November 2023 Student Spotlights

West Florida High School Students participated with Community Health partners in learning and practicing hands-only CPR.
On October 4th, 2023 at West Florida High School of Advanced Technology, Gymnasium, every 11th grader had the opportunity to learn and practice CPR on manikins, alongside the local community health experts.
Escambia County Public Schools is collaborating with community partners to promote CPR, including the American Heart Association, Nemours, UWF College of Health, community healthcare workers, doctors, and content experts.
Nemours has graciously donated three CPR kits to Escambia County Public Schools. This thoughtful gift and collaboration will empower all students to promote health, safety and potentially save lives!

Montessori School of Pensacola Parent Teacher Organization (MSP PTO) was thrilled to get in the fall season spirit. PTO hosted a spooky and fun event at Strong Street Studio, the local glass-blowing business.
The studio is a small family run business, which is owned and operated by the Novota family who have a child who attends MSP. The PTO was lucky enough to be invited to host a fundraiser selling apple cider and raffle tickets for several hand-made items!
MSP Middle School students volunteered at the event, along with PTO board officers and other parents and children. Each October, Strong Street Studio hosts a highly anticipated annual community event called the Pumpkin Party! It’s more than just a picking patch, it’s an opportunity to share their passions of glass-blowing with the public.

Tate High School’s Education Pathways Academy students visited the School Board during the workshop this morning. These excellent young people did an exceptional job explaining their coursework and the many opportunities available in this career field.

This past month the East Hill Christian Eagle Athletes brought home some hardware and we are so proud of their hard work both inside and outside of the classroom. Congratulations go out to our East Hill cross country team! The varsity boys placed 1st in the Panhandle Christian Conference Championship and were runner-up in the varsity girl’s division. Austin Metheny defended his individual PCC title by placing 1st and Harry Fullerton placed 2nd. Rounding out the winning score for the boys was Henry Fortner. MaryAnne Bowman placed 1st for our Lady Eagles and is this year’s girls individual PCC champion. Once again, congratulations to all of our runners and we wish them good luck as their season continues this fall!

We are so excited to share that we are implementing the House System at Holm Elementary. This aims to build a school community with our staff, students, and families. Today was a special day because it was our first full house day and we built relationships, made new friendships, connected and built a community. That is what our Houses are all about. As a community, we come together to support each other to be our best selves. Four houses, one family.

Each year, Montessori School of Pensacola (MSP) gets students and staff together to sing a special song called “Light a Candle for Peace”.  They gather to sing this song and discuss what it means to say “peace begins with me”.  United Nations International Day of Peace is acknowledged on September 21st each year, so that is the reason for the singing and gathering.  In addition, students made peace flags that they hung around campus.  The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace,

Derrick Brooks Charities, in partnership with Soles for Souls and Bealls Department Stores, blessed each and every student at OJ Semmes Elementary School with a brand new pair of shoes and two new pairs of Bombas socks this morning.
Numerous ECPS volunteers joined forces with volunteers from around this great community to help the students properly size, try on, and walk out with a pair of fresh new kicks.
We at ECPS are overwhelmed by this tremendous act of generosity, and on behalf of our employees, students and families, would like to take this opportunity to offer our most sincere gratitude.
We are in this together, and UNITED, we WILL inspire, empower, and graduate students ready to contribute to society as productive, responsible citizens.

Aletheia Christian Academy students in Senior English class read an extended excerpt of The Canterbury Tales. For their culminating activity, the classroom was turned into the Tabard Inn, and they enjoyed a Medieval feast dressed as pilgrims from the play. They enjoyed music and food choices from the period and reading some lines inspired by the play–a good way to review before the test!

