News

E.H. Miller's New Economy

E.H. Miller Principal Mary Piazza stands with two students at the school's BEE-Mart, where students can spend Bee Bucks earned with good behavior to buy Christmas gifts for their families.

Photos and story courtesy of E.H. Miller

PBS at EHM -- The joy of giving!

This November, E.H. Miller started a token economy with Bee Bucks. Students earn a "salary" for performing their job of being a good student and citizen.

There are three goals that E.H. Miller Principal Mary Piazza wants students to learn through their Bee Buck economy and BEE-Mart store: Positive Behavior is recognized and rewarded in life; How to save and count money, and the joy of giving. Positive Behavior Systems are in place at all Putnam County schools.  

Students are encouraged to use their Bee Bucks to buy Christmas presents for their family. They can buy things for themselves, but the store is a great way to get some Christmas presents for loved ones. Students can earn daily Bee Bucks for: BEE-ing a hard worker on classwork; BEE-ing a rule and procedure follower for the teacher and BEE-ing kind and caring.

The school recognizes that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so if a student makes a mistake in the morning and he or she loses that $1, there's still a chance to correct the behavior and earn the afternoon $1. From November to Christmas, students could potentially earn $42 in Bee Bucks to spend buying Christmas gifts for family.

Students had a joyful time Christmas shopping this week at the BEE-Mart.

Community Members Gather at Beasley

Local parent and OASIS member Bryant Oxendine speaks with a student after a community meeting at Beasley Middle School Tuesday night. PCSD Superintendent Tom Townsend spoke to parents on subjects including the New Tech high school, cooperative learning and behavior in classrooms.

Christmas Comes Early for West Putnam Children

  Interlachen High School National Honor Society members Masha Beck and Nick Peacock help a child open presents at the annual Diane Reeves Christmas Party Wednesday at IHS.

The annual holiday event that lifts the hearts of high school students and the local children for whom they make Christmas unfolded on Interlachen High School's basketball court Wednesday.

Each December, IHS National Honor Society members host the Diane Reeves Christmas Party, providing younger students in West Putnam an early Christmas. This year, Honor Society members joined fellow students, teachers and community sponsors buying gifts including new bicycles, footballs and clothing for more than a dozen children.

"It's really inspirational," National Honor Society Co-President Chelsea Moore said Wednesday. 

Moore said one child told her he was marking off days on the calendar in anticipation of the party.

"It makes me appreciate what I have," Moore said. "These kids have nothing, and it's touching to see them so excited."

Elizabeth Gray, the NHS Co-President, said for many of the children, Wednesday was Christmas.

"For most of the families this is the only Christmas the kids will get," Gray said. "When the 25th rolls around, there won't be presents for them under the tree. Every year it seems to pull together perfectly. I haven't seen an unhappy kid in the four years I've been doing this."

The Interlachen High School Band, directed by Nick Albanese, entertained an overflowing gym crowd with renditions of Christmas songs including "God Rest You Merry Gentleman" and "The First Noel."

IHS alumna Ileah Bradshaw sang "What Child is This?" and members of the high school's drama club also sang.

"They were really excited," NHS member Lindsay Westberry said of the kids she helped open their presents. "Before it started, my little boy said 'I can't wait to get up there.' He really enjoyed it."

Larry Swartz, the IHS National Honor Society parlimentarian, said as soon as the school year starts, NHS students start planning the party.

"This is one of the biggest things we do all year," Swartz said. "It's nice to see so many happy kids and it's a honor to be a part of because this is a kid's Christmas."

IHS National Honor Society parlimentarian Larry Swartz opens Christmas presents with a child at Wednesday's Diane Reeves Christmas Party. Each year, NHS members organize the event that provides Christmas for area children.

Interlachen High School alumna Ileah Bradshaw sings "What Child is This?" at Wednesday's Diane Reeves Christmas Party. A college student in Gainesville, Bradshaw soon leaves for a few months in Germany.

Interlachen High School National Honor Society Co-President Chelsea Moore unwraps a present with a local student at the high school's annual Diane Reeves Christmas Party.

A child talks with Santa Claus at Wednesday's Diane Reeves Christmas Party, providing Christmas to more than a dozen local children at Interlachen High School.

