What A Good Teacher Does At School: Dresses Snazzy, Smells Like Strawberries?
September 4, 2014
When first graders at Molino Park Elementary School were asked “what does a good teacher do at school?”, there were the usual answers about reading and recess, but there were a few surprises too. It is, after all, important that a good teacher “dresses snazzy” and “smells like strawberries and candy” (actual answers).
So what does a good teacher do at school? Here are actual answers from first grade teacher Sara Calhoun’s class at Molino Park Elementary School:
- makes sure everyone obeys the rules
- helps us learn to read
- their voice always sounds kind and nice with gentleness
- reads us stories on the rug
- takes us to recess
- cares and takes care of the kids
- smiles a lot
- gives good instructions for the playground
- dresses snazzy
- lets us have centers
- helps us to be rockstar readers
- let’s us get a treat from the birthday blessing box
- looks fancy and has pretty clothes
- sings “Who Let The Vowels Out”
- has lots of iPads and computers
- always feeds us lunch
- we can clip up if we make a good choice
- never yells or screams
- lets us have scissors and markers
- gives us stickers and candy
- we get cozy critters to sit on our desk if we are good
- teaches us to be ‘bucket fillers’
- teaches us our supplies are tools not toys
- helps us know how to be quiet in the hallway
- makes learning fun
- gives us treasure box
- tells us to add more details to our writing
- gives us a compliment party
- smells like strawberries and candy
- always lets the kids go to the bathroom
- teaches math
- sings silly songs
- lets us have a class pet
- reads “Pete the Cat” books
- gives lots of hugs
Inside Century Correctional Institution
September 3, 2014
Century Correctional Institution recently offered community members an inside look at what goes on inside the facility, plus insight into how the prison gives back to the community.
A great deal of what happens daily inside Century CI is targeted toward preparing and reforming prisoners for life outside the facility. The ultimate goal is to reduce recidivism — former prisoners returning to prison. Florida’s recidivism rate has dropped from 30.5 percent in 2011 to 27.6 percent in 2013. Approximately 90.3 percent of offenders who complete community supervision do not return to custody or supervision within three years.
The main unit at Century CI has a total capacity of 1,508 inmates. Currently, about 300 of those are service life sentences. Over 600 other inmates are housed under the supervision of the Century Correctional Institution in the Century Work Camp, Berrydale Forestry Camp and the Pensacola Community Release Center. The average prisoner in Century is serving 5.21 years and is about 38 years old.
Locally, Century Correctional Institution currently employs 341 security staff; of which 210 reside in Escambia County, 74 in Santa Rosa, six in Okaloosa and 48 live in Alabama. The facilities annual budget is just under $17 million.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Work squads from Century CI and the Berrydale Forestry Camp provide inmate labor for numerous agencies, including Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, the Department of Transportation, Century, Jay and Gulf Breeze — resulting in a $3.1 million savings for taxpayers. Additional, Century CI inmates work on the campuses of local schools including Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High. Prisoner work squads are only allowed on school campuses when no students are present.
Volunteers from the outside also assist inside the prison, with 3,294 volunteer hours recorded in the first half of 2014.
Through a partnership with the UF/IFAS program, prisoners have raised 647,968 pounds of produce such as tomatoes, collards, turnips, sweet corn, cabbage and watermelon valued at $925 thousand.
Statewide the Community Partnership Meetings such as the one held at Century Correctional aim to open avenues of communication and build strong relationships between the correctional institutions and local communities.
“I look forward to the upcoming session and being able to assist the Department in addressing many of the issues that I have heard and seen today,” Rep. Mike Hill said following the tour, while commending staff “on an outstanding job they do every day in keeping our communities safe.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Open bunks in a prison dorm at Century Correctional Institution. Pictured top inset: Inside a more secure housing unit. Pictured below: Community leaders tour a housing unit inside Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photos. click to enlarge.
Title I Florida Standards Meeting Thursday
September 3, 2014
Students, parents, teachers and community leaders can learn more about the new Florida Standards during a Title I workshop Thursday in Pensacola.
The interactive workshop is designed to inspire attendees to get excited about, and involved with, the new Florida Standards. The workshop will teach families age-appropriate activities to support learning at home.
