Fifth Edition of College Planning Guide Released

A key step in deciding what to do after graduating from high school is  making plans before taking that walk across the stage to get your diploma. The fifth edition of the After High School, Now What? planning guide is hot off the presses with a limited number of hard copy versions available from the Department of Multicultural Education. Available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Portugese, the guide is intended to put a variety of resources and information into the hands of students and parents confronting the sometimes daunting task of applying to colleges and seeking financial aid. 

The guide includes a matrix listing the schools in the State University System with details about student enrollment, acceptance criteria and more; a college application checklist, a campus visit worksheet,  essay writing hints, listings of useful websites, tips on completeing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and many other details.

“We’re trying to remove every possible obstacle that might keep students from attending college,” said Margarita Pinkos, executive director of the Department of Multicultural Education. “The guide addresses issues ranging from how to write a resume to seeking scholarships on the internet.”  The department has only limited numbers of the hard copy version which was funded through federal grant money for students who are English Language Learners (ELLs). Many of the booklets are being distributed at Family Involvement Parent Nights that are conducted in conjunction with the  Federal and State Programs Department at schools across the county. Anyone can access the entire document online, however,  at http://www.palmbeachschools.org/multicultural/ , then click on the booklet cover in the middle of the  right- hand column.  Those who are interested are then able to click on the appropriate language.   For more information, contact Connie Berry, 561-434-7348 or email Connie.berry@palmbeachschools.org.

When the Dreyfoos School of Arts (DSOA)Theatre Department combined the works of Shakespeare and legendary classic rock group, The Moody Blues last November, the result was the creation of a musical called MIDSUMMER which had four sold out performances.  By popular demand, the Dreyfoos Thespians will hold an encore  presentation  March 9 at 7:00 p.m. and a special “Save the Arts” Gala performance  March 10.  Tickets ($15.00) for the March 9 performance may be purchased by calling 561-802-6052 or by going on-line to http://www.seatyourself.biz/awdsoa.   The March 10 Gala performance tickets ($50.00-$100.00/includes reception) are available by calling 561-805-6298.  The show will be presented in the school’s Meyer Hall Theater (located one block north of the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach).

 Described by the Florida State Thespian Festival Main Stage Screening Committee adjudicators as “brilliant, creative, and beautiful,” the show has been selected as one of only ten representing   the state at the 2012 Festival with a performance in Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.  This is the largest high school theatre festival in the world with over 7,000 in attendance.The DSOA troupe will have five hours to load-in the set and only two hours to strike it.  DSOA holds the record for bringing the most Main Stage shows to this festival.

 The musical is based upon Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which tells the story of two pairs of star-crossed lovers who encounter faeries and pranksters in the forest of Athens.  Putting a new spin on the story, creator/director Beverly Blanchette (Dean of Theatre) has set the play in modern Greece and has added  “faerialists” to provide an illusion of flight. 

 Midsummer  features  Moody Blues’ favorites Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon. Musical direction and arrangements are provided by Bruce Linser (with special orchestrations by Anthony Espina), choreography by Garry Q. Lewis, scenic design by Michael McClain, scenic artistry by Cindi Blank Taylor, costume design by Penelope Koleos-Williams, lighting design by Stuart Reiter, and technical direction by Edward Blanchette.  Midsummer is produced by Marcie Gorman-Althof and managed by Wade T. Handy.

 Of special note is the aerial artistry choreographed by Rain Anya of The Paper Doll Militia.Anya, a 2002 Dreyfoos graduate, returned to her alma mater with the assistance of the Hearst Foundation which provides grants for guest artists to train/mentor young performers.   The Midsummer  “faerialists”  worked with Anya during the two month rehearsal process to be able to maneuver the hanging silks adorning the brightly-colored, wonderland set. 

 For more information, contact Ms. Blanchette, 561-802-6061 or email Beverly.blanchette@palmbeachschools.org.

One of the highlights of everyone’s high school years is attendance at the PROM.  The Prom is an opportunity to celebrate the culmination of one’s high school career…this event is second only to the actual day of graduation.   However, for many of the students, the opportunity to attend the Prom is often not possible due to the expense of this event.  In response to this situation, Ms. Kathleen Alexis, Career Navigator at Boynton High has implemented an initiative to provide gently used Prom dresses and accessories for the girls.   Already a number of faculty members at Boynton High have donated prom dresses to this endeavor.  However, the number of girls needing dresses far exceeds the number of dresses the faculty alone can collect.

