Lion Life, February 2023

Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum

Mel Nelson, Head of School

Revitalizing our programs and curriculum has been incredible Our Sagemont Prep educators focus on rigorous academic content, high-impact instruction, student engagement, and real-world application Through this, we develop in our students, your children, life-long skills that are rooted in the educational principles of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Embedding entrepreneurship and innovation at the core of our curriculum is not by chance. We know that this foundation, at any age, allows students to perfect real-life skills, which include problem-solving, collaboration, creativity, curiosity, analytical thinking, responsible-risk taking and being reflective. It is with these skills that our students can navigate anything presented before them. Having the ability to pivot, understand setbacks, and move forward are critical components that we value. Entrepreneurship and innovation are embedded across our curriculum from PS-12th grade, and this month, we are elated to share with you the many curricular and cocurricular processes and outcomes of this engagement thus far.

From our “kinderprenuers” planning and developing their Kindermart to our seniors at the recent Entrepreneurship Night showcasing nine businesses, we are deeply entrenched in this area of growth. In order to foster entrepreneurship and innovation continuously within our classroom, our educators have and are engaged in various professional development opportunities.

Through a partnership with Uncharted Learning, many of our educators and administrators have received ongoing professional development and coaching in actively empowering learners to acquire critical skills and knowledge, practice new behaviors, and adopt new mindsets across an entrepreneurial journey. This journey includes:

Discovery: Adopting a spirit of curiosity, creativity, imagination, innovation, optimism, problem-finding, and opportunity-seeking.

Design: Approaching challenges as inherently solvable through a process of complex thinking, creative problemsolving, and purposeful design.

Development: Actively experimenting, tinkering, testing, iterating, team-building, and project-managing. Delivery: Effectively communicating, packaging, and telling compelling stories of big ideas while actively connecting with and influencing key stakeholders.

Extensive professional experiences are key to our curricular growth, and this includes training beyond Uncharted Learning as well. Sagemont Prep is part of an extensive group of educational institutions. We are very fortunate to have an education team that provides professional learning opportunities to our Instructional Mentors, Vanguard Teachers, and Academic Team Leaders on a monthly basis In turn, our Sagemont Prep lead teachers and campus leaders across both campuses facilitate a wide range of professional development to expand our knowledge on research-based practices, as we improve student achievement It truly has been an evolution of thought, processes, and a genuine love for learning for both our Sagemont Prep educators and the students.

Sincerely yours in transformative educational excellence,

Mel Nelson

Vega, Ticket Experience,” developed a VIP section at the home basketball game. Patrons were treated to elevated seating in a prime location and a delicious full-service meal. Eric stated that the learning experience was invaluable, but a lot of work! “We definitely understood that we had to make the VIP section visually appealing to attract customers. We learned that we needed to have excellent customer service and keep everything clean and sanitary. In the end, we definitely bought too much food, which cut into profits, and if we had eliminated some waste, we would have been even more successful.”

After weeks of anticipation, Sagemont Prep celebrated the grand re-opening of Pride Rock Café, with much fanfare including a reunion of the original founding club members and visitors from the Spring Education executive team. Pride Rock Café is the cornerstone of our educational philosophy of student-powered innovation. After a Capital Improvement project of over $70,000, we are excited to continue our mission grounded in entrepreneurship and innovation in a new and refreshed space at the Upper Campus. Pride Rock Café was conceptualized and opened during the 2017-18 academic year by a group of students who had the vision to create an inviting space for students to create and gather while harnessing an entrepreneurial mindset.

Alexa Frances, General Manager of Pride Rock and President of DECA, stated, "Pride Rock is an outlet of expression and creativity. It is a place of collaboration where artists, different clubs, and athletes can work together. Pride Rock has also always focused on giving back and has donated to the SCUBA Club to help get them started, raised money for the Navajo Water Project, ChildNet, and other charities." Alexa currently manages 32 members and has enjoyed developing her public speaking and leadership skills as a result of her role in the club. Alexa credits Mr. Brown for pushing her to her full potential and says, "I would never have thought I could run for Vice President two years ago if Mr. Brown did not tell me 'young lady- you can do this!'"

