Step Up, Stand Out: Northview High Celebrates National FFA Week
February 23, 2009
Northview High School’s FFA along with FFA chapters across the nation will be celebrating National FFA Week through February 28 with a variety of activities.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme this year and more than half a million members around the nation will participate in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities.
The focus of National FFA Week is to tell America about the great opportunities available for youth in agriculture. From its beginnings in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization today reaches out to all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. From urban to rural schools, FFA is committed to developing character and leadership skills and preparing members for a lifetime of success in one of the 300 careers in agriculture.
FFA members are success-oriented students who are driven to achieve their goals and be the leaders of tomorrow. They stand out by recognizing the importance of being active in their schools and communities and are urged to step up when volunteers are sought, friendship is needed and leadership is required.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning, agricultural education and FFA are making a positive difference for members every day. FFA members have opportunities to attend national leadership conferences, develop a supervised agricultural experience project, learn life skills and serve their communities with civic engagement. They are our future engineers, scientists, teachers and producers. One of every five Americans is employed in the food, fiber and natural resources industries of agriculture, and FFA members are the future of these important industries.
Pictured above: Nearly 1,000 elementary students attend the annual Northview High FFA Food For America Program each year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Calendar Approved for 2009-10
February 21, 2009
The Escambia County School District has approved the school calendar for the next school year.
School will begin about a week later next year on August 24.
Fall Break will be a one day event, November 24, the day before the two-day Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday holiday.
The last day of school before the Christmas holidays will be Friday, December 18, and students will return on January 5, 2010.
The final day of school will be Friday, June 4, 2010.
Click here to view the final complete version of the 2009-2010 Escambia County school year calendar (printable pdf format).
Many Northview FBLA Students Place In District Competition
February 20, 2009
The FBLA from Northview High School participated in the 2008-2009 FBLA District I Competition recently at the University of West Florida. High schools from across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties partipated in the event.
Northview winners were:
- Business Calculations: Brett Hanks, 3rd; Ashley Snow, 4th.
- Business Law: Magen Weekly, 1st
- Business Math: Kayla Hall, 4th; Derrick Portis, 5th
- Business Presentation (team): Amber Holland, 1st; Samantha Merritt, 1st; Amie Sutton, 1st
- Business Procedures: Kinsey Hendrix, 3rd; Shaquaina Lewis, 5th
- Desktop Publishing (team): Alex McDonald, 4th; Megan Tharp, 4th
- Introduction to Business: Destiny Showers, 5th
- Introduction to Business Communication: Taylor Byrd, 2nd
- Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures: Heather Kite, 2nd
- Public Speaking I: Rebecca Dean, 2nd
- Public Speaking II: Zachary Lamb, 2nd
- Word Processing II: Alesha Copeland, 4th; Kayla Rentz, 5th
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Area Teachers Recognized For National Certification
February 18, 2009
Two North Escambia teachers were among the 23 honored last night by the Escambia County School Board for attaining National Board Certification.
Rebecca Hatch, a fifth grade teacher at Molino Park Elementary, recently received her certification.
Holley Driver, a Century resident and a music teacher at R.C. Lipscomb Elementary in Pensacola, received her certification as well. She is a former teacher at Molino Elementary and Byrneville Elementary.
The certification shows that Hatch and Driver have mastered high standards from from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are only 171 teachers in Escambia County with National Board Certification.
Principal Addresses Northview Needs, Accomplishments In Report
February 17, 2009
Local principals met in a round table discussion Monday to discuss the state of their schools.
In her one-page report, Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver highlighted some of Northview’s accomplishments this year in what was essentially a “state of the school” address.
Academically, the report highlight Northview’s improved FCAT scores from 2007 to 2008, and the school’s higher than district average on common placement tests.
Weaver also reported on several facility improvements and needs:
- A roofing project at the school has been completed. The roofing project was a result of Hurricane Ivan and later hurricane damage to the entire facility. The entire school received a new metal roof.
- The school theater received a new sound and lighting system.
- The weight room had experienced flooding during heavy rain, but that problem has been eliminated.
- The interior of the school has been repainted.
- Northview has received a renovation of the school’s track and surrounding areas, the first improvements to the track since it was installed 14 years ago. Material from the old track was used to create a parking area for cafeteria workers.
- Weaver applauded Escambia River Electric Cooperative for their work as a Northview Partner in Education. EREC provided the school with the equipment necessary to broadcast graduation from the gym to the theater for an overflow crowd last year, and they will provide the service again this year. EREC also provides satellite service for the school.
- Weaver’s report also stated that a new fieldhouse for the school has been delayed by budget cutbacks.
The principal’s round table report also addressed a couple of staffing issues at the school. Northview’s dean position has been elimated, and the school’s resource officer is no longer full time but now shared with Ernest Ward Middle School.