Creative Learning Academy’s seventh-grade class recently led a significant Land Acknowledgement ceremony, shedding light on the rich history of indigenous peoples who once inhabited the local land. History teacher Amy Parker and her students orchestrated the ceremony, which aimed to honor and pay tribute to various native tribes that have a deep-rooted history in the region. From the initial inhabitants during the Ice Age to the Panzacola people who contributed to Pensacola’s name, as well as the Creek and Choctaw tribes, the ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the land’s indigenous heritage.
Seventh-grade student Darius Dunmiles, the project manager for the Land Acknowledgement and accompanying research, expressed the honor in acknowledging the land’s original inhabitants. He emphasized the significance of recognizing these indigenous communities as some of the first people to call America home. During the ceremony, while the rest of the CLA student body gathered in the gym, various seventh graders shared the history of Native Americans in the Southeast. This included highlighting the Muscogee tribe’s relocation following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, an event remembered as the “Trail of Tears.”
The students’ dedication to researching the Muscogee people’s culture and influence, covering aspects such as land use, games, and diet, showcased their commitment to this meaningful project. History teacher Amy Parker praised her students for their hard work and emphasized the importance of acknowledging the past, even when it encompasses negative aspects. The Land Acknowledgement ceremony underscored the significance of preserving indigenous heritage and recognizing the enduring presence of Native American communities today.

For the 29th year in a row, Pensacola Catholic High School held their annual event – Make a Difference Day – on September 30. 500+ student and parent volunteers from the school descended upon the community to “Make a Difference.” The event began at 7:15 a.m. in the Nickelsen Family Courtyard on the CHS campus where students checked in with their project leaders and met up with friends in their assigned projects. After a prayer service and safety briefing, students were dismissed to their projects.
A total of 28 projects were held on that Saturday morning with three projects happening prior to the big event. One project called ‘Banners and Posters’ took place approximately a week before the event so students unable to participate on the scheduled Saturday could still get credit for participation by making the banners and posters that were used on the day of the event. Two additional projects were held on Friday, September 29, in which students assisted Oakcrest Elementary with their Fall Festival and St. John’s Elementary School with their Family Night.
Saturday’s projects included activities involving landscaping, painting, cleaning, organizing, and refurbishing at four local schools and parishes, as well as three cemeteries. The Green Club participated as a collective team to propagate new sea grass plants that will be planted at a later date to help fight shore line erosion. Another team visited the Ronald McDonald House to cook and serve breakfast for the families currently staying there. A team of eight students sorted and packaged approximately 16,000 diapers and baby wipes as they worked for the Junior League Diaper Bank. Ten students sorted and categorized over 500 books for the Global Learning Academy Accelerated Reader program. Students also served as companions for games happening at the Miracle League on Nine Mile Road. Teams also served non-profit organizations including ARC Gateway, Martha’s Vineyard, Rosewood Manor, Waterfront Mission, Covenant Care, Manna Food Bank, and other locations to ‘Make a Difference.’
Students and parent volunteers worked on their projects until Noon before returning to the Tolan Family Student Life Center for a lunch that was also prepared by a team of parent volunteers. Catholic High loves to hold this event every year as the tradition supports the school’s Core Values – Selfless Love, Commitment to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Commitment to Service.

Mr. Gilreath and members of West Florida High School’s Criminal Justice Academy visited the School Board. They shared the exciting things going on in their academy and all of the opportunities and possibilities their participation in this academy has afforded them. So proud of these outstanding young people.

Second graders at Aletheia Christian Academy enjoyed Pioneer Day last month to celebrate finishing “Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Students got a glimpse of what life was like on the prairie through food, games, and crafts. Parents helped to make this a memorable day for all!

Montessori School of Pensacola is excited to be taking part in the Catholic Youth Sports League for the second year.  Students enjoy taking part in volleyball practice and games.  The young sports players are the MSP Manta Rays.  Families and staff love supporting them!  Flag football and soccer are up next this year!

Pensacola Catholic High School once again participated in hosting international students to share with them the experience of being a high school student in America. On September 27, nine students from Venezuela were paired with a Catholic High Student Ambassador to spend the day. Students actively participated in class discussions and also answered questions about their life and school in Venezuela. Some of the students did not speak fluent English but our Student Ambassadors also served as interpreters to help them get the most out of their experience. Students also ate lunch at Catholic High School during their Ambassador’s lunch break where they were also introduced to additional students in a more social atmosphere. The event was part of a U.S. Department of State Youth Exchange program that was hosted by the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council and coordinated by Jena Melancon. Gulf Coast Diplomacy is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that strives to facilitate and strengthen the connection, collaboration, and fellowship between the people of the Gulf Coast and the global community.

