LucieLink – News and Communications for St. Lucie Public Schools
Teachers from the International Business, Digital Video Production, TV Production, and Marketing programs virtually met with their Business Advisory Board. Big thanks to Shyanne Harnage, Shadia Blair, Nick Brown, Chevelle Lewis, and Matt Stover for their participation!
Natalia Chekhovskaya of Indian River State College’s LASER-TEC, Photonics, and Optics lab, visited Treasure Coast High School’s Engineering Club to talk about girls in engineering, and in return, she heard about the Club’s solar GoKart project. This partnership is a great collaboration working on classroom projects and Club activities.
St. Lucie Public Schools Career and Technical Education teachers in the Technical Design, Applied Robotics, Global Logistics Supply Chain, Aerospace, and Engineering programs virtually met with business partners, Tim Fischer from South East Elevator, Paul Jakubczak from Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Paul Godfrey from Indian River State College, Muhammed Anwar from East Coast Truss, Maria Brown and Jason Smith from A1 Truss, and Natalia Chekhovskaya from Indian River State College. The group shared experiences, exchanged ideas and will continue to build on this collaboration at their next meeting in December. Big thanks to all who attended!
Port St. Lucie High Culinary Program virtually visited the Sunshine Kitchen in Fort Pierce. Chef Roland Foerster and his culinary students virtually visited the Sunshine Kitchen hosted by Gina McCants, Sunshine Kitchen Manager and Tcerda Research Park Manager. The students learned about activities at the Sunshine Kitchen and watched a food demonstration by Chef Leslie Moyers and his team.
Port St. Lucie High School’s Technical Design Program and Preapprenticeship students hosted 3D Printed Car Races. Students designed, tested, 3D printed, and raced their cars in the gym! Mr. Picchiarini and his Tech Design students not only entertained but recruited students into the Technical Design classes. Level Up CTE!
Port St Lucie High’s Culinary Program students and Chef Foerster took lunch to Paris! Students in the Jazzy Jags Café prepped, cooked, and served delicious lunches Parisienne Style; Croque Monsieur with baked ham, Gruyere cheese and dijon on brioche slices browned until the cheese melted served with Salad Orientale, and Pommes Frites (French Fries!). Delicious! Level Up CTE!
Port St. Lucie High’s Building Construction Technologies students hosted a virtual field trip for Mr. Kevin Fess’s students at Northport K-8. The high school students highlighted the skills learned and equipment used in their program. The 8th graders asked great questions while sitting in their middle school classroom! Big thanks to Mr. Bruce Gardner, Instructor and his Building Construction Technologies students at Port St Lucie High.
The Veterinary Assisting students and instructor Ms. Brittany Shoun at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, the WEST Prep Magnet, scrub in to assist Dr. Wynne during surgeries! In the photos, the dog on the operating table is being spayed at WEST Prep! Level up CTE!
Treasure Coast High’s JROTC US Airforce and Criminal Justice programs hosted the Port St Lucie Police Department’s drone team! Port St. Lucie Police Officers discussed drone usage in Port St Lucie and demonstrated drone skills for students, Mr. Diego Rios, Mr. Roger Allcroft, Chief Jeffrey Barnes, and Colonel James Golden.
Brittany Shoun, Fort Pierce Westwood Veterinary Assisting Instructor is very proud to announce that the FFA Vet Assisting Team placed THIRD in the State on the FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event! The Team won first place in the pre-lim to secure a spot at the State contest and will be recognized at the State Convention for their 3rd in State WIN! Congratulations Allison Kohler, Jayden Weil, Zoey Thomaselli, Mia Wheeler, and Ms. Shoun ! Go Panthers! Level Up CTE!
St. Lucie Public Schools has five pre-apprenticeship programs preparing students for careers. The pre-apprenticeship Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school programs are located across the District: Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Treasure Coast High Building Construction Technologies at Port St Lucie High Outboard Marine Service Technology at St Lucie West Centennial High Pharmacy Technician at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy – The W.E.S.T. Prep Magnet Technical Design at Port St Lucie High The pre-apprenticeships offered in CTE at St. Lucie Public Schools lead into registered apprenticeship trades of Carpenter, Industrial Manufacturing Technician, Truss Design Technician, Pharmacy Technician, and Yacht Service Technician.
