Local cheer teams earn spots for state competition

Lincoln Park Academy and St. Lucie West Centennial High School cheerleading squads recently competed in the regional cheerleading competition held in Tampa. Under the direction of coaches Traci Krencik at Lincoln Park Academy, and Sara Connell at St. Lucie West Centennial, both squads practiced very hard for the regional competition and the upcoming state competition to be held soon in Kissimmee. In the regional competition, the Lincoln Park squad came in third place out of five teams in their category, and the Centennial squad placed fifth out of the eight teams in their division. Good luck to both teams at … Read More

Lakewood Park students get tasty STEM science lesson

Students in Edward Albert’s fifth grade class at Lakewood Park Elementary recently performed a tasty science lesson. They were doing a lab where they made a model (out of chocolate) learning how the three different types of rocks are formed. Pictured are Adonay Ayala-Garcia, left, and Nick Rowse.

Oak Hammock kindergartners use technology to enjoy literature

Kindergartners in Molly Hartley’s class at Oak Hammock K8 School recently jumped into a story in the media center! Using an iPad app and an amazing book, students got to see the pages of “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” by William Joyce come alive on the SmartBoard! Pictured, from left, are Amarion Johnson, Benjamin Spencer Taylor, Presley Spencer, Ethan Riggs, Clifford Pierre, Deanna Romero, Brianna Monroig, Isaiah Ocasio, Richard Lucas III, Zachary Kaes, and Chloe Caldwell.

Oak Hammock K8 holds spelling bee

The 2014 Oak Hammock Spelling Bee was held recently, with 18 students representing grades 4 through 8 participating. Congratulations to all contestants! Eighth grade student Emily Fortin, left, is the Oak Hammock Spelling Bee Champion, while fifth grade student Kyle Kierst is the winner for grades K-5.

Fort Pierce Central cadets enjoy annual ball

The Fort Pierce Central High School (FPCHS) JROTC recently celebrated its 29th Anniversary Military Ball, which was a culmination of all the hard work the cadets have put into the program over the past semester. The event was nearly totally planned and executed by the cadet staff, headed by the Cadet Battalion Commander Nicole Geldmaker and Cadet Executive officer Leandro Troncoso. The event consisted of a formal diner and ceremony as well as a dance. The guest speaker was FPCHS Assistant Principal Mimi Hoffman. The cadets enjoyed themselves while still remaining respectful of the organization and the venue of their … Read More

Retired Navy officer thrills students with tales of submarines

Northport K-8 School was delighted to host retired United States Navy Lt. Commander Jerry Padrta recently as a guest speaker for students in Nick Carey, Georgia Stone, Carla Caldwell, Mindi Slater and Tracey Healy’s fifth and middle grades classes. LCDR Padrta spoke to the students about his upbringing as a child in Northern Minnesota, the hardships and the driving cold weather. He spoke about his school and college experience and perhaps most intriguing to the students and teachers, his naval career spent in a submarine. Padrta gave an eye opening talk about the history of the submarine. The first sub … Read More

Floresta Elementary families enjoy Math Night

Floresta Elementary School recently hosted Family Math Nights. Kindergarten through second grade and third grade through fifth grade students and parents attended two special presentations explaining the new Common Core State Standards along with an overview of what students are expected to become fluent in with regards to mathematics. Parents and students participated in math tutorials that included double-digit multiplication using partial product and long division using partial quotient. Parents learned math games to use at home with their students as well as tricks and tips on how to talk with their children about math. Family Math Night at Floresta … Read More

Lawnwood Elementary students study life cycles up close

Students in Shannon Dolan’s multi-age gifted class at Lawnwood Elementary are studying the life cycle of a butterfly by catching specimens. Pictured is second grader John Donnelly as he explains to the class how he captured both a caterpillar and a butterfly in his own yard. The students then watched how he fed his new family member with a stick of sugar water. First grade teacher Carolyn Bates’s classroom has butterflies that freely fly while the children do their lessons. One child exclaimed, “It’s like a butterfly garden, only inside!”

Teacher of the Year finalists announced

Three teachers were surprised at their school sites the morning of January 24 when an entourage led by Superintendent Genelle Yost, school board members, district administrators and representatives of the St. Lucie County Education Foundation visited their classrooms to announce their selection as finalists for the 2015 St. Lucie County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Pictured is Superintendent Yost, right, with finalist Heather Bolitho of Oak Hammock K-8 School. The finalists are: Heather Bolitho, media specialist at Oak Hammock K-8 School in Port St. Lucie; Matthew Boswell, Fort Pierce Central High School band and choral director; and Kelly Ridle, … Read More

Honorees from Gaines Academy join in parade

Staff and faculty from Samuel S. Gaines Academy participated in the recent Grand Parade to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day festivities. Representing the school, from left, are district employee award nominees, Teacher of the Year nominee Christen McCray, Distinguished Minority Educator nominee Robert Plowden, and and School Related Employee of the Year nominee Cequila Terry.