As “prom season” gets closer, we are asking the community to get involved in this project.  As we know, most prom dresses are used once and then hung in the closet and never used again.   “This is a great opportunity to help the young ladies in our community realize the dream of attending their prom,” said Ms. Alexis.

Please check your closets for gently used, clean prom dresses.  Donations of fancy shoes, dressy purses and costume jewelry are also welcome.  (As you are deciding whether the dress or accessories are acceptable, consider whether or not the items are in the proper condition that you would allow your daughter to wear the dress in its present condition.)  Once the items are donated, the staff members of Boynton High will provide a “boutique” where the girls will be able to “shop” for the prom at no cost to the girls.  The stipulation is that the dresses will be returned to the boutique following the prom, so other girls may enjoy the dresses next year.

To make a donation and/or for more information contact Kathleen Alexis, kalexis@pballiance.com or call (561) 731-2816.  

Heightened interest in the Superintendent Search process has resulted in arrangements with WXEL to air today’s Board Workshop of the official interviews of the final three candidates vying for the job of leading the Palm Beach County School District.

The televised interviews are set to begin at 1:00 p.m., including on WXEL 42.4. The additional broadcast may be of particular value to county residents, including those in the western communities, who may not have access to Comcast or the Internet.  Those interested in accessing the broadcast can utilize any of the following venues:· 

Comcast Channel 234 (The Education Network)   

 Comcast Channel 20 (PBC-20/PBC Government Channel)   

 Comcast Channel 212 (WXEL 42.4/sub-channel)   

Antenna viewers- WXEL 42.4    

Webcast on TEN primary (www.palmbeachschools.org/ten) … click on Live webcast 

 Webcast on District Homepage (www.palmbeachschools.org) … click on Live webcast in the School Board box.

Thousands of school children across the country are making Valentine’s cards for their school bus drivers to thank the men and women who take children safely to schools each day. The American School Bus Council (ASBC) is encouraging students, parents and teachers to “love the bus” in February and recognize their school bus drivers.

The Love the Bus program, founded in 2007 and coordinated by the ASBC, is celebrated on Valentine’s Day and during the month of February. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness and appreciation for the hundreds of thousands of school bus drivers in the country. It is also an opportunity for parents and children to learn more about the safety and environmental benefits of school bus transportation.

The Department of Transportation at the School District of Palm Beach County provides daily bus service for more than 60,000 Students. Additionally, they are in charge of providing transportation for after-school activities and District summer camp programs.

“We want to honor the bus drivers that safely take the children in Palm Beach County to school each day,” said Sue Gorby, senior transportation coordinator for the School District. “Love the Bus is a great opportunity to thank the people that protect our most precious cargo—our children—and serve as role models on the 480,000 school buses that transport children to and from school each day across the country.”

To help celebrate Love the Bus, parents, teachers and children are encouraged to visit the program’s Web site, www.LoveTheBus.com, to share stories about their favorite bus drivers, and make interactive valentines to email or print and give to their bus driver on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Educators also may log on to LoveTheBus website to download an educator’s toolkit, which provides details on incorporating Love The Bus into their lesson plans and offers best practices for communicating about pupil transportation.

For more information contact Sue Gorby at (561) 688-7585 or via e-mail at sue.gorby@palmbeachschools.org.

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org

Two charter buses carrying  96 high school juniors will depart from the School District’s Fulton-Holland Educational Services Center parking lot before dawn Wednesday morning. The students from 14 area high schools are embarking on a three-day college tour around the state that will help them get closer to achieving the American dream of success. Organizer Connie Berry said the tour—paid for from English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  grants—provides the students  an opportunity to get “close-up and personal” information about what’s available from college officials—and college students. “These are high-achieving students—most of whom will be the first in their families to attend college; at each stop they’ll have the chance to learn specifics about that college from students who were once in the ESOL program themselves,” she stated.

The tour includes stops locally at Palm Beach State College (central campus) and Florida Atlantic University. The students will also visit Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, the University of South Florida (Tampa),  University of Florida (Gainesville), Florida A&M University (Tallahassee), and the University of Central Florida (Orlando).  While in Tallahassee the participants will get to tour the State Capitol and sit in on a Cabinet meeting.

