The last full week of October, St. Lucie Public Schools celebrated Apple Crunch, where everyone was encouraged to bite into an apple at noon. This activity was part of Food Day 2013, which is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Employees and students alike enjoyed the activities, and teachers planned lessons around it to educate about the nutritional value of apples. Cafeteria managers arranged for apples to be donated to any classroom that wanted to participate. From Mikki Watson’s second grade class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition, are pictured, front row … Read More

Northport K-8 middle grades students were electrified, enthused and inspired to learn more about the Korean War recently. Northport students paid tribute to the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice by an integration of interactive learning, an informative and moving PowerPoint presentatioin, guest speaker Peter Popolizio, current Commander of local chapter 106 of the Korean War Veterans Association as a primary source, and were also treated to renditions of music of the time period by Northport choral students under the direction of James Kirk. Student Brandt Wrench sang a sweet version of Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” … Read More

The St. Lucie County School District Science Support team was a guest at the local Spanish language radio station La Gigante 1330 AM to discuss the importance of science in the curriculum. The experts discussed STEM, science projects, the Parent Tips website, and future science brochures in three languages. They also talked about three Hispanic high school students who attended last year’s international science fair, two of whom earned full scholarships, as well as a three-session Science Project Family Night recently at Forest Grove Middle School. The team members provided crucial information to the Spanish-speaking community on science-related academic resources. … Read More

Members of the Southport Middle School National Junior Honor Society sponsored an annual food drive to collect non-perishable food items for the school’s food pantry. Students were asked to donate an item in exchange for a dress code pass for the day. Due to the enormous response, school staff was able to fill the pantry, which is available anytime for Southport families in need. Pictured, front row, is Hannah Spurr. Standing, from left, are Myrria Roux, Megan Edmunds, Alaura McGonnell, Anastacia Kastis, Fabiola Barco-Garcia, Quinn Tucker, Ryan Downing, Eden Varney, Jade Greco, Brianna Wayne, and Gabrielle White.

Bayshore Elementary School recently held a “Minute to Win It” event for students and their families. This was an exciting evening of learning combined with the fun of “Minute to Win It” activities. Families learned many strategies to help their children be successful with reading and math skills. Pictured is fifth grade teacher A.J. Bevacqua monitoring students while they try to keep balloons afloat for one minute, without using their hands!

Students in Maria Nunez’s fourth grade class at Mariposa Elementary School have been exploring their senses and how to describe what they interpret with them. Pictured, from left, Anthony Serrano, Joshua Pierre, Devon Barbour, Joslyn Patterson and Faith White were presented with four centers:  listening, smelling, touching, and seeing. The students had to describe the objects using ONLY their senses. It was an enthralling activity that will help them both in writing and science. Students were engaged and so excited about tying in science lessons previously taught and applying them to their writing.

Bayshore Elemenary School is a Positive Behavior Support award winning school.  As part of the positive approach to behavior, students have the opportunity to earn jazzy cash by demonstrating their SPOTS.   Pictured, from left, are fifth grade students from Paulette Seay-St. Louis’ class Kaitlyn Carlisle, Paul Comperchio, Kris Simmons and Hannah Friend using their jazzy cash to participate in a school-wide bingo game.

Northport K-8’s reading leadership team, consisting of 36 teachers and administrators, is offering students a variety of enrichment programs to extend the classroom learning experiences. One of the opportunities offered to students is a Reading Mentorship program. Students are learning all about the program on the morning announcements and are actively engaging in informal reading mentorships. Media specialist Lynne Gruszka, literacy coach Deb Mock, and math coach Josie Bailey are urging the students to forge ahead and join the mentorships, which meet informally to talk about books that are being offered. For example, Mrs. Gruszka is providing students an opportunity … Read More

Gardens are brimming over with blooms at Rivers Edge Elementary School! Students in Denise Ward’s second grade class worked tirelessly in the welcoming entry garden. Generous donations of mulch and new blooms from Lowe’s, along with students and parent contributions, helped spruce up all the beautiful campus and classroom gardens. Gardening day at Rivers Edge was a tree-mendous success! Pictured, from left, are Jacob Emrich, Lance Eaton, Michael Skinner, teacher Denise Ward, and parent Mrs. Skinner.

