Winners of the Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest recognize their heroes Congratulations to the three Team Duval students selected as winners of the district’s annual 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest.
Quiones, an eighth grader at LaVilla School of the Arts, wrote an essay about Jacksonville-based ballerina Dulce Anaya.
Anaya, who was born in Cuba, was accepted into the American Ballet Theatre when she was just 15 years old and is credited for founding the Jackson● Elementary school winner: Tennyson Haas/ ville Ballet Theatre. In her essay, titled “The Prima West Riverside Elementary ● Middle school winner: Giannina Quinones/LaVil- Ballerina That Never Stopped Dancing,” Quiones shared how Anaya personally taught her and her la School of the Arts sister dance when they were younger. ● High school winner: Sarah Robinson/Riverside High School. “She made me laugh, work hard, and even cry sometimes,” wrote Quiones in her essay. “But those Each of the students was recognized at a special moments have saved me so much in life. I have luncheon sponsored by the Jacksonville Jaguars. learned many lessons from her, and I am sure many Their winning essays others in the Jacksonwere selected among ville community have dozens of entries too.” across the district. Fifth-grader, Tennyson Students were asked Haas, wrote about to submit an essay Jacksonville mayoral about a living person candidate LeAnna of Hispanic heritage Gutierrez Cumber. from Jacksonville who has made a significant In her essay, Haas contribution in medidescribes Cumber as cine, arts, politics, law, a “hard worker” who education, business, “has dedicated her life literature, and science. to helping others in the community.” Haas “I know that my granddescribes how Cummother, she’s a very ber has worked to aid inspirational person, victims of domestic and she’s done a lot violence, creating a lefor the Jacksonville gal clinic for survivors. community, specifically Jacksonville University,” said Robinson, who was the high school winner. “She helped out women a lot, and she owned a small business,” said Haas. “I think that’s really In her essay, the 11th grader described how her cool, and I want to do that.” grandmother – affectionately known as “Mama Cruz – dedicated her life to her students in and out of the The three winners had the opportunity to read their classroom at Jacksonville University, particularly her essays out loud during a luncheon on October 28th. work with the Upward Bound program. In its 10th year, the Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Robinson shared her admiration of how Cruz and contest is hosted annually by the district’s ESOL her family transitioned from Bayamon, Puerto Rico Department and sponsored by the Jacksonville in 1975 to Jacksonville’s northside, becoming one Jaguars Foundation. of the first Hispanic families in the area. The students received a box full of Jags swag and “Mama Cruz is the cornerstone of family and a tickets to the Jags vs. Raiders on Nov. 6th. hidden gem of Jacksonville’s community,” wrote Robinson in her essay. “She has contributed so For more information, visit the district’s Hispanic much of her life to the development of young adults Heritage Month Essay Contest webpage. Photos at JU, and on her own street corner.” from the special luncheon are also available. They are:
Dozens of Duval schools to receive top dollars for top academic honors Strong academic performance has delivered a record payday for dozens of schools throughout Duval County Public Schools. In total, 62 district schools — and eight Duval charter schools — qualified for the Florida Department of Education’s “School Recognition Program,” which provides incentives to schools across the state to achieve top levels of academic success. Collectively, these schools will receive almost $9 million in awards. “This is just one more piece of evidence that you can buy a house in Duval County and get a great education at our district schools,” said Dr. Diana Greene, superintendent of schools. “Classroom by classroom, the teaching and learning experience in our public schools is as good or better than it is in any other county or any other school option.” Funding received from the School Recognition Program flows directly to the eligible schools. To be eligible, schools must receive a school grade of “A” or improve at least one letter grade from the previous year. The grades are based on many factors including student performance as measured by the Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs). In addition to the 62 district schools earning awards in the program this year, the district has no failing traditional schools and no schools participating in the state’s turnaround schools program. “As we exit the FSA era, it’s clear that Duval County Public Schools is moving in the right direction,” Greene said. “Our schools are ready to embrace the new Florida B.E.S.T standards and continue providing students with teaching and learning experiences that prepare them for success.” School staff, in partnership with their school advisory council, determine how funds are used. Options allowed under state statute include: ● ● ●
Bonuses to the faculty and staff Educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance Temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance
Visit teamduval.org for a list of the schools receiving awards.
NOVEMBER 2022 • Jax4Kids.com • Page 17
