September 2010 - Get Involved
September 2010 - Get Involved
September 2010 - Get Involved
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Central Area’s<br />
BITS & PIECES<br />
“To give excellence to expect excellence”<br />
NORTH Volume 11 Issue CENTRAL 1 AREIVE EXCELLENCE TO”<br />
Dr. Leontine J. Butler<br />
Area Superintendent<br />
Jan P. Beal<br />
Area Director<br />
Dr. Desmond K. Blackburn<br />
Area Director<br />
IMPORTANT DATES<br />
<strong>September</strong> 1 8:00 a.m. BA Zone Meeting Lauderhill Middle<br />
<strong>September</strong> 6<br />
Schools/Offices Closed<br />
<strong>September</strong> 7 7:00 a.m. Ft. Lauderdale Zone Meeting Sawgrass Technology Center<br />
<strong>September</strong> 7 7:30 a.m. Principals Meeting Sunrise Room, 1 st Floor<br />
<strong>September</strong> 8 7:30 a.m. Plantation Zone Meeting Plantation High<br />
<strong>September</strong> 9<br />
Schools/Offices Closed<br />
<strong>September</strong> 14 7:30 a.m. South Plantation Zone Meeting South Plantation High<br />
<strong>September</strong> 14 8:00 a.m. Piper Zone Meeting Piper High<br />
<strong>September</strong> 14 9:15 a.m. Stranahan Zone Meeting Stephen Foster Elementary<br />
<strong>September</strong> 15 8:30 a.m. Dillard Zone Meeting William Dandy Middle<br />
<strong>September</strong> 17 8:15 a.m. Western Zone Meeting Fox Trail Elementary<br />
<strong>September</strong> 21 8:30 a.m. Cypress Bay Zone Meeting Falcon Cove Middle<br />
Carletha B. Shaw<br />
Area Director<br />
Arthur E. Rose<br />
Assistant Director<br />
Faye M. Kravitz<br />
Student Services Coordinator<br />
Dr. Jose D. Laverde<br />
Business Analyst<br />
Diane Soloven<br />
Instructional Technology<br />
Office Access<br />
(754) 321-3800<br />
(754) 321-3885 FAX<br />
Web Address:<br />
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/<br />
centralarea<br />
DATES/EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER <strong>2010</strong><br />
<strong>September</strong> 1 – 30 Library Card Sign-Up Month<br />
<strong>September</strong> 3 Treaty of Paris Anniversary (Ending Revolutionary War)<br />
<strong>September</strong> 5 First Continental Congress Assembly<br />
<strong>September</strong> 8 International Literacy Day<br />
<strong>September</strong> 11 Patriot Day (honoring those who died on <strong>September</strong> 11 th )<br />
<strong>September</strong> 12 National Grandparents’ Day<br />
<strong>September</strong> 16 Mayflower Day<br />
<strong>September</strong> 17 U. S. Constitution Day/Citizenship Day<br />
<strong>September</strong> 21 International Day of Peace<br />
<strong>September</strong> 23 First Day of Autumn<br />
<strong>September</strong> 28 National Good Neighbor Day<br />
A MESSAGE FROM OUR AREA SUPERINTENDENT<br />
I wish to welcome you back to what will be an exciting year for all of us. Our Central Area is known as a<br />
family that works together for the benefit of our children. Please know that I appreciate each of you and wish<br />
you a successful school year. Our theme this year is, “Shaping The Children Who Dream Their Future.” We<br />
are the artists who will ensure a successful future for each of them.<br />
We certainly have our challenges this year, but I know our Central Area family will accomplish our goal in<br />
providing students with the best educational experience possible. We are a group that always remembers why<br />
we have the position we do – it’s for the children! As they were wonderfully welcomed on the first day of<br />
school, let us remember to welcome them each and every day. With this in mind, I know that this will be the<br />
best year ever.<br />
Enjoy the new school year!<br />
Dr. Leontine J. Butler<br />
1
PIPER HIGH RAISES MONEY FOR AMERICAN<br />
CANCER SOCIETY<br />
Congratulations to the students and<br />
staff at Piper High School. During<br />
their “Relay for Life” event, they<br />
raised $3,489.74 for this cause.<br />
Go Bengals!<br />
THOMAS EDISON MEETS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT:<br />
NEW RIVER 6 TH GRADERS EMBARK ON MISSION<br />
In May, over 70 Sixth<br />
Grade Honors students at<br />
New River Middle School<br />
had been participating for<br />
the past four weeks in a<br />
unique, hands-on learning<br />
experience across four<br />
disciplines.<br />
The eleven and twelve year-olds – stemming from diverse<br />
background – set out on their journey to learn about how they can<br />