Southport Middle School’s recent literacy event was well attended by teachers, parents, and students, including approximately 60 parents and student attendees. In addition to the Scholastic Book Fair, there were eight other wonderful activities for students and parents to participate in, as well as cookie decorating, pizza, popcorn, snow cones, and candy sales. Pictured are sixth grade literacy teachers Andrea Levin, left, and Larry Haynes displaying a fun style of learning called “Reading Rocks.”  Southport seventh grade literacy teacher Jim Saunders created the game to engage students by promoting reading with a fun activity! The event brings families, students, faculty and staff together … Read More

Students in Christopher Calvo’s third grade class at WestGate K8 School have been studying the history of Costa Rica for Hispanic Heritage Month. The students’ main focus was the volcanoes of Costa Rica.  Students created volcanoes constructed using cardboard and plastic water bottles, covered with paper mache and painted. Pictured, standing from right, are Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, WestGate Principal Robert Cranmer, and Mr. Calvo with students watching in awe as the six volcanoes were erupted in the hallway.

Students in grades kindergarten, first, and second grade at Allapattah Flats K-8 School watched a special performance titled “Men in Plaid: The Kilowatt Connection.” The performance was put on by The National Theatre for Children and it was sponsored by Florida Power and Light. The performers conveyed important messages to students about energy conservation in order to make the world a better place. Pictured, from left, are Kaylee Harris from Kylee Dvorak’s second grade class and visiting performers Zack and Nate.

Lakewood Park Elementary fourth grade students recently participated in a STEM design project called “Make it Stick.” They used common kitchen ingredients like flour, corn starch, baking soda and salt to mix a solution to see which group could make the strongest glue. Students tested their glue using beans and index cards.  After their first glue solution was created, they analyzed and recorded the class results to design a new recipe using a different combination of the same ingredients. Pictured are fourth grade teacher Allison King with students Kathryn Baldwin, left, and Kimberly Temene finding out which homemade glue sticks better.

Lakewood Park Elementary fourth grade students had the opportunity to participate in the Channel 25 WPBF Weather School Wednesday with meterologist Chris Martinez. The program was fun, interactive and informative for the Lakewood Park Elementary students. The students received information about the local weather, weather forecasting, hurricanes, tornadoes, and many other interesting facts. The students loved visiting the Channel 25 weather truck, viewing the TV cameras, TV monitors which had the students’ photos on it, seeing the live shows in progress, and hearing the interesting facts presented by the Channel 25 WPBF Crew. The highlight for the students was to see themselves … Read More

Northport K-8 students participated in a celebration of small increments of success with a focused looked at amounts of Adequate Yearly Progress in a PTO organized AYP celebration recently. Students who achieved progress on the FCAT test last year were treated to several styles of bounce houses and slides, popcorn, hoola hoops and snowcones, as well as the chance to dunk Principal Glenn Rustay and other members of the faculty and staff in the dunk tank. Students also had the opportunity to celebrate PBS, or Positive Behavior Support, gains with a variety of school based activities in classes and on … Read More

Northport K-8 School faculty, staff, administration, students and the family community celebrate the selection of Christine Hunsicker as our representative for Northport K-8 School Adult Volunteer of the Year!  Mrs. Hunsicker has volunteered for the school for the last eight years serving as grade mother for several teachers, PTO parent volunteer and School advisory Board member. This year, Mrs. Hunsicker serves as PTO president. She organizes so many fundraiser and student centered activities such as the Holiday Shoppe, Valentine’s dance, Teacher Appreciation lunches, Yankee Candle, and World’s Finest Chocolate sales. Without Mrs. Hunsicker, many school activities would not be nearly as fruitful and … Read More

Fifth grade students at Fairlawn Elementary School are researching and learning about Native Americans, their dwellings, clothing, foods, and location of different tribes. Students researched and wrote a report, created a natural habitat for display, and gave an oral presentation of their projects. Shown, from left, from Shirley Helton’s class are Hunter Holmes with a Shawnee wigwam display, Layne Chesney is showing an Iroquois Longhouse, and Brooke Green with an Inuit Igloo dwelling.