Northport is pleased to announce that fifth grade student, Paris Martinez from Mrs. Tredor’s class has won not only the District 9 Florida Retired Educators Association essay contest, but also the state of Florida award. At the state level, Paris will receive a special plaque and $150 cash award. The topic was “A Memory With a Grandparent!” The accolades just keep .❤ We are teaching children to be courageous writers at our school. 📚
ST. LUCIE COUNTY – For the second consecutive naming period, St. Lucie Public Schools received the distinction of being recognized as one of Florida’s Healthy School Districts. The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools (FPHS), in collaboration with Florida Action for Healthy Kids (FLAFHK), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) and Florida Healthy Kids Corporation announced the honorees for the period of May 2018 through April 2020. Florida Healthy School Districts have established a culture and climate that embraces the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach to reduce barriers to learning and support academic achievement.
Superintendent E. Wayne Gent recognized the proactive efforts of Director of Child Nutrition Services Deborah Wuest by stating, “Mrs. Wuest has a clear vision for positive nutrition. From best practices in preparing and selecting well-balanced meal plans to developing healthy partnerships, she and her team are dynamic. The District has a thriving Farm to Table program and students in culinary academies benefit from authentic student chef cook-off competitions.”
The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools looks forward to continuing to support and promote the efforts of the Florida Healthy School Districts. It is important to ensure the future of a healthy Florida by creating health literate and health practicing students and staff that are fit, healthy, and ready to learn.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) ranks fifth in Florida and proudly serves as the highest-ranking District on the Treasure Coast with a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. As a B rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
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For the second consecutive naming period, St. Lucie Public Schools received the distinction of being recognized as one of Florida’s Healthy School Districts. The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools (FPHS), in collaboration with Florida Action for Healthy Kids (FLAFHK), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) and Florida Healthy Kids Corporation announced the honorees for the period of May 2018 through April 2020. Florida Healthy School Districts have established a culture and climate that embraces the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach to reduce barriers to learning and support academic achievement.
Superintendent E. Wayne Gent recognized the proactive efforts of Director of Child Nutrition Services Deborah Wuest by stating, “Mrs. Wuest has a clear vision for positive nutrition. From best practices in preparing and selecting well-balanced meal plans to developing healthy partnerships, she and her team are dynamic. The District has a thriving Farm to Table program and students in culinary academies benefit from authentic student chef cook-off competitions.”
The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools looks forward to continuing to support and promote the efforts of the Florida Healthy School Districts. It is important to ensure the future of a healthy Florida by creating health literate and health practicing students and staff that are fit, healthy, and ready to learn.
ST. LUCIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVITES YOU TO AN EXCLUSIVE MICROSOFT INTERACTIVE NIGHT
Learn About the New Magnet Program at Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies
WHO: Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies (District Staff will be on hand to answer questions and assist with the magnet application process)
WHAT: Microsoft Interactive Night
WHEN: Monday, May 21st from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: 2250 S. Jenkins Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34947
WHY: Samuel S. Gaines Academy is now accepting magnet student applications for Kindergartners and 6th graders
This exclusive Microsoft Interactive Night will provide students and parents the opportunity to explore the innovative experiences that await students interested in preparing for careers that include the latest state-of-the-art applications in robotics, coding, gaming, virtual and augmented reality.
After a brief presentation, our Microsoft partners will showcase many of the interactive learning tools that will be part of the new Emerging Technologies Magnet School opening this fall.
PARTICIPANTS: Families interested in learning about Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) ranks fifth in Florida and proudly serves as the highest-ranking District on the Treasure Coast with a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. As a B rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY – “Student Perks: It’s More Than Coffee” had just the right blend of innovation and effective programming to receive an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The collaborative venture with St. Lucie County honors students in St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program by providing them the opportunity to run a coffee kiosk at the County Administration Office. They reap benefits of authentic experiences while their customers benefit from their valuable services.
Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “We appreciate our community partnerships. When we have opportunities such as this to work together and achieve our goals, our community continues to grow stronger, and our students benefit from positive mentors.”
NACo President Roy Charles Brooks said, “Counties seize opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and build stronger communities every day. Achievement Award-winning programs are examples for counties that are determined to enhance services for our residents.”
Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more.
NACo will recognize award-winning counties at its 2018 Annual Conference and Exposition July 13-16 in Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee.
Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) ranks fifth in Florida and proudly serves as the highest-ranking District on the Treasure Coast with a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. As a B rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
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“Student Perks: It’s More Than Coffee” had just the right blend of innovation and effective programming to receive an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The collaborative venture with St. Lucie County honors students in St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program by providing them the opportunity to run a coffee kiosk at the County Administration Office. They reap benefits of authentic experiences while their customers benefit from their valuable services.
Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “We appreciate our community partnerships. When we have opportunities such as this to work together and achieve our goals, our community continues to grow stronger, and our students benefit from positive mentors.”
