Archive for News & Updates

Citrus County 5th annual African American Read-In 2012

Posted on February 27th, 2012 by

Citrus County 5th annual African American Read-In 2012

For the second year in a row I was honored to be invited to participate in the Citrus County 5th Annual African American Read-In 2012 hosted at the College of Central Florida Citrus Campus.

This year’s African American Read-In (AARI) was, I believe, the largest Citrus County AARI yet, and had over 50 participants either reading or performing.   The Citrus County AARI joins over a million readers in the 2012 Twenty-Third National African American Read-In. The event is nationally sponsored by the Black Caucus of NCTE and NCTE.  AARI is an opportunity to spot light literacy as a significant part of Black History Month that features community members reading from professional African American writer’s material.

I read as part of a group which included Michelle McHugh of IPS, Laura Manos of HES, Tonya Peters, School Board member Ginger Bryant,and myself. We were reading the “Giant Steps to Change the World by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee”. This was Mrs. Bryant 5th time participating in the event, having read every year since AARI began in Citrus County.

This year was a little extra special for me as my own son, Ethan, and his classmate Fallon, were asked to read due to the fact that they were the top placed students that participated in the Citrus County 2011 Tropicana Speech Competition. They read the poem “PeOplE EquAL” by James Berry.

The high light of the readings was undoubtedly Mr. Bruce Bellamy’s reading of Dr. Martin Luther King’s, “I Have a Dream” speech.  Mr. Bellamy captured the very essences of Dr. King’s speech.  While I was sitting in the audience and listening as Mr. Bellamy did his reading,  I got shivers as he spoke. When Mr. Bellamy finished, the instinctive reaction from the whole audience was to stand and clap.

The National African American Read-In and the Citrus African American Read-In wants to encourage you to read books authored by Black writers throughout the year.

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Vistor: Math Night at Forest Ridge takes students to grocery

Posted on February 27th, 2012 by

Math Night at Forest Ridge takes students to grocery

By Claire Phillips Laxton for the Citrus County Chronicle Visitor

Shayna Cruz, who teaches at Forest Ridge Elementary, created a Math Night Scavenger Hunt for all students in grades third through fifth at her school that took place at Winn-Dixie in Beverly Hills recently.

Parents also enjoyed the evening of fun and learning and had comments such as, “Spending time with my kids at a fun and educational event with a hands-on approach was such a great way to learn,” said one parent. Another parent said, “I loved that math was included.”

About 200 students and parents attended the scavenger hunt where students had to find certain items in the store and solve the math problems.

Third-graders were asked to find out from each of the cashiers which sandwich they prefer – peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato or tuna.

Then, they completed a tally chart and filled in the graph with their answers by answering which sandwich got the most votes, what is the difference between the favorite sandwiches and the least favorite sandwiches and how many cashiers were surveyed in all. They were also asked about six more problems – all different – to solve during the event.

The problems were geared to student grade levels, with fifth-graders even using fractions with their problem solving answers. “We are teaching comprehension strategies to solve math problems, all while making math fun,” Cruz said.

After the scavenger hunt, everyone returned to the school for drinks and popcorn.

“This was a great way to get the parents involved,” said Cruz, who has been Teacher of the Year at her school besides winning numerous other awards.

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John Glenn: 50 years since first US orbit

Posted on February 21st, 2012 by

John Glenn: 50 years since first US orbit

“I am a victim of very high expectation” ~John Glenn

This past Monday, Presidents’ Day 2012, was also the 50th Anniversary of when U.S. astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth in “Friendship 7”on February 20th, 1962. I had not been born yet when on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech, “We choose to go to the Moon” thus challenging our great country to win the space race by successfully landing on the moon.  I was only a few months old July 20th, 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr, landed on the moon.

When John Glenn was asked about his accomplishment,  he expressed his feelings by saying, “I am a victim of very high expectation”.  He does not credit himself with the success, but gives credit to others.  As a former United States Marine Corps pilot I believe he understood that success is not about one person but about the whole team.  President Kennedy put it this way, “expectation”!  He felt that scientists, engineers, pilots, and workers from every walk of life took ownership in the expectation and then achievement, and actually exceeded those expectations.  John Glenn saw himself as a person that played a part, and in the end, became an”American Idol” because of some of that success.

Expectations are set in education as well, often resulting in  much positive success.  In Educational Leadership we  establish expectations for our district schools and students.  The Superintendent and her Executive Team oversee the development of expectations and then our School Site Administrative Teams execute the expectations.  The teachers are on the frontline actively helping to achieve the expectations for our schools and students.  Along the way, staff at every level contributes to work in each of their areas, working to accomplish the expectations.  Like John Glenn’s orbit around the world, these successes do not simply just happen.

Our Citrus County Schools is an “A” district.  Citrus County Schools is a “High Performance School District”.  Every elementary and middle school last year received an “A” rating by the Florida Department of Education. Like John Glenn’s success in orbiting the earth, our accomplishments are because of our expectations.

