The Connection
Connecting you to the School District of Indian River County
Welcome to the Connection!
Welcome to The Connection, our new weekly newsletter connecting you to important news, events, and activities happening in the School District of Indian River County. This newsletter will highlight events throughout all grade levels and include district news. We are looking forward to your input in The Connection and hope that you will submit important news and information to be considered for publishing. Please email socialmedia@indianriverschools.org to submit potential highlights.
February 25th-March 1st is Student Services Week
This month, we are pleased to highlight one of our students, Datony Freeman, who has successfully transitioned across schools and completed course recovery requirements, to enroll at Sebastian River High School as a true freshman during the 18-19 school year. He has demonstrated autonomy and competence and is now in his second semester. His self-determination has led to the ability to maintain above average grades and secure a position on the Sharks football team. Recently, Datony has evolved to become a role model among his peers for restorative practices in attempts to repair a relationship that has been harmed in some way.
february is Career and Technical Education Month
February is Black History Month
The State of Florida announced the 2019 theme of Black History Month as “Celebrating Public Service,” to recognize and pay tribute to African-American leaders who play prominent roles in public service throughout Florida.
SDIRC students will be given the opportunity to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Information will be coming home with your student from their school.
Throughout the month, we are celebrating by honoring different "Black History Heroes" on our SDIRC website and social media several times a week. In the gallery below, you will find some of the influential African-American leaders we have featured this past week, or you can click the button below and go directly to our Black History Month page on the SDIRC website.
T. Thomas Fortune
https://www.indianriverschools.org/news/black_history_month_2019/timothy_thomas_fortune
Judge Joseph E. Lee
https://www.indianriverschools.org/news/black_history_month_2019/judge_joseph_e_lee
Madam C.J. Walker
https://www.indianriverschools.org/news/black_history_month_2019/madam_cj_walker
Barack Obama
Oprah Winfrey
https://www.indianriverschools.org/news/black_history_month_2019/oprah_winfrey
Dr. Condoleezza Rice
https://www.indianriverschools.org/news/black_history_month_2019/condoleezza_rice
Treasure Coast Elementary celebrates black history month
Treasure Coast Elementary (TCE) held a Black History Month event highlighting the theme of "Community Service" in celebration of Black History month, on Thursday February 21st. Members of our community from the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Indian River Veteran’s Association, Indian River Sheriff’s Office, and a member of an Indian River County Pioneer Family, spoke to our K-5 students. Our guests shared their experiences of growing up, living, and working in Indian River County. Most of all, their messages to students focused around creating positive relationships, working hard in school, respecting each other, and becoming a contributing citizen in their community.
TCE had the honor and privilege to meet Freddie Woolfork, Angelia Perry, Curtis Holden, Sylvester McIntosh, Milo Thornton, and Joe Idlette, III. The event was a huge success!
Freddie Woolfork & Angelia Perry
Freddie Woolfork
Sylvester McIntosh
community corner with our district teacher and employee of the year
Our Code of Student Conduct Advisory Team Needs You!
Don't miss Kindergarten Round-up THIS weekend!
VPK Registration has begun!
Families who may have questions about the lottery process can visit our VPK page on the District website (www.indianriverschools.org/vpk (click on the "How to Apply" tab).
Applications will NOT be accepted without a child’s Certificate of Eligibility, which is processed and approved through the Early Learning Coalition. The Early Learning Coalition Family Portal link can be found here ( https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/) or on our “How to Apply” tab, as well.
Magnet School registration
Acceptance and Non-Acceptance letters were mailed out today, 2/15. Families have until March 8th to enroll their student(s) once they are accepted to a Magnet School.
Magnet School applications are still being accepted; however, they will not be placed in the lottery.
Students who turned in applications by February 1st, and were not accepted through the lottery, will be placed on a wait list by their lottery number. Any applications submitted after Feb. 1st will be placed behind those not accepted in lottery, by date and time submitted.
For families submitting late applications:
Families may indicate only ONE choice of a magnet school. The three magnet schools in Indian River County are Osceola Magnet, with a math and science focus; Rosewood Magnet, with a Core-Knowledge curriculum; and Liberty Magnet, with an international studies focus. Families who apply for their student to attend a magnet school must agree to follow the requirements of the Magnet School Commitments. Applications can be picked up at the School District office at 6500 57th Street or any of the magnet schools.
Veteran of the Month: Jason M. Patzer
Jason M. Patzer, served 4.5 years active duty with USMC as an E-4 Non-Commissioned Officer and was honorably discharged. He is one of the founding members of the Next Generation Veterans, Inc. Jason is the Wolf Den leader for Cub Scout Pack 530, organizer of a youth to veteran pen-pal program, and member and volunteer of the Vero Beach Veterans Social Club. Jason is currently the owner of a multi-inspection home company, “First and Goal Home Inspections,” that has been proudly serving IRC for over 5 years. Jason is married to Marcie Patzer, and has 2 sons, Nathan, who graduated from VBHS and is a Marine Corps “Poolie,” and Hunter who attends Citrus Elementary and is a student in the Autism Spectrum Program.
February's Casual for a Cause
Before the American Heart Association (AHA) existed, people with heart disease were thought to be doomed to complete bed rest — or destined to imminent death.
A handful of pioneering physicians and social workers believed it didn’t have to be that way. They conducted studies to learn more about heart disease, America’s No. 1 killer. Then, on June 10, 1924, they met in Chicago to form the American Heart Association — believing that scientific research could lead the way to better treatment, prevention and ultimately a cure. The early American Heart Association enlisted help from hundreds, then thousands, of physicians and scientists.
“We were living in a time of almost unbelievable ignorance about heart disease,” said Paul Dudley White, one of six cardiologists who founded the organization.
In 1948, the association reorganized, transforming from a professional scientific society to a nationwide voluntary health organization composed of science and lay volunteers and supported by professional staff.
Since then, the AHA has grown rapidly in size and influence — nationally and internationally — into an organization of more than 33 million volunteers and supporters dedicated to improving heart health and reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
family literacy festival next weekend!
ESE Parent Survey
support education tags available now!
Each time a tag is sold $20 goes toward the Education Foundation of Indian River County to fund classroom and school grants!
fortifyFL security app
We are pleased to announce that the FortifyFL app is LIVE. Now, any student, educator, parent, or member of the public can report school safety concerns directly to law enforcement and school administrators anonymously and easily through the FortifyFL app or www.getfortifyfl.com. The app, which is available for download on Apple and Android mobile devices, is critical to ensuring all Florida schools are safe environments where students and educators can experience and share the joy of learning without fear. We hope that you will become familiar with this tool and help us spread the word about it with our students and their families. Please note that the official app’s logo will look exactly as it does in the graphic above.
The scholarships are worth $500 each and can be used for reimbursement for the following:
*Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate, a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject, an adjunct teaching certificate, or has demonstrated mastery of the subject area knowledge.
*Fees for summer education programs designed to improve reading or literacy skills.
*Fees for after-school education programs designed to improve reading or literacy skills.
*Instructional materials and curriculum related to reading or literacy.
Click to apply: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-parents/reading-scholarship/how-the-scholarship-works/
IRCSO Tips Hotline and School Tips Email
School information
Posting of flyers does not imply endorsement or recommendation by the School District of Indian River County.
School District of Indian River County's Strategic Plan
Click below to see our District's Strategic Plan
Follow Us!
The School District of Indian River County
Email: cristen.maddux@indianriverschools.org
Website: www.indianriverschools.org
Location: 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, FL, USA
Phone: 772-564-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/SchoolDistrictofIRC
Twitter: @IRCSchools