Ladies With Standards Inducted at Beasley

Beasley Middle School students stand at an induction ceremony for their group, Ladies With Standards Tuesday night in the media center. Started by Beasley guidance counselor Pamela Brown, Ladies With Standards teaches young Beasley women etiquette, responsibility and more through group advisors Carole Bogden, Robin Brown, Carolyn Carter, Karma Gibbs and Ann Lewis.

Beasley Middle School student Rebecca Martin addresses fellow inductees of the Ladies With Standards group in the middle school's media center Tuesday night.

Nineteen Beasley girls were inducted into the club at the ceremony attended by multiple parents including Anthony B. Milton, whose daughter Ashanti Milton is the first president of Ladies With Standards.

Milton said the club, which advisors say is the dream of school guidance counselor Pamela Brown, has changed his daughter.

"I've seen dramatic change in her -- how she presents herself -- and I track it to her start with this program," Mr. Milton said at Tuesday's induction.

Ahsanti encouraged girls to join the club.

"You don't have to come in to the program being leaders," she said. "But you leave with something greater than that."

Parents and Ladies With Standards inductees eat deviled eggs and chicken salad Tuesday night at an induction ceremony in the BMS Media Center.

 

Browning-Pearce Kids Take the Stage Tuesday

The abominable snowman performs Tuesday in Browning-Pearce Elementary School's play,"'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Dozens of student actors rehearsed under BP teacher, Belinda Taylor for about six weeks preparing for the musical, which chronicles a shortage in Santa's Toy Workshop and its resolution.

Browning-Pearce actors before their production of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the school Tuesday afternoon. The play was performed in front of BP kids filling the school cafeteria and cheering their fellow students performances.

Browning-Pearce student actors prepare for a production of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" Tuesday.

A mouse waits backstage before going to work for Santa Claus in the play "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Putnam Grad Rates Highest in Seven Years

Dec. 12, 2011

Putnam County School District graduation rates increased for the third consecutive year, data released today by the Florida Department of Education showed.

PCSD's graduation rate as measured by the National Governor's Association (NGA) is 75.5 percent for the 2010-11 school year, up from 74.6 percent in the 2009-10 school year.

FDOE uses the NGA formula to calculate graduation rates for Florida's 67 school districts, employing a model that includes standard and special diplomas and excludes all General Education Development.

The 75.5 percentage marks the highest graduation rate in Putnam County in the seven years NGA has been used by Florida to calculate the rates.

A new federal calculation counting only standard diplomas is effective this year, replacing the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) calculation. Graduation rates as measured by that new federal formula are scheduled to be released in Jan. 2012, according to an FDOE press release.

Annual Breakfast Honors/Prepares Nominees

Nominees for Putnam County Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year gather at the annual breakfast hosted each year by Golden Corral. PCSD Superintendent Tom Townsend thanked the employees, saying kids including his own three children are better off because they work in the school system. Each year, nominees are honored and prepared by fellow employees including past winners for the process ahead.

Current Putnam County School District Teacher of the Year, Jenkins Middle School's Lucas Bennett, applauds at Thursday's breakfast for Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year nominees.

PCSD School Board member Lisa Parsons smiles with local nominees for two top school district awards at Golden Corral Thursday morning. 

PCSD School Board Chairman C.L. Overturf Jr. speaks Thursday with Superintendent Tom Townsend before the annual Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year breakfast hosted by Golden Corral.

Former Cincinnati Bengal Johnson Inspires Price Kids

Photos courtesy of Leah Lundy:

Ken Johnson, a defensive end for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals from 1970-1977, stands behind C.H. Price Middle School students Wednesday. Johnson spoke to students about making good life choices and overcoming obstacles. "You're not a born winner; you're not a born loser; you're a born chooser," Johnson said, encouraging kids to think about their actions and consequences, both good and bad.

"It was truly an inspiring story that every student could take something from," said C.H. Price Principal Leah Lundy. "We were so thrilled that Mr. Johnson could come spend some time with our students."

Lundy said one student was moved to tell Johnson he wanted to one day travel the country to speak young students, which Johnson has made a mission after his retirement from the NFL.

Former Cincinnati Bengal Ken Johnson talks to students and signs autographs at C.H. Price Middle School Wednesday. Johnson, a University of Indiana basketball player under legendary coach Bobby Knight before playing pro football, travels the country speaking to students.