Brevard Public School News In A Minute
By Space Coast Daily // September 27, 2014
North Brevard Swim Teams Unite to Raise Awareness
TITUSVILLE, FLA. – Three North Brevard high school swim teams, Titusville, Astronaut, and Space Coast Jr. /Sr., united together for a day of awareness for some very important causes on September 13th.
The teams joined forces at the Titusville High pool in a fund raising effort for three major charities ,and to promote community teamwork and sportsmanship, members from the three high school teams were placed on one of the charity teams to create combined school teams for each charity. Team Puzzle Piece swam for Providing Autism Links and Support (PALS); Team Purple swam for Brevard’s Alzheimer Foundation; and Team pink swam for the American Cancer Society.
The teams competed in various relays, diving events, and activities designed to raise donations for their charities. The combined total raised was $3,700. Sponsors present included Runabout Couriers, Shutts & Bowen, LLP, and Valentino’s Italian Restaurant.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the superior efforts of Tori Talbert who individually collected $168 for Team Purple, Katie Squires who raised $100 for Team Puzzle Piece, and Sabrina Edelmann who raised $100 for Team Pink.
For more information, please contact Natasha Kremer, Head Coach, at 321-264-3100.
Palm Bay Magnet High Pirate Players to Stage Radio TBS
PALM BAY, FLA. – The Pirate Players from Brevard’s first Magnet High School, Palm Bay Magnet High, are tickled pink to announce that they are bringing the rowdy citizens of Luna Del Mar to the stage in Radio TBS on October 9th and 10th.
Be sure not to miss this hilarious production of Radio TBS (Trailer Park Broadcasting Scandals), centered around a day in the life of 11 outrageous women living in a Bible thumping, Elvis loving, Central Florida, manufactured home oasis (trailer park). Tickets are an affordable $5 for all ages (recommended 13 and up).
For more information email Tammy Herburger, director, at herburger.tammy@brevardschools.org or call 321-952-5900.
Quest Elementary’s Cross Country Team Builds
VIERA, FLA. – Ready, Set, Go! Quest’s Cross Country Team is off and running as both fifth and sixth grade student are racing to join the team.
Starting with just 36 students its first year, the club now has 85 members for the 2014-2015 school year. Part of the running club’s success has been due to the wonderful volunteers who donate their time to run with students every Friday after school. Both teachers and parents help by donating water, monitoring route patterns, running with students, and timing runs to show evidence of how the students’ performance increases through time.
This year the Quest Cross Country Club will participate in several 5K runs throughout the community. One run which the club is eager to join is the Education Run, where the group had the most participants last year and hopes to have an even higher turnout this year. Each year this club continues to get bigger and better. Keep on running Quest Explorers!
For more information, please contact Danielle Brown, teacher, at 321-242-1411 ext. 5303 or brown.danielle@brevardschools.org.
Direct General Insurance Donates to Palm Bay Elementary
PALM BAY, FLA. – Business partner, Direct General Insurance, recently donated a $250 gift card to Palm Bay Elementary. Shawn Bancroft, agent at Direct General, and a former Palm Bay Elementary student, personally donated the gift to the school.
During the month of August, Direct General held a School Bus Drawing for its customers. The School Bus Drawing was started so that a local school would receive a $250 Walmart gift card. Their customers were asked to nominate a local school to receive the gift card and Palm Bay Elementary was chosen randomly as the winner.
For more information, please contact Barbi Miller, business partner coordinator, at 321-723-1055 ext. 5068 or miller.barbara@brevardschools.org.
Titusville High’s ‘Gold Out’ Game Raises Awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
TITUSVILLE, FLA. – During the September 12th home game, the Titusville Terriers honored childhood cancer awareness month by wearing gold socks during the game to show their support.
Every day, 36 children are diagnosed with cancer and the average age of diagnosis is six. That’s one to two children for every 10,000 children in the United States. Cancer affects all ethnic, gender, and socio-economic groups and more than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.
As part of Titusville High’s continued efforts to raise awareness within our student body, faculty, and community, to issues that affect us all, the Terrier Football Team was proud to honor children and families who have been affected by childhood cancer and attendees were also encouraged to wear gold or Terrier yellow in support of these brave children. A special thanks go to MCOA officials, THS Boosters, and everyone involved who helped to make this event a special night.
For more information, please contact Jason Berley, athletic director, at 321-264-3100 or berley.jason@brevardschools.org.
Artsonia Ranks Croton Elementary Art Program as 1st in the State and 80th in the Nation
MELBOURNE, FLA. – Chad Hitchcock, art teacher at Croton Elementary School in Melbourne, has been recognized by Artsonia – the world’s largest online kid’s art museum – for outstanding leadership in the area of arts education at Croton Elementary School.
The school’s online art gallery – www.artsonia.com/schools/croton1 – ranks # 1 in the state and # 80 in the nation, according to Artsonia. The Leadership Award presented to Chad Hitchcock honors teachers who go beyond the classroom walls to encourage family and community involvement in arts education. The award also recognizes significant achievement in the area of technology integration within the school arts program. State and nationwide rankings are based on specific criteria, which demonstrate both aspects of the Leadership Award.
