Pancake Dinner Raises Over $7,250 To Benefit Family Critically Injured In Wreck
March 5, 2022
Friday night’s “Grace for the Grants” pancake dinner at Byrneville Elementary School raised over $7,250 to benefit a local family injured in a car crash.
The community turned out in a big way for the pancake plates that were complete with sausage or bacon and drink. The event directly raised $4,754, and Modern Woodman donated another $2,500.
All proceeds will benefit the Grant family. In January, Brian Grant and his three children were critically injured in a traffic crash on Highway 31 in the Wawbeek community between Atmore and Flomaton. The wreck also claimed the life of another driver.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Very Special Mardi Gras Parade (With Photo Gallery)
March 5, 2022
A very special Mardi Gras parade was held Friday morning for the special needs students of Escambia Westgate School.
With plenty of beads, trinkets and smiles, the parade rolled through the school parking lot for students that might not otherwise be able to attend a regular Mardi Gras parade.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos courtesy ECSO, Escambia Westgate and Kevin Adams for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Students Prepare 60,000 Meals Of Hope (With Photo Gallery)
March 4, 2022
The Tate High School FFA and volunteers will worked Thursday morning to package about 60,000 meals for the community.
They exceeded their goal of feeding 50,000 with the Meals of Hope project.
All the packaged meals will be distributed to families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pictured: Tate High FFA students and volunteers work assembly line fashion to package 60,000 meals Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UWF Argos Football Team Reads To Pine Meadow Elementary Students
March 3, 2022
Members of the University of West Florida Argos football team read books to students Wednesday at Pine Meadow Elementary School.
Wednesday was National Read Across America Day, an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
The Pine Meadow Panthers were very excited to listen to the stories and lessons from the players.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Literacy Night Promotes Reading Fun
March 2, 2022
Bratt Elementary School held a Family Literacy Night Tuesday evening.
Principal Amy McCrory welcomed families into the cafeteria where they were served a light dinner. A presentation of Dr. Seuss’, The Cat in the Hat, was given by Elisabeth Ward, Mandi Carter, and Pam Trice.
Families were then directed to the multi-purpose room where every student received a free book and game from their teacher. Parents received a copy of their child’s most recent test data.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Students and families also had the chance for fun pictures in a photo booth.
The event was organized by Shonna Gilmore, Bratt Elementary School media specialist.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
STARBASE Pensacola Opens To Escambia County Students
March 2, 2022
A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday to official open STARBASE Pensacola at the National Flight Academy onboard NAS Pensacola.
STARBASE is a Department of Defense program that allows fifth grade students from Title I schools in Escambia County to have a place to learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related topics.
Students from Brentwood Elementary School were the first class to arrive Tuesday.
The STARBASE Pensacola director and instructors worked with Escambia County School District to develop a customized curriculum from a large offering of peer-reviewed learning opportunities in each STEM area such as Newton’s Laws and Bernoulli’s principle, robotics, coding, rocketry and 3D printing. Students will also be introduced to Computer Aided Design (CAD) to design space stations, all-terrain vehicles, and submersibles.
Additional programs will also be available at STARBASE Pensacola for students not at Title I schools outside of the traditional school schedule, such as during the summer. Additional details will be released on those programs.
Beulah Middle FFA Hosts Virtual Field Trip For About 300 Fifth Graders
February 28, 2022
Last Friday, the Beulah Middle School FFA hosted a virtual field trip for local fifth graders.
In the past, their FFA members have visited jus one local elementary school and talked about the Beulah farm. But, due to COVID last year, their chapter decided to take the field trip virtual. It was through this experience that they realized they were able to impact a lot more students by providing a virtual experience.
This year, instead of opening it up to just one school, they opened the field trip up to all of their feeder schools. Over 330 students joined in on the virtual field trip.
“The FFA members seriously knocked it out of the park today with their “virtual field trip” of the agriculture land lab. It was engaging, so informative, and downright fun,” said Leanne Jenkins, Beulah Middle agricultural educator and FFA advisor.
At the end of the presentation, elementary students were able to ask questions about agriculture, the program, and middle school.
“It was an amazing learning experience and highly enjoyed by all. FFA members are hoping to be able to expand their audience each year,” Jenkins added.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cuteness Overload: New Baby Goat Born At Ernest Ward Middle School
February 27, 2022
Isn’t this just total cuteness overload?
Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill welcomed a new baby goat.
The little boy was born about 10 a.m. We are told he does not have a name yet, but we’ll you know when he does.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward FFA Presents ‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ To Teacher Robin McCall
February 25, 2022
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Robin McCall received the annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA Thursday morning. The award features a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color and mounted on a board painted in school colors.
McCall received the award during National FFA Week as a “thank you” for supporting FFA.
(Cow dung, in case you didn’t know for sure, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100% real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece is actually the original award piece created and painted in 2009.)
The Ernest Ward FFA students also held an appreciation breakfast for teachers and other staff members.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Visit Tallahassee On Annual Youth Tour
February 23, 2022
When Northview High School junior Drake Driskell sat on the floor of the Florida Senate for a mock bill debate, appreciation for the Youth Tour experience sank in. As he took in the room from the perspective of a state lawmaker, he realized what a unique opportunity he had been given.
“That was probably my favorite part because we got to see what it’s like to be a senator,” Driskell said. “I may never get to do that again. I would definitely recommend it to any student who is interested.”
Driskell was one of seven local high school students who attended the Florida Electric Cooperatives 2022 Tallahassee Youth Tour, thanks to Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Each student applied and was chosen based on their GPA and a written essay.
Students toured the Challenger Learning Center, held a mock bill debate on the floor of the Florida Senate and a mock trial in the Supreme Court, and visited the Museum of Florida History.
Central High School student Taylor Baggett was unable to attend last year as a junior due to COVID-19; however, was afforded the opportunity to participate as a senior this year. Baggett participated as a judge in a Supreme Court mock trial.
“It was so interesting how people come together to fight for causes and to be able to enjoy this experience with other students from around Florida made it that much better,” Baggett said. “I believe that it’s very important for students like us to be involved in politics and our government.”
All of the Florida electric cooperatives select the youths from their local high schools to attend the Youth Tour, and all expenses are paid by the sponsoring electric cooperative.
“Through attending the tour, young people learn about government, and about their local electric cooperatives and the role they play in their communities,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “It’s very important that we have these young leaders in our community learning to use their voice for what they are passionate about.”
Pictured top: Students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties visit with Rep. Michelle Salzman during the Tallahassee Youth Tour. Pictured below: Central High School student Taylor Baggett participates as a judge in a mock trial at the Florida Supreme Court. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
