A number of Northport K-8 School administrators, teachers, students and parents supported the community and the St. Lucie School District by marching and riding in a float during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr., parade in Ft. Pierce recently. The Northport community was glad to help promote the theme “Continuing the Vision Through Education and Advocacy” and encouraged the community to remember Dr. King’s dream. The Northport K-8 School middle grades band, under the direction of instructor Brian Hoce, marched in the parade and played the song “Stand By Me,” originally performed by Ben E. King. Northport third grade student … Read More

After much preparation and studying, Northport K-8 School declared Northstar eighth grade student Jordan Gray as spelling bee champion of the school.  Also, Northport will send fifth grade student Matthew Zoll from Valerie Niewieroski’s class as first place student in grades four and five.  Students asked for definitions, words to be used in  correct sentences, parts of speech and language of origin.  After seven grueling rounds with 29 students participating, the winners were declared and prizes awarded.  Participating students were: Sabrina Kim, Brian Chamizo, Alex Peraza, James Crowhorn, Jason Derilus, Christina Lambert, Radravious Williams, Mayra Solarte, Shawn Outer-Johnson, Matthew Zoll, … Read More

Northport K-8 School is celebrating National Library Week along with schools and public libraries across the country! This year the observance is April 13 -19. The theme this year is “Lives Change @ your library!” National Library Week was first sponsored in 1958 by the American Library Association or ALA. The week was started as a response to concerns that Americans were spending too much time listening to radio, television and music and were reading much less. More and more, libraries are at the forefront of the community as family budgets perhaps become smaller. The library offers a world of … Read More

Northport K-8 students, parents, teachers and staff joined hundreds of other Florida schools to celebrate literacy this year during “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” The week of January 13 through 17, 2014 was themed “Reading Accelerates Success!” The week long celebration at Northport K-8 School included fun and intriguing activities that helped students connect with all kinds of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The activities helped celebrate the success that Northport has accomplished. Some of the activities included “Get Caught Reading” tickets for prize drawings, Title Mash boards where students decorated their favorite book title, “Chew and Read” activities, … Read More

Northport K-8 administration, faculty, staff and families united for a terrific cause recently.  The Northport family joined with the American Cancer Society to support Relay For Life held at Digital Domain Park.  The school based organizers, third grade instructor Tiffany Tredor and middle grades math instructor Mehgan Drost generated support for the walk by promoting the Relay For Life continually through the school year to students and families.  This year, thanks to the Relay For Life team, the school met the goal of $2500 and turned in $2696.  Northport K8 tuned into the theme of the Relay For Life this year … Read More

Northport K-8 School Neon Navigators, a team of fun-loving, running enthusiasts, got together for a special 5K run called Color Vibe held recently at the Saint Lucie County fairgrounds. The colleagues and some of their children came together to run for charity and to simply have a wonderful time role modeling good health habits and the joy of completing the walk/run together. Pictured, from left, are former Northport instructor Liz Devereaux, Mary Ellsworth, Chris Prusa, Shana and Chris Cicio and their children, Principal Glenn Rustay, as well as Christine Santos Nurse, Nick and Jennifer Carey and their children.

Northport K-8 third grade students in Linda Beidler, John Fallon, Tiffany Tredor, Diana Lankow, Glenda Taylor, Melanie Polascak , Becky Reuther and Janine Wiecks classes received a special visit from sheriff’s deputy Boger and his K9 partner Molly recently.  Third graders read an informational text about police dogs and then learned first hand how deputies locate drugs.  Molly is a seven year old canine and is an aggressive finder.  When Molly sniffs drugs, she paws, claws and becomes excited to reveal the hidden contraband.  The community lesson was an extension of previously learned knowledge utilizing complex text and was an … Read More

Northport K8 School administration and staff recognize the fact that parental involvement is critical for a truly successful school. Northport K8 PTO sponsors many events throughout the school year such as, Breakfast With Santa, Student of the Month, Fun Run, Fifth grade Moving Up ceremony, AYP celebrations, school wide beautification programs, Teacher Appreciation programs, faculty breakfasts, holiday luncheons and eighth grade graduation. The PTO also matched the school Media Center’s Titlewish program by matching funds collected. The Media Center was able to purchase many new books. Northport k8 School would love to have additional parent involvement and encourage all to become involved … Read More

Northport K-8 students in Susan Matteson’s eighth grade critical thinking class are selecting books to prepare to demonstrate enthusiastic reading with an engaging and lively pace with Lorri Lamm’s second graders. Students will pair together to read and enjoy new books. The brand new books are a product of the media center’s partnership with the Northport K-8 School PTO. The books were purchased through a community book fair called Titlewish. Titlewish is an online zone offered through Follett Book Company. The Titlewish program allows the parents, grandparents and community members to purchase library ready books. The Northport PTO donated $1,500 for exciting, new … Read More

Northport K-8 School administration, teachers and staff incorporated the St. Lucie County School Board’s theme of “Cruising To Excellence” into the overarching theme of the Northport message for the 2013-14 school year.  Faculty and staff returned to the school Media Center for introductory meetings, review of Common Core initiatives, team planning, Instructor evaluation reviews and reinforcement of positive messages. They were welcomed into the center completely decorated in a Hawaiian Islands motif complete with tiki hut and totem pole. The messages of unity with the focus on student achievement were clear and the brevity of polishing the collective Northport halo was … Read More

