• Chimney Lakes Elementary School, Principal Marianne Lee

If you visit Chimney Lakes, you might be surprised to run into some pretty strange characters, including Number Ninjas and Frax-o-nauts!  This is all part of a competition included in the school’s Math program called Reflexmath and Frax. In Reflexmath, students become Number Ninjas by improving their foundational computation skills. CLE Frax-o-nauts are mastering the concepts related to fractions. Students are excited to set their goals by hitting the green light twice a week on Reflexmath. Students who achieve their 100% fluency goal are invited to join the Party in the Park and earn a treat. CLE also celebrates the students who are meeting their monthly goals in their Acaletics Green Party. In October, students who have met their goal participated in a hula-hoop challenge and got to blow green bubbles (because everyone knows that Frax-o-nauts prefer green bubbles!)

• Hyde Park Elementary, Principal Shirley Winfrey

These wildcats are just WILD about math! Hyde Park students are challenged in math with rigorous content and work before the school day even begins!  Twice a week, students begin their day reviewing their multiplication and division facts in the hallways while waiting for entrance into the classroom. The teachers have created student teams to complete Math Missions and high performing students are able to share their problem-solving strategies with struggling students on their team.  This helps all students develop their own skills and strategies for solving math problems. Students also compete in Mental Math challenges, as well as Acaletics.  One nominator said it best: “Our team works hard to think of fun ways to implement, practice, and experience mathematics because math rocks and Hyde Park Elementary ROCKS MATH!”

• Bridge to Success Middle School, Principal Latoya Council

The students and parents at BTS-Middle had plenty to say about their rockin’ math teachers! Students shared that their teachers create “little benchmarks” and guided notes to help them remember math rules.  They shared that they have Marvelous Math Fridays, where different classes compete against each other in math for BTSA Bucks that they can use at the school market.  They especially liked the Kahoot and Blooklet games.  Students also shared that the teachers hold DND (Date Night with Data) nights for parents to come out and learn about their student’s progress in  math and how they can help at home.   One parent shared that the school provides an abundance of math resources to utilize at home, and for the first time math is becoming their child’s favorite subject!  Students repeatedly shared that their teachers went above and beyond to assist them and they felt special and supported in math.

• Duncan Fletcher High School, Principal Dean Ledford

One of the nominators described Fletcher HS as the “Pride of the Beaches” and noted their involved alumni, their decked out purple attire for every occasion (trust and believe that it is a sea of purple!), and their Homecoming Week activities.  Another comment mentions of the boys’ swim team being a traditional favorite of the football halftime performance.  Elementary and middle school students are also recruited at an early age to become young Senators, as they participate in the Homecoming parade down 3^rd Street.  One person put it best:  “Purple Pride is a very real thing at the beaches.”

• Garden City Elementary, Principal Ashley Cannington Miro

Garden City started out the school year demonstrating their Stinger BEE pride by hosting a Back to School Block Party that included a DJ, Bounce House, Kona Ice, and other goodies!  They also held a Bold City Day in conjunction with Bold City Church in which church volunteers helped decorate the school and worked with teachers in their classrooms to ready them for the opening of school.  This year, the students are rocking brand new spirit shirts.  This school is the bees knees for school spirit and they are just getting warmed up!

• Gregory Drive Elementary, Principal Augena Sapp

There is a lot to cheer about at Gregory Drive, according to all of the nominations the school received this month!  The school has received a makeover, both inside and out, with bright colors and decorations that share their theme of “A Rainbow of Possibilities.”  They kicked off the year by creating a Gregory Drive family tree, and everyone got to put their painted handprint on the wall as part of the family.  On Fridays they get to put on their tie-dyed school spirit shirts and have a number of special events planned, including a Fall Festival, Wow Wednesdays, and school dances to create an atmosphere of fun.  As one faculty member said, “The spirit is infectious and the smiles on each child face makes you have a great day.”