Multicultural Education Department Executive Director Dr. Margarita Pinkos said the benefit of sponsoring the college tour for several years has paid off. “Most of the students who have gone on the tour have successfully attended college and received their degrees. Some have even returned and come to work in our public schools,” she stated.  Currently the District has approximately 24,000 English Language Learners (ELLS) in K-12 programs.  Most of the students in the ESOL program are natives of the United States.

The tour is scheduled for Wednesday-Friday, February 8-10.  For details about the tour, contact Ms. Berry, 561-434-7348 or email Connie.berry@palmbeachschools.org.

Support will help local Delray Beach students prepare for FIRST Regional Competition

FIRST^® team # 3992 at Atlantic Community High School is one of 900 high school teams being sponsored this year by jcpenney. FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a not-for-profit organization founded by Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology by engaging students in innovative robotics competitions. Eagles Robotics is a Rookie team that will spend six intense weeks designing and building an original robot for the FIRST Regional Competition scheduled for March 29^th – 31^st at the FAU Campus in Boca Raton. 

“Having our students involved in FIRST is not just about increasing educational opportunities in science and technology; but instilling well-rounded life capabilities such as self-confidence, communication and leadership,” said Jonathan Elias, Team Captain. “jcpenney’s sponsorship represents a commitment to building the future leaders of tomorrow by making youth participation in FIRST possible.” 

jcpenney’s sponsorship of 900 FIRST teams this season reinforces the company’s philanthropic goal to introduce FIRST to more schools and communities throughout the U.S. and encourage greater participation among minority and female students. jcpenney’s legacy of working with national youth organizations through its signature charity, jcpenney afterschool, helps make it possible for more students to become involved in life-enriching learning opportunities during the after school hours.

Schools, communities and government acknowledge the need to improve the country’s global economic competitiveness by increasing aptitudes in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among America’s youth. Studies show that FIRST students are three times more likely to major in engineering in college, 10 times as likely to have an apprenticeship their freshman year, more than twice as likely to pursue a science or technology career, and nearly four times as likely to pursue a career in engineering.

About FIRST^®

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $14 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST^® Robotics Competition (FRC^® ) and FIRST^® Tech Challenge (FTC^® ) for high-school students, FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL^® ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST^® LEGO^® League (Jr.FLL™) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism^™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

For more information, contact Vladimir Safin at 561-702-9557 or email contact@eaglesrobotics.org or visit www.eaglesrobotics.org.

HealthTeacher.com is a comprehensive online K-12 resource that makes it easy to teach good health habits to children. The curriculum addresses knowledge, attitudes and skills development and provides opportunities for students to practice behaviors that promote lifelong health. 

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Miami Children’s Hospital, HealthTeacher has been made available to all Palm Beach County teachers until 2015. 

Currently in Palm Beach County, 153 schools with approximately 710 users have accessed the site, but the District would like all students and educators to take advantage of this resource. The program is designed so all teachers can infuse health lessons into their daily activities. 

The deep breathing lessons are especially helpful in this time of FCAT prep.  These lessons help students focus, concentrate and cooperate in the classroom.  There are 2 fifteen minutes lessons and then the interactive web app can be used daily to cultivate a practice of relaxation.  Practicing relaxation techniques benefit the body physically, emotionally and mentally. 

Sunrise Park  Elementary has taught all the students in their school the deep breathing lesson and now will make the web app part of their morning announcements. 

“This a great tool for teachers and students. We believe that wellness includes not only a healthy body, but also a healthy mind.  This translates into better performance both academically and physically,” said Stacey Lazos, Health Education Coordinator.

Sign up instructions for HealthTeacher are as follows: 

1. Go to www.healthteacher.com 

2. Click on the green “Sign Up” button at the top of the page 

3. Enter your group code: palmbeach22 

4. Create your profile. Enter your user information and create a profile and select your school 

5. Start exploring HealthTeacher! 

For more information contact Stacey Lazos at (561) 827-7535 or via e-mail at stacey@healthteacher.com.

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org

Children around the world come from different backgrounds, different religions, and different experiences. But they all share one common occurrence—losing a tooth. Virginia Case, the Media Specialist at Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, has her curriculum lesson titled, Social Studies: Global Tooth Fairies published in this month’s edition of Library Monthly Magazine.

