Author: Barbara Whellams

Don’t tell these F.K. Sweet Elementary kindergartners that they aren’t at the beach. They probably wouldn’t believe you because so much fun was had by all at the school’s annual Water Day recently. Fom left, Kierstyn Zinter, Brayden Adams, Antianna Mills, Alexia Moxley, and Keilah Magloire are taking a break from the water to enjoy building sand castles on the playground.

Twelve students at F.K. Sweet Elementary recently participated in the annual Sunshine Bowl. Four teams competed by answering questions about the 2011-2012 Sunshine Books. Pictured, from left, are team members Chelsea Decambre, Morgan Busby, Arielle Neptune, Caleb Cobb, Emily Dibernardo, Willie Whitehead, Amelia Nelson, Christian Yoder, Halle Daube, Callie Zheng, Emily Jones and James Coriolon.

Some 38 students at F.K. Sweet Elementary read at least 15 Florida Sunshine Books and were treated to a “luau-themed” celebration of their success in the Media Center. Pictured are Lauren Nipper, left, and Kyla Pata enjoying the recognition.

Staff and faculty mentors at F.K. Sweet Elementary were recently treated to a luncheon compliments of PTO, and hosted by Robin Zabitosky and Barbara Whellams, Mentoring Committee chairs. Mentors give of their time before, after school, or during their lunch, to help students in the areas of reading, math, and writing. The program has grown each year with nearly 90% of the staff and faculty participating. Pictured are Robin Zabitosky, left, and Barbara Whellams.

The recent Scholastic Book Fair at F.K. Sweet Elementary was a huge success. Every student received a free book and was able to shop throughout the week.  Parent Maria Mendoza, volunteered several days and is pictured helping Justin Adrian, left, and Caleb Cobb select books for their summer reading.

These faces can tell just how much fun was had by all at the recent Family Fun Night at F.K. Sweet Elementary. The annual event is sponsored by the PTO, with many members of the faculty and staff assisting with ticket and food sales.  A few of the available activities were dunking teachers in the huge water tank, sports, music, face painting, the bounce house, and everyone’s favorite, the giant slide. Camryn Gardner and Kayla Jungjohan both agree that the slide was the most exciting.

Twenty one F.K .Sweet Elementary third graders students participated in the recent spelling bee. After 18 rounds of challenging words, the winners were finally declared. Pictured is Principal Juanita Wright applauding, from left, Shellanda Pierre, third place, De’ Jaunte Timothy, second place, and Caleb Cobb, first place.  Congratulations on a job well done.

F.K. Sweet Elementary students enjoyed participating in a wide variety of games during their recent annual Field Day event. Activities ranging from jump rope to bowling captured the young spirits of second graders, from left, James Ewing, Cole Newbern and Zach Gosnell.  

Jackie Foster, the school nurse at F.K. Sweet Elementary, is a very popular person on campus with every student. Sometimes children have been known to fake an illness so they can go hang out with her for a visit. To show their appreciation and gratitude for doing such an outstanding job all year, third grade students made thank you cards and posted them outside the clinic so everyone could read and enjoy them during Nurses’ Appreciation Week.  Olivia Sperber and Will Nelson are pictured with Ms. Foster saying thanks after putting up their cards.

Students in Barbara Whellams third grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary recently rolled coins and counted bills totaling over $300.00. The money will be awarded to the St. Lucie County Humane Society to help defray costs of feeding homeless animals currently in their shelter. “Pennies for Pets” is a yearly tradition and children begin in August bringing in loose change, allowance money, and many times part of their birthday and holiday monies, to fill the two large pink piggy banks. Pictured, from left, Justin Adrian, Morgan Busby, and Kayla Ceaser are having fun during a math lesson counting and rolling money.

Students in Lisa McGuire’s third grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary have been learning about the Earth and its layers.  They made a book that included a diagram of the inside of the earth and then created edible earths.  Caleb Militello, left, and Brett Adelman are enjoying their tasty treat.

Third grade students at F.K. Sweet Elementary recently enjoyed making volcanoes, naming them, and then watching them erupt.  This was a culminating activity for their story of the week, “Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves.”  Bradyn Moxley, left, and Harry Guerrier watch as “Mount Smurf” erupts.

Brett Adams, owner and veterinarian of Midway Veterinary Hospital, visited Kasey Ascani’s second grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary to speak with students about Pet Awareness Week. Students learned about the basics of taking care of their pets and what types of animals are good pets to have. Featured in the photograph are Brett Adams and his daughter, Brooke Adams, acting as his assistant.    

F.K. Sweet Elementary third grade students recently visited the IRSC Planetarium. Teacher Marla Liberatore had earned a field trip grant that provided enough funding for students in all seven third grade classes could attend. Waiting to enter the planetarium, from left, are students Angelica Villalobos, Jessie Rezac, Timothy Chaill, Jacon Bartkowiak, and Darnisha Forestal.

Kindergartners at F.K. Sweet Elementary wrapped up their unit on fairy tales by having a Fairy Tale Feast.  Students loved tasting delicious treats as they engaged in lessons on several of their favorite stories.  Classes enjoyed snacks such as pigs in a blanket for the Three Little Pigs, Snow White’s applesauce, and gingerbread cookies for the Gingerbread Man.  You can see by the smiles how students in Melanie Francisco’s class had a blast dressing up as their favorite fairy tale characters.  

The annual Family Reading Night Celebration at F.K. Sweet Elementary was another huge success with over 100 students, parents, and community members in attendance. Children were allowed to rotate from reader to reader and listen to teachers and community members reading lots of their favorite stories. Students filled goodie bags with pencils, pens, bookmarks, and books. Concessions, face painting, and balloons were also available. Pictured are the fifth grade teachers Christy Nuccio, Jodie Steele, Donald Logue, and Cindy Young entertaining a packed room with the book Jolly Mon, by Jimmy Buffet.

Elia McDonald, in Laura Glennon’s third grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary, is the class winner for his prize cabbage. His information and cabbage picture will be submitted to Bonnie Plants, in Union Springs, Alabama. Elia’s cabbage will be judged on the cabbage head size, overall appearance, and weight.  There will be a $1,000 scholarship awarded to each state winner. The contest is sponsored by Bonnie Plants and the Department of Agriculture. Gook luck, Elia with your four pound cabbage.

How many kids does it take to read 20,979,863 words and rack up 8,490 points since the beginning of school in August? Well, it only took 17 third graders in Barbara Whellams’ class at F.K. Sweet Elementary School to accomplish such a task! To reward the students for reaching and surpassing their goal of 300 points each, the students will be treated to a movie matinee and concessions before the end of the school year. Reading Counts is a district wide program that encourages children to read and provides the classroom teacher with an array of information that can target  individual strengths … Read More

The F.K.Sweet Elementary School annual kindergarten circus, The Greatest Show on Earth, was a recent crowd pleaser. The audience was highly entertained by clowns, magic tricks, prancing ponies, acrobats, and wild animal acts. The climax of the evening  and a spell binding experience was someone surviving being shot from a cannon. A huge thanks to teachers Morgan Haupt, Kristin Griffin, Kathy Offerdahl, Michelle O’Keefe, Melanie Francisco, and Sandy Picano for their hard work and countless hours of practice. Pictured are some of the stars of the show!

“Fly Guy” is a favorite read of third grade students at F.K. Sweet Elementary. Fly Guy is a character created by Tedd Arnold, author of more than 50 children’s books. Fly Guy can be found hanging out in garbage cans and eating his favorite foods, anything brown, oozy and smelly. These books are bound to make you smile and students Kayla Jungjohan, Justin Adrian, and Stoney Braynen are proof!