Category: District News

Students in Deborah Day, John Fallon and Janine Wiecks third grade classes from Northport K-8 school attended a stellar star show recently in the Hallstrom Planetarium at Indian River State College. Museums and planetariums evoke excitement and give children the foundational skills that enable them to be lifelong learners. Planetarium Director Jon Bell has been giving dynamic planetarium shows that engage students in the splendor of the stars and other celestial bodies for 20 years. Over 3,600 students from 19 St. Lucie Public Schools attended a planetarium show at IRSC this year. By seeing a planetarium show, students begin to … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools was recognized at the April 23, 2013, St. Lucie School Board meeting with a Green Apple Award, presented by the Treasure Coast Branch of the United States Green Building Council for South Florida Chapter, which is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to educating and promoting the benefits of sustainability, energy efficient buildings and communities. The annual Apple Award is designed to recognize and honor outstanding individuals, classrooms and schools in the Treasure Coast region that have implemented and are committed to green innovation, and St. Lucie Schools was recognized for the “green” designation for the design and … Read More

The fourth annual Family Reading Festival, sponsored by the St. Lucie County Reading Council, welcomed many guest readers to Mets Stadium field with a wide variety of literacy special events. Pictured are St. Lucie School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, left, and St. Lucie County Commissioner Paula Lewis reading to several of the hundreds of children who enjoyed the day.

Parents from St. Lucie County Title I Schools have finished a Basic Computer Class at the Title I Parent Resource Center at Garden City Annex. Parents attended classes each week for seven weeks to learn basic computer skills, Internet Safety, how to use Skyward to monitor their child’s progress and learn to use Microsoft Word. The goal of the program is to help parents have the skills needed to help their child with their school work and to enhance the parents’ computer skills. Information about upcoming computer sessions is sent out to all parents in Title I schools through an … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools’ 2013 School Related Employee of the Eric Henik has been named one of five finalists for the state school-related employee award. This employee group awards support personnel in such school operations as finance, food services, maintenance, transportation, clerical and office support, student assignment and instructional technology. The state winner will be announced sometime in May, according to the Florida Department of Education. Henik has been with St. Lucie Public Schools for seven years, five as plant manager at his current site at Palm Pointe Educational Research School and two years previously at Rivers Edge Elementary School … Read More

Northport K-8 School has been recognized as a certified Natural Wildlife Sanctuary by the Natural Wildlife Federation.  The mission of the federation is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. Thanks to the hard work of many of the Northport K-8 teachers and staff, as well as students and their families, the school enjoys a beautiful and thriving natural habitat for many species of butterflies and gorgeous plants as well as gardens filled with plants and flora that are particular to the state of Florida. Pictured holding the certificate are committee members instrumental in attaining the award for … Read More

In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, over 120 elementary students from st. Lucie County public schools descended on the WLX Education Channel tv studio to record the annual Elementary All County Chorus. This year’s theme was Agents of Change! Songs included Agents of Change, Live Well, I’ll Be There, Big Heart, Kindness, and Think on These Things. The concert will be up on the WLX Video on Demand site on the district web site at www.stlucieschools.org soon for all to view. Tune in and take a look – Celebrate Music in Our Schools Month with the 2013 All … Read More

Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson and Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faeilla have begun a recognition program to honor public schools in their communities that have shown continued excellence, improved student achievement, and innovation. Pictured is Mayor Faeilla, left, with Principal Ucola Barrett-Baxter at Parkway Elementary School in Port St. Lucie, and Mayor Hudson with Principal Juanita Wright at Frances K. Sweet Elementary in Fort Pierce.

Trophies were awarded for the winning entries in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemmorative Committee parade on January 21, 2013, in Fort Pierce. First, second and third place, plus winners of special judges’ awards, were presented. Pictured, front row kneeling, are Jerrime Shells of Forest Grove Middle School with its first place trophy for the middle school division , and Principal Todd Smith of Fort Pierce Central High School with the first place trophy for the high school category. Second row, from left, are Assistant Principal Kim Smith with the Overall Floating Trophy awarded to Fort Pierce Magnet School of … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools’ Volunteers of the Year for three categories were announced at the February 26, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. Prior to the meeting, an appreciation celebration was held for all of the nominees and their families in the Superintendent’s Suite sponsored by the St. Lucie Education Foundation. The Adult Volunteer is Kim Guettler from Fairlawn Elementary, Youth Volunteer is Jordan Trojanowski, a student at Westwood High School nominated by Southern Oaks Middle School, and Senior Volunteer is Lucille Van Doorn from Parkway Elementary. Their nominations will go on to regional competition for the state award. … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial High School athletic director John Messina joins six other individuals being inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame April 28 in Gainesville during the 23rd-annual Induction Ceremony. Their induction will bring to only 157 members who have earned this prestigious honor. As head baseball coach at Pace, Port St. Lucie and Jensen Beach high schools, Messina compiled a 465-160 record and totaled three state championships with two state runner-ups while coaching two USA Players of the Year — Alex Fernandez in 1988 and Rick Ankiel in 1997. Messina was also named the Florida … Read More