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Seventh Annual Purple Heart Ceremony

Posted on February 20th, 2012 by

Seventh Annual Purple Heart Ceremony

Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776, Military Order of the Purple Heart

On Saturday, February 18th, 2012 I had the great honor of attending the Seventh Annual Purple Heart Ceremony sponsor by Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776, Military Order of the Purple Heart.   The event commemorates the proud legacy of Purple Heart recipients and those fallen Heroes.

Attending this event quickly reminded me how grateful I am for those service men and women, past and  present, that have fallen for the amazing freedom that you and  I have in our great country.  As an elected official, I am only able to provide services because of the services and sacrifices that our military men and women have previously provided for me. The freedom I so greatly enjoy has been paid for by the soldiers who asked nothing in return.  While I grew up in a family of many military service men and women, and I was taught the importance of those that have sacrificed for my freedom, by participating in and observing these patriotic activities has been the best way for me to see and thank these great people first hand for our freedom.

As I first walked up to the Florida National Guard Armory in Crystal River members of “The Patriot Guard Riders” were holding United States, Florida and  P.O.W. flags as they lined the walk leading into the Armory.  Upon entering the large auditorium of the armory, there was an enormous flag of the United States of America.  The event honored many family members of fallen heroes of Citrus County including the families of CWO Aaron A. Weaver, SGT Dennis J. Flanagan, SGT Robert A. Surber, First Class Michael C. Mahr and Sergeant Jonathan K. Peney. The National Anthem was sung  by four wonderful young ladies, Marleigh Miller, Jillian Capps and Madison Carr.  The Nature Coast Young Marines and the Sunshine Art Center Chorale sang a Patriotic Medley and Armed Services Songs.  Phantastic Sounds and Sunshine Art Center Chorale sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” while the entire audience held hands and waved them in the air singing along with the Chorale.  Marileigh Miller, a seven year old student from Forest Ridge Elementary School, sang a heartfelt rendition of Amazing Grace just prior to the benediction and the Citrus Marine Corps League Detachment 819 giving a 21-gun salute and playing Taps.

The Purple Heart

In the thick of the battle, I felt the pain;

I thought to myself, this isn’t a game.

I staggered forward and then fell to the ground;

I tried to holler, but there was barely a sound.

As I lay there, I cried for my mother;

I thought of my dad and my younger brother.

I talked to God and said a prayer,

“Please, somebody help me! Doesn’t anyone care?”

I opened my eyes, and whom did I see,

An angel, a corpsman, who would take care of me.

His hands were gentle; his voice was clear;

“You’ll make it son, for I am here.”

He gave me such comfort that I can never forget;

Even years later I think of him yet.

They put me on a stretcher and carried me away,

Back to the aid station, where the doctor would say,

“You’re badly wounded, and we’ll do our best.”

“We’ll operate on you and then let you rest.”

When I awoke and opened my eyes

I was in a hospital, and was I surprised.

They took care of me so I would get better;

Back at home my parents read the letter.

“Your son is fine, and you’ll see him soon.”

A lot of joy filled up that room.

I knew in my mind that I’d done my part;

I wear on my uniform proudly, my Purple Heart.

 Author: Frank Niader, September 2000

Brother of PVT. William Niader, USMC, KIA on Okinawa, June 12th, 1945, who was awarded the Purple Heart, is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

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Happy Presidents’ Day!

Posted on February 19th, 2012 by

Happy Presidents’ Day!

Does anyone else remember when Presidents’ Day was two days., one for President Washington and one for President Lincoln? When I was a kid we got two days off a year for these two great Presidents.

For more information on “Presidents’ Day” (a.k.a. “Washington and Lincoln Day”), click here.

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Apps for Learning

Posted on February 17th, 2012 by

Apps for Learning

As many of you know I have become a fan and avid user of my iPad.  I have been spending a great deal of time reading, testing and using Educational Apps in hopes of learning more about how we can best service our students.  I have so much appreciated the encouragement and assistance of our school district’s leadership teams including the Executive Team, School Board Members, our Technology Directors & Specialist and other Curriculum Administrators.

This past week our daughter was visiting one of our school administrator friends in their office and like all great educators took the opportunity for a teaching moment and shared with my 3rd grader daughter an outstanding iPad/iPhone Math App I want to share with you, Motion Math. I have since gotten this App for my daughter and she has enjoyed using it.  Motion Math was studied by Professor Michelle Riconscente, an expert in educational technology and assessment at University of Southern California, who has studied 122 fifth graders playing the iPad game Motion Math HD. The main findings were that Students who played the game for 20 minutes for five days improved an average of 15 % on a fractions test they took. (The items on the test were taken from National and International Standardized Tests.) In addition, Students’ attitudes towards fractions improved by10%.

I encourage you, if you have an iPad, iPhone or iTouch, to explore some of these additional Apps below.

 

BrainPOP Featured Movie
BrainPop is a popular program used at several of our schools.  This App lets your student watch a different animated movie every day, then test your new knowledge with an interactive quiz. Price: FREE

Destiny Quest
This is an App that you can use to access your Citrus County students school’s library collection.  After you download the App simply login using your student’s media center username and password. Price: FREE

Constitution for iPad/iPhone
This is another favorite App. It is the complete U.S. Constitution, organized by article, amendment, and author. In addition it includes background on proposed amendments through the ages that didn’t make it through the approval process.    Price: FREE

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