SCHOOLS | I s s u e 5 0 | J an uar y - M arc h 2 016 Pe m bro ke P in e s S p o r t s & A c t i v i t i e s D i r e c t o r y
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he Urban Teacher Academy Program (UTAP) students visit four elementary schools (Pasadena Lakes, Palm Cove, Pembroke Lakes, and Silver Palms) and Walter C. Young Middle School each week. First year UTAP students teach Kindergarten and constructive creative lessons to give student a different perspective. Second year students mentor third graders and prepare them for incoming standardized testing. Third year students teach second graders an anti-bullying curriculum to combat the bullying epidemic. Finally, fourth year students tutor middle school students in areas of difficulty. This program allows potential teachers to discover their compatibility with the profession and, for many taking this class, solidifies their decision to become teachers. The Class of 2017 officially became upperclassmen! They celebrated their Ring Ceremony and received their class rings. The students looked great in semi-formal attire and enjoyed celebrating with friends and family. Come out and get a first glimpse of this year’s South Florida Color Guard and Percussion groups at the 15th annual Flanagan High School Friends & Family Night! Local color guards and drum lines will get together for a no-pressure, anything goes performance before debuting their shows in front of judges the next day. The event starts at 7pm on January 29, 2016 in Flanagan’s Main Gym. Please visit www. Flanagancg.org for more details.
By Paul Brancaccio, Daniel Castro & Gina Montagnino-Fiske
After long weeks of practicing, the NJROTC Competition Team took second place at the St. Lucie Field Meet on the 24th of October. They received third place overall for academics, second place overall for athletics (which includes pushups, curl ups, the 100 meter dash, and the 200 meter dash), and first place overall for drill (which includes armed basic and exhibition routines, unarmed basic and exhibition routines and color guard) and personnel inspection. The next field meet for the Competition Team will be at Boca Raton on the 12th of December, where they plan on performing even better. Congratulations to Henry Rose, community liaison and parent advocate in Pembroke Pines, who was inducted into the 2015 Broward Education Foundation Hall of Fame! The Falcon Foundation, the non-profit organization started by Rose, has helped support students through academics, arts, and athletics within the Flacon zone. Flanagan juniors Tyler Dueck and Francesca Abulencia presented a bill proposal to Florida Senator Jeremy Ring and Florida Representative Richard Stark titled “Restoring Women’s Health Care.” Their presentation was so impressive that Representative Stark and other guests interrupted their presentation midway to ensure that they received a copy of the PowerPoint and research. Visit our website at www.flanagahighschool.com and click on the FHS calendar on the left to learn more about Flacon academics, athletics, and activities. Go Falcons!
PINES CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE HITTING VERY HIGH NOTES
By Valerie Moran
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hree middle school students and a band director for The City of Pembroke Pines Charter School System have been selected to perform at the 2016 Florida Music Educators Conference held in Tampa in January 2016. The two eighth grade students, Nicholas Pizzo (Oboe) and Dante Harrison (Tuba), will represent Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School Central Campus in the Florida 7th & 8th Grade All State Band. “This is the first time in the history of our campus band program to have not just one, but two students selected into this prestigious band,” stated Edith “Edie” Shendell-Frankel, Band Director who, along with parents, will accompany the students on the trip. The students will join with 126 band students from around Florida and perform under the direction of a conductor from Polk County. “Our talented Ms. Shendell-Frankel is to be commended for her efforts. She works with our students to prepare them to be successful in the instrument of their choice. Her dedicated efforts are showing additional dividends… our students have achieved a great accomplishment,” commented Principal Sean Chance, Principal of the Pembroke Pines Charter School Central Campus. Lauren Fadel, an eighth grader, was selected to play in the Florida 7th and 8th Grade Honor Band (French Horn). Lauren represents Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School West Campus. Dayna Cole, the Band Director at Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School West Campus, was selected to conduct the 2016 Florida 7th and 8th Grade Honor Band. The Florida Bandmasters Association’s Clinics Committee selects conductors for the All State Bands several years in advance. Cole’s invitation came over two and a half years ago. “Her work at PPCMS and the outstanding performance of her bands over the past 17 years is what has brought her this prestigious honor,” said Michael Castellano, Principal at the Pembroke Pines Middle School West Campus. Cole has been a band director for 29 years.
In addition to conducting this year’s Honor Band, Mrs. Cole serves the Florida Bandmasters Association as the Junior High/Middle School Representative on the FBA Executive Board. Cole grew up in Broward County and played the flute at Lauderhill Middle School and Piper High School before attending both the University of Miami and Florida State University. Over the years, the West Campus has had five students in the All State Band and seven students selected to the Honor Band. Students from the Central and West Campuses achieved additional recognition when they were selected to perform at the Senior High School All State Ensembles. “This honor is especially significant when you consider just 128 band students and 1 band director from around the State of Florida are selected for each Band,” said Michael Castellano, Principal at the Pembroke Pines Middle School West Campus.