During the 2013-2014 school year, the Croton Elementary School gallery showcased 5,440 pieces of artwork. This popular collection of art has been visited more than 37,166 times and has received 459 comments from friends and family.
“Artsonia is a simple yet effective way to get parents and family members more involved in art education,” said Hitchcock. “My students love it!”
For more information, please contact Hitchcock at 321-259-3818 or hitchcock.chad@brevardschools.org.
Cape View Benefits from Lockheed Martin Mini-Grant
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. – Lockheed Martin Space Systems company employee, Lizzeta Martin, applied for and received a Teacher Mini-Grant that was submitted on behalf of Mr. Aaron Kestner, science teacher, at Cape View.
The Lockheed Martin mini-grant is intended to enhance the educational opportunities of the students and encourages the Lockheed employees to donate personal time to the school as well.
For more information about this news, please contact Andrea Rice at 321-784-0284 or rice.andrea@brevardschools.org.
Bill Madonna Golf Academy to Host Workshop for Orlando-Area Junior Golfers
ORLANDO, FLA. – Local junior golfers and their parents are invited to attend a free workshop held at the Orlando World Center Marriott and conducted by one of the country’s top golf instructors on September 27 at Hawks Landing Golf Club located at the Orlando World Center Marriot.
This workshop is designed to help explain the process of securing college golf scholarships, by providing the necessary first steps a play must take. There are many general misconceptions of when a player’s best opportunity and strategy of recruitment are, thus all juniors in attendance will also receive free swing evaluations, and engage in private discussions that cover their goals and a personal roadmap to achieving them.
The event is sponsored by the Central Florida Tour Zone of the Top50 Junior Tour and its Director, Tony Wilson, and hosted by Bill Madonna, a 40-year member of the PGA of America and one of only 15 members of the PGA Master Teaching Faculty.
For more information about this event or to confirm attendance, please contact Madonna at 407-948-1777.
BPS Teachers Are Invited to “Fall into Agriculture” Event
APOPKA, FLA. – BPS teachers are invited to attend “Sprouting Success in Your Classroom,” a workshop event emphasizing how agriculture can be taught and implemented within curriculums, on October 23, held at the Mid-Florida Research & Education Center from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
K-12 teachers and informal educators are invited attend and are eligible to earn up to 8 professional development points. During the workshop they will learn how to teach math using pumpkins and pollination using corn and then visit a plant tissue culture facility and a corn maze. School garden curricula Gardening for Grades, and the pumpkin and corn lessons will be distributed at the workshop. A $10 registration fee covers the cost of lunch and transportation to the farm tours.
For more information about the workshop, click here. To register for the workshop, click here.
Eau Gallie High PE Teacher Named SHAPE Award Winner
MELBOURNE, FLA. – Mrs. Barbara Berry from Eau Gallie High School has been chosen as this year’s SHAPE Florida Teacher of the Year award recipient for High School Physical Education.
In order to receive this honor the teacher must utilize various teaching methodologies and plan innovative learning experiences to meet the needs of all students; serve as a positive role model epitomizing personal health and fitness; participate in professional development opportunities; provide service to the profession through advocacy, consultation, in-service training presentations and/or active membership in related professional organizations.
Berry will be honored at the annual SHAPE Florida convention in St. Petersburg on October 17th, and will be in consideration for the SHAPE American Southern District Teacher of the Year for High School Physical Education.
For more information, please contact Rachel Winsten, PE K-12 resource teacher, at 321-633-1000 ext. 387 or winsten.rachel@brevardschools.org.
Brevard Schools Foundation Take Stock in Children Program is Recognized with Statewide Award in Excellence
VIERA, FLA. – Brevard Schools Foundation, the local affiliate of Take Stock in Children (TSIC), was recently recognized with a coveted Excellence Award for successfully providing at-risk youth with caring volunteer mentors, college readiness curriculum and college scholarship opportunities.
Brevard Schools Foundation’s Take Stock in Children program, currently serving 177 students, received the award at the Take Stock in Children’s College and Career Readiness Summit. Attracting more than 250 participants from statewide programs, attendees learned from national leaders about the latest data on youth poverty, mentoring, college readiness skills, and career pipelines.
Brevard Schools Foundation has shown great results with a high school graduation rate of 98% and with 97% of those students entering college with the guidance of 50 mentors from the local community. This percent is well above Florida’s average high school graduation rate of 57% for students living in poverty, with only 28% enrolling in college.
“This award is a source of great pride to Brevard Schools Foundation, and highlights the dedication of our local TSIC Leadership Council and staff to changing the lives of our students through this program,” said Janice Kershaw, Executive Director. “Our students are counting on us to make the difference in their lives to ensure they succeed academically and professionally.”
To donate, volunteer, or learn more about Take Stock in Children, please call Amie Harris, program manager, at 321-633-1000 ext. 430 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.
