Author: Sarah Harris

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

A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to the Cadets of the Westwood Army JROTC program who were formally recognized at the Mid-Year Awards and Promotion Ceremony on Wednesday, 11 DEC. Over (40) Cadets were rewarded for their outstanding efforts during the 1st Semester in a multitude of areas to include: Fundraiser Participation, Participation in Varsity Athletics, Honor Roll, Community Service Project Participation, as well as being a competing member of the JROTC Leadership Academic Bowl (JLAB) Team and in the Top 10% of the Raider Team.   In addition to the awards, (16) Cadets were promoted to their next respective ranks due … Read More

It was a proud moment when on Wednesday, December 4th in the presence of over 210 guests, 48 new members were inducted into the Fort Pierce Westwood Academy Chapter of the National Honor Society. New inductees selected members of the faculty who had inspired them to be a part of the ceremony. Each new member was pinned by their selected member of the faculty or a current NHS member at the ceremony at 500 Orange Ave. in Fort Pierce. The evening was a team effort as the JROTC presented the flags, the Jazz Band played, Mr. Auguste sang the National … Read More

This past weekend, the Fort Pierce Westwood Panthers proudly represented our school at League Meet 2 of the FIRST Technical Challenge (FTC) Robotics Competition held at Boca Raton High School! We’re thrilled to announce that our team successfully hung during the competition, demonstrating our hard work and dedication. As a result, we’re steadily climbing the rankings and are more determined than ever to keep improving. A huge thank you to our incredible mentors, supportive families, and the entire Fort Pierce Westwood community for their unwavering encouragement and belief in our team. Your support motivates us to push the limits of what we … Read More

Each year, one Senior from each Culinary Arts Program in the District is paired with one Indian River State College Culinary student. Fort Pierce Westwood entered the competition eager to bring their enthusiasm and love of cooking to this event. Each Team then creates a dish that they think will “WOW” the 5 judges at the Sunshine Kitchen Competition and are rated on presentation, taste, and sanitation. The winners each receive a $1,500.00 scholarship. Please extend your Congratulations to YESENIA GUADARRAMA- CASAREZ, from Ft. Pierce Westwood Academy, and ADIEL MAZARIENGOS- CORDOBA, from Indian River State College, for winning this year’s … Read More