Students in Maurizio Apostolico’s Visual Computer Modeling class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition are hard at work creating “sprites,” images that can be used in their original game creations.  The concept was to illustrate an original game character, then pixelate the image to create a sprite.  Eventually, these sprites will become fully animated for their final project.  Pictured is seventh grader Logan Henik as he shows what he’s been creating.

Students in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition are pictured here as they work in their classroom.  Students and staff wore blue for “Light It Up Blue” for Autism Awareness with the proceeds going to help support the Autism Speaks Walk which will take place on April 21, 2012.  Pictured, from left front row, are  parent Cheryl Guth, John Howarth, Chelsea Falsey and Amy Chesnut. Back row are paraprofessional Jennicey Zitti and behavior technician Victory Batson-Phinn.  

Thirteen  students from St. Lucie County participated in the recent 57th Annual State Science Fair in Lakeland, the largest academic competition in the State of Florida.  Over 820 students statewide  participated in the event hosted by  the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists (FFFS).  FFFS  is a statewide, non-profit organization authorized by the 1957 Legislature of the State of Florida to discover scientific and technical talent in the schools of Florida and to encourage the pursuit of careers in science and engineering. Students from St. Lucie County participated and received awards/ recognition  in the following categories at the State Science Fair event:  … Read More

Eighth graders in Janet Clayman’s culinary careers class at Forest Grove Middle School recently attended a career exploration field trip to Indian River State College Culinary Institute at the Mueller Campus in Vero Beach. Lisa Lamarre, Academic Coordinator and Chef Deborah Midkiff lead a discussion on eating nutritiously by making informed food choices. The students participated in adding condiments to a salad in which they had to figure the total number of calories. Malik Thompson was awarded an apron for calculating the correct number of calories. The IRSC culinary students prepared and served a healthy lunch. The students were given … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial High School junior Lauren King has published her first novel entitled  A Flower Named Rose. It is a teen romance in which the protagonist, a princess, flees to escape an arranged marriage. Her hope is that on her journey she will find happiness. The publisher is createspace.com, and the book may be ordered from Amazon.com.

Manatee Academy K8 students, from left, Crystal Fissette, Serona Brown, Michael Pecora, Tia Camp, and Naiah James were chosen to represent the school in the All County Elementary Chorus. Attached is a link to the performance which will air on WLX-TV, the St. Lucie County Education Channel, at various times. http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/MediaServicesVideos/ACC_2012_WEB.wmv

 Fifty two cadets from the St. Lucie West Centennial High School JROTC visited the Fort Pierce Coast Guard station recently.  The cadets saw the  facilities, toured the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Blue Fin, got “underway” aboard the forty-five foot high speed patrol boat for a ride out to the Atlantic, and toured the other patrol craft the stations uses on a regular basis.  The cadets gained a real understanding of what it is like to be a member of the Coast Guard and what it means to live by their motto of “Semper Paratus,” or always ready.

Bayshore Elementary’s first grade students in Amber Godown’s Rti group have been demonstrating their knowledge of story elements.  Students picked their favorite books and created a quilt identifying the characters, setting, problem and solution.  Pictured is first grader Olivia Moore-Nazario with one of her favorite books, The Steadfast Tin-Soldier.

Fairlawn Elementary staff won the first ever St. Lucie County School District Wellness Challenge!  Each staff member was treated to a chair massage provided by Spine & Sport Rehab Institute.  It was very relaxing and enjoyable way to recharge before the fourth nine weeks.

Students face tough challenges every day, but 32 cadets from the St. Lucie West Centennial High School Navy JROTC faced a very tough one recently, spending spent four days at the U. S. Navy’s Parris Island Boot Camp.  During their visit they were treated just like any other recruit.  They learned how to follow orders with spit second response times.  They learned to pay close attention to details or suffer “extra military instruction.” Of course, they received “counseling” from their drill instructor, slept in barracks, ate in the Mess Hall, trained on the obstacle course, and drilled just like Marines.  On their … Read More

Lawnwood Elementary students who met their reading goal were recently treated to a special spring activity and Easter egg hunt.  Pictured top row, from left, Michelle Tamayo, Vanessa Dubberly, Ferlie Fabre, Nadia Dimitroff, Gariyana Avant, Karla Ponce, Jonathan Aguilar, and Cynthia Thompson.  Bottom row, from left, Sharell Lack, Macey Allan, Kacey Fackler, Mucola Reed, Zachary Lightsey, and Nathaniel Nichols.