Ms. Case says students are always excited to share their personal Tooth Fairy stories, “but they are generally not aware of practices outside their own experience.  This lesson establishes a connection between children around the world and how one common experience can link together many different cultures.  Uncovering new information brings students closer to becoming well-rounded world citizens.”

Her peers at Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary are thrilled that their co-worker who has taught at the school for eight year has been published.  School Magnet Coordinator Beverly Scruggs-Collins said, “The teachers and staff congratulate and thank Ms. Case for being one of the best media specialist ever.”

For more information please contact Ms. Scruggs-Collins at 561-882-7606 or beverly.scruggscollins@palmbeachschools.org .

The Jupiter High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter recently took part in the South Florida Fairs annual youth judging contests.  Jupiter FFA dominated the horticulture contest having both the first and second place teams.  Students on the first place team were Christina Orth, Allyson Causey, Brian Hemphill, and Kelsay Mackey.  Christina Orth had the highest score in the entire contest, missing only 11 specimens out of 83.  The second place team was comprised of Charlene Deal, Mattea Niederhouse, and Lindsey Cohen.  In the horticulture contest students have to identify plants, insects and diseases, and horticultural tools.

In addition to this success, Jupiter High FFA also took second place overall in the Dairy judging contest.  The team was made up of Ricky Munroe, Brian Hemphill, Reed Smith, and Parker Neville.  Jupiter also had several of the top individuals in the event with Ashley Allen placing fourth overall individually out of over 100 participants. 

In the vegetable competition Jupiter High placed eighth with team members Tishe Perry, Blakely McBride and Tessa Mills.  Kari Gatyas placed seventh individually out of over 80 participants and Nicole Cornwell placed sixth individually in the horse judging contest.

For more information please contact Jupiter High School Agriscience Teacher and FFA Advisor Derrick Crum at 561-744-7900 or derrick.crum@palmbeachschools.org .

The Superintendent’s Graduation Increase and Suspension Reduction Task Force will meet on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at the Fulton-Holland Educational Service Center-Board Room, from 3:00P.M.-4:30P.M. A DRAFT of the Graduation Strategic Plan will be presented at the upcoming meeting for review and input.

For further information regarding the Superintendent’s Graduation Increase and Suspension Reduction Task Force, please contact Dr. Cynthia Smith, Principal and K-12 Curriculum at (561) 434-8879.

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It’s FCAT Parent Night, Thursday, February 16th at Howell L. Watkins Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens and the school staff is asking parents, “Help Us Help Your Child.”  The new FCAT grading scale will be discussed and it is important parents attend.  FCAT Parent Night begins at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria and dinner will be served.

“This is an opportunity for parents to come out and hear about their child’s academic performance,” said Principal Dr. Glenda Sheffield.  “Our goal is to prepare all students for academic success and we need the assistance of our families.”  Teachers will be available to answer specific questions.

Parents are welcome to call their child’s Grade Level Assistant Principal for additional information at 561-776-3600.

The School District of Palm Beach County recognizes the vital role that parents/guardians and family members play in the education, welfare and values of the students.

Media please contact Dr. Sheffield at 561-776-3600 or glenda.sheffield@palmbeachschools.org for more information.

Whispering Pines Elementary School in Boca Raton will be opening a new Gifted Cluster for students this August.  The school will hold a Showcase featuring tours and information sessions about the new programs on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Whispering Pines Elementary is located at 9090 Spanish Isles Boulevard in Boca Raton.

For more information please contact Whispering Pines Principal Walter Cornnell at 561-672-2700 or walter.cornnell@palmbeachachools.org .

 If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Tim Hadsell is looking for you.    The Greenacres man is seeking students, their families, and other volunteers for the next phase of planting  two community vegetable gardens—one in Riviera Beach and the other in suburban West Palm Beach on Saturday, February 4.  The end result will be two gardens that help sustain area feeding programs. The St. George’s Center Garden is located in Riviera Beach at 21 West 22nd Street with the beginnings of a 2,000 square foot garden.

