2023 4-H Public Speaking Contest

Posted on March 7th, 2023 by

2023 4-H Public Speaking Contest

I had the pleasure of attending the Citrus County Regional 4-H Public Speaking Contest for elementary 4th and 5th grade students, and it was truly inspiring to see these young students showcase their public speaking skills. The event was hosted by the UF/IFAS Extension Citrus County office, and featured 26 students from 13 public and private schools, each of whom had finished in the top two in speech contests at their respective schools.

Public speaking is an essential skill that is often overlooked, but it is a vital skill that students need to learn. It not only helps students to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly, but it also helps them to build confidence and develop their communication skills. Giving students opportunities to practice public speaking at a young age can help them to develop this skill and give them a head start in their personal and professional lives.

The speeches delivered by these elementary students were truly impressive. Each student had chosen a topic that was important to them and had put a lot of effort into preparing their speech. The topics ranged from personal stories to science and technology, and the students’ enthusiasm for their chosen topics was evident in their delivery.

Some of the speeches topics included “The Kid Who Does It All” by Karson Roddenberry from Rock Crusher Elementary, where he talked about his many talents and how he balances them all; “Under the Sea” by Audriena Sapp from Seven Rivers Christian School, where she discussed the importance of preserving the ocean’s ecosystem; and “Medical Advancements” by Nikhil Pasupuleti from Forest Ridge Elementary, where he talked about some of the latest medical breakthroughs.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the judges Jennifer Jordan, Deb Reilly, and George Schmalstig for their time and dedication to this event. Their expertise and feedback were invaluable to the students and helped to make the event a success. I would also like to thank Citrus County Schools, Megan Furniss and Benjamin Davis at the District Office, Sheila James at Seven Rivers, Liz Lazars at Saint John Paull II, the teachers, parents, and contest participants for making this event possible.

Finally, a special thanks to the Citrus County 4-H Foundation and Crystal River Rotary for their generous support in supplying materials and awards for this program. It is because of organizations like these that students have the opportunity to participate in events like this and develop important skills for their future success.

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CSMS Student Breakfast

Posted on March 4th, 2023 by

CSMS Student Breakfast

On Friday morning, the Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Scott Hebert, and I had the privilege of starting the day at Citrus Springs Middle School in Ms. Lisa Brault’s ESE classroom as her students helped prepare breakfast and served it to classroom guests. Each Friday, Ms. Brault uses this activity as a real-world opportunity to have students build personal and academic skills.

The breakfast was delicious, and the students made the time very special. We also had a chance to have the students share about the different learning lessons. Additionally, we visited Ms. Brault’s new sensory room, which was made possible by a grant from Citrus County Education Foundation.

I want to thank Ms. Brault for using innovative learning to meet individual students’ academic needs. I also want to give a special thanks to the paraprofessionals whose work is vital in these students’ progress. I cannot wait to stop back and visit.

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Dosa, personal paintings, Stephen King’s novel, a compass, a stethoscope, and a teacher

Posted on March 3rd, 2023 by

Dosa, personal paintings, Stephen King’s novel, a compass, a stethoscope, and a teacher

LHS IB Theory of Knowledge Exhibition Night

Last night, I attended the 2023 Lecanto High School Junior and Senior International Baccalaureate (IB) candidates’ presentation of their Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibitions. TOK is a course offered in the International Baccalaureate program, which aims to encourage students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how it is acquired. It explores different ways of knowing, including perception, emotion, language, reason, intuition, and memory, and encourages students to question the assumptions and biases that underpin knowledge claims.

The International Baccalaureate program is one of Citrus School’s choice magnet programs, where parents choose for their student to participate in the program and apply in their 8th-grade year for acceptance their high school freshman year. It provides students with a challenging and rigorous curriculum that prepares them for success in college and beyond. The program emphasizes critical thinking and community service, and is recognized worldwide for its high academic standards.

As part of the course, students are required to complete a TOK essay, which is a 1600-word written assignment that explores a knowledge question related to the course’s themes. The TOK Exhibition is an oral presentation that accompanies the essay and requires students to demonstrate their understanding of the course’s concepts through a creative project or artifact.

Each student in the exhibition presented a personal item that represented their understanding of one of the course’s themes. The items used last night included a compass, a teacher (IB’s Dr. Ashley Shidner), personal paintings, Stephen King’s novel, a stethoscope, and, last but not least, a dosa. The dosa, a delicious South Indian dish, was a creative and unique way for TOK student Ananya Padala to showcase her understanding of the course’s themes and satisfied the hunger and spirit of those in attendance.