FCAT Writing Test Begins Today, A Look At North Escambia Schools
February 10, 2009
Today is big day for fourth, eighth and 10th-graders in North Escambia — it is the first day of the annual FCAT writing test for students in those grades.
The stakes are high at Bratt Elementary, Carver/Century K-8 School, Molino Park Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High School.
The FCAT scores are factored into a school’s grade assigned by the Florida Department of Education.
Many opponents to FCAT testing have cited poor socio-economic status as a reason for low for scores in schools. Details for each North Escambia school are below, along with the percentage of student that qualify for free or reduced price lunches and the percentage of minority students in the school.
Bratt Elementary has been an “A” rated school since 2001-2002 and was last year’s highest performing school in Escambia County. That was a drastic improvement from 1998-1999 when Bratt was ranked as a “D” school. At Bratt, 62 percent of the students take part in the free or reduced price lunch program, and 21 percent are classified as minority.
Carver/Century K-8 improved to a “B” last school year after being ranked as an “F” school in 2006-2007 and a “D” school three years prior. At Carver/Century, 93 percent recieve free or reduced price lunches, and 84 percent of the students are minority.
Byrneville Elementary has been ranked as an “A” school each year since 2002-2003, except for 2006-2007 when they slipped to a “B” ranking. At Bryneville, 56 percent receive free or reduced price meals, and 12 percent are minority.
Molino Park Elementary has been ranked as an “A” school by the state since 2003-2004. At Molino Park, 53 percent recieve free or reduced price meals, and 16 percent of the students are minority.
At Ernest Ward Middle School, the school has been rated as an “A” school for the past three school years, having improved from a “B” rating in 2004-2005 and a “C” rating in 2003-2004. At Ernest Ward, 50 percent of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, and 17 percent of the students are minority.
Northview High School improved to a “B” school last year school. Northview was ranked as a “C” school nine years prior. At Northview, 44 percent of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, and 22 percent of the students are classified as minority.
January Students Of The Month Named At Area Schools
February 2, 2009
Students of the Month have been named for January at schools across North Escambia by The Escambia Association for Administrators in Education.
Area Students of the Month are:
- Bratt Elementary: Jordyn A. Dionne, kindergarten; Peighton D. Dortch, fourth grade.
- Carver/Century K-8: Destiney P. Bradley, kindergarten; Jayden C. Jackson, kindergarten.
- Jim Allen Elementary: Brandon K. Curtis, first grade; Garrett P. Donalson, first grade.
- Ernest Ward Middle: Danielle S. Suggs, sixth grade; Justin L. Halteman, eighth grade.
- Ransom Middle: Megan T. Light, eighth grade; Nakeem D. Williams, eighth grade.
- Northview High: Clinton E. Davis, 11th grade; Kaitlyn N. Caraway, 11th grade.
Pictured above: January Students of the Month are Northview High School were Clint Davis (L) and Kaitlyn Caraway. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com
Ford Motor Company Awards Escambia, Santa Rosa Schools
January 28, 2009
The Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, has designated Escambia County and Santa Rosa County school districts as a Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Next Generation Learning Community (Ford PAS NGLC) at the Leadership Level, one of five in the country, at a Tuesday press conference.In selecting Escambia and Santa Rosa, Ford Motor Company Fund cited its success in increasing the number of students with access to career academies, which teaches academics through the lens of a career. Ford also applauded both districts’ strong partnerships with area businesses.
The Ford PAS NGLC Leadership Level is the highest education accolade given to communities by Ford Motor Company Fund. The Escambia and Santa Rosa communities have reached program requirements for developing a successful and sustainable career academy network through the development of a two-county multi-year master plan. Since being designated as a Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community in 2007,
Ford Motor Company Fund worked with both communities to provide technical assistance from a team of experts to help maximize their career academies by using the Ford PAS NGLC 12-Point Master Plan, which helps align career academies with future workforce and economic development trends.
As a part of this recognition, Escambia and Santa Rosa will have access to professional development for teachers and networking opportunities through Ford Motor Company Fund’s education initiative, Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS). Created in partnership with the Education Development Center, Inc., Ford PAS provides high school students with high-quality, interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. It enhances this curriculum by providing professional development for teachers and networking opportunities between communities using Ford PAS.
Sixty teachers from Escambia School District and Santa Rosa School District received Ford PAS professional development training in November. In addition, twenty Chamber businesses participated in a “Coordinated Learning Experience” session where they shared the training, education and skills needed by students for future success in their companies with these teachers.
The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is working with Escambia and Santa Rosa school districts to strengthen the career academy network for student and workforce readiness. This program ensures that the area has trained students to enter the workforce after high school in entry level positions with the option to continue their education at UWF or PJC.
