Month: March 2012

A team of middle grades students from Dan McCarty School recently competed in the Space Coast Science Education Alliance Regional Science Bowl in Melbourne, Florida. After practicing for weeks under the direction of science teacher Holly Kaas, the students made the trip on a Saturday to participate.  The team made it through two grueling rounds before defeat.  Pictured, from left, are Coach Kaas and team members Micoy O’Meally, Meshun Atkins, Colton Gillman, Jonathan Ordonez and Edmundo Moreno.  St. Lucie Public Schools’ K-12 Science Title 1 Curriculum Supervisor District Science Coordinator Steven Shotola, far right, was also on hand to support the team.     

Two teams from Fort Pierce Westwood High School Marine Oceanographic Academy took first and second place at the  15thannual  Florida Manatee Bowl, which  this year took place at the Johnson Education Center  at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, home of the MOA academy. Sixteen high school teams with four or five students on each team participated in this year’s Manatee Bowl.  The academic competion   consisted of buzzer-style, multiple-choice questions and open-ended, team-challenge questions.  The first place place  team included, pictured, from left,  Samantha Oxley, Shelby Busenbark, Danielle Gordon, Brooke Gaylord, Jeremy Johnson, and coach Scott Hurley.  They will … Read More

Students and staff of Dan McCarty School recently gathered around the school track  to create the Circle of Hope and show support for cancer victims, survivors and research.  Assistant Principal Luvenia Morgan welcomed and thanked everyone, and Annie Kate Jackson, cancer survivor and Secretary of the American Cancer Society, made brief remarks.  Dan McCarty School band director Richard Shaw sang to close the gathering.  Many students and staff wore purple or pink to show support as well.  Staff and students of Dan McCarty School were proud to participate in this moving and important event.        

Morningside Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind Angels team won first place and an “Omer Award” for notable team work at the recent regional Odyssey of the Mind competition.  Teammates, front row, from left, Macy Nielander, Rylee Nelson, Tiffani Kinnaman, Lexus Hommer, Grace Kukielka, Jory Krier, Kendrick Carpenter, along with coaches, back row,  Tania Nelson and Brad Culbertson are now preparing for the state competition next month.

  Morningside Elementary students in Rebecca Macintire’s kindergarten class celebrated Dr. Seuss Day wearing Lorax mustaches while their teacher read them the book “The Lorax.”

Allapattah Flats K-8 students in Edwina Taylor’s fourth grade classroom are currently learning about the life cycle of plants and plant reproduction. Each student was given a flower to examine, so that they could label the parts of the flower. Then, the students created a Brace Map to separate the plant from whole to part. The students really enjoyed this activity. Pictured front row from left, Aiyana Owen-Edjang, and Jaida Baker. Back row, from left, Dymond Willis, and Emmanuel Noel.

Several Jaguar Battalion cadets conducted an expanded Color Guard for the Honor Flight ceremony, which honors the many veterans in the St. Lucie community. Participating in the Color Guard were cadet Colonel Diamond Salazar, cadet Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Jacobson, cadet Command Sergeant Major Mason Propst, cadet Captain Amanda Mabry, cadet First Lieutenant Andrew Miller, cadet Staff Sergeant Anthony Fusco, cadet Staff Sergeant Arlene Mabry, cadet Corporal Chaz Pollino, and cadet Private First Class Daulton Macklem. The cadets presented the national and state flags, Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, and one for each service branch. Each cadet felt honored … Read More

Staff members from the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary visited the Bobcats team at Southport Middle School. The presentation was part of a conservation unit with the student teacher in Christine Richards’ sixth grade reading classes.

It’s not their birthday, but students Jayda Hill, left, and Heather White in Amy Redding’s seventh grade math class at Allapattah Flats K8 School are using wrapped boxes to find the surface area of prisms.  Students measured several boxes and were able to compare the surface areas of the three-dimensional shapes.

Once again this year, WestGate K8 School celebrated Read Across America by inviting some very special readers. Some of the special guests visiting West Gate included  Sheriff Ken Mascara, Joe Smith, the Clerk of County Courts, School Board members Troy Ingersoll and Dr. Donna Mills. Pictured is CTA/CU president Vanessa Tillman who entertained Angela Fish’s fourth grade class with her amazing story-telling.    

