Author: Roberta Farrell

Eighth grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently celebrated their graduation from middle school and are getting ready to embark on new challenges at the high school level. Each year the graduating class designs a mural depicting something special about their last year at Palm Pointe.  This year, the design team’s theme was “The End Is A New Beginning”. With the NASA space program coming to a close, and the students leaving Palm Pointe, the students decided to use the rocket as this year’s theme.  Pictured is the design team, from left, Anna Cardenal, Dharic LaGrandeur, Alexander Emmert, … Read More

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition promoted Ticket to Read and VMath Live Summermania to the students at the school.  During morning announcements, the Ticket to Read character told all the students about the summer programs and how they could participate on their computers during the summer. Top participants in the program will win Toys R Us gift cards, Barnes and Noble gift cards, and Apple Shuffle MP3 players. The students were very excited to begin these awesome programs. Pictured are Juliette Murray’s fifth grade students, Principal Debra Snyder, back left, and the Ticket to Read character.

Rachelle Rudzinski, a fifth grade student at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, teaches a second grade class a math lesson with the Math Trail Lessons that  Michelle Powers and Lindsey Hudson’s fifth grade classes created throughout the school hallways at Palm Pointe. Students enjoyed solving math problems that were posted throughout the school. 

First grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed a PBS (Positive Behavior Support) dance recently. The theme was Spring in Paris and the students dressed in their finest attire. Students earned rocket fuel for their positive behavior and turned them in to their teachers to be able to attend the dance. All the classes enjoyed the event as well as the teachers. Pictured is first grader A’Marion Hall in the center surrounded by his classmates.

Students from Glenna Sigmon’s first grade class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition spent a sunny day seining with the Manatee Center at Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce. This enriching opportunity provided a hands-on learning experience to deepen students’ understanding of local habitats and ecosystems. These concepts of science were embedded across all content areas for the unit to facilitate the district’s STEM initiative in which science is an integral part of English, language arts, and mathematics. Pictured, from left, are student Shelby Kay Sigmon, a volunteer from the Manatee Center helping the students, and student Cailey Landreville.

Students from Lorri Rudzinski’s second grade class Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition shared their POINT OF VIEW with Superintendent Michael Lannon during a recent visit to the school. Students responded to the school district’s request for public input about what characteristics they thought the new superintendent should possess, as Mr. Lannon retires at the end of June. Mr. Lannon said he would share their opinions with school board members. Pictured is Superintendent Lannon surrounded by the students, all wearing special eyeglasses.

On behalf of the staff, students and parents of Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, Principal Debra Snyder proudly accepted The Golden Apple Award presented by Port St. Lucie Mayor Joann Faiella. This Mayoral Recognition was received for being an “A” rated school as designated by the Florida’s Department of Education for the fifth consecutive year. Mayor Faiella expressed her gratitude to the school’s staff for their hard work and dedication to education. She thanked the students and parents for their continuous support as well. In addition to the award, a banner was presented which will be proudly displayed … Read More

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently held its second CSI Night. The case was to solve the mystery of the missing goldfish. The school had purchased a goldfish and had just named it “Rocky” in a contest when the goldfish was found missing from the front office. Students were asked to come to a special CSI Night to run forensic type tests to figure out who took the fish. There were five suspects from the Palm Pointe staff: bookkeeper Dana Schang, instructional coach Kathleen Melrose, fourth grade teacher Jada Jolie, fifth grade teacher Juliet Murray, and second grade teacher Lorri Rudzinski. After … Read More

Eighth grade student Sophie Phillips, at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, just returned from Tallahassee, where she went to lobby legislative officials for Pulse Oximetry Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects.  She met with Senators Grimsley, Negron, and Ring, and Representatives Hudson and Harrell. She also met with the Governor’s Director of Deputy of Legislative Affairs, Danielle Scroggins. The session ends in the next few weeks and Senator Grimsley verbally approved to find funds in the budget to support the screening. Pictured is Sophie seated in Governor Rick Scott’s office.

