Category: District News

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School principal Juanita Wright was honored at the Florida Department of Education Commissioner’s Leadership Award Luncheon recently held at Disney World. Pictured is Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart congratulating Mrs. Wright as St. Lucie County’s 2014 Principal of the Year and nominee for the state award.

Treasure Coast High School Assistant Principal Henry Sanabria was recognized at the Florida Department of Education Commissioner’s Leadership Award luncheon recently as St. Lucie County’s nominee for 2014 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year. Pictured are Sanabria, left, and Commissioner Pam Stewart. Congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Students in Shannon Dolan’s multi-age gifted class at Lawnwood Elementary are studying the life cycle of a butterfly by catching specimens. Pictured is second grader John Donnelly as he explains to the class how he captured both a caterpillar and a butterfly in his own yard. The students then watched how he fed his new family member with a stick of sugar water. First grade teacher Carolyn Bates’s classroom has butterflies that freely fly while the children do their lessons. One child exclaimed, “It’s like a butterfly garden, only inside!”

Three teachers were surprised at their school sites the morning of January 24 when an entourage led by Superintendent Genelle Yost, school board members, district administrators and representatives of the St. Lucie County Education Foundation visited their classrooms to announce their selection as finalists for the 2015 St. Lucie County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Pictured is Superintendent Yost, right, with finalist Heather Bolitho of Oak Hammock K-8 School. The finalists are: Heather Bolitho, media specialist at Oak Hammock K-8 School in Port St. Lucie; Matthew Boswell, Fort Pierce Central High School band and choral director; and Kelly Ridle, … Read More

The 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemmorative Committee Grand Parade streamed down 25th Street, or Martin Luther King., Jr., Boulevard, in Fort Pierce on Monday, January 20. The event culminated 10 days of community events, beginning with the Opening Ceremony January 10, 2014 and ending with the parade and festival in the park adjacent to Lawnwood Stadium. The St. Lucie School District was proudly represented by numerous floats and vehicles, bands, and student group performances. Pictured, from left, are Fort Pierce Central High School ROTC Cadet Honey Cardona-Franco, Cadet Ruben Ramirez, Cadet Chris Green, and the Cadet Stephanie Castillo … Read More

Congratulations to Chef Jesse Strell and his team of culinary arts students from St. Lucie West Centennial High School for earning the Chefs of Tomorrow trophy by virtue of getting the most votes from the public for the best of show entry in the inaugural St. Lucie Public Schools Culinary Arts Showcase held recently at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center. Teams from five of the county’s public high schools — Centennial, Fort Pierce Westwood, Fort Pierce Central, Port St. Lucie, and Treasure Coast high schools — plus Northport and St. Lucie West K8 schools competed in the event, which … Read More

The School Board of St. Lucie County has demonstrated support of Kids at Hope and the belief that “all children are capable of success – no exceptions.” The Kids at Hope organization has designated November 13, 2013 as “Kids at Hope Day – Day of a Million Treasures,” and the St. Lucie County School Board recognized and proclaimed the date during its November 12, 2013, meeting. This is an opportunity to recognize the amazing treasures that exist in all children. The goal of this day is to discover a MILLION treasures in children across the US and Canada. Pictured, from … Read More

The St. Lucie County School Board recognized the week of November 11 – 15, 2013, as National School Psychology Week at their meeting November 12. The proclamation noted that school psychologists are trained to assess student and school-based barriers to learning, as well as individual strengths, utilize data-based decision-making, implement research-drive prevention and intervention strategies, evaluate outcomes and improve accountability. The school board and superintendent acknowledged that the community should recognize the vital role school psychologists play in the personal and academic development of children. Pictured, from left, are School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, school psychologists Ruth Anne Loepp and … Read More

Keiser University recently donated 10 Apple G4 computer systems, complete with a 19″ monitor, tower, keyboard, and mouse to be utilized in the television production Career and Technical Education program at St. Lucie West Centennial High School. Students will be able to use the technology in their career curriculum, as well as to produce live and videotaped programming for the school. Pictured, from left, are Keiser University Senior Community Relations Coordinator Linda Fitzpatrick, Centennial High School assistant principal Tom Kalament, with Keiser University’s Dean of Academic Affairs Jane Quattrocchi driving the cart loaded with some of the equipment ready to … Read More

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation awarded grants exceeding $83,000 at the November 12, 2013, meeting of the St. Lucie County School Board. The grants were for classroom, school-wide, and district-wide projects and were distributed to 11 schools and the district curriculum and instruction department. Pictured are, from far right, Education Foundation executive director Jim McKenzie and president Brian Garcia, Superintendent Genelle Yost, School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, and representatives of the schools and department personnel receiving the grant funds.

