Category: District News

Book retailer Barnes and Noble is donating over 4,000 children’s books divided between schools in St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties and Hibiscus Children’s Centers purchased by store customers. Linda Daly, Community Relations Manager, brought the first 1,125 books sorted by reading level to St. Lucie School District offices this week. The books will be distributed through the Title One department. Pictured with Daly, right, is Rod Natta, manager of Federal and Special Programs, accepting the first delivery.

Parkway Elementary School principal Ucola Barrett-Baxter and Fort Pierce Central High School assistant principal Susan Seal were recognized at the September 11, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for earning district designations for their respective administrative roles. Ms. Barrett-Baxter was named the 2012 Outstanding Principal and Ms. Seal Outstanding Assistant Principal for their exemplary contributions to our students, school and community. Pictured, from left, are St. Lucie School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Ms. Barrett-Baxter, Ms. Seal, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.

Some 120 students in Samantha Pullins’ Medical Academy at Fort Pierce Central High School received free composition books from the Kids In Need Foundation thanks to donations from the back to school supply drive held by local Walgreen drug stores. Ms. Pullins wrote and won a grant with the foundation to be the recipient of school supplies collected by Walgreen stores located in Indian River, Saint Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties. While at one of the stores collecting supplies, the store manager asked specifically what item her students were in need of, and Ms. Pullins responded they needed composition … Read More

Opening day for the 2012-2013 school year went smoothly, no major issues had arisen by mid-day. Students at 13 local schools were welcomed with Kids at Hope tunnels, where school staff and community members applauded and gave “high-five” greetings with encouraging messages to the returning students. Pictured, at left, are St. Lucie School Board members Kathryn Hensley and Debbie Hawley, and right, Superintendent Michael Lannon and Boys and Girls Club executive director Norm Penner welcoming students at Garden City Early Learning Academy.

To save money and printing resources, the annual St. Lucie School Board Student Code of Conduct booklet, which outlines expectations and consequences for students and parents, will be available electronically on the district website. An electronic copy of the Code can be located online at http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/pdf/codeofconduct.pdf. If parents require a paper copy of the Code, they can indicate in the online form, sign and return to the district office, and one will be provided to their child. Paper copies are also available upon request at the child’s school and at the District Administration Office located at 4204 Okeechobee Road, Ft. … Read More

Approximately 250 new teachers who will be in classrooms in St. Lucie County public schools on August 20 when students begin the 2012-2013 school year were welcomed with great celebration on Tuesday, August 7, by school board members, administrators, and a wide variety of community members, including local elected officials. A tunnel of well wishers ushered the teachers into the event, as pictured in the photo, to two days of orientation to district policies, procedures, to review curriculum, as well as network with new colleagues. Photo provided by Christine Epps, executive director of the Roundatable of St. Lucie, which will … Read More

Port St. Lucie High School (PSLHS) 2012 graduate Diamond Salazer was recognized at the July 31, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for her outstanding performance during the national SkillsUSA career and technical education competition this past school year. She was awarded by the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation. Pictured, from left, are mother Mrs. Lambert, Ms. Salazar, Director for Career and Technical Education Kathie Schmidt, School Board Chairman Carol Hilson, PSLHS career/technical teacher Bob Rossbury, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.

Shortly after school ended, St. Lucie West Centennial High School Navy Junior ROTC proudly sent seven cadets to Leadership Academy to learn how to become the future leaders of their unit. Pictured, rom left, Cadets Dane Tushinski, Devin Spellman Michael Battaglia, Johnna Moody,Luis Still and Ro-aine Graham, along with Chester Merrill who is not pictured, were selected to attend due to their achievement in academics, athletics, and military aptitude. Training at the academy began with chaos and yelling from retired Marine Corp Drill Instructors, as they instilled attention to detail and discipline in each cadet. Throughout the training sessions, the … Read More

Fort Pierce, FL — School grades for Florida’s public schools for the 2011-2012 school year are expected to be released in early July, according to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The announcement of school grades was delayed this year from FLDOE compared to previous years’ release schedules due to the implementation of significant changes this year and the complexity of the new Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0), its higher scoring scale, new high school end-of-course core subject testing procedures, and higher cut scores for school grades. However, for months, public school leaders across the state have consistently cautioned … Read More

The Southeast Florida Council of the Girl Scouts of America, with financial support by the St. Lucie County Children’s Services Council, is sponsoring workshops during St. Lucie County Schools’ 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) summer programs at several school sites in St. Lucie County. These programs are supported by a federal grant with the school district, and are offered at no cost to students or families, and provide additional education opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment. One of two programs is an experiential workshop where girls learn what bullying really is, leaarn that it is not acceptable, … Read More

