Students at Southport Middle School recently celebrated literacy with popcorn and refreshments during each grade level’s book swap. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders were able to bring in books from home and swap with each other. There were also some new books donated from the reading department as well. Pictured is Brendan Gonzalez enjoying the event, along with other eighth grade students during their time in the media center.
Members of the Southport Middle School Brick Squad Step Team have enjoyed entertaining crowds since the group was formed in November, 2013. Under the leadership of Adrianne Mendoza, these students stepped and marched in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in January. They will be performing an FCAT Turn Up routine that will be broadcast on the school’s morning news show to pump students up for the upcoming tests, and will be the half-time entertainment at an upcoming basketball game. Pictured is the squad ready to perform!
Students in Lori Kennedy’s fifth grade enrichment class at St. Lucie West K8 School recently wrote letters to city officials regarding concerns they had about issues in the area. After Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faiella received hers, she accepted the invitation to visit, saying she would like to address their concerns personally. Mayor Faiella answered questions as she informed the students about how the city procedures are carried out. She also extended the invitation for a student to shadow her as Mayor For the Day! Pictured with the mayor, from left, are Galo Rebelo Villamizar, Mackenzie Ramsey, Aidan Tambling, Megan Perusse, and Ethan Bischof.
The Port St. Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion held its annual Service Learning event at the school. This year’s event was a Flag Retirement ceremony. The Jaguars retired unserviceable American Flags in the traditional military manner by burning. The Color Guard was led by Cadet Command Sergeant Major Chaz Pollino carrying the national flag. Cadet Private First Class Joshua Gonzalez carried the state flag, and Cadets Sergeant Major Robert Hopkins and Corporal Adan Pagan posted as Guards. The Jaguars band took part in the ceremony playing the appropriate music. The Jaguars Battalion gives a special thanks to all those who took place in the ceremony. Pictured is the Jaguar Battalion at the Flag Retirement Ceremony. Photo By Kayla Figueroa.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently held an awards ceremony where district winners of their annual essay contest were recognized, and students in Shirley Helton’s fifth grade class at Fairlawn Elementary School took top honors. Pictured are Carli Israel, left, who won first place for her essay on The Boston Tea Party, and Morgan Adkison, who took second place for her essay on Children During the American Revolutionary War. Carli’s essay has been submitted to the state for judging.
First grade students at Mariposa Elementary School were recently challenged to dress as a US President as a way to learn more about Presidents in the past and those in the future. Pictured, Steven Reinosa poses as future President of the United States, and his costume was so impressive, he won the contest for his class and was awarded a set of mechanical pencils instead of feathered quills.
St. Lucie West Centennial High School allied health teacher Elizabeth Durkee was presented a $3,000 classroom mini-grant from the Technology Education Resource and Redesign Alliance, Inc. (TERRA) at the February 25, 2014, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. TERRA is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors whose mission is to mobilize the resources, knowledge, and capacity of individuals, foundations, business, and industry in shaping and facilitating educational policy, practice and research for increased achievement in a global environment. Ms. Durkee was awarded the grant due to her utilizing curriculum to create engaging, interactive activities for all levels of learners, which allows students to take responsibility for their learning success. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, Durkee, St. Lucie Public Schools teacher and TERRA board member Colleen Peterson, and School Board Chairman Debbie Hawley.
Frances K. Sweet Elementary School hosted its fifth annual Sunrise Stampede 5K recently to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Racers ranged in age from the youngest at four years old, to the eldest at 72. Families and the community came out and had a great time raising money for a cure. Pictured is a racing family, clockwise from top left, Robin Williams, Sarai Major (second in her age division), Ariel Major, and Elijah Major (first in his age division). Complete race results are available at www.itsperfecttiming.net
The St. Lucie County School Board supports the district’s STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Program to recognize employees for their behaviors, skills and actions that correlate with the district vision, to reward employees on the results of their behaviors and outcomes by clarifying what we value most as an organization, and to reclaim passive employees by rewarding those who exemplify our core values. Port St. Lucie High School’s Lucinda Reeder, center, was one of two employees recognized at the February 25, 2014, school board meeting as a STAR. Pictured, from left, are School Board Chairman Debbie Hawley, Reeder, and Superintendent Genelle Yost.
The St. Lucie County School Board supports the district’s STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Program to recognize employees for their behaviors, skills and actions that correlate with the district vision, to reward employees on the results of their behaviors and outcomes by clarifying what we value most as an organization, and to reclaim passive employees by rewarding those who exemplify our core values. Media Services’ Debbie McAnelly, second from right, was one of two employees recognized at the February 25, 2014, school board meeting as a STAR. Pictured, from left, are program coordinator Michelle Jerger, School Board Chairman Debbie Hawley, McAnelly, and Superintendent Genelle Yost.
