Author: LYNNE Gruszka

The Northport K-8 Media Center radiated beauty, power, strength and a sense of family recently as the students and teachers celebrated and honored Women’s History.  Each year during March, Northport Media Center transforms into a center for women’s culture.  The program this year was dedicated to Connithea Arrindell and also to the strong, powerful and fearless women of the United States military.  The acts in the program included  Spanish teacher, Vicki Baird singing “I Am The One,” third grade teacher Tiffany Tredor playing her violin, eighth grade student Taylor Greger singing “Wind Beneath My Wings,” seventh grade girls in Dot Still’s … Read More

Northport K-8 students in several different classes are vigorously preparing for the school’s second annual Women’s History/Women’s Victory celebration to be held in the Media Center to commemorate the strength and determination of women and to salute March as Women’s History Month.  A sampling of performances are seventh grade girls in Dot Still’s classes preparing a dramatic reading of Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman, fourth grade students in Juliette Thelusma’s class demonstrating a Susan B. Anthony beat, Northstars 6,7 and 8 graders in Mala Woessner’s preparing a powerpoint about Iron Jawed Angels, whose motto was “Lead, Follow or Get Out of … Read More

Northport K-8 principal Glenn Rustay and assistant principals Bennie Montenegro and Doug Shook, as well as the entire Northport K-8 family and several district staff, welcomed motivational speaker Dr. Adolph Brown III  to an inspiring and energizing program for the seventh and eighth graders.  Dr. Brown entered the room dressed as a thug looking for his grandmother.  Students began to take notice of his dreads and his clothing almost immediately.  Dr. Brown moved to the stage and began taking off his first impression outfit and thrilled the students when he appeared well groomed and full of confidence.  Dr. Brown moved the … Read More

Northport K-8 eighth grade students were able to connect the dots and put real life knowledge behind the stories and rifts they learned during their recent trip to Washington, D.C.  The students and teachers, joined by several others from Manatee Academy, visited the International Spy Museum, the National Holocaust Museum, the United States Capital Building and the House of Representatives where they were able to witness an actual hearing.  Students also were guests of the White House where instructor Mala Woessner caught sight of Bo, the White House dog.  Students visited Embassy Row, Library of Congress, Martin Luther King Monument and … Read More

Northport K-8 kindergarten students in Nancy Yost, Megan Castiglia, Melody Nieves and student intern Amanda Bean’s classes celebrated the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss by listening to a dramatic storytelling of the beloved Seuss  classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Media Specialist Lynne Gruszka.  Students were thrilled to hear the story of the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes and agreed that Christmas isn’t about the gifts.  Students decorated Seuss ornaments and decorated a Christmas tree set up in the Media Center.  The Media Center also hosted a theatrical skit by students in Juliette Thelusma’s fourth grade class by Suess called … Read More

Northport K-8 School recently partipicated in Walk To School Day! The walk started at Sportsman Park in Port St. Lucie at 8:30 AM, and a group of 120 students, parents, instructors, Principal Glenn Rustay and committee members De Green, Northport science instructor, deputy Richard Green, school resource officer and an array of community involvement personnel joined in the walk to support pedestrian safety awareness and increase childhood activity.  The “Walking School Bus” was a terrific success and an active display of community support for the program.  Pictured, from right, are Northport students Shadae Stone, Farrah Dorsainvil, Maria Garcia and Jeverel … Read More

Northport K-8 Northstar team prepared a special celebration for the school’s younger students recently.  Students made Mardi Gras masks and mini floats using materials brought in from home and marched in a Mardi gras parade.  The band students on the team led the festivities with their own rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In!”  Students threw beads and candies to the young onlookers.  The activities planned by the team instructors throughout the day led to an effective lesson about Mardi Gras and promoted positive interactions among students and teachers.  Pictured is student Sabrina Wing.

Northport K-8 fifth graders in Judy Fowler’s class have partnered with the St. Lucie County 4H Extension to plant and harvest a thriving and well loved winter garden.  The entire class planted, checked temperatures , humidity and rain gauges as well as kept daily log books on plant growth and development. Students harvested red tomatoes, bell peppers, red cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, mustard and strawberries.  Students also presented projects including shadow boxes, board presentations and written reports.  The class garden project will be on display at the St. Lucie County Fair.  The garden is a prime example of engaging students in … Read More

Northport K-8 media specialist and group facilitator Lynne Gruszka, along with assistant principal Benigna Montenegro, Coordinator of Learning Communities, are pleased with the progress of the Reading Learning Community that is occurring in the school’s Media Center.  Teachers are utilizing the book, “Teach With Your Strengths, How Great Teachers Inspire Their Students” written by Rosanne Liesveld and Jo Ann Miller as a scaffold to professional conversation and camaraderie.  Teachers in the group are learning to recognize the similarities of all great teachers and how to capitalize on their specific teaching talents as well as  how to better develop individual strengths.  Teachers … Read More

Northport K-8 Girls Treble Chorus performed recently at the District 13 Florida Vocal Association adjudicated festival or Music Performance Assessments for Chorus.  The all-girl middle grades choir achieved an overall Superior rating.  The chorus performed a German song titled, “Bist Du Bie Mir” as well as a spiritual song, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.”  Students also performed sight reading materials.  Bravo to Northport K-8 choir director Shirley Lyons.  Pictured with the girls and Mrs. Lyons is Northport K-8 principal Glenn Rustay.

