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USDA official honors district's healthy schools | |
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VOICES FOR VEGGIES: First-grade students celebrate their healthy eating choices in song at Phillippi Shores Elementary School Sept. 11. In the front row, from left, are Andrew Clayton, Adam Alcantra, Jaden Maggio, Aubrie Malone, Kylee Empie and Manoa McLaughlin. In the back row are Roman Solomon, Sofia Barron, Destiny Obioha, Jordan Blecher, Riley Battista and John Ortiz-Gomez. |
SARASOTA - Kevin Concannon, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, visited Phillippi Shores Elementary School Sept. 11 to recognize Sarasota County Schools for improving their school meals and meeting the HealthierUS School Challenge for 22 of their elementary schools. Only 48 schools in Florida and about 4,000 in the U.S. achieved the distinction.
Established in 2004, HUSSC recognizes schools for their efforts in improving food and beverage offerings, teaching kids about nutritious food choices and being physically active, providing opportunities for physical activity, and having supportive school wellness policies. With 17 Silver and 5 Bronze awards for the Challenge, the Sarasota County School District is helping to improve the school nutrition environment in Florida.
"It's a special honor to recognize your district for this achievement," said Concannon. "The school nutrition program is one of the best ways to make sure kids have healthy meals and learn how to make good food choices." Read more...
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Riverview High celebrates major donations | |
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CREEK CAPTAIN: Katrin Rudge, director of the Aquascience Department at Riverview High, dons her captain's hat before boarding the school's new research vessel. The boat will be based at Riverview's new dock behind the school on Phillippi Creek. |
SARASOTA - Thanks to a $100,000 donation from an anonymous benefactor, Riverview High School has a new learning dock, research vessel, band tower and musical instruments.
George H. Mazzarantani, the attorney representing the anonymous donor, presented two ceremonial checks for $50,000 each to staff and students at the event. One check represents the funding for the 500-square-foot learning dock and the 22-foot research vessel, a pontoon boat. A second check is for donations to the Music Department: a band tower to be used on the practice football field and instruments for the Kiltie Band.
The dock and boat will be used by students in a wide range of courses. Students will study water quality and marine organisms as they apply scientific methods to understand local creeks and bays.
The band tower, which will replace the old tower that was lost when the new school was built, will enable the band staff to provide better feedback and evaluation to all members of the Kiltie Marching Band during outdoor rehearsals. Read more...
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Animal visits promote middle school reading | |
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PYTHON AND PRINCIPAL: Sarasota Jungle Gardens Assistant Animal Curator Dane Gottsch introduces McIntosh Middle School Principal Harriet Moore to Lucky, a 7-foot, 25-pound Burmese python. Lucky was one of the creatures visiting middle schools in September to encourage students to read Carl Hiassen's novel "Chomp." |
SARASOTA COUNTY - A baby alligator, a Burmese python, an iguana and a Great Horned Owl made their way to area middle schools to encourage students to read "Chomp," Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiassen's fourth Florida-based novel for young readers.
As part of the Starbooks reading program, funded by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, free copies of the book were given to all district middle school students this year. Schools are basing various activities around the book, including a visit from Sarasota Jungle Gardens Assistant Animal Curator Dane Gottsch, who brought exotic animals from the north Sarasota attraction that are also featured in "Chomp."
The creatures interacted closely with staff at the schools, including, in some cases, animal-loving principals. Read more...
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Student-staffed Bistro 502 reopens for lunch | |
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READY TO SERVE: High school and adult students in the Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts Program at the Sarasota County Technical Institute prepare to welcome customers to Bistro 502, a restaurant on the SCTI campus serving lunch to the public Tuesdays through Thursdays during the school year. |
SARASOTA - Bistro 502, a restaurant staffed by high school and adult students in the Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts Program at the Sarasota County Technical Institute, reopened its doors to the public for the 2012-13 school year Sept. 18.
The facility serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays throughout the school year, with some exceptions. Bistro 502 is located on the SCTI campus at 4748 Beneva Road.
The menu will change periodically, starting with a selection of Spanish, Mediterranean and California cuisine through Oct. 25.
For more information and the current menu, click here...
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New district brochure provides 'Current Facts' | |
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SEA CHANGE: The Sarasota County School District's brochure, formerly titled "Facts at Your Fingertips" has been redesigned. The new publication, "Current Facts," contains updated information about enrollment, school choice and magnet programs, volunteering and more. |
SARASOTA - Parents and other community members who would like more information about Sarasota County Schools have a new resource.
"Current Facts," an eight-panel foldout brochure created by the Communications and Community Relations Department of the school district with assistance from many schools and departments, is now available by calling 941-927-4009. When unfolded, the front and back of the brochure can be placed side by side to create a single, poster-sized image. A matching pocket folder and bookmark also are available.
A PDF file of the brochure, designed to work well on personal computers and mobile devices, is available by clicking here or by visiting the home page of the district website at SarasotaCountySchools.net.
The undersea visual theme of "Current Facts" was inspired by the photograph "Running Turtle" by Sarasota High School student André Johnson. The photo was featured in the 2012 Evening of Excellence Student Art Show, sponsored by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
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Sarasota County Schools News Briefs
The 2012-13 Student and Family Handbook, which includes the student Code of Conduct and other important information for parents and students, is available by clicking here or visiting the home page of the district website at SarasotaCountySchools.net.
EdExploreSRQ, a website designed to link Sarasota County's cultural, scientific and historical organizations and teaching artists with teachers planning educational explorations for their students inside and outside the classroom, was launched in August 2001. With support from the Patterson Foundation, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Schools, the website offers more than 145 explorations during school hours, all of which connect to educational standards and benchmarks. For more information, including videos and a list of current explorations keyed to the curriculum by grade level, visit EdExploreSRQ.com.
PALS Partners in Education coordinates volunteers and business partners at schools throughout the district. To learn how you can become a volunteer, tutor, mentor or business partner in the Sarasota County Schools, contact the PALS Office at 941-927-9000, ext. 31500, or visit the PALS web page.
An independent study of the school district by MGT of America, a Tallahassee-based consulting firm that has conducted efficiency studies of public school systems throughout the U.S., concluded that "The Sarasota County School District is one of the best-run systems that MGT has reviewed. Morale and performance, including innovative practices, are unusually high. MGT typically finds 50 or fewer commendations, while Sarasota County Schools garnered 73."
The School Board of Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, services or activities, or employment conditions or practices. To read the full text of the School Board's nondiscrimination statement click here.
The Highlighter is produced by the Communications and Community Relations Department of Sarasota County Schools. |
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