Northview Tenth Graders Among County’s Best On Writing+ FCAT
May 9, 2008
Northview High School tenth graders scored among the best in the county in the recent FCAT Writing+ Essay test,with 86 percent of them scoring at grade level or above.
A score of 3.5 on the combination multiple choice and essay test is considered to be grade level.
Last year, 82 percent of the Northview tenth grade students scored a 3.5 or more.
Of the 138 students taking the Writing+ test at Northview, four percent scored a 5 or higher. Twenty-three percent scored between 4 and 5, and 25 percent scored between 3 and 4.
Twenty-eight percent of the students scored 2-3, and 19 percent scored a 1.
Molino Park Students Improve On Fourth Grade Writing+ FCAT
May 9, 2008
Molino Park Elementary school fourth graders improved the school’s scores on recent FCAT Writing+ Essay test, with 75 percent of them scoring at grade level or above.
A score of 3.5 on the combination multiple choice and essay test is considered to be grade level.
Last year, 68 percent of the Molino Park fourth grade students scored a 3.5 or more.
Of the 84 students taking the Writing+ test at Molino Park, five percent scored a 5 or higher. Ten percent scored between 4 and 5, and 48 percent scored between 3 and 4.
Eighteen percent of the students scored 2-3, and 20 percent scored a 1.
Ernest Ward Eighth Graders Hold Steady On FCAT Writing+
May 9, 2008
Ernest Ward Middle School eighth graders held steady in the school’s recent FCAT Writing+ Essay test, with 91 percent of them scoring at grade level or above. A score of 3.5 on the combination multiple choice and essay test is considered to be grade level.
Last year, 89 percent of the Ernest Ward fourth grade students scored a 3.5 or more.
Of the 131 students taking the Writing+ test at Ernest Ward, two percent scored a 5 or higher. Nine percent scored between 4 and 5, and 38 percent scored between 3 and 4.
Thirty-four percent of the students scored 2-3, and 17 percent scored a 1.
Byrneville Elementary Improves FCAT Writing+ Scores
May 9, 2008
Byrneville Elementary school fourth graders improved the school’s FCAT Writing+ Essay test scores, with 71 percent of them scoring at grade level or above.
A score of 3.5 on the combination multiple choice and essay test is considered to be grade level.
Last year, only 58 percent of the Byrneville fourth grade charter school students scored a 3.5 or more.
Of the 24 students taking the Writing+ test at Byrneville, none scored a 5 or higher. Eight percent scored between 4 and 5, and 29 percent scored between 3 and 4.
Thirty-three percent of the students scored 2-3, and 29 percent scored a 1.
Gas Prices Continue To Rise
May 9, 2008
We are sure you’ve noticed, but gas prices are up this week. Again.
The price for a gallon of regular unleaded hit a high of $3.64 a gallon in Century on Thursday. In Molino, that same gallon of gas was selling for $3.59. In Davisville, it was at $3.62. That is an increase of about a dime per gallon since we did our last “gas is up” story about three weeks ago.
The highest diesel price NorthEscambia.com found in the area during our informal price survey Thursday afternoon was $4.16 per gallon at a Century station. That’s the same price we found three weeks ago.
Pictured above: This station in Molino was selling a gallon of regular unleaded gas for $3.59 a gallon Thursday afternoon and diesel for $4.12 per gallon. NorthEscambia.com photo.
School Boards Hold Off On Round Two Of Budget Cuts
May 8, 2008
The Escambia County School Board held off on round two of budget cuts Wednesday afternoon.
About two weeks ago, the board made $6.2 million in cuts, including 115 teaching positions, 40 elementary school administrative clerks and the assistant principal position at Carver/Century K-8 School.
Facing a packed house at the Hall Center in Pensacola Wednesday afternoon, board members were reluctant to move forward with budget cuts in a plan presented by Superintendent Jim Paul and tabled any action until a future meeting.
”We understand you are seriously considering closing Carver/Century. We’re more than a school there, we do much more than teach the three R’s,” Carver/Century K-8 School teacher Lillian Robertson told the board. “We’re a home for the children. We deal with lots of needy, needy children. We provide them a family.”
The board will hold a workshop meeting at 11:30 a.m. on May 15 to continue discussion on Paul’s plan, but they have stated that no decisions will be made at that workshop meeting.
Paul is proposing to shave another $1.7 million from the budget by:
- Dropping all departments to 2006-2007 funding amounts
- Cutting subsidies for high school sports by 20 percent
- Cutting subsides for high school bands by 20 percent
- Reducing band and football travel monies by 20 percent
- Cutting all funding for high school band uniforms
- Reduce transportation by 20 percent for other sports playoffs
- Cutting middle school bands by 20 percent
- Cutting middle school athletics by 20 percent
- Eliminating Stanford 9 testing
- Cutting field trip funds by 18 percent
- Cutting advanced placement testing
- Reducing travel expenses by 50 percent
- Reducing pay for administrative positions by just two percent
- Cutting classroom furniture repair
- Cutting aquatic center funding 20 percent
- Reducing elementary school special supply costs 50 percent
- Cutting transportation to PATS program
Another phase of Paul’s cuts would:
- Remove the district’s contribution for retiree health insurance
- Cut bus transportation for students within two miles of school
- Close the Program for Academically Talented Students (PATS)
- Cut 10 more positions, on top of the 10 already cut, in art, P.E., and music
The location of the May 15 meeting has not yet been announced. We will post more information on NorthEscambia.com when it becomes available.
