Author: CASANDRA FLORES

It’s not their birthday, but students Jayda Hill, left, and Heather White in Amy Redding’s seventh grade math class at Allapattah Flats K8 School are using wrapped boxes to find the surface area of prisms.  Students measured several boxes and were able to compare the surface areas of the three-dimensional shapes.

Bethany DiTullio’s fourth grade students at Allapattah Flats K8 are hatching duck eggs to further cultivate their knowledge for the third nine weeks’ science curriculum on animal reproduction and growth. The class has two different incubators with 33 duck eggs total. They are hatching both Call ducks and Pekin ducks. The students will be responsible for checking the humidity and temperature of both incubators and adjusting them as necessary. They will also “candle” or look inside the eggs using a flashlight to keep track of the growing duck embryos.  Pictured, back to front, Latoya Zamor, Victoya Zamor, Kaiya Bullard work … Read More

Allapattah Flats middle grades students recently held first-ever student-led conferences in their reading classes.  These conferences provided an opportunity for the students to reflect upon their successes during the year and show their data binders, which included their tests scores and academic work with their parents.  This was a positive opportunity for the students to emphasize their strengths, acknowledge their challenges, and with their parents’ support, plan their approach for the next semester. Students did a great job communicating with their families about their education and goals. Pictured is seventh grade Student Antonio Riberal discussing his reading progress throughout the year with … Read More

Third graders at Allapattah Flats have been studying plant and animal life cycles in science class.  On a recent field trip, students had the opportunity to visit the Savannas Preserve Park.  Students went netting in the water to search for and observe various living organisms.  Students were also introduced to some unique plant life and taught about what the early settlers of this area used these plants for in their everyday lives. Pictured is Connor Cook from Randi Pierson’s class eagerly investigating his net in the hope of finding some living organisms.

Pictured from left, third grade students Mariana Trujillo-Naranjo, Lauren Bishop, Connor Cook and Gabriel Vernon work hard on preparing their representation of St. Lucie County 100 years from now. All Allapattah Flats third graders enjoyed imagining the community 100 years from today, they read books and watched a video of other predictions before coming up with their own ideas of future communication, transportation, shelter and even food. Their projects are displayed at the St. Lucie County Fair.          

Elementary grades physical education classes at Allapattah Flats K8 has completed a unit on scooters.  Students enjoyed scooter races, played scooter basketball and scooter hockey. The students improved arm and leg strength, coordination and spacial awareness and are now working on improving the 1 mile run/walk for the Presidential fitness challenge. Pictured, from left, are Alexis Allen and Chyna Nazario as they prepare for scooter hockey.

Students in Eric Redding’s second grade at Allapattah Flats K8 class made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a culminating activity for their Expository Writing Unit. This activity focused on using specific details and descriptions in writing. Students were asked to list the steps to make the sandwich, and then were invited up to try it!  The students learned that they might not have included all of the steps when making the sandwich, as it didn’t quite work out as planned.  Students quickly realized what a difference details can make in writing. Pictured is Tatiana Holloway as she watches to see if … Read More

This week in music class at Allapattah Flats K-8, students listened to a piece called “Gallop” from The Comedians composed by Dimitri Kabalevsky. The instructional focus was on “form,” the structure of a musical composition as it can be divided into different sections. Teacher Danya Etter made the activity exciting by not only adding movements for the different sections of the piece, but also had streamers to make the lesson a hit! Pictured are Helen Gonzalez, Maximo Mendoza, Karlee Acri, Bailey Lobrutto, Brianna Welington, and Amelia Jeannoel getting ready with their streamers.  

Allapattah Flats K8 School congratulates four students who have been recognized as 2011 Florida’s Young Scholars Award Recipients. The noted students join nearly 2500 3rd-8th graders from across Florida that received such acclaim.  Hundreds of schools participated in the project to select and honor students who not only excel academically but show that they are well-rounded individuals.  Congratulations go to, from left, Adriana Carrengo, Ashley Kinberger, Ella McDonald, and Mina Sang.

