ST. LUCIE COUNTY – According to St. Lucie Public Schools Superintendent E. Wayne Gent, “Effective school leadership is paramount to the overall success of a school and to the success of a thriving school district. That is why we take such care in identifying leaders who have a strong belief system that fosters support for high quality instruction and high expectations that all students can learn at high levels.” Gent named the following individuals as new St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) principals for the coming school year: Keith Davis (Performance Based Preparatory Academy), Adrian Ocampo (Port St. Lucie High School), … Read More
Category: Press Releases
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) invites exceptional teachers to apply for career opportunities during the Teacher Career Fair on Tuesday, June 28. School leaders will be available to discuss unique programs with qualified candidates from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at West Gate K-8 School located at 1050 NW Cashmere Blvd. in Port Saint Lucie. If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, are dedicated to the process of continuous improvement in student achievement, and bring a strong sense of enthusiasm and connection to the philosophy that Failure Is Not an … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – In a barrage of scores released by the Department of Education today, scores for St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) continue to climb as a testament to the overall growth and success of students in the District. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent expressed his appreciation to the dedicated teachers, support staff, and school leaders for their focused efforts and for positively impacting students through quality instruction. “We will continue our concentrated efforts on what is working well to support the academic growth of our students and enhance our instructional approaches in other areas so that all students are … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Three St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) students competed in the 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair along with approximately 1,700 other students representing 77 countries from around the world. Koushal Rao, the 2016 Lincoln Park Academy valedictorian, was awarded third place in the category of Biomedical Sciences. His project, “Targeting Mistranslation in Cancer Therapy” aligns with his college and career goals of entering the medical field. Joining Rao at the 2016 INTEL Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, were Haniya Shareef whose project entitled “Can Anareobic Soil Distribution Create a Disease-Suppressive Soil…” focused on plant sciences and … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Next stop – Los Angeles. That’s where Manatee Academy’s Project Citizen portfolio is advancing. The team of seventh grade students from Ms. Megan Shaver’s Civics class placed first in the state for their portfolio entitled, “Keep Port St. Lucie Afloat,” and the team placed second in the oral competition. Representatives from Manatee’s team presented their problem, possible solutions, action plan, and portfolio which included the team’s research binder and presentation board to a panel of prestigious judges on May 20 in Palm Beach Gardens. The suite of judges was comprised of Nova faculty, members of the … Read More
The Florida Department of Education released the Grade 3 ELA Scores, and the percent of Grade 3 students in St. Lucie Public Schools scoring satisfactory rose by two percent this year exceeding the State of Florida’s one percent gain. Seventeen schools had a higher percentage of students with satisfactory scores over last year’s results, and some schools made significant gains. Floresta Elementary realized an 11 percent gain, and two schools (Allapattah Flats and Oak Hammock) saw an eight percent gain. In addition to these gains, Morningside Elementary grew by seven percent. “We recognize the significant impact early literacy has on … Read More
FORT PIERCE, FL – Students in Mrs. Brandifino’s pre-kindergarten class at Lawnwood Elementary delighted in releasing butterflies into the school’s butterfly garden. As a springboard for their unit of study, the young scholars learned about the animals’ development and nutritional needs as they morphed from egg, to larva, to pupa, to graceful adult butterfly. Students clapped and cheered as the butterflies made their way from the butterfly cage to settle on nearby flowers and trees. Mrs. Brandifino is one of five teachers in SLPS who supports a structured early learning educational program for students who are 3 and 4 years … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Academic Challenge Team was quick on the buzzer and correct when answering questions that would stump most individuals. With a strong showing in the preliminary rounds of the 31st Annual Commissioner’s Academic Challenge competition, SLPS’s team qualified for the semi-final rounds and finished fifth overall in their division. Teams from across Florida gathered at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World for this annual academic statewide event. Makeda Brome coached the five-member team that included Geoffrey Zheng (LPA), Mali Kaminaga (LPA), Carlos Arce (LPA), Jared Diago (Westwood), and Dominick Kehoe … Read More
FORT PIERCE, FL – An innovative partnership that has been in development for several months is literally taking off on Wednesday, May 11 at Adams Arena in Fort Pierce as middle school students compete for top honors by navigating drones through a maze. In a joint venture with the Treasure Coast Research Park, AT&T, and St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS), 18 drones were donated to support inquiry programs at Dan McCarty Middle School, Samuel S. Gaines K – 8 Academy, and West Gate K – 8 School. Benefits of this skill development opportunity include students’ ability to write code, program, … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A select group of teacher leaders have been invited to participate in a two-day conference event Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers (ECET2). This is the second annual ECET2 conference brought to educational professionals in St. Lucie County via a partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools and the Gates Foundation. Event organizers Didi Campbell, Allison Barajas, and Natasha Rodriguez explained that this year’s theme entitled Teachers Are Innovators: Grow, Collaborate, Lead blossomed from the positive feedback received from last year’s event in which participants were catapulted into deeper collaborative efforts through their opportunities to network … Read More