NHS NJROTC Students Win Awards
May 8, 2008
Several Northview High School cadets won awards at the recent Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps 2008 Awards Ceremony in Pensacola. The Northview cadets winning awards were:
- American Veterans (AMVETS) Award: CPO Daniel Jordan
- Order of Daedalians, Junior ROTC Achievement Award: c/LCDR Colton Kawamura
- National Society of the Daughters of American Revolution Award: c/SCPO Jessica Bloodsworth
- American Legion Post 90 “Military Award”: c/PO2 Zachary Lamb (gold), c/PO2 John Waters (silver), c/SN Tyler Garrett (bronze)
- American Legion Post 90 “Academic Award”: c/ENS Deniece Jordan (gold), c/PO2 Miranda Scott (silver), c/SN Katelyn Mann (bronze)
- Captain James O. Houghton Memorial Award: c/LCDR Colton Kawamura
- Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Award: c/SCPO Clinton Davis
- Military Order of the World Wars Award: c/ENS Amanda Sellars
- Northwest Florida Waves Unit #52: c/ENS Amanda Sellars
- The Reserve Officers Association ROTC Medal: c/SN William Conway
- Navy League Award: c/ENS Harrison Whitehead (first), c/SN Anna Baker second), c/SN Aaron Hammond (third)
- Society of the Sons of the American Revolution JROTC Award: c/SCPO Clinton Davis
- Scottish Rite Award: c/LT John Harrell
- The National Sojourners ROTC Award: c/SN Ryan Busbee
- The Military Officers Association of America ROTC Medal: c/SCPO Jessica Bloodsworth
- Stephen Decatur Award: c/MCPO Dalton Cummings (first), c/SN Thomas Walston (second),
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7016: c/MCPO Dalton Cummings (military), c/PO1 Kayla Brewer (academic)
Pictured above: Northview High School NJROTC. Pictured below: Photos from the awards ceremony in Pensacola. Submitted story. Scroll down for more submitted photos from Sherry Bloodsworth.
UWF Donates Computers To Century Community Development Partnership
May 8, 2008
The University of West Florida is reaching out to the Century community with an offer of help and assistance to local organizations. Recently in collaboration with the Century Community Development Partnership Inc. (CCDP), UWF donated 20 computers, a chalk board and six work tables to help in the creation of a Job Development Center in Century. The job center will be under the direction of the CCDP.
The purpose of the training center will be to teach lower income residents of the City of Century effective life-living skills and entry-level job skills. The center will also provide basic computer classes for adults and senior citizens, financial literacy and GED prep.
“The North-End of Escambia County has struggled for years against chronic poverty, under-education, a lack of job training, under-employment and a lack of housing,” said Pastor Irvin Stallworth of New Life Baptist Church of Century and president/executive director of the CCDP. “With this donation from UWF, the CCDP will establish a ‘Career-Path-Gateway Program.’ This program will introduce residents of our area to career opportunities, especially in the construction and construction technology trades.”
The goal of the project is to ultimately train technicians, journeymen and eventually, contractors. First, the center will work to attract and interest people in these career directions and offer basic career preparation. Trainees will then be directed on a career path and the center will work with their partners in career development to carry the trainees forward.
“Assisting the partnership helps us fulfill our mission to engage the community and help provide educational opportunities,” said John Cavanaugh, UWF President. “These computers will be a great asset for the Century community and will enable many to improve their job skills.”
The Century Community Development Partnership was founded in 2005, after Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. The partnership is the vision of Stallworth. The mission of the non-profit organization is to provide relief to the poor, the distressed and the underprivileged in the Town of Century and the rural communities of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties by engaging in and supporting activities that provide affordable housing, create jobs, eliminate blight and provide needed services; lessen the burdens of government, neighborhood tensions, eliminates discrimination and combats community deterioration; and aid, support and assist by gifts, contributions, or otherwise, other corporations, community chests, funds and foundations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes.
Additional Partners teaming with the CCDP on the Job Development Center include the Office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Workforce Florida, Workforce EscaRosa Career Center, Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and the Escambia School District.
Ernest Ward 6th Graders Create Artistic Planets In Science Class
May 8, 2008
Students at Ernest Ward Middle School recently created their own paper-maché planets.
Mary Spence’s sixth graders created the planets in various shapes and sizes in their science classes.
The various classes with their paper-maché planets are pictured above and below. Submitted photos. Scroll down to see all photos.
IP Will Hold Open House In Cantonment Today, Tours Resume
May 8, 2008
The International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill in Cantonment will host a community open house this evening from 5:00 until 7:00. IP will kick off mill tours following the completion of its product line conversion.
The event is free to the public and will take place in front of the mill’s administrative offices at 375 Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
Cat Country 98.7 will broadcast live from the event, eat! restaurant will serve guests, and Harvesters Federal Credit Union will be on hand with information about membership services and benefits. Children’s activities include a bounce house and slide, coloring activities, and a visit from costumed characters the Cat Country Cat and Pinelope Tree.
Adults and children 12 and older can join one of six tours lasting 30 minutes each beginning at 5:15 p.m. Reservations are required, and no child care will be provided for children under 12. Details on what to wear and other tour information will be given at the time of the reservation.
The deadline for reservations is today at noon.
Tours will show guests both machines the mill operates to produce lightweight linerboard, which is used to make cardboard boxes, and fluff pulp, used to make baby diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products.
For more information or to reserve a space for the mill tour, contact Jessica Morris at 850-968-4203 or via email at jessica.morris@ipaper.com.