Campus Connections
March 4, 2018
Message from Jeff and Yolanda
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program has been in existence since 1982. In the 36 years, only two Naples schools have been awarded this prestigious honor.
- 2007: Naples Christian Academy
- 2008: Seagate Elementary School
This is a tremendous honor to be nominated as only 13 schools were eligible and nominated to apply this school year in the state of FL from all public, private, and charter schools at all levels (elementary, middle, and high schools). Our nomination is testament to all of the fantastic things going on in each classroom every day.
Over the past month, teams of staff members have been working diligently to complete the application process. The application process is a thorough analysis of school operations with 9 essays ranging in size from 900 words to 400 words. Those that were a part of the application process from brainstorming, drafting, and editing, we thank you for your insight and thoughtfulness. The formal application will be submitted to the USDOE later this month and we should receive formal notification in August/September.
About the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: It recognizes outstanding public and non-public schools. In identifying several hundred outstanding schools annually, the program celebrates school excellence, turn around stories, and closing subgroup achievement gaps. The Award is both a high aspiration and a potent resource of practitioner knowledge. National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the full diversity of American schools: public schools including charter schools, magnet/choice schools, Title I schools, and non-public schools including parochial and independent schools. They are urban, suburban, and rural, large and small, traditional and innovative, and serve students of every social, economic, and ethnic background.
And yet they share some core elements of effective schools. Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching and learning. Mutual respect and trust run deep in their cultures. Faculty are supported by mentoring and professional development and have time to coordinate their work. Data from many sources drive adaptations to support every student. Families and educators work together in trust.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are honored at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, where each receives a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status. These schools serve as examples for other schools throughout the nation and details of their achievements are shared on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
For additional information, you can visit the program website at https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/
New Face on Campus
- On Tuesday, we welcome April Prescott as a new Services Secretary April is taking the place of Annia Bonilla who is becoming Ariel's secretary. Make sure you take time to welcome her. Her office is in Building 1,
- Also welcome to Linda Marshell who will be a guest teacher in Student Services for a couple of months. She will be on campus Monday-Thursday.
- Welcome to Dan Miller who will be a guest teacher in Students on Fridays for a couple of months.
Coaches' Corner - “Tweet Tweet”
Want a summarizing strategy that can be used in any curriculum? Try this strategy “Tweet Tweet.” Tweets can be used as simple exit tickets or review activities where students summarize their learning in 140 characters or less. While the basic premise of a tweet is a short and sweet summary, it is possible for it to be so much more.
Students can create a Twitter profile and tweets for a scientist, a historical figure, or a character from a novel. In order to create an effective Twitter handle and tweets, students must take on the persona of the individual. They must understand the individual’s contributions or how they are connected to others in some way.
Here is what you need to do:
- Download a Twitter template.
- Have students create a catchy twitter handle.
- Have them add tweets specific to your content. (For example, summarize a scientists contributions to science. Interact with other characters from a novel. Tweet about upcoming historical events.)
In addition, students can tag other characters, scientists, or historical figures. The project could be expanded through additional tweets from supporting characters, or retweets to show significant connections. The activity helps bring out student creativity and allows for a deeper analysis of content.
- A Historical example (from: http://creativeedtech.weebly.com/blog/fictional-twitter-profiles )
Templates can be downloaded from:
Wellness
Wellness Check
Small, medium or large? Iced or hot? Good news for coffee lovers! There are many health benefits when you drink a cup or two of coffee…minus the added sugar/creamer! If you are a coffee lover, read the short article, Benefits of Coffee to make you feel good!
https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/benefits-of-coffee
referenced by eatright Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Reminder: Two more weeks until the Biggest Loser winners are announced!! March 7th is the last weigh in! Good Luck!!
Staff and Student of the Month for February
Please show your Lorenzo family spirit and vote in the links below for our Staff and Student of the Month. This is your opportunity to give kudos by nominating a staff member. Of those nominated, the leadership team will select a staff member and a student from each category to honor through a certificate and special lunch in the dining hall.
Nominating a Staff or Student of the month is quick and easy. Just click on the Padlet links. Type the name of the nominated staff or student in the "Title" portion of the Padlet and post and your reasoning in the body of the post.
- 9th grade student Link
- 10th grade student Link
- 11th grade student Link (both academic and dual enrollment students)
- 12th grade student Link (both academic and dual enrollment students)
- Career and Technical Education student link (adults only)
- Adult Education student link
Happenings
Monday March 5th:
- NHS meeting during lunch
- Selling senior class shirts before, after school and during lunch in room 4-315 with Mrs. Barr. Sale will end 3/19/18
- Selling prom tickets in Mustang Alley during lunch. Sale will end 3/19/18
- PBS Prize Drawing open
Tuesday March 6th:
- Trip to ReachMobi in Fort Myers with Mr. Coine from 11:00am-1:30pm
- LWTHS Team meetings 2:00pm
- Green Club meeting in Mrs. Barr's room during lunch
- PBS Events Planning committee during 9th and 10th grade lunch
- PBS meeting at 2:00 pm
- Practice for Prom Expo in Cafe A and B from 1:50pm-3:00pm
- Trip to Noodle Saigon with chef Abdo and chef Geri from 10:30am-1:30pm
- 3rd Quarter Prize drawing
- LWTHS Department meetings
Volley Ball game in the courtyard during lunch at 10:15am-11:11am, teachers vs students. Contact person is Mrs. Neiman
Student-Led conferences from 7:00am-6:30pm
Friday March 9th:
- Please take note that LWTC Student Services/Financial Aid will have new office hours beginning on Friday, 3/9. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 am- 6:00 pm and Friday, 7:30 am-12:00 pm. Please let your students know and also hang the flyer that was placed in your mailboxes on Friday in your classrooms.
- Prom Expo in the Cafeteria from 9:30am-10:15am and from 1:00pm-1:50pm. Contact person is Mrs. Barr
Kudos to . . .
- Dulcie Neiman and Chris Fowler for organizing and bringing Stan Sadlo, WWII veteran to our campus to speak with our students. What a great honor to be in the presence of an amazing and charismatic hero.
- Marisol Fernandez for conducting our annual, whole-staff training for the upcoming testing "gauntlet" that will be the month of May!
- Chris Fowler, Tony Singleton, and Vanessa Alvarez for letting the group from Florida Tax Watch invade their space and take video and pictures of our phenomenal, students, programs and campus.
- Kristy Meghreblian, Lianne Elliott, Darlene Crete, Lindsey Simmons, Sue James, Vanessa Alvarez and Rita Kentros for the countless hours editing and getting the National Blue Ribbon essays ready for submission to the FLDOE for review.
- Chef Geri and Chef Chris for organizing one of our favorite culinary events of the year "Annual Food Truck Wars"!
Happy Birthday!
3/10 Joseph Martino