The winners in each of four employee categories for St. Lucie Public Schools were announced at the annual Night of the Stars gala celebration February 23 at Lincoln Park Academy. The recognition program is sponsored by the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and the school board. Fort Pierce Central High School 32-year veteran math teacher and coach Harry B. Williams was named 2014 Teacher of the Year, and Palm Point Educational Research School at Tradition plant manager Eric Henik, who has been in that position since the school opened five years ago, was named 2013 School Related Employee of the … Read More

The St. Lucie Education Foundation has kicked off its “Get On the Bus” campaign to enhance community awareness of its variety of initiatives to benefit public education in St. Lucie County and encourage community involvement in those programs. The local initiative is part of the statewide foundation consortium drive to increase support of public education through local foundations. The local Education Foundation provides multiple vehicles for individuals and organizations to make a positive difference in education through volunteer efforts, contributions, and celebrations of teachers and students. The Foundation has earmarked funds for use by teachers to fund creative classroom projects … Read More

A contingency of St. Lucie County School Board members, Superintendent Michael Lannon, district administrators and executives of the St. Lucie County Education Foundation surprised three finalists for the school district’s 2014 Teacher of the Year honor at their school sites Thursday, January 24. The finalists were selected from nominees from the school district’s 39 traditional schools. The nominees for the annual local award include: Loryn Black, first grade teacher at Fairlawn Elementary School in Fort Pierce; Lt. Colonel Joseph J. Cavallaro, Air Force JROTC senior instructor at Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie; and Harry B. Williams, math … Read More

The Palm Pointe Rocket Jazz Band recently hosted members from the Foirt Pierce Jazz and Blues Society for a side by side clinic to prepare students for their upcoiming festival performance at the District 13 Jazz ensemble Performance Assessment. The students enjoyed hearing new musical concepts to add to their music. The staff and administrators at Palm Pointe thank the members of the Jazz Society for their generous contribution of time and resources. Pictured are members of the organization who provided guidance with the student musicians.

St. Lucie Public Schools’ school nutrition services department’s Anita Alli, president of the St. Lucie County Florida School Nutrition Association, enlisted the support of Superintendent Michael Lannon in the local group’s application for a President’s Award through the state association. The award, “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow,” recognizes school districts which actively work together districtwide to promote education and nutrition. Pictured is Ms. Alli with Superintendent Lannon.

American Heart Association representative Linda Perez presented the St. Lucie County School District an award at the January 22, 2013, school board meeting recognizing the district as a Fit-Friendly company. The national recognition is presented for organizations promoting health and wellness. Pictured, from left, are St. Lucie School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, district wellness manager Carlye Fabrikant, Ms. Perez, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.

Newly seated St. Lucie County Commissioner Kim Johnson and wife Sharita Johnson were entertaining masters of ceremony for the annual parade on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on 25th Street in Fort Pierce. The parade highlighted a 10-day celebration, which included a spelling bee, oratory contest, and candlelight parade. Schools, community groups, fraternal organizaitons and local businesses paraded down 25th Street displaying their renditions of the year’s theme, “Reach Beyond the Dream.”

On the two days before winter break from school, you might picture the high schools as a quiet place. Not true at the Fort Pierce Central High School Culinary Arts Cobra Café, where the kitchen was full of students baking, measuring, cleaning and wrapping as they prepared brownies for 500 St Lucie families. St. Lucie County school board member Troy Ingersoll delivered the baked treats to Harvest Food Bank, which in turn distributed the warm brownies with holiday meals for local families in need. A delicious treat for the holidays! Pictured is Central student Boaz Laguerre preparing the brownies.