The West Palm Beach site which is near the Elk’s Lodge on Belvedere Road, has 4,000 square feet prepared for growing vegetables.  “Volunteers are needed at the Elk’s site from 8:00 a.m until the work is finished Saturday afternoon. The work at St. George’s is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until the work’s completed that afternoon. The  City of Greenacres Leisure Services is providing transportation and the Mounts Botanical Gardens and the University of Florida Extension Service are providing plants, seedlings, and training. 

Hadsell is the Grants chair of the local Elk’s Lodge and has played an instrumental role in installing three other gardens at or near public elementary schools during the past two years. Mr. Hadsell says  volunteers will help plant a variety of winter and summer vegetables. Students who volunteer can receive community service credit.  To RSVP or for more details, contact Mr. Hadsell, 561-670-4790 or email timhadsell@cs.com.

 Students, staff, and family members of Conniston Middle School are gearing up for next Saturday’s Family Day at the Norton Museum of Art event. Over 70 works of student art will be on display and participants will enjoy a variety of performances and activities on February 11, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

The day includes a free ride from Conniston Middle to the Norton Museum of Art on Molley’s Trollys, tours of the museum, love glass blowing presentations, and performances by the school’s chorus, band, solo artists, break dancers and fly girls. The museum’s Café 1451 is also providing free lunch for participants.

“The Norton School Partnership with Conniston is in its fifth year,” said Glenn Tomlinson, curator of education. “We work with the school to provide arts-integrated lesson planning, professional development, and much more.” School tours, free family access year-round, and family day programs are also a part of the partnership. Conniston Principal Oscar Otero said community partnerships like this are an invaluable resource for his students and staff. “Art is a such a universal language that can be used across all content areas to creatively help engage students in learning and enhance their academic achievement,” he stated. “The art dimension used effectively gives teachers another resource in their toolkits for creative instruction,” he added.

The Norton School Partnership also offers the Museum opportunities to reach teachers and students at West Gate Elementary School. Additionally, the Norton maintains business partnerships with other schools, including U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School and Palmetto Elementary School. The Norton Museum tour program serves 7,000-10,000 students per year, the majority from Title-1 schools, and over 500 teachers participate in arts-integrated professional development sessions annually. 

This partnership—which is one of more than 1100 school/business partnerships in the district—provide well over $3 million per year in cash and other resources to support increased student achievement throughout our public schools. 

For more information about the Conniston Middle School Family Day at the Norton Museum of Art, contact Mr. Tomlinson, 561-832-5196 or email tomlinsong@noton.org.

The Wellington Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Organization (PTO/PTA) has been chosen as part of the FTI Great City Charity Challenge for a chance to win a portion of $50,000. Fan voting is open until Friday, February 17^th, 2012.

Click here to vote for the Wellington PTA/PTO Group

The FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge started in 2010, generating over $400,000 for 24 local charities. Today, the event has grown to 32 local charities competing for a combined $1.5 million.

This year’s event will be held during the 6^th week of the Winter Equestrian Festival on Friday, February 17^th, 2012 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

The Wellington PTO/PTA provides support to all schools in the area through numerous programs which serve the school’s pupils, parents, and staff.  Some of the activities and events that they support include community events, field trips, in-school enrichment programs, school supplies and much more.

The top-three charities with the most votes will be awarded a portion of $50,000. The breakdown is as follows: 

1^st place: $25,000 

2^nd place: $12,500 

3^rd place: $12,500

For more information contact Scott Blake, Principal at Polo Park Middle School, at (561) 333-5500 or via e-mail at scott.blake@palmbeachschools.org.

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org

The School District in partnership with design and construction teams, Song & Associates Architects and Pirtle Construction, achieved a LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council for the new Everglades Elementary School.  The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System was designed by the US Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings. The Certification requires all aspects of the campus to be evaluated for Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.

Everglades Elementary opened its doors to students on August 23, 2010.  The School District planned for this facility in order to relieve overcrowding at three nearby elementary schools.  The project was completed on time and was approximately 20% under the original construction budget.

LEED aspects and green initiatives were at the forefront during the planning, design and construction of the facility. The entire team diligently sought to preserve various elements of the site for the students to utilize as a learning tool, as well as numerous opportunities within the school building to reinforce the learning opportunities that have been incorporated throughout the school.

