Ms. Hoots’ art classes partnered with the Army JROTC Department for a “Holiday Letters & Cards From Home” project. This holiday season, our classes teamed up to make hand-painted Christmas cards and hand-written letters to troops who are currently deployed overseas. This new tradition for our two departments was started last year with the same goal in mind, which is to bring joy to service members who are unable to be with their families and loved ones during the holidays and let them know that they are appreciated for what they do. Ms. Hoots’ students used the opportunity to expand … Read More

Students from Fort Pierce Westwood High School’s ESE/Gifted programs have begun a school enterprise at the district offices. Several mornings a week, students run Panther Place in the employee lounge featuring breakfast items at very reasonable prices. Pictured, right, is John Earnhardt, ESE/Gifted program specialist with senior Sabrina Bajking.

Ms. Denski’s along with Ms. Gaudreau’s Spanish and French classes had the opportunity to visit Vizcaya in Miami on March 21, 2014.  The extraordinary estate was built by James Deering.  The European- inspired estate includes a house filled with rare art and furnishings, ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay, and a historic village that is currently being restored for public enjoyment.  With its phenomenal man-made and natural resources, Vizcaya introduces visitors to America’s Gilded Age.  The foreign language students were able to experience first hand the historical sights where one of America’s wealthiest industrialist lived in breath-taking opulence inspired … Read More

To allow students expand their horizons and express their creativity by experiencing an important holiday to Spanish speaking cultures, students from Isabel Denski’s AP Spanish class at Westwood High School created an altar in celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) observed November 1 and 2. Ms. Denski explained the activity, that in Spanish culture, altars are built to honor the dead. Día de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. With this activity, students learned the purpose behind it, how it is celebrated, and what … Read More

Fort Pierce Westwood High School junior Helga Vega, a 17-year old junior in the Marine Oceanographic Academy, has been named the Florida Department of Education Distinguished Sunshine State Scholar for St. Lucie County for the 2011-2012 school year. Pictured, from the recent school board meeting where Ms. Vega was recognized, are, from left, Westwood High School principal Mallissa Hamilton, assistant principal Mary Gregory, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Helga and her mother Alicia Vega, and Superintendent Michael Lannon in back.

Fort Pierce Westwood High School JROTC cadets recently visited Palm Beach Atlantic University for annual Leadership Day. The Cadets were amazed by the campus life, the buildings where classes are held, and the attractive and convenient location of the school. They were afforded the opportunity to talk to some of the professors and the Professor of Military Science (ROTC) and ask questions relevant to their future in college, work place or military.  The group was also very impressed with the school’s cafeteria, which reportedly rivals top shelf restaurants.  

Two teams from Fort Pierce Westwood High School Marine Oceanographic Academy took first and second place at the  15thannual  Florida Manatee Bowl, which  this year took place at the Johnson Education Center  at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, home of the MOA academy. Sixteen high school teams with four or five students on each team participated in this year’s Manatee Bowl.  The academic competion   consisted of buzzer-style, multiple-choice questions and open-ended, team-challenge questions.  The first place place  team included, pictured, from left,  Samantha Oxley, Shelby Busenbark, Danielle Gordon, Brooke Gaylord, Jeremy Johnson, and coach Scott Hurley.  They will … Read More

The cadets of Fort Pierce Westwood High School Panther Battalion recently held a highly successful fundraiser at a local restaurant. The cadets served customers their beverages, re-stocked the serving plates, cleaned tables and helped in any way they could. The cadets enjoyed the event, and earned compliments for their behavior, attitude and most of all their smiles. Pictured are several cadets during the event.

For the second year, a team of five Westwood High School students recently earned the opportunity to compete at the national level in the Euro-Challenge, an academic competition on students’ knowledge of the European monetary system. The Westwood team was the only freshman team to earn one of the top three spots in the regional contest in Miami recently, and will go on to New York in April for the national competition with two other Florida teams. The students spent over 45 hours of after school and time during Spring break conducting extensive research, participating in Webinars, and perfecting their presentations.  … Read More

A team of students from Ft. Pierce Westwood’s Marine Oceanographic Academy (MOA) placed second in the 15th annual Manatee Bowl, an annual, regional ocean science competition. A team from St. Lucie West Centennial High School joined in the competition against 20 teams from 14 schools from the east coast of Florida. The teams are tested through quick Jeopardy-style questions and thought-provoking team challenge questions. Questions are drawn from the scientific and technical disciplines used in studying the oceans — physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, biology, national and international economics, history and culture. The regional competition alternates annually between the University … Read More

The Westwood High School JROTC Panther Battalion cadets have adopted Dan McCarty School to assist younger students live the JROTC motto, Motivating Young People to be Better Citizens.  The cadets are very excited about their volunteer time with the students of Dan McCarty, to coach, mentor and tutor the younger students.  With the support from the principals of both schools, and the vision of the Westwood High ROTC instructors and Dan McCarty assistant principal Rebecca Goodman, the Cadets have been paired up with classes of students. The cadets discuss the challenges and successes they have encountered during their first year of high school … Read More

District champion Westwood High School Panthers girls varsity basketball team recently culminated its season with a hard fought, one-point loss in the regional semi-final game, 48 to 47. Pictured front row, from left, are Coach Tomonica Bell, Alexis Byrd, Jermecia Robinson, Reniaya Burr, Tonaijia Ganious, and Coach Thernell Mills. Second row, from left, are Trudy Walker, Antonnette Boothe, Principal Ucola Barrett-Baxter, Tiara Evans, and Dymond Mosley. Top row, from left, are Destiny Crandell, Bammetria Joseph, Erica Knight, and Kwynisha Rhodes.

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.

The Fort Pierce Westwood High School JROTC cadets recently participated in the Treasure Coast Raiders competition hosted by Port St Lucie High School. The Panther Battalion participated in a one-mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, litter carry, rope bridge and obstacle course, and placed third overall on the rope bridge. One cadet remarked it was the most fun he had ever had, and many were surprised at how well they performed. Pictured is the Panther Battalion team.

Students in Mrs. Hoots’ Drawing 1 & 2 classes painted murals in the hallways to help students know which direction to go and to beautify our campus. Thank you for all your artistic hard work!

Students in Ms. Cooper’s class worked through the scientific method as they dissected owl pellets. They sorted and classified different bones discovered through this hands-on learning experience!