Students in Patricia Dale’s second grade class at Mariposa Elementary School practice spelling skills by playing a game of Bunny Bingo. The game encourages students to memorize their new vocabulary words in a fun and innovative way. Students use bunnies and ducks on a game board instead of chips while a student calls the words for the student players. Pictured, from left, are Mya Bent, Jessie Balderas and Genevieve Bone.
Jump Rope for Heart is an event that takes place at Mariposa Elementary School’s PE field each year as a fund raiser for the American Heart Association. The program was formed to educate students and the community of the importance of a healthy heart free from cardiovascular diseases and strokes. Pictured, from left, are Kervens Saintil, Javon Clarke and Connor Bagnall participating in the fundraising event.
Brandan Cooper in Rose Caraballo’s class aat Mariposa Elementary School demonstrates his knowledge of the United States geography by completing his map quiz in the Media Center. Third grade students have been working hard to learn the states by their shape and location as they complete a digital timed map quiz.
Kindergarten students at Mariposa Elementary were awarded Awesome Artist awards for outstanding work on their fall mosaics. Students first learned about the change of seasons in a science lesson in Carla Bargeron’s resource class. Then the students learned about mosaic art techniques. Pictured, from left, are Abigayle Conner, Brenelly Rodriguez-Guerrera, Jade Mayberry and Noah Corsiglia.
Mariposa Elementary School recently held its third Read to Succeed Night. To begin the night, third grade families participated in a workshop that provided them with tips and strategies that would help them better prepare their children for the upcoming FCAT tests. After the workshop, everyone played Word Bingo, with winners receiving books as prizes. No one went home empty-handed! To cap the evening, refreshments were served to all. Pictured are Quotaysha Jones, standing right, and Judy Graham presenting FCAT information and strategies to parents.
Seventh grade students in Meredith Andrus’ math class at Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition enjoyed an interactive math challenge, Who Am I? Students were given a problem and placed the index card on their forehead without looking at it. Given an answer bank, students solved and matched the problems of their classmates to the answers. After solving all their classmates’ answers, the one answer left would be the answer to their own question. Without ever seeing their own question, students were able to answer their own question and find out who they were. The students enjoyed this fun, learning lesson! Pictured, back, are Erick Laguer, left, and Jordyn Resendez. In front are Braedon Valenti, left, and Abraham Alcolea.
The Port Saint Lucie High School JROTC conducted a Flag Retirement Ceremony as its annual Service Learning Project. The service learning is similar to community service, but the difference between the two is that after the service learning project, a reflection is done. This year, the Jaguar Battalion retired unserviceable flags. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell attended this ceremony, his first ceremony at a retirement of the flags. He was very
impressed at how the ceremony was conducted. It was a beautiful ceremony and it truly was a heart-warming sight to see. All the cadets who participated in this event were honored to be able to be a part of something as wonderful as that
ceremony. P9ictured, from left, cadet Staff Sergeant John Hunter, cadet Private First Class Edwin Oquendo, cadet Private First Class Anson Rivera, and to the far left in the back holding the flag is cadet Staff Sergeant Jaffery Murankus.
The faculty, staff and students at C.A. Moore Elementary School gave a warm Florida welcome to the Worcester Academy baseball team from Worcester, Massachusetts. This is the third year the team has visited C.A. Moore Elementary. The team donates supplies and books to the school on each visit, and this year presented the school with a video camera. The players read to the students and spent time in the classrooms motivating the students to do well in school. Cesar Hurtado, a fourth grade student, commented, “I want to be very successful in school, make A’s and B’s and I am now inspired to get good grades to play baseball.” Makayla Tillman spoke about team member, Turner Greenty reading excerpts from the biography of Babe Ruth. According to Tillman, “I love biographies and I was inspired to finish the biography of Babe Ruth during Spring Break.” Pictured is literacy coach Barbara Sutton giving directions to the team members for their classroom assignments. The team’s annual visits support the local economy as well as the literacy goals of the school.