Two Local StudentsPerform In All-County Band
January 27, 2009
Two North Escambia students performed Tuesday night in the 2009 All-County Instrumental Gala tonight at Pensacola High School. Taylor Brook, an Ernest Ward Middle School student, played the trumpet in the All-County Middle School Band. And Briana Halteman, a student at Northview High School, plaed the flute in the school district’s All-County High School Band.
Taylor and Briana are the only North Escambia students in the All-County bands.
This is not an honor to be taken lightly. The All-County honors bands perform in the Instrumental Gala that is sponsored by the Florida Band Masters Association. Students are allowed to audition for a seat in the band. The students’ audition is judged by local band directors that sit with their backs to the student so that the students are graded solely by their talent, technique and tone. Each student is required to play a prepared piece of music, five major scales in under two minutes, a chromatic scale and sight-reading – where the students have to play a random piece of music placed in front of them.
Charles Tucker serves as band director for both Northview and Ernest Ward. He worked to prepare both young ladies for their performances tonight.
In September, Taylor received the music and scales that are required to play at the auditions. She practiced and learned the music and in November, before the Christmas Break, Taylor went to Jim C. Baily Middle School for tryouts. More than 20 students auditioned for the trumpet section of the Honors Band, but there were only 16 positions available. After waiting for two days, Taylor received notice that she had passed the auditions and was now a member of the Honors Band.
After the Christmas break, Taylor attended weekly practices at Jim C. Bailey and Ferry Pass Middle Schools. On Monday, she was in an all-day practice with the other students at Ransom Middle School. She practiced for a half day Tuesday, and then returned Tuesday night for the concert.
“I am excited that I made All-County Band since it is my senior year,,” said Briana, who current serves as the Northview Tribal Beat’s Drum Major.
The conductors this year were Robert W. Smith of Troy University, directing the Middle School Honors Band; Don Snowden of Pensacola Junior College, leading the High School Honors Band; and Andra Bohnet of The University of South Alabama, conducting the Honor orchestra
Taylor is the daughter of Matthew and Connie Brook of McDavid. Briana is the daughter of Lyndon and Norma Halteman of McDavid.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School student Taylor Brook. Pictured bottom: Northview student Briana Halteman.
Carver/Century Closure Could Greatly Impact Byrneville Elementary
January 22, 2009
The impending closure of Carver/Century K-8 School could have a great impact on the future of Byrneville Elementary.
In this exclusive investigative story, NorthEscambia.com takes a look at the future of Byrneville’s charter school.
The facts are simple: Only about 44 percent of the students in the Carver/Century district actually attend the school. On the elementary level, 126 attend Carver/Century, 130 attend Byrneville Elementary and 32 attend Bratt Elementary. But where will the 126 elementary children at Carver/Century end up next year?
The official answer is Bratt Elementary, because Century will become part of Bratt’s district.
But Dee Wolfe–Sullivan, principal at Byrneville, feels like many parents and guardians may choose to send their children to her school rather than having them bused to Bratt. Byrneville Elementary is a charter school ran under district guidelines but under its own set of rules; those rules would allow Byrneville to accept Carver students.
“Some of those parents will want to enroll their children here,” Wolfe-Sullivan said. “But the issue becomes if we have room or not.”
There are currently 166 students at Byrneville, and the school only has a capacity of about 200. When accepting new students, priority would be given to siblings of current students, children of employees and students that reside in the old Byrneville Elementary district. Only after those children were admitted would the school be open to others.
“Depending on how may would want to attend, we might have to have a lottery of some kind to choose,” Wolfe-Sullivan said. “I don’t have room for all of them. We might be able to finance some modulars, building on or something.”
NorthEscambia.com presented a “what if” scenario to Wolfe-Sullivan. “What if the school board closed Carver/Century and then offered the Carver/Century facility to Byrneville Elementary?” we asked.
“We have not discussed the Carver/Century building, so I would have no comment at the present time,” she said.
“If parents want to send their child to Byrneville, we certainly welcome them,” Wolfe-Sullivan added. “We are a small school. Every teacher knows every child, and they know most of the families. It is a great atmosphere.”
The Byrneville principal also said that she wanted to be clear that she is not in favor of Carver/Century’s closing.
“It is a very upsetting situation. I feel that Century needs to have a school,” Wolfe-Sullivan said. “I am concerned people think Byrneville may have played a part in the demise of Century. That’s just not the case.”
She said that most Byrneville charter students originated from the original Byrneville district when the school gained charter status to avoid closure in 2002.
“We didn’t steal students from Carver/Century,” Wolfe-Sullivan said.
Pictured top: Byrneville Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan at lunch with a group of students. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.