Author: MARY ROTI

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, students explored the rich history and culture of Puerto Rico through a variety of engaging activities. They analyzed different forms of media, including images and informational texts, to make inferences about Puerto Rico’s history before using key details to write thoughtful summaries. Students then conducted independent research to deepen their understanding of Puerto Rico’s geography, traditions, landmarks, and cultural contributions. Using their research, they created colorful travel brochures designed to showcase the island’s unique attractions. This interactive lesson strengthened students’ reading, writing, research, and critical-thinking skills while fostering cultural awareness and appreciation. Way to … Read More

Learning integers with Cheez-Its! Students in Ms. Selinsky’s 6th Grade Math class used Cheez-Its as manipulatives to represent positive and negative integers while practicing addition and subtraction. Using hands-on tools helps students visualize abstract math concepts, deepen their understanding, and build confidence in their problem-solving skills. By modeling integers with counters, or in this case Cheez-Its, students were able to make meaningful connections between mathematical rules and real learning experiences. Engaging lessons like these show that manipulatives are a powerful way to support conceptual understanding and make math both accessible and fun! And yes, they got to eat them afterwards!

What better way to prepare for our upcoming unit assessment than with a little friendly competition?! Mrs. Schettini’s students participated in a Mario Kart-themed review game to practice their multiplication and division skills. Students first worked independently to solve each problem, then collaborated with their teammates to check their thinking and make sure they had the correct answer. Once their team was ready, they got to race their Mario character along the game board! It was a fun and engaging way to review important skills, practice teamwork, and get ready to show what we know on our upcoming unit assessment!

St. Lucie West K8 Sharks in Mrs. Schettini’s AMP class started a new routine today called Building a Thinking Classroom. Students are randomly grouped and work collaboratively to solve problems. Today, they were challenged to find all the possible ways to arrange 24 carpet squares into equal arrays. Each member of the group is encouraged to contribute and have a voice in the discussion. Students listen to one another, share observations, and learn from the strategies used by other groups. This engaging activity helps get their brains ready for the day’s learning while also building a strong sense of classroom … Read More

Ms. Selinsky’s 6th Grade Accelerated Math classes at St. Lucie West K8 was “lost at sea” and challenged to use their knowledge of integers and absolute value to survive. Students collaborated and traveled from station to station, solving real-world mathematical problems, analyzing positive and negative quantities, and determining distances from zero to unlock their path to rescue. Through movement, collaboration, and critical thinking, students strengthened their understanding of integer operations and the distance of numbers from zero while proving that mathematics is an essential tool for problem-solving both in and out of the classroom. Way to go, Math Sharks keep … Read More

Third graders in Mrs. Zalepeski’s class became reading detectives during their Animal Adaptations unit as they worked collaboratively to summarize informational texts. Students focused on identifying the central idea and finding relevant supporting details that helped them better understand how animals adapt to survive in their environments. Through meaningful discussions, teamwork, and critical thinking, students analyzed key information and practiced organizing their ideas into clear and concise summaries. This engaging learning experience strengthened reading comprehension skills while encouraging collaboration and active participation. We are proud of our St. Lucie West K-8 Sharks for their hard work, thoughtful conversations, and growing … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 students in Ms. Hirstius’ third-grade class combined learning and movement during an exciting multiplication number line activity. Using a life-sized number line on the classroom floor, students eagerly took turns solving multiplication problems by making equal jumps to represent groups and products. As they worked, classmates checked one another’s thinking, provided feedback, and engaged in meaningful mathematical discussions. This hands-on lesson helped students strengthen their understanding of multiplication concepts while building collaboration and problem-solving skills. By actively participating and supporting their peers, students demonstrated that math can be both engaging and fun. Way to go, Sharks!

St. Lucie West K-8 Sharks are becoming expert reading detectives in Ms. Paries’ classes! Students have been working hard to identify the relevant details that support the central idea of a text. Using their critical thinking skills, they carefully searched for important clues, sorted through information, and determined which details mattered most. These young readers did an outstanding job analyzing texts and supporting their thinking with evidence. Their enthusiasm, focus, and incredible determination were on full display as they strengthened their reading comprehension skills. We are so proud of their hard work and the progress they are making every day!

In Mrs. Hernandez’s third-grade classes, we’ve been learning a variety of multiplication strategies, and our students are off to an amazing start! They have been practicing multiplication through arrays, number lines, repeated addition, and equal groups to build a strong foundation of understanding. Using counters, students created their own arrays, helping them visualize multiplication concepts and solve problems in meaningful ways. It has been exciting to watch them make connections between strategies and grow more confident with each lesson. Their enthusiasm, perseverance, and hard work are truly paying off as they continue developing their math skills. I am incredibly proud … Read More

The Second-Grade Sharks at St. Lucie West K-8 had a sweet learning adventure! In Mrs. Yancy and Ms. Roberts’ class, students practiced multiplication by creating equal groups using Oreos and mini M&M’s. Talk about a delicious way to learn! As they counted, grouped, and multiplied, smiles were everywhere. The hands-on activity made math exciting, engaging, and oh-so-tasty! Students eagerly demonstrated their understanding while enjoying a fun treat. These Sharks showed great teamwork, focus, and enthusiasm while building their skills. Who knew multiplication could be this fun? Way to go, Second Grade Sharks—learning really is sweeter with a little chocolate!

