Month: March 2017

April Is Autism Awareness Month. What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?   “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. Children and adults with ASD have difficulty with social communication/interaction and exhibit restrictive and/or repetitive patterns of behavior. There is a wide range of ability among people with ASD. Some people with ASD are gifted and others need significant levels of support to ensure their health and well-being. While great strides are being made, there is no known cause, or a known singular effective treatment for ASD.” http://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-autism/  

Kids at Hope Founder Rick Miller and staff members from St. Lucie Elementary and Weatherbee Elementary celebrate 10 years of Kids at Hope in St. Lucie County. The Roundtable of St. Lucie County and Miller recently facilitated a Kids at Hope symposium in the District where it was proudly announced that 36 schools are trained and actively participating in the program that touts All Children Are Capable Of Success — No Exceptions.  

Principal Lilly Beauchamp, students, and staff welcomed members of business and community organizations to Manatee Academy as they gathered for the Chamber of Commerce’s Education & Business Breakfast. This event, sponsored by the Education Foundation, provided opportunities for participants to experience first-hand SLPS’s middle school Vet Tech Program, z-space (an interactive virtual reality learning experience), and other elements of digital literacy integrated into students’ academic routines.

Middle school students visited Indian River State College’s Public Safety Complex and explored career opportunities in law enforcement, fire safety, and human services.

SPMS extends congratulations to Southport Middle School Girls’ Basketball team who won the championship!!! “We are so proud of you!” Jailene Velez #1 Tsai Brown #24 Laney Bannon #55 Naliyah Queen #22 Klarissa Madera #2 Allysha Lillard #21 Amari Crenshaw #23 Jaden Beem #3 A’yania Jackson #33 Chasiana Wright #31 Great job, Coach Bonner, Jessica Williams, and Deja Telese for preparing our girls! 🙂 Thanks to all of our faculty and staff who came out to support our Hurricanes!! There were some exciting times during the games for all teams. Southport students want to congratulate and send out a big … Read More

Northport has been so proud to play a role in the Speakers Bureau this year. The program has achieved astounding success through a series of community leaders and role models who have visited the school. With the collaboration of SLPS Board Vice Chairman Dr. Donna Mills, Northport Principal Glenn Rustay, Northport Media Specialist Lynne Gruszka, and a host of middle grades students, teachers, and parents, students have been offered the opportunity to hone leadership skills and to learn to develop and pose well thought out and provocative questions. Students have learned to research the background of the speaker, then, working … Read More

The Florida Atlantic University Latin American Choral Ensemble, iCantemosunda under the direction of Dr. Patricia Fleitas, recently performed for the Dan McCarty Middle School Chorus. A unique and versatile collegiate ensemble, the group performed selections representing cultures from Brazil, Afro Cuban, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.  

Mariposa first graders had an awesome ”in-school field trip!” They learned about the rainforest  and the many plants and animals that live there. The students even learned about all the foods and products they use at home that originate in the rainforest. If you’d ask our students their favorite part, their answers would vary.  Some would say they loved using the animal puppets, others enjoyed hearing the story of The Great Kapok Tree while adding their animal to the Velcro rainforest, but most students would say they loved touching the real rainforest snake. Pictured: Damarion Gibbs and Allison Carpina enjoy their animal puppets. Thanks to Tracy Boothby from … Read More

Don’t miss LPA’s Seussical the Musical this Friday and Saturday. SHOWTIMES: Friday, March 31st 6:30 PM Saturday, April 1st 2:00 PM TICKET PRICE: $7 For additional ticket information, click on the link below: https://secure.sellingticket.com/design22/clients/list/index_byUserListAll.aspx?OrganizationID=139  

ST. LUCIE COUNTY –  Preparing St. Lucie County’s students with valuable internship experiences and supporting local businesses with summer workforce candidates creates a win-win program that St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is happy to support.  Career Source Research Coast has once again organized the Summer of Success Summer Youth Internship Program providing paid internships for 130 youth residing in St. Lucie County. Spearheading the effort from SLPS is Executive Director of Growth Management Marty Sanders. He explained that the SLPS Maintenance Department has supported the funding of summer internships through grass roots fundraising for the past ten years.  “We have … Read More

Preparing St. Lucie County’s students with valuable internship experiences and supporting local businesses with summer workforce candidates creates a win-win program that St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is happy to support.  Career Source Research Coast has once again organized the Summer of Success Summer Youth Internship Program providing paid internships for 130 youth residing in St. Lucie County. Spearheading the effort from SLPS is Executive Director of Growth Management Marty Sanders. He explained that the SLPS Maintenance Department has supported the funding of summer internships through grass roots fundraising for the past ten years.  “We have a vested interest in … Read More

