Author: Kelli Putz

Morningside Elementary School’s second grade teacher Sarah Roddin is reading, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud to her class. This book is a guide to daily happiness for kids. Her students enjoy beginning their day in a positive way.

Fifth grade students at Morningside Elementary in Brad Culbertson and Mary Mascello’s classrooms put on an outstanding production of “Robin Hood” for their parents and students. Students not only performed but also created all of the costumes and sets for the production.

 Students in Jean Constantine’s kindergarten class at Morningside Elementary School had made and sent valentine cards to USAF Captain Brandon Daigle overseas and the class was surprised when he sent them sent a big flag from his plane on the dashboard as he flew reconnaissance over Afghanistan. He also included a certificate to the class (by name) and two photos, one of him with the valentines and one of his whole squadron. Pictured is Ms. Constantine, her students, and their prized possession.

Maggie Garrett, seated, a kindergartner in Jean Constantine’s kindergarten class at Mariposa Elementary School  reads to fifth graders Raisa Asim, Alyssa Byrum and Hilario Garcia the book she put together and colored to work with her sight words she is learning to read.

Morningside Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind Angels team won first place and an “Omer Award” for notable team work at the recent regional Odyssey of the Mind competition.  Teammates, front row, from left, Macy Nielander, Rylee Nelson, Tiffani Kinnaman, Lexus Hommer, Grace Kukielka, Jory Krier, Kendrick Carpenter, along with coaches, back row,  Tania Nelson and Brad Culbertson are now preparing for the state competition next month.

  Morningside Elementary students in Rebecca Macintire’s kindergarten class celebrated Dr. Seuss Day wearing Lorax mustaches while their teacher read them the book “The Lorax.”

Morningside Elementary fourth grade students enjoy a presentation using puppets of prehistoric animals provided by Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. Along with their presentation they had the opportunity to interact with learning & development facilitator Indria Sukhraj from the institute.

Pictured, from left, are Morningside Elementary School fourth grade students Alexa Portillo, Kate Cook, Serra Aims and Jaquelin Cruz engaging in activities preparing for FCAT writing. Students had the opportunity to engage in various activities led by Deb Hitsman related to FCAT writing.

Morningside Elementary School students in Rose Pazos’ fifth grade class have been maintaining a garden they planted with coaching from science teacher Mar Lou Jennings. The garden includes a sensory area, a flower area, and a vegetable area. The vegetables include broccoli, mustards, tomatoes, turnips, eggplant, bell peppers, brussel sprouts, and purple and green cabbage.  

 Morningside Elementary School kindergartners, from left, Hudson Fein, Victor Monaco, Judith Vazquez, Gillian Ellis and Melissa Gale from Jean Constantine’s class had the honor of creating beautiful Valentine cards that will be sent to troops overseas who are serving our country.

Morningside Elementary teachers show their support for the American Heart Association dressed in jeans and sports jerseys/shirts for a donation to the American Heart Association helping raise $600.

 Morningside Elementary School recently held it 2011-2012 Spelling Bee. Pictured, from left, are Assistant Principal Jennifer Hedeen, first place winnre Raisa Asim, third place winner Rodney Calixte,  second place winner Bianca Morris second place, Principal Cortina Bell-Gray and in the back, bee coordinator Jean Constantine.

  Morningside Elementary students Yasmine Taveras, Jocelyn Ortega, Leilani Warner, Emily Casler and Summer McDonough enjoy dancing together at the Dress Code dance that the PBS team sponsored. Students in grades K- 5 were able to attend the dance if they were in dress code the entire first semester of the school year.

Morningside Elementary fourth grade students Kimmika Calixte, Brooke Murray and Anastasia Wilson from Allison Hargroves’ class proudly show off their newly created multi-media project game board they created on “Moon Phases” in their technology resource class with technology instructor Kelli Putz.

Morningside Elementary kindergartners Jeremiah Griffin and Elijah Laguerre are making bear claws for bravery. Kindergarten students listened to a story about a Native American who was brave in the face of danger. Students then shared their experiences of being brave in different circumstances and made their own bear claw for bravery badge.  

Morningside Elementary third grade classrooms had the privilege of having Hobe Sound Nature Center come to all of the classes and present a lesson on owls.  Students were able to see a live owl and learn about their habitat, the foods that they eat and actually dissect an owl pellet. Ella Walby and Amaya Swelland are observing an owl pellet and identifying the parts of it.  Thanks to Tracy Boothby and DebbieFritz-Quincy for coming to the school for this great learning experience.

Morningside Elementary gifted students Cody Jennings, Elize Starr, Winter Pepitone, Kaylyn Redway perform a rendition of the Island of Misfit Toys during the school’s holiday show. Holiday Jeopardy was created and performed by the gifted students in first through fifth grade classes work with drama students from Port St. Lucie High School who coached and directed the young thespians in their holiday show.

Renee Barnes’ second grade RtI class divided into small groups to create commercials. Dariusz Dobrowolski, Jade Magranelo, Jackson Chism, Kendall Norton, and Taylor Leonard sold pickles and cucumbers. The group decided what they needed to say and how to act to make people want to buy their product. They rehearsed their parts and presented their commercial to the class.