Parents and students of all ages, and their teachers, are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Leigh Ann South, Title 1, TSA – Parent and Community Involvement, at (850) 595-6915.
Northview To Host Mini-Majorette Clinic
September 3, 2014
The Northview High School Majorettes will host a Mini-Majorette Clinic this Saturday, September 6th from 8-11 a.m. and September 11th from 4-5 p.m.
The clinic will teach students baton tricks, skills, and a baton routine that they will perform at pregame during the Northview vs Chipley game on September 12th. The clinic is open to any student from 5 years of age to 8th grade. Students must bring their own baton due to limited extras. The cost will be $25 per child and includes the clinic, a t-shirt, admission to the home game and a performance before kick-off.
If interested, registration is on September 6th between 7:30-8 a.m.in the Northview band room, just before the Saturday practice. Registration fees are due on September 6 to ensure that t-shirts are available on time. Call (850) 380-2531 for more information.
Snacks and drinks will be provided on the Saturday practice, but students are encouraged to bring something of their own.
Pictured top: Northview High School majorettes Julie Hester, Brianna Smith and Hanna Mascaro. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Responds, Tate’s Shackle Shivers With Ice Bucket Challenge
September 2, 2014
Ransom Middle School staff members recently responded to the ice bucket challenger for ALS, as did Tate High Principal Richard Shackle.
Shackle recently completed the ALS ice bucket challenge from Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Shackle challenged the Escambia County School District’s assistant principals and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Shackle also donate $100 to ALS. (Video below)
And the staff at Ransom Middle School stepped up to the challenge after Principal Brent Brummet was challenged by Thomas. About 50 Ransom staff members took part in the ALS challenge.
The ALS challenge has a couple of goals — raise money and raise awareness about ALS, a neurodegenerative nerve disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School staff members including Principal Brent Brummet (tan pants) and Assistant Principal Sandy Ames (long black pants) take the ALS ice bucket challenge. Pictured inset: Tate Principal Rick Shackle takes the challenge.
If you do not see the video below, it is because your work, school or home firewall is blocking external videos from Youtube.
Tate Grad Awarded Prestigious Southern Illinois University Scholarship
September 2, 2014
A Tate High School graduate has been named has been named a Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor’s Academic Scholar.
Elizabeth Blalock is the daughter of Robin and Timothy Blalock. A National Honor Society member, Blalock graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and was a 2014 selection for Tate High School’s Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, Rho Kappa honor society and her Tatel’s social studies student of the year and senior social sciences award recipient. She was a member of the student council, French club, and cross-country and tennis teams. She plans to major in psychology.
The Chancellor’s Academic Scholarship, SIU’s most prestigious award, is a significant achievement for the students as it covers tuition, fees and room and board for four years.
More than 560 students participated in the Chancellor’s and University Excellence Scholarship interview weekend, vying for the competitive scholarships. Each scholarship is based on information that includes the students’ ACT or SAT scores and the students’ academic credentials submitted at the time of admission along with personal interviews. The applicants also show leadership roles in their community and participate in numerous activities.
The award is renewable for four years, contingent upon the students maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Faulk Graduates From Basic Military Training
September 2, 2014
Air Force Airman Randy Faulk graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Faulk is the son of Volante Henderson of Augusta, Ga., and grandson of Junius McGee of Century.
Celebrating 100 Years: Extension’s Role In The Community
September 1, 2014
For 100 years, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension program has been enhancing and sustaining the quality of life by making university research accessible to the public.
UF/IFAS Extension is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences. UF/IFAS has a reputation for excellence in teaching and research on the university campus, which is extended into every community in the state through county extension offices. The local branch of UF/IFAS is typically referred to as “extension,” with “extension agents” tasked with carrying out educational programs.
Since inception, the Escambia County extension agents have translated research from the UF campus into useful instruction for members of the community, taking a highly engaging approach to learning. For example, natural resource agents lead clientele in kayaking trips over seagrass beds to teach them about coastal ecology, while the agriculture agent hosts a biannual farm tour for elected officials. Horticulture agents teach physically and intellectually challenged youth to grow vegetables in a wheelchair accessible garden, while 4-H youth learn legislative procedure at mock sessions in the state capital.