Congratulations to all St Lucie Fair exhibitors and winners! What a year for Ft. Pierce Westwood-West Prep FFA who’s final tally is impressive: 5- Grand Champion Titles, 2- Reserve Grand Champion Titles, 9- First in Class, 3- 2nd in Class, 3- 3rd in Class, 1st place Senior II Swine Record Book, 1st place Senior II Steer Record Book, 2nd Place Senior II Swine Record Book and more! Mrs. Jenna Blankenbaker, FPW Agriscience Instructor shared, “If you see these kids, please congratulate them, they have worked hard for a year on their projects and it was apparent … I had a … Read More
Congratulations Fort Pierce Westwood FFA and Mrs. Jenna Blanenbaker on the outstanding West Prep FFA Beef Breeding Winners! This weekend at the St Lucie County Fair at the Beef Breeding Night, three FFA students were awarded top winners: Grand Champion Sr II Grooming – Nayeli Fernandez Grand Champion Cow/Calf – Reed Blankenbaker First in class Heifer – Lena Shingledecker Congratulations Panthers! Level Up CTE!
Phil Depuy, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Instructor at Treasure Coast High and his students virtually visited Professors Natalia Chekhovskaya and Paul Godfrey at the IRSC Kight Center for Emerging Technology. Discussions centered on mechanical, electrical and programming fields specifically Robotics, Photonics, Manufacturing, local employers, and student projects. Big thanks to Jerry Jacques, President at TCMA and Advanced Machine and Tool for setting up the visit. Level Up CTE!
Emma Chancey was awarded 2021 St. Lucie County Fair Queen! Jenna Blankenbaker, Fort Pierce Westwood Agriscience Instructor proudly commented, ” She answered all her questions with grace and eloquence. I am so proud and impressed.” Congratulations Emma! Go Panthers! Level Up CTE!
Bruce Gardner, Building Construction Technology Instructor and John Picchiarini, Technical Design Instructor visited Professor Dean Zirwas’ lab at the IRSC Kight Center for Emerging Technology. Discussions centered on the CNC machine setup, troubleshooting, software applications, procedures, projects, and materials. Mr Gardner’s Port St Lucie High Building Construction Trades Preapprenticeship Program recently purchased their own CNC machine giving students access and practice to these real-world job skills.
Port St Lucie High School’s Technical Design and Building Construction Trades Programs virtually attended a field trip to Apex Engineering in Jacksonville, Florida. Business Partner, Dan Morris at Apex Engineering virtually hosted John Picchiarini and Bruce Gardner’s classes. Dan used interactive technology to demonstrate creating trusses, floor joists and discussed details of the apprenticeship and preapprenticeship opportunities available to students in St Lucie County! Level up CTE!
Jacob Kendrick, 2020 St Lucie Public Schools and Fort Pierce Central High Aerospace Institute graduate, landed a job with a drone contractor for FPL. In March 2020, while a senior at Central, Jacob received his Drone Pilot’s License. Now, he travels around Florida inspecting FPL power lines with drones. He is pictured working in Bunnell, FL inspecting a 37-mile-long stretch. Jacob is also pursuing his bachelor’s Degree with IRSC. Go Cobras! Level up CTE!
Cindy Swertfager, Culinary Arts Instructor at Fort Pierce Central High hosted a virtual Field Trip to visit Texas Roadhouse in St Lucie West with General Manager Rick Kirk. Students from culinary classrooms across St. Lucie Public Schools participated LIVE and the session was recorded for future showings. Students virtually toured the facility and asked Rick many great questions about his scratch kitchen, restaurant management, and running a restaurant during Covid19. Big Thanks to Texas Roadhouse Community Outreach Director Sarah Kirk for coordinating the trip! Level up CTE!
John Picchiarini, Port St Lucie High Technical Design instructor and his students had a big problem to solve. Students needed a dependable yet accessible place to save their Autocad designs and computer work. Flash drives solved the problem but they needed a home. The student team used critical thinking skills and 3D Printer to create flash drive organizer. Wow! Stay tuned for more to come from the Technical Design crew including Race Cars in May. Level Up CTE!