Author: Roberta Farrell

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition held their very own Million Father March on October 7, 2014 to recognize all male role models. The event consisted of these men signing a pledge, being pinned by our staff and participating in a march, with their children, around the perimeter of Palm Pointe. Mr. Houston Tate, along with his father Bishop Tate and father-in-law, Henry Miller, were our guests of honor as well as our very own Palm Pointe male faculty and staff who shared the Million Father March: Men Bring You Child to School Day Proclamation. Our band honored these … Read More

Recently at  Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition,  2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students were treated to a visit by David Mark Lopez, author of the Maddie’s Magic Marker historical fiction series. Mr. Lopez amazed students by reciting and acting out entire chapters from two of his books and engaged them with a question and answer session.  In their Media class, prior to his visit, students learned or reviewed what makes a book fit the genre of historical fiction and cited examples of other series they had read that fit the description.  Students and  parents were so engaged in Mr. … Read More

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition held a Volunteer/Business Partner Orientation on Tuesday, September 16th.  Volunteers and Business Partners were oriented to the application process and responsibilities of being a volunteer for St. Lucie County and Palm Pointe.  Volunteers jumped right in and signed up for events while business partners, Sweetcakes and Bagel Brothers, donated scrumptious breakfast goodies!   Everyone working together…that’s the Pointe.  Pictured is Karol Carvelli as she explains all about being a volunteer.  

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently celebrated their first Citizen of the Month awards. These students go above and beyond the expectations of the classroom and school. They are good helpers and always strive to do their best. Pictured below is Ms. Debra Snyder with the Kindergarten students selected for this honor. Great job Rockets!

Students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently had a P.B.I.S (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) event. Students were able to turn in five rocket fuel tickets that they had earned for positive behavior and dress up as a twin for Twin Day. Students were very excited for this event and many students participated. Pictured is Dean Matthew Kovach and first grader Kyle May. This is Kyle’s second year dressing up as a twin with the dean. Way to go Kyle!

On Thursday, September 11, 2014, sixth grade students at Palm Pointe Elementary Research School at Tradition participated in a special lesson about using oral histories to present multiple perspectives of an historical event. World History teachers, Mrs. Melanie Larsen and Mr. Dennis Keane (former NYFD fireman), and St. Lucie County fireman Ray Reiprecht shared their personal accounts of September 11, 2001. Students also viewed a compilation video featuring the oral histories of other sixth grade teachers and PPE principal, Debra Snyder.  Students then discussed the merits of oral histories as primary sources and how the various perspectives aided their overall … Read More

The Exceptional Student Education Department at Palm Pointe Education Research School @ Tradition prepares for a successful 2014 – 2015 school year.  This photo on the first day of school captures their passion and enthusiasm for assisting students with special needs.  Looking forward to an exceptional year at Palm Pointe!

Second grade students from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition in Lorri Rudzinski’s class had a special visitor. The Writing Wizard, aka James Dean from Thinking Maps, stopped by to provide writing instruction. There were rich discussions on Making Our Writing more precise using a Bridge Map. Pictured from left is: Naje’ Carter-Evans, The Writing Wizard, and Cooper Kuba.    

Seventh grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently participated in a state-wide essay contest sponsored by the Florida League of Cities and Florida League of Mayors. This was endorsed by both Mayor Faiella of Port St. Lucie and Mayor Hudson of Fort Pierce.  Palm Pointe is very  excited to announce that out of more than 1,500 state-wide entries, team Apollo’s Isaiah Thermilus’ essay earned a second place finish.  Each essay had to respond to the prompt “If I were elected mayor…” and Isaiah wrote about what he would do to make our city a better place. … Read More

Students from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently participated in Administrator for the Day.  These students saved up their rocket fuel to be able to spend the day with the principal which they receive from the staff for their positive behavior and part of the PBS program.  Each student turned in 300 rocket fuel to be able to enjoy the day with the administrator.  They shadowed the principal all day and helped with the Honor Roll assemblies, lunch duty, work in the principal’s office and many other jobs throughout the day.  Pictured from left is; Laney Keys, Jayden … Read More

