Category: School News

Students from Nardi Routten’s fourth grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary recently enjoyed an unique  learning experience at Blind Creek Park. Students rotated through four different activities: seining, beach clean-up, water testing, and mangrove planting/measuring.  Jennifer Fleschner, a  parent volunteer helped Jason Moore and Annamarie Brosnihan test the river water for oxygen levels.  The students concluded that the deeper the water level, the higher the oxygen levels.

Aamar Black, Sarah Bartowiak, Annika Huhtamaki, Greyson Cripps, and other first graders at F.K. Sweet Elementary celebrated the 100th day of school by doing math activities with 100 items.  Students practiced different ways to make 100, different ways to skip count to 100, and came up with 100 words that they learned this year.  

Bobby Kemp, a senior at Lincoln Park Academy, was recently chosen as Youth Volunteer at F.K. Sweet Elementary. He has volunteered in Marla Liberatore’s third grade classroom for the last couple of years. Bobby enjoys spending time with the students and does a little bit of everything, from assisting with math and reading, to teaching them the rules of fair play and basketball.

Recently third grade students in Barbara Whellams’ class at F.K. Sweet Elementary celebrated with a how-to event. Students were given a how-to book of their choice to read. Upon completion, students were asked to write down the directions sequentially and in their own words. Kayla Jungjohan, Julian Nunez, and Ajeya Adams take a break to enjoy punch and snacks before getting back to work.

Junior volunteers and former F. K. Sweet Elementary students Callie Zheng and Amelia Nelson are ace librarians when it comes to working in Barbara Whellams’ classroom library after school. They check book tubs to make sure books are returned correctly, sort out duplicates, and then lexile each book. With well over 5,000 books, lots of assistance is needed and appreciated.

Pictured from left, Abbie Newbern, Mylee Moreno, Shinese Saintil, and Maryanne Logsdon, students in Donald Logue’s fifth grade class at F. K. Sweet  Elementary, display the vocabulary posters they created.  The posters illustrated the meanings of various vocabulary words from their unit on solids, liquids, and gases.

Students in Kasey Ascani’s second grade class at F. K. Sweet Elementary are using their knowledge gained from a field trip to the Fort Pierce Historical Museum to construct dioramas for the St. Lucie County Fair’s school exhibit. During the trip, students learned about life in St. Lucie County during the 1800’s. James Ewing, Samia Ahmed, and Luis Herrera are working together in creating Fort Pierce’s P.B. Cobb general store.

Floresta Elementary School’s Family Learning Night was held recently. Dignity Memorial Escape School, a nationally recognized child abduction prevention program, was presented by George Seliga from Aycock Funeral Home.  The program is designed to empower children by teaching escape strategies in a fun, non-threatening manner.  Over 50 parents and students attended to learn how to escape in an abduction attempt.  Mr. Seliga simulated abduction situations and gave members of the audience opportunities to practice.  Parents appreciated the informational program dedicated to child safety.

Black History recognition sparkled at Northport K-8 School recently. Principal Glenn Rustay gave opening remarks to students and faculty with a short story prepared by student Rubenson Charles called “If There Were No Black People.”  The Northport K-8 band conducted by Derrick Williams played “Mercy,Mercy, Mercy”.  The Northport choir ensemble directed by Shirley Lyons performed as well as a modern praise dance routine by Monique Robinson.  The highlight of the Black History presentation was an inspiring narrative given by former Northport K-8 principal Eric Seymour.  Mr. Seymour told students that he was a member in good standing at Northport forever … Read More

Kari McIntyre’s kindergarten class at Mariposa Elementary School learned about the characteristics of penguins. The students wrote about what they eat, where they live, and what they look like. The students’ final project was creating their own penguins. Richard Roth demonstrates his creativity with his penguin waving hello.

Northport physical education instructors Linda Walker, Kim Kanada Graff, Daryn Ploeckelman, James Hebb, Kevin Fess and Ryan Carpenter promoted camaraderie and collegial interactions as they modeled for students not only the joy of jumping rope but promoting jumping rope for an excellent cause. Students and PE teachers raised well over $3000 for Jump Rope For Heart this year!  Students were thrilled as the music blasted as each participated in jumping single, double and double dutch ropes.  The display of unity by the coaches promoted a positive atmosphere for the students and much was accomplished.