Pride Rock has inspired many younger students to become more involved in clubs and to take responsible risks. Nicolas Arencibia, the first middle school student to join, stated, "I’ve been able to expand my understanding of entrepreneurship through my experience with Pride Rock and my time with Mr. Brown, because I have been able to see firsthand and behind the scenes of a business. The grand opening is the opening of new doors, both literally and figuratively, to expand knowledge.” Nicolas is looking forward to hosting upcoming events such as the Sagemont Prep Book Club meeting, the Interact Club “Smash Brothers” video gaming fundraiser for Handy, and providing concessions for the first Aerial Drone Competition on campus.

Alongside our student entrepreneurs, we congratulate our student innovators. The Sagemont Prep Aerospace Engineering Team, aptly named “Spacemont,” recently attended the 2023 Student Astronaut Space Challenge at the Kennedy Space Center. The student Astronaut Challenge is an aerospace-based competition in which students are tasked with challenges in the following categories: aerospace engineering, space science design, space shuttle flight simulation, space shuttle landing simulation, and flight patch design. Impressively, the Spacemont team is entirely composed of middle school students who tackled these challenges.

Earlier this school year, the Sagemont Synergy Rock Band Class and Synergy Singers Club auditioned for Disney’s Imagination Campus. Imagination Campus selects different musical acts from around the country to perform at Disney. Synergy was thrilled to be selected to perform and participate in Disney’s 50th Anniversary and rocked out on the stage at Disney Springs for an enthusiastic audience. Students proudly represented the Sagemont Preparatory School jammin’ to songs by Fleetwood Mac, Queen, and Phil Collins.

Sagemont Prep Lower School

Monica Vigna, Lower School Principal

At Sagemont Preparatory Scho entrepreneurship opportunities students about finances, sales, savings, and marketing, to name a few. At the same time, students can learn critical life skills such as brainstorming, operations, problem-solving, risk-taking, facing failure and having the perseverance to get back up again, setting goals, working collaboratively in a team, and feeling comfortable to work individually.

Our students are presented with opportunities that will prepare them for the many unknowns of the future job market. It is critical that they can think and build for themselves. These opportunities incorporated into lessons, themes, projects, and special areas correlate to our Educational Pillars: curiosity, creativity, analytical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, responsible risk-taking, and reflection. Our educators teach the importance of being resilient, having a vision, and embracing opportunities.

Our fifth-grade teachers emphasize the school's Educational Pillars and mission utilizing the Uncharted Learning comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum mxINCedu. The program is facilitated by our teachers, but it is our 5th graders that do the heavy lifting and are active participants. MxINCedu is a progressive, experiential journey that empowers students to drive their own learning and embrace an iterative process of testing, learning, and applying the learning. The project consists of six distinct phases of doing, supported by the curriculum. Students utilize creative brainstorming, business models, and logical risk-taking skills to develop their businesses. Each student in 5th grade developed and presented their business pitch and worked collaboratively with a classmate to effectively market their business.

Many opportunities continue to be presented to our students at Sagemont Prep. These opportunities provide real-world exposure to better prepare them for their future. Recently our student council

participated in a community service project. Students assumed full responsibility for the project, including effectively budgeting for the event. This opportunity maximized our Educational Pillars of collaboration and reflection.

Our Environmental Club students are also on an entrepreneurial journey. Students collaborated with the science department and brainstormed during their monthly meetings ways to conserve water. This process began with identifying a problem and creatively seeking possible solutions. In-depth discussions took place on the usage of water and possible ways to conserve water at home and school. Their next step was to analyze the school's water bill. The students were curious to see how much water is utilized at the school. Upon completing the research, students presented a proposal to the leadership team noting suggestions for conserving water.

In February, Sagemont Prep students immersed themselves in learning about black entrepreneurs and leaders and their impact on society. Students learned from a variety of key figures. The community was brought into the classroom to enhance their experience and expand their knowledge of black entrepreneurs and leaders. Parents provided mini sessions on their business, triumphs, and challenges.

Our preschool students have been learning about American History and the accomplishments of many African Americans. The class focused on one influential leader each week. They began with Flemmie Pansy Kittrell, the first African American woman to earn a Ph. D. in nutrition. The importance of eating healthy and learning about the food we put in our bodies was highlighted throughout the discussion. The students continued their lessons by studying Robert Tanner, the first African American to graduate with a dental degree in the U.S. The children loved learning about how to take care of their teeth through hands-on activities and even roleplayed being a dentist in our dramatic play area. The lessons were correlated to being a leader in society. The students will continue to learn about other leaders like Garrett Morgan and artists like Romare Bearden. Incorporating diversity is a priority all year long.t

College Counseling

Tera Sweeting, Upper School College Counselor

Sagemont Prep's College Counseling Department has the pleasure of working with all students gearing up for college planning and exploring entrepreneurship in various ways. Each student has the opportunity to take a deep dive into a multitude of resources to explore, as it pertains to being a successful entrepreneur, engineer, counselor etc. and how to prepare themselves effectively for the future.

There is something so special about planning for the future, whether it's researching colleges, scheduling classes, exploring internship opportunities, or planning one's summer. Summer learning is an often overlooked time for future planning, but it is critical, especially for our older students. One of the most accessible ways to tap into the wide range of opportunities is by working with me, your college counselor. Summer programs are available in every area of study, from the arts and sciences to languages and athletics. They may be offered at colleges, museums, performing arts centers, and recreation centers.

You can find residential programs where you live, housing with other students, and classes you can commute to There are many ways to participate in a summer program

Many students choose to take part in special summer learning programs to:

Explore their interests

Develop new skills

Gain hands-on experience

Meet other students with similar interests

Get a taste of college life

Try out college classes

Earn college credits

Participating in a summer program is also a strong addition to your college application. Summer programs showcase your commitment to furthering your education and experience. In addition, summer programs are a key component of networking, interpersonal relations, and the exploration of different students and cultures. Three of the top programs for entrepreneurs in pre-college summer programs are Berkeley Business Academy for Youth, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy, and Exploring Entrepreneurship Fordham University. ollege Summer Programs, at

C O L L E G E V I S I T S

Sagemont Prep students have had the opportunity to meet with college and university representatives from across the world. Below are the colleges and universities that have visited our campus this school year, and the list continues to grow.

Alcorn State University

Barry University

Bethune-Cookman University

Boston College

Boston University

Bryant University

Clemson University

College of the Holy Cross

Columbia College

Dean College

Drew University

Edward Waters University

Eckerd College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emmanuel College

Fairfield University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Flagler College

Florida A&M University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Memorial Aviation University

Florida State University

George Mason University

High Point University

Hult International Business School

INTO University Partnerships

Jacksonville University

Kennesaw State University

Lafayette College

Lees-McRae College

LIM College

Loyola University Maryland

Lynn University

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Rollins College

Saint John's University

Saint Mary's College

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah State University

Seton Hall University

Spelman College

St Thomas

Stetson University

Sullivan University

SUNY Cortland

Texas A&M University

The American University of Paris

The University of Alabama

The University of Tampa

University of Albany

University of California Riverside

University of Chicago

University of Connecticut

University Of Delaware

University of Florida

University of Maryland

University of Miami

University of Oregon

University of Saint Andrews

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

University of Toledo

Valdosta State University

Vassar College

Verto Partnerships University

Virginia Tech

Miami International Institute of Art & Design

Michigan State University

New College of Florida

New York Film Academy

Nova Southeastern University

Oglethorpe University

Regis University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rider University

Ringling College of Art & Design

School Counseling

Luann Burrows, Upper School Counselor Entrepreneurship

“

As we look to the future, career options seem endless. While some jobs are headed toward extinction, it is also true that the creation of brand-new occupations will be necessary for our techdriven economy. As these technologies increase productivity and improve our lives, usage will substitute for some work activities humans currently perform—a development that has sparked much public concern.

Sagemont Preparatory School, with its vision to send leaders out into the world, sets our school apart from others by inspiring academic excellence through exploration, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Students can develop intellectual curiosity and creativity, think analytically, problem solve, work collaboratively, take responsible risks, and carefully reflect on the results to strive for continual improvement. These skills are vital for entrepreneurs in this fast-paced, ever-changing world.

All this came to life at Sagemont Preparatory a few years ago when some very determined Sagemont Prep students relaunched the 100% student-led Pride Rock Cafe, which has continued to grow into an incredibly successful business. Each year seasoned entrepreneurs in the student-run cafe transition the small business to a new group of eager, uprising entrepreneurs.

Embodying the characteristics of entrepreneurship is more than just a desire to make money. According to Daniel Bortz, successful entrepreneurs benefit from acquiring the following nine traits: Motivation, Creativity, Persuasiveness, Vision, Versatility, Risk Tolerance, Flexibility, Decisiveness, and Collaboration. Sagemont Prep provides the opportunity to develop these nine entrepreneurial skills and many more daily. It is the student’s job to embrace them and make them their own. Most students learn about entrepreneurship in college, but Sagemont Prep knows sooner is better for entrepreneurial education. There is no doubt that what separates successful entrepreneurs from non-successful ones is pure perseverance.

“The

The best way to predict the future is to create it,” Peter Drucker

difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a person’s determination,” Tommy Lasorda

School Counseling

Maritza Zea, Lower School Counselor Soft Skills for a Young Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are ideas people. The personal traits that help students become successful entrepreneurs are commonly referred to as soft entrepreneurial skills. Soft entrepreneurial skills include collaborating with others, being resilient and curious, taking responsible risks, being creative or innovative, and having empathy.

At the Sagemont Preparatory School, counselors begin teaching soft entrepreneurial skills in preschool. Team-building and cooperation experiences help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and build on social, emotional, and behavioral skills. Cooperating with others carries over into all aspects of their lives and becomes the foundation for turning them into citizens who meet present and future entrepreneurial challenges.

Books like Katta Mapes's Stop! Think! Choose!: Building Emotional Intelligence in Young People (2000) argues that students must master cooperating with others since connecting to and maintaining relationships is a crucial soft skill for an entrepreneur. Soft entrepreneurial skills like cooperation are often directly linked with emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence involves the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. This can be crucial for success in entrepreneurship, where building and maintaining relationships is often vital to success.

This month I centered my guidance lessons on building emotional intelligence in the students and stressed cooperating with others. Working together gave the students a chance to apply all that they have learned so far about connecting, communicating, and cooperating. We discussed basic skills and procedures that enhance the cooperative process of working together. Students learning to cooperate and work together on any project will help them in school and with their families and careers. I gave the groups an assignment to use straws and tape to build the highest tower they could in twelve minutes. Each small group must cooperate to compete with the other groups. Once all groups have finished, a neutral judge measures the towers. We discussed as a whole group teamwork on sports teams, how they are organized, who makes decisions, how they handle conflicts, etc. I made sure to include different personalities: quiet ones, vocal ones, laid-back and so on. Afterward, we asked processing questions, such as: was this easy or hard to do? Who emerges as a leader? Were there any conflicts or disagreements? If so, how were they resolved? Did everyone agree on how to build it? If not, how was the disagreement handled?

Good cooperative skills require a high level of emotional intelligence, as they involve understanding the needs and perspectives of others and working together to achieve shared goals.

Here are some ways to develop soft entrepreneurial skills in elementary school children:

Encourage creativity and problem-solving- Encourage children to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to problems. This can be done through various activities such as brainstorming

sessions, hands-on projects, and encouraging them to develop their own ideas.

Emphasize the value of hard work- Teach children that success requires effort and perseverance. Encourage them to work hard towards their goals and never to give up.

Teach money management- Teach children about budgeting, saving, and investing. Encourage them to earn their own money and manage it wisely.

Foster teamwork- Teach children the importance of working well with others. Encourage them to collaborate on projects and to help each other out.

Encourage self-motivation- Teach children to take the initiative and be proactive in their learning and personal development. Empower them to set goals and take charge of their own lives.

Teach communication skills- Teach children the importance of effective communication, both verbally and in writing. Encourage them to practice their skills through role-playing, public speaking, and writing exercises.

Nurture a growth mindset- Teach children to embrace challenges and to view failures as opportunities for growth and improvement.

In short, building emotional intelligence in young students is essential in developing students' entrepreneurial skills.

Interesting read this month: In the Age of A.I., Major in Being Human-David Brooks - NYT 02-03-23

T H L E T I C S

Athletics

Shane Marcey, Director of Athletics

Entrepreneurship is an essential aspect embedded in Sagemont Prep’s curriculum framework. We believe our internship programs provide platform for our students to work under our experts in their respective fields while acquiring the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace and their careers. Keeping in line with our academic rigor, Sagemont Prep’s athletic department introduced a new sports management internship for the 2022-23 school year.

As an intern, students work with Coach Marcey to learn the behind-thescenes aspects of running the athletic department. Some of the tasks include scheduling contests, officials, transportation, field rentals, ordering equipment and apparel, attending FHSAA district planning meetings for individual sports, meeting representatives from various vendors, and even working alongside Coach Marcey at home athletic events. By the end of their internship, we are confident that our students will have a far better understanding of the enormous workload and time it takes to maintain an efficient and successful department.

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AIn other news, we hope to see our Sagemont Prep faithful at our remaining basketball games as our men’s team prepares to make their run for the program’s 3rd State Championship. The Regional tournament begins next Thursday, and all three games will be played at home in the Goldman Athletic Center. The road to the state title runs through Sagemont Prep and the City of Weston! Our men’s baseball team kicks off their 2023 campaign on Tuesday, February 23rd, at 6:30 pm against Northeast High at Tequesta Trace Park. Follow us on Instagram @sagemontprepathletics for full game schedules and updates on our spring sports. GO LIONS!!!

Innovation & Technology

Estefania Martinez, Innovation & Technology Coordinator

What is Epic?

Epic is the leading digital reading platform for kids 12 and under! Epic is a fun, kid-safe, interactive reading app that fuels curiosity and reading confidence. It lets kids freely explore their interests with instant, anytime access to a library of thousands of books, audiobooks, learning videos, and more.

Can my child use Epic at home? Absolutely! Epic has 40,000+ popular high-quality books to get them reading and learning anytime, anywhere! Epic has thousands of fun, interactive learning videos, audiobooks, Read-To-Me books, quizzes, and Spanish-, French- and Chineselanguage books. Epic is an excellent resource for students to read on the go and continue to instill their love for reading!

Technology-Rich Classrooms

Mrs. Irigoyen, Sagemont Prep First Grade Teacher, infuses technology daily within her classroom. Ms. Irigoyen regularly incorporates Epic into her everyday teaching. "I incorporate Epic within my classroom to generate opportunities to enrich and expand the information children have learned from topics and lessons linked to the curriculum." Epic also allows students to complete reading comprehensions, where student data is then reported to the teacher in real time so that our faculty can provide individual support and enrichment activities for students. Epic is a great resource our teachers incorporate into their everyday teaching and can also be used in the comfort of your own home!

Maddie Purcell

11th Grade

What is the name of your business or product?

What is your product/service?

"I resell shoes and clothing."

Who or what is your inspiration as an entrepreneur and why?

"My biggest inspiration was my old manager. He showed me that I didn't want to work for another company's retail store ever again, inspiring me to start my own business. I worked for a year so I had enough money to invest in something for a little while. But I only knew what I wanted to do once I went to sneaker con for the first time. I liked all these different people with these big stands full of bizarre shoes. I was there for over six hours, asking each and every stand what techniques they use to make buyers want their product."

What's your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

"My favorite part would be convincing buyers to want my product and buying new types of shoes."

How do you maintain a balance with school and being a young entrepreneur?

"I am not a full-time entrepreneur because my work is usually only on weekends and rarely on school days."

What are the biggest challenges to being an entrepreneur? How do you work through the challenges?

"The biggest challenge for me would be that some other resellers can buy their shoes for retail prices, whereas I can only buy certain types for retail if I'm lucky. A very important part of the sneaker business is having friends and connections. I have to drive to every Foot Locker, Sneaker City, etc, to get deals. I offer them money to let me know when they get in new sneakers for retail prices."

Maddie's Closet

New Student to Sagemont Prep!

Tiernan Bradley

6th Grade

New Student to Sagemont Prep!

What is the name of your business or product?

"Fundraising & Charity"

What is your product/service?

"I held a series of food stalls to raise money for Ukrainian refugees who fled to Ireland in the early days of the war. Myself and two of my friends sold lemonade, baked goods, and candy at three different stalls (in three different locations). We raised £1,100.00 to donate to The Ukraine Fund. We also bought a gift card to a toy store for a refugee who enrolled in my school because he left all of his toys in Ukraine, and we wanted him to feel welcome."

Who or what is your inspiration as an entrepreneur and why?

"I find running a business to be a fun challenge and I hope be successful in work and life."

What's your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

"My favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur is meeting new people when my customers interact with my business."

What are the biggest challenges to being an entrepreneur? How do you work through the challenges?

"The biggest challenge to being an entrepreneur is the time it takes to operate a successful business while juggling sports and school."

How do you maintain a balance with school and being a young entrepreneur?

"I have not yet found a balance between school and being a young entrepreneur. I prioritize school. I hope that school will better educate me so I can one day focus more of my time on being an entrepreneur."

SAGEMONT PREP SAGEMONT PREP

Staff Spotlight Staff Spotlight

ADRIANA GALARZA

The best way for teachers to encourage children's curiosity is to remain curious yourself. Viewing the learning environment around you through the lens of your students allows you to create learning experiences that will spark interest and engagement. I enjoy bringing the outside world into the classroom and creating a culture of exploration and innovation.

Learning comes to life through play in my classroom. We explore real-world scenarios through dramatic play and discovery. Students are encouraged to use their imaginations and immerse themselves in various situations. Dramatic play is integral to the developmental learning process and critical in early child development to better prepares them for the future.

SAGEMONT PREP SAGEMONT PREP Staff Spotlight Staff Spotlight

VIVIAN MORTAKIS

E D U C A T I O N

Barry University

Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education

ESOL Endorsement

Barry University

Masters of Reading

By challenging students to "think outside of the box" and create new things from these experiences, they become more in tune with not only the way they process information but how they can apply it to become well-rounded individuals. I feel that success isn't measured by how many 'A's' students earn but simply by how individual goals are set and achieved. Because of the fact that everyone is unique and possess diverse talents, one shouldn't follow a "cookie-cutter" approach but rather ensure that the best teaching and learning is taking place through the use of various skills, tips, and tools to meet the need of each individual's learning style and multiple intelligence. Moreover, failure is a must in order to obtain success. Learning from our mistakes allows us the insight on how to become more productive and triumphant throughout our educational career and beyond.

By having students take part in hands-on activities that pertain to real-world experiences. Making real-world connections is vital when it comes to ensuring that comprehension is taking place. I strongly feel that optimal learning happens when things are taught in a multitude of ways and then shown how they can relate/be applied to one's everyday routine. "Everything we do in life is on purpose and for a purpose." Education is ever-changing, and we must evolve to ensure our success throughout our lifetime. We are all students of life and, therefore, will continue to learn. As educators, we must guide our students and play the role of facilitator in helping them achieve their dreams and goals.

Mrs Mortakis speaks three languages, English, Spanish, & Greek! She has over 17 years of teaching experience!

SAGEMONT PREP SAGEMONT PREP Staff Spotlight Staff Spotlight

SOPHIE MICHIELS

EhB - Erasmushogeschool Brussels

I am passionate about Chemistry and hope students see that passion in the classroom. I differentiate instruction by implementing many activities and labs, so students can have hands-on experiments to investigate the properties of matter and draw conclusions. Implementing the new technology of Vernier that allows students to collect data on a laptop or device and get instant results is fascinating as we live in a constantly changing and evolving world.

Chemistry is everywhere in the world. I set high expectations in the classroom and take students to seek their highest critical order thinking through guided inquiry lab activities. Students are challenged to connect Chemistry to real-world examples by investigating items of their interest in projects. Like I always say, “Chemistry is everywhere in life.”

SAGEMONT PREP SAGEMONT PREP Staff Spotlight Staff Spotlight

REYNA ORIOL

E D U C A T I O N

Universidad Metropolitana, Caracas, Venezuela

Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages

Saint Michael's College

Master of Arts, Teaching as a Second Language

Saint Michael's College

C.A.G.S., Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, Education

Spanish National Honor Society Sponser

I ignite curiosity in my Spanish Heritage students by immersing them in the world of literature. Before reading the books, we study the author's life, time, and place of origin. We make predictions based on the book's cover and learn about their setting through pictures and videos. When we do, we imagine ourselves in the places where the stories take place and wish we could visit them to learn more.

I talk to them about the importance of Spanish in the world. Since I teach the Spanish Heritage Speakers, I am focusing on their reading and writing skills so that they are fluent in all areas of the language and can apply it in college and beyond.

Sagemont Prep Alumni Spotlight

Braedon Villano, Class of 2016

Undergraduate: Harvard College

Bachelors of Arts: Computer Science

Early Admittance MBA: MIT Sloan

Life After Sagemont:

"In 2020, I graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Computer Science. I then moved to New York City to start a full-time profession as a Software Engineer. I was admitted to MIT Sloan for their deferred business program and will likely matriculate in the next couple of years. I presently live in Brooklyn and work at Meta as a server-side engineer for all the two billion posts that traffic through Facebook's ecosystem daily. I have had the opportunity to travel to several new places (in Brazil at the time of writing) and have met many cool individuals along the way. In my free time, I work on film projects (hoping to finish my first short film soon) and other coding efforts that spark my interest. Recently, I have been helping out some startups looking to make it big and can't quite curb the itch to join in on the fun... I guess we will see what the future holds."

How did Sagemont ignite your passions?

"Sagemont is a unique environment where opportunity abounds, and the environment is collaborative. I think these are undeniable qualities born out of Sagemont's close-knit community. While there are many environments that have opportunities, it is often the case that such opportunities are scarce or that the environment cultivates a harmful breed of competition. Studying at Sagemont taught me that the biggest and most meaningful problems are solved in

collaboration. Since graduating from Sagemont, I have self-selected projects and initiatives that hold a similar value system and embrace active collaboration and opportunity for all. I believe these ideals generate an incredibly valuable skillset lost among many high-achieving students and individuals."

Braedon

is currently a Software Engineer at Meta

Sagemont

Words of Advice:

"Take advantage of the opportunity around you! If there is something that sparks your interest that isn't present, talk to others (students/staff) and work to make it a reality. Sagemont is one of the very few places where vision can become a reality."

Started at Sagemont Prep in 6th grade!!

Sagemont Prep Alumni Spotlight

Elizabeth Hurwitz, Class of 2016

Undergraduate: Indiana University - Bloomington

Major: Media

Concentration: Advertising

Specialty: Creative Advertising

Minor: Sociology

Life After Sagemont:

"In February of 2021, I moved to Chicago, Illinois, where my company and team are based. I work on the State Farm Insurance account and am the team lead for the Paid Social Acquisition, State Farm Latino, and Recruitment portion of the business. By getting to work on a large-scale account like State Farm, I have had the opportunity to be a part of exciting campaign activations that include stars like Jake From State Farm, Chris Paul, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Trae Young, Boban Marjanović, Erin Lim Rhodes, and even Sagemont's very own Sebastián Yatra."

How did Sagemont ignite your passions?

"The opportunity to experience Senior Market helped uncover my passion for marketing. The excitement that came with building a business from the ground up and learning how to sell your product while keeping profitability in mind is something I knew I wanted to take into college and later my career. Luckily, I have been able to bring that to life each day by working in the advertising and media industry!"

Sagemont Prep Staff Inspiration:

"This one is easy – Ms. Sponnable. I was lucky enough to be Sponn's student two years in a row, and while she might claim we were a pleasure (most of the time), she was really the pleasure. Some might say she was one of Sagemont's "tougher" teachers, but the reality is that she pushed us to be the best version of ourselves because she saw our true potential. While it might not have made sense to a frustrated 17-year-old, she saw untapped potential in many of us. Her driving force makes perfect sense now, and I am forever grateful. For me, my untapped potential was public speaking. Thanks to Sponn, what I believed to be a fear, she saw as an innate skill that just needed some practice. She helped uncover a confidence that has granted me visibility in a crowd, which later led to job offers and opportunities in the middle of a pandemic.

Thanks to Sponn, two years into building my career, I am acknowledged for my ability to lead a room and build trust with my clients. It's teachers like Ms. Sponnable whom students remember far past their tenure in high school, and she is still someone I think of today."

Words of Advice:

"If you have the opportunity to try something that scares you, do it. As someone who grew up in Weston for 18 years, it is easy to fall into the same routine. While routine isn’t a bad thing, there is so much world and life to experience. Challenge yourself to go to a college in a new place, to meet new people, or move to a new city. The butterflies may initially overwhelm you, but I can promise it will be absolutely worth it in the end."

Started at Sagemont Prep in Pre-School!!

Our Lion Table Talk Speaker’s

th Dr. Brent Goldman and Mrs. Sherry Adams. Dr. Goldman educational entrepreneurs who were so kind and generous w ay educating our 5th-12th grade students on the importance of grit, teamwork, passion, and relentless fortitude in their journeys as entrepreneurs. Our Lion Table Talk hosts included Annave Noel (12th grade), Serena Mair (11th grade), and Jatavia Sweeting (10th grade), all young entrepreneurs who commanded the room with insightful interview questions and absolute grace.

Lion Table Talk started as the brainchild of Annave Noel and Serena Mair, who wanted to create a new format for speakers to engage their peers. Lion Table Talk is a talk-show-style interview process and opens up to questions from students as well. We thank our established entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs for a great event.

Dr. Brent Goldman is a part of the founding family of what started as The Sagemont School. Dr. Goldman has spearheaded many educational ventures since his days at Sagemont Prep, including several online schools. Dr. Goldman is consistently recognized as a leader in innovative education and has been profiled in the FloridaTrend 500, Thrive Global, and Authority Magazine for his commitment and dedication to providing a personalized learning environment for students.

Sherry Adams is the entrepreneur and visionary behind Stratford School in California, which she co-founded in 1999. Alongside her colleagues, she has grown Stratford School from one school in the back of a church to now educating nearly 9,000 students across 28 locations. As a founding board member and Vice Chairwoman of Spring Education Group, the largest provider of private schools across the nation, her commitment to academic excellence is unwavering.

Thank you to the Issa family for their generous capital improvement donation at the Sagemont Preparatory School Upper Campus, totaling $45,000! The Issa family have been entrepreneurs in the South Florida community for over 35 years and joined the Sagemont Prep family four years ago.

Their son, Dominic, has been making remarkable contributions to our Sagemont Prep family since his first day in 8th grade. Dominic is an invaluable member of our student body and a true student leader on and off the basketball court. He participates in Student Government, the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, the Rho Kappa Honor Society, and DECA, all while challenging himself in the classroom with a rigorous schedule of honors and advanced placement coursework.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity to our Sagemont Prep family!