Kindergartners in Northport K-8 RTI classes are learning all about holidays around the world.  Students and instructors  cooked and experienced the many flavorful foods that different cultures enjoy.  Students made and enjoyed latkes for Hannakkuh, cheese Quesadillas for Las Posades, mini pizzas for La Bafona and delightfully hand decorated sugar cookies to celebrate Christmas.  Kindergarten students appreciated cooking around the world and can support why each selected their favorite cultural food dish.  Pictured are teachers Staci Saunders and Chelse Goergen with several kindergartners.

Northport K8 School Northstar seventh grade instructor Mala Woessner and third grade instructor Glenda Taylor combined forces to teach a common Learning Goal.  Seventh grade students taught basic research skills using selected websites to guide third grade partners and to complete a display board for the school’s Multicultural Festival.  Students used research techniques to organize, compile and summarize information using a common format and showcased information about Germany.  Students pictured, from left, are Okyiah Mclean, Jailene Ventura, James Mikovsky and Marissa Maffucci.

The Northport K-8 Media Center radiated beauty, power, strength and a sense of family recently as the students and teachers celebrated and honored Women’s History.  Each year during March, Northport Media Center transforms into a center for women’s culture.  The program this year was dedicated to Connithea Arrindell and also to the strong, powerful and fearless women of the United States military.  The acts in the program included  Spanish teacher, Vicki Baird singing “I Am The One,” third grade teacher Tiffany Tredor playing her violin, eighth grade student Taylor Greger singing “Wind Beneath My Wings,” seventh grade girls in Dot Still’s … Read More

Northport K-8 School was abuzz with the excitement of Grandparent’s Day recently. A special luncheon was held in the cafeteria as grandparents met their children for lunch. Tables were decorated with floral arrangements and students were thrilled that special visitors had arrived. That afternoon, first grade teachers, Renee Immordino, Michelle McCloskey and Pam Mishler invited grandparents from their classes of students to a special children’s program with songs and poetry honoring all grandparents . Middle grades Culinary Arts instructor, Rachel Ellsworth collaborated with the teachers as her classes baked and showcased homeade apple pies, pineapple upside down cakes and offered … Read More

Northport K-8 School has achieved the school district’s Parent Involvement award for the middle/senior level. Northport K-8, a Title 1 school, submitted its “Take The Lead And Read” program for consideration. The program standards must apply a welcoming of all families into the school community, effective communication, support of students’ success, sharing power, speaking up for every child and collaborating with the community. The award highlights exemplary programs in Florida schools. The award also reflects innovative practices for recruiting, training and recognition of family and community members.  Northport’s programming includes strong PTO support, 21st Century before and after school program, veterans program, Waggin’ Tales … Read More

Northport K-8 Girls Treble Chorus performed recently at the District 13 Florida Vocal Association adjudicated festival or Music Performance Assessments for Chorus.  The all-girl middle grades choir achieved an overall Superior rating.  The chorus performed a German song titled, “Bist Du Bie Mir” as well as a spiritual song, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.”  Students also performed sight reading materials.  Bravo to Northport K-8 choir director Shirley Lyons.  Pictured with the girls and Mrs. Lyons is Northport K-8 principal Glenn Rustay.

Northport K-8 fourth graders in Juliette Thelusma’s class participated in a group science fair project called Pop Rock Science.  Students learned the meaning of the words purpose, hypothesis, data, constant variable, results, conclusion and research.  Students and instructor then applied the knowledge gained to a fun and informational science fair project.  After understanding the meaning of scientific terms, students put pop rocks in balloons and attached them to soda bottles.  The pop rocks were allowed to fall into the soda and students watched as carbon dioxide was released.  The conclusion was reached that the Pepsi brand contained more carbon dioxide than … Read More

Students in Juliette Thelusma’s fourth grade class at Northport K8 School created a reflection journal recently depicting the elements of literature.  Students defined each element, then created an example and drew a picture to deepen understanding of each element.  The elements students reflected on were figurative language, alliteration, hyperbole, idioms, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, pun and personification. Examples from student Rheanna Buckman’s book included personification, “The sun is smiling on a field of flowers” and hyperbole, “I am so hungry, I could eat a horse!”  Students then shared their books with peers, parents and teachers.  Students represented newfound knowledge in an … Read More

Northport K-8 first graders in Michelle Hicks’ classroom reviewed three dimensional shapes as they prepare for the up coming SAT 10 testing.  Students utilized Venn diagrams to sort  shapes based on whether each shape was rolled, stacked or both.  Students are learning to check faces, vertices and edges to figure our shape.  Mrs. Hicks’ lesson demonstated lively paced instruction, chunking content into “digestible bites” and reflection on information learned. Pictured are first graders McKayla Sanon and Walky Julien.