reduce their carbon footprints through green and sustainable<br />
architectural design and engineering. The students first researched<br />
the history of renewable energy usage – from ancient to recent times.<br />
They were then given a presentation by LEED Certified Consultant<br />
and Green Expert, Donna Isaacs, a University of Florida faculty<br />
member and parent of a student participant.<br />
Then, with the support of a Florida Power & Light grant, students<br />
conceptualized, designed, and built 6 sustainable and “green” model<br />
homes. The homes were each powered by at least three alternative<br />
and renewable energy sources – featuring working solar panels, wind<br />
turbines, and hydro-powered systems.<br />
The culmination of the project, a multimedia presentation and<br />
viewing of the model homes, took place on Tuesday, May 25 th at<br />
1:00 p.m. in the New River Middle School Media Center. Students<br />
presented the history of energy, a short documentary film entitled<br />
“Finding Another Way” and showed off their model homes to<br />
parents, teachers, administrators, school board officials, and FPL<br />
executives.<br />
“As educators, we are charged with preparing our youth for a<br />
competitive global environment,” says New River’s Principal,<br />
Priscilla Ribeiro. “Thus, we must continue to promote out-of-the-box<br />
thinking and creative problem solving.”<br />
"I am really enjoying this project because I feel that it will give me<br />
the tools to help the Earth heal and make the right decisions as a<br />
consumer when I grow up. Also, it will help me influence my mom's<br />
choices and educate my friends about how to conserve energy,” says<br />
Christopher Stauffer, a student who participated in the project.<br />
"I am honored to be chosen to participate in GLIDES and to have<br />
been given a generous grant by FPL. The synergy between both<br />
projects has allowed me to give an entirely new learning opportunity<br />
to my students - one that is truly relevant to our times and to their<br />
lives,” says Shelly Tygielski, the students’ science teacher. “The<br />
students have learned so much about how to design and engineer a<br />
building and power it using "free" and sustainable energy sources. If<br />
they can carry this lesson out in the real world and spread the<br />
message about energy conservation and alternative energy resources -<br />
then this project will have succeeded.”<br />
FT. LAUDERDALE HIGH GETS CLOSER TO TOP 100<br />
RANKING<br />
Each year, Newsweek selects the best<br />
high schools in the country based on<br />
how hard school staffs work to<br />
challenge students with advanced<br />
placement college-level courses and<br />
tests.<br />
Just over 1600 schools — only six<br />
percent of all the public schools in the<br />
U.S. — made the list. Rankings are a school year in arrears. For<br />
example, the <strong>2010</strong> ranking is based upon the 2008-2009 school year.<br />
The last three years of rankings for Fort Lauderdale High School are<br />
as follows:<br />
2008: Ranking = 584<br />
2009: Ranking = 448<br />
<strong>2010</strong>: Ranking = 129<br />
Congratulations to the entire Flying L faculty and staff!<br />
PIPER’S JROTC TEAM ADVANCED TO NATIONAL<br />
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM<br />
Four Piper High School students headed to<br />
Washington, D.C., for the highly competitive<br />
and prestigious Army JROTC Leadership<br />
Symposium and Academic Bowl.<br />
After advancing through two phases of<br />
competition, the Piper High School JROTC<br />
leadership team participated in the final<br />
championship round on the campus of George<br />
Mason University, June 25-29.<br />
This event is sponsored by the Army JROTC and conducted by<br />
College Options Foundation. The team is one of only 48 in the<br />
nation to advance to the finals. Piper High School JROTC instructor<br />
Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy O. Merkel accompanied the students to<br />
Washington, where they were also scheduled to visit several<br />
monuments and memorial sites.<br />
The JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl is a nationally<br />
recognized academic competition created exclusively for JROTC<br />
students. By participating, cadets learn the values of citizenship,<br />
