Author: Sarah Harris

Five students woke up at 3am and sacrificed their Valentines Day Saturday to travel and conquer the West Coast Ocean Bowl, dubbed the Spoonbill Bowl.  It has been five years since we last took 1st and 2nd place on the East Coast. Jaella Jones, Mariana Ruppert, William Hussey, Ava Mendoza, and Team Captain Roslyn Tran went UNDEFEATED for 9 rounds to earn a spot in the finals.  In the end, Fort Pierce Westwood placed 2ND in the STATE to bring home a trophy, medals, and cash prizes. Next year, we will secure our schools 4th trip to the National Ocean Bowl.  Special thanks to our … Read More

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy’s Music Department delivered a phenomenal performance at the District 13 Solo and Ensemble assessment. By the numbers, students earned a total of nineteen ratings, including sixteen Superior and three Excellent. Fourteen events qualified to advance to the State level, an outstanding accomplishment for the program. Superior ratings were earned across all areas: six Auxiliary, four Percussion, and four Winds. We also celebrate a special milestone, as one of our Beginning Band students earned a Superior rating, highlighting remarkable growth at every level. Congratulations to our talented musicians and dedicated directors. Westwood On Top! Pride, passion, and … Read More

Students across St. Lucie County are shaping clay and compassion as they create handmade ceramic bowls to support the Treasure Coast Food Bank. Young artists from Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, Legacy High School, Centennial High School, and Fort Pierce Central High School are joining together for this year’s Annual Empty Bowls event. “This is such an incredible project—for the students to not only share their artwork with the public, but also for the community. They come out every year to support this event,” says Heather Blackmon-Gordon of Ft. Pierce Westwood Academy. Save the date: March 14, 8 a.m.–noon at the … Read More

The 5th Annual Sunshine Kitchen Competition brought together culinary talent from across St. Lucie County, pairing high school seniors with first-year IRSC culinary students in a sizzling showdown. Representing Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, senior Nimsi Moreno teamed up with IRSC’s Christina Theriault to compete against teams from PSL High, Ft. Pierce Central, St. Lucie West Centennial, and Treasure Coast High. This year’s challenge? Reinventing classic comfort foods—grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese—while incorporating pork loin. Nimsi and Christina wowed judges with a gourmet grilled cheese featuring four cheeses, balsamic glazed onions, candied bacon, apple slices, and candied pork loin on … Read More

Mrs. Heather Blackmon-Gordon, a dedicated 3-D Art Instructor at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, has been awarded the 2025 Innovative Grant by the St. Lucie Classroom Teacher Retirees. Her winning proposal, Stitching Success – Empowering Students Through Sewing, introduces a hands-on program that blends artistic creativity with academic rigor. Stitching Success will teach high school students both hand and machine sewing techniques while reinforcing key math concepts such as measurement, geometry, and spatial reasoning. Through reading patterns, calculating fabric dimensions, and aligning seams, students will gain practical experience in fractions, proportions, and precision. The program is designed to support diverse learners … Read More

The Fort Pierce Westwood Academic A Team achieved an outstanding victory at the Henri Sue Bynum Brain Bowl tournament, held yesterday (October 20) at Indian River State College. Competing against 12 strong teams from across the county, Westwood secured first place with a commanding championship win, scoring 140 points to their opponent’s 50. This impressive performance showcased the team’s exceptional knowledge, quick thinking, and collaboration. Their hard work and preparation truly paid off. We proudly congratulate our brilliant team members: Chase Koehler, Roslyn Tran, Clarice Jean, Yashaira Marroquin Gomez, Iris Byrd, Mariana Ruppert, Riley Lynch, and Ava Mendoza. Your Panther … Read More

Our members have been busy showcasing their dedication, leadership, and agricultural excellence! St. Lucie County Fair Steer Weigh-In & Tagging: Members exhibiting steers completed their official weigh-in and tagging—one step closer to an amazing fair! (Pictured: Abigail Brickley & Emily Castro) CPC Conference: Chapter President Alyssa Coppock and Vice President of Strengthening Agriculture Laila Chastine attended CPC, spending two days growing their professional development and gathering valuable insights to strengthen our chapter’s success. Showmanship Clinic: Chapter Secretary Sadie Buxton and member Rylee Lynch led the goat portion of the showmanship clinic—teaching project selection, daily care, and showmanship techniques. Their guidance built confidence and hands-on skills for future … Read More