Recently families at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition participated in a CSI Family Mystery Night, “The Case of the Missing Pandas.”  Students and families became part of their very own CSI team by completing experiments to eliminate suspects. By using their superior science and deductive reasoning skills, the students would solve the case on who stole the missing pandas from the school. Families also enjoyed a free dinner while they waited for the final results.  Over 600 people came out to enjoy this yearly event! Pictured, from left, are fourth grade student Autumn Eichenlaub, health paraprofessional Michelle DeGarmo, and seconde grade … Read More

Recently at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, an annual breakfast was hosted to recognize its Business Partners and Volunteers. Pictured, from left, are Karol Carvelli-Volunteer Coordinator, Diane Yeager-Senior Volunteer of the Year, Diana Hight-Adult Volunteer of the Year, Natisha Burch-Adult Volunteer of the Year, Stephen LePore-Male Youth Volunteer of the Year, Ariana Marie Ramos-Female Youth Volunteer of the Year, and Debra Snyder-Principal.

Students in Hillary Cruz’s class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently won the first place award at the St. Lucie County School District’s Project Citizen Showcase! Project Citizen is a seventh grade county-wide competition in which students identify a problem within the community, brainstorm and research possible solutions, create a public policy to solve the problem, and develop a plan of action for implementation. Students selected the problem of puppy mills, or breeders who neglect and abuse mothers and puppies for the sake of profit, and the lack of legislation at the state level. Florida is one … Read More

Students and staff at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition celebrated literacy recently by participating in a Literacy and Linguini evening event.  Families were invited to come and enjoy a free spaghetti dinner and watch students and staff members act out skits from books. Over 600 people came out for the event. Students all received a free book and bookmark and adults were also able to participate in a free book exchange. Several staff members dressed up as storybook characters and took pictures with students. Pictured, from left, are staff members Matthew Kovach, Summer Kuba, Emily Bokhart, Debbie Iseman, Dana Schang, Tina Ruybulid, … Read More

Students in Hillary Cruz’s seventh grade Civics classes at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition have selected the problem of puppy mills and current breeder legislation to focus on for this years’ Project Citizen project. To assist in comparing how state and federal agencies enforce animal welfare legislation, students contacted Dr. Gaj with the United States Department of Agriculture, who visited the classroom with a PowerPoint presentation on the subject, as well as answered students’ questions.  Pictured are Luke Bentley, left, and Zachary Barsuglia with animals they received after answering questions for Dr Gaj during the presentation.

Superintendent Genelle Yost read her favorite story, “The Polar Express,” to the second grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently. The students presented the superintendent with thank you cards they had created and asked her questions about when she was a little girl. It was a rewarding experience for the students. Pictured is Superintendent Yost reading to the students.

The Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition team recently won the St. Lucie County Middle School volleyball tournament held at Ft. Pierce Central High School. The girls from the “B” division defeated the Southern Oaks Middle School team in the championship Match. The championship match was the best of three, with the Southern Oaks team winning the first game, and Palm Pointe winning the other two matches.  The girls really showed heart, determination and dedication, coming from behind to win the championship. These girls spent many hours practicing before school, getting ready for the tournament — and it really paid off. Pictured, from … Read More

The Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition middle school chorus kicked off the holiday season with an appearance at QVC in Port St. Lucie recently. This annual performance was for the WPSL Christmas Kids Radio program. The chorus sang a variety of holiday music, including “Rock Around the Jingle Bells,” “Hope’s the Thing,” “Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child,” and “Seasons of Love.” The students were directed by Christine Hill, pictured far right with the chorus.

Second grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition put on their annual Thanksgiving performance after learning about Native Americans, Pilgrims, and fhe first Thanksgiving! They sang songs with the guidance of music director Christine Hill and put on a skit for families. Pictured are second graders as they perform for their families and friends. 

Eighth grade students in Kip Wright’s Language Arts classes at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition have been focusing on their writing. Students were privately provided their benchmark test writing scores, and correlated their score to an FCAT equivalent on a data wall in the back of their class, and can personally monitor their progress and growth over the next couple of months. Students worked diligently on the revisions of their essays with help and assistance from other student writers.  Mr. Wright remarked that seeing his students share information for the betterment of the writing process and self is amazing.  … Read More