NACo President Roy Charles Brooks said, “Counties seize opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and build stronger communities every day. Achievement Award-winning programs are examples for counties that are determined to enhance services for our residents.”
Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more.
NACo will recognize award-winning counties at its 2018 Annual Conference and Exposition July 13-16 in Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee.
Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) ranks fifth in Florida and proudly serves as the highest-ranking District on the Treasure Coast with a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. As a B rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) was a proud sponsor of the Education Foundation of St. Lucie charity softball showdown between the SLC Firefighters and the School District. Many people had a chance to stop by the SLPS vendor table to learn about exciting new performing arts and STEM academies — Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie and Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies.
Inside the stadium, the bases were loaded with St. Lucie Public Schools personnel and St. Lucie County Firefighters battling it out in an exhibition game for student scholarships and teacher grants. Thanks to everyone for your support!
Fort Pierce Westwood High School football jersey #32, worn by legendary Oakland Raider Khalil Mack, will move to the distinguished ranks of retirement in a pre-game ceremony at 7 PM on May 17, 2018 at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce. Fans are invited to show their Panther Pride and celebrate Mack’s on-field and off-field accomplishments as his jersey takes its place alongside #20 Craig Swoope and #6 Ryan McNeil.
St. Lucie Public Schools Athletic Director Jill Willett said Mack will be in attendance along with family members. “We are very excited to honor such a distinguished athlete. He gives just as much off the field as he does on the field by volunteering to speak to local student groups and serving as a positive role model,” she added.
After graduating in 2009, Mack attended the University of Buffalo on a football scholarship where he was a First Team All American in 2013. He holds the all-time NCAA record for forced fumbles and is tied for career tackles for loss. In 2014, this defensive all-star was drafted fifth overall in the NFL Draft to the Oakland Raiders where he was named by ESPN as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mack holds the Oakland Raiders franchise record for sacks in a game, and he became the first NFL player in history to be named to the first team All Pro team in two different positions in the same year. In 2016, Mack was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and in 2017, he was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl Team.
After the ceremony, Fort Pierce Westwood takes on Sebastian River in their Spring Game. Gates open at 6:15 PM, and there is a $6 admission fee.
After making their mark at school and district History Day events, St. Lucie Public Schools students traveled to Tallahassee with aspirations of coming home champions. They did not disappoint with positive results in the following areas:
Outstanding County Award (St. Lucie West K-8)
Juliana Pack
Adriana Bravo
Alexa Tango
Samantha Jenkins
Emily Bouchillon
Individual Performance, 3rd Place Senior (Port St. Lucie High School)
Cathia Oge
Junior Group Exhibit 3rd Place (Palm Pointe Research School at Tradition)
Adriadna Hiller and Joshua Sherman
This year’s State History Day competition was held at Tallahassee Community College with over 1,100 students from 31 Florida counties competing in categories ranging from individual essay to website development. Regardless of how the students chose to deliver the message, the theme was consistent. According to the Florida History Day contest details, this year’s theme of Conflict and Comparison in History, students were expected to ask questions about occurrences in history, explore how it occurred, why it happened, and then tackle the consequences.
Social Studies Program Specialist Kate Ems said, “I congratulate our students. They were very well prepared to present their projects to the judges and articulate the key elements of their research.”
SLPS added an emergency alert button to the St. Lucie Public Schools app. The app is FREE and available in your favorite app store. The added feature allows users to submit anonymous tips to school and district officials anytime, anywhere.
The STAR program’s focus is to recognize employees for their conduct, skills and actions that correlate with the District’s vision and acknowledge those who exemplify its core values. During May’s School Board Meeting, four individuals were recognized for their STAR qualities.
Wanda Bird (Miss Rosie) – Bus Driver, Transportation Department
Denise Coyle – Bus Driver, Transportation Department
Beth Payne – Teacher, Morningside Elementary School
Margot Williams – Teacher, Village Green Environmental Studies School
Click on this link to view the Board Meeting and watch the recognitions.
The School Board recognized the following students who won calendar and poster art contests from the Florida Council on Economic Education:
Jayden Carey – 4th grade student at St. Lucie Elementary
Jata Kahn – 4th grade student at St. Lucie Elementary
Jennavie Porteous – 1st grade student at Village Green Environmental Studies School
Gracious Ianniccheri – 1st grade student at Village Green Environmental Studies School
The students used art to express economic concepts such as trade, savings, entrepreneur, and more. Students also presented Board Members with a Florida Council on Economic Education calendar in which Jayden’s artwork was displayed.