Northport K-8 teachers and students followed the initiative of the St. Lucie County School Board Wellness Manager Carlye Fabrikant and participated in the program “Take A Walking Lunch Instead of a Working Lunch!”  Teachers and students followed the new healthy walking path mapped out at the school on their lunch breaks and planning periods. Participation in wellness activities has increased at the school this year as students, faculty and staff have participated in a variety of walks, runs, healthy eating plans, weight watchers classes and on campus zumba classes.  Pictured on the healthy walk, from left, are Northport K-8 media specialist … Read More

Northport K-8 School recently partipicated in Walk To School Day! The walk started at Sportsman Park in Port St. Lucie at 8:30 AM, and a group of 120 students, parents, instructors, Principal Glenn Rustay and committee members De Green, Northport science instructor, deputy Richard Green, school resource officer and an array of community involvement personnel joined in the walk to support pedestrian safety awareness and increase childhood activity.  The “Walking School Bus” was a terrific success and an active display of community support for the program.  Pictured, from right, are Northport students Shadae Stone, Farrah Dorsainvil, Maria Garcia and Jeverel … Read More

Northport K-8 third graders in Tiffany Tredor, John Fallon, Diana Lankow, Linda Beidler, Melanie Polascak, Glenda Taylor and Janine Wiecks classes celebrated literacy,  as well as Positive Behavioral Support or PBS, through team building activities recently.  Students paid Northport SAIL Notes to choose from sharing cookies and milk with their stuffed animals while listening to traditional fairy tales, watching a movie while munching popcorn, listening to German folktales and creating a mask to represent the character, playing a board game or attending a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from the tale Alice In Wonderland. Pictured is a sampling of third graders who … Read More

Northport K-8 School is extremely proud and honored to assist Big Brothers, Big Sisters of St. Lucie County begin the celebration of National Mentoring Month. Northport has an extensive and strong partnership with the organization and encourages the strong bonds and connections that can lift students to a higher level in both literacy and citizenship. Northport currently welcomes six Big Brothers, Big Sisters mentors along with case manager, Lauren Fowler, into the school to assist and support students with behavior skills and strategies. The school also has three AmeriCorps tutors who fall under the Big Brothers, Big Sisters umbrella, including … Read More

Northport K-8 School Media Center is open for business and promoting the joy of reading this year!  Long range goals have been formulated with student achievement in the forecast.  Students will learn to select books focusing on their interests and quality research skills are connected to classroom instruction.  Premier literacy programs are offered through the media center targeting common core standards across the curriculum.  Some of the quality programs offered are Veterans Partners In Education programming, September 11 commemoration program, community reading programs and partnerships, Young Authors program, spelling bee, Women’s History programming, book fairs, multicultural events, guests speakers on … Read More

Northport K-8 Media Specialist Lynne Gruszka, with the collaboration of a network of Northport teachers, put together an authentic, student empowering program recently in honor of Women’s History Month. Students researched and paid tribute to women such as Condoleeza Rice, Susan B. Anthony, Mother Theresa, Joan of Arc, Rosie the Riveter, Margaret Thatcher and many more. Students sang a special selection of the National Anthem as a tribute to strong women in the military, a student rendition of Maya Angelou’s famous poem “Phenomenal Woman” with a dance routine, and a rousing rendition of “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge was sung by students in Juliette … Read More

Northport K-8 media specialist and group facilitator Lynne Gruszka, along with assistant principal Benigna Montenegro, Coordinator of Learning Communities, are pleased with the progress of the Reading Learning Community that is occurring in the school’s Media Center.  Teachers are utilizing the book, “Teach With Your Strengths, How Great Teachers Inspire Their Students” written by Rosanne Liesveld and Jo Ann Miller as a scaffold to professional conversation and camaraderie.  Teachers in the group are learning to recognize the similarities of all great teachers and how to capitalize on their specific teaching talents as well as  how to better develop individual strengths.  Teachers … Read More

Northport K-8 kindergartners took part in a pilot study at the school called “Sounds For Intelligence!” The program consists of brain-strengthening sound exercises. The core techniques include a series of sounds vocalized while visualizing parts of the brain, eyes, ears and back of the neck. The exercise is less than five minutes when used correctly each morning, and helps to create balance in brain function. Phonemic Intelligence uses a small unit of sound called a phoneme. The phoneme also carries intelligence and knowing. Phonemic Intelligence was first introduced as “Mind Sound Technology” in the USA, Canada and India. It has … Read More

Kindergartners in Nancy Yost’s class at Northport K8 produced a charming display for parents and grandparents recently in their classroom.  Students used singing, verse and rhyme to showcase learning three main requirements for plants to grow: sun, air and water.  Students used verse to portray the months of the year and used pictures to impress with their vocabulary skills.  A few of the words were stumble, journey, absurd and gorgeous.  Much hard work, determination and family support helps to make Nancy Yost’s classroom and her students a success story for all students.  Special thanks to classroom volunteer Sally Poole who is … Read More

Northport K-8 kindergartners in Staci Saunders’ and Chelse Goergen’s classes celebrated Gingerbread Man Day recently by decorating gingerbread men using foam shapes and sequins, made word family gingerbread houses, counted one to 20 using gingerbread shapes, graphed the number of cookies decorated, estimated numbers of cookies and made a variety of patterns using the gingerbread shapes. Students also joyfully decorated gingerbread tree ornaments using glitter and glue.  The activities supported many daily lessons and justified vital classroom information while valuing student interests and community spirit.  Pictured is Mrs. Saunders with several of her students.