What could possibly be more fun than reading under the stars? Gazing into them! Floresta’s March Title I Family Learning Event offered both of these opportunities, and much, much more. Families brought their blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows so they could stretch out and enjoy a good book together under the twinkling stars. Members of The Treasure Coast Astronomical Society were on location manning their reflector telescopes, allowing visitors a close up look at the moon, the stars, and the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Charlie Alonso, from Mrs. Browning’s class was one of the first to get a glimpse … Read More

Luke Sutherland was recently called to the office at Floresta Elementary School to receive a very special birthday surprise. Luke’s mother, Megan Sutherland currently serves in the military, and is stationed in Afghanistan. In spite of the miles, and numerous procedural and technological barriers, she managed to telephone the school to personally wish her son a very special “Happy Birthday!” After the initial shock and excitement, Luke assured her that he was getting over his recent cold, and that she need not worry. It was a heart-warming moment for everyone.

Bethany DiTullio’s fourth grade students at Allapattah Flats K8 are hatching duck eggs to further cultivate their knowledge for the third nine weeks’ science curriculum on animal reproduction and growth. The class has two different incubators with 33 duck eggs total. They are hatching both Call ducks and Pekin ducks. The students will be responsible for checking the humidity and temperature of both incubators and adjusting them as necessary. They will also “candle” or look inside the eggs using a flashlight to keep track of the growing duck embryos.  Pictured, back to front, Latoya Zamor, Victoya Zamor, Kaiya Bullard work … Read More

Students Willie Whitehead, Julian Nunez, Kayla Jungjohan, Morgan Busby, Olivia Sperber, Stoney Braynen, James Coriolan, Justin Adrian, and Wes Varn are just a few of the students who earned Star Reader shirts at F.K. Sweet Elementary. Jeanie DuPell, media specialist, awards students who have either grown a hundred points, or, are reading at least one grade level above their current grade. This program is sponsored by Scholastic, Reading Counts.

Students in Linda Auciello’s class at Mariposa Elementary School recently planted lima bean seeds as part of their science lesson. The students first learned about the parts of a plant then planted  lima bean seeds to observe the life cycle of the plant.  The kindergartners really enjoyed learning about plant growth by watching their lima beans grow. Hopefully, they will be able to eat some of the delicious lima beans as their plants continue to grow.  Pictured, from left, Tammiyha Saintard, Kerstin Hayward and Dalton Ricci developed green thumbs as they nurtured their plants to maturity.

Third grade students in Barbara Whellams’ class at F.K. Sweet Elementary were highly entertained by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kevin Perry’s reading of “Follow the Drinking Gourd”, an actual song used by the Underground Railroad to help slaves escape north to Canada. Although February is Black History Month, students learn about the contributions of African Americans throughout the entire year. 

First grade students Willdarion Adams, Anaiah Armah, Lorraine Zimmerman, Ariel Major, and Makia Cooper in Deanna Scotto’s class at F.K. Sweet Elementary enjoy working within their small math group. This  lesson consisted of using candy hearts to reinforce graphing skills. Edible treats are always a favorite manipulative for young learners.     

Students in Tammy  Davis’ second grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary display candy apples they created after observing a hands-on demonstration by a candy company. Students made various colors of red, green, and yellow.  Afterwards they wrote a how-to paragraph on making their delicious treats.  

Northport K-8 kindergarten students in Nancy Yost, Megan Castiglia, Melody Nieves and student intern Amanda Bean’s classes celebrated the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss by listening to a dramatic storytelling of the beloved Seuss  classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Media Specialist Lynne Gruszka.  Students were thrilled to hear the story of the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes and agreed that Christmas isn’t about the gifts.  Students decorated Seuss ornaments and decorated a Christmas tree set up in the Media Center.  The Media Center also hosted a theatrical skit by students in Juliette Thelusma’s fourth grade class by Suess called … Read More