Around the District

Stoneman Douglas Seniors Attend Ethics Seminar
One hundred and ten Stoneman Douglas seniors recently attended a seminar entitled, "Ethical Decision Making in the Work Place and Society." The seminar - which was sponsored by area businesses - utilized representatives from local businesses and municipalities as group facilitators to guide discussions. At the conclusion of the day, students were presented with a series of dilemmas to solve. Assistant Principal John M. Congemi organized the seminar - a first for Stoneman Douglas students. He had organized similar seminars for Western High School seniors for the past 13 years.

Panther Run Elmentary School students welcome their military pen-pals duringan assembly.

Panther Run
Students Meet
Pen Pals
When Jenna Banks was a fifth grade student at Panther Run Elementary School last year, she started sending letters to servicemen and women serving in Iraq. Soon, her entire school joined in the letter-writing campaign. More than a year later - and after Jenna had moved on to middle school - the students of Panther Run Elementary finally had an opportunity to meet their military pen pals. Sgt. Adam App, Sgt 1st Class William Clark, Staff Sgt. Walter Brown and Sgt. Eric Jackson visited the school and were treated to poems and songs during an assembly. Jenna was able to return to Panther Run for the program. The students asked the servicemen questions about their time in Iraq and the men took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

Hispanic Outreach Initiative Attracting Parents
to PTA
The last in a series of Hispanic outreach efforts for the school year took place at the 16th Annual Hispanic Fest in Hollywood. Volunteers staffed a booth at the event, distributed information about Broward County PTA groups and addressed questions about the organization. Organizers of this effort included Kathy Rayson, President, Broward County Council of PTA; Linda Alber, Parent Mentor, Hispanic Outreach Initiative; and Noris Brown, Broward Schools Communications & Media Relations Department and PTA/HOI Liaison. The goal of Broward County's Hispanic Outreach Initiative - which was established in 2002 and is backed by the National PTA - is to encourage Hispanic parents to become involved in their children’s education through membership and participation in PTA.

Cypress Elementary Arbor Day Celebration

Cypress Elementary
Celebrates Arbor
Day
Students at Cypress Elementary School in Pompano Beach celebrated Arbor Day by planting 18 trees on the campus. The event also included guest appearances by Stewart the Street Treeture and Pig - characters from the popular children's book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Informational handouts on environmental topics were also distributed, along with stickers, coloring books and pens.

Seagull School Won't Forget
The Seagull School staff planted a memory garden to honor the physically impaired students who have completed their time at Seagull and also as a tribute to the homebound students who passed away during the 2003-2004 school year. The garden is decorated with people-friendly plants, many of which will attract butterflies. The plants were donated by staff members, who will help maintain the garden along with current and future students.

Operation Rescue Haiti at Nova Middle School
Nova Middle School students, families and staff members collected more than 17,000 items, including shoes, clothes, toys, canned goods and pasta, during Operation Rescue Haiti, a project that began in Marie Ingrid Chrisphonte's ESOL classes. Ms. Chrisphonte answered a call to help the poor in her very troubled native country and the project took a life of its own. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade ESOL students created Haitian flag-necklaces and posters and went to classrooms throughout the school each morning to collect donations. The Haitian Health Foundation and Food for the Poor picked-up all the items and arranged for them to be delivered to Haiti.

Pictured (l to r) are Terry Campanella, Peter Yarrow, Sue Bruining, Sue Colton, Becky Shermis and Bette Zippin.

Famous Folk
Singer Shares
Anti-Bullying Message
"Don't laugh at me. Don't call me names. Don't get your pleasure from my pain." That was just one part of a powerful message conveyed to teachers, administrators, parents and children during a free two-hour concert presented by Peter Yarrow, a member of the legendary folk singing trio Peter, Paul & Mary. Mr. Yarrow shared his music and information about Operation Respect, a nonprofit organization with a strong message about anti-bullying education for schools. He has a long history of support for humanitarian and non-violent causes dating back to the '60s. Operation Respect has developed training materials and a CD-ROM that is free to educators on its Web site at www.operationrespect.org. Sue Colton, Director of Leadership in the Human Resources Department, organized the concert.

Breakfast Held for Confidential Clerical Personnel
The First Annual Springtime Breakfast for Confidential Clerical Personnel was the setting for the introduction of Alex Macri as the new Human Resource Development (HRD) Coordinator of Noninstructional Support. More than 150 employees attended the breakfast, which was sponsored by the Confidential Office Personnel Association and held at the Sheridan Suites Hotel. Speakers included Superintendent Dr. Frank Till; Becky Shermis, Executive Director of Human Resource Development and Dr. Clint Wright, Principal of Blanche Ely High School. The Blanche Ely High School Step Team performed to the delight of the audience.

Bus Driver, Attendant Rescue Child
District bus driver Bertha Touchstone and bus attendant Riva Hill recently came to the rescue of a two-year-old child wandering the streets alone in West Hollywood. After stopping the bus, they picked up the child - who was wearing only a tee shirt - and called police. An officer took custody of the child and began a search for the youngster's parents or guardians; soon thereafter it was discovered that an older sibling had opened a door and the two-year-old had wandered out. Kudos to both employees on their quick-thinking and concern for the safety of all children.