Richard Gray of Lincoln Park Academy and Kathleen Ems of St. Lucie West K-8 School were recognized as St. Lucie Public Schools’ Social Studies teachers of the year for 2013 at an awards dinner during the Florida Council for the Social Studies 56th annual conference October 26 and 27 in Daytona Beach. St. Lucie’s honorees, as well as recipients from other Florida school districts, are selected from principal nominations at the elementary, middle, and high school level for their outstanding professionalism, instructional practices, and ability to build student-teacher relationships. Ms. Ems was recognized for high expectations for all students and implementation … Read More

The St. Lucie County School Board approved a resolution recognizing October as Hispanic Heritage Month at their October 22, 2013, school board meeting. The month is set aside in Florida to recognize the proud history and rich culture of Hispanic Americans. This year, 2013, marks the 500th anniversary since Juan Ponce De Leon’s arrival in Florida’s East Coast, a significant milestone unlike any other state in the United States. The resolution encourages all St. Lucie school district students and employees to participate in activities that recognize the Hispanic community’s significant influence in St. Lucie County’s past, present and future. Pictured, … Read More

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School principal Juanita Wright and Treasure Coast High School assistant principal Henry Sanabria were recognized and congratulated at the October 22, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The administrators have been selected as the 2013 Outstanding Principal and Outstanding Assistant Principal, respectively, for St. Lucie County Public Schools as part of a Florida Department of Education recognition program. Both of these administrators are applauded for their exemplary contributions to our students, school and our community. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, Principal Wright, St. Lucie School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, Assistant Principal Sanabria, and … Read More

The local schools with teams earning the most for the recent Bowl for Kids Sake event to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters were honored at the October 8, 2013, St. Lucie Coounty School Board meeting. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, Christy Nuccio and Barbara Bennett of F. K. Sweet Elementary, second place winners; School Board chairman Debbie Hawley; Rivers Edge Elementary principal Cindy Cobb, third place winners; Weatherbee Elementary principal Michael Hitsman, fourth place winners; WestGate K8 principal Robert Cramner, fifth place winners; Rachel Heddings, Chief Operating Officer from Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 eighth grade students have found a unique way to learn about the Pythagorean theorem, by putting their problems down on the sidewalks around school! Not only did the students in Carol Matulonis’ class learn about the mathematical theorem, but students viewing their artwork were able to see how it works. Pictured, from left, are Marie Saint-Fleury, Eli Renteria, Alexis Henke, Kayla Manso, Guerna Lormejuste, Ashley Masabanda, and Brianna O’Day.

Karol Carvelli, Volunteer Coordinator at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition, recently met with all the volunteers for this school year to orient them on the new on-line application system.  They also reviewed the volunteer expectations at the school while enjoying morning coffee and sweet rolls.

Communications giant AT&T and over 200 other companies are urging drivers to pledge not to text while driving. September 19, 2013 was designated as a national “Drive 4 Pledges Day”. Drivers across the country were asked to sign pledges to refrain from texting while driving. The St. Lucie County School Board adopted the “Drive 4 Pledges Day” proclamation at its September 10, 2013 meeting. Pictured, from left, are Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, School Board Chair Debbie Hawley, Deputy Sheriff Shirley Lindstadt, AT&T Regional Director Cathy McKenzie, AT&T Strategic Account Manager Nancy Vinez. Standing behind the group is Superintendent Genelle … Read More

On Tuesday, September 17 four Culinary Institute of America (CIA) chefs presented CIA at St Lucie West Centennial High.  Over 92 high school students from St Lucie West Centennial (SLWC), Fort Pierce Central, and Martin County High participated in four workshops: Chef Donald Sedivy-CIA Graduate and local Chef working in prestigious Private Clubs demonstrated a Garde Manger appetizer (chopped fresh veggies showcasing Florida tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and lump crab meat); Chef Harrison Kantor-2013 CIA graduate prepared an ethic dish of Falafel with Tahini Sauce; Chef Arnym Solomon-CIA Trustee Emeriti prepared Caribbean Style Stews; and Chef Jacqui Pressinger- CIA Assistant Director … Read More

Three St. Lucie principals were selected to participate in the Florida Department of Education’s Commissioner’s Leadership Academy conducted by the Council for Educational Change.  The Academy is made up of 25 of the highest performing principals in the state of Florida.   The intent is to build upon the skills of proven leaders so that they can serve as role models and coaches for others. Participants will return to their districts able to expand their area of influence and improve others’ ability to increase student achievement.  Southport Middle School Principal Lydia Martin and Palm Pointe Educational Research School Principal Debbie Snyder … Read More

The School Board recognized various school sites for their award winning VPK programs. The schools that were awarded the VPK Gold Seal Award are Bayshore Elementary, C.A. Moore Elementary, Ft. Pierce Magnet School of the Arts, Lakewood Park Elementary, Lawnwood Elementary, Northport K-8, Mariposa Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Samuel Gaines Academy, Savanna Ridge Elementary, St. Lucie Elementary, Weatherbee Elementary, and White City Elementary.