Brooker Creek Elementary
December Newsletter
Greetings Brooker Creek Students, Parents, Families, and Community,
Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am beyond excited and honored to be the new principal at Brooker Creek Elementary. Brooker Creek Elementary is known throughout the area for its academic excellence and its intense focus on developing well rounded students. This is only achievable with a collaborative school community, which includes students, families, teachers, support staff, kitchen staff, plant operators, bus drivers, crossing guards, and the various community organizations across the area. The students are more successful because all stakeholders are moving in the same direction. Mrs. Mekler has done a tremendous job facilitating this collaborative team approach and I am humbled to follow in her footsteps.
I have been involved in education for the past 23 years, serving in Hillsborough County as a principal at two schools for the past eight years. These experiences have provided me with an understanding of what students need to be academically, socially, and emotionally successful. We will focus on student data to drive instruction. We will work towards making sure that learning is relevant and challenging while making sure we remember that learning is more meaningful when relationships are in place. I am eager to put the skills I have acquired to use towards this vision.
Families, I wish you all the best over this winter break. I look forward to seeing you on January 4th.
Sincerely,
Josh Hodges
Mark Your Calendars
January 3rd
No School for Students
January 4th
Second Semester Begins
January 13th
Ready, Set Kindergarten
January 17th
Martin Luther King Day- No school for students
February 4th
Midterm of 3rd quarter
February 21st
No School for Students
March 14th-21st
School Closed- Spring Break
East Lake Rotary Club's Student of the Month
Mrs. Smith is absolutely thrilled to nominate Bella DiDomenico as BCE’s East Lake Sunrise Rotary Club December Student of the Month! With her kind, caring, and altruistic disposition, Bella is such a pleasure to have in the classroom and is a true exemplar of a Bobcat who ROARS (Respectful, Optimistic, Always Determined, Responsible, and Safe). Bella eagerly participates in class, thoughtfully completes quality work, and always strives to do her very best. Bella’s commitment to character throughout school and in the greater community make her more than deserving of this recognition.
Bella’s passion outside of school is the art of Ballet. Bella has been taking ballet classes since she was three years old and aspires to be a ballerina when she is older. She is very dedicated to improving her craft and is eager to earn her pointe shoes. Aside from ballet, Bella has another passion: helping others. Every year for the holidays, Bella’s family sponsors families in need as well as do a bike/toy drive for the children’s home network. Bella is always excited to help with these causes and also finds items of her own, such as toys and clothes, to donate as well. Bella’s father, David DiDomenico recalls a time the two of them had been holiday shopping when Bella was five years old and Bella asked if she could donate money to the Salvation Army at the front of the store rather than picking out a toy of her own, saying, “Dad, I don’t need a toy! I have toys. Can I donate money to help kids?” Bella’s mother, Shelley DiDomenico, adds to this sentiment, remarking that Bella is the kindest would and is always willing to help others.
At home, Bella enjoys spending time with her brother, V In fact, Bella considers V to be the most important person to her and chose to feature him in her art project on the most magnificent person in her life because he helped her with speech growing up. Bella’s project will be displayed in the Morean Art museum St Petersburg for their world image show!
Bella truly leads with kindness and serves as an excellent role model to her fellow Bobcats as well as others in the community. I am so proud of all Bella has accomplished and cannot wait to see all the wonderful things she will go on to do in the future. Bella’s positive spirit is such a bright light in the classroom and her drive to be the best version of herself is an inspiration to many. Congratulations, Bella! Shine on!
News from the Art Room
Mrs. Livingston has been busy with our Bobcat artists during first semester and it really shows. We have recently been notified of six student works that have won awards, 2 of which will be on display.
Elora Johnson and Julia Sarkis had their Medieval Mythical Creatures Shields chosen for the Creative stART Show at Dunedin Fine Arts Center. Artwork will be on display from December 7-January 21st with an awards receptions for artists and their families on Sunday, January 9th.
We also had 5th grade students enter the Pinellas Tag Art competition. Four of our students have been recognized for one or more awards. All 5th grade student work can be viewed through the link below. If you choose to purchase a plate, proceeds from the sale come right back to support Mrs. Livingston's classroom.
Award of Excellence
Sponsor Theme Award Winner
Award of Excellence & Sponsor Choice Award winner
Award of Excellence
PTA Update
Thank you to everyone who came out for our 1st ever Movie Night! It was such an amazing turnout and we loved seeing all of the families that came out to enjoy the Polar Express! We will definitely do this again and will be more prepared next time. :)
The Wonderland Gift Shoppe was a huge hit with the students! We loved helping our little shoppers pick out the perfect presents for their family and friends. Big thank you to Blair LaHaye and Shawnna Aamold, who were the co-chairs for Wonderland and to all of our volunteers!
182, that’s the number of tags that our BCE families pulled from the Giving Tree! Thank you for your generosity as we helped make Christmas a little brighter for those in need. The Don Davis foundation picked them up on Wednesday and they were very appreciative of all of the donations. Thank you also to those that provided unwrapped toys, tape, wrapping paper and gift bags! And thank you to Donna Waddell and Hena Petersen, our co-chairs for this endeavor.
Your BCE PTA Board Members wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season!
Connect With Us
School Facebook Page: Brooker Creek Elementary | Facebook
PTA Facebook Page: Brooker Creek Elementary PTA | Facebook
Reporting Your Child's Absence: Report Student Absence / Report Student Absence (pcsb.org)