Martin County
500 East Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 219-1200
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Regular School Board Meeting Dates
August 17, 2010
7 P.M.
Sept. 21, 2010
7 P.M.
October 19, 2010
7 P.M.
November 16, 2010
7 P.M.
December 21, 2010
7 P.M.
Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the School Board Meeting Room of the MCSD Administrative Offices, 500 East Ocean Boulevard, Stuart.
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"Martin Minute"
is published by the
Office of Public Information and Community Relations.
For more information, please contact
Cathleen Brennan at MCSDnews@ martin.k12.fl.us. |
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Message from the Superintendent August 12, 2010
Dear Parents and Community Members:
This time of year is always exciting, as we prepare to usher in the new school year and welcome students back to class on August 23rd. Our school and district staff are busy making final plans for student schedules, welcoming new employees, and planning professional development opportunities prior to the first day of school.
As we kick off the new year, we're thrilled to have earned an "A" grade from the Florida Department of Education. The 2010 results mark the 9th consecutive year Martin County has earned the state's top grade. In addition, Martin County ranked among the highest performing school districts for total FCAT points earned. This is an outstanding accomplishment for our schools, district, and community. Martin County is fortunate to have so many dedicated teachers, administrators, and support personnel contributing to the success of our students, and I would like to thank them for all of their hard work. With each of us doing our part, we can continue to provide our students with the resources and tools they need to achieve high educational goals.
One of the many ways parents can help students reach their potential is by encouraging regular school attendance. This year the District is continuing our new attendance campaign called Bring It 180. We want students to bring to school everything they need to do well, including:
As part of the Bring It 180 campaign, a committee comprised of District and school administrators identified areas of need within schools and strategies to address them. They also regularly monitored school attendance data. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, seventeen schools showed an improvement in student attendance rates.
The research is clear, when students attend school regularly they perform better academically. Students will be receiving the new Bring It 180 brochure at the start of school. I encourage parents to take a few moments to review this vital information, as well as the school calendar which is printed inside. The first step toward learning in school... is being in class.
As our families continue to explore all of the opportunities that are ahead this school year, I encourage parents to be involved in their child's education as together we create the foundation for their future. Sincerely,
Nancy Kline
Superintendent
Martin County School District
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Welcome Back Teachers!
Teachers across Martin County head back to school on August 16th; but teachers new to the District got a head start on August 10th.
(L-R) Teachers Krista Lozeau (2nd Grade, Port Salerno Elementary, Becky McArdle (4th Grade, Jensen Beach Elementary), Terri Branch (4th Grade, Port Salerno Elementary), and Melissa Rasmussen (Kindergarten, Port Salerno Elementary) attended New Teacher Orientation on August 10th. |
Approximately 100 teachers attended the District's New Teacher Orientation, which was held at the Stuart Learning Center. The annual event provided teachers with training and important information in areas such as curriculum, Exceptional Student Education, technology policies, ESOL requirements, certification and ethics. Schools will be holding professional development activities, as well as Welcome Back events for all returning teachers next week.
(L-R) Nancy Marin (Palm City Elementary Principal), Cathy Tedesco (Director of Title I, Migrant, ELL), Robyn Monte (Bessey Creek Elementary Assistant Principal), and Victoria Defenthaler (Bessey Creek Elementary Principal) |
The District also held its annual Leadership Conference for school and District administrators. The event was held August 4th-5th at the Stuart Learning Center. The conference included instructional and curriculum updates, transportation department updates, Disaster Plan training, and FCAT data updates, as well as presentations by the United Way and the Education Foundation of Martin County. |
New School Year to Open with New Classroom Buildings!
Students at three Martin County schools will welcome new additions to their school campuses this year. New classroom buildings are opening at Stuart Middle School, South Fork High School and Indiantown Middle. "We're very excited to have the new classroom buildings ready for the new school year. They are wonderful additions to our campuses and I'm sure teachers are very anxious to move in," said Superintendent Nancy Kline.
Stuart Middle:
Stuart Middle School New Classroom Building. |
The 2-story building includes:
- 16 classrooms
- 4 science classrooms with 2 labs
- 2 computer labs
- 4 resource rooms
- Conference room
- Planning areas
"We've been working hard to get the classrooms ready. The new building is state of the art and we're anxious for teachers, students and parents to have a chance to come and visit during our open houses," said Stuart Middle School Principal, Sig George. Contractors also recently completed the ornamental fencing in front of the school's campus along East Ocean Boulevard in Stuart.