Black History recognition sparkled at Northport K-8 School recently. Principal Glenn Rustay gave opening remarks to students and faculty with a short story prepared by student Rubenson Charles called “If There Were No Black People.”  The Northport K-8 band conducted by Derrick Williams played “Mercy,Mercy, Mercy”.  The Northport choir ensemble directed by Shirley Lyons performed as well as a modern praise dance routine by Monique Robinson.  The highlight of the Black History presentation was an inspiring narrative given by former Northport K-8 principal Eric Seymour.  Mr. Seymour told students that he was a member in good standing at Northport forever … Read More

Northport physical education instructors Linda Walker, Kim Kanada Graff, Daryn Ploeckelman, James Hebb, Kevin Fess and Ryan Carpenter promoted camaraderie and collegial interactions as they modeled for students not only the joy of jumping rope but promoting jumping rope for an excellent cause. Students and PE teachers raised well over $3000 for Jump Rope For Heart this year!  Students were thrilled as the music blasted as each participated in jumping single, double and double dutch ropes.  The display of unity by the coaches promoted a positive atmosphere for the students and much was accomplished.

Dr. Laura Woodworth, Northport K-8 science instructor, tweaked seventh grade student Grace Buzziz’s interest and provoked an in depth home learning project as Grace surprised Dr. Woodworth with an active and scientifically correct volcano. Grace modeled her volcano with running lava and answered detailed questions from classmates about her scientific inquiry. Grace urged her classmates to start independent scientific projects at home to extend their classroom learning.

Northport K-8 students in Vicki Baird’s eighth grade Spanish classes created their own family trees using Spanish words and phrases.  Students identified relationships to family members and then gave two physical and two personality traits for each family memeber using Spanish language skills.  Students also displayed handmade Ojo de Dios or Eyes of God.  The Ojo de Dios were symbolic of wisdom and light in the Indian cultures in Mexico and Central America.  Students on the Northstar team in eighth grade have a great opportunity to earn one of two required high school foreign language credits at an advanced pace.

Northport K-8 administration, instructors, staff and students commemorate Presidents Day on February 20 by honoring all 44 American presidents. Students are learning information about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and are celebrating the lives and contributions of US presidents.  It is vital that students remember the history of the country, remember the names of those who worked to make America the most vital country on Earth and the bravery that it takes to be America’s president.  Northport K-8 marks the days in February to celebrate great American leaders.  Pictured is a variety of Northport seventh and eighth grade students.

Northport K-8 sixth grade students in Amanda Sartain’s classes completed a comprehensive unit of study on weather, natural disasters and climate.  Mrs. Sartain, helping students to interact with new knowledge, assisted students by representing new knowledge as a fun and interactive research and engineering design project.  Students researched tornado resistant buildings and built their own tornado reistant building with materials on hand. Students tested the durability of their designs on three different levels using a box fan as a tornado simulator.  Students collected data on each design at each level and then graphed the resulting data.

Northport K-8 School Media Services is pleased and honored to welcome Bill Arnold, Northport’s Senior Volunteer of the Year and St. Lucie County School District Senior Volunteer of the Year for a special program for sixth graders on the Starfish team in the Media Center.  Mr. Arnold was selected to represent the school and the school district for his service to the school and to the students.  Mr. Arnold has served well over 4500 students and at least 800 parents and grandparents at 28 different school events.  As a veteran, Mr. Arnold has imparted a wealth of information to students … Read More

Northport K-8 School celebrated cultures of the world in a wonderful and highly energized afternoon of booths, theater groups, costumes, posters, trinkets and lots of information.  Students and teachers prepared displays replete with music and interactive fun while learning information about 22 different countries of the world.  Students were engaged with a desire to learn and teach information that was creative, innovative and lots of fun!

Northport K8 School is proud to have close affiliation with the St. Lucie County School District’s Hispanic Advisory Council.  Pictured are Gloria Arana, parent and member of Centro San Juan Diego, Linda Tapia, host of Que Pasa St. Lucie and recruiter for Federal Programs, Title I, III and Migrant Education and Benigna Montenegro, assistant principal at Northport K-8 School and FCAT parent trainer for the Hispanic Advisory Council.  The Council was proud to be represented at the launch of the Parent Academy of St. Lucie County recently celebrated by the School Board, Houghten Mifflin Harcourt, Parent Academy Board of Directors … Read More