Brevard Public School News In A Minute Features Holiday Greeting

By  //  December 15, 2014

ABOVE VIDEO: This year’s holiday message comes to you from Lewis Carroll Elementary on Merritt Island.

Every 7th Grade Stone Middle Student Receives a Laptop

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Every seventh grade student at Stone Middle received a MacBook Air laptop to use for the rest of the year.

The laptop initiative has been an on-going event at Stone with nearly 1,000 laptops purchased to distribute to all students and teachers.  The program was funded by a federal STEAM grant.  Students will do a majority of their work using these tools.

“I can’t assume that a student can search something at home for an assignment.  Immediate access to this technology while on campus is a great equalizer for our kids who may have very limited resources at home,” said Mandy Culbreth Meyer, CTE teacher.  “Seeing these 12-year-olds treat their MacBook Airs with such great care is a delight for us.”

For more information, please contact Shannon Lynch, coordinating teacher, at 321-723-0741 ext. 5901 orlynch.shannon@brevardschools.org.

Mel High Air Force Junior ROTC Earns High Recognition

MELBOURNE, FLA. – Air Force Junior ROTC instructors and cadets of Melbourne High, earned an overall unit assessment score of “Exceeds Standards”….the highest rating attainable during the rated unit evaluation on December 5.

Master Sergeant David Greene and Lieutenant Colonel Athey created a dynamic and supportive learning environment coupled with excellent community outreach.  The instructors provided outstanding leadership in administering the cadet centered citizenship program.  The students performed exceptionally well and took great pride in leading and accomplishing their unit goals.

The Melbourne High Air Force Junior ROTC citizenship program is making a positive impact on the cadets, the school and community.

For more information, please contact Jim Willcoxon, school principal, at 321-952-5880 orwillcoxon.jim@brevardschools.org.

Viera High Athletics Places #1 within Their Class for FSHA Academic Team Champions

VIERA, FLA. – Viera High athletic teams earned the cumulative first place standing as the Academic Team Champions within their division class, 7A.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Academic Team Champion recognition program honors teamwork not only in competition, but in the classroom as well. The program recognizes teams in each of the Association’s sanctioned and recognized sports, naming an Academic Team Champion in each classification.

Congratulations to the following fall sports teams for outstanding academic achievement:

• Boys Cross Country #2 Class 4A
• Football #3 Class 7A
• Boys Golf #7 Class 4A
• Girls Golf #5 Class 4A
• Boys Swimming & Diving #1 Academic Team Champion Class 3A
• Girls Swimming & Diving #3 Class 3A
• Bowling, Girls Cross Country, and Volleyball

For more information, please contact Chris Gallagher, athletics and activities coordinator, at 321-632-1770 ext. 3 orGallagher.chris@brevardschools.org

Jackson Middle Receives Two Technology Grants

TITUSVILLE, FLA. – Jackson Middle recently received two separate technology grants that will be used to develop students’ 21st century skillset.

Due to the efforts of Media Specialist, Marcy Cipolletti, Jackson Middle is one of only eight recipients district wide that will receive 266 Lenovo ThinkPad Chrome book devices distributed among 10 mobile carts with 10 Wireless Access Points.  The second grant, facilitated by Dean Kevin Butanowicz, is the Boeing Community Fund Grant which will provide white boards and Mimeo tablets for some of Jackson’s classrooms.

For more information, please contact Pam Hooks, guidance services professional, at 321-269-1812 ext. 2002 orhooks.pam@brevardschools.org.    

Edgewood Student to Join UWF Volleyball Team in 2015-16

MERRITT ISLAND, FLA. – University of West Florida’s head volleyball coach, Melissa Wolter, announced the addition of Edgewood senior right side hitter, Summer Seage, as an early signee for the 2015-16 academic year.

Seage’s volleyball career includes: tallied 536 kills, 98 blocks and 238 sets played in a four-year career for Edgewood HS varsity squad. Seage is also a member of the Teenage Republicans, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and Beta Club.

In response to her achievement, Seage stated, “UWF will offer me not only a place to grow and thrive academically, but athletically through the successful volleyball program Coach Wolter has established. The level of play demanded is exactly what I was searching for.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Ken Winn, principal, at 321-454-1030 or winn.ken@brevardschools.org.

Croton Students Run for Take Stock in Children Benefit 5K

MELBOURNE, FLA. – Sixty-two members of the Croton Elementary community registered for the Take Stock in Children Run for the Future 5K held on December 6. 

During the event, Croton students as young as first graders completed their first 5k.  Croton received first place in most participation from a school and will receive $500 as a reward.  Additionally, the school also had one teacher, Jamie McKinney, and one student, Amber Francisco, place in their age groups and receive medals.

The benefit not only created a sense of community but also helped raise money for the Take Stock in Children program.

For more information, please contact Eileen Rouse at 321-259-3818 ext. 41056 or rouse.eileen@brevardschools.org.

