Archive for News & Updates

CSMS Visit

Posted on February 11th, 2022 by

CSMS Visit

Stopped by CSMS 6th-grade math teacher Miss Rebekah Paprzycki whose was one of my wife’s former student and her classroom was the same she used to attend as a student.

I always enjoy my school visits. Citrus Springs Middle School was both the school my children both attended and where my wife taught for 12 years and so every time I am there it is special.

I had to stop by music/band/chorus teacher Stepanie Nottke’s room. Her students were so excited to learn about the many different types of saxophones they can learn to play. She is growing several excellent music programs.

Music/band/chorus teacher Stepanie Nottke’s had the student so engaged demonstrating the different musical instruments.

I stopped by one of my wife’s former classrooms to see 6th-grade math teacher Miss Rebekah Paprzycki. Miss Paprzycki was one of my son’s friends growing up and a former student of my wife’s. It is always great to see the teachers, facility staff, paraprofessionals, food service team, and everyone. Like at all our schools these are dedicated and committed educators and our students and families are blessed by them.

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4-H Speech Competition at Citrus Springs Middle School

Posted on February 11th, 2022 by

4-H Speech Competition at Citrus Springs Middle School

An important skill for young people to learn and be successful in is public speaking and 4-H competitions at the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels are an excellent opportunity to show those skills. And today they did! All eight students did a superb job sharing about issues, passions, problems, and solutions. Three students receive medals, and the top 1st and 2nd place winners move on to the District-wide competition. Thank you to CSMS Instructional Coach Muriel Burnett for coordinating the event, the teachers for their work and support with the students, and for the families for their support.
Congratulations to CSMS 1st place Noah Walker on his speech “Splash!”, 2nd place Sastia Mitchell on her speech “It Only Takes a Second”, and 3rd place Tyler Neveau on his speech, “Technology”.

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2022 Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair

Posted on February 10th, 2022 by

2022 Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair

What an amazing day at the 2022 Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair! I was honored to help judge some of the projects. The high rigor and complexity of these projects were most impressive. The scientific approach to numerous problem-solving and analyzing was remarkable.  These are some extraordinary students. We are so grateful to their families and teachers that supported them in these projects.

Thank you to the District Science specialist, Brennan McNally, and the entire education services team. This year there was integrated technology including digital judging, interactive smartboards, and more. Thank you also to all the volunteer judges that participated today.

Special thanks to Citrus County Education Foundation and our many community partners. I cannot wait until next week’s award ceremony.

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CTE Month and HOSA Student

Posted on February 9th, 2022 by

CTE Month and HOSA Student

HOSA students share at School Board opening

LHS and CRHS HOSA students share about recently competed very successfully at HOSA Florida Regionals.

February is a month we celebrate and honor a number of great things. It is Black History Month, School Counseling Week honoring our great counselors, and February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month! (CTE is sometimes referred to as Workforce education and in the ‘olden days’ vocation classes.)

Citrus Schools has been committed to CTE education. Many of you know it is a personal passion for me as well. Citrus Schools has magnet programs like the Academy of Computers at CHS and the Academy of Health Careers at CRHS, and each of our high schools has in-school academies like culinary, drafting, business, and more. We now offer over 150 separate CTE courses, covering approximately 63 industry certifications, that connect to 34 different Program of Study Pathways available to our high school students at one or more of our three high schools and through dual enrollment at Withlacoochee Technical College. We are also expanding four new Programs of Study for the new 2022-2023 school year.

I had opening exercises for our February school board meetings and as is my tradition I love to bring students from our schools in to share their talents and successes. At yesterday’s meeting, we have seven students from Crystal River High School and Lecanto High School share about their recent HOSA– Future Health Professionals competitions. A number of the students received top awards as individual and team, and some advanced to the State competitions later this winter.

One of the most in-demand programs of study pathways and in need careers in Citrus County and Florida are in the medical profession. We have over seven medical pathways available to high school students, and at two of our schools, we have local chapters of HOSA– Future Health Professionals (formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America). HOSA is the premier organization for student leaders pursuing careers in the healthcare industry. HOSA is a state and national organization that operates as an integral component of the health science education curriculum.  Through its association of state and local chapters, HOSA provides powerful instructional tools, recognition, leadership, networking, scholarships, and connections with the healthcare industry to thousands of members across Florida and the United States. Through the HOSA Competitive Events Program, members have the opportunity to showcase their health care and leadership skills in over 55 different events related to all aspects of the health care industry.  HOSA integrates into the Health Science Technology Education curriculum seamlessly to develop and recognize smart, dedicated, and passionate future health professionals.

Thank you to our students for sharing and their families, teachers, and staff for their support and encouragement of our students!

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National School Counseling Week 2022

Posted on February 7th, 2022 by

National School Counseling Week 2022

Honoring those that counsel our students’ academic life and future

This week is National School Counseling Week. The American School Counselor Association website explains that this week “highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.”

School Counselors are truly the most amazing people. The work they do is so broad and all-consuming. From elementary years, through middle school, and throughout high school, our School Counselors often will know their student’s needs as well as anyone. They are educators, counselors, students’-advocate, and much more.

Most cannot realize the vast amount of time they work on behalf of their students. There are never enough hours in the day for them to care for their students. Like so many educators they work late into the evenings nearly every workday, are at school early the next day, work over the weekends, come in weeks before the school year begins, and work weeks after the school year ends. Much of that well over their salaried day.

During these challenging times, School Counselors have been the front line of supporting the academic planning and schedules to meet our students’ many individual needs and situations.

As much as I thought I did, I do not think my wife and I fully appreciated my own student’s School Counselors until their senior year of high school. During the months ahead of graduation School Counselors are ensuring students are on track to graduation, finding alternative graduation options for some, helping students with college or career planning, helping with applications, verifying and re-verifying, sending out reports, letters, and transcripts.

I have had the honor of working with many School Counselors in different student situations. They are the most caring and compassionate and knowledgeable persons.

We honor and thank all the School Counselors in Citrus County Schools and beyond.

 

 

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Productive time in Tally

Posted on February 6th, 2022 by

Productive time in Tally

It was a productive time in Tallahassee last week meeting with our State Legislators and State Education leaders on education issues for our students, families, teachers, staff, and schools. So appreciative for their time to listen to our concerns and for working together to collaborate on improvements.

Florida School Board Association’s Board of Directors meeting coincided with FSBA’s Days in the Legislature. As President-Elect I presented during the meeting. Thank you to these committed school board representatives.

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