academic competition, and college opportunity.<br />
ALLAN PHIPPS, BROWARD’S TEACHER OF THE<br />
YEAR, VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE<br />
South Plantation’s Allan Phipps was selected to receive the<br />
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science<br />
Teaching (PAEMST).<br />
The PAEMST Program, administered by the National Science<br />
Foundation (NSF) on behalf of The White House Office of Science<br />
and Technology Policy, recognizes outstanding teachers for their<br />
contribution to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science.<br />
In this cohort, secondary mathematics and science teachers were<br />
honored. Each honoree received a citation signed by President<br />
Obama and a $10,000 award from NSF.<br />
The awards were presented at a White House ceremony.<br />
Congratulations to Allan Phipps for the much recognition he has<br />
brought to the district.<br />
2
BROWARD HEALTH DONATES CHILDREN’S<br />
BOOKS TO SUNLAND PARK STUDENTS<br />
Big Brothers Big Sisters of<br />
Broward, Inc., Family Central, Inc.<br />
of Broward, and United Way of<br />
Broward County recently received<br />
approximately 3,500 new children's<br />
books ranging from newborn to high<br />
school level from Broward Health.<br />
The books were part of a generous<br />
donation to Broward Health from The<br />
First Book National Book Bank in Washington, D.C., and its<br />
partners Jet Blue, Noggin, and Candlewick Press to provide<br />
children from low-income families a chance to have books of their<br />
own.<br />
United Way of Broward was given the largest collection of books for<br />
the Sunland Park Elementary School Book Drive. Students attending<br />
the school's summer camp eagerly looked over the wide assortment<br />
before making their final choices. “We are so grateful for Broward<br />
Health's generous book donation. The books will be used for a<br />
resource center at Sunland Park Elementary to further our efforts in<br />
improving the area's graduation rate by teaching kids to read at an<br />
early age,” said Debbie Mason, Senior Vice President/Chief Brand<br />
and Development Officer, United Way of Broward County.<br />
MCFATTER STUDENT PLACES THIRD IN<br />
NATIONAL SKILLS USA<br />
Congratulations to Nathan<br />
McKinney, a post-secondary student,<br />
was the third place winner nationally<br />
in the National Skills USA<br />
competition.<br />
The rules for the Marine Technology Competition states: “The<br />
Marine Service Technology contest includes individual skill stations<br />
and a written or online test. The hands on test stations include many<br />
aspects of 2-stroke and 4-stoke outboard, stern drive and inboard<br />
troubleshooting and repair. Students should be proficient in marine<br />
application electrical/ignition systems, fuel systems, cooling systems,<br />
lubrication systems, drive/transmission systems and boat and trailer<br />
rigging and repair. The written or online test includes the above listed<br />
topics including diagnostics, service and repair of marine accessory<br />
items. Contestants will be judged on safe work practices, cleanliness,<br />
organizational skills, accuracy, speed and completion of assigned<br />
tasks, worksheets and paperwork.” Congratulations, Nathan.<br />
Congratulations also to Aura Franco, who placed 7 th out of 41 high<br />
school students from across the nation in the competition held in<br />
Kansas City, Missouri on June 24, <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NATIONAL MERIT<br />
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS<br />
Four students from Cypress Bay High and one student from College<br />
Academy @ BC were named National Merit Scholars and will<br />
receive scholarships financed by colleges and universities. We<br />
congratulate the following <strong>2010</strong> graduates:<br />
Samantha A. Baraoidan<br />
Holly L. Beilin<br />
Christopher S. Cooke<br />
Alyson M. Samach<br />
Samuel A. Falcon<br />
Cypress Bay High<br />
Cypress Bay High<br />
Cypress Bay High<br />
Cypress Bay High<br />
College Academy @ BC<br />
COMMUNICATIONS CORNER<br />
PLANNING IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL BACK-TO-SCHOOL<br />
NIGHT OR ORIENTATION<br />
“You never get a second chance to make a good impression”<br />
definitely does not apply when it comes to schools. Every year, you<br />
