Year: 2024

Every year, St. Lucie West K8 has the incredible privilege to recognize our employees who go above and beyond to educate and support our students. Shark Nation is exceptionally proud to honor and celebrate our exquisite employees of the year. Thank you, your passion, dedication, and expertise are truly inspirational. We look forward to spotlighting you at The Night of the Stars event. Congratulations to our St. Lucie West K8 Shark Nation Stars! Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year: Shawna Portee School Related Employee of the Year: Susan Dippolito Teacher of the Year: Lindsey Harris Outstanding First Year Teacher: Nathan … Read More

This past weekend, the Fort Pierce Westwood Panthers proudly represented our school at League Meet 2 of the FIRST Technical Challenge (FTC) Robotics Competition held at Boca Raton High School! We’re thrilled to announce that our team successfully hung during the competition, demonstrating our hard work and dedication. As a result, we’re steadily climbing the rankings and are more determined than ever to keep improving. A huge thank you to our incredible mentors, supportive families, and the entire Fort Pierce Westwood community for their unwavering encouragement and belief in our team. Your support motivates us to push the limits of what we … Read More

Each year, one Senior from each Culinary Arts Program in the District is paired with one Indian River State College Culinary student. Fort Pierce Westwood entered the competition eager to bring their enthusiasm and love of cooking to this event. Each Team then creates a dish that they think will “WOW” the 5 judges at the Sunshine Kitchen Competition and are rated on presentation, taste, and sanitation. The winners each receive a $1,500.00 scholarship. Please extend your Congratulations to YESENIA GUADARRAMA- CASAREZ, from Ft. Pierce Westwood Academy, and ADIEL MAZARIENGOS- CORDOBA, from Indian River State College, for winning this year’s … Read More

Last month, Manatee Academy K-8 hosted a vibrant and engaging Literacy Night, designed to promote a love of reading while providing valuable resources to students and their families. The event was filled with exciting activities that encouraged reading, learning, and family participation, all while fostering a sense of community. One of the highlights of the evening was the highly anticipated book BINGO. Students and parents joined in the excitement as they tried their luck at winning free books. A wide section was provided by the community and several vendors were present to support the event as well including round table, … Read More

Ms. Cole’s 4th graders at Village Green Environmental Studies School had some classroom fun comparing and contrasting life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants. Students were using their notes, science books, and charts to create Venn diagrams out of hula hoops of incomplete and complete metamorphosis of two insects.  They had to create 3-dimensional models of each stage and write the name of the stage and what occurs during that stage of the life cycle. Thank you Ms. Cole for an innovative way of teaching this … Read More

During Thanksgiving break, the Morningside Elementary School “Girls on the Run” team proudly participated in the 5k Celebration! After 10 weeks of dedicated training, the girls showcased their hard work and determination. The atmosphere was electric as we cheered for one another, witnessing the joy on every girl’s face as she crossed the finish line. These amazing Blue Jays truly exemplified perseverance and teamwork. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the committed coaches, MSE staff, and families whose unwavering support helped guide our girls through this inspiring journey. Together, we celebrated not just a race, but the spirit of community and … Read More

On Thursday afternoon, SLW Centennial High School welcomed representatives from St. Lucie County Upward Bound. The event was held during all lunches. A large number of students attended eager to learn about the program. They learned about the benefits of joining St. Lucie County Upward Bound, including access to college prep workshops, academic support, and unique opportunities designed to help students succeed. The event was a success, leaving students inspired and motivated to pursue their academic and career goals with the support of Upward Bound. This initiative promises to better prepare SLW Centennial High School students for their future educational endeavors.

On December 4, the Black Talon JROTC unit at SLW Centennial High School held its Annual Military Inspection (AMI), a key event where Area Manager Patrick Thurman inspected cadets’ uniforms, Navy knowledge, unit spaces, and drill performance. This important inspection ensures high standards are maintained. The event included a pass-in-review ceremony, showcasing the cadets’ drill skills and hard work. Family and friends attended, adding to the celebration. AMI provides cadets the chance to receive awards and demonstrate their progress. Preparation involves practicing marching, learning Navy knowledge, and team training. This event highlights the cadets’ dedication and achievements throughout the year. … Read More

White City Elementary School had an explosive night of fun and exploration at Kaboom! Science Family Night! Family Science Nights engage students, families, and teachers in the process of scientific inquiry through hands-on activity-based stations. Students and families immersed themselves in 15 different hands-on science activities and experiments including a Kaboom live show all about the states of matter and physical and chemical changes. This informative and exciting presentation shows the states of matter and demonstrates the changes they can undergo. What an incredible evening of discovery for all! Presented to students and families by the Orlando Science Center offsite … Read More

