Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida collects pull tabs instead of entire aluminum cans because the tabs are pure high-quality aluminum. West Glades School has set a goal this year to collect 100 gallons of pull tabs and has just reached 40 gallons. Students are working hard to collect tabs and will be continuing throughout the year. You can help them reach their goal and save tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House.
West Glades School participated in Celebrate Literacy Week during the week of Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. A highlight of the week was the friendly competition between classes to be the first to identify the title of a book after hearing a short clue. On Thursday, students wore pajamas to “Snuggle Up With a Good Book” and the entire school participated in DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) for 15 minutes. On Friday, all students were able to select a new book to take home.
BELLE GLADE — Mrs. Zavala, S.T.E.A.M. co-teacher and Garden Club sponsor, has been working with kindergarten through sixth-grade students during classes to introduce them to robotics and coding. This includes teaching algorithms (a set of rules for accomplishing a task in a certain number of steps). Kindergarten and first-graders created algorithms to sequence the events in the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear. The students in second through sixth grades learned to use algorithms to create steps to complete individual game boards.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/GES
Kindergarten and first-graders created algorithms to sequence the events in the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
In addition to number codes, all students have been learning how to use black lines and color codes drawn in patterns to design pathways for small robotics called Ozobots. Step by step instructions were given to allow students to practice creating the codes correctly so that the Ozobots could move at different speeds, directions, and perform elaborate movements.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/GES
The students in second grades learned to use algorithms to create steps to complete individual game boards.
Other robots were used to create model recreations of habitats of endangered Everglades animals. Students worked in small groups to set up scenes of sea turtles nesting and hatching. In addition, scenes were also set up to show food chains. Other scenes showed examples of dangers that animals, such as manatees and sea turtles, face that are caused by humans. Connecting robotics and science standards has helped engage the students and make academic connections.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/GES
The students in sixth grades learned to use algorithms to create steps to complete individual game boards.
Mrs. Zavala’s STEAM class was recently visited by staff from Palm Beach Education Foundation, which provided funding through the Go Teach Grant program to cover costs of the classroom set of Ozobots used by all our students during STEAM classes. It has been a successful seven weeks filled with lots of fun and learning. The robots will continue to be used to reinforce literacy, math and science content in other STEAM units.
Kuddos to Mrs. Zavala for doing such an amazing job engaging the students in today’s technology.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/WTEC
In recognition of Florida Manufacturing Day, the students from the Mechatronics Academy at West Technical Education Center, in Belle Glade, received a personal tour of Tellus and the Sugar Co-Op. This visit afforded the students an opportunity to see the practical application of the advanced manufacturing and robotics concepts that they are learning in the program. Lunch was provided by their hosts. Thank you for the informative and enlighten experience! Pictured are: (front row) Gariq Bryant, Jakovey Momprevil, Ariel Betancourt, Naphthalie Gustin, Jasser Bochs, O’Jai Bell, Edwin Alarez, (back row) Dr. Charlene R. Ford (principal) Wildjeff Lamy, Derrick Saddler, Ernesto Suarez, Melvin Weston, Daniel Camejo, Douby Alerte (Mechatronics Academy instructor), Aelxis Morales, and Cosha Jackson (assistant principal).
MOORE HAVEN — Gloria Dean Reese feels as though she was moved by God and her faith to bring her perspectives on education to a loftier perch. Her outlook will be especially fresh as one of the five people sitting in charge of the public schools and the newest face on the Glades County School Board.
Mrs. Reese is a Moore Haven native who attended the segregated Booker T. Washington School in Washington Park as she was growing up in the 1950s and ’60s but was moved to and graduated from Moore Haven High School when integration was imposed here in 1967. “Miss Dean” (as she’s become affectionately known around town) learned about schooling and discipline over the decades she worked in the public schools, from a position probably much different from that of her four women colleagues on the school board.
Her own upbringing and education are quite unique, fused as they were through the realities of a different time and an even smaller rural place than it is today, not to mention the maelstrom over segregation when she was a girl and then integration as she entered adulthood. Her mother, father and siblings all were field workers as she was growing up.
Lake Okeechobee News/Chris Felker
Glades County School Board member Gloria Reese was wrapping up Christmas gifts the day of a chat at her Moore Haven home.
“We worked in the fields. I would say we were the real migrants because we traveled from state to state to work, and that’s how we made our living,” she explained. “And I continued to do that, working in the fields until maybe 1969. If you eat it, I’ve picked it,” she said.
It was an interesting way to grow up, she said, but added: “You know, when I was younger, I didn’t realize I was poor. We had clothes to wear, food to eat, a bed to sleep in. I thought everybody lived the same way. We had outdoor plumbing, but so did everyone else in the community. I didn’t realize we were poor people until I think I was in my 20s.”