and your staff have a new opportunity to shine, and back-to-school<br />
night/orientation is a prime example.<br />
Making your back-to-school night/orientation a well-organized and<br />
positive experience is a good way to build on, or improve, your<br />
school's reputation. It sets the tone for the school year and sends a<br />
message to parents about how well your school operates.<br />
Here are some tips:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Successful events require careful planning. Pay attention to<br />
details. Prepare a schedule for the evening, share it with all<br />
those involved and follow it!<br />
Hold a staff meeting prior to back-to-school night/orientation.<br />
Encourage teachers to greet parents as they enter classrooms and<br />
prepare and practice their presentations, rather than talking “off<br />
the cuff.” The teacher's expectations and homework procedures<br />
should be clearly explained during his or her presentation or<br />
included in a handout. Discuss what should be included in<br />
handouts (teacher's contact information, etc.) and stress the<br />
importance of explaining acronyms. Teachers should allow time<br />
for questions at the conclusion of their presentations.<br />
It's important that the principal gives an enthusiastic welcome to<br />
everyone. That will set the tone for the evening. Don't assume<br />
everyone knows you. Be sure to introduce yourself. Remember<br />
to thank parents for choosing your school (they could have<br />
selected a charter or private school). Tell them that you will do<br />
all you can to make it a great year. Encourage them to take part<br />
in PTA and/or Advisory or to become involved in some other<br />
way.<br />
Share positive facts with parents, including your school's<br />
academic achievements; special courses offered; credentials and<br />
accolades of staff and success stories of current and past<br />
students.<br />
Don't waste time discussing school procedures with parents that<br />
could be better conveyed in a handout, and don't print<br />
information in a handout that would be best conveyed in person.<br />
Remain visible and accessible throughout the event.<br />
Fill bulletin boards in the hallways with messages promoting<br />
upcoming events including extracurricular activities like sports<br />
and clubs.<br />
Provide a table for PTA/PTO and Advisory representatives to<br />
distribute information and to welcome potential new members.<br />
Solicit feedback on the event from parents, so you can make<br />
improvements next year.<br />
Remember that the Public Relations & Governmental Affairs<br />
Department is available to assist you. To learn more about how the<br />
department can help you, please call 754-321-2300.<br />
“Leadership is bringing people<br />
together.”<br />
3
CITY OF SUNRISE HONORS OUR TEACHERS OF<br />
THE YEAR<br />
Each month, through June 2011, the<br />
City of Sunrise Commission will<br />
honor our <strong>2010</strong> Teachers of the Year<br />
at the City Commission meeting.<br />
Mike Ryan, Chairperson of the city’s<br />
Education Committee, asked the commission to recognize teachers in<br />
the City of Sunrise as they do police and fire personnel. The teachers<br />
will be honored each month as follows:<br />
Date Teacher of the Year School<br />
<strong>September</strong> 13 Susan Cunningham Banyan Elementary<br />
October 12 Anthony Favata Discovery Elementary<br />
November 9 Chris Ecklund Bair Middle<br />
December 14 Trudi Lewkowitz Horizon Elementary<br />
January 11 Karyn Frank Nob Hill<br />
February 8 Peggy Bauer Westpine Middle<br />
March 8 Luis Caceres Sandpiper Elementary<br />
April 12 Carrietta Gaudio Sawgrass Elementary<br />
May 10 Kathy O’Brady<br />
Janice Mewbron<br />
Village Elementary<br />
Welleby Elementary<br />
June 14 Robert W. Sutton Piper High<br />
We applaud the City<br />
Commission, City of Sunrise, for<br />
recognizing teachers in Sunrise<br />
schools. Each teacher will<br />
receive a certificate and a $50<br />
gift card, which has been<br />
generously funded by Michael<br />
R. Yormark, President and<br />
CEO of Sunrise Sports &<br />
Entertainment.<br />
PHONE LINK IS A GREAT TOOL FOR<br />
COMMUNICATION<br />
The “telephone link” is a great tool to<br />
use to disseminate information to<br />
parents. Many schools used the link to<br />
welcome students and parents to the<br />
