SCHOOL NEWS
Coral Springs Charter
November opened with the high school theater production of “Almost, Maine,” a story about love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town. Also from our Fine Arts department, under the direction of Mr. Cardona and Mrs. Cole, the band earned a superior rating at MPA for the second time in school history.
On Nov. 15, the Interact Club, a sign language and service club, hosted a “Day of Service” event where high school students participated in service activities and workshops in 30-minute intervals throughout the school day.
Now that field trips have returned, the emerging business leaders of DECA will be attending their annual Power Trip, this year to Chicago. “We tour the headquarters of a business and retain some insight on it,” said senior class vice president Maliha Mahmud. They will also visit a university, watch an athletic event, and visit local attractions.
The band will be headed to the Tri-State Festival at Florida State University from December 2 to 5. The Art Club and classes will have the opportunity to visit Art Basel, an international art festival in Miami, and the middle school drama program will be hosting its Winter Wonderland fundraiser on Dec. 16 and 17, which boasts a drive-through performance that’s sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Coral Springs Middle School
We have so many wonderful things happening at Coral Springs Middle. The clubs and sports are back in full swing and the kids could not be happier to be involved. Our cross-country team performed in the finals, and Gage Heller placed second for the district. Our Coding and Robotics teachers have started a Girls That Code club and are selling Takis and snow cones after school on Tuesdays to fund their competitions. New this year is an UNO club, an amazing way for any kid to stay after school and be involved.
On Oct. 27, the school participated in a charitable “Five Minutes of Dough” to quickly collect money to benefit the Harvest Drive and supply families with grocery gift cards. Stallion Star Camp will be offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. after school, and every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. This camp will be for any student seeking academic assistance. We encourage our families to join the PTA and attend our monthly SAC and PTA meetings; for more information, please contact us at (754) 322-3000.
Lastly, if you have not dropped off your child on a Friday morning, you are missing our “FAN” Fridays. Ask your kids about our amazing drumline!
Park Trails Elementary
Principal Arlene Manville
Park Trails celebrated National STEAM Day during the week of Nov. 8. Striving to expand our STEAM program, we are enhancing our study of the arts with our Meet the Master program, as children learn about and create art in the style of famous artists. We will be showcasing our STEAM projects for parents later in the year at a family event.
Our chorus students are eagerly preparing for our Winter Concert, and students will be performing on various band instruments as well.
We are looking forward to our Re-Dedication Ceremony in January as we celebrate 20 years serving the Parkland community. We are trying to locate students who were in our first fifth-grade class for the 2001-2002 school year. If you know of someone who was part of that class, please have them call Park Trails at (754) 322-7800.
Riverglades Elementary
Christina Chioda and Kimberly Mann
As we get ready to head into the new year, we can’t believe how fast 2021 has gone by! Riverglades students have enjoyed raising money during our No Brainer FUNraiser; they loved getting spooky at our first-ever Boo Bash; and they participated in various class projects and celebrations. It has been a fantastic fall!
We were glad to see so many shoppers at our recent book fair. Riverglades students enjoyed looking through the wide variety of books that our book fair had to offer this year! It was an incredible event filled with books, shopping, and endless smiles.
In December, Riverglades students have the opportunity to bring in toys as we kick off our annual Toy Drive. Students can give back to others by bringing in toys and other items this holiday season. More information is coming soon.
Riverglades would like to wish everyone a happy and safe winter break. We hope that you enjoy this time off with your family and friends. We wish you the happiest of holidays and look forward to seeing you in 2022!
Westglades Middle School
Matthew Bianchi, Principal
Westglades has had an amazing first half of the school year! The school always emphasizes student achievement and academics, but it also fosters many extracurricular activities to ensure our students grow socially and emotionally.
Our band and orchestra are ready to perform their second concerts of the year and will be marching in the Coral Springs Holiday Parade on Dec. 15. Our cross county, golf, and soccer teams finished their seasons, and the girls golf team and girls soccer team both won the District Championships! This is an amazing accomplishment for our athletes, the school, and our athletic program.