That was when she stopped field work for a time and went to toil in the school cafeteria kitchen; “started there as a dishwasher, because they used real plates!” She says she worked there for a long time until applying for a job as a teacher’s aide. Miss Dean got it and, she says, “worked there for years and years.” After another field job and returning to the B&B Grocery where she’d labored part-time as a young girl, she was back at the schools for a spell as a substitute.
She took a few college classes, she said, “but my life was busy. It was more of raising my children, and trying to make a living. And then we couldn’t; after the children were born, we didn’t have the money to do that. Her husband, Dean, was a semi-trailer truck driver for 35 years.
One year, “Linda Taylor, who was superintendent then, came and asked me if I wanted to learn to drive a school bus. I said, ‘Sure!’” At the time she had a chauffeur’s license so they trained her, and “I drove a bus for maybe 20 years or better.”
She said her experiences being able to enforce discipline with the kids’ parents helped her establish a firm authority. “I’m a good disciplinarian, so I had no problems getting sub jobs,” she related. Eventually, she ended up putting an application in for lunchroom manager, and Scott Bass, who’s now superintendent, hired her.
Her school board run “was just a fluke,” she said. Someone suggested that she ought to. “I laughed and said, not me!” But “that hit a spark or something, and I just thought, ‘Why not?’” She went and got the papers. “So I looked at them and I thought, ‘Ah, you can’t do that.’ So I thought I’d say me a prayer. I got to the Scripture that says, ‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.’ And I filled out those papers and I took them back.”
Then she thought, “Uh-oh, now I got to put up signs and talk to people, which is no problem. Cause I know ’em all. I had their children, I had their grandchildren, I had their great-grandchildren and their great-great-grandchildren.” Either they passed through when she was working in the cafeteria or as a bus driver.
Mrs. Reese gained her seat outright in this year’s election cycle when no one else filed to run for the District 4 board seat. It was a surprise to her at the time, but now she thinks it’s awesome. It said something to her about her place in the community, she says. “I thought, ‘How well I’m liked among every constituent in this county,’ that nobody wanted to run against Miss Dean.”
Her faith is what makes her tick, she said. And wanting to pass along life lessons.
“In order to learn, you have to go through something, you have to strive. And so, I’m hoping something I’ll do in these four years will touch some young person’s heart to say, ‘If Miss Dean could do it, I could at least try.’”
She likes the group on the board and has known many on school staff including Mr. Bass for years. “It’s five of us ladies now. We’re good together. We talk like we’re all adults and we’re ladies, and we’ve all got the same goal. I think we’re going to do good together.”
As for Mr. Bass, he said: “I am thrilled that she is on the board. And, to me, it’s … about what she brings to the position. She sees things in a different light. She’s just a wonderful, good-hearted, Christian person, and I’m really looking forward to working with her.”
BELLE GLADE — At Gove Elementary, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives in each of them and they are proud to promote, teach and live the American Dream. Students have been reading and writing about Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s life to recall the influential actions he made to change the world. Gove Elementary will always remember his hard work.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/GES
Members of the Baton Club at Gove Elementary School.
Each year, on the third Monday in January, they participate in the celebration of his birthday by being a part of the local parade. This year, Gove included members of the Baton Club to participate in the parade. Gove is very grateful to their business partner, Plattner’s Belle Glade Chevrolet Cadillac Buick, for continuously providing a vehicle so they can participate in this wonderful event. GES thanks their school principal Kim Thomasson, Baton Club sponsor Mrs. Smith-Mosley, and all the participating students!
Upcoming Events…
• Feb. 16: Saturday 3-6 Grade Tutorial from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
• Feb. 21: ARTS4ALL at Dolly Hand from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Feb. 22: Reading Counts Celebration at 8 a.m.
• Feb. 23: Saturday 3-6 Grade Tutorial from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
• Feb. 27: Wear Pink Day – Be Kind to One Another
• Feb. 28: K-5 Grade Report Cards Go Home
Clubs:
Mondays:
Student Council from 2:40 to 3:20 p.m.
Art Club from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Baton from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesdays:
Sixth Grade Study Hall from 2:45 to 4 p.m.
Fuel-up Club from 2:40-3:30 p.m.
Steel Band from 2:35 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays:
SECME from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.
Thursdays:
Multicultural Dance Club from 2:40-3:30 p.m.
Garden Club from 2:40-3:40 p.m.
Steel Band from 2:35 to 4 p.m.