school for the new school year. The area<br />
office received many compliments from<br />
parents who received these calls.<br />
The “telephone link” should be used to<br />
announce all the great things happening<br />
in your school. Perhaps a monthly message to parents sharing<br />
positive happenings will help increase parental support. It is<br />
definitely a great tool to announce advisory meetings,<br />
PTA/PTO/PTSA meetings, etc. and to ask parents for their support in<br />
attending these valuable meetings.<br />
Thank you so much for using the telephone link system.<br />
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS AT COLLEGE<br />
ACADEMY @ BROWRD COLLEGE<br />
Probably for the first time a graduating class<br />
at any collegiate high school in the United<br />
States – 100% of College Academy @ BC<br />
graduates earned an AA degree as well!<br />
The following are the accomplishments of the<br />
Class of <strong>2010</strong>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
100% earned a high school diploma<br />
100% earned an AA degree<br />
100% qualified for Bright Futures (102 earned Florida<br />
Academic Scholars (100%) and 69 earned Florida<br />
Medallion (75%)<br />
80% graduated Broward College with an Honors<br />
distinction (3.25 or above college GPA)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
100% graduated with a gold cord (honor graduate earning a<br />
3.75 high school GPA or better)<br />
Four National Merit Finalists<br />
Four National Merit Commended Students<br />
Four National Achievement Finalists<br />
Ten National Hispanic Students<br />
Ten Commended in National Achievement<br />
Ranked first in county, PSAT, SAT, and ACT<br />
Ranked first in county, third in state in Science FCAT<br />
Awarded scholarships over four years of more than<br />
$10,000,000.<br />
Congratulations, College Academy @ BC, Mrs. Nell Sapp, and staff.<br />
ATLANTIC TECHNICAL CENTER NEWS<br />
ACTE Honors Two Outstanding Educators from Atlantic<br />
Technical Center<br />
The Florida Association for<br />
Career & Technical Education<br />
[FACTE] held its 44 th Annual<br />
Conference on August 2-5 in<br />
Clearwater.<br />
One of the highlights of the busy<br />
schedule of workshops and information sessions was the Annual<br />
Awards Luncheon to recognize professional excellence across the<br />
state.<br />
Brian Youngblood, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating<br />
teacher at Atlantic Technical Center, was honored for his work as<br />
past president of FATIE, the Florida Association for Technical &<br />
Industrial Educators. Robert B. Crawford, Director of Atlantic<br />
Technical Center was inducted into the FACTE HALL OF FAME, in<br />
recognition of his distinguished career that has “made a long term<br />
significant impact on the field of career and technical education in<br />
Florida.”<br />
Congratulations to Mr. Crawford and Mr. Youngblood for these welldeserved<br />
honors, and sincere appreciation for all that they do for our<br />
students and our community.<br />
Atlantic Technical Center High School Takes Top Honor<br />
The ACE [Architecture, Construction, & Engineering] Mentor<br />
Program offers high school students an opportunity to discover the<br />
potential rewards available to those who pursue careers in those<br />
fields. Six teams from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties<br />
submitted projects that: involve a building and/or piece of land that<br />
4
could be reused; did not further impact the environment; incorporated<br />
green practices; and would hire local companies that hired local<br />
construction workers. There were three scholarships available, and<br />
the scholarship applications were sent to the ACE National Office<br />
where they were judged with no local input. Atlantic Tech student<br />
Leticia Gonzalez was recipient of the largest award - a $4,000<br />
scholarship. Leticia has been accepted to UM where she will pursue<br />
her degree in Architecture and Design.<br />
Broward County Public Schools Announces $3 Million<br />
Apprenticeship Training Program Investment<br />
On Tuesday, July 20, during its regular meeting, the Broward County<br />
School Board announced a $3 million investment from the federal<br />
Workforce Development Education Fund for the apprenticeshiptraining<br />
program to prepare workers to compete in the future<br />
