Author: LYNNE Gruszka

Northport K-8 middle grades students were electrified, enthused and inspired to learn more about the Korean War recently. Northport students paid tribute to the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice by an integration of interactive learning, an informative and moving PowerPoint presentatioin, guest speaker Peter Popolizio, current Commander of local chapter 106 of the Korean War Veterans Association as a primary source, and were also treated to renditions of music of the time period by Northport choral students under the direction of James Kirk. Student Brandt Wrench sang a sweet version of Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” … Read More

Northport K-8’s reading leadership team, consisting of 36 teachers and administrators, is offering students a variety of enrichment programs to extend the classroom learning experiences. One of the opportunities offered to students is a Reading Mentorship program. Students are learning all about the program on the morning announcements and are actively engaging in informal reading mentorships. Media specialist Lynne Gruszka, literacy coach Deb Mock, and math coach Josie Bailey are urging the students to forge ahead and join the mentorships, which meet informally to talk about books that are being offered. For example, Mrs. Gruszka is providing students an opportunity … Read More

Northport K-8 students participated in a celebration of small increments of success with a focused looked at amounts of Adequate Yearly Progress in a PTO organized AYP celebration recently. Students who achieved progress on the FCAT test last year were treated to several styles of bounce houses and slides, popcorn, hoola hoops and snowcones, as well as the chance to dunk Principal Glenn Rustay and other members of the faculty and staff in the dunk tank. Students also had the opportunity to celebrate PBS, or Positive Behavior Support, gains with a variety of school based activities in classes and on … Read More

Northport K-8 School faculty, staff, administration, students and the family community celebrate the selection of Christine Hunsicker as our representative for Northport K-8 School Adult Volunteer of the Year!  Mrs. Hunsicker has volunteered for the school for the last eight years serving as grade mother for several teachers, PTO parent volunteer and School advisory Board member. This year, Mrs. Hunsicker serves as PTO president. She organizes so many fundraiser and student centered activities such as the Holiday Shoppe, Valentine’s dance, Teacher Appreciation lunches, Yankee Candle, and World’s Finest Chocolate sales. Without Mrs. Hunsicker, many school activities would not be nearly as fruitful and … Read More

Northport K-8 fifth grade students in Carla Caldwell’s class demonstrated critical information learned through intensive studies of Native American tribes from different geographic regions of North America. Students compared and contrasted the different interactions each had with their geographic region and how this affected their lifestyle and their dwellings. Students identified cliff dwellers and Pueblo people of the Desert Southwest, coastal tribes of the Pacific Northwest, nomadic nations of the Great Plains and Eastern Woodlands tribes found east of the Mississippi River. Students constructed replicas of dwellings and tribal regions for display in the media center. The construction supported the … Read More

At Northport K-8 School, the Fall season brings an uptick in literary opportunities for students to enjoy the crisp pages of a well written book and the tales of authors that many students enjoy reading. The fall season at Northport K-8 School brings the book fair that is decorated with pumpkins, acorns and falling leaves. The book fair runs from October 28 through November 7. Nothport media specialist Lynne Gruszka and prevention specialist Mary Ann Warren have collaborated in a Trick or Treat Trivia Contest to students using questions from some spooky authors. Students thrive on tales of terror and … Read More

Northport K-8 middle grades students are diligently planning, organizing and researching for the Northport K-8 School Annual Science Fair. Students in grades six through eight follow a timeline, beginning with getting special certification forms completed, checking and completing logbooks that include purpose, hypothesis, procedures, analysis, conclusion and much more. Students also are collecting data, completing research papers and formatting bibliographies. Finally, completed science research projects including science boards are due in December. The whole process is an all-encompassing community effort in time management, data collection, research skills and a multitude of other far reaching lessons that will impact student achievement … Read More

Northport K-8 School ponied up lots of great fellowship, money and bowling skills to assist Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie County in their efforts to raise much needed funds for the organization’s mentoring and literacy programs. The Northport team consisted of teachers, administrators, friends and family members, as well as lots of cheerleading and support from family and friends. The event raised $36,000 to enhance the program as well as a good old fashioned birthday celebration for Dr. Judi Miller, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters and long time champion of St. Lucie County children and families. The event was a … Read More

Each year, Northport K-8 School presents a tribute to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  This year the school hosted retired New York City detective and First Responder Albert Hickey, St. Lucie County firefighter Gary Hollett, and many veteran Partners in Education from across the county. This year, Detective Hickey spoke of seeing only a handful of American flags while driving on his way to visit the school for the program. Students at the program expressed to Detective Hickey that they needed an American flag. In honor of the nine months of work that Detective Hickey performed at Ground Zero and in … Read More

