Pinellas teacher named Spectrum Bay News 9 A+ Teacher of the Year
It’s no joke to make online threats The #ItsNoJoke awareness campaign is aimed at addressing school threats made by students in Florida, as these threats can result in felony charges. The campaign further seeks to educate youth and parents that threats of violence include statements made anywhere online.
Vickie Tarantino, a teacher at Eisenhower Elementary, was selected as Spectrum Bay News 9’s first A+ Teacher of the Year. Tarantino was one of more than 50 teachers honored as A+ Teachers last year, and she was one of seven nominees for A+ Teacher of the Year. Tarantino was nominated by one of her fifth-graders, Bailyn Hagadone. Bailyn and other students said Tarantino has changed their lives and that she goes out her way to help them grow personally as well as academically.
To view the Spectrum Bay News 9 profile on Tarantino visit www.pcsb.org.
Students head to D.C. after winning a regional competition Students from James B. Sanderlin IB World School won the regional competition of the 2020 Regional Future City Competition. There were 24 teams representing multiple school districts from the Tampa Bay area. The Sanderlin team will now travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national competition.
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Future City is a flexible, cross-curricular educational program that gives students an opportunity to do the things that engineers do—identify problems; brainstorm ideas; design solutions; test, retest and build, and share their results. This process is called the engineering design process. With this at its center, Future City is an engaging way to build students’ 21st-century skills.
Clearwater High named Model School
The number of Florida youth charged with school threat-related offenses has risen steadily in the last three years. In Fiscal Year 2016-2017, 629 youth were charged with school threat-related offenses, followed by 687 youth in Fiscal Year 2017-2018, and 779 youth in the Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Making threats, even if it is in jest, can have serious consequences. Youth, parents, and teachers are encouraged to report any and all threats they see or hear. You can notify law enforcement or report a threat anonymously through Florida’s FortifyFL App or the SaySomething app. Please watch the following video to learn more about #ItsNoJoke.
scale model; a project plan, and a presentation to judges at Regional Competitions in January.
Future City is an engineering competition that poses a question to sixth, seventh and eighth-graders: how can you make the world a better place? The students then imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a citywide sustainability issue. Past topics include stormwater management, urban agriculture, public spaces, and green energy. This year’s topic is Clean Water: Tap into Tomorrow. Participates must complete five deliverables: a virtual city design (using SimCity); a 1,500-word city essay; a
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For the fourth time in seven years, the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) has named Clearwater High School a Model High School. Clearwater High is being recognized for uncommon innovation through creating a growth mindset culture that utilizes the school’s DNA and student efficacy. As a result of the Model Schools designation, Clearwater High be highlighted at the annual Model Schools Conference this summer in Orlando. At the conference, school leaders will share how rigor, relevance and relationships are paramount to providing a culture that truly prepares students to be college and career ready. Hundreds of schools apply each year for the Model Schools designation, and approximately 20 are selected.
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