School News

compiled by Lauren Salinero – 


Bay Meadows Elementary

030316sn01Miss Beverly, a Bay Meadows Elementary volunteer and coach for Girls on the Run Orlando, celebrates her 90th birthday.

 

Bay Meadows Elementary volunteer Miss Beverly was honored by Girls on the Run Orlando on her 90th birthday. She was shown as an inspiring example of someone willing to activate her limitless potential at any age. This spring, Beverly is coaching her second season of Girls On the Run. She said she wasn’t ready to do the “early bird dinner type of thing” after she retired last year and finds coaching a great way to stay active and give back to her community. Beverly spent most of her life in Boston and was very career-focused, working as a model and eventually owning a modeling and self-development company. She moved to Florida in the early 90s and continued teaching self-development. As a teacher since the 1970s, she said it was right up her alley to continue teaching as a coach. When asked what advice she would give to GOTR girls, Beverly said, “Be the best you can be, and when you look in the mirror, know you’re a beautiful person inside and out. You should always carry that thought with you.”


 

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Tambi Durham, a guidance counselor at Lake Whitney Elementary, is named Orange County Public Schools Elementary School Counselor of the Year.

 

 


Thornebrooke Elementary

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Florida first lady Ann Scott (back, third from left) visits Thornebrooke Elementary at the start of Celebrate Literacy Week. She is pictured with TES Principal Christopher Daniels (back, far left), Thornebrooke Elementary Teacher of the Year Tara Katch (back, center), and Mrs. Katch’s fourth-grade class.

Thornebrooke Elementary received a special guest to kick off Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida first lady Ann Scott. She visited classrooms, read stories to the children, and answered questions. The kids were excited to host such a charming and important visitor, and first lady Scott was impressed with the students and staff members of TES.


Westbrooke Elementary

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Westbrooke Elementary teacher Krista Williams (back, left) and her students, (l. to r.) Triniti Thomas Vasil, Mia Marchant, Amiyah Rivera, Kaitlyn Hoffner, Kayla Mcray, Anna Sousa, Peighton Jack and Jakobi Alliance, celebrate the 100th day of school.


Windermere Elementary

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(L. to r.) Windermere Police Chief David Ogden; Windermere Elementary Principal Diana Greer; crossing guards Patty Sanders, Ken Cohen and Ruth Marcus; Windermere Deputy Chief Jennifer Treadwell, and Windermere Police Officer George Gonzalez celebrate National Crossing Guard Day.

Windermere Elementary and representatives of the Windermere Police Department recognized WES’s crossing guards on National Crossing Guard Day. Ken Cohen, Ruth Marcus and Patty Sanders were presented with a proclamation from Gov. Rick Scott as well as cards and flowers from the school’s students.


West Orange High

West Orange High students Kathryn Andrews of Winter Garden and Connor Suglia of Windermere were chosen as two of 250 national youth correspondents to attend the 2016 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University. They were selected based on academic accomplishment and a demonstrated interest and excellence in journalism and media studies. Kathryn and Connor will participate in hands-on, experiential learning through decision-making simulations that challenge them to solve problems and explore the creative, practical and ethical tensions inherent in journalism and media. The experiential portion of the program will be complemented by speakers who are well-known leaders in the media community, including prominent journalists, CEOs of major media outlets, researchers and recent college graduates successfully entering the field. The conference will be held July 17-22.


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Et Al


David Holbrook (right) dresses up with his children, Jack and Esa, for Cranium Academy’s annual Fairytale Ball.

Cranium Academy of Winter Garden hosted its annual Fairytale Ball. As part of the festivities, families dressed up as famous literary characters, and the school was transformed into a storybook adventure complete with crafts and activities in themed rooms for pirates and pixies, superheroes and more. After exploring rooms, children danced the night away to a disc jockey playing their favorite tunes.


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While learning about the letter “D,” Premier Academy’s pre-kindergartners, including (l. to r.) Gianna Pereira, Siham Kaddoura, Rebekka Napartovich, Rony Haavisto, Bryan Cuascut, Otto Fernandez and Ian Widmer, make doctor’s jackets out of construction paper.

Premier Academy in Windermere’s pre-K3 class made doctor’s jackets as a craft project to learn about the letter “D.” The children also talked about the importance of the school’s community helpers.

A group of Holy Family Catholic School alumni, who are now part of the Class of 2017 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, made a decision to start giving back to their school while attending HFCS as freshmen, instead of waiting until they had graduated. With this goal, the students founded the Lions & Hornets Society at Bishop Moore, which is named for their beginnings as Holy Family Lions and their new status as Bishop Moore Hornets. Each of the 21 kids contributed $60 toward a fund as a salute to BMCHS’s 60th anniversary to be donated to the BMCHS annual fund. The $1,350 donation earned them recognition as members of the Loretta Society and an invitation to the President’s Reception for major donors. The donation marks the first time in BMCHS’s history that current students mobilized in such a significant manner to give back to the school. Each year, new members are added to the society who choose to give back to their school. Members of the Lions & Hornets Society hope their story inspires other individuals and groups to do something similar.


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Ocoee resident and third-grader Maya Sinberg wins Orlando Jewish Day School’s spelling bee.

Orlando Jewish Day School in Dr. Phillips held its annual spelling event for students in grades K-5 and their parents. The activity was less of a spelling bee and more of a high-tech spelling performance, with colorful student introductions on a large projection screen and music. “We think of this more as a spelling celebration,” said Dini Druk, the bee’s coordinator. “We are celebrating the achievement of all our students in spelling, and we are excited to present [everyone] with what they’ve accomplished.” The event began with a special presentation by Simcha Dubov, a student with Down syndrome; followed by a spelling bee for the kindergartners and a live game show for grades 1-4; and ended with a more traditional spelling bee. In the final round, a winner was selected from every grade level. Third-grader Maya Sinberg of Ocoee took the trophy as the school’s spelling champion.

Officials of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra announced the awardees of the first Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra High School Orchestra of Distinction program. High schools from Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties were invited to submit their top orchestras to participate in the new annual program last fall. First-round participants submitted an anonymous, recorded audition that was judged by local high school orchestra experts. Eight orchestras proceeded to the semifinal round, when judges attended the winter concerts performed at each school. Among the semifinalists were Dr. Phillips High and Olympia High. Although neither school won the distinction, Southwest residents can be proud of all members of the high schools’ orchestras. “It was a pleasure to witness each school’s winter concert,” said Leia Barrett, OPO’s director of education. “The poise and professionalism of all final-round participants were incredible.”


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Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool teacher Angel Alexander and her VPK class release butterflies in the school’s teaching garden.

Angel Alexander’s VPK class at Christ The King Lutheran PreSchool gave kids an up-close look at butterflies. The children were able to see the complete life cycle of the butterflies in the school’s teaching garden.

Although we try to ensure that all information presented above is the most current, correct and dependable available, we do rely on others for the source of our news. Therefore, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin and Kearney Publishing Corp. cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information presented here, nor does mentioning it constitute an endorsement. School News is welcome and may be mailed to P.O. Box 851, Windermere, FL  34786; or emailed to Lauren@kearneypublishing.com. 💓