According to Everglades Elementary Principal Dwan Moore-Ross, “The end result of this collaboration is an educational facility which is not only beautiful, but can also be utilized as a learning tool for our teachers, students and community.  The “Green Wall” is a perfect example of a fun and exciting tool to teach everyone about how this elementary school is helping our environment and the part we all play in this endeavor.”

Green Features:

BUILDING AS A TEACHING TOOL - The “Green Wall” is a place to display Everglades Elementary School’s “Green” facts.” The 42” Touch Screen is also located on this wall which provides usable data that illustrates the building systems green technologies, design features and energy conservation strategies employed throughout the building or across the entire campus. A photovoltaic system is soon to be installed at the southernmost covered walkway.  This system is designed to feed the main electrical panel and the amount of solar energy provided by the panels can be monitored by the students. By providing this information along with real-time energy use data and costs, active participation by the students and community will be promoted to help reduce these costs and promote environmentally friendly practices.

MINIMIZED HEAT ISLAND EFFECT–The “Heat Island Effect” refers to the absorption of heat by hardscapes, such as dark, non-reflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation of the surrounding area.  Everglades Elementary incorporates white roofing and light colored concrete sidewalks to reflect instead of absorb the heat from the sun. 

ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE PARKING – Environmentally friendly vehicles, such as hybrids, are especially good for the environment.  They reduce the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere because they burn less fossil fuel than regular cars.  Another way to burn less fossil fuel is to carpool with others.  As a reward, the school has designated parking spaces closer to the school for Hybrids and for carpooling vehicles.

POLISHED CONCRETE – All corridors as well as the media center and dining area have polished concrete floors.  It is made of sand, crushed rocks, water, and something called lime (not the fruit).  After these floors dried and hardened, instead of being covered with another material, they were polished and left exposed.  Concrete is durable and requires very little maintenance.  Polished concrete is naturally glossy so there is no need to apply a wax or protective coating. 

RECYCLING – There are several recycling areas in the school.  Cardboard, paper, glass, plastic and aluminum are placed in designated bins and recycled. During the construction period, 93.64% of construction waste was recycled and diverted away from landfill.

OCCUPANCY SENSORS – All the classrooms and main gathering spaces are equipped with occupancy sensors.  A sensor tells the air conditioning system when there is no longer anyone in the room and, therefore, the need to cool the classroom is reduced.  These sensors help lower the monthly electric bills and help reduce energy. 

ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING – Light fixtures are energy-efficient fluorescent lights instead of the incandescent type.  Occupancy sensors detect when a room is empty, and the lights turn off. 

WATER-SAVING FIXTURES – Low-flow sinks and toilets, as well as waterless urinals, are used to conserve water. 

RAIN WATER COLLECTIONS – Cisterns (or rain barrels) are used to capture rainwater from roofs.  One way to use the collected rainwater is to irrigate the landscape or garden. 

HYDROPONIC GARDEN – Everglades Elementary has a hydroponic garden – plants such as fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown in containers above ground using drip irrigation.  This type of gardening is water and space efficient and also protects the plants from insects in the soil. The garden provides a unique outdoor learning environment for the students.

SOLAR PANELS – Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels that can be used in a wide range of applications.  The energy the school produces will go back into FPL’s “grid.”

DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPE – AKA Florida Friendly Landscape.  Florida-friendly plants, including Florida native plants, were used because they require little irrigation or fertilizer, are low maintenance and attract wildlife.  They can survive drought due to deeper root structures and internal moisture storage.  Native plants also provide habitats for butterflies, lizards and birds.  The design preserved existing trees to the greatest extent possible including the protection of two, large specimen Ficus trees.

LIGHT POLLUTION CONTROL – Light pollution, waste light from building sites that produce glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is directed off the site.  Light pollution is also a sign of energy waste.  The school’s lighting fixtures are directed downward to emit the lowest amount of light possible to safely illuminate our parking lots and walkways.

SUN SCREEN – To help reduce the solar heat that transmits from the sun’s rays to the interior of the school, exterior sun screens were placed to diffuse the natural daylight that enters into the building and keeps the rooms from getting too hot.

DAYLIGHT/VIEWS & CLEAR STORY WINDOWS – Natural light into classrooms and other learning spaces reduce the dependency on artificial lights.  North facing windows in the school provide daylight without adding heat and glare from the sun and South facing windows have exterior solar shades.  Effective daylight provides health and energy benefits.