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/Gove
Visit our Web Site: https://goves.palmbeachschools.org
West Glades School’s Bingo for Books took place on Oct. 9. Parents and their children were invited to the school to play bingo together and hear some great reading tips from teachers. There were 92 people representing 34 families who came out for a fun evening to play bingo together, and each child who attended received two free books. Thanks to all the parents who took time from their busy schedules to come get information on how to help their children become better readers.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News
The Hendry Country schools announced Miguel Rodriguez as the 2019 School Related Employee of the Year. Mr. Rodriguez has been employed by the Hendry County School District as a network technician for one year. He is responsible for providing hardware and software support to all the schools and departments in the district. He has a friendly personality and goes out of his way to resolve computer issues for teachers and staff. Mr. Rodriguez is a team player and consistently provides support wherever it is needed. It speaks volumes of Mr. Rodriguez’s work ethic to receive this honor in his first year of employment. Pictured from left are Superintendent Paul Puletti, winner Miguel Rodriguez, Hendry County School Board member Amanda Nelson, School Board Chairman the Rev. Dwayne Brown, School Board Member Stephanie Busin and Director of IT Leslie Mathis
Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida collects pull tabs instead of entire aluminum cans because the tabs are pure high-quality aluminum. This is a simple way to recycle and help the Ronald McDonald House, where they provide a home away from home for the families of seriously ill children. All dollars raised are put 100 percent back into the direct operations of the local house in Fort Myers. West Glades School students are collecting these tabs and have already collected 15 gallons. They will be collecting these tabs all year long, so please continue to save tabs for any WGS student to support them as they continue to Pay It Forward to others.
These are students who raised their grades by at least one letter grade in two subjects with out going down in any.
Kindergarten through second grade students: Joel Orduna, Jil Gomez, Cory Waldron, Luis Felipe Garcia, Matthew Delgado, Jaime Gomez, Brantley Sanders, Daisy Carlos, and Andrea Madrid.
Third through fifth grade students: Brittany Kats, Jessa Bird, Kimberlym Barrios, Thomas Gran, Angel Cuacua, Nathalin Garcia-Otero, Luis Gamez, Allison DeSantiago, Carlos Ochoa, Leanna King, Abner Aguas, Karen Barrios-Lopez. and Tyler Mudge.
Sixth through eighth grade students: Lainee Aguilar, Samantha Cruz, Alexandra Rojasm, Shana Townsend, Logan Alexander, Nicholas Battams, Enrique Mendoza, Nicholas Santiago, Ryan Rodriguez, and Monica Martinez.
West Glades School announces their honor roll students for the second semester of the 2018/2019 school year.
A Honor Roll
• First grade: Andrea Gaytan, Cassi Hendry, Jace Kennedy, Cole Martin, Keira Moore, Jaiden Moreno, Cason McCulley, Giovanni Cuacua-Vazquez, Parker Dillman, Harper Hatfield, Cheyenne Kats, Aubree Kersey, Ava Meyer, Alana Ross, Legend Thigpen, Andrea Madrid, Natalee Robbins, Hayden Platt, Teddy Caldwell, John Dupree, Rhett Fulford, Milah Gonzalez, Noah Gunn, Anderson Jones, Noah Sandoval and Reina Tyson.
• Second grade: Jaxon Williams, Yahaira Aguas-Rodriguez, Aiden Gonzalez, Jacob Jordan, Colt Meyer, Charlotte Nelson, Matthew Rodriguez, Reid Sewell, Alondra Villeda-Perez, Brody Black, Hastin Bryant, Israel DeSantiago, Jaime Gomez, Jordy Hernandez, Fate Johnson, Estrella Reyes and Addison Worley.
• Third grade: Nolan Jones, Donald Berden, Xantarrah Gregorio, Trinity Guerry, Victor Guzman, Ayslin Trejo-Munive, Kylee Carmo, Tyler Davidson, Landra Oxer, Abbie Reinking, Blake Sewell, Cora Dorn, Maeley Lavender, Esbeidy Trejo-Leal, Morgan Corbitt, Kamdynn Lynn, Evan Romero and Gracie Spencer.
• Fourth grade: Hayne Fulford, Laeda Middleton-Lewis, Alexsander Jimenez, Ahlai Chavez, Marcos Villafuerte, Valerie Flores, Valeria Serrano, Elliot Cruz, Eivrynne Gregorio, Dominic Lopez, Isai Mendoza, McKenna Moore, Joshua Myrtil-Pierre, and Natalie Zuniga.
• Fifth Grade: Payton Crews, Victor Pequeno, Samuel Salazar-Ramos, Valerie Zuniga, Emma Dyess, Daisy Flores, Gabriella Williamson, Teagan Dobson, and Venus Pegueros.
• Sixth grade: Riley Curtis, Gavin Gonzalez, Carli Hendry, Zaira Moreno and Alex Nelson.