Students are busy learning at The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) summer programs at several school sites in St. Lucie County. These programs are supported by a federal grant with the school district, and are offered at no cost to students or families, and provide additional education opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment. Each summer, the 21st CCLC operates a unique range of services based on the needs of the community, with the same set of goals as its premise: Academic Enrichment in Reading and Language Arts, Academic Enrichment in Science and Mathematics, Personal Enrichment, and Educational … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial High School’s Nursing Assistant students held their annual health fair recently in the school’s gym. Students in social studies classes, and all Freshman Academy students were invited and were very enthusiastic about attending this informative event. The nursing program students planned for several months to bring 26 community agencies on campus to impart their knowledge of teen health issues. Some of the agencies that participated included the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, IRSC nursing students from Indian River State College, Children’s Home Society, Care Net, SWAT and and school district nurses. Students were provided a bag in … Read More

All through this school year, students in Pam Pressley’s first grade classroom at Samuel S. Gaines Academy in Fort Pierce have been writing letters to the uncle of one of their fellow students who has been deployed in the Persian Gulf with the U.S. Navy. Joshua Shepherd, whose nephew Hunter is in the class, surprised Hunter and his classmates recently, as they did not expect Joshua to return until next month. Hunter’s face lit up with just the sight of a recognizable tie as part of Joshua’s uniform. Television and newspaper media were there to capture the exhilirating moment.

Two students from Treasure Coast High School graphic arts programs, Kiersten Pauline and Victoria Willis, were recognized at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for their winning logo design selected for the school district’s Employee Wellness Program. Pictured, from left, are teacher Joseph Randazzo, Kiersten Pauline, assistant principal Nikki Kalvaitis, Victoria Willis, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, wellness program manager Carlye Fabrikant, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation Teachers of Excellence Utilizing Technology committee selected three educators to receive a Dell Computer for their grant application. The teachers were selected based on their unique utilization of technology in the classroom to engage students and improve student achievement, and were presented their laptops at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. Pictured with their new Dell laptops, from left, are 2013 Teacher of the Year JoAnne Trubisky from Windmill Point Elementary, who also received the laptop as part of her awards from the Education Foundation, Diane Buchholz from Port St. … Read More

The Florida History Fair awarded Port St. Lucie High School history fair school coordinator and 10th-grade world history teacher Valerie Arendas with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award, Senior Division, for her many years of dedication to National History Day activities at her school. The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding National History Day educators. Each state selects a junior and senior-division recipient, who receive a $500 cash prize. The names of these individuals are advanced for competition at the national level. Junior- and senior-division winners of the national Behring Award each receive $10,000. Pictured, … Read More

Ten St. Lucie County Schools eighth grade students were recently awarded valuable incentives for future success with President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children scholarship awards held recently at Indian River State College.  Through an application process, all the selected scholarship recipients sign a contract agreeing to maintain good grades, to stay out of trouble, to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to graduate from high school. Those who meet the challenge will receive a scholarship towards tuition only to attend IRSC for two years, followed by two years at IRSC or another Florida public college or university. Pictured, front row, from left,  German Torres … Read More

Neha Reddy, a sophomore at Lincoln Park Academy, was one of 1,549 high school students from 68 countries, regions, and territories to display their independent research and compete for over $3 million in awards at the recent  International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her project was titled  ” Influence of Genetic Variation of Brazilian  Peppertree  Schinus terebinthifolius on the Survival of a Biological Control Agent Pseudophilothrips ichinianden. The Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12. Congratulations to Neha for representing Lincoln Park Academy and St. Lucie Public Schools in this prestigious competition.

The United Way of St. Lucie County presented awards for the 2012 campaign at the May 8, 2012, meeting of the St. Lucie County School Board for the campaign that netted over $55,700. The awards included: Highest Student Campaign, Elementary, Lakewood Park; K-8, Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition; and High School, Tresure Coast High School. In the largest Employee Giving site, for Elementary, Morningside Elementary; Middle School, Southport Middle School; for K8 School, Northport K8 School; and for High School, Treasure Coast High School. In the Largest Campaign Overall, for Elementary, Lakewood Park Elementary; Middle School, Southport Middle School; … Read More

The community is invited to enjoy a showcase of hundreds of science projects created by some of our district’s youngest budding scientists in kindergarten through fifth grade at the 2012 St. Lucie Public Schools Science Showcase on Saturday, May 19 from 10 AM to 3 PM at Southern Oaks Middle School, located at 5500 N. E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie. The event is central to the school district’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiative and an opportunity for the community to appreciate the STEM resources available in St. Lucie Public Schools. This free community event will also … Read More