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL -Currently an assistant principal at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition, Ms. Kathleen Perez will step into a new role as principal for the school as the new school year opens. No stranger to education, this 24-year veteran is looking forward to leading this learning community and continuing its tradition of excellence. “Palm Pointe has been my home for the past six years. I consider the staff and students my family, and I will continue to build and nurture the positive climate for student achievement.” St. Lucie Public Schools Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “There … Read More
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – The 7th annual Family Reading Festival is slated for Saturday, April 23 from 9 AM – 1 PM at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. Families are invited to bring their children to this free event and experience the many joys of literacy. Meet Mother Goose, read with VIPs, receive free books, and enjoy interactive puppet shows. And there is more. Bring your gently used books for a book trade, browse the Scholastic Book Fair, visit with authors, and try your hand at a variety of literacy-themed games and activities. “We look forward to bringing … Read More
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – Seventh graders in Mrs. Lauren Kappler’s West Gate K-8 Civics class won first place accolades in the St. Lucie Public Schools Project Citizen Showcase. Their project entitled Don’t Panic will compete at the State level and is currently on display at the Capital where legislators will serve on judging panels for a final evaluation of all projects by late May. We the People: Project Citizen is organized by Florida Law Related Education, Inc. which explains the annual project as “a curricular program for upper elementary and secondary students designed and published by the Center for … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — From accelerated academic achievement to enhancements of school facilities, St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) team members and partner in education The Morganti Group, Inc., roll up their sleeves and become part of the solution. Such was the case at the recent Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts (FPMSA) Improvement Day. SLPS team members from the school, custodial services, grounds and maintenance, and district office joined efforts with volunteers from Morganti to support the school’s need for fresh paint, new landscaping, and pressure cleaning. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent led the charge to solicit volunteers saying, “We … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – The Kids at Hope Garden at Samuel S. Gaines Academy (SGA) sprang to life as thirty Home Depot employees and volunteers gathered to enhance campus grounds. After recently receiving a Home Depot Foundation grant, volunteers installed an irrigation system, built plant boxes and fences, transplanted trees, and beautified the school’s garden area with new sod and mulch. According to Principal Traci Wilke, “The revitalized garden is the heart of a school-wide initiative to provide an opportunity for our students to learn how to plant, grow, and maintain a variety of vegetables and herbs. The management and … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools’ (SLPS) sophomore Christine Bourgoin of Mosaic Digital Academy was presented a Congressional Award on April 3 at a ceremony hosted by Congressman Patrick E. Murphy. Bourgoin, a bronze medal recipient, was among 50 young Floridians from St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach honored for volunteerism, leadership, and personal development. According to Jeanne Ziemba, principal of Mosaic Digital Academy, “Christine is already working toward earning the Silver award for next year and plans to go for the Gold during her senior year!” A log of her hours reflects that Bourgoin volunteered over 100 … Read More
The ESE Department of St. Lucie Public Schools recently hosted a free vision clinic as part of the Florida Low Vision Initiative (FLVI) Clinic. This is an annual opportunity for students who have been evaluated and meet the criteria for initial or continued placement in the Visually Impaired Program under Exceptional Student Education. “Great value rests in these evaluations which are important in order to update low vision devices and to track visual changes,” explained Maria Benham, program specialist for visually impaired. The FLVI is a portion of the Critical Initiatives in Visual Impairment (CIVI) Project — a grant-funded program … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Participation and recognition at this year’s State Science and Engineering STEM Fair and Competition in Lakeland, Florida, proved to be laden with accolades for St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) students. Based on the project selection criteria from the Regional Fair, top-ranking students were selected to advance to the State Fair. Escorted by their chaperones, they ventured from St. Lucie County to Lakeland for the three-day event. Once there, they had the opportunity for their projects to be judged, to network with others, to engage in inquiry and problem solving, and to glean ideas for future exploration. … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Walk for Autism Speaks is a community event organized by volunteers at West Gate K-8 school in collaboration with Palm Point Educational Research School at Tradition. On Saturday, April 2, an estimated 2,000 staff from St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS), community organizations, and families poured into Tradition Square to begin the Walk. Each year this event continues to grow and help bring about a greater awareness of autism. Event organizers Valentina Whyte and Jessica McLaughlin, both from West Gate K – 8, began organizing this event four years ago. This year’s collaboration with Palm Pointe brought … Read More
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Music and celebration was in the air as middle school students from St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) brought home accolades from the recent District 13 Music Performance Assessment (MPAs). The MPAs are organized opportunities for Florida bands and choral groups to perform and receive feedback from qualified judges. The events are part of the Florida Vocal Association which promotes the music interests in Florida’s secondary schools. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent supports the vibrant music programs in schools across the District. “Our students are extremely talented, and we are committed to providing quality opportunities for them to … Read More