Northport K-8 School middle grades Art instruction has been deemed an integral facet in educating the school’s children. Students in grades K-8 enter Valerie Niewieroski’s art class with hopes of fun and color, but Mrs. Niewieroski offers so much more to the students. A plethora of studies have proven that an excellent fine arts school program enhances motor skills, builds language development, strengthens problem solving and critical thinking skills as well as offering a vital outlet for self expression and inventiveness. Studies have also proven a direct correlation between art, music education and higher academic achievement. A report by Americans … Read More

Northport K-8 School welcomed LA Hardy recently to bring his message of self respect , self esteem, feeling great about yourself, and how to say “Enough is Enough” to bullies. Mr. Hardy spoke about his past as a bully and he informed the students about the differences between teasing and bullying. He spoke with heartfelt emotion about his trips to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a group of stand up comedians to bring special messages to the troops. Mr. Hardy, originally from Cleveland, Ohio presently is a radio host at WFLM 104.7 The Flame. He gave students an assignment … Read More

Northport K-8 School fifth grade students in Melanie Polascak’s class learned a valuable lesson on survival and how to flourish through a tragedy while learning about the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Mrs. Polascak integrated visual information using video clips of the original World Trade Center prior to 9/11 and of the Ground Zero Memorial, comparing and contrasting the scenes. The class noted the story of “The Survivor Tree” which sustained extensive damage during the attacks. The original tree, a callery pear tree, has been replanted at the Ground Zero Memorial for all to enjoy and learn the story … Read More

Northport K-8 School Culinary Arts instructor, Rachel Ellsworth and a group of her students honored local firefighters from Port St. Lucie, Station 3 on September 11 with a tray of homeade baked goods from the Northport Culinary students. Students walked to Station 3 after school and hand delivered the goodies. Along with the firefighters are Northport students from left, Ayana Kelly, Deja Gannon, Kelsey Krieger and Melissa Hruby. Northport K-8 School students delighted in honoring community first responders and were moved to remember all the heroes who acted courageously on September 11, 2001.

Each year Northport K-8 School commemorates and pays tribute to the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001. The school media center is dedicated to the memory of the eight children who perished on 9/11. This year, the school media center program offered Power Instruction to sixth and eighth students on the Shark and Mariner teams. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by eighth grader, Matthew Seama and the National Anthem was sung by choral student, Sharene Thomas. Mr. Kirk, Northport choral director and his vocalists, the Velvet Bluebirds, sang a powerful rendition of  “America the Beautiful.” An extremely informative … Read More

Northport K-8 School was abuzz with the excitement of Grandparent’s Day recently. A special luncheon was held in the cafeteria as grandparents met their children for lunch. Tables were decorated with floral arrangements and students were thrilled that special visitors had arrived. That afternoon, first grade teachers, Renee Immordino, Michelle McCloskey and Pam Mishler invited grandparents from their classes of students to a special children’s program with songs and poetry honoring all grandparents . Middle grades Culinary Arts instructor, Rachel Ellsworth collaborated with the teachers as her classes baked and showcased homeade apple pies, pineapple upside down cakes and offered … Read More

 Northport K-8 School will participate in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Saint Lucie County’s special fundraiser, Bowling For Kid’s Sake on September 21 at 5:00 pm at Superplay in Saint Lucie West. Each year, Northport promotes a Hat Day and other fundraisers to earn enough money to support the cause of caring for all children in our community. We are pleased and proud to be a unified team who will assist in community events that make our school and our community stronger and more powerful. We will have a contingency of at least ten teachers and staff who will … Read More

Northport K-8 School sixth graders in Georgia Stone’s World History class are preparing to delve into yearly History Fair projects with an excellent lesson in the school’s media center. Students logged on to the National History Day website at www.nhd.org/gettingstarted.htm and utilized the “Conducting Research” bar. Students read all about primary and secondary sources and learned how to be a responsible researcher then answered two focus questions. Students also rotated to a center in the media center that offered scenarios and students, under the direction of Mrs. Stone, interpreted primary or secondary sources. The History Fair topic this year is … Read More

Northport K-8 school middle grades students who are struggling to achieve target points for College and Career Anchor Standards for Reading are given the opportunity to build a foundation in reading skills using a broad range of high quality text and programming. One of the programs utilized at the school is the READ 180 program. The program is a curriculum based, focused reading program designed to ensure that students are progressing toward grade level essentials. It offers computer based, individualized instruction tailored to student needs. The program encourages independent reading for pleasure through its lexiled library as well as regularly … Read More

Northport K-8 School is preparing to address the needs of a very diverse population through a targeted and focused ESOL program.  Longtime instructor, Mary Toto along with two paraprofessionals will incorporate RTI or Response To Intervention into small group, multi-tiered learning groups. Each student targeted as ESOL will receive direct instruction in English Language skills to quickly assimilate into the regular education classroom. Students, equipped with support from Mrs. Toto and her team, heritage language dictionaries and classroom instructors who are trained in offered ESOL support strategies will be offered every opportunity to excel and achieve quickly. Each child’s needs … Read More