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.
SDIRC e-Cigarette Resolution in the news
Josue Gutierrez, with members of the SDIRC Board, SAFIR, and SAC
October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Glendale Elementary School
Storm Grove Middle School
Treasure Coast Elementary School
Vero Beach Elementary School
September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
Influential Hispanic Americans
Ellen Ochoa
Born: 5/10/1958
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Astronaut Ellen Ochoa first left Earth in July 1991 and became the world's first Hispanic female astronaut. A mission specialist and flight engineer, she has since logged more than 900 hours in space on four flights, the last in 2002. Dr. Ochoa's many awards include NASA's Exceptional Service Medal (1997) and Outstanding Leadership Medal (1995). Besides being an astronaut, researcher, and engineer, Ochoa is a classical flutist.
Edward James Olmos
Born: 2/24/1947
Birthplace: Los Angeles
After a short stint as a rock singer, Olmos gained critical attention for his role in the musical Zoot Suit (1978–80). For his performance as the police lieutenant in the TV series Miami Vice (1984–89) he won an Emmy (1985). His film career includes acting in and coproducing the films The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983) and Stand and Deliver (1988); for the latter he received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a math teacher.
Nancy Lopez
Golfer
4-time LPGA Player of the Year (1978-79,85,88); Rookie of Year (1977); 3-time winner of LPGA Championship; reached Hall of Fame by age 30 with 35 victories; 48 career wins.
Jennifer Lopez
Born: 7/24/1969
Birthplace: Bronx, New York
Film and television actress best known for her portrayal of Selena, the murdered Tejano singer, in the movie Selena (1997), for which she earned a Golden Globe Best Actress nomination. Lopez started off dancing in stage musicals, and first appeared on the Hollywood scene as one of the “fly girl” dancers on In Living Color (1990). After several failed television series, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film Mi Familia (1995), and has since appeared in various other movies on the big screen. Television credits include South Central, Second Chances (1993) and Malibu Road; film credits include Jack (1996), Money Train (1997), Anaconda (1997), The Cell (2000), The Wedding Planner (2001) and Angel Eyes (2001). 2003 was not a good year, first, with the end of her marriage with Cris Judd, then the universal panning of the movie Gigli with then-fiancee Ben Affleck. She married singer Marc Anthony in June 2004.
Sandra Cisneros
Born: 1954
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Sandra Cisneros's acclaimed first book, The House on Mango Street (1984), draws on memories of a childhood in which she moved often between Mexico and the U.S. while struggling to find her voice as the only daughter among seven children. A work of sharp observation and vivid prose, this novel, which won the Before Columbus American Book Award, has been widely taught. Cisneros is also known for her poetry, especially My Wicked Wicked Ways (1987).
Mario Molina
Born: March 19, 1943
Birthplace: Mexico City
At the University of California at Berkeley in 1973, Molina and Sherwood Rowland began researching chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), then widely used in refrigerators, spray cans, and cleaning solvents. They discovered that the release of CFCs could destroy the ozone layer in the stratosphere, allowing more ultraviolet light to get through to Earth and potentially increasing the rate of skin cancer. Their efforts led to CFC production being banned in most countries, and they received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Dads Take Your Child to School Day was a success!
Dodgertown Elementary Student wins SNAG Gold Tournament!
Jahnisce Parks, celebrating her victory!
On Saturday, October 12th, the LPGA/USGA and The Indian River Golf Foundation held a girls "Golf Skills Challenge Extravaganza," at Meadowood Golf Club. Jahnisce Parks, 4th grade student at Dodgertown Elementary, participated in the SNAG golf challenge and won 1st PLACE for her total point accumulation in the challenge! In addition to golf challenges, the event also included pumpkin decorating, golf ball decorating, snacks, and prizes. Jahnisce is part of the Dodgertown SNAG golf team, and this was a great debut for her in the game of golf. Congratulations, Jahnisce!