Our Harvest Drive program has done an outstanding job this year supporting families with an amazing Thanksgiving dinner; thanks, everyone. The Westglades Wolves are looking forward to having their first school dance of the year, themed “Wolves in Toyland,” which will be held on Dec. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be music, dancing, food, and games. We will also be collecting toys for Toys for Tots to help those less fortunate in the community for the holidays.
We wish everyone an amazing holiday season and a happy New Year.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
On the academic front, we are continuing our college visits, our monthly debate tournaments, and our Saturday SAT/ACT preparation. We also recently began our AAA: After-School Academic Academy, which is daily, after-school tutoring for assistance with topics covered on the EOC and FSA. Mondays include U.S. history; Tuesdays, algebra and geometry; Wednesdays, writing and reading, and Thursdays, biology. Students are eager for the opportunity to receive the academic tune-up.
As usual, our clubs and activities have also been busy. Our SGA and drama students hosted “Fall-O-Ween,” our annual Trunk-or-Treat, and had more than 400 people in attendance. Students of all ages were able to play games, visit the petting zoo, and, of course, trick-or-treat from trunks decorated in everything from sports to movie themes, to ghosts and goblins. Our drama students also performed “Puffs,” a fast-moving comedy about a certain school of magic, student directed by Lexi Schwartzberg, and Theater Director Mrs. Herzfeld.
Our JROTC Raiders came in second place at their District Meet. Our athletic teams are proving that we shine both in and out of the classroom.
There are so many perks to returning face-to-face, and Mrs. Kefford was excited to resume a few traditions of her own. She hosts monthly events with the staff and students that everyone looks forward to. Mid-week Muffins with Michelle is an opportunity for the staff to reconnect with one another. She also hosts Kefford’s Kitchen, an opportunity for students to enjoy a catered lunch and discuss concerns and feedback. We love food and feedback!
The Eagles are staying busy with academics at the forefront while keeping everyone entertained with amazing extracurricular activities. Keep soaring, Eagles!
Somerset Parkland Academy
Jennifer Knight, VIPP President
The first annual Somerset Halloween Spooktacular was held on Oct. 29 with 1,000 students and parents attending the inside/outside event. In the backfield area, the elementary school kids took pictures in the Charlie Brown–themed Great Pumpkin Patch, rode ponies, and interacted with goats, chickens, pigs, and ducks in the petting zoo. The kids also sauntered through the trick-or-treat and games area with themed tents.
Inside the school, middle-schoolers (and any brave elementary kids) had a chance to experience an elaborate and scary Haunted School with nine rooms where giant spiders had taken over school administration; there was graveyard recess and skeleton detention, a spooky FSA testing area, a cafeteria of disgusting treats, the Teacher’s Lounge Asylum, a mad scientist STEM lab, the Drama Academy’s Killer Klowns production, and the SPA locker room with a crazed coach. Scary stuff!
Coming up on Dec. 14, the SPA Winter Caravan is going to expand for year two by adding live performances of SPA kids throughout the caravan. The theme will be “Lights, Camera, Snow … It’s Time for the Show!” The VIPP plans on creating a show with the kids, not just for the kids.
Heron Heights Elementary
Lauren Generoso, PTO President
With the giving season upon us, many people are looking to give back to their local community. Our PTO is teaming up with each class at Heron Heights Elementary to sponsor holiday gifts for every child and their home at SOS Children’s Villages Florida in Coconut Creek.
SOS Children’s Villages Florida opened in 1993 to care for abused children or those suffering from forms of neglect in South Florida. SOS is home to up to 72 foster children from birth to age 18. At SOS, special emphasis is placed on keeping biological siblings together to lessen their trauma while separated from their families.
We are very excited to help spread some cheer as the holidays come near! #hhecares