• Seventh grade: Mark Abrego, Zoie Gregorio, Gavin Johnson, Karla Marines, Ryan Rodriguez and Emily Salazar.
• Eighth grade: Kaydence Tindall.
A/B Honor Roll
• Kindergarten: Jacob Chis, Jaritza Escobedo, Jude Light, Brody Ludington, Isabella Myrtile-Pierre, Rhys Roof, Alin Villeda, Shelby Warn, Triston Steller, Jeremiah Branch, Julian Ramirez, Elijah Murray, Avah Gonzalez, Dennis Lewis, Emma Meyer, Lyneah Rua, Lee Overbee, Cory Waldron, Jesus Escobedo, Kimberly Trejo, Lylah Oxer, Citlaly Alvarez, Macy Corbitt, Jacob Cortes, Ronnie Jo Henderson, Weston Lavender, Kenley Roberts, Bella Riley, Kayden Capling, Jacob Jones, Alexia Deras, Dawson Barnes, Hallie Matthews, Cooper Smith, Omar Garay-Ortiz, Angelique Gonzalez, Joziah Guerrero, Reynaldo Perez-Perez, Andrew Reinking and Isaac Zuniga.
• First grade: Aaron Alcarez, Melissa Gomez-Perez, Gavin Jackson, Bryan Juarez Alonso, Leland Pascual, Adrian Perez, Timothy Santizo-Soto, Jackson Beer, Leah Cantu, Andrea Hernandez-Yesca, David Maciel, Wyatt Miller, Brystal Voorhees, Gabriella Calero, Alexis Casiano, Alejandra Chavez, Ivan Gonzalez, Joel Orduna, Bradyn Chadwick, Kaylee Dana, Izleigh Deleon, Jackson Johnson, Fabian Lozano, Landon Oakes and Makenzie Kats.
• Second grade: Anna Cahuich-Orellana, Mathew Calero, Raul Martinez-Chavez, Sophia Mora-Gomez, Nathan Molina, Delilah Murray, Madison Phillips, Koby Waldron, Jayna Williamson, Zachariah Brown, Matthew Delgado, Aundraya Fortune, Beharry Maldonado, Keltie O’Donnell, Natali DeSantiago, Jullien Lopez, Coy Murray, Chantel Polanco, Tristen Smith, Hank Simmons and Sadie Pelletier.
• Third grade: Colton Dorn, Dakota Herrold, Reese Johnson, Steven Cruz-Santiago, Ashlyn Summeralls, Sierra Townsend, Daniela Gomez, Carlos Aguilar, Juan Molina-Hernandez, Reese Pool, Emma Reinking, Dakota Derrick, Allison DeSantiago, Angelina Gallegos, Carlos Ochoa, Armani Perez-Johnson, Scarlett Smith, Reese Tyson, Julissa Deras, Caleb Gonzalez, Aislin Moore, Josivan Morales-Hidalgo, Valentina Pegueros, Mason Stafford, Gwyneth Williamson, Kimberlyn Barrios, Andrea DeSantiago, Dylan Dupree, Stetson Stokes and Brock Williams.
• Fourth grade: Brianna Godinez, Sarai Guerra, Caitlin Drabant, Valerie Sandoval, Perla Guzman, Emily Garcia, Troy Urbanowski, Julio Flores, Julio Hernandez, Micah Ross, Brandon Herrold, Kaison Romero, Abbie Aguilar, Brody Barnes, David Chis, Paola Garcia, Analy Guerra, Haylee Kats, Clayton Lynch, Daysi Martinez, Charles Obern and Damaris Perez.
• Fifth grade: Karen Barrios-Lopez, Erik Juarez, Giselle Melgoza, Tyler Mudge, Joanna Ochoa, Stephanie Pereyra-Aguilar, Reston Stokes, Heath Williams, Josue Cervantes, Ashley Cruz, Moriah English, Oscar Hernandez, Merary Penate, Paytton Gunn, Tylee Jones, Neri Mendez-Lopez, Kylie Murawski, Jasmine Noguez, Jackson White, Aleida Aguirre, David Brana, Breanna Chellis, Joellen Erskin, Michala Lowes, Zael Moreno, Lorena Ramirez and Emanuel Santiago.
• Sixth grade: Lainee Aguilar, Isabella Alexander, Logan Alexander, Emorie Anderson, Brooke Black, Julissa Casiano, John Cruz-DeSantiago, Samantha Cruz-Munoz, Jennalyn Davidson, Elena Deras, Jack Dillman, Abigail Hicks, Landon Kinney, Kaelyn Murray, Ty Murray, Uriel Orduna, Tate Oxer, Myah Pequeno, Madison Reed, Alexandra Rojas, Omar Sanchez-Guevara, AnaKaren Sandoval, Mallory Saxon, Jenna Stockwell, Lawton Thigpen, Jadiel Thompson and Shana Townsend.
