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 is Black History Month
Today, we are celebrating the first day of 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.
Contest Details
Student essay contest winners will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation
About the Student Art Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Art Contest is open to all K-3 students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Two winners will be selected.
About the Student Essay Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Essay Contest is open to all 4-12 students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school student (grades 4-5), one middle school student (grades 6-8) and one high school student (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
About the Excellence in Education Award
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school teacher (grades K-5), one middle school teacher (grades 6-8) and one high school teacher (grades 9-12). Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.
Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.FloridaBlackHistory.com
Volunteer Florida
Black History Month Committee
3800 Esplanade Way, Suite 180
Tallahassee, Florida 32311
All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, March 4, 2019.
For more information about the contests and to watch First Lady Casey DeSantis’ welcome message for Black History Month, please visit www.FloridaBlackHistory.com.
The New SDIRC website is live!
"Celebrate Literacy Week" Kick-Off Video
Literacy Week at Glendale Elementary
Literacy Week Gallery
Glendale Elementary enjoyed the "Vivid Vocabulary Day," on Tuesday, with staff and students dressing up to display a vivid vocabulary word to share with others! Check out the two "graduates!"
Vero Beach High School Students Celebrate Literacy
Rosewood Magnet Students Read and Respond to "Ish" for Celebrate Literacy Week
Ms. VanAuken's 2nd graders at Rosewood Magnet read, and loved, the book "ish." The students drew portraits of themselves, and all said they are happy being who they are, and they don't have to be perfect. Being "ish" is just fine.
Moonshot Moment's Literacy Lane
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 2nd, is the SDIRC Moonshot Literacy Lane event kicking off at 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Main Library parking lot, in Vero. Stop by and experience the 1-mile story walk featuring the book "Ish." The walk will be up throughout the month of February for self-guided tours.
Indian River County Regional Science and Engineering Fair was a success!
Andrew Bickel, Junior, Best In Show
Griffin Wagner, Senior, Best In Show and Intel Bid
Lauren Amos and Sydney Tran, Intel Bid
SDIRC employee awarded CTE Best PRactice Award
On January 17, 2019, Kristine Burr was awarded the 2019 Florida Career Pathways Best Practice Award for their Industry Certification Proctor Training.
The Florida Career Pathways Network presented Kristine with this honor at their state conference, where Kristine was also selected to present, "How to Train Your Proctors for Industry Certification Testing."
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Danielle Haddad, Guidance Counselor, VBHS
Recognized for going ABOVE and BEYOND!
Mrs. Danielle Haddad is a Guidance Counselor who goes above and beyond for English Language Learners at Vero Beach High School. I just wanted to give a shout out and let her know how much we appreciate her!
Employee Spotlight: Anthony Giovannone and Wyatt Kilpatrick, SDIRC Maintenance
Recognized for OUTSTANDING work!
From Principal Bartman at The Wabasso School:
I just want to let you know that the crew who did the stump and root grinding here at Wabasso School went above and beyond. Tony G. and Wyatt K. not only did the most obvious stump grinding, but went school-wide and ground down all of our other trip hazards. These guys are keepers and our kids are much safer.
Sebastian River Middle School Madrigal's Retreat
The Madrigal Choir from Sebastian River Middle School met at Camp Horizon in Leesburg, Florida to learn new music and participate in team-building activities. Mr. Gary Miller, from Indian River Charter High School, assisted us on the retreat.
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
The School District of Indian River County will be accepting magnet school applications between December 1, 2018, and February 1, 2019, for the kindergarten classes of 2019 – 2020. In order to enter kindergarten for the next school year, students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019. Applications will be accepted until February 1, 2019, at 5 p.m. Kindergarten slots are filled by a lottery conducted in mid February. 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.
Student applications will be given a computer generated number to determine their rank in the lottery. Families will be notified by mail of their acceptance or non-acceptance. Kindergarten siblings of students currently attending one of the three magnet schools will automatically be accepted, if they have an application on file by 5:00 pm on February 1, 2019.
Our Code of Conduct Advisory Team Needs You!
Veteran of the Month: Command Sergeant Major Edgar “Ed” Britt
Introducing our Veteran of the Month for the month of January, Command Sergeant Major Edgar “Ed” Britt.
CSM Britt is very active in the veteran community in Indian River County. He actively mentors young people who volunteer at the Victory Center Military Store. As a Special Forces soldier, (US Army Green Beret,) he participated in the SON TAY Raid to rescue American Prisoners of War from Hanoi, North Vietnam.
CSM Britt is a role model for engagement with the community and how to shape the lives of young people through mentoring.
SDIRC Job Fair
SDIRC cordially invites you to participate in our 2019 SDIRC Teacher Job Fair on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Treasure Coast Technical College Blood Drive
A Blood Drive being sponsored by the Medical Assisting Program will be held
Monday, February 11, from 10:00 am - 4:00pm at Treasure Coast Technical College:
4680 28th Ct., Vero Beach, 32967
Clink link to schedule:
https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/805559
February's Casual for a Cause
Before the American Heart Association 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.
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