Year: 2014

Two employees were honored at the March 11, 2014, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for the S.T.A.R. (Special Thanks and Recognition) program, which recognizes employees for their behaviors, skills and actions that correlate with the district vision, and exemplify the district’s core values. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, honorees Palm Point Research School at Tradition music director Christine Hill, and WestGate K8 School dean Narvelene Lucas, with School Board chairman Debbie Hawley and student assignment director Michelle Jerger who manages the recognition program.

A team of Fairlawn Elementary School fifth grade students, along with their teacher Shirley Helton, were recognized at the March 11, 2014, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for winning a 12-week competition throughout the state of Florida buying and selling stocks. They used math, reading, and writing skills to research, invest and calculate how to make profits in today’s stock market. They learned real life experiences as they bought and sold stocks with their $100,000.00 portfolio. The team of Jake Padrick and Val Magdaleno won first place, and in second place was the team of Colt Krischke and Connor … Read More

Two of the youngest guests to attend the Superintendent’s Learning Lunches this month delighted the superintendent and fellow participants with accounts of their school experiences. Phoebe, left, a pre-kindergarten student at Weatherbee Elementary School, and Windmill Point Elementary School kindergartner Christopher, attended the monthly event in March that invites students, school staff and parents to meet the superintendent at the school district office for a brown bag lunch, and to communicate school activities and concerns.

The staff at Lakewood Park Elementary School recently acknowledged Laura Klosterman, St. Lucie County coordinator for the Grace Pack Program, and Andrea Pierson, cafeteria manager, for their work for students in need. The Grace Pack’s mission is to provide weekly, weekend food packages for students whose families may be food insecure. To participate in the program, go to www.stlucieschools.org, click on the Schools tab, and go to the Lakewood Park Elementary School site, and click on Grace Pack for a complete list of food needs. Pictured, from left, are Principal Dianne Young, Andrea Pierson, Laura Klosterman, and Assistant Principal Tammy Smith.

A team of four students from St. Lucie West K8 School, coached by science teacher Dannette Rikard, placed fifth out of the 24 teams competing in the recent Florida Regional Space Coast Science Education Alliance Middle School Science Bowl at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa Beach. Pictured, from left, are Maikel House, Alexis Henke, Ms. Rikard, Asja Misner, and Kevin Le.

The Port Saint Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion Drill Team won first Place over all at the District Drill Meet held at their Port Saint Lucie High School and has qualified to compete at the State Drill Meet.

The fifth grade students on the N.E.E.D. (National Energy Education Development) project team at Mariposa Elementary School are busy focusing on learning and teaching energy sources to students in other grade levels within the school. Mariposa Elementary is the N.E.E.D. state elementary school of the year, and a national finalist. This year’s group is highly motivated and working towards attending the national awards ceremony in Washington D.C. this June. Pictured, from left, are team members Cathy Smith, Justin Locklar, Hannah Wright, Monica Kalina, Mary McCartney, Mikayla Sampson, Tnanazia Young, Johann Vianna, Allysha Lillard, Jan Feliciano, and Adam Archer.

The “Writing Wizard” James Dean recently helped prepare students at Savanna Ridge Elementary School for the annual FCAT Writes standardized test. Dean, a representative from Thinking Maps, has been diligently working with the teachers and students in preparation for the writing test. The day consisted of students creating magic wands, wizard hats, and hearing a presentation to help reinforce the material they learned for the test. The students rotated through stations where they used their wands to “zap” out irrelevant information, became writing wizards on how to use clear and precise language, created thinking maps on helpful writing hints, and … Read More

Fourth grade students at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School celebrated their hard work on the recent FCAT Writes test with an ice cream party provided by the school’s PTO. Pictured is Katriel Budwah enjoying her reward.

Selected Northport K-8 middle grades students have been specially trained to serve as school ambassadors to help showcase the great events and opportunities that are available to the students, families and community members at the school. Northport has many, many community partners including military members, first responders, service therapy dog handlers and many guests who require movement within the school. The selected students have been trained to offer their guests specialized services within a cordial and warm atmosphere, and willingly offer their hand and polite conversation while transporting guests to any location on the campus grounds. The students consider being … Read More

Northport K-8 School kicked off its second book fair of the school year themed “Cruise Into Reading” by inviting Clifford the Big, Red Dog to shake the hand of parents in the parent drop off area and to welcome students into school to check out the book fair. Big Brothers, Big Sisters AmeriCorps tutors Renee Simpson and Alex Neelan are taking turns donning the red suit to intrigue the students into visiting the book fair and to promote the joy of reading to the students and parents at Northport K-8 School. The AmeriCorps tutors have become an integral facet of … Read More

Northport K-8 students were honored recently at the Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge No. 2658 for excellence in writing. The Elks offered St. Lucie County students the opportunity to respond to an essay contest entitled “What Veterans Day Means To Me!” Northport students, their parents and families, and media specialist Lynne Gruszka, were treated to a wonderful dinner, honored with six cash prizes of $100 and $50 for all winners, and beautiful plaques inscribed with each student’s name. The students were thrilled with the opportunity to experience writing with feedback and reward from community members. Northport thanks the Elks Lodge … Read More

Weatherbee Elementary School celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday this week by kicking off its Principal’s Reading Challenge, with the entire faculty and staff encouraging students to read as much as possible to improve their literacy. Each student will read to gain individual and classroom points. Pictured are media specialist Diane Laster and data specialist Louise Lucia looking for books in the school library.

Students in the allied health academy at St. Lucie West Centennial High School (SLWCHS) recently participated in the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Winter Leadership Conference at Keiser University in West Palm Beach along with HOSA members from all over Region IX to determine those who would go on to state competition. Teacher and HOSA advisor Elizabeth Durkee coordinated events for the students. Pictured, from left, front row, are SLWCHS students Jalisa Smith, third place, Human Growth and Development; Michael Riley, third place, Dental Science; Tony-Anne Walker, third place, Home Health Aide; Victoria Hodges, first place, Speaking Skills. Back … Read More

Northport K-8 School Media Center and Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS) of St. Lucie County, in conjunction with the AmeriCorps tutoring program, joined forces to bring a terrific community celebration of Read Across America and the birthday of Dr. Seuss to the students of Northport K-8 School recently. Special guests from across the county were warmly welcomed for a huge breakfast and then were escorted across the campus to K-5 classrooms by student ambassadors. Students and teachers were overwhelmed by the display of love, care and concern for education by arriving guests. Special thanks to Olivia Watkins, Mayor Joanne Faiella, … Read More

The staff and faculty at Samuel Gaines Academy recently sponsored a Winter Games family event.  At least 200 families — over 400 people — attended.  The opening ceremonies included teachers with their students in a “parade of colleges.” Grade level teams promoted colleges with banners as students proudly waved college flags. The family games, teacher challenges and closing ceremony that followed engaged students and families of all ages throughout the evening. In addition, parents were appreciative of the take home materials and supplies to use with their children. Pictured, from left, are fifth grade teacher Saphir St. Louis, AVID teacher Kristen … Read More

Lawnwood Elementary School second grade student Ethan Stabile is pictured with his project on display in the Kiwanis Building at the St. Lucie County Fair. Ethan’s project was on the county firefighters. Over 30 projects were selected among first through fifth graders to be displayed for Lawnwood Elementary this year, which won first place in the elementary division for the second year.