Norman Frajman, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and President of the Child Survivors/Hidden Children of the Holocaust group, traveled from Boynton Beach to Oak Hammock K – 8 in Port St. Lucie with 20 members of the organization for what has become an annual commemorative event – Holocaust Remembrance Day. Frajman and others, shared their emotional and moving stories of concentration camp survival during World War II with sixth graders who linked their classroom studies to the authentic experiences of their campus guests. According to Belkis Madera, event organizer and veteran educator, “Honoring children of the Holocaust has grown into a … Read More

PORT ST. LUCIE – Norman Frajman, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and President of the Child Survivors/Hidden Children of the Holocaust group, traveled from Boynton Beach to Oak Hammock K – 8 in Port St. Lucie with 20 members of the organization for what has become an annual commemorative event – Holocaust Remembrance Day. Frajman and others, shared their emotional and moving stories of concentration camp survival during World War II with sixth graders who linked their classroom studies to the authentic experiences of their campus guests.   According to Belkis Madera, event organizer and veteran educator, “Honoring children of the … Read More

Area Three Drill Meet 2017 By: Sarai Narvaez The Port Saint Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion Drill Team hosted the 23rd Annual Area Three Drill Meet. The Best School Overall was determined by the combined scores of the male and female drill teams.  The Jaguar Battalion Drill Team competed against 18 other schools and earned first place overall. The Jaguar Battalion Drill Team was State qualified to compete in the annual State Drill Meet Competition. The Jaguars placed in the following events: First place in Female Armed Platoon and Female Platoon Exhibition, commanded by Cadet Staff Sergeant Allison Wilhoit. Second … Read More

The SLWK-8 Shark Chefs have been working hard all year preparing dishes for the Gridiron Challenge and they have qualified for the 2017 FINAL FOUR! The competition takes place April 22 in Davie FL, at the NFL Training Facility. The Chefs have perfected their Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli recipe and are ready for the competition! They are excited to represent SLWK-8 and St. Lucie Public Schools!

Christopher Gomez at Frances K. Sweet was surprised to find out he won the 2017 Drop Savers Water Conservation Poster Contest for fifth grade. The City of Port St. Lucie Utility Systems, in conjunction with Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA), held the contest for all St. Lucie County students in order for them to better understand the importance of water conservation. Grade level county winners now have their posters submitted for the state contest. Christopher was excited they made his poster into a bag, a window cling, a magnet, and his poster will be on display in the … Read More

Third grade students from Bayshore Elementary School were recently recognized for completing the Efficacy for Students Program.  Throughout the program students learned strategies to empower their learning, such as using data to create meaningful feedback and strategies for success.  They also developed a greater sense of self-confidence by learning to choose their strong side to build character.  Pictured (from left to right) are Katherine Clark, Reese Adams, RJ McWilliams, Mrs. Reid (Bayshore Principal), and Mariah Lewis.

Jaguars Award Ceremony 2017 By: Sarai Narvaez The Port Saint Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion held its 20th Annual Army JROTC Awards Ceremony. This ceremony awards cadets for their outstanding excellence both inside and outside of the program. This ceremony could not be possible without the support of local civic organizations like the American Legion Post 318, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and our special guest Hugo Gonzalez, a Wounded Warrior who has served our country with honor. The Ceremony was opened by the presentation and posting of the National colors by the Jaguar Color Guard led by cadet … Read More

Students’ ceramic art pieces from Art Instructor Katherine Avra’s classes at Fort Pierce Central High School are on their way to the New York City National Art Education Conference this month.  These selections join other entries from across the United States as showcase pieces by Skutt Ceramics. Students were challenged to create functional peep hole plugs of specific dimensions from clay and fired in a kiln.  Bill Jones, editor of Pottery Making Illustrated, judged the designs which will become part of a permanent traveling Peep Plug Collection.  According to Avra, students were enthusiastic about participating and even more excited to … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Students’ ceramic art pieces from Art Instructor Katherine Avra’s classes at Fort Pierce Central High School are on their way to the New York City National Art Education Conference this month.  These selections join other entries from across the United States as showcase pieces by Skutt Ceramics. Students were challenged to create functional peep hole plugs of specific dimensions from clay and fired in a kiln.  Bill Jones, editor of Pottery Making Illustrated, judged the designs which will become part of a permanent traveling Peep Plug Collection.  According to Avra, students were enthusiastic about participating and … Read More