• Seventh grade: Ismael Alonso-Juarez, Brady Bass, Marissa Burchard, Brilyn Capling, Taylor Cochran, Brooke Collins, Stephanie DeSantiago, Heather Diaz, Ethan Drabant, Maria Gaytan, Natalie Guzman, Jenna Hampton, Makenzie Herrera, Alana Kelley, Vanessa Marcotte, Monica Martinez, Mia Pegueros, Carmen Perez, Brylee Perkins, Alexis Ramirez-Trejo, Roselin Rodriguez, Rolando Sandoval, Nicolas Santiago, Landon Thigpen, Araceli Villeda, Brenann White and Grace Williamson.
• Eighth Grade: Saul Carlos-Vasquez, Katelyn Chadwick, Jessica Chis, David Davis, Angeleigh Diaz, Joshua Green, Madison Kinney, Mikayla Lozano, Mandi Marbry, Sandi Marbry, Alisah Obern, Mya Pagan, Juan Carlos Patricio, Daniel Reyes, Bruce Santiago, Thomas Saxon, Lesly Serrano and Luis Villeda.
West Glades School (WGS) joined the district in collecting supplies for the Hurricane Michael relief effort during the week of Oct. 22. In just three days, students, parents and staff were able to collect needed supplies that were transported to North Florida to help those recovering from the hurricane. WGS is happy to Pay It Forward to others in need when the school can.
In an effort to increase the safety of local schoolchildren, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office and the Okeechobee County School Board have decided to participate in the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, which was included in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Safety Act in March 2018. Participation in the program is voluntary, but if the school district chooses to participate, each guardian must be given a minimum of 132 hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training, pass psychological evaluation, submit to and pass drug tests and complete certified diversity training.
According to the press release issued by the Florida Senate, classroom teachers are ineligible to participate in the program. Sheriff Noel E. Stephen explained the reason teachers are not eligible is because they would have to leave their students unattended in the event there was an active shooter emergency, and this would be unacceptable. Because of this, in a school system with approximately 1,500 employees, only about 200-300 would qualify. Sheriff Stephen hopes to have several guardians in each school by the time they finish the training program, and these guardians will act as built-in backups for the school resource officers.
The guardian program is named for assistant football coach Aaron Feis, who was killed during the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when he pushed a student out of the path of gunfire and shielded several students with his own body. Seventeen people were killed on that horrible day one year ago Thursday, and the goal of the guardian program is for a tragedy like that never to happen again.
The identities of the guardians will be known only to the sheriff’s office and the principals of the schools where the guardians work, and they will continue to work in their normal positions. Each guardian will receive a one-time, $500 stipend from funds allocated by Gov. Ron DeSantis for the program, but after that, any costs will be paid for by the volunteer or by the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Stephen explained all volunteers were put through interviews, a criminal background check, psychological testing and drug testing prior to beginning training. He and Training Supervisor Sgt. Michael Hazellief determined it would be best to do firearm training before continuing to other areas because if the candidates cannot meet the high standards set in the firearm training, there is no point in working on the other areas. Sheriff Stephen said a guardian must pass the firearms training at an 85percent pass rate — the same rate required to become an instructor — while a deputy may pass with an 80 percent pass rate.
The guardian training will include a total of 145 hours in a variety of firearm instruction, active shooter instruction, legal liability instruction, defensive tactics instruction and diversity training. The guardians are also required to take a 16-hour precision pistol course not required for deputies. In addition, guardians in Okeechobee County will be required to be requalified every quarter after they complete their firearm training, although the state requirement is only for yearly qualification.
“I’m responsible when that bullet leaves that muzzle,” said Sheriff Stephen. “I want them trained right.”
Sgt. Hazellief said the training they do on the computer is so realistic now, you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourself. It enables them to put the trainees through more realistic scenarios than the pop-out targets from back in the day. “The guardians are all taking it very seriously,” he said. “They are willing to give their lives to protect our children, which we commend them for.” Sgt. Hazellief has children in the Okeechobee school system and said, “We don’t put people in schools who don’t meet the standards.” He said what some people don’t realize is that the sooner a shooter is engaged, the sooner he can be stopped.
Sheriff Stephen said in order to implement this program, the sheriff’s office and the school district had to agree, and of the 67 counties in Florida, Okeechobee is one of only about 20 that have chosen to place guardians in their schools.
