Year: 2012

Pictured are Carolina Ponce, left, and Gaby Almendarez were the first students at Southern Oaks Middle School this year to win a prize for participating in lunch time book buddies. Reading teacher JoAnn Conard’s fourth period class came to the media center three weeks ago and selected books to read with a partner. The students could read at home or during silent reading time at school. After the students read a chapter, they would meet at lunch time with their partner and discuss the chapter. Students are encouraged to talk about connections they have with the story, characters, likes and dislikes, etc.  … Read More

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently participated in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This fundraiser helps teach students to value their health and to help those less fortunate and don’t have healthy hearts.  The top three student fundraisers from each class earned the opportunity to slime the physical education coaches. The middle school Hoops for Heart will be in February with the proceeds also going to the American Heart Association. Palm Pointe would like to thank Nicole Perez, the school representative from the American Heart association, for all her help. Pictured, from left, are … Read More

Media specialist Elsie Garber, right, and media clerk Kathy Ferguson from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition introduced the book “Mr. Wiggles” to Melissa Bonet’s kindergarten students. Ms. Ferguson read the book, which is about how to take care of the books in the library, to the students in the class. This lesson will be very helpful for these kindergarten students when they go to the library to check out books.

Recently retired United States Army paratrooper Kenneth Frech came to visit students in Sandy Pagliughi’s fourth grade class during a Social Studies lesson Saluting Heroes, September 11, 2012 at Floresta Elementary School. Students were shown a PowerPoint presentation that included pictures from Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. There was also time for a question and answer period following the presentation. One students asked Mr. Frech if he was injured during his service. He answered that unfortunately he now has to wear a hearing aid in one ear because of damage to his eardrum during … Read More

Kids at Hope founder Rick Miller recently made a surprise visit to Catie Smith’s fifth grade class at Gaines Academy. The class had written Mr. Miller a letter during their language arts class stating how much they loved the way Kids at Hope has made a difference for them. Rick decided to respond in person!

Northport K-8 students work diligently to achieve common core standards and the bar for student expectations has been set high. Students are rewarded for results with high grades, good behavior and cooperative learning. Positive Behavior Support, or more commonly known as PBS, is utilized every day at the school. Students recently were rewarded with orange wrist bands and tee shirt day on the sixth grade Dolphin team and the eighth grade Mariners team held a PBS field days event. Students were rewarded for achievement in their behavior and willingness to cooperate with teachers and other students. Pictured is Northport eighth grade Mariner Javonte … Read More

After reading “Pizza at Sally’s”, students in Kristin Griffin’s kindergarten class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary helped complete a sequencing map of the story using just graphic clues. After they were finished with the sequencing map, they then used a portion of it to help make their own pizzas. Alex Sgouris, left, and Huberle Syril cannot wait until these little pizzas are cooked and ready to eat.

St. Lucie Elementary School students Manuel DeLeon, third grader, left, and big brother fifth grader Mario, support their teachers by making home-made signs to show that teachers are valued at St. Lucie Elementary!

Manatee Academy pre-veterinary science teacher Lisa Friend and Port St. Lucie High School biology teacher Michael Mimnaugh spent their summer conducting STEM related research at formal research institutions. Ms. Friend spent six weeks at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, actively experimenting with superconducting magnets and spectral equipment to test crystals for magnetic properties. She co-authored a published scientific article as a result of the experience. “Bringing back insights into how scientific inquiry is conducted to the classroom will result in my students having more realistic and beneficial learning experiences,” she remarked. Mike Mimnaugh spent eight weeks at … Read More

Windmill Point second grade students commemorated Patriot Day by making a special “thank you” for the Port St. Lucie Police Department. The students have been learning about the roles of community members and the importance of first responders. Officer David Caniello was presented with a “thankful wreath” during a visit to Caryol Hallahan’s classroom on September 11th. He discussed the roles and duties of police officers with the class. He also took time to read the story, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordicai Gerstein.

