Dear Parents and Community Members:

The new school year is off to a busy start.  I would like to thank all of our teachers, administrators and staff for their hard work on behalf of our students and schools.   

Enrollment

This year, the District is experiencing an increase in enrollment.  As of preliminary data from September 18th,  the District's enrollment is approximately 400 more students than the same time period from 2011.  The state's official enrollment count, which is used to determine school funding and compliance with Class Size Reduction, will take place the week of October 8th - October 12th. 

Bring It 180

The District's attendance campaign is moving forward.  Last year, we had an increase in student attendance rates among our elementary, middle and high schools.  Data shows students who miss fewer days of instruction typically reach higher academic achievement levels.  This year's Bring It 180 brochure, which includes the school year calendar and important tips for parents, is in the process of being distributed by our schools. 

Free and Reduced Priced Meals 

The District continues to see an increase in the percentage of  students who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Priced Meals program.  The most recent economic survey shows 42.3 percent of students in Martin County now qualify, compared to 40.8 percent in 2011.  

Families can submit an application to participate in this important program at any time during the school year.  Applications are available by visiting your child's school cafeteria manager or online at the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) website.  Parents may also visit the FNS office, which is located at 1050 SE 10th Street in Stuart (behind J.D. Parker Elementary).        

Student Achievement 

Student achievement continues to soar.  Martin County is ranked 4th highest in the state for FCAT performance in 2012.  In addition, we expect to receive our 2012 Graduation Rates in November, which preliminary data indicates we will again be at the top of the state for ensuring students earn a high school diploma.  In addition, 2012 High School Grades will be published by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) prior to the Winter Break.  Based on the FLDOE data, all of our high schools are projected to be A's.

Thank you for everything you do for our students and schools.

Nancy Kline

Superintendent  

Tiger Woods Visited Murray Middle School and TWLC Campus students in December 2011.

The TWLC Campus focuses on increasing students' interests in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and encouraging them to begin thinking about career opportunities in these areas. Based on data recently released by the Tiger Woods Foundation, 70 percent of students who participated in the afterschool program at Murray Middle last year saw an increase in their science scores.

This year the curriculum will be based on Universal Science and will include many aspects of biology and chemistry. Students will learn about and explore marine organisms and different features of life science through fun, hands-on activities and a field trip!

"As we approach the second year of our partnership with the TWLC, we are thrilled to have students benefit from the new Universal Science program. The fact that our student participation rate with TWLC Campus is growing from year to year is outstanding," said Murray Middle School Principal Doug Peterson. "We look forward to all of the new and interesting science concepts that are available to our students."

"We are incredibly excited about the success of the TWLC Campus at Murray Middle. It provides unique learning opportunities and is igniting students' interests in STEM. The students that go through the program can see how what they are learning in the classroom can lead to future careers. It helps make it relevant to them," said Superintendent Nancy Kline.

Valerie Gaynor, Science Coordinator

Congratulations to Valerie Gaynor, the District's Science Coordinator, for being nominated for the 2012 Loggerhead Marinelife Center Go Blue Awards and named a finalist in the Eleanor Fletcher Lifetime Achievement category.  Eleanor Fletcher is the founder of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, which is located in Juno Beach. 

The Eleanor Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes exemplary conservation contributions and commitment to conserving our marine environment.  Ms. Gaynor, who is a former Marine Biology teacher at Jensen Beach High School, has been active in conservation efforts since she was a young child, beginning in the sixth grade.  She enjoyed attending environmental camps and taking part in community projects in her hometown of Chatham, Illinois. 

Since then, she has remained active in beach clean-ups, teacher trainings on environmental issues and conservation activities, and works to spread information about the need to protect our marine life through her work and website, www.underwatermoments.com.  She has also been profiled on ABC Nightline for her efforts to promote shark conservation throughout the state of Florida.  In 2010, she was named Teacher of the Year at Jensen Beach High School.

"We have such wonderful resources directly off our coast.  We are in an incredibly unique position to be able to explore these ecosystems and share them with the world.  We have an obligation to also protect them so they will be around for generations to come," said Valerie Gaynor. 

Ms. Gaynor is also an educational consultant for the Guy Harvey Foundation, the Regional Director for the Florida Marine Science Educators Association, and a Wyland teacher ambassador.  The Loggerhead Marinelife Center Eleanor Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced on October 26th. 

Bessey Creek Elementary School's PTA Fun Run was held on Thursday, September 6th.  As a thank you to the students for a successful event, Victoria Defenthaler, Principal, and Robyn Monte, Assistant Principal, arrived at the event in a Monster Truck driven by Jeremy Carlson, a BCE parent.