Mrs. Bohams’ Intro to Technology middle school students learned CAD software to create 3D printed models. Then used their skills to talk to clients on campus and at home to design an object to fill a need or solve a problem. Students learned about coworker and client communication skills to discuss their plans with their client. They use a client contract to clarify a written description and a detailed sketch to finalize their plan, so both parties agree to the project. Students tinkered and produced models for print to give to their clients. They applied the design process to make, … Read More

Congratulations to Ms. Hernandez’s Morning Class! Ms. Hernandez’s third-grade morning class students celebrated having the most “green faces” for the year in Mr. Adam’s elementary music class with a Kona Ice party during their last music class. Out of all of the elementary music classes, this class followed the music classroom rules the best. They earned a “green face” every time they had music class this year. As a reward, they voted on what type of party they wanted and chose Kona Ice. A special thank you to Kona Ice of White City for donating to the party! Well done, … Read More

SLWK8 proudly thanks Big Apple for hosting our Read to Succeed Night, an event that truly celebrated the joy of reading. Families gathered at Bayshore Big Apple Pizza to enjoy dinner while students read together and built a love for literacy. Each student received a free book to take home, with opportunities to earn up to five books, helping grow home libraries and reading confidence. The evening also encouraged schoolwide participation. It was a night where reading took center stage and every page turned helped grow a love for books. Events like this strengthen our partnership with families and community … Read More

St. Lucie West K8 students celebrated Earth Day in a meaningful and hands‑on way today! Classes took time out of their schedules to work together to help clean up our campus, showing pride in their school and care for the environment. This campus-wide effort reinforced the importance of responsibility, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. A special thank‑you goes to Mr. Watkins for serving as our “earthly reminder” and inspiring students to do their part. It was wonderful to see our students leading by example and taking action to protect our planet. Way to go, Shark Nation—every small effort makes a big … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 third graders enjoyed sweet learning! Students worked with a partner using 30 jellybeans to collect and organize data. They sorted the jellybeans by color, counted each group, and then represented their data in two different ways—a bar graph and a pictograph. This hands‑on activity helped students practice counting, comparing quantities, and understanding how data can be shown in multiple representations. The engagement was high, teamwork was strong, and learning was sweet! Then each child was asked to explain which color had the most and how they showed it on their graphs, including why graphs help organize … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 students in Ms. Roberts’ 2nd Grade class enjoyed a sweet and unforgettable learning experience today! Students practiced their reading skills by using text evidence to answer questions about the life cycle of the “marshmallow tree.” As curiosity grew, students soon discovered the lesson was actually a fun April Fool’s prank! The activity sparked laughter, excitement, and thoughtful discussion, all while reinforcing important reading comprehension strategies. By blending humor with instruction, students remained engaged and motivated to think critically about what they read. It was a joyful reminder that learning can be both meaningful and fun. Happy … Read More

SLWK8 is proud to recognize our outstanding Assistant Principals, whose leadership and commitment play a vital role in the success of our school community. Their dedication to supporting students, staff, and families helps ensure a positive, structured, and engaging learning environment each day. Through collaboration, guidance, and a shared focus on student achievement, they help keep our school running smoothly and effectively. Our Assistant Principals lead with professionalism, care, and consistency, making a meaningful impact across classrooms and programs. Shark Nation is grateful for their hard work, vision, and unwavering support, which continue to strengthen SLWK8 and help all learners … Read More

St. Lucie West K–8 is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $2,500 Working Together for Success grant from the Education Foundation of St. Lucie County. This generous funding supports an innovative schoolwide initiative to strengthen math instruction in grades 3–8 through the implementation of vertical whiteboard stations, a key strategy from Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms framework. The purpose of the Working Together for Success grant program is to fund creative, high-impact projects that elevate teaching quality and improve classroom instruction. Thanks to the Education Foundation’s commitment to supporting educators, SLWK-8 was able to bring this vision … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 third-graders in Mrs. Harvey’s ELA classes dove into reading as Sharks collaborated to compare and contrast how authors present information across two texts. Students examined text features, key details, and text structures to determine similarities and differences in how ideas were explained. Working in pairs and small groups, they discussed evidence, shared observations, and supported their thinking using details from the texts. This engaging lesson strengthened comprehension skills, critical thinking, and accountable talk. Ask your Shark how the texts were alike, how they were different, and which presentation helped them learn best during ELA class!  

Shark Nation third graders enjoyed a sweet math lesson while working with a partner to collect and organize data using 30 jellybeans. Students sorted the jellybeans by color, carefully counted each group, and recorded their results. They then represented the data in two different ways by creating a bar graph and a pictograph. This hands-on activity helped students strengthen counting skills, compare quantities, and understand how the same information can be shown in multiple representations. Engagement was high, collaboration was strong, and learning was meaningful and fun. Ask your child which jellybean color had the most and how they showed … Read More