economy.<br />
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is home to the largest<br />
apprenticeship-training program in the Southeastern United States.<br />
The program is an effective job training system for skilled trade and<br />
journeymen. The District’s apprenticeship-training program is<br />
designed to prepare individuals for occupations in skilled trades and<br />
crafts and combines structured on-the-job training — supervised by<br />
experienced journeymen — with related classroom instruction.<br />
As part of a $3 million Workforce Development Education<br />
investment to BCPS through Atlantic Technical Center, The School<br />
Board continues agreements with 11 apprenticeship agencies<br />
including Advanced Education Apprenticeship Training, Inc;<br />
Associated Builders and Contractors Institute, Inc.; Florida<br />
Carpenters Regional Council Training Trust Fund; Florida East Coast<br />
Electrical JATC; Florida Training Services, Inc.; Masonry<br />
Association of Florida, Inc.; South Florida Chapter of the Associated<br />
General Contractors; South Florida Ironworkers Local Union #272<br />
JATC; South Florida Operating Engineers Apprentice and Training<br />
Trust; South Florida Trowel Trades Joint Apprenticeship and<br />
Training Fund; and United Service Training Corporation, which<br />
operate a registered building trades apprenticeship program in air<br />
conditioning, carpentry, electric line service and repair, electrical, fire<br />
sprinkler, heavy equipment operator, masonry, millwright, plumbing,<br />
sheet metal, or structural steel.<br />
There are currently nearly 2,500 students participating in building<br />
trades apprenticeship programs in BCPS. Apprentices who<br />
successfully complete the prescribed number of training hours,<br />
usually from two to five years, in an apprenticeship-training program<br />
can become certified and skilled journeymen.<br />
Apprenticeships offer another path to a financially rewarding future.<br />
In the current period of growing shortages and increasing wages in<br />
skilled and technical occupations, apprenticeship training can lead to<br />
high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers.<br />
For additional information about Broward County Public Schools<br />
apprenticeship-training programs, contact the Apprenticeship Office<br />
at Atlantic Technical Center, 754-321-5119.<br />
Atlantic Technical Center High School Student Wins Broad Prize<br />
Scholarship<br />
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation announced that fourteen<br />
Broward County Public Schools high school seniors have won a<br />
collective $250,000 in Broad Prize college scholarships. Alan<br />
Champagne from Atlantic Technical High School is happy and proud<br />
to receive one of the Broad scholarships.<br />
course of their high school career and have a financial need.<br />
Broad Prize scholars receive two- or four-year scholarships<br />
depending on the type of institution they chose to attend. Scholarship<br />
recipients who enroll in four-year institutions receive $20,000 paid<br />
out over four years ($5,000 per year). Student who enroll in two-year<br />
institutions receive $5,000 scholarships paid out over two years<br />
($2,500 per year). The scholarship selection and disbursement<br />
process is managed by Scholarship America.<br />
Congratulations to Alan and his family.<br />
SPOTLIGHT ON STAFF<br />
We’re off to a great start and wish to thank all instructional and noninstructional<br />
staff members in all of our Central Area Schools. There<br />
were many smiles, and students and their families felt very welcomed<br />
during schedule pick up and school visitations.<br />
One teacher, Rachel Scott, of Bair Middle School, sent this email to<br />
other staff members at Bair sharing her experience, and we felt this<br />
story will sum up our role as educators.<br />
“Today the halls of Bair were flooded with parents and children<br />
eager to get themselves organized for Monday. I had the pleasure of<br />
meeting a 6th grade boy (we'll call him Stevie Wonder), and his mom.<br />
Stevie Wonder's mom was one of those super-moms, who had to be<br />
sure that every minute of Stevie's first day in 6th grade went by<br />
without a hitch. Armed with the map of the school, Stevie's schedule,<br />
and an S on her chest, she fired tons of questions at me and kept little<br />