The Northport K8 School Northstar team has set high expectations for their students. The team set a theme for the year as “Go For The Gold!” Throughout the year, students have been achieving and experiencing the great feeling of meeting challenges set by themselves and their teachers. In Dr. Laura Woodworth’s science classes, the students earn prestigious science “gold medals” for high achievement. Students pictured have achieved a 90% or better on each of the quarters one and three science benchmark tests. Students proudly sporting their gold medals, from left, are Michael Gorbach, Sarah Abulathou, Brandt Wrench, Alaina Franklin, Joshua Benjamin, Cyara Davis and Cameron Templeton. After reflecting on critical information learned, students expressed determination and a great enthusiasm for processing new information.
Two St. Lucie Public Schools students were chosen by the regional judges as international finalists at the recent 58th annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, and 10 were recognized as state finalists. Lincoln Park Academy students Robert Bacchus and Neha Reddy are now eligible to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair next month in Phoenix, Arizona. Robert is studying cancer cells in the brain and Neha is studying citrus greening. The St. Lucie County Education Foundation has established a fund to help support the students and a teacher/chaperone to attend. The link is https://www.educationfoundationstlucie.org/education-funding/project-detail/pid/14/id/10. Pictured, back row, are Kousal T. Rao, left, and Darron Irving. Third row are Haniya Shareef, from left, Cristin Donaldson, and Stephanie B. Fisher. Second row are Neha K. Reddy, from left, Robert M. Bacchus, Jr., and Faizah Shareef. And front row are Vrinda Jerome, from left, Emily Cohen, and Shreya Reddy.
The state competition is an affiliate of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and is sponsored by the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists and the State of Florida Department of Education.
Ten of the 13 St. Lucie County students presenting projects were recognized as state finalists. Finalists included:
• Robert Bacchus Jr. from Lincoln Park Academy- First Place in Senior Biochemistry, $20,000 Scholarship from Rollins College, and $125 in cash prizes. His project was entitled, “Targeting “CancaaRS”: Defining the Novel Functions of Lysyl-tRNA Systhetases in Melanoma Etiology.” His teacher is Mrs. Nancy Hosie.
• Neha Reddy from Lincoln Park Academy- Second Place in Senior Environmental Sciences, $250 in cash prizes. Her project was entitled, “Insights into Off-Target Effects of RNA Interference (RNAi): Management of Huanglongbing, One of the World’s Most Destructive Citrus Diseases. ” Her teacher is Mrs. Nancy Hosie.
• Faizah Shareef from Lincoln Park Academy- Third Place in Senior Botany. Her project was entitled, “Identification of Potential Biological Control Fungi for Control of the Invasive Weed, Mikania micrantha .” Her teacher is Mrs. Nancy Hosie.
• Zoe Barbeau a home schooled student- Third Place in Senior Engineering. Her project was entitled, “Spidron Geometry Applied to the Solar Shade Concept: A Continuation Study”. Her teacher is Mrs. Lori Barbeau.
• Koushal T. Rao from Lincoln Park Academy- Honorable Mention in Senior Botany. His project was entitled, “Changes in Allelopathic Properties of an Invasive Species by Insect Damage.” His teacher is Ms. Lisa Hevner.
• Stephanie Fisher from St. Lucie West Centennial High School- Fourth place in Senior Botany. Her project was entitled, “Effect of Soil Type and Rainfall Intensity on Leaching of Simazine.” Her teacher is Mrs. Connie McCraw.
• Isabelle Victoria Daza from Olivet Private School- Recognition in senior Zoology, $54,000 Scholarship from Florida Institute of Technology. Her project was entitled, “survivorship of Green Lacewing Preying on Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle.” Her teacher is Mrs. Sandra Alexander.
• Haniya Shareef from Lincoln Park Academy- First Place in Junior Zoology, $230 in cash prizes and a nomination to submit research to Broadcom MASTERS. Her project was entitled, “Will Biotic Resistance by the Leafminer Flies Calycomyza platyptera and Nemorimyza maculosa Prevent the Invasion of Mikania micrantha?” Her teacher is Ms. Barbara Saraduke.
• Vrinda Jerome from West Gate K-8- Third place in Junior Chemistry and $100 in cash prizes. Her project was entitled, “Eliminating BPA, Which Method Eliminates the Most BPA from Del Monte French Style Green Beans: Rinsing, Microwaving, or cooking?” Her teacher is Ms. Janet Brewi.
• Cristin K. Donaldson from Lincoln Park Academy- Third Place in Junior Microbiology. Her project was entitled, “What Environmental Changes Increase Lipid Production in Isochrysis Microalgae? Her teacher is Mr. Thomas Balcer.
