by CASANDRA FLORES | May 26, 2012 | School News
Selected third through fifth grade students from Danya Etter’s music class at Allapattah Flats K-8 participated in the end of the year, “An Adventure in Music,” spring concert. The program consisted of a variety of songs from “You Raise Me Up” and Somewhere Over the Rainbow to Boogie Woogie, and “Beethoven’s Wig”. The concert was a success. Pictured left to right, back row: Zoey Van Etten, Jai-Marcia Williams, Alyssa Hartman, Aidan Atkinson, Kaminee Edmondson, Raeanne Anderson, Jerusalen Figueroa, and Jensen Erbe. Middle Row: Alexis Allen, Riley Franklin, Melanie Lynn, Brittany Braessler, Tori Braessler, Jacqueline Sebastian, Isabella Iarriccio, and Alec Boxer. Bottom Row: Jacob Barbour, Nicholas Kennedy, and Katherine Hassell.
by Lori Beans | May 25, 2012 | School News
Over 200 students at Bayshore Elementary School participated in the Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program this year, and students who read all 15 of the selected books were presented with trophies during the WBAY morning news show. Congratulations to, from left, Christopher Bonilla, Brianna Creary, Marcos DosSantos, Joshua Alexander and Lanie Polanco.
by Lori Beans | May 25, 2012 | School News
Bayshore Elementary School’s kindergarten students recently performed during PTO Night. Students shared their love of literacy with families through songs, stories and skits. Pictured, from left, are Gemmavady Thay-Sann from Jeanne Comperchio’s class, Solymar Sanchez from Jennifer Archer’s class and Miguel Vela from Jeanne Comperchio’s class.
by Roberta Farrell | May 24, 2012 | School News
Palm Pointe Educatioinal Research School at Tradition has learned the school has the fourth highest combined fund raising total in the sstate for schools hosting both a Jump Rope for Heart event and a Hoops for Heart event. The school has raised approximately $14,000 over the past two years for the American Heart Association through the school’s two events as was highlighted in the most recent issue of the Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and sport journal.Robert Santoro, Kristen Stafford, and Dale Francis, Physical Education teachers at the school, coordinate the events. The top student fund raiser for the past two years has been second grader Isabella Favata, who for over the past two years has raised over $3,500 for the cause. Isabella adds a personal touch in her
fund raising by giving people a note on why she has decided to make this her number one charity as well as furnishing people who donate with a hand-written thank you card with a challenge for them to top their donation the following year. Pictured, from left, are Coach Robert Santoro, Isabella Favata and Coach Kristen Stafford.
by Leslie Dangerfield | May 23, 2012 | School News
Kristin Helser, a local attorney practicing civil law, recently visited White City Elementary with her mother. The two guests addressed fifth grade students about the laws governing our state. Their commitment to helping the students of St. Lucie County is certainly valuable to our community and we are glad to have them as part of our White City family. Pictured, from left, Kristin Helser, Johnnie Mathis, Ms. Helser’s mother and Spelando Sauveur.
by Roberta Farrell | May 23, 2012 | School News
Kindergarten students in Raynell Mowitt’s class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoy a Mother’s Day Tea with their moms. Each student videotaped a special message to their mom on why they are so special to them. Everyone enjoyed refreshments and spending time together.
by LYNNE Gruszka | May 23, 2012 | School News
Northport K-8 sixth grade students in Amanda Sartain’s science classes immersed themselves in a life sciences unit on immunology and the immune system of the human body by forming a living human cell. The students gathered in a circle in the front of the school and joined hands to form the cell. One student remained outside the cell to represent a nasty virus. The virus burst into the cell and chose one person at a time to come into the cell and spread. The process continued until the cell was filled with viruses and the cell burst, spreading the virus into more of the body cells. Northport students were
intrigued by the innovative and uniques method of introducing immunology and the spread of viral illnesses. The students learned the concept quickly and effieciently when motivated by peer learning and instructor monitoring. Pictured is Ms. Sartain and her students.
