After learning about the celebrations that take place during Chinese New Year, Kristin Griffin’s kindergarten class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary enjoyed eating traditional Chinese foods. They feasted on dumplings that symbolize togetherness in the coming year and stir-fried rice that represents harmony and happiness. Nicole Williams and Terry McQueen show their classmates how to eat withchopsticks.
St. Lucie West Centennial High School drama students earned five trophies, including best supporting actor overall, best supporting actress and the critic’s choice award in the district 15 One Act Drama Competition. As a result , 27 Centennial students are now on their way to perform at Morsani Hall in Tampa for the State Finals Drama Competition in March and five students will be performing in the state final individual events. Pictured, front row from left, are Angel Martinez, Kaitlynn Torres, Courtnet Chronister, Amber Camacho, Brianna Lorenz, Valerie Burns, and Kristina Hoeffer. Second row, from left, are Justin Tardagno, Michael Ladewig, Passion Delgado, Suzie McKenzie, Whitney Bridges, and Dylan Akers. Back row, from left, are Francis Sabando, Brandon Nelson, Isac Benavides, and Tonii McKenzie. Not pictured, but competing, are Chelsey Vignier, Johhny Volcy, Ricardo Juez, RonJunior Carrey, and Austin Swink. Good luck Eagles!
Mariposa Elementary School’s third graders in Monica Almeida’s class are enjoying their first attempts at writing narrative stories. The students are using SMILE’s Quick beginning, Loooong, interesting middle, and Feelings at the end format to create their original stories. The students hope to share their stories with Mariposa’s kindergarten students soon!
Recently McDonald’s on South US #1 in Fort Pierce hosted McTeacher Night for the staff of F.K. Sweet Elementary and donated 15% of the proceeds made between 5 and 7 PM to the school to help defray expenses. Teachers worked the counter, drive through, cooked, packaged, and wiped tables. Stacey Johnson and Cindy Young even tempted the diners with samples of chicken nuggets. It was not only a fun experience, but gave everyone an insight to what goes on in a fast food restaurant.
The Port St. Lucie Moose Lodge hosted the annual chili cook-off recently with the help of cadets of Port St. Lucie High School’s JROTC. Cadets labeled the bowls of chili and served them to the voters. Six pots of chili were entered, and five of those six were entered by a cadet or parent from the Jaguar Battalion. Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Jacobson (middle) and his mother were awarded a first place ribbon and $30. The second place ribbon and $20 were earned by cadet First Lieutenant Albert Farrant and his father (left). Cadet Sergeant First Class William Benagh and his mother (right) received the third place ribbon and $10. Good job to all competitors and congratulations to the winners!
Bayshore Elementary students attended a Winter Wonderland Dance to raise money to support Relay for Life. Students had a great time dancing, eating pizza and having their pictures taken. Students raised over $1200 for Relay for Life. Pictured, from left, are fourth graders Spencer Selph and Riley Corbin, and first grader Jacob Applebaum having a great time on the dance floor.
Bayshore Elementary School kindergarten through fifth grade classes featured a book and/or author on their door in honor of Celebrate Literacy Week. Jackson Yound, left, and Giavonna Stephens from Jeanne Comperchio’s kindergarten class show off the door they helped to decorate in honor of the book Snowman at Night by Caralyn Beuhner.
Four student athletes at Fort Pierce Central High School signed letters of intent to play football at the college level. From left, Zerrie Patterson signed for Florida A & M University, Carl Bess signed for Stetson University, Bryce Hall for Florida A & M University, and Freedom Whitfield for Florida Atlantic University.
Fort Pierce Central High School Medical Academy sophomore Kathy Budge recieved a one on one learning experience with teacher Samantha Pullins on administering intramuscular injections. Kathy decided early in the year that she wanted to compete in Clinical Nursing at the recent Health Occupations Students of America Region Competition. Ms. Pullins was not sure this was the best event for her, because it is designed for high schools with LPN programs. But Kathy was determined and spent numerous hours studying for her event! She completed and passed a written exam that allowed her to advance to the skills portion of the competiton. Kieser Univeristy donated injection supplies and Kathy was taught the various techniques of injection using an orange as the “patient”able to practice her skill using Ms. Pullins’ arm to inject a dose of B12.
Northport K-8 sixth grade students in Amanda Sartain’s classes completed a comprehensive unit of study on weather, natural disasters and climate. Mrs. Sartain, helping students to interact with new knowledge, assisted students by representing new knowledge as a fun and interactive research and engineering design project. Students researched tornado resistant buildings and built their own tornado reistant building with materials on hand. Students tested the durability of their designs on three different levels using a box fan as a tornado simulator. Students collected data on each design at each level and then graphed the resulting data.
Port St. Lucie High School senior Josh Murriel signed his national Letter of Intent to become a student-athlete at Marshall University in West Virginia to play football.
These Windmill Point students were all smiles after achieving first, second and third place during the school’s Spelling Bee! Congratulations to, from right, first place winner Talia Ricketts, second place winner Christopher Moore, and third place winner Angel Rodriguez.
Morningside Elementary teachers show their support for the American Heart Association dressed in
jeans and sports jerseys/shirts for a donation to the American Heart Association helping raise $600.
Morningside Elementary School kindergartners, from left, Hudson Fein, Victor Monaco, Judith Vazquez, Gillian Ellis and Melissa Gale from Jean Constantine’s class had the honor of creating beautiful Valentine cards that will be sent to troops overseas who are serving our country.
Bayshore Elementary School was recently recognized by the National Kids at Hope Organization. The Bayshore Tech Team, under the direction of computer teacher Pamela Garrity, won the “We Connect” theme award in the Kids at Hope Day national contest. Students created a powerpoint demonstrating Universal Truth #2 that states that “Children succeed when they have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults.” In addition to being recognized on the national website, they also received a $100 gift certificate to the Kids at Hope Store and a Kids at Hope banner honoring their achievement. Pictured are technology teacher,Pamela Garrity with Tech Team members, from left front row Amaya Fennell, Riley Corbin, and Spencer Selph. Center row, from left, Sasha Castro, Alexa Boyles, and Christian Conklin, and back row Taina Auguste and Devan Carroll.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day was celebrated recently at Fort Pierce Westwood High School. Female Panther athletes enjoyed a breakfast in the cafeteria and heard information about Title IX and what the statute means to female athletics.
Did the groundhog see his shadow? Kathy Offerdahl’s kindergarten students at F.K. Sweet Elementary predicted whether or not Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow. They made their own groundhogs ‘pop’ out of their ‘burrows’ to share with their families.
Nicholas Sparkman and Mike Harris, students in Rachel Luhta’s F. K. Sweet Elementary class, take turns pumping water at the Gardner House. The house is located on the grounds of the St. Lucie Historical Museum in Fort Pierce. F.K.Sweet second graders recently took a field trip to the museum in order to learn more about local area history.
February 6th marked the 100th day of school, and Windmill Point Elementary celebrated with a special kindergarten parade. Carmela Innamorato, kindergarten teacher, is shown in the photo with several students from her class!
Windmill Point celebrated Literacy Week throughout the last week in January. Many special visitors came to the school, including Superintendent Michael Lannon. Mr. Lannon read a story to Tracy Wert’s fifth grade class.