Dr. Laura Woodworth, Northport K-8 science instructor, tweaked seventh grade student Grace Buzziz’s interest and provoked an in depth home learning project as Grace surprised Dr. Woodworth with an active and scientifically correct volcano. Grace modeled her volcano with running lava and answered detailed questions from classmates about her scientific inquiry. Grace urged her classmates to start independent scientific projects at home to extend their classroom learning.

The VPK class at Garden City Early Learning Academy recentlycelebrated 100 days of school!   The students have accomplished so much during the first 100 days.   To celebrate, they participated in various activities such as counting to 100 and reading stories and poems.  The class also made a Toy Store containing 100 toys.    The students made “100th day” party hats to wear for the celebration.   During snack time, pretzels and crackers were used to make the number 100 which the students ate,  along with apples from the fresh fruit and vegetable program.

This week in music class at Allapattah Flats K-8, students listened to a piece called “Gallop” from The Comedians composed by Dimitri Kabalevsky. The instructional focus was on “form,” the structure of a musical composition as it can be divided into different sections. Teacher Danya Etter made the activity exciting by not only adding movements for the different sections of the piece, but also had streamers to make the lesson a hit! Pictured are Helen Gonzalez, Maximo Mendoza, Karlee Acri, Bailey Lobrutto, Brianna Welington, and Amelia Jeannoel getting ready with their streamers.  

Congratulations to Rae Duvert for his outstanding volunteerism through St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation.  Rae, a junior at Treasure Coast High School has been recognized as Minsky Gym “Volunteer of the Quarter” for his hard work and dedication as well as his talents and commitment to working with the Junior basketball players. Rae joins the long list of Titans who are making a difference in the community!

The Gaines Academy soccer team went undefeated and won the district tournament. Jesus Gil and Isaac Pierre led the team with five goals each. Samuel Gaines Academy soccer team, back row from left, John Davino, Rodrigo Vega, Daniel Perez, Jose Garcia, Javier Gasca, Pablo Luna, Luis Nava-Esquivel, Manuel Esquivel, German Torres,  and Alex Cruz. Front row, from left, Erick Diaz, Xochitl Barrios, Jesus Gil, Jeremiah Flores, David Osorio, Christian Hernandez, Gustavo Salgado, and goalie Macolister Bispo in front.

AVID students from sixth, seventh, and eighth grades at Samuel S. Gaines spent a day at Broward College’s Tigertail Lakes activity center. Students participated in high ropes course, low ropes course, and teambuilding activities throughout the course of the day. The trip was designed to strengthen collaborative and critical thinking skills within grade levels. The students learned many valuable skills that will be used in the classroom setting, including positive team interactions, and had a great time challenging both their minds and bodies on the course. Pictured from left are seventh grade students Loudridge Josue, Shirley Armendariz, Rodrigo Vega-Duran, Karla Ortiz-Duran, Jasper Magnuson … Read More

Allapattah Flats K8 School congratulates four students who have been recognized as 2011 Florida’s Young Scholars Award Recipients. The noted students join nearly 2500 3rd-8th graders from across Florida that received such acclaim.  Hundreds of schools participated in the project to select and honor students who not only excel academically but show that they are well-rounded individuals.  Congratulations go to, from left, Adriana Carrengo, Ashley Kinberger, Ella McDonald, and Mina Sang.

Students in Pamela Owens’ and Ann Hartman’s first grade classes celebrated Literacy Week with a special guest reader, Principal Jonetha Maness.  Mrs. Maness read “Giraffes Can’t Dance”  to first graders in the special “gator” reading room.  Students giggled hysterically as the giraffe learned how to dance, they also shared connections they made to the story and their lives.  What a great way to foster the love of reading.  Students featured in the photo are, first row from right, Angelica Maldonado and Parkyr Saylor, second row Jayden Torello and Jaydin White, third row,  Samantha Roeder and Emily Dale, Mrs. Owens, Ariana Lenoir, and Justin Meyer, fourth row Isabelle Veloz, Mia Horowitz, and … Read More

 Students in Kate Kennedy’s sixth grade World Cultures classes at Southern Oaks Middle School have been studying about the fascinating civilization of Ancient Egypt. Students were asked to choose a topic in which they were particularly interested in of the ancient culture and become SOMS “Egyptologists”. The assignment included  the opportunity for students to choose the medium by which to present the topic to the class. Some of the options were to create a homemade model, make a diorama, make an informative poster, or to create a PowerPoint slide show describing an aspect of ancient Egyptian life. For example a student could report on the building of the pyramids using a … Read More