drive for families in need for the Thanksgiving break. Students were asked to bring in canned and boxed food items over a one week period.  The classes with the most participation were rewarded with a pancake breakfast prepared by Principal Patti Galloway and served by Assistant Principals Casandra Flores and Ana Rodriguez. Susan Funari’s second grade class won for the primary grades and the students were delighted to be served at their desks, partaking in the home made pancakes covered in syrup used to create hearts, stars, and smiley faces for a little extra cheer. Pictured, from left, … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial High School Navy Junior ROTC Field Meet Competition Team participated at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s field meet in Daytona Beach, Florida earlier this month. Each cadet showed a tremendous amount of motivation and dedication throughout the long hard day at the university. The cadets brought home seven trophies including first place for personnel inspection, unarmed basic, armed basic, armed exhibition, and color guard, second place overall drill, and fourth place overall. They defeated the reigning national champion, Boca Raton High School, in five events! This field meet qualified the Black Talon Company to attend the state … Read More

Students in Mrs. Nesbitt’s first grade class are learning about place value. Students are showing their understanding of tens and ones using pretzel rods and Cheerios.  Pictured are Greg Robinson and Destiney Johnson.