Dr. Kevin G. Perry along with Brian Garcia of Remnant Construction and contest sponsor presented the 2018 awards to the following Dr. Samuel S. Gaines Essay Contest winners:
HIGH SCHOOL
1st place – Shantal Mitchell (Performance Based Preparatory Academy)
2nd place – Sara Aube (Lincoln Park Academy)
3rd place – Jamya Wiley (Lincoln Park Academy)
MIDDLE SCHOOL
1st place – Jayden Diago (Northport K8)
2nd place – Leslie Aguilar-Ayungua (Samuel S. Gaines Academy)
3rd place – McKayla Sanon (Northport K-8)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1st place – Hayden Starkman (Savanna Ridge Elementary School)
2nd place – Lesly Hernandez (Samuel S. Gaines Academy)
3rd place – Yeraldy Salgado (Ft. Pierce Magnet School of the Arts)
St. Lucie West Centennial High School Junior Kaylee Wampler was applauded for her student leadership efforts at May’s School Board Meeting. She has already started making her mark and lending her voice to causes for which she feels passion.
Most recently, she was an eloquent speaker at the League of Women Voters. In addition, she organized the March for Our Lives in Port St. Lucie.
Kaylee is to be admired for her advocacy, self-empowerment, and encouragement to engage others in positive community action.
Morningside Elementary’s (MSE) Odyssey of the Mind Team is advancing to the World Finals competition slated for May 23 – May 26 in Ames, Iowa.
Morningside’s team will convene with approximately 850 other teams for what is deemed to be the largest creative problem-solving competition.
Julie Moore is an instructor at MSE and coach for the MSE Odyssey of the Mind Team. She explained that the team, operating on their own were challenged to create a team-operated vehicle.
Judging was based on the creativity and uniqueness of the vehicle’s propulsion and steering systems.
The team then used the vehicle to complete three tasks: curling, tracking, and jousting — all while telling an original and humorous story. Their solution incorporated creative use of recycled materials, team choreographed song and dance, and a uniquely powered vehicle that was successful in all three areas of competition.
At the World Finals, teams will be judged on three different areas: their long-term problem, their spontaneous problem, and overall style of their solution, and we wish them great success.
They are currently hard at work fundraising for this trip along with the support of the Education Foundation of St. Lucie County.
Julie Moore – Coach
Addison Moore, 5th grade
Derek Boyer, 5th grade
Josh Caron, 5th grade
Tyler McDonald, 4th grade
Ethan Moore, 3rd grade
Alexis Allen, 3rd grade
Amy Alfonso, 3rd grade
Fort Pierce, FL – Fort Pierce Westwood High School football jersey #32, worn by legendary Oakland Raider Khalil Mack, will move to the distinguished ranks of retirement in a pre-game ceremony at 7 PM on May 17, 2018 at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce. Fans are invited to show their Panther Pride and celebrate Mack’s on-field and off-field accomplishments as his jersey takes its place alongside #20 Craig Swoope and #6 Ryan McNeil.
St. Lucie Public Schools Athletic Director Jill Willett said Mack will be in attendance along with family members. “We are very excited to honor such a distinguished athlete. He gives just as much off the field as he does on the field by volunteering to speak to local student groups and serving as a positive role model,” she added.
After graduating in 2009, Mack attended the University of Buffalo on a football scholarship where he was a First Team All American in 2013. He holds the all-time NCAA record for forced fumbles and is tied for career tackles for loss. In 2014, this defensive all-star was drafted fifth overall in the NFL Draft to the Oakland Raiders where he was named by ESPN as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mack holds the Oakland Raiders franchise record for sacks in a game, and he became the first NFL player in history to be named to the first team All Pro team in two different positions in the same year. In 2016, Mack was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and in 2017, he was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl Team.
After the ceremony, Fort Pierce Westwood takes on Sebastian River in their Spring Game. Gates open at 6:15 PM, and there is a $6 admission fee.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) ranks fifth in Florida and proudly serves as the highest-ranking District on the Treasure Coast with a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. As a B rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
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While attending the #IAMPSL Citizen Summit, Jane Whitaker, Magnet School Coordinator for St. Lucie Public Schools, and Korissa Diaz, Outreach and Recruitment Specialist, shared some exciting news coming soon to St. Lucie County. Two new magnet schools are opening in August 2018. The Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie (CAST) is a K-8 creative arts school for students interested in developing their skills and talents as artists and performers. Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies is a K-8 STEM Magnet School looking for innovative Kindergarten and 6th Grade students interested in coding, gaming, virtual and augmented reality, robotics and more. Both schools will offer advanced level pre-collegiate courses through the prestigious Cambridge University AICE programs. Visit www.stlucieschools.org to find out more information.programs.
Our amazing Cobras organized events over the last month to discuss and bring attention to the issue of school shootings. These events included performances by our Louder Than a Bomb Team, Choir, Drama, and culminated with a student panel discussion. On Friday, May 4th, the audience included our Superintendent of Schools, police officers, local judge, commissioners, representatives, and many other community leaders — all listening to our students! We are so proud of our Cobras!
Community Awareness: