December 2010

FALCON EXPRESSFALCON EXPRESS FLORANADA ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL

5251 NE 14th Way Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334

(754) 322-6350

Principal, Keith Peters

Assistant Principal, Dr. Sheila Lewis

High Expectations, Achievement, Excellence

Principal’s Message

The School Board of Broward County, Florida, prohibits any policy or procedure which results in discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national

origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination and/or harassment complaint may call the Director of Equal

Educational Opportunities at (754) 321-2150 or Teletype Machine TTY (754) 321-2158.

Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may call Equal Educational Opportunities at (754) 321-2150

or Teletype Machine TTY (754) 321-2158.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Floranada Elementary or Broward County Public Schools

Dates To Remember

Mon, Nov. 29- Thur, Dec. 2- BAT 2

Grades 3, 4, 5 Only

Thur, Dec. 2- Fri, Dec. 3- Billie Swamp

5th

Grade Field Trip

Fri, Dec. 3- 2nd

Grade Field Trip

Fri, Dec. 3- 4th

Grade Honor Roll

Assembly, 8:15

Mon, Dec. 6- 5th

Grade Honor Roll

Assembly, 8:15

Tues, Dec. 7- Interim Reports Issued

Fri, Dec. 10- Wed, Dec. 15-

PTA Holiday Shop

Tues, Dec. 14- Super Citizen Assembly, 8:15

Mon, Dec. 20- Fri, Dec. 31- NO SCHOOL

Mon, Jan. 3- SCHOOL RESUMES

Greetings Floranada family members! It is hard to

believe that we are already into the last month of 2010.

As we enter into the month of December and continue

toward the Holiday Break, we need all of you to help

keep our students focused on their academics. We have

so much work to accomplish here at Floranada and we

need each of our students to do their part. The holiday

season is a wonderful time where we spend time with

our family and friends and enjoy a much-needed break.

However, I am counting on you to help keep your

child’s mind sharp by having them read each day during

the break, minimally 20 minutes a day. Why not make

a visit to your local library during the break?

I would like to wish each and every one of you a

wonderful holiday break. I hope that your time with

your family is joyous. Let’s all relax and renew and

come back in 2011 with the positive frame of mind to

achieve our goal of making Floranada an “A” school

once again!

Mr. Peters

Principal

And the Winners Are… Anti-Bullying Week 2010 was observed during the week of November 15-19. As part of the week, our

students participated in an essay-writing contest. Not only were they able to practice their writing skills, they

were able to express their ideas about bullying. The first place entries are published below. All 1st, 2

nd, and 3

rd

place writers were also awarded lunch with Mr. Peters! Way to go Floranada writers!!

Roshan Gomes (2nd Grade -Ms. O'Hara)

One day I was riding my bike at night to a store, and I took a short cut down a dark alley. When I was in

the middle of the alley I saw a kid that my friends said was the biggest, meanest bully in school! I tried to

ignore him and ride my bike past him, but he chased me! When he was chasing me he was yelling, "help!". I

had no idea why he was yelling "help!", so I stopped to help even though I was extremely scared. He told me

that those stories were not true. He also told me that just because someone is big, it doesn't mean they're a

bully. He told me that he was the one getting bullied!

We decided we should be friends and make a no-bullying team. The next day we told Mr. Peters our

idea. He said, "That works for me!" And the Floranada No-bullying team was formed.

Manaia Rewi (3rd Grade- Mr. Bub)

A bully is someone mean. I will tell you someone who's a bully and tell you how you can help this

person be nice. Bullies are mean people. My cousin is a bully to me. One time when I went to her house she

yelled at me and kicked me. I would always say stop but she would not stop kicking me and yelling at me. So I

said, "if you keep on doing that at school and at your house you are not going to have any friends and no one is

going to want to hang out with you because they are so scared that you well beat them up. So you really need to

stop." And now I see her at school and she has five friends around her because she stopped bullying.

In addition, another way to stop bullying is call 754-321-0911 and a person will pick up and tell your

problem and solve it. You can also just walk away and don't hang out with them.

In conclusion, I am proud of myself because I made a bully become a nicer person.

Daniel Skrecz (4th Grade- Ms. Lallande)

There are two ways I can help bullies stop bullying. One way that I can help them stop bullying is by

ignoring whatever the bully says or does to me. Another way I can help a bully to stop bullying is that I can tell

an adult the bully is bullying me or someone else.

The first way I can help a bully stop bullying me is to ignore whatever the bully says or does to me. One

day a bully and some of his friends walked up to me looking like they could rip off my head in one punch. The

leader stated, "Either you punch that guy over there or I punch you!" I just walked away, so he came over right

behind me and started taunting me, "Ugh! Who cut the cheese? Or is it just you? You're the ugliest thing I've

ever seen!" I just kept walking. "Man, can this guy ever be taunted?" the bully whispered to his friends.

"Might as well not waste our time with him then," answered one of his friends. They stopped bullying me and

walked away.

The second way I can help a bully to stop bullying is that I can tell an adult the bully is bullying me or

someone else. One day at recess I saw a guy picking on one of my friends. I went over to where my teacher

was and told her, "That guy over there is picking on my friend James." My teacher and I walked over to where

James and the bully were and my teacher started to talk to the bully. "Why were you scolding him?" she asked.

"I was doing it for fun," he answered. "How do you think it's fun?" she questioned. "I don't know," he replied.

"I don't know is not an answer! You're going to the principal's office for bullying him!" my teacher yelled.

When I got back to class my teacher came up to me and thanked me for telling her that guy was bullying James

and I may go to the treasure box. That was two ways you could help a bully stop bullying people.

Continued on the next page

Character Education

During the month of December students, faculty and staff

will be practicing the character trait "Kindness”.

Kindness means being helpful,

thoughtful, caring, compassionate,

and considerate.

One Super Citizen student will be

selected from each of our

classrooms. These students best display the trait

of “Kindness” and will be honored in an assembly on

Tuesday, December 14.

Continued from previous page

Madeleine Driscoll (5th Grade- Mrs. Gaus)

"Hey, Allie!" Sarah Andrews ran to catch up with me. Brace yourself the words you are about to hear

are the beginnings of a horrible, monstrous, tale. Sarah finally arrived at my side, "we have a new kid in our

class". I looked at her blankly. "She's the biggest, meanest, bully ever, she's this high!" She raised her hands as

high above her head as she could, "and she can beat up anybody!" Sarah went on; I wondered if all of this was

true, if this new girl was as big and tall as Sarah said. "Ring" the loud bell went off and we headed to class.

When I walked through the door I saw everything Sarah had described. The huge girl towered over us.

I looked at the classroom atmosphere...nobody was talking to her. They were all talking about her; I heard a

constant gossiping and whispering throughout the class. I felt a knot in my stomach. Finally, Mrs. English

asked the new girl to come to the front of the class and introduce herself. "Melissa, is there something you

would like to tell us about yourself?" She shook her head no. Anna whispered in to my ear, "Don't talk to her,

she punches hard!" The knot in my stomach got tighter.

That night I was walking home from a movie, through a dark alley. That's when it happened. I heard

someone crying so I squinted to see right. Just by the light of the moon, I was able to make out the tear stained

face of...Melissa! I hesitated but sat down next to her on a wooden crate. I asked her what was wrong.

"Nobody likes me; they just assume I'm mean!" I told her that it was because she was new and no one knew the

real her yet, she just had to show them that she's not mean. I actually enjoyed the conversation because Melissa

was such a nice girl. The most important thing was that I learned not to judge a book by its cover.

Planning Lunch

with Your Student?

Parents are requested to notify the front office

staff 24 hours in advance of when they plan to eat

lunch with their child.

Due to the large number of students served by the

food service program, we ask that you eat with

your child on special occasions only.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Illnesses

Please remember to keep your student home if he/she

is ill. Sick students can easily infect others. If a child

becomes ill at school, and after a period of rest in the

clinic, cannot return to class, you will be notified to pick

up your student. Children cannot remain at school when

ill. Any student having or suspected of having a

communicable disease will not be permitted to attend

school. Any student returning to school after having a

communicable disease must provide a doctor’s note

indicating that return to school is safe.

Kindergarten

Mrs. Boardman

Thatcher Harrison

Mrs. Coulter

Jeremiah Molina

Nicole Peterson

Margaret Pasqualetti

Gianna Marchant

Ms. Massa

Aiden Corcoran

Camila Bray

Joshua Heidebrandt

Vinnie McGuinness

Mrs. Ortiz

Kaden Coppolella

Mrs. Sterrenberg

Olivia Coyle

Mrs. Whittenberg

Caesar Coteron

Chasden Johns

First Grade

Mrs. Black

Johnathan James

Mrs. Blanchette

Inis Garcia

Lindsay Hill

Quin Biron

Caio Calixto

Daniel Shaffer

Catherine Puentes

Rochenet Thelusmar

Mrs. Cary

Alec Mercado

Matthew Pearson

Danielle Damian

Sarah Spina

Ms. Crunkleton

Kristina Morales

Danielle Jost

Joanna Molfetto

Erick Zepeda

Sarah Schonis

Adam Martinez

Mrs. Nocera

Adam Nobles

Kelsie Yon

Gabriella Becker

Ms. Ogle

Stephen Brzybek

Enide Clerizier

Seth Gordon

Alexandra Medrano

Emilio Avendano

Rylee Sullivan

Ms. Steffes

Nicholas Manchant

Bianca Conley

Malik Miller

Adam Michael

Vazquez

Second Grade

Ms. Allen

Madahi Corpus

Karis Bettis

Ms. Goldman

Denisa Stavri

Mrs. Gronsky

Brian Gjyli

Arthur Verhoeven

Parker Hilts

Nicholas McGuinness

Ms. O’Hara

Charles Li

Roshan Gomes

Lucas Calixto

Francesca Parodi

Fiorella Davila

Ms. Shon

Kayeana Cedano

Marina Bray

Alexa Gonzalez

Michelle Klendworth

Samantha Peterson

Alex Marquard

Mr. Steinmetz

Anyeska Florencio

Jessica Mercer

Aaliyah Gualberto

Amber Sharma

Will Geiger

50 Read-A-Thon

Students were challenged to read 50 books or 50 chapters in 50 days and boy did they ever! The following

students completed the challenge and turned in their signed reading logs before the deadline and were rewarded

with a uniform-free day! Way to go Floranada readers!

Third Grade

Mr. Bub

Stephanie Medina

Manaia Rewi

Lindsey Londono

Gabriel Guedez

Sameer Akhtar

Joseph Olano

Ryan Lansdale

Olivia Forman

Paal Skjefstad

Gabriella Pineiro

Ms. Cummings

Andre Mercado

Karlyn Underhill

Gaby Molina

Cassie Baumgartner

Mr. Desky

Sabana Hung

Jack Gonzalez

Ryan Barr

Siana Rau

Omar Azad

Emma Hoffman

Kailah Price

Isabelle Munar

Ms. Fonda

Scott Lanzetta

Kyler Johns

Alex Crowe

Dylan Jost

Lormicia Morose

Sarina Gomes

Amanda Lapadula

Taylor Yon

Sophia Marquard

Cali Canaval

Diego Avendano

Mrs. Foresi

Jenna Saulnier

Steve Vento

Mrs. Lavere

Jameson Etienne

Mrs. Prospere

Riley Hardacre

Ms. Scott

Victoria Jovanovic

Olivia Jovanovic

Mrs. Smith

Mason Hunter

William Harvey

Ruth Noel

Fourth Grade

Ms. Curtis

Allahma Haque

Ms. Lallande

Tiffany DeFaria

Darian Cheung

Bailey Campbell

Victor Ribeiro

Camila Castellano

Zachary Rasor

Amy O’Connor

AJ Futo

Allie Tomaini

Jack McGuinness

Maia Botek

Andrew Antonelli

Gracie Lorber

Isabel Babun

Daniel Skrecz

Jonathan Zouari

Mrs. Rowe

Melissa Pearson

George Mueller

Ms. Stumper

Holden Melrose

Ms. Szpak

Antonio Adolph

Arlene Izquierdo

Tayven Mark

Kaitlyn Bergeron

Ms. Weinshenker

Lizzie Dost

Fifth Grade

Mr. Armstrong

MacKenzie Wilbanks

Camille Benson

Amaylia Minters

Nataly Chalco

Mrs. Barclay

Fabian Martinez

Mr. Burns

Elisabeth MacLeod

Kimberly Nicholson

Hunter Melrose

Mrs. Gaus

Brendan Bewll

Anthony LaPadura

Madeline Skjefstad

Diana Florencio

Sierra Harding

Harrison Waterway

Evan Ragon

Nia Beckett

Grismery Andrade

Daniela Schonis

Juan Cabrera

Jackeline Casco

Luiza DeRezende

Jamie Black

Nick Mattei

Derek Ragon

Julia Robinson

Joseph Li

Hanna Campbell

Samamtha Spada

Cody Lawson

Jae Xiong

Tiffany Schita

Maddie Driscoll

Kevyn Cochubey

Mr. Handanyan

Brandon Williams

Tiffany Smith

Samantha Bergeron

Candice Puentes

THIS JUST IN…

The window to apply for magnet middle schools or the NOVA schools opens on Wednesday,

December 1, 2010 for the 2011-12 school year. Parents will need their student’s Broward

County Student Identification number to complete an application. If you need your child’s Broward County Student Identification number, please contact the front office.

If you have any questions regarding the magnet schools, the NOVA schools, or the application process please contact

Magnet Programs

500 SE Third Avenue, 4th Floor

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: (754)321-2380

Or visit their website:

http://www.browardschoolsmagnetprograms.com/

The deadline to apply for a magnet school or the NOVA schools is February, 16, 2011.

News from the Classrooms

Kindergarten

Happy December from

Kindergarten!! We have really

been learning a lot about family

traditions. We will continue our

lessons on family traditions

throughout the month. We are

also having a lot of fun in math

practicing with numbers 11-20.

Here’s wishing all our Floranada

families an enjoyable winter

break! See you next year!!

Media

We have just finished an

extensive study of the authors

who wrote the Sunshine State

Readers for 2010. Students

researched all 15 authors, then

choose 5 of their favorites and

created a concept web using

Inspiration/Kidspiration. One of

the books, 11 Birthdays, focused

on the main characters’

hometown. We expanded on that

idea and learned through guided

research interesting information

about Ft. Lauderdale.

Next up? We will use the

Sun-Sentinel Newspaper in

Education Program (NIE) to

practice Functional Reading. I

think the students will enjoy

starting with the Sports section, as

we will be going on a scavenger

hunt. They will be following

directions to find very specific

information.

Second Grade

Tis the Season to be…

Sensational 2nd Graders!!!!

We were in "field trip heaven"

the last couple of weeks visiting

the Broward Center for the

Performing Arts on Nov. 18th and

the Museum of Discovery &

Science on Dec. 3. How we adore

the arts!!!

In addition, we kicked off our

KAPOW Program (Kids and the

Power of Work). During the

course of this year, each class will

pair up with a business to acquire

an awareness of the workplace as

well as to learn the important

character traits of perseverance,

dedication and responsibility.

We cannot believe the first

half of the school year is almost

over.

We wish all of our friends and

loved ones a healthy and happy

holiday season, but most

importantly, a fabulous vacation!

Fourth Grade

The 4th Grade teachers would

like to congratulate all of the

students chosen for Super Citizen

this month. It was a tough

decision in each class as we have

so many kind students!

Adlin Hechavarria (Ms. Curtis)

Gracie Lorber (Ms. Lallande)

Clay Eggan (Ms. Rowe)

Stephanie Dimatteo (Ms. Stumper)

Danielle Dessoye (Ms. Szpak)

Jakia Johnson (Ms. Weinshenker)

Curtis Thomas (Ms. Lavere)

Third Grade

Can you believe it? Third Grade

went on a field trip and never left

the building. What’s the

“MATTER” with us, you might

ask? Nothing - “Matter” is what we

have been studying in science.

Hightouch - Hightech came to us

for a “GREAT” science learning

experience in the classrooms.

Our Spelling Bee before

Thanksgiving was buzzing with

excitement! We would like to say

thanks to our guest judges, Mrs.

Chelton and Mrs. Miner.

As you can see, we are BUSY,

BUSY,BUSY!!!!!! And before you

know it, we’ll be leaving for the

Winter Break.

Cluster

November was another fabulous

month in Ms. Lavere's class. We

"digested" the end of the first

quarter while learning about the

systems of the human body. We

cruised along the Atlantic Ocean

from England to Massachusetts on

the Mayflower. We are now ready

for a 3-week exploration across the

world. We plan to study the various

cultures we meet and look forward

to learning about their celebrations

and traditions. But before we

venture off, we want to congratulate

Isabela Garabedian for being our

class, "Terrific Kid" this quarter,

Dylan Galiana for being our

November Super Citizen!

Helping Reading Comprehension Emerge

What Parents Can Do…

Here are 10 simple tips.

1. Read regularly (at least daily) to your children and talk about the things that you read.

2. Try to read the book with emotion, with invented sound effects, with different voices for characters and

the narrator, changes in voice volume and tone - much meaning is communicated this way.

3. Support their emerging understanding of what they read or hear by encouraging them to look at pictures

and images and relate these to the words that you read. Emphasize key words or repetitive patterns in

the book “But don’t forget the bacon”, “But where is the Green Sheep?”

4. Encourage them to relate ideas, language and knowledge that a book introduces to other areas of

learning or life – “You’ve got a teddy too”; “His puppy is like Darren’s puppy”: “We saw an elephant

like this one at the zoo.”

5. Encourage them to draw, sing, talk about, act out, make things, dress up and so on, in response to the

things that you read to them or they read themselves (creating meaning in response to books).

6. Encourage them to use other tools to make meaning (playdough, toy animals, dress-ups, Thomas trains,

drawing, craft etc) and relate these as appropriate to books (creating meaning leads to books).

7. Encourage them to memorize and learn things from the books they read or listen to. You can’t read

“Wombat Stew” without reciting over and over again “Wombat stew, Wombat stew, Gooey, brewy,

Yummy, chewy, Wombat stew!”

8. Encourage them to make connections between the things they read, view and experience – “This story is

like in the television show Shaun the Sheep when he…..”.

9. Read varied books – different story types, factual books as well as fiction, poetry and prose, different

forms of illustrations and so on.

10. Watch TV shows, videos and movies with your children and talk about them, explain things, try to make

connections with stories they have read, encourage response with art, drawing, play dough, puppets,

dressing up, acting out and so on.

Summing Up

Comprehension is ultimately the highest goal of reading.

We read to understand things, to work things out, and to make meaning.

Its foundations are laid in the first 5 years of life, not through

structured activities, but through the use and experience of language

and in particular, story.

Comprehension emerges over time, as children are

encouraged to encounter and use written language and to integrate

this with other avenues they have for making meaning.

Attention all 5th Grade Parents It’s time to start thinking about where your child will attend middle school. Crystal Lake Middle School

in Pompano Beach offers 3 nationally recognized, academically challenging, award winning Magnet Programs.

Qualified students may apply for Science/Pre-Engineering, International Affairs & Business or T.E.E.N.S.

Parents should plan on attending the “Magnet Programs Showcase” at the Broward County Convention Center

on December 8, 2010 from 5PM – 9PM. Crystal Lake will host their Magnet Programs Open House on

Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 7PM. Please contact Ms. Lenecia McCrary, Magnet Programs Coordinator, at

Crystal Lake Middle for more information at 754-322-3150.

Character Matters!

It's all about the character traits

that go along with Super Citizen...

Cooperation

Responsibility

Citizenship

Kindness

Respect

Honesty

Self-Control

Tolerance

Come on out and see the Diversity

Theater Group's production of Character

Matters. We will be performing

Wednesday, December 15th

at 6:30 p.m.

PTA News The PTA, staff and parents of Floranada are extremely grateful to Dr. Freeman and his staff for their generous

donations that made our Spaghetti Dinner a huge success! "Thank You" to Dr. Freeman and the friendly staff

of Freeman Orthodontics for taking the time to serve a delicious dinner to our families!

Fri., 12/3, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. - PTA's Hospitality Committee is hosting a Get Together for New Families to get to

know each other. This will be held at Bayview Park. "Old" families certainly are invited, too! If you have any

questions, see the flyers hanging up around the school or call the school and leave a message for the

Chairperson of the Hospitality Committee.

Fri., 12/10 @ 12:15 - The BMX bike stunt show for students who sold 10 or more Fall Fundraiser items. The

Top Selling student will be presented with a BMX bike, which is being donated by Leann Barber of Edward

Jones Investments.

12/10 - 15 - Holiday Shop is open during school hours.