We are proud to celebrate our very first parade honoring Hispanic Heritage and the vibrant cultures that enrich our community! A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the amazing students who participated with enthusiasm and pride, to the dedicated teachers who supported the event, and to our talented band for providing the lively music that brought the celebration to life. This parade marks the beginning of a series of exciting events designed to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions, diverse traditions, and rich histories of American citizens whose roots trace back to the 21 Spanish-speaking countries. Stay tuned—more cultural … Read More

Our students have been off to a busy start this year. Local veterinarians Dr. Adams and Dr. Smith from Midway Veterinary Hospital visited to perform annual exams on our classroom cats, giving students hands-on experience with physical exams. We also kicked off our Panther Paws Friday Pup Spa Days, where staff bring their dogs for baths, grooming, and playtime. This program helps students build real-world skills in animal handling, restraint, and grooming techniques. Anchor enjoyed his first day at the pup spa and had a great day! A big thank you to our community partners and staff for supporting our … Read More

Westwood’s Seniors came out in full force this morning to kick off the school year with our beloved annual Senior Sunrise celebration at the beach! The energy was high, the smiles were bright, and the sense of community was stronger than ever as the Class of 2026 gathered to watch the sun rise together. It was a beautiful moment filled with laughter, reflection, and excitement for the journey ahead. With such a strong start, there’s no doubt this is going to be an unforgettable year full of growth, memories, and success. Let’s keep the momentum going—Westwood On Top, now and … Read More

Fort Pierce Westwood’s Key Club had an outstanding and productive year!  The Club earned over 1,300 volunteer hours – an economic impact of $43,000 – and increased its membership by more than 10%!  The Club has many ongoing activities, such as cleaning our Adopted Road on Orange Ave, working at the Treasure Coast Food Bank, volunteering for Game On!, assisting with school functions, and supporting activities at the Lakewood Park Church.  This year, we also volunteered for the Heathcote Botanical Gardens Christmas Display, the Festival of Lights at the Fairgrounds, and the Backus Art Gallery.  We also support our sponsoring … Read More

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy’s Key Club attended the Florida District Conference (DCON) for the first time.  WW Club officers attended informational sessions, caucuses, Keynote Speaker workshops, and so much more with the 1000+ other Florida Key Club members in attendance.  The final event of the weekend was the spectacular Governor’s Banquet and Ball.  Everyone learned so much, and they are eager to start planning for next year!  In addition, our club was recognized for increasing membership this year by more than 15%.  Thank you to our Administration and the Sunrise Kiwanis chapter for supporting us and helping us attend this … Read More

A big “Congratulations!” goes out to the (32) Cadets from our Army JROTC Program who were formally recognized at the annual End of the Year Awards Ceremony on April 9th. First, second, third, and fourth-year Cadets alike were presented with both leadership and academic awards, while others were promoted up in the ranks, for their recent efforts on the semi-annual promotion board. Representatives from 18 different external organizations traveled to FPWA to honor the Cadets for their efforts and accomplishments in the areas of: Academics, Community Service, Leadership, Perfect Attendance, and Physical Fitness. Two of the students were recipients of … Read More

Youth Art Month is a celebration of the Visual Arts that showcases the creativity of our youth.  During the month of March, we direct attention to the value of art education for teaching students critical thinking skills. Through this celebration of youth art, we hope to expand art programs in schools and to stimulate new art programs. This year, Ft. Pierce Westwood Academy participated in several events to showcase their talents.  The St. Lucie Public Schools District Office showcased a display of our students’ 3-D sculptures, many of which were created using found objects and recyclable materials. Students also participated … Read More

Fort Pierce Westwood wanted to share the news of Cody Wheatly, a 2020 Fort Pierce Westwood Academy graduate, that won the GOLD medal in figure skating while representing the Special Olympics Team USA at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy!  While at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, Cody competed on the local Special Olympics team. After graduation, Cody moved to Alabama. Cody continued to follow his passion for competition in Alabama. This passion led him to join and begin to compete with the Alabama state Special Olympics team. Congratulations Cody! #WestwoodonTop #ProudPanther. Attached are some photos and … Read More

We proudly congratulate Janiel Figueroa for being chosen to perform for the Florida All-State High School Honor. The Ensemble, a rare opportunity that only a select few, including Janiel, get to experience, consisted of nearly a hundred performers statewide. Janiel has achieved one of the highest individual honors for Florida high school musicians by earning a place in the All-State Bands. This prestigious accomplishment, unique to a few, highlights their dedication and skill in music, showcasing the exceptional talent at our school. Tri-M, the National High School Music Honor Society, held a competition. Riley Kirschling’s dedication and consistency led her … Read More