The St. Lucie Public Schools 2014 Outstanding Volunteers of the Year were recognized at the February 25, 2014, St. Lucie County School Board meeting, following a reception sponsored by the St. Lucie County Education Fooundation for all of the nominees and their families. Applications for nominees in the three categories of youth, adult and senior volunteers are submitted by schools to a six-member review committee, which ranks the applicants on a rubric scale. Leslie Young, Manatee Academy K8 volunteer coordinator and committee member, presented the three district winners, who received plaques and congratulations from the school board and Superintendent Genelle Yost. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Yost, School Board member Troy Ingersoll, Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year Mr. Peter Popolizio from Northport K8 School, School Board member Kathryn Hensley, Outstanding Adult Volunteer of the Year Mr. Carl Andor from Mariposa Elementry School, School Board member Carol Hilson, Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year Ms. Callie Frizzle from Southern Oaks Middle School, School Board member Dr. Donna Mills, presenter Leslie Young, and School Board chairman Debbie Hawley.
Students from Keiser University came to Savanna Ridge Elementary last week to read to students in Penny LaCorte’s classroom as part of a partnership between the school and Keiser as an ongoing support system. The 15 Keiser students had a unique assignment for their Speech/Communication class — to create a short children’s story and practice their public speaking skills by sharing their work to a group of students. The Keiser students supported the primary classrooms during the reading block. They shared their stories during read aloud time and served as “live” centers to work with students in small groups. Savanna Ridge students loved listening to the creative stories that the visitors had to share. The Keiser students were nervous at first but as they met the anxious children they felt excited and overwhelmed with love. It was hard to tell who was more appreciative, the Keiser students or the Savanna Ridge students! What an excellent way to learn and grow from each other!
A team of four students from Forest Grove Middle School, coached by science teacher Colleen Wilson, won the Title I Middle School Science Bowl held recently at the Stem Center at the Indian River State College campus in St Lucie West. Pictured, from left, are students Dustin Vanderpool, Vincent Rappa, Samantha Doohan, and Brandon Payen, with Wilson. The team will now compete at the state regional Middle School Science Bowl in Brevard County March 8.
Representatives from school districts in Florida and Georgia recently visited Savanna Ridge Elementary to see enthusiastic teachers implementing Document Based Questions (DBQs). The students were engaged as teachers walked them through the process of analyzing documents and making inferences to answer the question, “Jamestown: Why did so many colonists die?” The visitors participated in a debriefing session following their classroom observations, and were impressed by the level of engagement from teachers and students. Many of the representatives are currently using DBQs within their middle and high schools, so they were excited to see elementary students actively participating in higher level thinking and questioning. Pictured are two representatives from Brevard County in Elisabeth Harvin’s fifth grade classroom.
Five Southport Middle students placed in the Top 10 from the seven participating St. Lucie County public schools in this year’s Sumdog.com math competition. Southport Middle finished third overall in the math competition among all participating schools. Sumdog.com is a website where the students can practice math skills while playing fun games! Pictured, from left, are Macy Nielander, first place; Faith Cook, third place; Alycia Hardie, second place; and Christian Oravec, fourth place. Moxa Raval (not pictured) placed ninth in the competition.
Students and staff at Samuel S. Gaines Academy are very proud of the newly formed Girl Scout Troop #40729. The young ladies who participate in troop acitivies learn about their special talents and how to be leaders in their community. The new troop is comprised of second through fifth graders who are Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts. Pictured are troop members with their sashes, who are ready to serve their community with a smile.
Fort Pierce Central High School senior Hunter Sciscente was recently presented with the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall for his outstanding contributions to the community. Being the regional winner, Hunter has since completed an essay on Personal Heritage, which is currently being submitted to the DAR statewide competition along with his well-earned credentials. Hunter, who was the FPCHS Homecoming King this year and was named to the All Area Defense team in football, will graduate with a 4.6 wighted GPA and intends to major in Biology and then attend medical school.
The winners in each of four employee categories for St. Lucie Public Schools were announced at the annual Night of the Stars gala celebration at Lincoln Park Academy February 22, 2014. The recognition program is sponsored by the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and the school board.
Oak Hammock K-8 School media specialist Heather Bolitho was named 2015 Teacher of the Year, and Parkway Elementary School school nutrition manager Angelia Jean-Louis was named 2014 School Related Employee of the Year. Both of these district representatives will move on to regional consideration for the state honors in their categories. The Teacher of the Year distinction is historically for the year after the selection due to the year of service for the state in the following school year. The Morganti Group sponsors the award for Teacher of the Year, and the St. Lucie Education Foundation sponsors the School Related Employee of the Year award.
