Around the District

Fort Lauderdale High’s new mascot is introduced to students at a pep rally.

Fort Lauderdale High School Unveils “Flying L’s” Mascot
For the first time in the history of Fort Lauderdale High School, the school has a “Flying L’s” mascot costume. Following a student driven effort to adopt a design to create a focal point for school spirit, the student government leadership team unveiled the mascot at a school pep rally that culminated homecoming week activities. Students, faculty, staff, Fort Lauderdale High alumni and community members witnessed the dramatic debut of the “Flying L’s” mascot as it “hatched” from a giant egg. “The energy from this initiative has been incredible,” said Fort Lauderdale High School principal, Dr. Gina Eyerman. “The unveiling of the ‘Flying L’s’ is a proud and historic moment and will serve as a visual rallying point for the school as a whole.”

Head Start Program Celebrates
40th Anniversary
The Broward County Head Start Program celebrated its 40th anniversary with a celebration held at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Among the participants in the program were former and current administrators of the Broward County Head Start Program, including Willette Hatcher, who served as Head Start Coordinator for 28 years; Julia-Ellen Davis, former Head Start Coordinator; Jeannie Floyd, former Director of the School Readiness Department; and Nancy Lieberman, Director, School Readiness Department. Dr. Marilyn Segal, one of the original supporters of Head Start in Broward County, was also a program speaker. Former Head Start students who have gone on to become successes in their fields including State Representative Chris Smith; attorney Eugene Pettis; and engineer Doris Florinda also took part in the program.

The Broward County Head Start program, which has served the community since 1965, is unique because certified teachers teach all classes. The program’s mission is to provide high quality comprehensive services to low-income children and their families to ensure social competence. The program provides comprehensive services to 2,040 three and four-year-old children in 120 classrooms at 64 school sites.

EPA Honors District For Implementing Exemplary Indoor Air Quality Program
The Broward County School District is only one of six schools and districts in the nation to receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools 2006 Excellence Award. Award winners are selected from hundreds of schools and school districts nationwide that have implemented indoor air quality management programs and seen improvements in indoor air quality.

According to the EPA, indoor pollutants in schools can result in a variety of associated health risks, including headaches, nausea, respiratory problems and asthma. The District was recognized at a national symposium in Washington D.C. for its commitment to the health of its students and faculty and for its work to improve indoor air quality. The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Excellence Award is EPA’s most prestigious award recognizing exemplary indoor air quality programs.

Dillard Innovation Zone Hosts Family Reading Night
Parents and students who attend Broward schools in the Dillard Innovation Zone were invited to attend a Family Reading Night held at Arthur Ashe Middle School. The well attended event included trainings for parents on how to prepare their children for the FCAT; hands-on reading strategies for students and parents; and principal story time – principals reading and acting out stories for students. The goal of the evening was to improve the reading skills of students; increase academic achievement; include parents in the educational process and encourage students to read.

Tradewinds Elementary Celebrates 10 Years of Outstanding Education
Tradewinds Elementary celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing outstanding education with a special reunion “beach bash.” The free family event, which was open to the public, was held on the school campus. Guests, including current and former students, were asked to bring a picnic lunch, lawn chairs and their fond memories of the school. Tours of the school, family activities, games, arts and crafts, and beach music were highlights of the event that also included the placement of a time capsule filled with items created by the students.



One District, One Voice

Part and parcel of the One Voice Plan is to improve, enhance, and increase staff and student performance. Critical to its implementation is a training and orientation initiative for most District employees. The purpose is to involve and align all District services and support in the overall process of improving student achievement.

During the three-hour training program, employees receive an overview on the essential elements of the One Voice Plan, including The Correlates of Effective Schools, the Eight-Step Instructional Process and the High Yield Instructional Strategies.

The One Voice Plan includes a focus on the Superintendent’s Schools or schools that have been identified as needing assistance to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), but the tenets are important for all schools.

Key components of the One Voice Plan at the individual school level include ensuring that all classrooms have the necessary teaching materials and a positive climate for learning; that all students are placed and scheduled according to their individual needs; that a safe and orderly environment exists that is responsive for student needs; and that all schools utilize an integrated learning system (ILS) to target the learning needs of individual students based on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

In identified schools, monthly school-based meetings serve as the vehicle for communication and commitment to the tenets of the One Voice Plan. A set of data-collection tools assist in monitoring the program, providing clarity and defining next steps.

The implementation and progress of the One Voice Plan within Superintendent’s Schools is overseen by a Principal on Task Assignment, whose responsibilities are to ensure that the plan is uniformly implemented in the schools and providing those schools with the resources needed for the initiative to be successful in advancing student achievement.