Through their presentations, students explained how their chosen item related to the course’s concepts and demonstrated their ability to think critically and creatively about the nature of knowledge. Attendees of the exhibition had the opportunity to ask questions of the students about their presentations, allowing for a deeper exploration of the themes and concepts covered in the course. I am so proud of these students and loved the opportunity to learn from them.

I want to thank all the IB and general education teachers who attended and support their students at the TOK event, and each and every day. I want to give a special thanks to IB coordinator Jessica Price for putting together another great event!

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Nature Coast Investment Practicum Students tour Raymond James HQ

Posted on February 23rd, 2023 by

Nature Coast Investment Practicum Students tour Raymond James HQ

It was an exciting day for the students of Citrus High School’s Nature Coast Investment Practicum (NCIP) class as they, along with their teacher Ms. Paige Zollo, toured the Raymond James international headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. The tour, which was made possible by the efforts of Amy Barbieri of Raymond James Crystal River office, was a great opportunity for the students to learn about the company’s operations and gain valuable insights into the financial industry.

Raymond James is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company that provides financial services to individuals, corporations, and municipalities. The company’s reputation for excellence in the financial industry is well-known, and the NCIP students were thrilled to visit the Raymond James headquarters and witness the inner workings of a major financial services company.

During the tour, the students got to see firsthand the company’s trading floor and observe the brokers and traders as they conducted transactions. They were also given a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s cyber threat center and learned about the measures taken to protect the sensitive financial data of their clients. The students even got a chance to share with some of the Raymond James presenters about some of the stocks they have researched and purchased as part of the NCIP.

The Nature Coast Investment Practicum project, in partnership with the Citrus County Education Foundation and Citrus High School, provides students with real-world financial experience. In addition to learning about investing and managing an equity portfolio fund, the students also learn about double-entry accounting, methods and principles of recording business transactions, the preparation of various financial documents, and the preparation of financial statements. The NCIP program also helps students develop important skills such as teamwork, public speaking, and writing.

We are looking to expand the NCIP in the near future to include Crystal River High School. So stay tuned!

The visit to Raymond James was made possible by the efforts of Amy Barbieri. Big thanks to Paige Zollo, Shaunda Burdette, Scott Lee, the Raymond James team, and of course the Citrus County Education Foundation. Their support of this great initiative provided the students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge they’ve learned in the NCIP program in a real-world setting.

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CHS Construction Academy Advisory Council meeting

Posted on February 22nd, 2023 by

CHS Construction Academy Advisory Council meeting

Had a great afternoon at the Citrus High School Construction Academy (CHSCA) Advisory meeting! CHSCA instructor Robert Tester and Assistant Principal Mary Leonard provided informative updates about the program and potential enrollment for next school year. We also got to check out some impressive student projects, including some wall framing, from the Home Builders Institute Building Construction Technology 1 class. Huge thanks to Citrus Construction Academy President Donna Bidlack, Vice-President Harold Walker, and Treasure Barbara Hernandez, along with Mike Deem of Deems Kitchens & Counters, for attending and supporting the CHSCA. It was a productive and informative meeting, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the CHSCA in the future!

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First Library Reading at CRE

Posted on February 22nd, 2023 by

First Library Reading at CRE

The students thoroughly enjoyed this funny and entertaining tale, and their laughter and giggles filled the room.

I had the privilege of reading “The Night before Kindergarten Graduation” to the students in Ms. Leslie Wade’s Kindergarten class at Central Ridge Elementary School. Today’s reading was part of the Citrus County Education Foundation‘s First Library program, which is a wonderful initiative that provides each Pre-K and Kindergarten student in Citrus County Schools with a set of four books to take home and start building their own personal library.

The students were so engaged and attentive throughout the reading, and it was delightful to see their excitement and enthusiasm as we turned the pages of the book. They asked thoughtful questions and made insightful observations about the illustrations, which was a clear indication of their eagerness to learn.

After we finished reading “The Night before Kindergarten Graduation”, I had the pleasure of reading another favorite story of mine, “Coco and Cavendish: Circus Dogs“. The students thoroughly enjoyed this funny and entertaining tale, and their laughter and giggles filled the room.

I would like to express my gratitude to Debbie Reilly, a CCEF Board member, who coordinates all the activities of the First Library program and ensures that every classroom has access to the books. Her dedication and hard work are truly commendable, and the positive impact that she is making on the lives of these young learners is remarkable.

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