Author: REBECCA BENTON

 Thank you to Westwood students and staff for their cooperation and participation in HOSA’s Blood Drive. We had a great turn out and we are so proud of our HOSA Volunteers and their work ethic!  

Westwood athletes helped Creative Arts Academy kick off Literacy Week by reading to Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd-grade classes! Students enjoyed reading together and discussing their favorite part of the books.

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy STEAM Fair representatives showcased their projects at IRSC. These projects were judged at IRSC; we are excited for several students moving forward with their projects!

Thank you to the Fort Pierce Art Club for hosting its annual fundraiser “Magnificent Miniatures” exhibit and auction. Four FPWA students won awards for their outstanding artworks: Lacy Sampson, Kamara Johnson, Taina Salazar, and Mariah Scordamaglia. The event was a huge success and the FPWA Art Department was awarded $500. THANK YOU to our community for supporting the arts!!!

Students in Ms. Cooper’s class worked through the scientific method as they dissected owl pellets. They sorted and classified different bones discovered through this hands-on learning experience!

Ms. Hoots’ art classes partnered with the Army JROTC Department for a “Holiday Letters & Cards From Home” project. This holiday season, our classes teamed up to make hand-painted Christmas cards and hand-written letters to troops who are currently deployed overseas. This new tradition for our two departments was started last year with the same goal in mind, which is to bring joy to service members who are unable to be with their families and loved ones during the holidays and let them know that they are appreciated for what they do. Ms. Hoots’ students used the opportunity to expand … Read More

Students in Ms. Lewis’ class completed a protein synthesis lab. Students traveled into the nucleus (hallway) to replicate their DNA/cookie gene. After replication, they had to produce an mRNA code for the original gene. Once the mRNA strand was created, they traveled to the ribosome (lab area) to model translation. By the end, they had a list of ingredients that they used to assemble their protein(cookie).  

Cadets from the Westwood Academy Army JROTC program participated in a Holiday Community Service Project with Peppermint Patti’s Academy & Daycare in Fort Pierce. Our Cadets began preparing for this event three weeks in advance by bringing in new toys and wrapping them. We gave 85 new toys to the children of the daycare, whose ages range from less than a year to 5 years old. Once the kids opened up their new toys, our Cadets spent time playing with the children. Huge praise goes to these students for volunteering their time and effort to bring additional happiness to others … Read More

AICE Environmental Management students, with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, are involved in water quality sampling with ponds and in the Indian River Lagoon. This study is conducted three times a year to monitor water quality and seasonal biodiversity. After each pond sampling, students listen to guest lecturers share about their research and how they got to where they are.

Our Panthers got the unique opportunity to tour Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. They witnessed a live diving demonstration in the hyperbaric tank. Students learned about marine safety and various equipment that is used for underwater engineering. Our students were fascinated to learn about various careers related to marine oceanography! Thank you to our community partners at UESI for this experience!

In conjunction with Black History Month, and the City of Fort Pierce’s Highwaymen Heritage Trail Festival, Fort Pierce Westwood Academy celebrated Highwaymen Week. The Highwaymen were discussed school-wide and to honor their legacy, Ms. Hoots’ Drawing 1 classes researched and executed a series of Highwaymen murals. Drawing 1 students covered a full spectrum of Highwaymen history to better understand who they are and why they are so important to the community. These students discussed the primordial Florida landscapes that the Highwaymen painted and the 13 categories that they fall into: Royal Poinciana, Ocean Shore, Breaking Waves, Fire Skies, Indian River, St. Lucie and inland Rivers, Backcountry, Backcountry Pines, Rivers of Grass, People, Stormy Weather, Moonlight on the Water, and Orange Groves. Students … Read More

Students work in teams to review for their semester exam in Physics Honors at MOA. Using white boards, they solve problems to earn points for their team and bonus points are awarded for the team who makes the basket from varying distances. Students in AICE US History review for semester exams using art. Students discuss the legacy of war and its impacts on modern day society. Pre-AICE Biology students prepared for exams by using Quizizz to show what they know – the leaderboard helps create friendly competition as it showcases how close they are to mastery.  

MOA Students in Geometry Honors are finding the circumcenter of triangles using our 3 county areas – Indian River, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee. Students have to find the equal distance from points they select using maps. This real-world connection makes their learning more relatable and engaging!

Students in Mrs. Hoots’ Drawing 1 & 2 classes painted murals in the hallways to help students know which direction to go and to beautify our campus. Thank you for all your artistic hard work!

Westwood football players spent the morning at Creative Arts Academy reading and helping kindergarteners and first graders with their sight words. Our student athletes showcased their dedication to our community through this service-learning opportunity while also sharing the Westwood legacy with future panthers. This event was extra special for several of our players because they went to CAST for elementary school. It was a sweet moment for them to return to their old classrooms to give back to where their success began.

Cadets from the Fort Pierce Westwood Army JROTC Program volunteered their time to assist with the operations of the Treasure Coast Half and International Triathlon event held at Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce. Our Cadets staffed the water and food stations for the athletes as well as assisted with the teardown of the site. Triathletes that participated in the race had to complete a 1.2-mile swim in the Indian River Lagoon, followed by a 56-mile bicycle ride along A1A, and then ending the race with a 13.1-mile (half marathon) run on A1A. Many thanks to these students for stepping up … Read More

Students in AICE English II and Culinary Arts collaborated for a Friendsgiving luncheon. They wrote what Thanksgiving means to them, created a diverse menu then prepared the meal. Smiles and good food were shared by everyone!

Westwood students enjoyed a great spirit week! Each day was designated with a different theme. We had Costume Day, Twin Day, Anything but a Backpack Day, Throwback Day, and Celebrity Day. Everyone’s outfits were creative and went above & beyond! Thank you to Student Government for organizing a fun week!  

Westwood sophomore Anna “Paige” Cruse wrote her first published article for her supervised agricultural experience! She is now a published author. Give it a read! We are so proud of her! https://www.agdaily.com/weather/hurricane-ians-impact-on-florida-agriculture/

Cadets from the Westwood Army JROTC Program participated in a Veteran’s Day Celebration and Charity Fundraiser at Dyer Chevrolet in Fort Pierce. The Color Guard presented the National and State Flags at the beginning of the event. Upon completion of the Color Guard, 3 of our Cadets: Ayden Gardner, Maalik Banks, and Malakii Wheeler participated in the “Operation Bedrock” 5k (3.1 Mile) charity ruck march, to raise money and awareness for Homeless Veterans. Following the ruck march, the Cadets got to spend some time with Congressman Brian Mast, who was the Guest Speaker at the event. Huge praise to the … Read More