Nik Sirois Raises Money for AHA and more news …

compiled by Lauren Salinero


Lake Whitney Elementary

Lake Whitney Elementary student Nik Sirois (front) raises money for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope For Heart, as nurse Beverly Childs (far left) and Eileen Harvey’s first-grade class looks on.

Nik Sirois of Lake Whitney Elementary participated in the school’s efforts in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser. Nik raised $1,050. LWES raised a total of $10,728.67. Jump Rope For Heart is a fun event where individuals or teams can jump rope and learn about the heart and how to keep it healthy while raising money for the American Heart Association.


Westbrooke Elementary

Westbrooke Elementary first-graders attend Shrek the Musical at West Orange High.

Westbooke Elementary parents and teachers escorted the first-graders on their first field trip. The children went to West Orange High to see the Warriors’ production of Shrek the Musical.

“As a parent, I love having my child at a school that embraces the arts,” Brooke Axtell said. “During school they have art and music, and our field trip was so much fun.”


Whispering Oak Elementary

(L. to r.) Lauren Dotson, Ben Treadway and Hudson Allen of Whispering Oak Elementary help to raise money for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope For Heart.

Heather Ruhle’s kindergartners at Whispering Oak Elementary participated in Jump Rope For Heart to benefit the American Heart Association. Jump Rope For Heart is a fun event where individuals or teams jump rope and learn about the heart and how to keep it healthy while raising money for the American Heart Association. Funds go to help children with heart disease, as well as toward discovering new medicines and treatments.


Bridgewater Middle

Bridgewater Middle Parent Teacher Student Organization parental volunteers (l. to r.) Teri Murray, Holly Vichi, Nesha Zeigler, Bonnie Dooley and Cynthia Royal hand out sweets to student members of the organization on Valentine’s Day.

On Valentine’s Day, volunteers from  Bridgewater Middle’s Parent Teacher Student Organization surprised 230 student members with sweet treats. Each of the kids were able to choose two candies as a PTSO membership reward. Parental volunteers Bonnie Dooley, Teri Murray, Cynthia Royal, Holly Vichi and Nesha Zeigler helped distribute the sweets.


SunRidge Middle

SunRidge Middle book club leader and media specialist Judith Moody, Principal Patricia BowenPainter, and staff members support book club members as they prepare for the upcoming Battle of the Books.

SunRidge Middle’s book club members will participate in a Battle of the Books this month. The team meets once a week to discuss books and answer questions about the current list of books that have been nominated for the Sunshine State Young Readers Award. During the Battle of the Books, the students must demonstrate their abilities and knowledge about the books they’ve read. SRMS’s team is led by media specialist Judith Moody.


Et Al

Florida teachers were invited to attend the Handwriting Without Tears workshop on the hot topic of cursive. The workshop was very visual, having educators out of their seats singing, dancing and banging wooden sticks. It taught them how to instruct a simple, efficient handwriting technique in the classroom. Studies have shown that learning cursive improves brain development in areas of the brain involved in thinking, language and working memory. The workshop was split into two days, one for pre-K and one for grades K-5. The pre-K workshop mimicked a puppet and clanged wood pieces to learn handwriting. The older group included novel ways to teach and write cursive.


The First Academy Principal Garry Sullivan (left) congratulates senior Jessica Meena for becoming a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Jessica Meena, a senior at The First Academy, was named a National Merit Scholarship Program finalist. Finalists must meet high academic standards after being selected as a semifinalist. Semifinalists are chosen on a state-representational basis. They are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. As a finalist, Jessica is eligible to win a Merit Scholarship award. Recipients of the award are chosen based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments.


(L. to r.) Asher Phan, Kyle Hilgendorf, Colin Herbert, Logan Miller, Kevin Lubel and Jeremiah Morgan in Angel Alexander’s 4-year-olds class at Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool decorate hats for Valentine’s Day.

(L. to r.) Joshua Hetz, Rori ORourke, Landon Prince, Zoey Dean and David Robrahn in Angel Alexander’s 4-year-olds class at Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool decorate hats for Valentine’s Day.

(L. to r.) Sophia Pincura, Victoria YoungCronembold, Parker Coronel, Hudson Baulblit, Declan Bogart and Ashton Upkins in Saleemah Williams’ 4-year-olds class at Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool create valentines.

Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool students enjoyed a party on Valentine’s Day. The children got crafty by making hats and decorating handmade valentines. They also indulged in special treats.


During Spirit Week, students at The Crenshaw School display their patriotic pride for ‘Murica Monday.


The Crenshaw School students don the school’s purple and gold colors for Spirit Day.

The Crenshaw School recently held a Spirit Week, during which students and teachers joined in the fun by dressing according to special themes for each day of the week. ‘Murica Monday started the week with students dressing in red, white and blue. Classy Tuesday let everyone show off their most dapper and sophisticated outfits. Wacky Wednesday brought out the wackiest of wardrobes. Throwback Thursday had people dressing in clothes from all different decades. And, for Spirit Day on Friday, the dress was purple and gold in support of the school.

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