Self-described “new generation” teacher Leilani Ankiel, who teaches intensive reading at Treasure Coast High School, was announced as the 2014 Outstanding First Year Teacher, though she was accompanying her girls’ varsity basketball team at the state championships in Lakeland and could not attend the event. Robert Plowden, a middle grades social studies teacher at Samuel S. Gaines Academy, graduate of Lincoln Park academy and seocnd generation St. Lucie Public Schools teacher, is the 2014 Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year. These two categories are local recognitions. Seacoast National Bank sponsors the Outstanding First Year Teacher award, and Keiser University sponsors the Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year award.
Pictured, front row, from left, are Robert Plowden, Heather Bolitho, and Angelia Jean-Louis. Back row, from left, are Samuel S. Gaines Academy principal Traci Wilke, Oak Hammock K8 School principal Carmen Peterson, and Parkway Elementary School principal Carolyn Wilkins. Not pictured are Leilani Ankiel and Treasure Coast High School principal Denise Rodriguez, both of whom joined the celebration via video link.
Other finalists for Teacher of the Year were Fort Pierce Central High School chorus and band teacher Matthew Boswell, and Fairlawn Elementary School media specialist Kelly Ridle.
Other finalists for School Related Employee of the Year were Palm Point Educational Research School health paraprofessional Michelle DeGarmo, and Allapattah Flats K-8 School school office clerk Adela DellaCroce.
Schools and district departments annually may nominate an employee at their site for the appropriate categories. Selection committees comprised of former honorees, teachers, and school and district administrators reviewed applications of the nominees for each category and interviewed applicants for the state honors. Three finalists in the Teacher of the Year and School Related Employee of the Year categories were selected, and surprise visits announced those finalists.
From school sites, nominees included for Teacher of the Year (TOY), School Related Employee of the Year (SREY), Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year (DMEY) and Outstanding First Year Teacher (OFYT), were:
Teacher of the Year
NOMINEES
GREEN ZONE
C.A. Moore Elementary Katherine Christopher
Dan McCarty Robin L. Fillmann
Forest Grove MS Leigh Kimberly Bretherick
Ft. Pierce Central HS Matthew Boswell
Ft. Pierce Westwood HS Maureen Greenberg
Lakewood Park Elementary Jennifer Lusardi
Lawnwood Elementary Ashlay Parker
Palm Pointe @ Tradition Jade Alisen Joie
Samuel Gaines K-8 Christen McCray
St. Lucie Elementary Angela Ehrhard
Weatherbee Elementary Cindy Keesler Winterkamp
White City Elementary Rhiannon Myers
RED ZONE
Allapattah Flats K-8 Danya Etter
Bayshore Elementary Jennifer Archer
FK Sweet Elementary Cynthia Langel
Ft. Pierce Magnet School of Arts Heather Nesbitt
Lincoln Park Academy Sally VanDereedt
Manatee K-8 Dawn Montoya
Oak Hammock K-8 Heather Bolitho
St. Lucie West Centennial HS Carol E. Rondeau
St. Lucie West K-8 Michelle Fryer Dommel
Treasure Coast HS Grace Pierre-Louis
West Gate K-8 Kimberly L. Wolcott-Rappuhn
Windmill Pointe Elementary Stephanie E. Sakowski
BLUE ZONE
Fairlawn Elementary Kelly Ridle
Floresta Elementary Grace Duvelsdorf
Mariposa Elementary Theresa Delancy
Morningside Elementary Allison R. Hargroves
Northport K-8 Alexander M. Phillips
Parkway Elementary Laurie A. Farr
Port St. Lucie HS Shea Lodes
Rivers Edge Elementary Natasha R. Rodriguez
Savanna Ridge Elementary Andrea N. Rice
Southern Oaks MS Tiffany Barrett
Southport MS Maureen Dakin
Village Green Elementary DeeDee Bradley
Alternative Education Steven Michael Farley
School Related Employee of the Year
GREEN ZONE NOMINEE
C.A. Moore Elementary Linda Faye Gilmore
Dan McCarty Cynthia Gamble-Carrion
Forest Grove MS Theresa Shepkosky
Ft. Pierce Central HS Maribell Lein Beckham
Ft. Pierce Westwood HS Dura Loving
Lakewood Park Elementary Leon Peterson
Lawnwood Elementary Tamara Moore