Students in Northport K-8 Pam Mishler’s first grade class displayed a wonderful tribute to Mother’s Day recently. Students prepared a Reader’s Theater titled, “Buying Mom’s Present” to express fluency and to give their mothers a message about love and respect.  Students also recited a special poem celebrating a mothers love and the struggles that a mother goes through daily. Each student made a gorgeous necklace called “Box of Love” that was prepared and filled  with words and poetry to express their unconditional love for their mothers.  Many parents and grandparents attended the special celebration of love and the learning was palpable.

Northport K-8 students in Tracey Healy’s fifth grade class went back into time to enjoy a breakfast that would be relished during the American Revolution. Students mixed fresh popcorn with a drizzle of honey and some dried fruit served with milk to experience a touch of realism from the time period. The class participated in a DBQ, or Document Based Question, session that revolved around Colonial America and the Revolutionary War. Students participated in an in-depth study of Valley Forge and interpreted diary entries and excerpts from Thomas Payne’s book, “Common Sense!” Pictured, from left, are Adam Kirschenhofer, Sebastian Palomino, … Read More

Students and parents from Northport K-8 School participated in the Family Reading Festival held recently at Mets stadium, sponsored by the St. Lucie County Reading Council. The event was a wonderful and authentic testament to the entire school community, and the sharing of literary ideas, and reading and writing possibilities. Some of the events available for families were “Read To A VIP,” Reader’s Theater stage, many authors to visit, Mother Goose Storytime, Scholastic Book Fair, Gently Used book exchange and a Manga drawing contest. Pictured is Northport student Canon LeJeune, who entered a piece of his artwork in the contest.

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 … Read More

Northport K-8 administration, instructors, students and staff are proud to showcase our Congressional District 16 Project Citizen first place winners. Students researched, wrote letters, listened to speakers and wrote an action plan to get students energized and incorporate more heartily in a student driven school health plan. The theme of the project is “Put Down the Fork and Pick Up the Pace!” Pictured from left are Sabrina Wing, Northport Project Citizen instructor, Mary Ellsworth, Gabrielle Mejia, Cameron Templeton, Myles Jackson, Director of District Project Citizen, Tim Norfleet and St. Lucie County School Board Chairman Carol Hilson.

Northport K8  lower school students Marion Barrios, Bridgeth Molina, Ashley Rivage, Breanna Nevarez and Katlyn Cortez display qualities of achievement and perfect attendance in the Northport K-8 Imagine Learning Lab under the direction of instructor Mary Toto and assistant Marion Morales.  The needs of English Language Learners are addressed with gravity at Northport K-8 School and  achievements are celebrated.

Northport K-8 School honorably commemorated the tragedy of September 11, 2001, with a program in the gymnasium recently. The program included veterans clubs and chapters from across the county as well as Donna Carlsen, Veteran Services Coordinator for St. Lucie County. Students listened as first responder, Albert Hickey, a New York detective, spoke about his first hand knowledge and his response at Ground Zero. Mary Toto, ESOL instructor from Northport, spoke about her recollections that terrible morning and how the teachers, parents and students reacted. Veteran Bill Arnold called the names of the four doomed airplanes, and eight flags were … Read More

Northport K-8 School has declared a champion in the annual Spelling Bee!  Thirty students from grades four through eight participated in a 14- round spelling bee recently with seventh grade Northstar student, Jared Diago, spelling the word microphone correctly to win first place.  Second place winner was Kadisha D’Silva and third place was Koral Saarinen.  Students brought one student guest from their class to witness the exposition and many parents were present to urge on their students to spelling victory.  Jared Diago, pictured in the top row, last student on the right, will continue on to the district Spelling Bee next month.

Northport K-8 students in Mala Woessner’s eighth grade classes have utilized a book from a text set of materials from the September 11, 2001 tragedy collection.  The collection is a thorough learning series of books, dvds, poems, children’s literature texts, news clippings and a variety of other materials to round out student understanding of the events of 9/11.  The book selected is called Shine Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger.  The book was selected  to address the needs of readers from grades 7-12.  The main character of the book is Samar, an Indian American teenager.  The setting is post 9/11.  Sam has … Read More

Northport physical education instructors Linda Walker, Kim Kanada Graff, Daryn Ploeckelman, James Hebb, Kevin Fess and Ryan Carpenter promoted camaraderie and collegial interactions as they modeled for students not only the joy of jumping rope but promoting jumping rope for an excellent cause. Students and PE teachers raised well over $3000 for Jump Rope For Heart this year!  Students were thrilled as the music blasted as each participated in jumping single, double and double dutch ropes.  The display of unity by the coaches promoted a positive atmosphere for the students and much was accomplished.

Northport K-8 seventh grade students in Karen Nystrom’s civics classes welcomed St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky recently to help delve further into the issue of homelessness in St. Lucie County.  After an extended amount of project research, Mr. Dzadovsky focused the students on resources available in the county for people who are dealing with homelessness.  The commissioner directed students to the Community Services Department and gave the class the direct telephone number to reach assistance.  He discussed grant programs, provided information about calling 211 to help solve immediate issues as well as information about how the county extends help to … Read More