Approximately one hundred middle and high school students and staff from Escambia County Public Schools participated in a Student to Student (S2S) training at the Naval Aviation Museum on September 13, 2023. “This valuable training was made possible through a partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) and funded through a Lockheed Martin grant,” said ECPS Grants Management Specialist and Military Liaison Monica Willis. “A special thank you to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation for hosting us!”
The S2S training establishes a student-led program at schools designed to ease transitions for new students. This student-led program creates opportunities for new students to build connections that help them thrive in a new environment. The S2S team plans fun ways to get to know other students, build new peer groups, and perform better academically while creating a culture of 100% acceptance on their campus. S2S team members make a difference as they work together to serve their campus, community, and the world.
The Purple Star School of Distinction designation requires schools to meet specific criteria including a student-led transition program such as S2S. Following the S2S training, eleven (11) schools applied for Purple Star School Distinction Designation. Pending approval of these eleven (11) schools, there will be a total of twenty (20) Escambia County Public Schools recognized for supporting the unique needs of military-connected students and families as Purple Star Schools of Distinction.

The Office of Community Involvement for the Escambia County (FL) Public Schools is proud to announce the Teachers of the Year selected to represent their respective schools. The nominees representing their respective schools are:
Elementary Schools
Jim Allen Elementary — Mary Holley-Lewis
Bellview Elementary — Angelyn (Angie) Baggett
Beulah Elementary — Miranda Freauff
Blue Angels Elementary — Courtney Acosta
Bratt Elementary — Genia Bashore
Brentwood Elementary — Hollie Frazee
Hellen Caro Elementary — Tara Papillion
N. B. Cook Elementary — Tammy Creel
Cordova Park Elementary — Rebecca Calloway
Ensley Elementary — Yohana Lopez
Ferry Pass Elementary — Mary Goolsby
Global Learning Academy — Ariana Helvie
Holm Elementary — Charisse Tarter
Kingsfield Elementary School — Jennifer Smith
Lincoln Park Elementary — Loretta Richardson
Lipscomb Elementary — Rionna Wages
Longleaf Elementary — Terri Herrington
McArthur Elementary — Lisa Thomas
Molino Park Elementary — Candice Blackburn
Montclair Elementary — Yaneickia Hayes
Myrtle Grove Elementary — Christine Kozik
Navy Point Elementary — Emerald Barton
Oakcrest Elementary — Sara Rabb
Pine Meadow Elementary — Cassi Mcgee
Pleasant Grove Elementary — Dyana Blackmon
Scenic Heights Elementary — Dana Milton
O.J. Semmes Elementary — Spencer Mullet
Sherwood Elementary — Vanessa Carrasco
A. K. Suter Elementary — Alicia Hassell
Warrington Elementary — Scott Wright
C. A. Weis Elementary — Priteyja Olige Brannon
West Pensacola Elementary — Lisa Mcvey
Middle Schools
Bailey Middle School — Roberta Wetzel
Bellview Middle — Naomi Stewart
Beulah Middle — Gearlene Mccorvey Johnson
Brown Barge Middle — Jessica Lenhart
Ernest Ward Middle — Glenda Bell
Ferry Pass Middle — Stephen Daniel Hall
Ransom Middle — Angela Rose
Workman Middle — Bruce Wenger
High Schools
Escambia High School — Timothy Deloge
Northview High School — Megan Carroll
Pensacola High School — Amelia Murphy
Pine Forest High School — Whitney Meadows
Tate High School — Christine (Christy) Mills
Washington High School — Juanita Bordelon
West Florida High School — Lisa Torres
Other Schools/Centers
Alternative Education — Steve Mclaughlin
Beulah Academy of Science — Allison Eubanks
Capstone Academy — Michelle Roberts
Achieve Academy — Harrietta Hall
Success Academy — Karyn Blacker
Escambia Virtual — Chet Truett
Escambia Westgate — Rosanna Newman
ESE — Barbara Cole
Hope Horizon — Tammyjo Dublin
George Stone Technical College — Bobbie Latzer