Stevie Wonder close by to make sure he was absorbing all the<br />
important first day details. Once satisfied that I had given her all the<br />
information she needed, she said 'thank you' and walked away. An<br />
obviously overwhelmed Stevie started after her, but turned back and<br />
came to me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen.<br />
Stevie: Miss, can I ask you a question?<br />
Me: Of course you can!<br />
Stevie: Is it okay if I'm nervous on Monday?<br />
Me (almost in tears as I look at him): Of course it is! The whole<br />
school will be nervous on Monday! But you'll have nothing to worry<br />
about, because the halls will be filled with people that look like me (I<br />
meant adults) that are all dressed up, and you can ask them anything<br />
you want, and they'll be able to help you.<br />
Stevie (now, looking enormously relieved): Okay. Thank you, Miss.<br />
Me (as cheerful as I could be): No problem. I'll see you Monday!<br />
You're gonna be fine!<br />
The moral to the story: Remember to be kind on Monday, as there are<br />
likely to be hundreds of little Stevie Wonders roaming the halls, very<br />
scared. Have a MERRY MONDAY!”<br />
Mrs. Rachel Scott<br />
Science Department<br />
Thank you, Mrs. Scott, for reminding us all how children feel the first<br />
day of school, especially those advancing to middle and high schools.<br />
Unlike many traditional scholarships that are awarded only to top-tier<br />
students, Broad Prize scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors<br />
who have a demonstrated record of improving their grades over the<br />
THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES<br />
5
INTERN PSYCHOLOGISTS RECOGNIZED BY USF<br />
The following article is reprinted from a recent USF article. We are<br />
honored that they interned with us for a year at the Central Area<br />
Office.<br />
Students Return To Their Roots<br />
Two USF grads return to their Caribbean homelands to introduce<br />
psychological services in their public school systems.<br />
By Mary Beth Erskine<br />
USF.edu News Writer<br />
TAMPA, Fla. (July 28, <strong>2010</strong>) – Two USF students – Leeza Rooks<br />
from Trinidad and Kristelle Malval from Haiti – who are graduating<br />
this summer from USF’s College of Education with specialist degrees<br />
in school psychology are returning to their Caribbean homes to face a<br />
common, daunting challenge.<br />
They want to use their expertise to help students struggling with any<br />
number of learning, emotional, or behavioral challenges stunting their<br />
education find success.<br />
For both Rooks and Malval, however, the task is enormous. Unlike in<br />
the United States where psychological services are integrated into the<br />
public school framework, there are no school psychologists in the<br />
public systems in either country. Compounding the issue is the fact<br />
that the role of psychology, in general, is poorly understood.<br />
“Seeking out psychological services is regarded as ‘taboo’ in both our<br />
countries,” said Malval.<br />
Rooks and Malval spent the last three years at the University of South<br />
Florida preparing to change that.<br />
After earning master’s degrees, they continued with additional<br />
coursework and research, completed yearlong internships in the<br />
Psychological Services Department of Broward County Schools,<br />
and as a final step toward earning their specialists certifications,<br />
completed and presented empirical theses. Along the way, as the only<br />
international students in their cohort and with similar career goals,<br />
Caribbean roots, energy and determination, they became close<br />
colleagues and friends.<br />
Rooks’ interest in a career working with special needs students began<br />
at home. Because of the lack of services in Trinidad, when her<br />
younger brother was struggling in school her mother brought him to<br />
the United States for evaluation. He was diagnosed with dyslexia,<br />
and her mother learned how to work with him to implement the<br />
necessary interventions that eventually enabled him to succeed in<br />
school.<br />
According to Rooks, her personal experience is far from the norm.<br />
“In Trinidad, even though there are clinical psychologists in private<br />
practice, services are essentially unreachable for the students who<br />