“I’m proud to stand behind this program,” Sgt. Hazellief said. “The sheriff is setting the bar high. It’s not about people just wanting to carry a gun on campus. They all used the words ‘our kids’ or ‘my kids.’ It’s about protecting the kids.”
The Hendry County School District’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, Aarika Deerey, admits that school was always a challenge for her. “But I had many people by my side to help me succeed,” she says. Her family moved to LaBelle, from Louisiana, when she was in fourth grade.
“My fourth-grade teacher played a huge role in helping me adjust to being in a new school, town, and state. This was the year my family moved to LaBelle. My fourth-grade year was a hard year but she helped me feel very welcomed and work through the big change.” Aarika has now lived here for 23 years. Frank and Cathy Deerey, Aarika’s parents, were both teachers and are her biggest inspiration behind becoming the amazing teacher she is today.
Aarika Derry was named 2019 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year.
“What I love so much about both of them is their LOVE and PASSION for what they do,” she proudly stated. “They put God before everything. And this has set a huge example in my life.”Aarika Deerey attended the Baptist College of Florida and majored in Elementary Education and Missions, graduating in 2012. After graduating, she spent her first two years at Central Elementary School in Clewiston, and currently teaches Pre-K at Upthegrove Elementary School, where she has taught for th past five years. I asked Aarika what she loved most about teaching. She had this to say, “I love seeing my babies learn something for the first time. They get so excited and proud of themselves. More than anything I want them to believe in themselves.”
When asked what her favorite school activity was, she replied, “I love doing science with my students! They love to be scientists and to learn how different things work. I love seeing then discover new things through science. One of my favorite science projects I love to do with my students is Easter Egg Rockets.”
What’s a typical day in her classroom like? “In my class, we like to learn through play. We have morning circle time that is interactive. They sing, dance, read stories, count, and much more! We then go into morning centers. These centers include technology, hands-on activities, dramatic play, and small group time. After some recess play time, lunch and quick rest time we do the same thing in the afternoon with different activities.” I then asked Aarika Deery if she had a personal philosophy about teaching. Her response was, “I believe that all students that step into a classroom deserve to know that they are smart, safe and loved. These three concepts will help all children learn to believe in themselves more each day and know they can accomplish whatever they want to accomplish in that day as well as in their lives.
They should be able to feel safe and loved enough to express themselves and learn in ways they know best. This will enable them to be successful in school and in life. I believe it’s my responsibility as a teacher to make sure my students always feel smart enough to know success even when they make mistakes since experience is one of the greatest teachers. They must also know and feel safe. This helps them to have open minds to learn new things and try new things confidently. Finally, and perhaps the most important, I want them to know that they are loved and when they make those mistakes that they are going to make — it’s okay, and each day will begin with a fresh clean slate. When students feel smart, safe, and loved, they will take pride in working together to learn and become a team where they recognize that we are all teachers as well as learners.”
When looking towards the future, Aarika says she sees herself as a teacher, indefinitely, because she loves it so much. She would like to teach abroad, to underprivileged children. A few years back, she taught alongside other teachers in Africa and absolutely loved the experience and would love to go back someday.
For anyone who is thinking of becoming a teacher, she offered this advice, “I would tell them to go into it with their whole heart! Some days are very hard but it is also very life changing. Seeing children grow is very rewarding and life changing!”
She wanted to make sure to give a big thank you to her beloved Upthegrove Elementary School, “and all the administration, faculty, staff, and students for investing in me, believing in me, helping me learn and pushing me to be better on a daily basis. Each and every one of you are amazing and I could not have achieved this Honor without you! I’m blessed to have a wonderful school family,” and thank YOU, Aarika Deerey, for being such an awesome teacher!
LaBELLE — The 32nd annual 4-H/Tropicana Speech Contest was conducted at Central Elementary School on Jan. 19. There were 21 fourth- and fifth-grade speakers and nine sixth-grade speakers.
In the fourth and fifth grade divisions: First place was awarded to Elyonna Padillo from Westside Elementary School with her speech titled “Kids Disrespecting Adults.” Second place went to Eastside Elementary School’s Naomi Salinas with her speech titled “What It’s Like Being a Mexican Child.” Kaleb McLymont of Upthegrove Elementary School achieved third place with his speech titled “Sports Does Not Build Character.” Aryana Sigala of Upthegrove Elementary School took honorable mention with her speech titled “Youth Depression.”
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/UFL
Middle school winners front row left to right: Grazelyn Hyde, Jaylin Velasquez, Daylen Moss and Samantha Aragus. Back row: Kaydence Swanson, Hatton Kurtz, Sadler Soles, Madison Alford, MacKenzie Wills and Ms. Brookins.