• Darron Irving from Fort Pierce Central High School- State Finalist in Senior Engineering. His project was entitled, “Do Tubercles Added to the Leading Edge of a Swimmer’s Fin Increase Efficiency?” His teacher is Mrs. Jennifer Kalament.
• Emily Cohen from Fort Pierce Central High School- State Finalist in Senior Microbiology. Her project was entitled, “Heating Up and Thawing; Is Ground Beef’s Bacterial Population Still Growing?” Her teacher is Mrs. Jennifer Kalament.
• Shreya Reddy from Lincoln Park Academy- State Finalist in Junior Biochemistry. Her project is entitled, “Anti-Corrosive Effects of Phoenix dactylifera and Related Species on Aluminum.” Her teacher is Ms. Barbara Saraduke.
Every year, the Jaguar Battalion at Port St. Lucie High School holds an awards ceremony to recognize their best cadets for excellence. At this year’s recent event, many special guests from various civic organizations presented awards to deserving cadets. In addition to the representatives from numerous civic organizations, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, Principal Bridgette Hargadine, and Assistant Principal Brooke Wigginton presented key leadership and academic excellence awards. Congratulations to all the cadets who earned awards. The special guests that attended the ceremony are appreciated for their support and the Jaguar Battalion thanks each and every one of them for taking the time to present awards at the ceremony. Pictured is Jay Wise, left, representing The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and Sons of the American Revolution, St. Lucie River Chapter, presenting cadet Lieutenant Colonel William Benagh with the Sons of the American Revolution award.
Northport K-8 School has been recognized as a certified Natural Wildlife Sanctuary by the Natural Wildlife Federation. The mission of the federation is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. Thanks to the hard work of many of the Northport K-8 teachers and staff, as well as students and their families, the school enjoys a
beautiful and thriving natural habitat for many species of butterflies and gorgeous plants as well as gardens filled with plants and flora that are particular to the state of Florida. Pictured holding the certificate are committee members instrumental in attaining the award for Northport K-8 School including Deb Mock, from left, Jennifer Carey and Shana Cicio.
Second grade students at F. K. Sweet Elementary participated in a presentation by Captain Citrus hosted by the Florida Department of Citrus. Students were taught about the health benefits of Florida citrus, and had a question and answer session with a local citrus grower. Students learned how citrus fruit goes from the tree to the store and their juice glasses. All the children got to sample Florida citrus fruits and Florida orange juice. After the presentation, students had their picture taken with Captain Citrus.
Seventh and eighth grade students on the Northport K-8 Clownfish team combined a great lesson on literacy with a powerful antibullying message in the school Media Center recently. Students read the book “Call Me Yubbie” written by Joe Wojcik, better known as Joe The Biker in their reading classes. Each student then wrote an essay putting themselves in the shoes of one of the characters in the book. Some students took on the persona of the bully and others took on characteristics of the victim as displayed in their very poignant writings. Joe Wojcik then visited with the students discussing his life story, how to deal with real life bullies, why bullies do what they do and why victims act as they do in real life. Joe engaged the students in a tremedous morning of interaction, discussion and “real talk” about bullying and combined effective literacy lessons in the discussions. The program can be viewed in its entirety
on the St. Lucie Education channel on School Report in the near future.
Fort Pierce Central High School freshman Andrew Caputo has been selected by the Stuart chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) for a $1500 scholarship to attend and study at the EAA’s Air Academy at Oshkosh, Wisconsin for one week in June. Andrew is presently in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/St. Lucie County Aerospace Academy located on the Fort Pierce Central High School campus. Andrew was nominated by the Institute’s director, Professor Kevin Adkins, and selected by the Stuart EAA chapter president Eric Ingraham based on “his past academic performance and general interest in aerospace, science, and engineering, along with his future potential for success within these areas.” Students at Air Academy are involved in classroom, field and laboratory experiences, along with team building exercises.
