Fort Pierce Westwood High School junior Helga Vega, a 17-year old junior in the Marine Oceanographic Academy, has been named the Florida Department of Education Distinguished Sunshine State Scholar for St. Lucie County for the 2011-2012 school year. Pictured, from the recent school board meeting where Ms. Vega was recognized, are, from left, Westwood High School principal Mallissa Hamilton, assistant principal Mary Gregory, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Helga and her mother Alicia Vega, and Superintendent Michael Lannon in back.

 Rivers Edge Elementary School leadership class students visited a local nursing home to spread some joy for the holidays.  They sang carols, and served punch and cookies, along with distributing gifts to all the residents.  The students were encouraged to chat with the residents and left with stories, full hearts and a few new friends!  Pictured is Mackenzie Jock, from Melinda White’s fifth grade class, spreading a little cheer as she speaks with one of the residents. Also pictured are fifth graders Megan Massey and Carley Johnson.  Thank you leadership team for bringing miles of smiles to share!  

Students in fifth and seventh grades in St. Lucie County Public Schools will continue this school year with a program begun last year with Vaccine Gene Therapy Institute called Saturdays with Scientists. Approximately 200 students will meet with the VGTI scientists at three different high schools during the school year to work on real scienitific projects. The purpose is to spark an interest in science for the students. Pictured is the school district Science Curriculum supervisor and 2011 Teacher of the Year Cristina Veresan with students at Treasure Coast High School for a recent Saturday event.

Students in Fairlawn Elementary kindergarten classes recently visited St. Lucie County’s Central Fire Station. The students toured the fire station and explored the fire trucks. Some children were able to spray a real fire hose!  Pictured is kindergartner Mason Cohen and a new friend.  

Northport K-8 students welcomed two St. Lucie County School Board members recently to discuss the school boards views on the issue of homelessness in St. Lucie County.  The students heard much information about the issue for their seventh grade required Project Citizen research class.  Pictured is school board vice chairman Debbie Hawley, who along with board member Troy Ingersoll visited Karen Nystrom’s class on separate occasions to discuss what the school board can do for homeless families with children attending the school system.  The board can make arrangements to transport the children from temporary housing to the home school, can assist … Read More

Staff from the Hobe Sound Nature Center recently visited the fifth grade students from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition and did a presentation on animal adaptations and food webs.  They demonstrated with their Birds of Prey animal collection.  The students got to dissect owl pellets.  The discussion showed the different things that were eaten by the owls.  Pictured, from left, are  Andi Risi and Hector Arocho.

 First and second grade students at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoy shopping for books in the library in the Rocket Reader Store.  Students can use 20 rocket fuel dollars to purchase books in the store.  This is for all students in grades K-8 and is open different days for different age groups.  Pictured, from left, are Amia Stone, Isabella Aviles, Colby Kuba, Braylen Lopez , Logan Kerr, and De’shawn King.  Great job rockets…keep up the good work!

Third grade students in Janet Baraniak’s class performed a readers theater during Bayshore Elementary’s Barnes and Noble Bookfair and Family Day.  Alicia Roberts, left, and Thomas Papakalodoukas act out a scene from The True Story of Kamishiba.

Bayshore Elementary School students in third, fourth and fifth grade are participating in the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards Program.  This is a statewide program that is designed to motivate students to read high interest, contemporary literature.  Pictured is Cassandra Fess’ third grade student Sergio Miranda showing off the sunshine he earned after reading Beastologist.

 A talented group of district staff carolers roamed the halls at the school district offices recently spreading holiday cheer. Pictured, kneeling, are Wanda Wilson, left, IT, and Toni Thompson, Human Resources. Standing, from left, are Allison Romero-Michel, Student Records, Janice Williams, Human Resources, John Earnhardt, ESE, Rowena McGallagher and Ronald Barr, Human Resources.          

Northport K-8 kindergartners in Staci Saunders’ and Chelse Goergen’s classes celebrated Gingerbread Man Day recently by decorating gingerbread men using foam shapes and sequins, made word family gingerbread houses, counted one to 20 using gingerbread shapes, graphed the number of cookies decorated, estimated numbers of cookies and made a variety of patterns using the gingerbread shapes. Students also joyfully decorated gingerbread tree ornaments using glitter and glue.  The activities supported many daily lessons and justified vital classroom information while valuing student interests and community spirit.  Pictured is Mrs. Saunders with several of her students.

Kelly Lunt’s eighth grade homeroom class at Southport Middle School collected the most box tops for the first half of the year and were able to celebrate with a pizza party courtesy of the school’s PTO.  The PTO at Southport Middle School encourages students to make a difference for their school in a positive way.  There are many activities that benefit the students, community and the school as a whole that the PTO promotes, and members always have some kind of “special treat” for the students to show appreciation of their efforts!

Northport K-8 Northstar students in grades six, seven and eight under the direction of instructor Kathy White celebrated November as National Novel Writing Month.  The project involves amateur and professional writers from all over the world.  The Young Writer’s program allows students to choose their own word goal.  Mrs. White’s Gifted and Enriched students wrote from a range of 2500 to well over 4000 words.  Eighty five percent of the team succeeded or surpassed their word goals with eighth grader, Emily Royo, exceeding her word count by 10,000 words for a total of 14,987 words published.  Students used all aspects … Read More

Students from Fort Pierce Westwood High School’s ESE/Gifted programs have begun a school enterprise at the district offices. Several mornings a week, students run Panther Place in the employee lounge featuring breakfast items at very reasonable prices. Pictured, right, is John Earnhardt, ESE/Gifted program specialist with senior Sabrina Bajking.