Author: REBECCA BENTON

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy is in the semifinals for the Louder Than A Bomb Spoken Word Tournament! Congrats to our amazing poets and sponsor, Mr. Wilks!

Panthers enjoyed a great staff vs. student dodgeball game as a PBIS incentive for this quarter! It was an exciting game and we are so proud of our students for meeting their goals!

Students in Mrs. Cooper’s class made balloon cars as part of a STEAM activity. We are proud of their hard work and determination with this tough project.  

A selection of Highwaymen reproductions by Fort Pierce Westwood Academy Drawing 2 students are now on display (and for sale) at the St. Lucie Public Schools District Office building. Stop by and see artworks from all over the district! We are so proud of these amazing artists! Justice Pinder Ariah Mijal Brianna Rodriguez Markice Bell Jason Oslanger Jaiden Nazario Estefani Hidalgo

During February, Westwood Academy’s tenth-grade World History students produced many original and creative works celebrating Black History Month. Students created collages, word art, essays, and in-class presentations of their favorite Black world figures, such as Olaudah Equiano, Nelson Mandela, and Bishop Desmond Tutu, and their favorite Black Americans, such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, Kamala Harris, and Jesse Jackson. Mr. Pasquini’s World History class students chose to make a word collage filled with inspirational words and phrases. The collage expressed the students’ visions and appreciation of the contributions of Black world figures and their … Read More

Thank you to our guest speakers which included the talented Mr. Henry Duhart, Mrs. Gardner of the INC, and the distinguished Mr. Arnold Gaines, for coming to speak to students. Also a special thank you to our very own Rough Drafts Poetry Club for expressing their voices through poetry: poets Iyuanna Ross, Destany Fralick, Kiara Melgar, and Tylania Brandon.

FPWA Boys & Girls Club- 21st Century “Club Panther” after-school program engaged in an exciting waffle-making activity for National Waffle Day! After-school programs like the Boys and Girls Club provide both academic and team-building opportunities for our students each day.

Students partnered with Mr. Norcia’s and Mrs. Cooper’s class for Valentines Day! They had lunch together and made valentines as part of Project Unify.

FPWA celebrates Highwaymen Week! One group of black painters completely revolutionized how art was bought and sold up and down the Treasure Coast; they are The Highwaymen. Throughout the week, students listened to several different speakers influenced by the Highwaymen. Our speakers included the director of the AE Backus Museum in Fort Pierce, Marshall Adams along with Kenny Holmes, a Gifford native, former NFL player, and Highwaymen collector. We appreciate them coming to talk about the Highwaymen painters and how they influenced his life. We also had Ms. Anita Prentice and Mrs. Doretha Hair Truesdell. They are both working artists … Read More

Uriele Aristide, a junior, was invited and selected to represent Fort Pierce Westwood Academy to attend the Washington Journalism and Media Conference this summer. This amazing opportunity will be held at George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, D.C. She was selected because of her excellent academic record and sincere interest in journalism and the media.

Students in AICE Psychology make their own ink blot tests as they study Rorschach tests and personality disorders. This STEAM integration was very engaging!

In Dr. Ruppert’s Anatomy and Physiology Honors class, students were working on a blood pressure lab where they learned how to take and interpret blood pressure measurements. These skills will help them in future careers after graduation.

Students with the Principal’s Honor Roll and A/B Honor Roll enjoyed time out on the patio to celebrate their hard work! We are so proud of their hard work!

Juniors & Seniors attended the HBCU College Fair at the Fenn Center to explore the next steps after graduation. Several students received offers and scholarships on-site! Keep up the great work! ?

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy hosted Innovation Zone – a night dedicated to students interested in all the wonderful things FPWA has to offer such as STEAM, History Fair, Leader in Me, CTE and Magnet programs, classes offered at the Marine Oceanographic Academy, and more!    

Fort Pierce Westwood’s MOA AICE Marine 1 students got an opportunity to learn about FAU Harbor Branch’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program (MMRC). The mission of this program is to “Protect Wild Dolphins and Whales” through conservation, stranding response, research, collaboration, and education. Mr. Steve Burton, Director of Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment at FAU’s Harbor Branch, along with his team, gave a hands-on demonstration to the students about the Marine Mammal Ambulance Transport System and rescue operations and answered all their questions. Students got to act as marine dolphins and worked in teams to learn rescue operations.

Representatives from the FPWA Army JROTC Program attended the Annual Treasure Coast Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Scholarship Fundraiser Ball at the Santa Lucia River Club. The ball is held as a fundraiser event to benefit Treasure Coast JROTC Programs by building a growth-focused scholarship fund that is awarded at the end of each school year. Our local MOAA chapter gives the proceeds of the event to 8 High School JROTC Programs in Martin and St Lucie county. Cadet Major Nicholas Hammett, who plans to attend UCF following his completion of high school, was chosen to represent our program … Read More

Westwood JROTC cadets read to kindergarten and first grade students at St. Lucie Elementary for Literacy Week. This was extra special for one of our cadets who went to SLE for elementary school; he reconnected with several of his teachers and shared his success in school so far! Thank you to all of our JROTC Cadets for your dedication to literacy and our community.

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy is beyond proud of the following students who excelled at their Color Guard Solo and Ensemble. Jazmyne Jones received a rating of Excellent on her Flag solo. Breauna Daniels-Cook, Shamarri Simmons, and Cassidy Wilson received a rating of Superior on their Flag and Dance Solo. The following students are on the indoor guard and received a Superior rating for their Performance: Breauna Daniels-Cook JazmyneJones Isabella Mascitelli Serenity Smith Jamaria Moody Iyunna Ross Cassidy  Wilson Yolanda Ferguson

MOA students in the Ocean Conservation group worked with Forest Grove Middle School students to learn the importance of using a microscope. This partnership will give these future high school students the tools to be successful!