Principals Say Their Schools Are Ready For FCAT
March 10, 2009
Area principals say they are ready for the FCAT tests that get underway today for students grades three through 10.
At Bratt Elementary School, the top rated school in all of Escambia County according to the Florida Department of Education, Principal Sheryl Pomeroy said her students are ready for the FCAT.
“Bratt works everyday to prepare to be our best academically,” Pomeroy said. “Over the past week, we have done a lot of FCAT review with material provided by the state.”
Now that test time is here, the Bratt principal said her students are “encouraged to relax and think positive thoughts”.
At Carver/Century K-8 School, Principal Jeff Garthwaite also feels that the school has worked hard to prepare students for FCAT testing. But he knows that the impending closure of the school and all of the negative discussion about the school’s past low FCAT grades will likely impact the students and teachers.
“We feel positive about the FCAT, but there is a certain measured feeling because of the closure issues,” Garthwaite said. “The closure issue has kind of been on our shoulders all school year.”
But regardless of the impending closure — which will see a final school board vote on March 17 — Garthwaite said his staff has worked hard to prepare and motivate students.
“We can’t get away from the focus of our school, and that is each and every child,” he said.
“We believe in you!” is the word from Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry to her students.
At Ernest Ward, breakfast will be served each FCAT testing day to give students a little extra boost. And students are asked to not checkout prior to noon for any reason.
At Northview High School, Principal Gayle Weaver said her students are more than ready for the FCAT, and she’s hoping for just a little improvement this year to move Northview to “A” status, a level the school barely missed last year.
“The faculty and staff were excited about the progress made last year, and they became immediately dedicated to surpassing those results for this year,” Weaver said. “Northview’s commitment to education has always been to provide the best education possible to each and every student. This has been Northview’s objective, whether it has been for either the FCAT or any other tool of measurement. Students at Northview are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals working to help each and every one of them succeed.”
Weaver is also hoping that students at the other area schools do well on the FCAT. ” To our fellow educators, we wish much success on FCAT 2009,” she said.
Lady Chiefs Pickup Softball Win
March 10, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat West Florida High 10-0 in five innings Monday afternoon.
Shawna Montgomery had one RBI; Candice Greenwell had three. Aimiee Clark had 2 RBIs; and Miranda Burkett had one RBI.
Burkett pitched five innings for the Chiefs allowing two hits and no runs.
The Lady Chiefs are now 4-6 on the season, 0-1 in the district.
FCAT Round Two Begins Today
March 10, 2009
Round two of this year’s FCAT testing starts this morning morning in schools across North Escambia. Students in grades three through 10 will take the reading and math portions this week. Grades five, eight, and 10 will also take the science portion.
In a recent newsletter sent home to parents, Bratt Elementary offered several tips for parents and students for the all important FCAT test:
- Get a good night’s sleep before the test. Staying up late at night increases anxiety, which interferes with clear thinking.
- Eat for success. A hearty breakfast with seven to ten grams of fiber will keep your child from getting jittery from a sugar high, or later, bottoming out when the insulin goes up.
- Relax. If your child is too nervous, he/she may forget what he/she knows. Stretching and/or breathing deeply helps to focus the mind.
- Wear comfortable clothes. If your child is comfortable, he/she will be less distracted and better able to focus on the tasks given.
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water will help keep the body hydrated and alert.
- Don’t forget to give your child a big hug on test days. This will increase his/her sense of well-being and energy.
Students are not permitted to have any electronic device on their person or within reach during the test that reproduces, transmits, calculates or records. Prohibited items include cellphones. Any student who violates this policy will have his FCAT test invalidated.
If a student starts a test and leaves without finishing (for an appointment, illness, etc.), he/she will NOT be allowed to complete the test. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made once the student leaves the school’s campus.
If a student arrives at school after the test begins, he/she will not be admitted to the testing site. The student will be required to sit in the office until testing is finished for the day.
Thompson Road Brush Fire
March 9, 2009
(Updated 4:50 p.m.) Firefighters from Century and McDavid are battling a brush fire in the 400 block of Thompson Road this afternoon.
The fire was reported about 4 p.m. in a wooded area between Thompson Road and Canoe Creek, near the intersection of Crary Road.
Firefighters declared the fire to be under control at 4:50 this afternoon.
No structures were threatened by the fire.
Murder Suspect Commits Suicide Monday
March 9, 2009
The man police say is responsible for the Atmore murder of a 19-year old pregnant woman committed suicide Monday morning in Bay Minette.
Authorities say Ferrell Perdue, 44, of Bay Minette, apparently shot and killed himself in Chevrolet Silverado about 9 a.m. Monday at Dobbins Trailer Park in the Pine Grove community southeast of Bay Minette. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department says Perdue shot himself once in the head with handgun.
A capital murder warrant was obtained Friday against Ferrell Perdue, 44, of Bay Minette, in connection with the murder of 19-year old Marquetta A. Washington in Atmore last Thursday. Washington was pregnant.
Perdue was also charged with shooting Washington’s boyfriend, Tony Hudson, 26. Officials say he was shot in the chest at close range with a shotgun.
After the shooting at McRae Apartments in Atmore, Perdue reportedly drove to Bay Minette to the home of his mother where he told her what had happened. His mother told authorities he left after she said she was calling police.
Atmore Police received a domestic violence report from the apartment on McRae Street at 10:18 Thursday night. When they arrived, they found Washington dead in the bedroom and Hudson seriously injured in the living room/dining room of the ground floor apartment.
