School Zone
Points of Pride
John Stockton Elementary Science Spectacular
Did you know that a can of Diet Coke will float in water, but a can of Coke will sink? This is one of the many exciting observations that John Stockton Elementary students made on Friday, January 25, at the school’s first Science Spectacular. The students rotated from station to station, participating in experiments that were facilitated by volunteers. In order to help students better understand the science curriculum specific to their grade level, the activities were designed with the science Sunshine State Standards in mind. Students also enjoyed visits from Channel 4 meteorologist, George Winterling, as well as Smoky Bear. Volunteers from the PTA, the community, and students from Lakeshore Middle and Paxon High School helped to make this day a huge success.
William M. Raines Students Walk for Peace
On Thursday, January 30, male students from William M. Raines High School walked for peace. The walk began at the school, 3663 Raines Ave., and wrapped up at Zion Hope Missionary Church, 2803 Edgewood Avenue, W.
The walk was in response to the city's ever-increasing violence. School principal, Nongongoma Majova-Seane, decided that the time had come to address the violence that’s ravishing the community when a loaded gun was found in one of the school’s unlocked lockers. “It is time that we let our youth know that we know they’re here, we hear their cries and that we care,” said Majova-Seane.
The walk was followed by workshops held at the church. Mrs. Betty Burney, Duval County School Board Chairman and Raines alumna was the event’s keynote speaker. Mrs. Burney, also the author of
"If These Chains Could Talk," spoke to the students about empowerment and motivated them to make choices that will not put them at risk for failure.
Set to the tune of Marvin Gay's, What's Going On, Burney encouraged the young men in the audience to become S.O.L.D.I.E.R.S., an acronym she cleverly used to describe them as Success Oriented Leader of Duval In control, Empowered and Ready to Serve.
During the event, Majova-Seane read the names of Duval County students who recently lost their lives to senseless violence. As she read each name, she had the students stand if they knew that person. By the time she read the last name, more than 70 percent of the audience was standing. She also encouraged the students to become comrades and brothers instead of enemies and opponents.
Other prominent speakers at the event included Mia Jones, city councilwoman for District 10 and Leon Baxton, chief operating officer of communities in schools.
While the male students attended workshops at the church, female students remained at the school and attended workshops which focused on the importance of education.
School leaders detail impact Amendment 1, shortfall has on Duval County classrooms
On the next "School Matters," education leaders will explain the importance of a renewed push to recruit 20,000 mentors in Jacksonville. The impact of the passage of Amendment 1 on public school funding and the advantages of a longer school day at
Lake Forest Elementary also will be part of the monthly question-and-answer program hosted by Joyce Morgan Danford. "School Matters" airs Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at 10 a.m. on WJCT-TV, Channel 7, Comcast Channel 8.
Dr. Alvin White, Duval County Public Schools' new Chief of Staff and Partnerships, and Warren Grymes, Executive Director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, will join Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals to discuss plans to boost the number of mentors in Duval County schools. They will reveal the collaborative effort underway in Jacksonville to recruit, train and retain in-school mentors. Dr. White will explain the positive effects that the volunteers often play in the lives of underprivileged youth.
Pratt-Dannals will be joined by Deputy Superintendent Pat Willis and the district's Executive Director of Business Services Michael Perrone to detail how a projected $74 million funding loss over five years will affect classrooms in Jacksonville due to the passage of the referendum last month. They also will discuss the impact of reduced state funding this fiscal year due to a statewide economic slowdown.
Chief Operating Officer Doug Ayars and Duval County School Board Chair Betty Burney will tell viewers about the Academic and Community Excellence (ACE) facilities plan that is beginning. They will explain how the public can assist with the district wide effort to determine the best solutions to overcrowding in some schools and low student population at others.
The principal at Lake Forest Elementary, Kim Bays, will explain the student achievement growth she has seen since the facility became one of four in Florida to extend the school day by one hour. Executive Director Jackie Byrd will tell why the pilot program is popular with teachers, parents and students.
The program is produced monthly by WJCT-TV and the Communications Department of Duval County Public Schools.
"School Matters" airs the fourth Sunday of every month at 10 a.m.
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