The Judges Choice Awards in the fourth and fifth grade division were awarded to the following speakers: Most Humorous Award went to Garique Allen (CES), Alicia Taylor (COES) received the Most Educational Award, Harleigh Webber (COES) was honored with the Most Original Award, Best Presentation of a Serious Issue was awarded to Raquel Berazza (WES) and Most Inspirational went to Izabella Vallejo (CCS).
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/UFL
Elementary school winners front row left to right: Izabelle Vallejo, Raquel Berazza, Harleigh Webber, Alicia Taylor and Garique Allen. Back row: Mr. Busin, Elyonna Padillo, Naomi Salinas, Kaleb McLymont and Aryana Sigala.
In the sixth-grade division: Clewiston Middle School’s Madison Alford captured first place with her speech titled “My Koda Bear.” Second place was awarded to Sadler Soles of Clewiston Christian School with his speech titled “My True Inspiration.” Placing third was Hatton Kurtz of Clewiston Christian School with his speech titled “Dadventures.” Kaydence Swanson of LaBelle Middle School took honorable mention with her speech titled “Just an Illusion.”
The Judges Choice Awards in the sixth-grade division were awarded to the following speakers: Most Humorous Award went to Jaylin Velasquez (CMS), Gracelyn Hyde (LMS) captured the Most Educational Award, MacKenzie Wills (LMS) was honored with the Most Original Award, Daylen Moss (CCS) with the Best Presentation of a Serious Issue and the Most Inspirational Award went to Samantha Aragus (CMS).
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/UFL
Pictured is the 30 speakers who did a fantastic job in presenting their speeches.
The winners of the speech contest received a wooden plaque containing the 4-H/Tropicana Speech emblem sponsored by Tropicana Products, Inc. In addition to the plaques, first through third place winners were awarded cash awards in the amounts of $30, $20, and $10, respectively, sponsored by Hendry County 4-H. Furthermore, the first place winners received a scholarship to attend 4-H Camp Cloverleaf in Lake Placid, June 6-10, sponsored by Tropicana Products, Inc.
The winners of the Judges Choice Awards received trophies sponsored by Hendry County 4-H. To all of the 30 speakers, you did a fantastic job in presenting your speeches. To the school coordinators and teachers involved with the 4-H/Tropicana Speech Contest, you did an outstanding job in preparing your students for the school contest as well as for the county contest. Furthermore, thank you parents for getting your child to the competition and all the help you gave them. Many thanks to Mrs. Debra Cabrera, Mr. Frank Dowdle and Mr. Martin Espinoza for taking time from their busy schedules to serve as official judges. Finally, thank you to our sponsor, Tropicana Products, Inc., for making this event possible as well as to Mrs. Melissa Carter and the Hendry County School Board for allowing the contest to be held at Central Elementary School.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/Chris Felker
MOORE HAVEN — Members of the Clewiston High School band took part in the Chalo Nitka parade on Saturday morning, March 2.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/Chris Felker
Their ranks included one member of the wind instruments section who was in a wheelchair).
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/PBCSF
Deputy Kenneth Torrence, Glades Central Senior Ruth Dorce, Lt. Patricia Brown, Glades Central Senior Odieu Hiliare, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Glades Central Senior Tykese Butts, Lt. Emory Payne, Pahokee Senior Rodney Morris, Jr. and Deputy Michael LeStrange
BELLE GLADE/PAHOKEE — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation (PBCSF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2019 Youth Scholarship Program. Ten Palm Beach County high school seniors, all of whom were nominated by a sworn employee of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, will receive $2,500 scholarships for their freshman year of college. Each scholarship is renewable for up to four years of college or trade school. This is the fifth year of the program, and the Sheriff’s Foundation is committed to distributing $100,000 a year in scholarships!
PBCSF’s fifth class of scholarship winners:
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/PBCSF
Sheriff’s Foundation Chairman Rick Seymour, PBSO Lt. Emory Payne, Glades Central Senior Tykese Butts, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Event Chairman John Flanagan
• Tykese Butts, Glades Central Community High School, Fort Valley State University
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/PBCSF
Sheriff’s Foundation Chairman Rick Seymour, PBSO Lt. Patricia Brown, Glades Central Senior Ruth Dorce, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Event Chairman John Flanagan
• Ruth Dorce, Glades Central Community High School, Palm Beach State College
• Yahaira Fermin, Santaluces Community High School, Palm Beach State College
• Matthew Grabasch, Boynton Beach Community High School, Florida Institute of Technology
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/PBCSF
PBSO Deputy Kenneth Torrence, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Event Chairman John Flanagan and Glades Central Senior Odieu Hiliare
• Odieu Hiliare, Glades Central Community High School, Alabama A&M University
• Lowson Merilien, William T. Dwyer High School, Florida A&M University
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/PBCSF
PBSO Deputy Michael LeStrange, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Pahokee Senior Rodney Morris, Jr. and Event Chairman John Flanagan
• Rodney Morris, Jr., Pahokee High School, Valdosta State University
• Sonia Zoraida Rivera, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, University of Florida
• Ethan Williams, Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, Prairie View A&M University
• Kendall Willis, Royal Palm Beach Community High School, University of Florida
The students will receive their scholarships and be recognized at a luncheon on March 3 at noon at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Quote from Rick Seymour, Chairman of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation: “We are very excited about our Youth Scholarship Program … we received dozens of applications.
