Students in Desiree Miller’s first grade class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition explored the St. Lucie lagoon with the Manatee Center.  The students captured many different fish and other sea animals in the estuary using nets.  After collecting the different things they found, the students sorted them before releasing them back into the river.  It was a great learning experience and a fun day for all!  Pictured are students, from left, Sabrina Fontanez, Jasmine Chuong, Kiera Murray and a staff member from the Manatee Center helping them.

Students from Glenna Sigmon’s first grade class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition spent a sunny day seining with the Manatee Center at Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce. This enriching opportunity provided a hands-on learning experience to deepen students’ understanding of local habitats and ecosystems. These concepts of science were embedded across all content areas for the unit to facilitate the district’s STEM initiative in which science is an integral part of English, language arts, and mathematics. Pictured, from left, are student Shelby Kay Sigmon, a volunteer from the Manatee Center helping the students, and student Cailey Landreville.

First grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition have deepened their understanding of Tier 2 vocabulary with Vocabulary Day! Pictured are first grade students learning new words and their definitions in a meaningful way. Students employ several techniques to meet Common Core Standards for vocabulary including context clues, synonyms/antonyms, illustrations, and role play as evidenced by their unique, inventive costumes when they transformed into their favorite vocabulary word for parents and other special guests on Vocabulary Day.

Palm Pointe first graders are Super Scientists! Students from Glenna Sigmon’s first grade class generated and tested hypotheses and used their super science skills to observe matter. Fort Pierce’s Manatee Observation Center’s Super Science Day presentations gave these first grade scientists the opportunity to make lava lamps and flubber. Students watched the matter change before their eyes.  Students were excited to record data and reflect in their journals. Pictured are Matthew Antonakos, left, and Zachary Veldhuis.

First-grade students at Palm Pointe had a fun morning on the farm as they rotated through three stations – the Feeding Trough, Billy Goats Problem Solving, and Old MacDonald’s Farm, where students met Farmer MacDonald himself. It was a great morning of learning about farms, animals, and crops using our math and reading strategies!

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently held its second CSI Night. The case was to solve the mystery of the missing goldfish. The school had purchased a goldfish and had just named it “Rocky” in a contest when the goldfish was found missing from the front office. Students were asked to come to a special CSI Night to run forensic type tests to figure out who took the fish. There were five suspects from the Palm Pointe staff: bookkeeper Dana Schang, instructional coach Kathleen Melrose, fourth grade teacher Jada Jolie, fifth grade teacher Juliet Murray, and second grade teacher Lorri Rudzinski. After … Read More

Students and staff at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition celebrated literacy recently by participating in a Literacy and Linguini evening event.  Families were invited to come and enjoy a free spaghetti dinner and watch students and staff members act out skits from books. Over 600 people came out for the event. Students all received a free book and bookmark and adults were also able to participate in a free book exchange. Several staff members dressed up as storybook characters and took pictures with students. Pictured, from left, are staff members Matthew Kovach, Summer Kuba, Emily Bokhart, Debbie Iseman, Dana Schang, Tina Ruybulid, … Read More

Recently families at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition participated in a CSI Family Mystery Night, “The Case of the Missing Pandas.”  Students and families became part of their very own CSI team by completing experiments to eliminate suspects. By using their superior science and deductive reasoning skills, the students would solve the case on who stole the missing pandas from the school. Families also enjoyed a free dinner while they waited for the final results.  Over 600 people came out to enjoy this yearly event! Pictured, from left, are fourth grade student Autumn Eichenlaub, health paraprofessional Michelle DeGarmo, and seconde grade … Read More

With almost 600 people in attendance, Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition’s CSI Family Mystery Night was a huge success!  Assistant principal Latricia Thompson and fifth grade teacher Michelle Powers organized the event, which encourages critical thinking and the scientific process skills.  There were many different labs set up for parents and students to test their observations, collect data and use deductive reasoning to do their investigation.  Families completed the different labs and eliminated “suspects” accused of stealing the Palm Pointe rocket.  CSI night incorporated drama and mystery in a realistic application of science investigations.  This was educational fun for … Read More

Palm Pointe 3rd graders had a blast at their family and parent engagement event! They enjoyed pizza with their families, learned about grade-level curriculum and expectations, and used their puzzle-solving skills to crack the mystery code!

Students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition in first and second grades enjoyed reading to their families.  This is an annual “Read to Your Sweetheart” celebration and the students love sharing their favorite books with their family and friends.  Their love for reading is wonderful!

Palm Pointe students and parents really enjoyed our Fall Book Fair.  The theme this year is the Enchanted Forest.  Many dedicated parent volunteers gave of their time and talents to transform our the Media Center into a magical land filled with books and surprises.  Gnomes, fairies, and unicorns were hiding around every corner.  The fair ran from November the 5th through November the 15th.  

Members of the Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition’s National Junior Honor Society recently donated hundreds of canned goods and other non-perishable items to the Harvest Outreach Center.  A special thank you to all students and staff who donated to help make the holidays merrier for many people. Pictured from left is Michaela Keaton, Annalise Ramirez, Fariha Imran and Jessica Lee

Dean Deborrah Estrada and Dean Christopher Pierre at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition have been talking to kindergarten students about making good and safe choices. The deans reminded students about Palm Pointe T.E.A.M. expectations:  T – Take Responsibility, E – Engage in your Learning, A – Act Respectfully and M –Make Safe Choices. They also explained about the reward system with “rocket fuel” and consequences for not following rules. Great job listening, kindergartners!

Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition’s  Elementary School Counselor, Summer Kuba  attended the Florida School Counselor Association Conference  and presented to school counselors around the state on best practices for implementing classroom guidance lessons, small group and individual counseling.  Her presentations included a focus on student anxiety, engaging students through interactive lessons, advocacy efforts, and elementary counseling techniques.

So proud of our Palm Pointe Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Hatfield. They had a stellar performance on stage, and they sounded great in the sight reading at Fort Pierce Central for the Band MPA!

Congratulations to both of our Odyssey of the Mind teams who went to Orlando this weekend to compete in the State competition. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication this year! Way to go Rockets!

The Rocket Chorus from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently visited Torrey Pines Research Center in Tradition to sing for the WPSL Christmas Kids radio program. Pictured are Lillian Bloom, left, and Grace Lloyd, who were among the 63 students who participated in the performance. The Palm Pointe chorus has been singing for the local program since the school opened.

The Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition middle school chorus kicked off the holiday season with an appearance at QVC in Port St. Lucie recently. This annual performance was for the WPSL Christmas Kids Radio program. The chorus sang a variety of holiday music, including “Rock Around the Jingle Bells,” “Hope’s the Thing,” “Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child,” and “Seasons of Love.” The students were directed by Christine Hill, pictured far right with the chorus.