Northport K-8 fifth graders in Valerie Niewieroski’s class helped celebrate National Library Week April 8-14, 2012, at the school by visiting the Media Center and checking out new library books and playaways, which are books with a matching audio reader.  Students are voraciously reading books utilizing the playaways. Sixth grade instructor Amanda Sartain commented that the students don’t even care what they are reading as long as they are using the playaways. The school media center is busier than ever helping families, students and teachers find appropriate reading materials and providing computers for research skills building and finding up to the minute resources … Read More

Cary Schott, Art Specialist at Frances K. Sweet Elementary, and Janey MacArthur, retired from Westwood High School, volunteered for an Empty Bowls program event recently at the Downtown Farmers’ Market of Fort Pierce. Students from several schools made and painted bowls to sell and raise money for the Treasure Coast Food Bank. Pictured, from left, are Ms. Schott and Ms. McArthur.

Fort Pierce Central Culinary Arts students prepared and served lunch for 30 area leaders on March28 inCentral’s Cobra Cafe.  St. Lucie County School Board Member Kathryn Hensley coordinated the lunch during a visit by Dr. Jack Payne, Vice President of University of Florida for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).  Guests included community leaders in education, research, and economic development who highlighted our local area’s ‘possibilities’.  The students served a delicious lunch of spicy tomato soup, Caesar salad, and cheesecake.  FPC Cobras are cooking! Pictured is Gabriela Garcia making Picatta sauce for chicken.

Port St. Lucie High School’s Jaguar ROTC Battalion hosted its 16thannual award ceremony where various awards were presented to deserving cadets. The awardees are selected based on exceptional JROTC performance and superior physical fitness, but a prerequisite for each award is academic excellence. The entire battalion gathered in the auditorium, anxious to learn who earned one or more of the various awards presented at the ceremony, such as the Sons of the American Revolution award, presented to cadet Captain Alex Seipel. Following the ceremony, the JROTC Booster Club hosted a reception for cadets who received an award and special guests … Read More

Pictured from left, Grayson DiBernardo, Will Nelson, Wesley Varn, and Cedrick Magloire are enjoying a “bunny hop”at F.K.Sweet Elementary. The event was sponsored by the PBS team and rewarded children who met their goals by displaying excellent behavior, positve attitudes, and good manners every day.

Second grade students in Kasey Ascani’s RTI enrichment class at F.K. Sweet Elementary are participating in a Readers Theatre activity to improve their reading fluency. Pictured, from left, are Brooke Adams, Juliana Mejia, Zion Hunt, and Jode-Ann Bailey.

Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl spoke to the sophomore class at Fort Pierce Central High recently about his experiences as a child during World War II.  Mr. Feigl, 83, described the unfortunate events he experienced to an audience of over 700 students and staff in the school auditorium, and spoke about how more than once people put their lives in danger in order to protect him. After sharing his emotional journey, Mr. Feigl answered questions and greeted students, who presented Mr. Feigl with a certificate and a gift. “It is very rare to meet someone that is as tenacious as Mr. Feigl,” one student remarked.                                                                                                                                                                          

C.A. Moore students celebrated their parents and guardians at Kids at Hope Night. The students presented their parents with Very Important Parent certificates and wrote letters explaining why they loved them. It was obvious the letters came right from the heart!  Said one student, ” I love you because you brought me into this world. You are my mom and my dad. You are the only ones I have in this world. You work hard to give me what I need. You will always be in my heart no matter what. I love you very, very much. God bless you … Read More