For more information please contact Ms. Moore-Ross at 561-792-9500.

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from February 6–10, 2012, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors.

Comprehensive school counseling programs impact student achievement and are a vital part of the educational process for all students.  School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; they work in partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; they focus on positive ways to enhance students’ social/personal, educational and career development; and they work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.

“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, personal/social skills and career awareness in post-secondary options,” said Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed.D., ASCA executive director. “Comprehensive school counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”

Parents or community members with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their local schools. More general information can also be found on the Palm Beach School Counselor Association web site, https://sites.google.com/site/palmbeachschoolcounseling/ or on ASCA’s Web site, www.schoolcounselor.org.

For more information please contact Michael C. Kane, Ms, EdS, NBCT, Starlight Cove Elementary School Counselor and President, Palm Beach School Counselor Association at Michael.kane@palmbeachschools.org .

Carlton Willis and son, fifth grade student Carlton Willis, share their pride and enjoyment after completing The Home Depot "Make and Take" project.

Allamanda Elementary School students and their families recently participated in a hugely successful Science Fair Home Depot “Make and Take” Family Picnic event sponsored by the Allamanda PTO and Science Committee. More than 300 Allamanda families participated in this educational, creative evening at the school. 

Students’ Science Fair projects were displayed while families toured and picnicked on the school grounds, enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers, popcorn and cotton candy.  Families worked as teams to build Home Depot crafts such as wooden snowman napkin holders, mini-toolboxes, planters, helicopters and mini-white boards.  Moms read directions, kids hammered and glued, dads took pictures – it was industrious, organized teamwork.  Home Depot donated all the materials, including orange, personalized aprons for the children. 

Allamanda Elementary Principal Marilu Garcia said, “Our families enjoyed every minute, stopping to read everything and snapping photos in front of their science projects.  It was a wonderful family evening.”

For more information please contact Ms. Garcia at 561-803-7200 or Marilu.garcia@palmbeachschools.org .

For the 100^th day of school, the school cafeteria at Poinciana Elementary is transformed into a camp ground, with a faux campfire, tents and real live creatures of the night!  The event hosts the Annual 100^th Day of Dads Celebration sponsored by the school PTA to honor male role models that play such a special role in the lives of students. 

This program, scheduled for Friday, February 3, 2012 at 6:00 PM, supports the school goals listed in the School Improvement Plan for 2011-2012 which aim at improving parent and community participation in school sponsored events.  It will bring on campus many parents, dads, grandparents, uncles, brothers, and other male role models, along with many sponsors and business partners. 

“Through the 100^th Day of Dads Celebration, we are able to communicate to our families and students the importance and benefits of being a male role model in a child’s life.  At this event, dads and male role models read with the students around a faux campfire, learn how to tie knots, play games with Cub Scouts, make crafts with Girl Scouts, and stare at the stars through telescopes in our courtyard.  Through various business partners, we are able to provide tasty treats to everyone who attends the event,” said Melinda Olsker, the school guidance counselor.

The event will reach out to approximately 100 families. Many sponsors will participate.  The Florida Masonic Child ID Program which allows parents the opportunity to create a kit of identifying materials for their child, free of charge.  The kit contained fingerprints, a physical description, video, photographs of the child, all of these written to a CD or DVD and a DNA sample.  The purpose of the kit is to provide critical information to the public and to law enforcement if a child is missing.  The YMCA provides families with information on their available programs, including local summer camps.  The City of Boynton Beach provides information on parks and their recreational programs.  The City also provides “story time” for the event.  Safe Kids of Palm Beach County provides information on the importance of bicycle helmet safety.    Other sponsors include Cub Scout Pack 243, Girl Scout Troop 20577, and Boy Scout Troop 395.

Poinciana Elementary school is located at 1203 N. Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach, FL 33435.

For more information contact Melinda Olsker at Melinda.olsker@palmbeachschools.org.

On January 28, 2012, Destiny Davis, a fifth grade student at Plumosa School of the Arts, sang the National Anthem for this wonderful event that continues its tradition of bringing together ambassadors, dignitaries, and philanthropic leaders from around the world. After the Marine Corps Color guard presented, Destiny was introduced and sang a wonderful and heart-warming rendition of the Star Spangle Banner. She received a standing ovation from attendees and personal kudos from Donald Trump.  Destiny is a star on the rise and she hopes to attend Bak Middle School of the Arts next school year.