The apartment, belonging to Washington’s mother Alice Evans, had a broken front window. Police say broke out the window of the apartment using a child’s bicycle. He then shot Washington and Hudson at close range with the shotgun. Evans, who was at home at the time of the incident, escaped out of the broken window. She was unharmed.
Hudson was transported to Atmore Community Hospital and later transferred to the University of South Alabama Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
Atmore Police say the incident may have stemmed from a relationship gone bad between Evans and Perdue. She had tried to end the relationship, police said. Evans had filed a warrant against Perdue on February 23, but that warrant had not been served.
Pictured above: Police say Atmore murder suspect Ferrell Purdue commited suicide Monday morning. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Dense Fog Advisory
March 9, 2009
A dense fog advisory is now in effect until noon today.
Areas of dense fog over the northwest Florida Panhandle and the coastal portion of Baldwin County in southwest Alabama will dissipate during the mid morning hours.
A dense fog advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving slow down, use your headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. Allow a little extra time for your trip.
Educators Name February Students Of the Month
March 9, 2009
Students of the Month have been named in Escambia County for February.
The awards presented to two students from each participating school by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education to spotlight outstanding students.
Students of the month at North Escambia area schools are:
Jim Allen Elementary: Jonas A. Johnson, kindergarten; Kiauna A. Watson, kindergarten;
Molino Park Elementary: Joshua M. Coonrod, kindergarten; Tayler L. Bridges, kindergarten.
Ernest Ward Middle: Anna E. Fischer, seventh grade; Hannah E. Ziglar, eighth grade.Ransom Middle: Naiya R. Valdes, eighth grade; Audrey L. Freeman, eighth grade.
Northview High: Olivia M. Nolen, 11th grade; Patrick R. Garrison, 11th grade.Pictured above: Northview’s Students of the Month for February Patrick R. Garrison and Olivia Nolen. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Ernest Ward Holds Penny War To Send Two Local Veterans On Honor Flight
March 9, 2009
The students at Ernest Ward Middle School fought a “Penny War” to raise over $2,200 to send two local veterans on an upcoming Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
The Honor Flights take veterans on a one day trip to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials that stand in their honor.
“We had a lot of fun doing this,” said Ernest Ward teacher Janna Dickey. “And it was for a really good cause. We were honored to be able to raise money to honor two of our local veterans in this way.”
The 10-day “Penny War” was a competition between the 26 EWMS homerooms to collect the most pennies, but their penny count could be “bombed” with dollars and silver coins. The silver coins essential canceled out the pennies. In other words, a $1 bill dropped in a container with 100 pennies would cancel out the pennies for the class total.
“They had a lot of fun doing this. The collection jars were in the cafeteria, and the teachers would make a really big deal out of bombing the penny jar from another class,” Dickey said. “It really added to the competition.”
Mr. Wark’s homeroom raised the most money at $583.22 and was rewarded with a pizza party. The second highest total was Mrs. Spence’s homeroom with $269.03. The most pennies that counted were collected by Mrs. Dickey’s homeroom. Second was Mr. Gindl’s homeroom.
The next Emerald Coast Honor Flight is April 1. The Ernest Ward Middle sponsored veterans from our local area will be on a future flight to be announced at a later date.
If you are a veteran and would like to take an honor flight to Washington, visit www.emeraldcoasthonorflight.com for an application.
Emerald Coast Honor Flight is a non-profit organization honoring America’s veterans for their sacrifices. The program flies our heroes and their guardians from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington and Holmes counties to Washington, DC, to reflect at their memorials for a one day free visit. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – WW II survivors along with those other veterans that may be terminally ill.
The trip for the veterans is free; it is all paid for by sponsors and supporters.
The “Penny War” to support the Emerald Coast Honor Flight was a project of the Ernest Ward Middle School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
Pictured above: Bombs away! Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry bombs a class during the school’s Penny Wars to raise money for Emerald Coast Honor Flight. Pictured below: Penny War containers were placed in the cafeteria for 26 homerooms. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Need A Job? Census Bureau Needs North Escambia Employees; Learn More Tonight
March 9, 2009
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a recruitment meeting at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino at 7 p.m. today.
The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary employees to assist with next year’s census, but work will begin later this year.
Pay generally begins at $11 an hour for up to a 40 hour week.
A valid driver’s license is required for most positions. Additionally, the potential Census Bureau employee must pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen, pass a written test of basic skills and have a valid social security number.
Census Bureau hires locally because local residents are knowledgeable about their neighborhood and familiar with the community, its residents, and its local customs, according to their web site.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in the Aldersgate Café.
If you are unable to attend tonight’s meeting, don’t worry. A second meeting will be held on March 23 at 7 p.m. also at Aldersgate.
Workshop Tonight To Address North Escambia Growth
March 9, 2009
If you want to help to plan the growth of a portion of the North Escambia area, there’s a meeting Monday night for you.
The Escambia County Long Range Planning Division will hold an Optional Sector Plan Overlay District workshop Monday night at 6:30 at Ransom Middle School, 1000 W. Kingsfield Road.
The Optional Sector Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project that will incorporate road networks, schools, parks, and commercial and residential projects. Representatives will be on hand to discuss any issues, answer questions, and receive ideas for creating a unified sector plan.
For more information, please visit the Planning and Zoning web pages at www.myescambia.com or contact Eva Peterson, project manager at (850) 595-3475.