Eau Gallie High Band, Orchestra and Chorus Perform in 12th Annual Holiday PRISM 

MELBOURNE, FLA. – Eau Gallie High School cordially invites the Melbourne community to its 12th Annual Holiday PRISM Concert held December 12-14.

This annual event features Eau Gallie’s band, orchestra and chorus, totaling over 400 students performing at once.

Dates and times are listed below:

December 12, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.

December 13, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.

December 14, 2014 – 2:30 p.m.

All shows are held at the Eau Gallie Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 and available in advance at http://eaugallie.ticketleap.com or will be available an hour before each performance at the box office. Reserve you seat soon.

For more information, please contact 321-242-6400.

Heritage High Students Participate in Model Student Senate

PALM BAY, FLA. – Seven Heritage High Cambridge program students are participating in the Model Student Senate program during December.

The Model Student Senate program is designed to help students understand how political processes function and how a senator’s background and philosophy may contribute to the result of a potential bill.

Each student is assigned a senator, who they then research to learn about their backgrounds, politics, issues that they are passionate about.  The events cumulate with a mock day as a senator and the students role play as they try to get their bills out of committee and out onto the senate floor for a vote.

Heritage High senators include: Lauren Berkhemer, Billy Hicks, Cleo Koenig, Devin Nolan, Sage Ricci, Brandon Stewart and Tatianna Wilson.  These aspiring politicians are sponsored by Mr. Steven Schleicher, Cambridge Coordinator.

For more information, please contact Colin Turey, director of Heritage’s sports medicine academy, at 321-722-4178 ext. 29006 or turey.colin@brevardschools.org.

Gemini ROTA Kids Host 5th Annual Holiday Gift Drive

MELBOURNE BEACH, FLA. – Gemini Elementary’s Rota Kids hosted their fifth Annual Holiday Gift Drive for the children of Brevard Family Partnership.

Gemini’s Rota Kids is a rotary leadership organization that is focused on students building self-esteem, developing leadership skills, and serving the school and community.  Currently, the club is comprised of 35 members, who have been involved in many projects including volunteering for the Iceman Fall Festival, Turkey Trot Run, collecting goods for Brevard County Animal Services and visiting patrons of Sarah Care.

During the gift drive, the students collected toys and gifts to provide to the Brevard Family Partnership, to distribute to families in need in the community.

For more information, please contact Catherine Austin, school secretary, at 321-727-3090 ext. 1003 oraustin.catherine@brevardschools.org.

Sea Park Elementary Students Embrace Hour of Code

SATELLITE BEACH, FLA. – Sea Park Elementary students are joining in on the largest learning event in history, The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 8-14).

The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries, its mission is based on a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.  Sea Park’s Hour of Code is a statement that the school community is ready to teach these foundational 21st century skills.  Last year, Sea Park joined 15 million students who tried computer science in one week. This year, they are joining students worldwide to reach 100 million students.

For more information about The Hour of Code, please visit http://hourofcode.com , or for Sea Park’s involvement please contact Samantha McGill, media specialist, at 321-779-2050 or mcgill.samantha@brevardschools.org.

Cambridge Elementary Hosts Dinner & Data Night

COCOA, FLA. – Cambridge Elementary hosted their third annual Dinner & Data night on December 4, where students and parents enjoyed a meal and participated in a student led conference.

During the student led conferences, students explained their previous years FCAT data and shared their ongoing assessments as well the goals they have set for this school year.  The event was an excellent opportunity to get parents involved in their child’s education and current progress.  The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Cambridge business partners, Carrabbas Italian Grill and Georgiana United Methodist Church, who provided the families in attendance with dinner.

 For more information, please contact Mary Anne Pittman, reading coach, at 321-633-3550 ext. 5059 or pittman.maryanne@brevardschools.org.

Sabal Robotics Team Invited to Watch Orion Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. – The Sabal Elementary Robotics Team viewed the Orion EFT-1 Launch held at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37 on December 5.

Sabal’s Robotics Team was one of the first teams to receive an invite to watch the launch of the Orion Flight test, which will evaluate launch and high speed re-entry systems for the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.  It was an exciting event for both students and staff in attendance.

For more information, please contact Tammy Culp, Title I teacher, at 321-254-7261 ext. 3015 orculp.tammy@brevardschools.org.

Port Malabar Students Win “Buckle Up for Safety” Art Contest

PALM BAY, FLA. – Two Port Malabar students recently received recognition in the Palm Bay Police Department’s “Buckle Up for Safety” poster contest. 

Mea Arias, fifth grader, received a ribbon and medal for winning second place and Ashlyn Redmond, sixth grader, received a trophy and a pizza party for her class for receiving first place.  Congrats to these students!

For more information, please contact Jennifer Crossman, art teacher, at 321-725-0070 orcrossman.jennifer@brevardschools.org.