Students in Pamela Owens’ and Ann Hartman’s first grade classes celebrated Literacy Week with a special guest reader, Principal Jonetha Maness.  Mrs. Maness read “Giraffes Can’t Dance”  to first graders in the special “gator” reading room.  Students giggled hysterically as the giraffe learned how to dance, they also shared connections they made to the story and their lives.  What a great way to foster the love of reading.  Students featured in the photo are, first row from right, Angelica Maldonado and Parkyr Saylor, second row Jayden Torello and Jaydin White, third row,  Samantha Roeder and Emily Dale, Mrs. Owens, Ariana Lenoir, and Justin Meyer, fourth row Isabelle Veloz, Mia Horowitz, and … Read More

Kindergarten students enjoyed connecting literature across the curriculum. After reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, the students learned sequencing, days of the week, and the butterfly life cycle. Students will proudly display their work on the kindergarten bulletin board. Pictured, from left, are Jacob Garica, Sariya Brown, and Jayden Stoveall as they show off their creativity in their projects.

Seventh grade students in Christi Pittman’s classes at Allapattah Flats K-8 School are learning about the Civil Rights Movement in language arts.  After listening to Martin Luther King Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety, students were impressed with his eloquence and use of “big words.” Inspired, the students wrote their own “I Have a Dream” paragraph about what they would like to see changed in their community, state, country, or world. Pictured are Madison Kennedy and Victoria Joseph working together to research some events of the civil rights movement in order to prepare their speech and get ready … Read More

Allapattah Flats K8 first graders were treated to a special event after studying animals in science.  Cheryl Wise from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary educated first graders about Florida wildlife and habitats. First graders were able to touch an alligator, opossum, bofu frog, king snake and a skunk. Students beam, anxiously awaiting their turn to touch the bofu frog.  Pictured, from left, are Andre Hayle, Angelica Maldonado, Jaydin White, Enrique Mojica, and Courtney Waithe. They were also able to see an owl, compare and contrast features of an alligator to a crocodile, and visit with a tortoise. What a great day to be in first grade at Allapattah Flats K-8!

At Allapattah Flats K8, students in Melinda Van Der Werff’s creative writing class wrote and illustrated books for Shannon Johnson’s third grade students. The eighth graders read their stories to their third grade buddies over cookies. The third graders loved hearing the books as much as the eighth graders enjoyed making them. Pictured is eighth grader Carlos Castillo and third grader Gavrie Andrews reading The Soccer Ball.  

Four students from Russel Bolig’s civics class earn first place in the Allapattah Flats K8 Project Citizen showcase. The winning project Driving Miss Daisy, discussed the topic of placing driving restrictions on drivers 70 and older. Nathan Hinkley, Brianna Cumberbatch, Janeliz Torres and Laura Carvalho presented a convincing case as to why they thought these restrictions would be beneficial to society. The two top projects advanced to the district Project Citizen Showcase held at Samuel Gaines Academy. Russell Bolig, Nathan Hinkley and Brianna Cumberbatch take a moment after the school event to show off their winning project. Congratulations to all!

The National Junior Honor Society volunteered at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Fort Pierce.   The students earned time towards their required community service hours as well as giving their tips to the school to be used towards several planned activities.   It was a fun night and we hope to make this an annual event. Pictured is Ximena Paz as she cleans up the tables after a long night of working as a server for NJHS.

Students  Zarah Gampp and Taylor Brennan in Ms. Portillo’s sixth grade reading class at Allapattah Flats K-8 read in a cozy corner of the room.  Students are encouraged to routinely read independently upon completion of their classwork.  Way to go Zarah and Taylor!

Fourth graders at Allapattah Flats K8 have been working together on Social Studies projects based on Florida history. They spent time researching their topic, as well as creating a timeline and poster board, complete with a description, pictures and an oral presentation. From left, Riley Franklin, Gabriella Maimone, Alexis Allen, and Chyna Nazario proudly display their work.

As Allapattah Flats middle school students wrapped up science fair, sixth grade moved into learning about magnetic forces.  The class has been using electric charges and magnetic charges within a lab setting for hands on learning.  Eighth grade has just finished studying various kinds of mixtures as well as matter and the energy cycle. Bailey McCall is pictured intently studying his work as he conducts an experiment on mixtures.

Third grade classes at Allapattah Flats are excited about Positive Behavior Support! The students that have earned 10 Gator Bucks are looking forward to a movie and popcorn party.  Students are working hard to show their best behavior and earn Gator Bucks. They also try to be good role models for other students and work their way towards becoming “Gator of the Month”.  In order to accomplish this, students must remember to follow the school wide PBS expectations of: Responsible, Respectful and Safe.  Way to go third grade. Pictured are Rhianna Sheehan, Jeremy Auguste, Heather Granjean, Gabriel Vernon, Jaida Haynes, … Read More