Month: January 2013

In a great feat of reading, students in Northport K-8 second grade teacher Denise Fields’ class went above and beyond participating in the One Hundred Book Challenge program the last nine weeks of school. All students in Mrs. Fields’ class excelled and the entire class reached 100 steps in the program. Each step is a 15 minute reading increment. Students read 15 minutes in class, then another 15 minutes at home with parent partnership.  Parents must sign the reading log to verify reading time. The challenge books are leveled and specifically selected to meet the needs and interests of individual students. The … Read More

In an experience that the students will not soon forget, Northport K-8 School and Manatee Academy seventh and eighth grade students participated in the Young Adult Choices program, or YAC as it known by students, media specialists Lynne Gruszka and Debbie Remington and middle school grades teachers, using advanced technology. Students from both schools introduced themselves via the teleconference technology, gave both positive and negative book reviews on the special selections in the program, and hailed each other for taking the lead to read! The media specialists promoted positive interactions by guiding students through the teleconference and provided students with a voice … Read More

Students in Maria Ramkissoon’s kindergarten class at Lawnwood Elementary School proudly share their classroom Science Fair project on gravity, in which they worked together researching. The students incorporated fun with learning by conducting an experiment on gravity that involved dropping blocks tied to parachutes. Pictured standing, from left, are Alexander Granados, Alexandria Knight, Rodney Stevens, Emmanuella Raymond, Rupert Blackwood, Angel Acevedo, Stefany Martinez-Betancourt, Remeece Barjon, Lataurus Conley, Sierra Carswell, Armani Smith, Brandon Ramon, and Billy Ramirez-Riano. Seated, from left, are Eliana Castelan, Angelina Grimes, J’Sean Wilson, and Karen Hidalgo-Aguilar.

Three students from Frances K. Sweet Elementary were excited after participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. spelling bee at C. A. Moore Elementary. Pictured, from left, are Ajeya Adams, Kamion Williams, and Christian Yoder. Since Ajeya is just a fourth grader, she says she’s going to come back next year and win.

Windmill Point Elementary students William and Joseph Kytoski enjoyed some mother and son quality time at a recent “Mother and Son Social” Kids at Hope event recently.  The school’s PTO and the Kids at Hope committees collaborated and hosted this event to celebrate ACES, those caring adults in a child’s life identified through the Kids at Hope initiative.  It is believed that one reason children succeed is when they have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults. The boys enjoyed dancing and taking pictures with their ACES and making cards that will hold special memories in years to come! An upcoming Father-Daughter … Read More

Floresta Elementary hosted its Title I Family Night “Bingo for Books” recently in the school’s cafeteria. Parents and students who arrived early were awarded two free bingo cards and a free snack ticket, and additional bingo cards were available for purchase throughout the evening, and Floresta’s very supportive PTO provided snacks for a small fee. Distinguished guest and official caller was Superintendent Michael Lannon. Winners were awarded prizes of books and a variety of other educational materials. For a portion of the evening, fourth grade teachers Elish Mancuso and Sandy Pagliughi presented important information to families about the upcoming FCAT Writes writing … Read More

James Williams, a member of the Port Saint Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion, recently took first place in the Academic A-Team district competition recently held at St. Lucie West Centennial High School. The competition was designed similar to the television game show “Jeopardy.” Six schools with a five man team competed using their knowledge on academic subjects. Williams will now go to state competition in April at Disney World in Orlando. Pictured is cadet James Williams.

Students in Susie Lewis’ classroom at Lawnwood Elementary School recently learned they had earned second prize in the Lysol Healthy Habits Story writing contest sponsored by Scholastic Parent and Child magazine. For the students’ “incredible effort, concept and execution”, the school is being awarded $5,000 and a set of 25 books for Ms. Lewis’ classroom. Pictured is the winning classroom of students.

Fifth grade students from Frances K. Sweet Elementary took a trip back in time to the Civil War period in a field trip recently. The students were able to see authentic uniforms, supplies, and equipment. The trip ended with a firing of the cannon. Pictured, from left, are Bakari Mosley, Aleyah Moore, Cassie Ackenbrack, Courtlyn Cooper, Amber Bowen, Jocelyn Richardson, and Cindy Montalvo with one of the period staff persons.