Northport K-8 second grader Breanna Guillaume and her classmates learned an excellent lesson in character development recently. One day, U. S. Army veteran Bill Arnold was visiting the school, and he lost his keys.  Breanna found the keys, and ran up to Mr. Arnold to return them. Mr. Arnold was so overwhelmed with gratitude that he returned to the school to award Breanna with an American flag pin and a good lesson that character counts to the students in Denise Fields’ second grade class.  Pictured are Mr. Arnold, Breanna,and Ms. Fields.  Northport students are rewarded for good character as well as … Read More

An article about the accomplishments of Southern Oaks Middle School food service assistant Patricia Johnson will be published in the Florida School Nutrition Association Magazine Fall edition. Ms. Johnson has worked with St. Lucie County Public Schools for five years. In 2008-2009, she successfully completed all requierements for the district’s Management Intern Program, in 2009-2010 served as president of the Florida School Nutrition Association and received the President’s Gold’s Award at the FSNA state conference. In 2011-2012, she received a scholarship from FSNA, in 2012 received the Train the Trainer Certification and assisted at the 2012 Foodservice Employees Summer Training … Read More

The St. Lucie County School District has been recognized by Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership and Florida Action for Healthy Kids for achieving the status of a Florida Healthy School District at the Silver level. The criterion for recognition as a Florida Healthy School District is the Florida Healthy School District (FHSD) Self Assessment Tool developed by experts from state agencies, school districts, and community partner organizations working together through the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership. The self-assessment is based on the eight component areas of the Coordinated School Health model and focuses on district infrastructure, policy, programs, and practices … Read More

Northport third graders in Melanie Polascak’s class contructed a quilt for hope to learn about the history of September 11, 2001. Ms. Polascak used a PowerPoint slide show to tell the students all about the Survivor Tree at Ground Zero, the story of one small pear tree that survived the devastion of that day. The instructor encouraged the students to have hope for the future and like the pear tree, America will survive tough times. The third graders were extremely proud of their quilt, and Ms. Polascak’s lesson allowed students to digest elaborate information in a concrete yet simple manner!

Northport K-8 School honorably commemorated the tragedy of September 11, 2001, with a program in the gymnasium recently. The program included veterans clubs and chapters from across the county as well as Donna Carlsen, Veteran Services Coordinator for St. Lucie County. Students listened as first responder, Albert Hickey, a New York detective, spoke about his first hand knowledge and his response at Ground Zero. Mary Toto, ESOL instructor from Northport, spoke about her recollections that terrible morning and how the teachers, parents and students reacted. Veteran Bill Arnold called the names of the four doomed airplanes, and eight flags were … Read More

Northport K-8 Northstar students in Mala Woessners gifted and enriched middle grades classes used the tragedy of 9/11 to listen to two famous presidential speeches of hope, renewal and triumph over enemies of the United States. Students listened to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt address members of the U.S. Congress when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and compared and contrasted the speech of President George Bush addressing the nation when Muslim extremists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. Students cited evidence and made inferences using the primary sources and made note of several important characteristics. Both … Read More

First grade students in Ann Hartman’s class at Allapattah Flats K8 have been practicing the rules and expectations in learning areas, and one of the most favorite is the reading area. Jacob Garcia is pictured reading one of his favorite books, “Egad, Alligator” to the classroom alligator.  First graders are off to a fabulous start with demonstrating their love of reading on a daily basis! 

Melissa Bonet’s “Busy Bees” kindergarten students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently welcomed their grandparents to school in celebration of Grandparent’s Day. Students and grandparents worked on a craft together to show their love and appreciation for each other and enjoyed spending quality time together. Pictured is Christian Locascio and his grandfather Mr. Locascio.

Dean Deborrah Estrada and Dean Christopher Pierre at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition have been talking to kindergarten students about making good and safe choices. The deans reminded students about Palm Pointe T.E.A.M. expectations:  T – Take Responsibility, E – Engage in your Learning, A – Act Respectfully and M –Make Safe Choices. They also explained about the reward system with “rocket fuel” and consequences for not following rules. Great job listening, kindergartners!