COVERS Fall 2011_Layout 1 - City of Plantation

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN Plantation Schools
PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Principal Erik
Anderson, Tropical Elementary School,
who was named Principal of the Year at the
Broward County Public Schools 2011
ACCLAIM Awards ceremony held May 25.
The ACCLAIM Awards were created to honor
outstanding principals and assistant
principals each year for their hard work
and dedication. ACCLAIM is an acronym for
Achievement, Communication, Compassion,
Leadership, Accountability, Innovation and
Motivation.
The honor is especially significant, as Erik
was raised in the City of Plantation, and
attended school at Tropical Elementary. His
roots are in Plantation, and he has a true
sense of its history.
Under Principal Anderson’s leadership,
Tropical Elementary received an “A” grade
for eight consecutive years. He believes in a
hands-on, team approach to managing the
school. He provides dynamic leadership that
energizes his staff and students to do their
jobs of teaching and learning.
TROPICAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Tropical Elementary School celebrated
its 40th anniversary with a series of festivities.
Students and staff members wore tiedye
t-shirts and other 70s style clothing. The
school’s chorus sang both the original and
updated version of the school song and
students took part in a “Pinwheels for Peace
Parade” as they display their homemade
pinwheels. Over 200 alumni, past staff
members, School District and City of
Plantation officials and families of students
attended “Refreshments and Reminiscing,”
during which tours of the school were
conducted and Tropical pioneers were
recognized. The school also held a
“Birthday Bash” on Saturday that included a
family fun day carnival and a display of
student artwork.
PLANTATION HIGH SCHOOL
ROCKET TEAM
The Plantation High Rocket Team
placed ninth in the nation at the Team
America Rocketry Competition (TARC)
recently held in Manassas, Virginia. Over
500 teams from around the United States
qualified for the competition. This accomplishment
qualifies the team for two NASA
grants. Plantation has won more NASA
grants than any other team in the nation.
Joe Vallone, Plantation High
aerospace engineering teacher, has
accepted a fellowship to participate in the
inaugural Wallops Rocket Academy for
Teachers and Students (WRATS). The
WRATS staff at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
in Virginia is excited about the new NASA
program and hope it will provide schools
with resources and a valuable experience
that will translate into inspiration and
excitement for high school students. Vallone
will also instruct other teachers about
rocketry this summer at the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and at
the NASA facility at the Bonneville Salt Flats
in Utah.
PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
South Plantation High School and the
City of Plantation received the
Partnership of the Year Award.
The City of Plantation has partnered with
the Environmental Science and Everglades
Restoration magnet at South Plantation High
for nine years and continues to grow every
year.
The City works with SPHS by providing
landscaping mentors, planting opportunities
and funds for an environmental scholarship.
City staff and members of the City-sponsored
organization Shade Brigade work with
students weekly after school to design LEED
structures for the Fairchild Challenge, a
regional competition that SPHS has won for
the last three years. SPHS is the only school
to have won as many times.
In Jack Carter Harmony Park, students
have added 1,200 square feet of tree canopy
while learning about the hardwood
PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
L to R - Councilman Peter Tingom, Patrice Sonnelitter
(Landscape), Alyce Culpepper (Magnet Co-ordinator), Pam
Krauss (Fairchild Challenge Coach), Diana Berchielli
(Landscape) and Dr. David Basile (SPHS Principal).
The Solar Knights from South Plantation High School
exhibited at the City of Plantation Green Day 2011. SPHS
had five booths representing student-run environmental
clubs.
hammock habitat and the importance of native
planting. A specialist taught students how the City
uses current GIS technology in their jobs, and others
helped judge the Senior Symposium projects. Magnet
students teamed with the City to replace a neighborhood
tree buffer of native vegetation lost from
hurricanes and actively participate in city events for
environmental issues. At Green Day 2011, SPHS had
five booths representing student-run environmental
clubs. Students planted the wetlands at Volunteer
Park, and participated in several grants with the City
including Camp Everglades. Others make presentations
at Shade Brigade meetings and are involved in
the adopt-a-street project to clean up Paladin Way
several times a year.
SCHOOLS (continued)
Plantation Quarterly is printed on recycled paper. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE. Flip the magazine over for the Recreation Quarterly.
12 Plantation Quarterly Fall 2011