by Roberta Farrell | May 23, 2012 | School News
Kate Klise, author of “Dying To Meet You,” one of this year’s Sunshine State books, visited Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition recently to discuss her books and give tips to our future authors. Ms. Klise also gave a non-fiction writing workshop for selected sixth graders. This year’s third through fifth grade students who read at least three of the 15 Sunshine State books from their list were able to vote for their favorite and “Dying to Meet You” received the most votes at Palm Pointe. Pictured, from left, are Isabelle Fleurant, Tatiana Philogene and Judith Darville having the books they purchased autographed by Ms. Klise.
by Leslie Dangerfield | May 23, 2012 | School News
Students who follow the ROAR Expectations at White City Elementary in Maria Cranmer’s and Amanda Dewey’s fifth grade class were invited to a tea to celebrate great behavior. Everyone was dressed to impress and enjoyed tea and pastries in an afternoon of elegance. Pictured is Alexis Rinaldo enjoying a cup of tea.
by | May 23, 2012 | District News
Two students from Treasure Coast High School graphic arts programs, Kiersten Pauline and Victoria Willis, were recognized at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for their winning logo design selected for the school district’s Employee Wellness Program. Pictured, from left, are teacher Joseph Randazzo, Kiersten Pauline, assistant principal Nikki Kalvaitis, Victoria Willis, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, wellness program manager Carlye Fabrikant, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.
by | May 23, 2012 | School News
David Phillips of the Treasure Coast branch of the U.S. Green Building Council, South Florida Chapter, presented Generation Green – The 2012 Green Apple Awards at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The awards are designed to recognize and honor outstanding individuals, classrooms and schools in the Treasure Coast region who have implemented and are committed to green innovation in construction and operations. Pictured, from left, are School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Superintendent Michael Lannon, who was honored as the winning schools superintendent in the region, project manager John Gillette, who submitted the applications for the awards, and David Phillips. Others honored were Village Green Environmental Studies School, teacher Jennifer Majors at St. Lucie West K-8 School, and parent Leslie Taylor at Port St. Lucie High School.
by | May 23, 2012 | School News
Students who won medals at the recent Florida SkillsUSA 2012 State Championship were recognized at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The following students were presented: from Treasure Coast High School, gold medals were earned in Crime Scene Investigation by Jessica Ferrer, Stephanie Gulloso, and Lucero Gutarra, and in Criminal Justice by Vanessa Pierre; from Fort Pierce Central High School, gold medals were earned in Community Service by Peletha Dahn, Sandra Luxama, and Nancy Luxama, in Preschool Teaching by Paola Mitchell, in Chapter Business Procedure by Sarah Brianvil, Guarnata Bourjoully, Aja Brown, Cheyenne Elms, Jessica Tolbert, and Nagarian Patterson. From Fort Pierce Central High School, silver medals in Medical Terminology were earned by Allison Smith, in
Entrepreneurship by Te’Aera Thompson, Schninieline Oelien, Mishda Eliassaint, and Gabrielle Lopez. From Fort Pierce Central High School, bronze medals for Crime Scene Investigation were earned by Imani Hall and Rebecca Blocker. Those students who achieved a gold medal in their technical or leadership event are invited to represent Florida in the upcoming National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, June 23-28, 2012.
by | May 23, 2012 | District News
The St. Lucie County Education Foundation Teachers of Excellence Utilizing Technology committee selected three educators to receive a Dell Computer for their grant application. The teachers were selected based on their unique utilization of technology in the classroom to engage students and improve student achievement, and were presented their laptops at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. Pictured with their new Dell laptops, from left, are 2013 Teacher of the Year JoAnne Trubisky from Windmill Point Elementary, who also received the laptop as part of her awards from the Education Foundation, Diane Buchholz from Port St. Lucie High, Pamela Garrity from Bayshore Elementary, and Sally VanDereedt from Lincoln Park Academy. Back row, from left, are Education Foundation president Michael Waninger, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Superintendent Michael Lannon, Education Foundation executive director Jim McKenzie, and committee chair and Northport K-8 School principal Glenn Rustay.