Palm Pointe @ Tradition Michelle DeGarmo
Samuel Gaines K-8 Cequila J. Terry
St. Lucie Elementary Lorraine Walker
Weatherbee Elementary Pamela Ferentzy
White City Elementary Jill Figgiani
RED ZONE
Allapattah Flats K-8 Adela DellaCroce
Bayshore Elementary Amanda Adams
FK Sweet Elementary Donna Haynes
Ft. Pierce Magnet School of Arts Garry Athill
Lincoln Park Academy Karen Bausola
Manatee K-8 Joseph Share
Oak Hammock K-8 Denice Edge
St. Lucie West Centennial HS Cinthya T. Cordero
St. Lucie West K-8 Mary Catherine Park
Treasure Coast HS Terri Elias
West Gate K-8 Maureen A. Reimers
Windmill Pointe Elementary Deidra Legg
BLUE ZONE
Fairlawn Elementary Venus Burch
Floresta Elementary Viviana Gross
Mariposa Elementary Wesley Dessources
Morningside Elementary Mikea Jordan
Northport K-8 Cecil Smith
Parkway Elementary Angelia Jean-Louis
Port St. Lucie HS Donna Ney
Rivers Edge Elementary Laura Tidey
Savanna Ridge Elementary Ursula Biallo
Southern Oaks MS Pamela Post
Southport MS Eileen Kielbasa
Village Green Elementary Raul Silverio
SLCSB EMPLOYEES
Business Services
Information Technology Services Lori Winn
Curriculum Odessa Randolph
Student Services Christine Jordan
Superintendent’s Suite Sharon Taft
Facilities Diania Breakenridge
Transportation Nikki Collins Prince
Federal Programs Lilianna Tisheh
Alternative Education Bridgette Wilson
Student Assignment Angela Moreno
NOMINEES
NOMINEES
GREEN ZONE
C.A. Moore Elementary Jodi Morris
Dan McCarty Nicholas Berkely
Forest Grove MS Jessica Aljure
Ft. Pierce Central HS Jeffrey Rymer
Ft. Pierce Westwood HS Ltc Scott P. Caldwell
Lakewood Park Elementary Alma M. Mosley
Lawnwood Elementary Christine Ekstrom
Palm Pointe @ Tradition Chezare Reyes
St. Lucie Elementary Claudia Jackson
Weatherbee Elementary LaShawnda McNair
White City Elementary
RED ZONE
Allapattah Flats K-8 Laura Barnes
Bayshore Elementary n/a
FK Sweet Elementary n/a
Ft. Pierce Magnet School of Arts Yanet Garcia
Lincoln Park Academy Jillian Rozycki
Manatee K-8 Mari Stokes
Oak Hammock K-8 Lindsay Ham
St. Lucie West Centennial HS Amy Chumney
St. Lucie West K-8 Anne W. Mack
Treasure Coast HS Leilani Ankiel
West Gate K-8 Amy Glauber
Windmill Pointe Elementary Kelita Johnson Singleton
BLUE ZONE
Fairlawn Elementary Cori Jones
Floresta Elementary Jillian Wagner
Mariposa Elementary Erica Morales
Morningside Elementary
Northport K-8 Candice Zablotny
Parkway Elementary Leslie Garcia Williams
Port St. Lucie HS Deborah Garcia
Rivers Edge Elementary Jennifer Vazquez
Savanna Ridge Elementary
Southern Oaks MS Brittney Sapp
Southport MS n/a
Village Green Elementary Felicia Smith
Alternative Education Debbie Shalaew
Outstanding First Year Teachers
NOMINEES
GREEN ZONE
C.A. Moore Elementary Jodi Morris
Dan McCarty Nicholas Berkely
Forest Grove MS Jessica Aljure
Ft. Pierce Central HS Jeffrey Rymer
Ft. Pierce Westwood HS Ltc Scott P. Caldwell
Lakewood Park Elementary Alma M. Mosley
Lawnwood Elementary Christine Ekstrom
Palm Pointe @ Tradition Chezare Reyes
St. Lucie Elementary Claudia Jackson
Weatherbee Elementary LaShawnda McNair
White City Elementary
RED ZONE
Allapattah Flats K-8 Laura Barnes
Bayshore Elementary n/a
FK Sweet Elementary n/a
Ft. Pierce Magnet School of Arts Yanet Garcia
Lincoln Park Academy Jillian Rozycki
Manatee K-8 Mari Stokes
Oak Hammock K-8 Lindsay Ham
St. Lucie West Centennial HS Amy Chumney
St. Lucie West K-8 Anne W. Mack
Treasure Coast HS Leilani Ankiel
West Gate K-8 Amy Glauber
Windmill Pointe Elementary Kelita Johnson Singleton
BLUE ZONE
Fairlawn Elementary Cori Jones
Floresta Elementary Jillian Wagner
Mariposa Elementary Erica Morales
Morningside Elementary
Northport K-8 Candice Zablotny
Parkway Elementary Leslie Garcia Williams
Port St. Lucie HS Deborah Garcia
Rivers Edge Elementary Jennifer Vazquez
Savanna Ridge Elementary
Southern Oaks MS Brittney Sapp
Southport MS n/a
Village Green Elementary Felicia Smith
Alternative Education Debbie Shalaew
Distinguished Minority Educators
NOMINEES
GREEN ZONE
C.A. Moore Elementary Robert L. Suggs
Dan McCarty Latricia Stubbs