Northport K8 School celebrates literacy

Northport K-8 students, parents, teachers and staff joined hundreds of other Florida schools to celebrate literacy this year during “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” The week of January 13 through 17, 2014 was themed “Reading Accelerates Success!” The week long celebration at Northport K-8 School included fun and intriguing activities that helped students connect with all kinds of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The activities helped celebrate the success that Northport has accomplished. Some of the activities included “Get Caught Reading” tickets for prize drawings, Title Mash boards where students decorated their favorite book title, “Chew and Read” activities, … Read More

Lakewood Park Elementary students get cool math lesson

Students in Elizabeth Butterworth’s second grade class at Lakewood Park Elementary recently had a COOL blast constructing snowmen. The STEM math project introduced a money unit by students purchasing each piece of their snowman and keeping the cost below $25.00.  Students were required to do a purchase order and write a sales pitch. The students experienced a “snowman cool time” while writing and doing math. Pictured are Ms. Butterworth and her students with their snowmen displayed on the bulletin board.

Northport K8 School helps promote King’s dream

A number of Northport K-8 School administrators, teachers, students and parents supported the community and the St. Lucie School District by marching and riding in a float during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr., parade in Ft. Pierce recently. The Northport community was glad to help promote the theme “Continuing the Vision Through Education and Advocacy” and encouraged the community to remember Dr. King’s dream. The Northport K-8 School middle grades band, under the direction of instructor Brian Hoce, marched in the parade and played the song “Stand By Me,” originally performed by Ben E. King. Northport third grade student … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools proudly represented in MLK Grand Parade

The 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemmorative Committee Grand Parade streamed down 25th Street, or Martin Luther King., Jr., Boulevard, in Fort Pierce on Monday, January 20. The event culminated 10 days of community events, beginning with the Opening Ceremony January 10, 2014 and ending with the parade and festival in the park adjacent to Lawnwood Stadium. The St. Lucie School District was proudly represented by numerous floats and vehicles, bands, and student group performances. Pictured, from left, are Fort Pierce Central High School ROTC Cadet Honey Cardona-Franco, Cadet Ruben Ramirez, Cadet Chris Green, and the Cadet Stephanie Castillo … Read More

Local student honored by state arts group, school board

Dale Cassen Educational Complex (DCEC) student Jesus Dominguez was recognized by the St. Lucie County School Board at its January 14, 2014, business meeting for being honored as the Very Special Arts Florida (VSAFL) November Student of the Month. The VSAFL program is designed to increase public awareness and recognize the impact arts make on students with disabilities statewide. Students who participate in the arts develop creativity, have increased self-confidence, understand teamwork, have increased language and math skills and are generally more engaged. DCEC art teacher Dan Galloway, who recognized Jesus’ talent and vivid imagination, and his utilization of art … Read More

Power Squadron and local school team up for boating safety

Southport Middle School students, their siblings and parents have the opportunity to receive a lifetime boating license at the school. The basic aspects and skills of boating, including boat handling, fire safety, rules of the water, radio use, water rescue and much more are being taught by a licensed captain in the school’s media center. Those who pass the exam will receive a Florida lifetime boating license which is required to operate a boat in Florida waters. The course is free and lasts for eight weeks. Pictured, from left, are Jamil Abram, Captain Dana Kaiser, Summer Muscanera, Brandon Wayne, John Shaw and … Read More

Floresta Elementary student wins cabbage growing contest

Congratulations to Floresta Elementary fourth grade student Dominic Kelly in Suzanne Diaz’s class, who was selected as the state of Florida winner in Bonnie’s Plants’ cabbage growing contest program. In a surprise assembly to recognize Dominic for his mammoth 38 lb cabbage, Erica Der, the Education Liaison from the Department of Agriculture presented Dominic with a certificate from the State of Florida. Jonathan Shepherd, representative for Bonnie’s Plants, presented Dominic with a $1,000 savings bond, which could double by maturity to be worth nearly $2,000. Bonnie’s Plants has sponsored the contest for the last 15 years for any third grade teacher who … Read More