by | May 23, 2012 | District News
The Florida History Fair awarded Port St. Lucie High School history fair school coordinator and 10th-grade world history teacher Valerie Arendas with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award, Senior Division, for her many years of dedication to National History Day activities at her school. The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding National History Day educators. Each state selects a junior and senior-division recipient, who receive a $500 cash prize. The names of these individuals are advanced for competition at the national level. Junior- and senior-division winners of the national Behring Award each receive $10,000. Pictured, from left, are Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Kerry Padrick, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Valerie Arendas, Supervisor of K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Tim Norfleet, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.
by | May 23, 2012 | School News
At the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting, a thank you letter dated May 1, 2012 to St. Lucie County School District from Sung Poblete, President/CEO of Stand Up To Cancer, was read and presented to the board for its ongoing support of Cody Denig’s Circle of Hope Event. A Resolution proclaiming the third Tuesday of every September as “Circle of Hope Day” in St. Lucie County,
Florida, adopted on April 3, 2012 by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County was also read and adopted by the school board. Pictured in front with Cody, right, is Director of Student Services Barbara Casteen, who has been appointed as the district liaison to Stand Up for Cancer and Circle of Hope event organizer. Back row, from left, are School Board vice chairman Debbie Hawley, board members Dr. Donna Mills and Troy Ingersoll, Mr. and Mrs. Denig, school board member Kathryn Hensley and chairman Carol Hilson, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.
by LYNNE Gruszka | May 23, 2012 | School News
Northport K-8 third grade teacher Melanie Polascak organized a Space Walk for her third grade team as a culminating activity on a space/solar system unit of study. Students and teachers used flags to mark the sun and then made a live scale model of the solar system. Each step between flags represented 30 million miles in the real solar system. Students marked 36 million miles as the first step in the solar system. Students took six steps to Mercury from the sun. Students and teachers then counted footsteps using the scale model to reach all planets. The final planet, Neptune, is 3.7 billion miles from the sun. Students were able to learn knowledge from the scale model and were able to connect this knowledge to their unit of study and their trip to the planetarium. The live scale model presented vital information in a new and intriguing lesson format for third graders.
by | May 23, 2012 | School News
Officers from the United States Coast Guard station in Ft. Pierce visited Rivers Edge Elementary School recently to discuss water safety and the role of the United States Coast Guard with students in all first grade classes. The students were extremely excited to get on board the 25ft RBS SAFE boat. Pictured are students in Lauren Furtah’s first grade class with Petty Officer Third Class French, left, and Seaman Hadley from the Coast Guard station in Ft. Pierce.
by LYNNE Gruszka | May 22, 2012 | School News
Northport K-8 kindergartners dazzled parents,grandparents,administrators and guests as they read from a fluency showcase of reading skills. Students dressed for their parts such as the lion, the skateboarder, the cat, the frog, the dreamer and the bug and used a microphone to show off their reading fluency skills in a readers theater program. The school’s media center was filled with parents, grandparents and guests as the students blended different story lines to make one great student showcase of reading skills. Included in the program was a special presentation by ESOL students who portrayed their language cultivation success. Pictured are teachers Chelse Goergen, left, and Staci Saunders on the far right and students in their classes.
by Barbara Whellams | May 22, 2012 | School News
Staff and faculty mentors at F.K. Sweet Elementary were recently treated to a luncheon compliments of PTO, and hosted by Robin Zabitosky and Barbara Whellams, Mentoring Committee chairs. Mentors give of their time before, after school, or during their lunch, to help students in the areas of reading, math, and writing. The program has grown each year with nearly 90% of the staff and faculty participating. Pictured are Robin Zabitosky, left, and Barbara Whellams.
by Eve Hilcken | May 22, 2012 | School News
Students at Windmill Point Elementary performed the musical “Annie, Jr.” at Treasure Coast High School recently. All of the students who participated did a wonderful job, and we truly appreciated all the teachers, staff and parents who helped make this play such a huge success!!