Northport K-8 students and teachers on the Northstar and Starfish teams collaborated on a critical lesson using new and intriguing information recently. Teachers Mala Woessner and Georgia Stone, along with Media Specialist Lynne Gruszka, worked together to present indepth information on the shocking assassination that changed America. Students read the student version of Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing Lincoln,” a realistic and historical best selling account of the last two weeks of Lincoln’s life and the conspiracy that brought a nation to its knees. The student version called “Lincoln’s Last Days” is filled with pictures, timelines and enrichment sources. The book is very student reader friendly and is appropriate for children in grades four through eight. Ms. Woessner stated, “Students were enthusiastic readers and enjoyed the historical and factual account of “Lincoln’s Last Days” and became immersed in the suspense and conspiracy.” Pictured are teachers Mala Woessner, back left, and Georgia Stone, and students Sarah Abulathou, from left, Ashley Quijada, McKenzie Hunsicker and Chayse Hirsch in the school’s Media Center.
It’s no wonder why brothers, fourth grade student Grayson, left, and second grade student Noah DiBernardo, have earned Star Reader shirts from the Media Center at Frances K. Sweet Elementary. They obviously practice reading as much as they can. Star Reader shirts are awarded to students who show academic growth on the SRI test or is already reading above grade level.
Northport K-8 fifth grade students in the classrooms of Judy Fowler, Charlotte Tombline, Tracey Healy, Nichole Robinson and Valerie Niewieroski deepened their knowledge and insight of the horrors of the Holocaust and scaffolded new information about World War II, Hitler and the Nazi Occupation by listening and interacting with speaker and Holocaust survivor, Peter Feigl, who was one of the children who was saved by the 5000 French villagers from Chambonne who assisted countless homeless children. Students were enthralled by the information and asked many questions including heartwrenching questions about the loss of Feigl’s family. Feigl recommended a book called “Weapons of the Spirit” as an in-depth study about the children refugees of Le Chabannes, and students will view MTV’s special, “I’m Still Here” with narration and story that includes Feigl. Feigl brought the Holocaust studies to the fifth grade level by tying his story into the issue of bullying and told the students that there were two reasons to stop bullying, because it is the right thing to do and because you may be next. Feigl served in the United States Air Force after his escape from the European Theater and his been married for 59 years, and has two daughters. He highly recommends the website: sfi.usc.edu/education/ow/peterfeigl for an interaction study between his journals and that of Anne Frank. His email is pefeigl@gmail.com. Pictured is Feigl as he speaks to students.
Northport K-8 School is celebrating 27 years of educational growth and community connections. The doors opened to accept students on April 8, 1986 with John Townsend as the supervising principal of the school. The school began as a junior high school accepting students in grades 7 and 8, then moved into the middle school concept bringing in sixth graders. In 2005, Northport became a K-8 school with Eric Seymour as principal overseeing those dramatic changes. Currently, Glenn Rustay is the principal of the school assisting in keeping those community connections vibrant and the education of students top notch. The school held a wonderful reunion of teachers, staff, administrators and students for the 25th anniversary party in 2011. Key components that make the school terrific are the feeling of family and community brought forth by John Townsend, making learning a fun opportunity for students and building those so important community/parent connections. Original staff members, who number over 50, hold a reunion each year to keep the threads of family secure. Teachers and staff who started the school and are who are vital standard bearers currently still working at NPK-8 are Agnes Brooks, Linda Walker, Lynne Gruszka, Mary Toto, Carolyn Mann-Lurry and Jeannette Crenshaw. Pictured, from left, are Lynne Gruszka, Benigna Montenegro and Agnes Brooks.
Lincoln Park Academy sent three high school teams to this year’s Odyssey of the Mind state competition. Odyssey of the Mind, often referred to as OM (although the official acronym is OotM), is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem (the long term problem) and present their solution to the problem at a competition. They must also generate spontaneous solutions to a problem they have not seen before in the spontaneous competition. In an unprecedented turn of events, all three teams earned first place trophies and a position in the 2013 World Competition in Lansing, Michigan. These creative and dedicated problem solvers are now racing against the clock to raise the $ 18,000.00 they will need to fund their trip. With the deadline for payment just weeks away, they are applying all of their problem solving skills and talents to make this trip possible. These students, along with the students from Port St. Lucie High School who will also be moving onto world championships, are proof of the high caliber of critical thinking that is being fostered in St. Lucie County Schools. To help fund this project, please click on the following link to the Education Foundation: http://www.educationfoundationstlucie.org/p/14/fund-a-project.