Annual Peanut Butter Challenge Underway
October 3, 2018
If you want to help feed the hungry in Florida’s Panhandle this year, you can donate peanut butter during the annual Peanut Butter Challenge, coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension. Thanks to a partnership of UF/IFAS Extension and the Florida Peanut Producers Association, food pantries from Pensacola to Monticello will receive thousands of jars of donated peanut butter this December.
The annual Peanut Butter Challenger coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension is underway.
From now through November. 21, donate unopened jars of peanut butter at the UF/IFAS Extension office and other locations in Escambia County. This year, drop-off boxes can be found at:
- UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. W St., Pensacola
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor, Pensacola
- Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit,10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Since 2012, the volunteers and UF/IFAS Extension faculty have collected jars of peanut butter from residents, volunteer groups and businesses in 16 Northwest Florida counties. Last year, UF/IFAS Extension county offices received 6,388 jars of peanut butter from across the district.
In addition to these donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association also contributes, supplying more than 3,000 jars each challenge, said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the challenge.
They hope to surpass that total this year, and citizens of Escambia County are asked to help.
“Every year, the Peanut Butter Challenge continues to grow and helps support the needs of our community with a healthy, locally-grown crop,” Johnson said. “Extension is proud to coordinate the effort to reduce food insecurity for Escambia County residents.”
Friends Of The Library Big Fall Book Sale Was A Big Success
October 2, 2018
The annual Friends of West Florida Public Library’s Big Fall Book Sale was a big success. Organizers said the annual event raised almost $14,000 for the Friends, a non-profit support organization of the West Florida Public Library. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Not Too Late To Enter The Northview Homecoming Parade
October 2, 2018
There are already about 45 entries in Friday’s Northview High School Homecoming Parade, and organizers said it is not too late to sign up to take part.
The parade will line up at 12:30 p.m. and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here.
A homecoming meal to support the Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship Fund will be sold for $7. Meals will be served after 10 a.m. on October 5 and will include a barbecue sandwich, chips, dessert and a drink.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 or email pbyars@escambia.k12.fl.us for more information or to reserve homecoming meals.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 5 against the Jay Royals.
Pictured: The 2017 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reduced Adoption Fees This Month At The Escambia Animal Shelter
October 1, 2018
In celebration of National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, the Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering a special reduced adoption fee of $50 for all dogs and puppies and $20 for all cats and kittens during the month of October.
Adoption fees include altering of the animal (spay or neutering services), microchip, heart worm test, and the initial vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a license at the time of adoption. This is an additional $11 over the adoption fees and is paid separately.
The Escambia County Animal Shelter is located at 200 West Fairfield Drive and is open Monday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the shelter at (850) 595-3075.
Cristofoletti Named Molino Park Teacher Of The Year
September 29, 2018
Helen Cristofoletti has been named the Molino Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Cristofoletti teacher kindergarten at Molino Park. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Sets Homecoming Parade; Entries Now Accepted
September 27, 2018
The annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade has been set for Friday, October 5.
The parade will line up at 12:30 p.m. and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by October 1.
A homecoming meal to support the Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship Fund will be sold for $7. Meals will be served after 10 a.m. on October 5 and will include a barbecue sandwich, chips, dessert and a drink.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 or email pbyars@escambia.k12.fl.us for more information or to reserve homecoming meals.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 5 against the Jay Royals.
Pictured: The 2017 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office K-9 Team Places At National Field Trials
September 25, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Team earned two big wins recently at the United States Police Canine Association’s National Patrol Dog Field Trials.
During the Four-Man Department Team Competition, Escambia County’s Deputy J. Marcum and K-9 Benga, Deputy J. Rogers and K-9 Axel, Deputy M. Watkins and K-9 Bady, and Deputy J.R. Reaves and K-9 Alek took third place.
Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby and K-9 Enzo won 15th place overall out of 85 teams.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bonus Pics: NHS Band, Cheerleaders
September 24, 2018
Click here for a bonus photo gallery featuring Northview cheerleaders, the Tribal Beat Band and the NJROTC.
For game details from Friday night and an action photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Take Stock in Children Selects 25 New Students For Scholarship Program
September 24, 2018
There were 25 middle school students were recently selected for the Take Stock in Child Scholarship program.
There are now a total of 126 students in grades 7-12 in Escambia County’s program. Students will receive a college scholarship upon graduation from high school as long as they maintain good grades, attendance and citizenship, remain crime and drug free, and meet weekly with a volunteer community mentor.