Customer service surveys performed in 2012 indicated 96% of residents who used Escambia County Extension were satisfied with their experience, and 90% of walk-in clientele said the information they received answered their questions or solved their problem.
Annually, Escambia County Extension agents train over 700 volunteers to further the reach of our educational efforts, with a total contribution (in 2012) of 54,035 hours valued at $983,437. Individuals in classes and workshops return to Extension time after time, due to the agents’ ability to utilize relationships with UF and local community members to provide targeted, science-based information through creative teaching methods.
ll of these efforts promote the advancement of agriculture, natural resources and sustainable economic development in Escambia County. Program area advisory committees, comprised of local citizens, assure that programs meet community needs.
Pictured top: Escambia County Extension Agent Carrie Stevenson and 4-H caretaker Ellis Miller blow out the candles on a 100th birthday cake for Escambia Extension. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cotton Transition Assistance Program Enrollment Underway
August 31, 2014
Farmers can enroll in the Cotton Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) beginning through October 7.
The program, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides interim payments to cotton producers during the 2014 crop year until the Stacked Income Protection Plan, a new insurance product also created by the legislation, is available. Details on the plan will be released by mid-August.
CTAP applications approved before Oct. 1, are subject to Congressionally mandated automatic reductions of 7.2 percent for the 2014 crop year. Applications approved after October 1 will be reduced the required 7.3 percent for the 2015 crop year. The Budget Control Act of 2011 requires USDA to implement these reductions to program payments.
For more information about CTAP, visit a local FSA office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sunny Days: Growing Sunflowers
August 31, 2014
by the Santa Rosa Extension Service
Sunflowers not only make the garden beautiful but can also be used to bring the beauty of outdoors inside.
It may be towards the end of summer, but you can still plant sunflowers and enjoy them during the fall. In north Florida, try to complete sunflower planting by the third week in August. Depending on the variety, sunflowers will bloom about 55 to 75 days after planting – 60 days is a good average. Some sunflowers are sensitive to day length and may yield shorter plants and earlier bloom when planted in late summer. This corresponds to the reduction in daylight hours as summer progresses toward autumn.
To begin, choose cultivars that fit your landscape. There are now more sunflowers than just the seed bearing giants that many gardeners are familiar with. Just take a look at the gardening catalogs.
Sunflowers can be broadly divided into two types: those grown for production of edible seeds and those grown as ornamentals and cut flowers. Most gardeners will be interested in the ornamental sunflowers, also known as Helianthus annuus.
Sunflowers come in heights ranging from less than one foot to ten feet and also come in a wide range of flower colors. While brilliant yellow will always be popular, you can also choose from creamy white, bronze, mahogany, rusty red, burgundy and orange. Some types produce flowers with more than one color. The center disk of the sunflower also adds to the display and goes through color changes as the flower matures and seeds form.
Sunbright, Sunrich Lemon, Sunrich Orange, Soraya and Moulin Rouge are some that are recommended for Florida.
For best bouquet results, choose cultivars that are pollen-less to prevent pollen from shedding onto a tablecloth or other flowers in an arrangement.
If you want to grow sunflowers for the delicious, nutritious seeds, make sure you choose varieties bred for seed production, such as Mammoth Russian – also known as Mammoth, Russian Giant and Gray Stripe. These tall-growing sunflowers produce a single enormous flower at the top of the plant. To grow a really big seed head, apply general-purpose fertilizer when the flower head begins to appear. Just be sure to place them so that you can stake them if necessary.
Sunflowers are true to their name, they need to be grown in full sun. Prepare a sunflower bed as you would for planting most vegetables. They tolerate heat and dry conditions and almost any soil type. The pH preference is 6.5 to 7.5 and the addition of composted organic matter is beneficial.
Plant seeds about one-quarter inch deep directly into a prepared garden bed. It’s common to plant sunflowers into landscape beds, and many gardeners include a row of sunflowers in spring and fall vegetable gardens. After sowing the seeds, water the bed well and thesun water it as needed to keep the soil moist – even lightly every day if the weather is dry.
Sunflowers should be harvested in early morning before 10:00 a.m. It is best to cut the stems and place them in warm water right away for best results.
The versatility and variety of today’s sunflowers offer something for almost every garden and gardener. If you haven’t tried this plant lately, give it another look.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.