Eyes and ears throughout Duval County, as well as the world, were tuned in to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 20, when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist encouraged educators around the state to allow students to watch the inauguration. In a letter to Education Commissioner Eric Smith, Crist asked him to encourage schools to take a break from studies on Tuesday, when the Democratic president-elect took the oath of office.
Teachers throughout the district prepared their students for the inauguration by incorporating it into their lesson plans.
Seventh-grade language arts teacher Lindsay Layendecker, from Fletcher Middle School, developed special lesson plans to celebrate both the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the Presidential Inauguration.
"The historical significance of this inauguration together with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was a teachable moment I could not pass up," said Layendecker.
Sharmariton Ashley, a kindergarten teacher at Annie R. Morgan Elementary, did a lesson with her students about the inauguration, and also had them write letters to the future president congratulating him on his new position. They also made hats with the slogan "Yes We Can" to wear during the ceremony.
Duval County Public Schools' Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals encouraged schools, as well as employees in the district office, to watch the inauguration. Departments throughout the district building aired the coverage for all interested parties to see.
While many DCPS' students and employees watched the inauguration on the television or Internet, a local student and two teachers were in D.C. during the event.
Mandarin Middle School eighth-grader Bruce Johnson attended the inauguration as part of the People to People Student Ambassadors program, while Kanzla Parker, a fifth-grade teacher at Arlington Heights Elementary, along with her friend Cameletha Duncan, a teacher at Fletcher High School, attended a presidential inaugural gala.
Schools Participate in Annual September Book of the Month Quilt Project
For the past six years, Duval County Public Schools has partnered with the Jacksonville Agricultural Fair for the annual September Book of the Month Quilt Project where students have an opportunity to create a quilt that represents the story line of one of the books they read during the month of September.
This year, under the direction of their teachers, students in grades Pre-K through five submitted 48 quilts that connected the book "A Cloak for the Dreamer" by Aileen Friedman, visually or morally.
Judging of the quilts was done in two categories, a Juried Process and Community Voting, which takes place at the Jacksonville Fair. Each category has first, second and third place, as well as honorable mention.
At the January 6th meeting of the Duval County School Board, the jurors choice winners and the community award winners were honored during the presentation portion and received their ribbons and cash prizes.
Below, are the elementary schools that participated in this year's Quilt Project. Note the following: *Jurors Choice winners/cash, ribbon; **Community Award winners/cash, ribbon; ***Merit Award winners/ribbon.
Annie R. Morgan, Arlington Heights***, Bayview, Biscayne, Brentwood, Central Riverside, Chaffee Trail**, Chimney Lakes, Crystal Springs, Don Brewer, Enterprise Learning Academy, Greenfield, Greenland Pines, Henry F. Kite*, Holiday Hill, Hyde Park, Hyde Grove, Jacksonville Heights*, John E. Ford***, Lake Lucina***, Lone Star, Loretto**, Louis Sheffield***, Mandarin Oaks, Martin Luther King***, Mayport*, Merrill Road, Mount Herman**/***, New Berlin, Oak Hill, Pinedale, Pine Forest, R. L. Brown**, R. V. Daniels, Reynolds Lane, Sabal Palm, Sadie Tillis, St, Clair Evans Academy***, San Jose, San Mateo, San Pablo, Spring Park, Susie Tolbert*, Thomas Jefferson***, Twin Lakes Learning Academy, West Jacksonville, Whitehouse, Windy Hill.
Local Schools Receive Grants During the Last Quarter of 2008
The following schools submitted and were awarded grants during the last quarter of 2008:
• Alden Road Exceptional Student Center received a $2,000 grant from the Kiwanis Clubs of Downtown Jacksonville for their Classroom Scouting and Character Education programs, a $500 Pay it Forward grant and another $500 grant from the Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program;
• Baldwin Middle/Senior High School received a $1,500 grant from Dollar General to purchase books for their Intensive Reading library;
• Highlands Elementary School received a $4,500 grant from Lowe's to beautify the school;
• Stanton College Preparatory School received a $1,600 grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation's Classroom Earth Professional Development; and
• Greenland Pines, J. Allen Axson, Justina Road Elementary, Love Grove, Mamie Agnes Jones, Ruth N. Upson and San Jose elementary schools, John E. Ford K-8 School, Jean Ribault and Matthew W. Gilbert middle schools, Nathan B. Forrest, Terry Parker and Wolfson high schools, Douglas Anderson School for the Arts and Alden Road Exceptional Student Center were recipients of Picturing America by the National Endowment for the Humanities
Congratulations to all of the above schools for going above and beyond the call of duty to secure additional funding during these tough fiscal times. Thank you to the district’s Grant Department for making our schools aware of these funds through your department’s monthly newsletter.
