Month: February 2012

Northport K-8 Girls Treble Chorus performed recently at the District 13 Florida Vocal Association adjudicated festival or Music Performance Assessments for Chorus.  The all-girl middle grades choir achieved an overall Superior rating.  The chorus performed a German song titled, “Bist Du Bie Mir” as well as a spiritual song, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.”  Students also performed sight reading materials.  Bravo to Northport K-8 choir director Shirley Lyons.  Pictured with the girls and Mrs. Lyons is Northport K-8 principal Glenn Rustay.

Fifth grade Francis K. Sweet Elementary School student Rida Ahmed emerged as the champion speller for the second  consecutive year in the 2012 St. Lucie County Spelling Bee, winning on the word bromeliad. Second place went to Northport K8 School seventh grade student Jared Diago, and in third place was fourth grade WestGate K8 School student Sreya Banik. Ten students will move on to regional competition next month. Congratulations to all 32 winners who participated. Pictured, from left, are third place Sreya Banik, champion Rida Ahmed, and second place Jared Diago.

Port St. Lucie High School junior Jonathan Lane won first place in the documentary portion of the school-based History Fair.  Lane’s documentary titled “Building St. Lucie County’s Future” featured interviews with St. Lucie County School District leaders, l including Superintendent Mike Lannon and Associate Superintendent Dr. Owen Roberts. Pictured is Superintendent Lannon addressing students during the event.

Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition dressed up as their heroes for a donation of $1.00 for the American Heart Association.  This is an organization the school helps each year.  This was one of several events planned to help this worthwhile cause.  Pictured are students in first and second grade.

Forest Grove Middle school students recently spent a week “Shining a Light on Reading” in celebration of literacy. The soft lamplight provided great atmosphere for reading their favorite books.  From left, students Elijah VanDenHam, Kevin Duan and Joseph Serafini from Charlene Carter’s reading class are engrossed in reading their books by lamplight.

Approximately 50 students recenlty enjoyed a pizza lunch with principal Debra Snyder at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition.  Students spent their hard earned “rocket fuel” to have the honor of eating with the principal.  This is part of the PBS (Positive Behavior Support) program used at the school.  Way to go Rockets and keep up the great work!  

Melissa Bonet’s kindergarten students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition celebrated Valentine’s Day in style!  The letters Q and U got married and agreed to stay together and make words.  The entire class participated in the ceremony.  The officiate for the ceremony was second grade teacher Lorrie Rudzinski.  The celebration wasn’t complete without an official wedding cake donated by Elizabeth Neal.  Pictured are the bride Kaylie Fields, the groom Zion Sanguinetti, the rest of the class in the wedding party and teacher Melissa Bonet.

Townes Pagano in Laurie Boyer’s third grade class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition created an awesome bottle biography of President Grover Cleveland.  Students were asked to create these bottles as part of their President’s Project in honor of President’s Day.

Palm Pointe teachere  Joanne Hilhorst proudly accepts a $2,000 check representing a grant she earned presented to her by Kathy McKenzie of AT&T and St. Lucie County Education Foundation president Michael Waninger.  The grant was given to Mrs. Hilhorst and her biotechnology classes to create a phone application for the school.  Students are very excited to get started on the project. Pictured, from left, are Michael Waninger, Kathy McKenzie from AT&T and Joanne Hilhorst.

Congratulations to the Samuel Gaines Academy spelling bee winners. Pictured, from left, is third place winner, sixth grade student Marisol Aguilar, second place winner, eighth grade student Destiny Gamble, Principal Carolyn Wilkens, and first place winner, seventh grade student Jeremiah Flores.

The media center at Southport Middle School hosted a book swap coordinated by Mary Kurtz-Seiden and Angela Mas.  Students were able to bring in a new or gently used novel and swap from a variety of high interest new scholastic books.  Popcorn and lemonade were served as students were given the opportunity to discuss the novels and swap with their friends.  Pictured at right is Brian Velasquez, and left are  Jamie Triplett, Kaylee Kegley, Sydney Dundee, Morgan Reed, Luke Hannah, Keala Sanders and other students enjoying some treats and picking out books to take home.

Elementary grades physical education classes at Allapattah Flats K8 has completed a unit on scooters.  Students enjoyed scooter races, played scooter basketball and scooter hockey. The students improved arm and leg strength, coordination and spacial awareness and are now working on improving the 1 mile run/walk for the Presidential fitness challenge. Pictured, from left, are Alexis Allen and Chyna Nazario as they prepare for scooter hockey.

Students in Eric Redding’s second grade at Allapattah Flats K8 class made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a culminating activity for their Expository Writing Unit. This activity focused on using specific details and descriptions in writing. Students were asked to list the steps to make the sandwich, and then were invited up to try it!  The students learned that they might not have included all of the steps when making the sandwich, as it didn’t quite work out as planned.  Students quickly realized what a difference details can make in writing. Pictured is Tatiana Holloway as she watches to see if … Read More

Windmill Point Elementary School was visited by storyteller Donna Washington who joined students recently for two special assemblies.  Mrs. Washington resides in North Carolina and travels to schools to tell her wonderful stories. Pictured, from left standing, are Nazare Moore, Ms. Washington, and Dawkins Lormejuste. Seated from left, are Kailey Jocelyn, Morgan Mack, and Talia Ricketts.

Samuel S. Gaines Academy fourth grade teacher Barbara Bennett asked Superintendent Michael Lannon and other prominent local residents to come in and read to the fourth graders to celebrate Black History Month.  Pictured is Mr. Lannon reading the book Follow the Drinking Gourd and talked about Black History Month.  Students  gathered in the hallway to listen to his story.

Students in Nardi Routten’s fourth grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary School presented a check for over $500 to the mosquito control and marine and coastal management services to buy a sensor machine to help track sea turtles at the February 14, 2012 St. Lucie County School Board meeting.  The students had entered into the Disney Planet Challenge. The local environmental issue they focused on was the restoration of marine habitats with a focus on sea turtles. Their activities included beach clean-ups, planting and measuring various species of mangroves, seining and water testing. The students also wrote a book about two baby … Read More

Fort Central High School held its Annual History Fair Luncheon at the Cobra Café recently to honor the winners of the school’s event. Over 500 students completed semester long projects in their World History and American History classes. The students with the most outstanding projects were selected to present their projects to a panel of judges. The winners enjoyed a formal luncheon prepared by culinary students of the Cobra Café and sponsored by the Fort Pierce Lions Club as the community celebrates student success. Fort Pierce Central High will be represented by 37 students at the district history fair at Westgate K-8.  Pictured are honored students, along with … Read More