As a charitable organization, we want to give back to the community, and we feel there is no better way to do that than by helping deserving students further their education.”
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that helps underprivileged children through such programs as Shop with a Cop and Youth Scholarships. Their support for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office enhances deputy safety by subsidizing new equipment that might otherwise be unattainable.
In addition, the Foundation has provided great support for the K-9, Domestic Violence, and Gang Units, and they assist PBSO employees in times of need.
For more information about the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation, please visit PBCSF.org.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News
SES Students of the Week for Feb. 22
South Elementary School would like to congratulate its Students of the Week for the week of Feb. 18. In no particular order they are: Elaina Seder, Chayton Cornejo, Nicholas Kensel, Elliot Schwier, Ethan Sanchez, Addyson Lyng, Karina Garcia, Isabella Parada, Paisley Daschke, Kylie Morgan, Mackenzie Farrell, Blaine Rolen, Amy Hernandez, Wyatt Syples, Haylee Ricker, Hailey Michel, Markus Fisher, Hayden McCoy, Ariyanna Lopez, Briana Brown, Ragyn Mohney and Darlene Santillan. Some students are unidentified.
Special to the Lake Okeechobee News
SES Students of the Week for the week of March 4.
South Elementary School would like to congratulate its Students of the Week for the week of March 4. Pictured in no particular order are: Embree Rose, Tatiana Castillo, Zoe Stephens, Miguel Orduna, Mason Fox, Devin Lattimore, Weston Yates, Lyndon Botello, Jayla McElroy, Blaze Hegedus , Andrew Mills, Rachel Brady, Cindy Garcia, Annabelle Forrest-Martin, Gavin Dutton, Roxana Torres, Fabianne De Armas Lima, and Payton Kettler. Some children unidentified.
TALLAHASSEE — State Rep. Emily Slosberg, has introduced a bill to the Florida Legislature allowing districts to install cameras on school buses to record drivers illegally passing stopped buses. The districts would then have the option to use these videos to send citations to anyone who was filmed passing a stopped bus. The cameras would be installed on the stop signal arms and would record license plates of passing motorists after the arm is extended.
School Superintendent, Ken Kenworthy likes the idea of the cameras. “Something needs to be done. We definitely have a problem with people passing school buses,” he said.
Sheriff Noel Stephen is not against using the cameras, but he does feel there could be problems when it comes time to prosecute. “How will they determine who was driving?” He asked. It would be just like the red light camera situation where they have to send tickets to the registered owner of the vehicle who may or may not have been the one driving. The cameras are not infallible either. They don’t always get the numbers exactly right. They might think it’s a one when it’s the letter I, he explained. Tickets are being sent to the wrong people. Toll booths have the same problem. They end up fighting a lot of them in court.
Something needs to be done though, he said. He stopped a woman recently for passing a school bus. When he pulled her over, he said she had her three little boys securely buckled into the back seat. She was obviously a caring mother, and yet she had just blown past a school bus with the arm out as if she did not care at all. When he talked to her she said she didn’t even realize what she had done until he told her.
She was just paying attention to the road ahead of her and yet, was totally unaware of her surroundings. She cried, and he felt like she was sincerely contrite. He gave her a ticket for $300 which he knew she couldn’t afford, but somehow people have to learn to pay attention. “What if those were your boys crossing the street to get on the bus?” he asked her. “I don’t know,” she said. “If she didn’t know, who does?” he wondered.
A similar bill, Gabby’s Law, which reclassified the offense of passing a school bus on the right side from a non-criminal moving violation to a reckless driving offense, was introduced in 2012 by Sen. David Simmons, but by the time it made it past the Senate’s Transportation Committee, the authorization of cameras had been removed from the bill. That portion of the bill was removed at the request of Sen. Jeff Brandes, who has been a long time opponent of red-light cameras and believes they do not contribute to safety in any way, and they cause more accidents where they are present. Additionally, he states municipal and county governments use them as a way to fuel their budgets.
If the bill passes, it will go into effect in October.