need them most. Either parents can’t afford them or they don’t<br />
understand how to get help,” Rooks said.<br />
Rooks wants to bring attention to the idea that it’s important to offer<br />
these services in the public system where they are accessible to all<br />
students. She believes that with the current atmosphere of optimism<br />
pervading Trinidad following the election of the country’s first<br />
female prime minister – who is a former minister of education – the<br />
timing for such change couldn’t be better.<br />
“Education is now coming more to the forefront,” she said, “and I<br />
hope to connect with the right people in the new government to<br />
facilitate change.”<br />
In Haiti, education has long been regarded as a pathway out of<br />
poverty. Yet, the national school system was among the poorest in<br />
the world long before this year’s catastrophic earthquake. Today,<br />
while many schools have cleared away debris and classes have<br />
resumed, albeit largely in tents, Malval said that one of the greatest<br />
challenges is students’ inability to concentrate.<br />
“While there are a lot of people trying to help, not a lot has changed<br />
in the last six months. Many people are still sleeping in cars because<br />
they’re afraid to go back into buildings,” she said, adding that posttraumatic<br />
stress syndrome is rampant.<br />
Similar to Rooks, Malval’s original plan was to work with the public<br />
school system to begin making psychological services available to all<br />
children. And while she still intends to pursue that as a long-term<br />
goal, currently she is focused on helping meet more immediate needs.<br />
For example, with students in Haiti attending school throughout the<br />
summer to make up for lost time after the earthquake, Malval and<br />
several cousins initiated a project to give children and adolescents an<br />
opportunity to express themselves creatively through drawing,<br />
painting, and acting. “We are trying to break their daily routine and<br />
give them something to look forward to while, at the same time,<br />
giving them a way to express their worries, sadness, joys and hopes<br />
in a productive way.” The goal is to identify the students who could<br />
benefit from additional services.<br />
“The College of Education is proud to have the effects of our School<br />
Psychology Graduate Training Program reach so broadly,” said<br />
Shannon Suldo, Associate Professor of School Psychology, and<br />
major professor for both students. “Kristelle and Leeza will be able to<br />
contribute to the training of other mental health professionals in their<br />
countries, which is sorely needed given the shortage of school<br />
psychologists in these countries.”<br />
By providing one-on-one support, Rooks and Malval know they can<br />
make a difference in the lives of young people. But it’s also the first<br />
step towards even bigger change. “If you want to make a difference<br />
in the future of a country, you need to start with education,” said<br />
Rooks.<br />
“Education, as well as children and adolescents’ overall well being<br />
are key, particularly in a country where everything needs to be<br />
rebuilt,” said Malval. “The future of Haiti will depend on these youth,<br />
and I think that it's important to start early if we really want to see a<br />
positive and long-lasting change.”<br />
Leeza Rooks wants to offer these<br />
services in the public system in<br />
Trinidad, where they would be<br />
accessible to all students.<br />
Back home in Haiti, Kristelle<br />
Malval has started a volunteer<br />
project working with students<br />
who are living in the numerous<br />
tent cities in Port-au-Prince.<br />
6
RES0LUTION IN SUPPORT OF<br />
THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE<br />
SEPTEMBER 21, <strong>2010</strong><br />
ARTICLES FOR CENTRAL AREA NEWSLETTERS<br />
Central Area schools should forward articles of the positive things happening in our schools no later than 20 th of the month for publication in the<br />
following month’s issue. Example: All articles for our October 1 issue must be sent to Art Rose in the area office no later than <strong>September</strong> 20.<br />
Please help by submitting all articles in Times New Roman font. The Central Area monthly newsletter allows us to share the many great things<br />
occurring in our schools. Thanks.<br />
7