Mrs. Jones’ first-grade class at Bayshore Elementary celebrated Thanksgiving with a day full of fun and gratitude. The students participated in various crafts and activities, making the event both enjoyable and meaningful. They disguised a turkey, turning it into creative and colorful characters, which brought lots of laughter and excitement. Additionally, the children made personalized placemats, each listing the things they were thankful for, from family and friends to pets and favorite toys. The highlight of the celebration was when the students gathered to share their gratitude lists, expressing heartfelt thanks for the special people and things in their lives. … Read More

Mosaic Digital Academy students in grades 5-8 enjoyed a cross-curricular field trip to the St. Lucie County Regional History Center and St. Lucie County Aquarium. Visiting the past through the eyes of explorers, settlers, and industrialists, students traveled back in time to the turn of the century. A deeper understanding of the industries that helped shape St. Lucie County, such as fishing, pineapple plantations, cattle, and citrus gave students a better understanding of our county’s unique history. Students returned to the present as they explored the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibits at the St. Lucie County Aquarium. Here, they encountered living … Read More

The culinary program at SLW Centennial High School welcomed North Port Middle School students for a special Thanksgiving meal. This event aimed to showcase the culinary program and inspire future enrollment. The middle school students enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the high school culinary students, giving them a taste of what the program has to offer. During the visit, the middle schoolers participated in a fun activity where they wrote fun facts about each other on recipe sheets. This helped them get to know one another better and added a personal touch to the event. The students expressed their … Read More

Shark Nation’s Color Run was a very bright success! St. Lucie West K8 students participated in the 2024 Annual Color Run and had an absolute blast. The fundraiser helped raise funds for teacher, staff, and student incentives. Students designed their Color Run flags to proudly represent their class! Students were able to enjoy this colorful event with friends, teachers, and staff. We would like to thank all of the teachers, staff, students, parents, and families who participated and helped to raise funds. Shark Nation is so truly thankful and could not do it without the support, teamwork, and spirit of … Read More

On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Treasure Coast Builders Association came out to put on a Careers in Construction Day. This event was created to show our students the various careers that are available in our area. Our Stallions moved through 5 different stations ranging from Electrical, Carpentry, Screen Enclosure, Impact Door/Window installation, and our very own SLPS Transporation station regarding Diesel Mechanics. Students spent the morning learning about each career and participating in hands-on events.  At the end of the event, students learned more about professionalism in the workplace.

  TCHS students took a significant step beyond the classroom by visiting the Holocaust Memorial. This field trip was not just an educational excursion but a deeply moving experience that brought historical concepts to life in a powerful way. During the visit, students had the unique opportunity to hear firsthand from a Holocaust survivor. His poignant recounting of his experiences that left an indelible mark on everyone present. The survivor’s stories of resilience, courage, and the human spirit’s endurance provided a profound connection to the lessons learned in class. This visit allowed students to merge their academic knowledge with real-world … Read More

St. Lucie West K8 celebrated our 3rd Annual Friendsgiving with a thankful heart. The amazing administrative team prepared and served a full Thanksgiving feast for the entire faculty and staff. Our admin team is truly grateful for all the hard work and dedication they put into Shark Nation. It was a wonderful opportunity for our staff to gather for a delicious meal and fellowship by spending time with one another. Our hearts and stomachs were full of gratitude. Thank you for all you do to support our students and staff!  From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful … Read More

The VGESS Girls on The Run Team had an amazing 5k event on Saturday! A huge thank you to our amazing VGESS coaches – Coach Latowski, Mrs. Hood, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Scimeca, and Dr. Venzen – for their dedication and enthusiasm in leading our girls! And a special shoutout to our wonderful teachers, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Angle, Ms. Nikki, Ms. Harris, and Mrs. Baptiste-Harris, who joined in the fun and made the experience even more special. To our fantastic students and supportive parents, thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are the Village, and together, we WILL … Read More

A BIG Shout Out goes to the Cadets from the Fort Pierce Westwood Army JROTC Program for volunteering their time to support an incredibly worthwhile cause (while also starting off the Thanksgiving Holiday in a great way). The Cadets worked with the Treasure Coast Blue Star Mothers Organization, packing close to (200) Care Packages for US Military service members who are deployed all around the world. The Blue Star Mothers are a group of women who are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and legal guardians who have children who are currently serving in the military, guard/reserves, or have children who … Read More

Each day, through Acaletics, first-grade teachers at Lakewood Park introduce and expose students to a variety of math concepts. Sometimes students see a concept for the first time and use mathematical thinking and reasoning to solve it.  Other times, students revisit a previously taught skill and are tasked with choosing their own strategy to solve. Students are truly excited to solve each problem while building math fluency. Students are given an opportunity to talk about their thinking and strategies with their peers. We are so proud of the progress we are seeing. First-grade Falcons are on a fast track to … Read More