Seventh grade students in Meredith Andrus’ math class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed an interactive math challenge, Who Am I?  Students were given a problem and placed the index card on their forehead without looking at it.  Given an answer bank, students solved and matched the problems of their classmates to the answers.  After solving all their classmates’ answers, the one answer left would be the answer to their own question.  Without ever seeing their own question, students were able to answer their own question and find out who they were.  The students enjoyed this fun, … Read More

Five Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition students participated recently in the St. Lucie All County Chorus. This is an annual event which takes place each Spring in honor of Music In Our Schools Month. Students from all elementary schools in St. Lucie County come together to videotape a concert that will be played on Channel 13 as well as in all schools as children all over St. Lucie County learn and sing these songs. Pictured, back row, are Briena Hall and Biance’ Kirkpatrick. Middle row are Aaron Oliveira and Sarah Wouters, and front row is Cianna Hall. 

The students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently enjoyed shopping at the Spring Book Fair. Books from every genre and reading level were available for sale. Students could also sign up for a new service called Storia, which is for e-books. Those who signed up received five free e-books. Pictured, right, is third grader Nicholas Polanco as he takes advantage of this great program, with dad and younger brother Maddox. 

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition celebrated Reading Across America recently with many fun activities. Many community members came to the school to read to different classes. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade read all week and documented their hours. Students exceeded last year’s reading total by logging in over 500,000 minutes of reading compared to close to 400,000 last year. The school also participated in a school wide event with buddy reading, where a class buddied up with another class and read together. The week was filled with reading and fun. Pictured is guest Andrew Favata reading to his daughter Isabella’s third grade … Read More

First grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed a Super Science Day with the help of the Manatee Center. Students were able to wear lab coats as they did experiments. They created their own lava lamps by putting an Alka-Seltzer tablet in oil and water and the water bubbled up through the oil, and made “flubber.” The students were excited to take the things that they made in class home to show their families. 

Students from Fort Pierce Central’s aerospace program, along with their instructor Dr. Kevin Adkins, recently visited the eighth grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition. They shared data they had collected from a wind tunnel they had designed at Central. The students shared information about factors that affect flight and the impact of wind moving over an airfoil. After the presentation, the students were able to use the data collected and make graphs that recreated what was expected in the experiments that Dr. Adkins and his students had conducted. This was a great lesson for the students. Pictured is Dr. Adkins … Read More

Kindergarten students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition celebrated the wedding of letters Q and U. The students learned that Q and U are always together so they had a mock wedding to re-enforce this fact. Students all had a part in the celebration as a member of the wedding party or as helpers with the reception after the ceremony. This was a fun learning experience and one they will always remember. Pictured are Trotter Chaisson, left, as the groom and Madison Parrish as the bride. 

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently celebrated with its annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. Volunteers and Business Partners were treated to breakfast and Volunteers of the Year were recognized. Palm Pointe’s Senior Volunteer of the Year is Millie Morales, Adult Volunteer of the Year is Marie Simco, and two honorees were named for the Youth Volunteer of the Year, Kassandra Silva and Daniela Vargas. Palm Pointe would like to thank each and every one of its volunteers for donating their time and sharing our vision of success for all students.  Pictured, from left, are volunteer Pam Molner, Adult Volunteer … Read More

Students and staff recently enjoyed a Literacy and Linguini Night at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition. Several skits were presented for the guests to watch while they enjoyed a free spaghetti dinner. The performances were done by staff members and students in different grade levels. Students also got free books, met local authors, took pictures with staff storybook characters and then enjoyed their dinner and skits. Pictured are the Rudzinski Rockets and the Bonet Bees as they perform their skit “How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes!”  Lorri Rudzinski’s second grade class collaborated with Melissa Bonet’s kindergarten class to act out this … Read More

Sixth grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition presented a walkthrough Egyptian Museum. Parents and students were invited to take a tour of Ancient Egypt. Students were dressed in Egyptian attire and presented information to their audiences. Displays made by the students were shown throughout the pod. It was a great presentation and learning experience. Pictured, from left, are Christian Larmon as King Tut and Addison Williams as an Egyptian.

Students and staff at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed participating in the recent Martin Luther King Jr. parade. This year’s theme was “Reaching Beyond the Dream” and Palm Pointe designed their float using a rocket soaring into the clouds, stars and planets to take his dream into the future. Pictured on the float in the back, from left, are Michelle Farley and B-J Farrell. Students, front row, from left, are Fabrizzio Capocci, Raven Butts, Isaiah Jean, Liam Martinez and Kyle Beard.