Category: District News

The Office of Title I/School Renewal hosted a three-day institute for teachers and administrators from nine St. Lucie schools on August 7, 8 and 9 at Samuel Gaines Academy. The institute provided the opportunity for additional guidance, support and motivation to those supporting these schools as they work together to increase student achievement. Each day there was a keynote speaker, as well as a full day’s agenda of breakout sessions for teachers and administrators. Pictured is Sam Foerster, who currently serves as the Deputy Chancellor of School Improvement and Student Achievement for the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). In this … Read More

Fort Pierce, FL — From Monday, August 5, through Thursday, August 8, the Child Nutrition Services program of the St. Lucie County School District is hosting Open House events at various school sites for parents to complete an on-line or paper application for free and reduced meal prices prior to school starting. Parents must complete an updated application every year, though only one application per family is required, and are encouraged to do so prior to school opening for the 2013-2014 school year August 20 so that each student will have an updated meal plan. New students to the district … Read More

At the May 28, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting, the American Cancer Society (ACS)and the organizers of the St. Lucie West Relay For Life recognized the contributions of the staff, parents and students at 12 local schools who participated in the April, 2013 event, and thanked them for their hard work, volunteer service, and dedication. Many of the 14 teams that participated this year have done so for several years. Eric Finkel, Lori Finkel, and Robyn Young representing ACS presented a “You Make a Difference” Certificate of Appreciation to team leaders from St. Lucie West Centennial High School, … Read More

The winners of the fifth annual Dr. Samuel S. Gaines essay contest were recognized at the May 28, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The contest, sponsored since its inception by The Morganti Group which provides cash prizes for the winning entries, is part of the district’s recognition and celebration of African American history month. Local students in grades three to 12 may write an essay describing an African American person in St. Lucie County who has made a difference in the student’s life, explaining what the person did to make such an impact. The contest is named for … Read More

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation, through its Teacher of Excellence Utilizing Technology Grant, presented laptop computers from corporate sponsor Dell, to honor teachers who are currently utilizing technology to both enhance the curriculum in an innovative manner and to motivate engaged student learning in the classroom. Northport K-8 principal Glenn Rustay made the presentations at the St. Lucie County School Board meeting May 28, 2013, to Weatherbee Elementary teacher Jennifer Lehmann, Northport K-8 teacher Jennifer Carey, and Lincoln Park Academy teacher Josephine Cappelletti. In addition, 2014 St. Lucie County Teacher of the Year Harry B. Williams also was presented … Read More

The two 2013 Business Partners of the Year for St. Lucie Public Schools were recognized at the May 28, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The 26th Annual Commissioner’s Business Partner recognition reception, sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, will be held June 13, 2013, in Tampa where the state winner will be named. School districts throughout the state may nominate one, two or three businesses, depending on student population, for the state honor. St. Lucie Public Schools selected the school district’s Facilities and Maintenance Department (with FLDOE approval) for its annual summer student internship and scholarship program, … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial High School athletic director John Messina was recognized at the May 14, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for his recent induction into the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Hall of Fame. Coach Messina has a long list of distinguished achievements in the coaching category. As head baseball coach at Pace, Port St. Lucie and Jensen Beach high schools, he compiled a 465-160 record and totaled three state championships with two state runners-up while coaching two national Player of the Year standouts, Alex Fernandez in 1988 and Rick Ankiel in 1997. He was named … Read More

Seventh grade Lincoln Park Academy student Jamya Wiley was recently honored by Duke University at a reception at Florida Atlantic University for students the university has identified for its Duke University Talent Program (Duke TIP). Jamya scored a 20 out of a perfect 36 on her first attempt at the college entrance exam, at the 99% percentile of students who took the ACT, and is college ready now according to ACT guidelines.

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