Indiantown Middle:
Indiantown Middle School New Classroom Building- I Can Learn Lab. | The two-story building includes: - 16 classrooms
- 4 science classrooms with 2 labs
- 2 computer labs
- 4 resource rooms
- Administrative and planning areas
"We're all very excited, the students, staff and the entire community. We're going to be able to house the majority of 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in the new building. The construction company has really done a fantastic job," said Principal Debbie Henderson. Construction is ongoing for the school's new cafetorium, which is scheduled to be completed prior to December 2010.
South Fork High:
South Fork High School New Classroom Building Science Lab. | The one-story building includes: - 6 science classroom with labs
- 1 ESE resource room
- 12 ESE classrooms
- 1 ESE Life Skills Room
- Office Space
"We are absolutely thrilled. The team leaders, science teachers, and ESE teachers are all looking forward to a wonderful year in the new building," said Principal Pat Schmoyer. The construction project team is now in the process of completing the demolition and site preparations required for the next phase of construction, which is a replacement administration and classroom building. This project will include 25 classrooms, one resource room, 2 business labs, and new Administration and Guidance areas. |
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Teachers Go High Tech
Kimberly MacAllister (Jensen Beach High School) and Tami Conrad (South Fork High School) create audio clips using Audacity softare. | From Snagit! software to Promethean Boards and Flip Cams, teachers had some help going high tech for the new school year thanks to the 2010 Technology Institute, organized by the Educational Technology Department and TLG Trainers.
The Technology Institute took place August 5th-12th, with workshops at Jensen Beach High and Stuart Middle. Teachers had an opportunity to attend more than two dozen workshops that showcased the latest in trends in utilizing technology in the classroom. "We would like to thank all of our teachers who attended the Institute, as well as our TLG trainers for taking the time out of their summer break to attend these sessions. It is simply amazing to see how technology is shaping students' lives and how by incorporating it into the classroom we are able to really impact their learning in a whole new way," said Marilyn Gavitt, the District's Coordinator of Instructional Technology. |
"Survivor Camp" Spectacular for ESY Students and Staff
Extended School Year Staff pictured with (front center) Behavior Analyst Alanna Apap, Program Specialist Joanne Sweazey, (far right back) ESE Executive Director Maryellen Quinn-Lunny, ESE Coordinator Vicki Jenkins, and School Board Member Laurie Gaylord. |
On Tuesday, August 3rd, students participating in the Extended School Year (ESY) "Survivor Camp" put on an impressive show that had the audience rockin' to the beat of classic musical hits such as "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and family favorites likes "Itsy Bitsy Spider." It was all part of the end of camp annual show, which allows the students to show off the social skills they've worked on during the four week program for students with autism spectrum disorders.
This summer 118 students participated in the program, which took place at SeaWind Elementary. The theme was Surviving Social Situations and it promoted social communication in a stress free environment. Skills were taught through the natural teaching ability of trained peers called "Peer Pals" and facilitated by supportive adults. "Peer Pals" are Martin County School District students who volunteer one to four weeks of their summer to assist, play, teach and befriend the children with autism in their community.
Behavior Analyst Alanna Apap and Program Specialist Joanne Sweazey organized the ESY Camp and credit much of its success to the "Peer Pals." "My goal is for every elementary school to have a Peer Pals program, and many of them already do. It benefits the typical peers as much as it does students with autism and other disabilities. This year there are 61 trained 'Peer Pals' waiting to serve at their schools," said Apap, whose recent article highlighting the benefits of the Peer Pals program is now published in the August issue of The Autism File. |
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Cool Treat for Pinewood Extended Day Summer Camp Thanks to Local Firefighters!
Extended Day Campers at Pinewood Elementary cool off thanks to Local Fire Station 23! | Local Fire Station 23 came to visit Extended Day Summer Camp at Pinewood Elementary on July 30th. They started by giving each of the groups (Pre-K through 5th grade) a tour of the ladder truck. The students also had an opportunity to tour the station's brand new, state of the art Rescue 23 Ambulance and get valuable tips on what to do in an emergency situation.
Even though the children loved seeing the Fire Rescue vehicles up close, seeing them in action was the coolest treat of the day! With the summer temperatures rising, firefighters helped "extinguish" the heat by spraying the children with water! "On such a hot summer day, the children really enjoyed getting wet and learning all about the responsibilities of a firefighter," said Program Manager Lindsay Wisniewski. "All of our Pinewood campers send a special thank you to Fire Station 23!"
Parents interested in registering for Extended Day's 2010-2011 school year program should contact their child's elementary school directly. Additional information on the early/after school program is also available on the District's website, http://www.sbmc.org/schools/extended-day.php. |
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