Mariposa Elementary School recently held its second Read to Succeed night. Assistant Principal Sandra Bushby, pictured, presented reading strategies and tips for parents to use with their children at home. Afterwards, everyone played Word Bingo, and all students went home with a new book to read!
Assistan Principal, Sandra Bushby, presenting some reading strategies to parents.
Mariposa Elementary School third grade students recently received an early present! The Sunset Rotary Club of Port St. Lucie visited the school and distributed dictionaries to over 120 students, and shared some songs and dictionary games with the students. Pictured are Rotarians Lenny and Vickie Lloyd entertaining the students.
First Grade at Station 13
Mariposa Elementary School first grade students went on a field trip to Fire Rescue Station 13 for a fire safety presentation. The students learned important lifesaving tips and fun facts about firefighters. After the presentation the students got an inside look at a fire engine, toured the firefighters’ living quarters, and even got to try on a firefighter’s jacket.
The Fort Pierce Central JROTC Cobra Battalion recently enjoyed a Family Night, when parents and cadets come together and parents get the opportunity to see their children receive awards for his or her endeavors. Awards were given for Community Service, Leadership Education and Training (LET) Level attained, Student Government, Varsity and JV Sports, Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, JROTC Summer Camp and more. In addition to awards, LET level 1 Cadets who participated in this year’s first Promotion Board were promoted based on scores received by their class leaders. Of all the LET level 1 cadets, 14 Cadets were promoted to Private, 40 Private First Class, and 19 to Corporal. Pictured is LTC (R) Al Nevarez and 1SG (R) Randall presenting the awards to the cadets.
This Article was written by the FPC Battalion Public Affairs Officer, Cadet Captain Gene Moore Jr.
Principals from St. Lucie County Public Schools annually donate toys for the holidays for the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County clubhouses. The annual campaign was initiated by retired longtime principal Charles Cuomo many years ago. Pictured, from left, are Parkway Elementary School principal Ucola Barrett-Baxter, St. Lucie West Centennial High School principal John Lynch, Boys and Girls Club executive director Norm Penner, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christine Taylor, and Jennifer Jock with Boys and Girls Club.
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 homeless veterans and the placement of children under the age of
18 in foster care. Mr. Dzadovsky told the students that he and the other commissioners will do a better job of making a clearing house for information on the homeless and on family assistance for filling out all
paperwork. Mr. Dzadovsky effectively assisted the students of Northport by providing concrete and first hand information about the homeless issue in St. Lucie County. Pictured surrounded by students and Principal Glenn Rustay is Commissioner Dzadovsky.
The Samuel Gaines Academy soccer team competed at the recent district tournament at Fort Pierce Central High School. The Colts proudly represented their school as they shut out two of their opponents on their way to the semi-finals for a second straight year. Led by Captains Jesus Gil, Pablo Luna, and Gustavo Salgado, the Colts were eliminated just one game shy of the finals. Pictured are team members, from left, back row, John Davino, Rodrigo Vega, Daniel Perez, Jose Garcia, Javier Gasca, Pablo Luna, Luis Nava-Esquivel, Manuel Esquivel, German Torres, and Alex Cruz. Front row, from left, are Erick Diaz, Xochitl Barrios, Jesus Gil, Jeremiah Flores, David Osorio, Christian Hernandez, Gustavo Salgado, and goalie Macolister Bispo.
Gaines Academy kindergartners recently went on a field trip to Fire Station # 1 in Fort Pierce. Pictured are Luis Guerrero-Rivas and Alejandro Cano from Jennifer Denise’s class exploring Engine # 1, getting the feel of what it would be like to have a career as a fireman.
Gaines Academy cheerleaders and student council members participated in the Sights and Sounds Parade on Second Street in Fort Pierce recently, and despite the rain fun was had by all. Pictured from left are Taylor Peebles, Storm Santana, A’Treyanna Moore, Principal Carolyn Wilkins, and Asia Jones.
Northport K-8 third graders in Melanie Polascak’s class wrote letters to veterans to commemorate Veteran’s Day. The teacher and students discussed bravery, Americanism, patriotism and the love of America. After the class discussions, Ms. Polascak and her students decided to extend their efforts and work with the Red Cross Holiday Mail For Heroes program and get the students’ messages to the men and women who are hospitalized or on the front lines in the U.S. military. The students’ writing included description, use of effective words, good mechanics and punctuation, as well as heart for the holiday season.
GCELA’s Data Specialist Stephanie Smith-Martin assists family members picking up the food.