The joy is real as Animesh Saha, fourth grade student at Frances K Sweet Elementary School won the school spelling bee against 18 other school mates, third through fifth grade. Pictured in the background is the second place winner, fifth grade student India Duval. No pictured, placing third was fifth grade student Justice Anderson.

Second grade Lawnwood Elementary School student Hailey Daniels, from Susan Lewis’ class, was recently notified she has been awarded a full scholarship to a private college in Alabama after completing a Flat Stanley Project centered around the college. Hailey wanted to know what kind of food people from Alabama served, historical places to visit and what kids enjoyed doing for fun. Flat Stanley projects are collaborations where someone at the subject location — typically another student– takes photos with a Flat Stanley, or in Hailey’s case, Flat Stella, in locations or in activities, and then the student makes a report … Read More

Students and staff recently enjoyed a Literacy and Linguini Night at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition. Several skits were presented for the guests to watch while they enjoyed a free spaghetti dinner. The performances were done by staff members and students in different grade levels. Students also got free books, met local authors, took pictures with staff storybook characters and then enjoyed their dinner and skits. Pictured are the Rudzinski Rockets and the Bonet Bees as they perform their skit “How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes!”  Lorri Rudzinski’s second grade class collaborated with Melissa Bonet’s kindergarten class to act out this … Read More

Students in Melissa Nelson’s class at Allapattah Flats K8 School used cards to understand, create, and practice exponential equations. Students worked in pairs and flipped over cards to provide bases and exponents. Students then solved the exponential equations they created! Pictured are Sharon Charite, left, and Sarla Dominguez.

Danya Etter’s third through fifth grade students at Allapattah K8 School are karate chopping recorders to the next level. Recorder karate is a fun and exciting method that allows students to learn the recorder and test for “karate belts.” These belts hang from their recorders and they earn different colors as the music progressively gets harder. The first song, “Hot Cross Buns,” is a simple yet exciting tune that teaches students three notes: B, A, and G. Pictured are six, fourth grade students diligently working on their fingerings to successfully pass this song. Pictured, from left, are Jaime Williams, Aaron … Read More

Members of several St. Lucie County high school HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) organizations attended a leadership conference in the beautiful facility of Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, Florida, accompanied by their teachers. The Leadership Development Camp, or LDC, was definitely worth it all. St. Lucie West Centennial HOSA officers left for that weekend in hopes of learning skills to become more effective leaders, and that goal was accomplished. HOSA members from Treasure Coast and Fort Pierce Central high schools also attended, along with over 300 HOSA students from all over Florida. participants learned skills in communication, public speaking, … Read More

Sixth grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition presented a walkthrough Egyptian Museum. Parents and students were invited to take a tour of Ancient Egypt. Students were dressed in Egyptian attire and presented information to their audiences. Displays made by the students were shown throughout the pod. It was a great presentation and learning experience. Pictured, from left, are Christian Larmon as King Tut and Addison Williams as an Egyptian.

Northport K-8 Northstar team students and their instructors Mala Woessner, Laura oodworth, Mary Ellsworth, Kathy White, Mehgan Drost and Angel Bracero brought the excitement and history of Mardi Gras to the school recently. Students decorated hand made floats, wore Mardi Gras adornments and threw beads as the younger students cheered them on their parade route. Northstar team band and chorus students led the parade playing their instruments and singing the grand old tune, “When the Saints Go Marching In!” Students  participated in a Mardi Gras dance with a DJ. Mardi Gras is a great mix of parades, music, floats and beads. Students learned that the … Read More

Students and staff at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed participating in the recent Martin Luther King Jr. parade. This year’s theme was “Reaching Beyond the Dream” and Palm Pointe designed their float using a rocket soaring into the clouds, stars and planets to take his dream into the future. Pictured on the float in the back, from left, are Michelle Farley and B-J Farrell. Students, front row, from left, are Fabrizzio Capocci, Raven Butts, Isaiah Jean, Liam Martinez and Kyle Beard.