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<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 />

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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 />

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