Community leaders, businesses, and churches recently joined forces to ensure that children and their families could share a meal this past Thanksgiving. Meals were distributed from Garden City Early Learning Academy to 1207 families, feeding approximately 5,400 individuals. Making the event possible were The Roundtable of Saint Lucie County, Kids at Hope, Garden City Early Learning Academy, Calvary Compassion Church, Calvary Chapel PSL, Calvary Church Jupiter, Wal-Mart Distribution Center #7038, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Harvest Food and Outreach, Tony Donadio of Donadio & Associates, Dr. Jeffrey Dinofer and students from Port Saint Lucie High School’s (HOSA) Health Occupation Students of America, St. Lucie West Centennial High School’s baseball team and Coach Jamie, Reprographics Solutions, the St. Lucie County Schools’ Security Department, Allapattah Flats K-8, Weatherbee Elementary, The Nau School, and Chester A Moore Elementary.
Fifth grade students in Donald Logue’s science class at F. K. Sweet Elementary School, pictured from left Ethan Yarberry, Taylor Roop, and Ciara Ackenbrack, can explain all about the various body systems, such as digestive, skeletal, resipiratory, and circulatory. Each student created a poster with original drawings and explained the work of that system on index cards.
Fifth grade student China Whitehead from Christy Nuccio’s class at F.K. Sweet Elementary School recently won second prize for her essay on the Statue of Liberty. The local VFW sponsored the contest open to all fifth grade students in St. Lucie County.
Students Everett Braynen, Isabelle Storck, and Rita Ahmed from Jodie Steele’s fifth grade class at F.K. Sweet Elementary School are pointing out their completed poster projects on the Everglades. Students researched information of the past and present conditions of the Everglades, and offered suggestions that might lead to restoration in the future.
Carey Schott, art teacher at F.K. Sweet Elementary School, has been busy teaching third grade students the differences between warm and cool colors. After finishing their paintings, students then cut them into strips and wove patterns creating a totally different look. From left, Jonathan Tan, Jayla Flagg, Morgan Busby, and Stoney Braynen are pleased with their final results.
The Port St. Lucie High School JROTC Raider Team finished the season strong by “surviving” the recent annual Raider campout. The Jaguar Battalion Raider team spent a hardy night out at Camp Ah-Ba-Lu-Fa in Fort Pierce. Throughout the over night campout, the Raiders exhibited their mastery of survival sills. On the first day, the primary concentration was on shelters and fire building. With the use of their Army survival books, the Raiders learned about the different types of fires and the easiest ways to build them. The team built fires by using many different techniques available. The team also constructed shelters from the natural vegetation and basic survival packs and slept overnight in the shelters they created. The second day the Raiders learned how to correctly pack for venturing into the outdoors and how to dress in survival layers. Afterwards, the Raiders displayed the shelters, fires, and traps they built the previous night. The cadets then showed their shelters, traps, and fires to the rest of the team. This final event concluded the survival campout. The team enjoyed the campout and learned many useful survival skills. They have all passed their final test as Raiders and are now proud to be known as such. Becoming a Raider is not easy but the Jaguar Battalion Raider team worked hard to grasp this accomplishment and showed how committed they are to the team. The Jaguar Raiders proved that in any situation they lead the way.
The Port St. Lucie High School Raider team recently competed in a regional event at South Fork High School in Martin County. The competition consisted of 17 schools vying for victory in five demanding events, beginning with a physical fitness test which consisted of two minutes of push ups and sit ups. Following the physical fitness test, the Raider Team endured a grueling three-mile terrain run. The Raider Team’s third event was a cross country rescue where cadets carried a 120 pound litter and three 30 pound rucksacks on their backs for one mile. Afterwards, they took a skills test consisting of first aid and land navigation. When the Raider Team finished their skills test, they participated in the rope bridge competition. For this event, the cadets had to construct a rope bridge over a fifty foot obstacle without any errors in their knot or while they were traversing the rope bridge. The team earned a third place trophy in the event. The commander of the male team was cadet Command Sergeant Major Mason Propst, and mixed team leader was cadet First Lieutenant Devynn Rhodes. The Jaguar Battalion raider team put forth a strong effort in all events and anticipates next year’s competition at South Fork High School.
The Port St. Lucie High School Jaguar Battalion helped provide a warm welcome to the students, alumni, and friends of Port St. Lucie High School during homecoming events. The parade began at Village Green Environmental Studies School and proceeded along Lennard Road to Port St. Lucie High School. The Jaguar Battalion was a distinguished group in the parade. The battalion’s Color Guard, consisting of cadet Second Lieutenant Jeremy Dardon, cadet Sergeant First Class Sebrina Saladeen, cadet Sergeant First Class Kyle Schenck, and cadet Second Lieutenant Andrew Miller, won first place for the parade.