The newly selected students include:
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Allyson Jones, Dequan Shabazz, Brier Thompson
- Ransom Middle School – Kaylee Emmons, Bobbie-Sue Jarrell, Quentin Lewis-Wright, Malachi Williams
- Jim Bailey Middle School – Henry Addy, Nathan Barberi, Luke Campbell, Brogan Dougherty, Nyla Hunter-Smith, Keyonte Smith, Jayla Stallworth
- Brown Barge MiddleSchool – Ralynn Durant, Jessica Hatton, Bailey Poston
- Ferry Pass Middle School – Jaden Allen, Ariyanna Cunningham, Nolan Howie, Chaeli Lackey
- Workman Middle School – Nancy Mendez-Rostro, Chancellor Washington
Take Stock in Children is a statewide non-profit organization operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. Take Stock provides “scholarships, mentors & hope” to deserving young people selected through a need-based application process through the public middle schools at the end of their 6th grade year. Scholarship donations from local foundations, organizations, businesses and individuals are matched dollar-for-dollar when scholarships are purchased from Florida Prepaid College Foundation each year and are held until students successfully graduate from high school.
Pictured are: (front, L-R) Chancellor Washington, Brier Thompson, Jayla Stallworth, Luke Campbell, Malachi Williams, (second row) Bailey Poston, Chaeli Lackey, Quentin Lewis-Wright, Allyson Jones, Nancy Mendez-Rostro, Jessica Hatton, (third row0 Brogan Dougherty, Henry Addy, Arianna Cunningthom, Jaden Allen, Chancellor Washington, (fourth row) Kaylee Emmons, Dequan Shabazz, Ralynn Durant, and Bobbie-Sue Jarrell. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Science Is Cool: Ransom Students Take The Straw Structure Challenge
September 24, 2018
Last week, science students at Ransom Middle School took part in the Straw Structure Challenge – build a freestanding structure at least 30 centimeters (about a foot) tall made only of straws and paper clips to support as many common nails as possible.
The strongest straw structure supported 122 nails — about two pounds.
Ransom science teacher Louis O’Rear explains the Straw Structure Challenge. and in he explains why “Science Is Cool”, in his own words:
These days my Straw Structure Challenge project would be labeled a STEM project. Education is all about combining and applying skills and subjects. This is a perfect example of project-based learning that combines science, technology, engineering, and math. It’s a beautiful thing when we can pull multiple subjects together, and let the students actually design, create, and build something with their own hands. Although I encourage them to do research on their own time, this is about getting back to the basics of using their hands, their imaginations, and a few basic tools to create something out of nothing. This is my 26th year in the classroom, and there is a definite trend in the students’ abilities (or the decline of their abilities) to create something from scratch, using their hands. The bulk of these kids don’t play outside and “do things” as we did. But they are slowly discovering my motto… If the hands do it, the mind will not forget it.
Kids today are excellent at tapping the screen of their phones with their two thumbs. I challenge anyone to out-text these kids today. When I was a kid it was an insult to tell someone they were all thumbs, but that is what so many of our kids are slowly becoming. It helps that so many of our Ransom parents know how important it is to limit their child’s screen time. Each student has a Chromebook laptop provided by the school district, and most have a smartphone. They are surrounded by technology, and they know how to utilize it, but that is just the “T” in STEM. It is important for them to experience other aspects of this project, of science in general, and not just read about it, or see videos about it.
My goal is for them to glean some important information from this hands-on project. FIRST: When constructing with straight members (straws, or toothpicks, or popsicle sticks, or two by fours in their attic at home, or giant iron bridge girders, or sections of the cell phone tower in their neighborhood), the triangle is their best friend. Barring the ability to build an arch shape, like the top of an egg, the triangle is the strongest shape they can use for building. SECOND: the way to accomplish this is to design a structure while taking into consideration the forces of compression and tension. THIRD: I give a few bonus points for the group with the best ratio of nails to straws. Having already thoroughly learned about ratios from our math teachers at here at Ransom, it’s easy to teach them how to apply ratios to real situations.
This is our first group project of the year in science, and being able to work with others is paramount. With so much screen time in their lives, some of the students struggle with true “FaceTime”…communicating with others in person. As teachers, we talk to each other a lot about this issue and what we can do about it. We can’t do much about the phones and other screens in their lives, but we can help them learn how to communicate better and more effectively in person. It helps tremendously that we have a very strong group of teachers in our Language Arts department who incorporate good communication skills in their classrooms.
As much as we try to incorporate some technology (where appropriate) in our teaching, technology isn’t always the solution, just as much as technology isn’t always the problem. It helps to remember that some kids are just innately quiet and shy, this having nothing to do with today’s ubiquitous connected devices. So, as educators, we are constantly seeking a good balance, for all of our students.
Our administration here at Ransom is all about making students the priority. In doing that, they support us, the teachers, because we are the forces on the ground making it possible. We all agree, administrators and teachers alike, that the students are why we are here. And they are why our main school improvement goal is, of course, increasing academic achievement in all content areas.
There is a saying: “If the kids are not learning the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” Sometimes this rings true. One way is to teach them, and then have them apply what they have learned through project-based learning. Hence, the Straw Structure Challenge. And because they are learning with their hands, the knowledge is much more likely to stick. We all have a great time! After all, this is science, the best subject of all, right? What better place to build cool STEM projects than in science! #ScienceIsCool