Martin County
500 East Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 219-1200
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Mark Your Calendars!
Red Ribbon Week October 25th-29th
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School Board Regular Meeting Dates
October 19, 2010
Regular Meeting begins at 6 P.M. with FCAT Recognitions-
Jensen Beach High Auditorium 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. |
"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
 October 15, 2010Dear Families and Community Members:
As we approach the end of the first nine weeks of school, there are many exciting events underway. I have had the honor of participating in the Jensen Beach and Martin County High School Homecoming parades. They were wonderful experiences and I look forward to upcoming Homecoming events at South Fork High School. I also continue to visit schools on a regular basis and thoroughly enjoy spending time in the classrooms seeing first hand the high quality instruction taking place each and every day. Today marks the end of Full Time Equivalency (FTE) week (October 11th-15th) for school districts state wide. During this time period, enrollment data for individual districts is collected by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). This data becomes the basis for the funding each district receives based on the total student population. Additionally, this is also the week in which the FLDOE will be pulling the data necessary to calculate Class Size Reduction compliance. It has remained our goal to meet the mandated requirements, which beginning this school year, place hard caps on the number of students in classrooms by grade level. Results of both the FTE count and Class Size Reduction compliance are expected to be received sometime in November. We will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for all you do for our schools and students. Sincerely, Nancy Kline Superintendent Martin County School District |
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Port Salerno Elementary Teacher Wins
"A Day Made Better" Award
 | | PSE 5th Grade Teacher Andrea Asciutto (front row- seated far right) with her 5th grade class on October 5th after winning the "A Day Made Better" award. |
Congratulations to Port Salerno Elementary 5th grade teacher Andrea Asciutto for winning the "A Day Made Better" award from Office Max! For being selected for the award, Ms. Asciutto won $1,000 worth of school supplies for her classroom. Office Max representatives presented Ms. Asciutto with the award and supplies, including a digital camera, notebooks, folders, and much more during a surprise visit to the school on October 5th.
"Ms. Asciutto's goal is not just to teach, but to ensure that her students learn. Her hard work and enthusiasm do not go unnoticed by her peers or her students. She makes every day better for the students in her class," said Port Salerno Elementary Principal Tracey Miller.
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School Bus Safety Week - October 18th-22nd
 | | The Martin County School District Transportation Department includes approximately 135 employees dedicated to the safety of our students! |
Each school day in Martin County approximately 8,500 students are transported safely between school and home. In recognition of School Bus Safety Week, the district would like to
commend all of our school bus drivers, bus assistants, mechanics and technicians for their hard work and dedication each day.
To help increase awareness about School Bus Safety, the Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Highway Safety, and Florida Transportation Department have launched a new campaign, Stop On Red - Kids Ahead. This campaign includes valuable information for parents and drivers for keeping children safe on their way to or from school. In addition, did you know that school buses are among the safest ways to travel? Click here to learn more. |
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Students at Hidden Oaks Middle Learn about Organic Farming
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Students in Ms. Champagne's Agriculture class tend their large garden on
October 1st. |
There are plenty of "Green Thumbs" at Hidden Oaks Middle School. Students in the school's Agriculture classes are learning about organic farming, thanks to teacher Tracy Champagne. "We have corn, green beans, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and strawberries. This garden is run completely by my 7th grade students," said Champagne.
With the help of local businesses and two school volunteers, Champagne was able to expand the garden this year to include a large area in the grassy section of the bus loop. "We have had a huge amount of sponsorship and help. I could not have done it without the people that have supported us," continued Champagne.
All of the fruits and vegetables will be harvested by Winter Break, but according to Champagne, the students may take some of the food home a little earlier. "They all want to take an ear of corn home for Thanksgiving, which is kind of cute."
After the harvest is complete, the food will be divided among the students. They also want to share some with Hidden Oaks staff, bus drivers and maybe even start a produce stand at the school. Champagne said they're also looking into donating some to local food banks. For right now, though, Champagne says the focus is on tending the garden-- and making it as educational as possible for the students. "I am so glad I have the support of the principal and everybody here. They are behind it 100 percent." |
Five Star Schools Honored
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School Board Chair Lorie Shekailo and Superintedent Nancy Kline with school principals and representatives during the Five Star School Awards presentation on September 21st. |
Congratulations to 2009-2010 Five Star School recipients! On Tuesday, September 21st, winning schools were recognized during the Regular School Board Meeting. Those schools include Bessey Creek Elementary, Citrus Grove Elementary, Crystal Lake Elementary, Jensen Beach High, Martin County High, Palm City Elementary, J.D. Parker School of Science, Math and Technology, Pinewood Elementary, Port Salerno Elementary, SeaWind Elementary, and Felix A. Williams Elementary.