Egret Lake Elementary School will be hosting their yearly Black History Arts Integration Festival on Thursday, February 16^th, 2012 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

The evening will begin with a fried chicken dinner for $6.00 per person (cash only). At 6:00 pm, chorus will be performing the musical, “I Have a Dream” songs for peace and harmony followed by classes showcasing dances learned through the school’s new dance teachers. 

At 6:45 p.m. parents and community members will be invited to visit classrooms to view In-formances, Reader’s Theater and other Arts Integration teaching strategies that the teachers have been using this year with their students. 

For more information contact Terrion Nelson or Linda Tylka at (561) 616-7900 or via email at linda.tylka@palmbeachschools.org.

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org

The Pine Jog Elementary Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is sponsoring the 4^th Annual Strawberry Festival. 

When?  Saturday, February 18^th, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

Where? Pine Jog Elementary - 6315 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33415  

The festival began three years ago and was created to celebrate the harvest of Pine Jog’s 4,000 plant hydroponic gardens and its abundant strawberry crop.  The garden is managed by the OWL (Our World Leaders) team, who created a business plan for the garden while learning science, math, and business skills. 

There will be music, games, fresh stawberries and vegetables, petting zoo and lots of fun things to do.  Pine Jog Elementary invites all of the members of the community to support the biggest fundraising event of the year. 

The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to modeling environmental stewardship, wisely managing the use of natural resources, and supporting conservation.  One of the main purposes is to educate students, teachers, administrators, and staff about the importance of conservation and environmental awareness. 

For more information contact Fred Barch at (561) 656-5401 or via e-mail at  fred.barch@palmbeachschools.org.   

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org.

The School District of Palm Beach County has six schools in the top ten in their categories statewide as measured by student FCAT scores and, at the high school level, by graduation rates, student participation and performance in accelerated coursework and postsecondary readiness:

Elementary
 #7 – South Olive Elementary School

Middle 
#4 – Bak Middle School of the Arts #6 – Don Estridge High Tech Middle School  # 9 – Wellington Landings Middle School

High 
# 3 –  Suncoast High School  #4 – Dreyfoos School of  the Arts

For the complete listing of school rankings, visit http://www.fldoe.org/Ranking/Schools.

Palm Beach ranks #16 out of 67 districts statewide and #1 among the urban 7 districts statewide based on the FCAT scores, beating out Broward, Orange, Dade, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Duval counties.

Districts that received a higher ranking than Palm Beach are typically smaller districts and districts with higher concentrations of high income households. Approximately 50 percent of Palm Beach students qualify for free and reduced-priced meals.

“We are pleased to see that the continuing hard work of our teachers and students is recognized at the state level. This recognition should be reassuring to our parents that their children are receiving a high quality education”, said Superintendent Wayne Gent.

“We have  work to do to ensure that all of our students are learning to their potential,  but positive reinforcement like this will continue to encourage our teachers, staff, students and parents to work hard toward our goals of even higher performance,” he said.

The district rankings can be found at   http://www.fldoe.org/SchoolDistrictRanking/. 

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The School Board of Palm Beach County has scheduled informal and formal interviews and two “Meet and Greet” events for the three superintendent candidates. Informal interviews will be conducted by the board members, who will meet individually with each of the applicants, from Monday, February 6 through Wednesday, February 8 at District Headquarters, 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, 33406.

The public is invited to meet the three finalists at a “Meet and Greet” on Monday, February 6, 2012 in the School District’s Board Room from 6:00 p.m. –  8:00 p.m.  A second “Meet and Greet”  is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Glades Central High School, Cafeteria, 1001 S.W. Ave. “M”, Belle Glade, FL, 33430, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 

The formal interviews will be conducted by the board members at the District Headquarters in the Board Room on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 and are open to the public. 

                                                 1:00 – 1:15     Interview Protocol 

                                                 1:15 - 2:40     Tom Watkins

                                                 2:45 – 4:10     Constance Jones, Ph.D.

                                                 4:15 - 5:40     Janis Andrews, Ed.D.    

Board members are expected to vote to select the superintendent at the board meeting on Wednesday, February 15. The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Frieda Proctor at (561) 434-8953.

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