School News - 03/08/12

During Celebrate Literacy Week, Bay Meadows Elementary second-graders collected gently used books and school supplies for the Orange County Public Schools Migrant Education Program. Donations will be distributed to children of migrant farm workers in the local area.

Lake Whitney Elementary fourth-grader Ava Bartolomei designed and created earrings, which she sold to benefit LWES. The Bronson’s Landing resident wanted to help her school, so she sold the earrings in the school store and donated the proceeds to LWES’s Dolphin Education Fund. In recognition of Ava’s efforts, Principal Elizabeth Prince featured her on the school’s morning news show.

Artwork created by Sunset Park Elementary third-grader Shirley Sun was selected for display in the Peggy Crosby Student Gallery at the Orlando Museum of Art. Each year the gallery exhibits the best work from young artists from Seminole and Orange counties public schools, as well as The School District of Osceola. The exhibit is open during museum hours and free to the public. Shirley, who wants to be a professional artist, is supported in her efforts by art teacher Jamie Ruiz.

Whispering Oak Elementary science, technology, engineering and math lab teacher Constance Murphy secured a $10,000 grant from IBM, which will be used to purchase iPads for use in the STEM lab. WOES Principal Patricia Ramsey accepted the check from IBM representatives during an Orange County Public Schools board meeting.

Southwest Middle seventh-graders Rachel Frank, Kristalle Liang and Ethan Robertson competed in the American Water Works Association’s Model Water Tower Competition that was held at the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering & Computer Science. Their “teepee with smoke” design successfully allowed one gallon of water to drain under pressure in a little more than two minutes.

Congratulations to Rachel Levine for receiving a 2011-12 Discus Award for her achievements in academics, the arts and community service. The Dr. Phillips High student created a multimedia profile highlighting her achievements, which can be viewed at www.discusawards.com/winners on the Web. The Discus Award is a national program that provides recognition and scholarship opportunities to high-schoolers who excel in three of 10 key attributes. Rachel is now eligible for scholarship consideration. The program awards $20,000 in scholarships annually — one $2,000 scholarship each month during the academic year.

Premier Academy classmates (l. to r.) Alexa Schwamm, Brenna Silveira, Cade Hanson, Lena Clark and Lilly Brezak celebrate Community Helpers Week with a visit from a bucket truck.

Foundation Academy students in fifth through eighth grade competed in the Association of Christian Schools International Spelling Bee that was held in Clermont. Cooper Billsborough placed third in the fifth-grade division and fourth overall in the spell-off, which included the top four spellers from each grade. FA seventh-grader Jordan Boast placed fourth in his grade division. Cooper advanced to the regional spelling competition, which will take place later this month.

Ocoee resident and Trinity Preparatory School senior Sam Savitz was selected from among 3,000 invited applicants as a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Candidates are selected based on their outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will review the approximately 500 semifinalists next month, and up to 141 students will then be named as Presidential Scholars and honored at a national recognition event in
Washington, D.C.

Cranium Academy @ Cranium Clubhouse hosted an art show, where students were able to display their personal works of art that were inspired by the Cranium Explorers program. Families were invited to take a tour and view the display.