The Five Star Awards are presented to schools that achieve 100% of state requirements in the following categories: - Business and Community Partnerships - Family Involvement - Volunteers - Student Community Service - School Advisory Councils. |
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Congratulations Top Spellers in the Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee
 | | Spelling Bee organizer Principal Joan Gibbons with (L-R) Rachel Maunus- 1st place, James Beard- 2nd place, and Steven Watson- 3rd place. |
Congratulations to the top spellers in the Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee, which was held at Jensen Beach Elementary School on September 23rd.
A total of 65 fourth and fifth grade students from all of the district's elementary schools, as well as 5th graders from Indiantown Middle,
participated.
Rachel Maunus, a 5th grade student from Palm City Elementary won first place! The winning word was "overhead." The top 12 spellers will now advance to the County-Wide Spelling Bee, which will be held on February 17, 2011, at 10 A.M., in the Armstrong Wing of the Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road in Stuart.
Top 12 spellers from the Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee:
1st Place Rachel Maunus, 5th grade, Palm City Elementary
2nd Place James Beard, 5th grade, Jensen Beach Elementary
3rd Place Steven Watson, 5th grade, SeaWind Elementary
4th Place Presley Dooner, 5th grade, J.D. Parker School of Science, Math and Technology
5th Place Nicholas Ciampi, 4th grade, Palm City Elementary
6th Place Allison Bean, 5th grade, SeaWind Elementary
7th Place Nate Villwock, 4th grade, Citrus Grove Elementary
8th Place Nathyn Ebell, 5th grade, Port Salerno Elementary
9th Place Brandi Marine, 5th grade, Port Salerno Elementary
10th Place Wyatt Cox, 5th grade, Indiantown Middle School
11th Place Jacob Kern, 5th grade, Palm City Elementary
12th Place Rebecca Polsky, 5th grade, Felix A. Williams Elem.
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Reading Garden Gets a Makeover at Port Salerno Elementary
There were lots of green thumbs at Port Salerno Elementary on Saturday, October 9th. Students, parents, and PSE staff volunteered to help give the school's reading garden a new look.
Thanks to a grant from
 | | Top- Gardening volunteers take a break on the school's new reading benches! Bottom- Volunteers hard at work on Saturday, October 9th. |
Lowe's, the school was able to purchase new plants, picnic tables, benches, and other outdoor goodies to help beautify the garden, as well as other school areas. This is the second year PSE, with the help of teacher Teresa Soliman and her team, has won the Lowe's grant! |
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Fathers Take Center Stage at Schools
 | | More than 300 Dads participated in Take Your Dad to Lunch Day at Hobe Sound Elementary! |
Hundreds of fathers headed to schools across Martin County in September, to help celebrate the important roles Dads play in their child's education.
Among the special events that took place district-wide, Hobe Sound Elementary hosted "Take Your Father to Lunch Day" on September 17th, 2010. More than 300 fathers took part. According to principal Joan Gibbons, the event was so successful, the school will do it again next semester, with "Take Your Parent to Lunch" on February 9th. "We are fortunate at Hobe Sound Elementary School to have such a wonderful group of parents each year who continue to be engaged in their child's school activities and supporting both academic and social opportunities," shared Mrs. Gibbons.
 | | A PCE father helps students learn about the Constitution during "Take Your Special Guy to School Day." |
At Palm City Elementary, children were eager to welcome their Dads into the classroom for "Take Your Special Guy to School Day." About 500 fathers participated in a variety of classroom activities that also honored our country's "Founding Fathers" on Constitution Day, September 17th. |
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SeaWind Elementary Chorus a Hits the Right Notes at Roger Dean Stadium!
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SeaWind Elementary "Dolphin" Chorus perofrms the National Anthem at Roger Dean Stadium
in Jupiter under the direction of SWE teacher Susan Willoughby. |
Play Ball! SeaWind Elementary School's Dolphin Chorus starred in a special performance recently. They had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the start of the September 3rd game between the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals. Play Ball! SeaWind Elementary School's Dolphin Chorus starred in a special performance recently. They had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the start of the September 3rd game between the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals.
"The boys and girls in the chorus were very excited to sing at the baseball game. We had been rained out in June, so this was the re-scheduled game," explained teacher and chorus director Susan Willoughby. "The stadium is an exciting place to be, and even though we had not formally started chorus for the year, the students from last year came out and sang and totally loved the experience!"
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New Addition to Citrus Grove Elementary will keep students cool!
 It is a cool new addition to Citrus Grove Elementary. A new play shade is now standing tall over the school's playground. Fundraising efforts through the school's PTA and private donations helped make the shade a reality. "This is something we really wanted to make happen for the students," said Principal Tyson Villwock. "The shade will entice children to spend more time being physically active during these important developmental years." |
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