Forest Grove MS Erika Macedo
Ft. Pierce Central HS Peter Crespo
Ft. Pierce Westwood HS Jesus R. Rivera
Lakewood Park Elementary Alexandra Laoutas
Lawnwood Elementary Mary Keith
Palm Pointe @ Tradition Jessica Gutierrez
Samuel Gaines K-8 Robert Plowden
St. Lucie Elementary Tiffany Owens
Weatherbee Elementary Norma Marie Miller
White City Elementary Lynette Viruet
RED ZONE
Allapattah Flats K-8 Renee Adderly-Clark
Bayshore Elementary Trisha Budhram
FK Sweet Elementary Alice Parks
Ft. Pierce Magnet School of Arts Gerard Saltus, III
Lincoln Park Academy Veryl Moore
Manatee K-8 Michael Torres
Oak Hammock K-8 Diane Aristide
St. Lucie West Centennial HS Daisy Diaz
St. Lucie West K-8 Venda Renee Taylor
Treasure Coast HS n/a
West Gate K-8 Narvelene T. Lucas
Windmill Pointe Elementary Rosa Myles
BLUE ZONE
Fairlawn Elementary Vanessa Solomon
Floresta Elementary Stacyann Rolle
Mariposa Elementary Quotaysha Jones
Morningside Elementary
Northport K-8 Victoria Frazier
Parkway Elementary Erikka Trabal
Port St. Lucie HS Demetrius Jamille Lane
Rivers Edge Elementary Romie Guffey
Savanna Ridge Elementary Sharline William
Southern Oaks MS Joann Campbell
Southport MS Kerry Parks
Village Green Elementary Actavis McQueen
Alternative Education
The Northport Northstar team that includes Gifted and Enrichment courses for targeted students has opened wide the doors on new technology at the school. The Northport K-8 School middle grades Northstar students, under the direction of instructor and “Project Lead The Way” specialist Christine Santos- Nurse compiled the school’s first ever STEaM Starbots team. The robotics team recently won an award and special competition in Bradenton, Fl at the VEX IQ Add It Up competitions. Parents and students were thrilled to make the encouraging and positive announcement and are thrilled with the implementation of this program to build the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) promotions. Accolades to the entire team of teachers, parents and students. Pictured, from left, are Cameron Barton, Daphney Sheets, Cody Scott, Angel Mozee, Christine Santos-Nurse and Sabatay Lazar. Other team members include parents Suzie Scott, Marcie Waltz and Makenzie Waltz. The Northport K8 community is extremely proud of the STEM initiatives.
Northport K-8 students are very familiar with veterans and the US military because many have grown up seeing men and women in uniform at the school. Northport has built an excellent program called “Veterans In Education” partnership. Veterans visit Northport regularly imparting information and drawing respect from the students. When the opportunity was presented by Superintendent Genelle Yost for students to enter a writing contest offered by the Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658, Northport teacher leaders jumped on the idea. The topic, “What Does Veterans Day Mean To Me?” fit right into the schema of Northport’s overarching themes of respect, patriotism and courage. Students wrote with flair and were able to draw on information that has been taught in classrooms, through Media Center programs such as “Remembering the Forgotten War,” 9/11 Remembrance Program, Veterans Day Community Reading program, “Submarine Life” and a variety of other programs that bring love of country to life. Many referenced veterans by name such as Commander Peter Popolizio who recently achieved the honor of Saint Lucie School District Senior Volunteer of the Year! The six students and their families will be honored at a dinner at the Elks Lodge on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:00 pm. Monetary prizes and plaques will be presented at the dinner. Pictured are Northport students from Nick Carey and Carla Caldwell’s classes who wrote the winning essays. Pictured, from left, are Naema El-Azzami, Syad Rievi, Darley Dorvilier, Taygen Pennella, Trevor Walk and Connor O’Sullivan. The Northport K8 community is extremely proud of all students who participated, teachers Nick Carey and Carla Caldwell, and especially the six winning students.