Author: Kristin Hsu

Kindergartners in Melanie Francisco’s Class at F.K.Sweet Magnet School related to The Little Red Hen’s lesson about working together in order to enjoy the final product.   The students helped their teacher make cupcakes and then they were able to frost them and eat them as a reward for their efforts.  Anthony Crouse and Thomas Ham stopped working just long enough to smile for the camera.

As Ms. Marla Liberatore’s third grade class has mastered all the continents and oceans, they created their own models of the world on balloons.  Pictured are (from left to right) Antianna Mills, Cassandra Wilson, and Brandon Grier.

4th graders at Frances K. Sweet learn how to make observations and create scientific questions during an ice balloon investigation. The investigation involves a frozen, water filled balloon and the students remove the latex and examine the ice using magnifying glasses, flashlights, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, and paper clips.  They then observe what happens when salt and food coloring are added.  Throughout the lesson, students document their observations and raise questions about what they see. Pictured here are 4th graders Ansel Espinal and Dona Lima from Mrs. Elish Mancuso’s class.

Congratulations to Shamir Sterlin, Dayden Holtman, Lana Lovanh, Brian Wu, and Skylar Monroe who won this year’s Law Poster Contest! The theme this year (for Elementary grades) was “Voting at the Polls”.   Mrs. Cary Schott was so proud of her art students. Each student worked hard to create a winning illustration. For grades 3-5, Brian Wu took 1st place and received $150.00. Dayden Holtman took 2nd place and received $100.00. Lana Lovanh took third place and received $75.00. For grades K – 2, Skylar Monroe took 1st place and received $100.00 and Shamir Sterlin won 2nd place and received $75.00. … Read More

Third grade students from Mrs. Eleanor Baker’s, Mrs. Lisa McGuire’s and Mrs. Barbara Bennett’s classes enjoyed a field trip to IRSC’s Hallstrom Planetarium. At the planetarium students enjoyed the show narrated by Mr. Jon Bell.  The new projector is amazing and made the whole experience even more exciting!  The students have a better understanding of the phases of the moon and about why we have four seasons, the planets and the conditions on each planet, and how stars and black holes are formed. The visit proved to be an interesting experience for the students.

The students in Mrs. Traci Lott’s second grade class had a wonderful time on their field trip to Al’s Family Farms. Students had the opportunity to learn about the citrus industry with a guided tour of the packing house. Students were able to learn about Florida citrus from the time it was planted until the time it was picked and cleaned and then finally packed for delivery or sold to consumers. All the students agree that the best part was the samples of oranges, orange juice, and the delicious orange ice cream.

The kindergarteners of Frances K Sweet have yet again proved that they can truly perform the Greatest Show on Earth. Students were everything from clowns, lions, elephants, jugglers, to tightrope walkers. Students entertained their families and members of the community. Pictured in the Incredible Growing Machine is Lennon Paquette, assisted by clowns Skye Graham (left) and Tylarith Limear.

Fourth grade students at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School celebrated their hard work on the recent FCAT Writes test with an ice cream party provided by the school’s PTO. Pictured is Katriel Budwah enjoying her reward.

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School hosted its fifth annual Sunrise Stampede 5K recently to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Racers ranged in age from the youngest at four years old, to the eldest at 72. Families and the community came out and had a great time raising money for a cure. Pictured is a racing family, clockwise from top left, Robin Williams, Sarai Major (second in her age division), Ariel Major, and Elijah Major (first in his age division). Complete race results are available at www.itsperfecttiming.net  

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School students Ruben Medina, left, and Olivia Gomez, pictured, in Michelle O’Keefe’s kindergarten class enjoy sorting two-dimensional flat shapes and three-dimensional solid shapes. After sorting, students ate their shapes! Ruben enjoyed the cheeseball sphere and Olivia enjoyed eating the Hershe’s Kiss cone.

F. K. Sweet Elementary School students Shadalou Fernandez, pictured from left, Danielle Murray, Kate Bachmeyer, and Lani’ Chambers were announced as winners in a recent patriotic art contest at the school. Participating students learned the history of many American symbols as they completed their patriotic drawings. Kindergarten, first, and second grade students studied the Liberty Bell, third and fourth grade students learned about the nation’s first flag, and fifth grade students learned about the iconic Rosie The Riveter character from World War II, and also included an essay with their art.

Kindergartners at F. K. Sweet Elementary School recently took a field trip to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the Sunrise Theater in downtown Fort Pierce. The Sunrise Theater offered a free field trip for students in St. Lucie County schools. Pictured, from left, are Jeremiah Hill, Skye Graham, Kiera Coburn, and Tylarith Limear from Melanie Francisco’s class were on the edge of their seats waiting for the curtain to open. What an exciting opportunity to get dressed up and go to the theater!

Students at F. K. Sweet Elementary School can take part in an after-school group that uses STEM lessons to increase their critical thinking skills. Pictured are fourth grade student Nestor Damian, left, and third grade student Briana Guerrier show off their space landers. For this activity, the students designed a space lander that would keep an egg safe when landing. They were both happy to report that their eggs survived the landing.

Glitter, glue, and giggles, oh my!  Kindergartners in Melanie Francisco’s class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School had a great time during a recent Craft Day.  Parents were invited to volunteer with crafts, lunch, and ice cream sundaes.

Clifford the Big Red Dog recently visited Frances K. Sweet Elementary School to promote the school’s fall book fair. Pictured is Clifford (Justin Adrian) with student Alex Neil with his purchase from the book fair. All profits from the book fair will be used to purchase new books for the Media Center.

First grade students at F. K. Sweet Elementary School have been learning about colors. They started with a black piece of paper and created the center of a sunflower with the neutral brown. Next, they used warm colors to create the petals. Last, they used cool colors to create a dot pattern in the background. The students noticed how the warm colors come forward and cool colors recede. Pictured in Cary Schott’s art resource class, top row from left, are Fayth Coley, Brandon Padilla Costilla, and Kanosha Hartwell. Bottom row, from left, Iris Vargas, and Nathan Downey.

Teachers and students alike enjoyed the Positive Behavior Support dance recently at Frances K. Sweet Elementary.  Students from kindergarten to fifth grade came together for this after school dance. They enjoyed snacks and time with their friends and teachers. Pictured is Donna Hellums on the dance floor with a group of students.

After participating in the Tribute to Veterans celebration at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School, Richard Soricelli, Seargent in the U.S. Army, spoke to his daughter’s fourth grade class.  Mr. Soricelli shared pictures, equipment, and items that he brought back from Iraq. The students in Elish Mancuso’s class were engaged and interested as they learned information about Army life. Pictured is Seargent Soricelli with his daughter Mackenzie.

Students in Elish Mancuso’s fourth grade class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School explore the mass of the edible portion of a banana after reading interesting and intriguing information about bananas, and making predictions. The students used balance scales to measure the whole banana, the banana peel, and then determined the percentage that was edible. As a conclusion to their experiment, they enjoyed banana smoothies! Pictured, from left, are Elijha McArthur, Ava McGoorty, and Garion Miller.

Students in Stacey Johnson’s third grade gifted class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School proudly display their mummy and sarcophagus projects created during a study of the Ancient Egyptian civilization. Pictured, from left, are Jacob Andreacchio, Alexis McEwen, and Quinn Stephenson.