Join our 2020-2021 Instructional calendar committee!
hurricane dorian makeup days
united way day of caring
Dodgertown Elementary
Gifford Middle School
Beachland Elementary School
Citrus Bowl Family Snack Kits
Liberty Magnet School
Storm Grove Middle School
Citrus Elementary School
Pelican Island Elementary
Vero Beach Elementary
Sebastian River Middle School
Oslo Middle School
Glendale Elementary School
Oslo Middle School
Treasure Coast Elementary
Congrats to our VBHS National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Congratulations, to VBHS’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, Anika Heuberger, Jade Butler, Ryan Baudo, pictured with VBHS Principal, Shawn O’Keefe. These students were the only three students in Indian River County to qualify!
Madelene McCain recognized for outstanding performance on National Merit Scholarship qualifying test
Principal O’Keefe presented Madelene McCain with a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Madelene was recognized for outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Congratulations, Madeline!
Sarah Simmons receives Award of Excellence and state Recognition
Oslo Middle School Jazzcats Perform at Board meeting
Third Graders at Dodgertown Elementary celebrate success!
a day in the life of the indian river lagoon
County Commission recognizes October as Manufacturing Month and recognizes TCTC
Christi Shields, Principal of Treasure Coast Technical College, and Kristine Burr, Career and Technical Education Specialist, attended the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, October 1st, where a proclamation was read and approved recognizing October as Manufacturing Month. Mrs. Shields and Ms. Burr were invited to be in attendance after hosting and helping to launch the Manufacturing Boot Camp in May.
Manufacturing Boot Camp took place for a week in May, exposing recent high school graduates to careers in Manufacturing. Participants toured two manufacturers a day, learned soft skills through Florida Ready to Work, and participated in a speed interviewing round at the end of the week with various manufacturing companies.
Veteran of the Month: Dillon Roberts
Dillon is a longtime resident of Vero Beach, and comes from a long-line of service members in his family. . He and his wife, Sara Beth, have two sons, and their passion is being outdoors and fishing. Dillon enlisted in the Army following 9/11, and went to basic training at Fort Benning, GA after finishing his MBA. He attended Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, where he graduated with distinction. Dillon was commissioned as an Armor Officer in November 2003, and attended training in Fort Know, KY. As the platoon leader of 2nd Platoon, Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, they trained for a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was given the opportunity to attend the US Army’s Ranger School, which he completed in November 2005, graduating with honors, and went on to earn his parachutist badge in November 2006. Still assigned to the same platoon, Dillon was honored to lead them into combat in support of operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan in 2006/07, and most importantly of all, return all his troopers home safely. Dillon separated from the Army in 2007 and used the Post-9-/11 GI Bill to attend the University of Florida for law school and where he also obtained my masters of laws in taxation. Dillon works at Gould Cooksey Fennell in their estate planning and tax group and just this year earned his board certification in tax, one of three attorneys in the state of Florida to do so.
TCTC 'Tour or Treat'
SDIRC Student Assignment office has relocated!
SDIRC Back to School Safety Message
fortifyfl suspicious activity reporting 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.
IRCSO School tips hotline and email
School Accountability Report
Introducing our NEW SDIRC Mobile App!
Introducing our new SDIRC mobile app, designed to enable parents, staff, students, and the community to stay informed and up-to-date on important issues, information, and activities underway within our school district. The free app, which proudly displays the SDIRC logo, provides the most used resources from our website directly on your mobile device; including, lunch menus, maps, event calendars, social media updates, school contact information, and notifications from the school(s) of your choice!
Download for Apple iOS at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sdirc/id1451344822?mt=8
Download for Android at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.relianceco.cma.SDIRC
support education with a fresh, new look!
Click below to order your Support Education license plate!
The Support Education specialty tag has a fresh new look! For the first time in 25 years, the tag has undergone a total makeover.
Since its introduction in 1994, more than $13 million has been raised through the collaborative efforts of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF) and local education foundation members across the state.
While the look has changed, one thing remains the same – when Florida residents purchase or renew their Support Education specialty tag, $20 goes directly back to support education programs in the county where the tag was purchased or renewed. Funds support programs like classroom innovation, education enrichment programs, supporting and recognizing teachers, extra help and mentoring for at-risk students, school supplies, and school scholarships.
Visit www.LicenseToLearnFL.com to learn more, purchase, or trade in your current Support Education tag today!
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/
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