FAMILY HEALTH......................... 31

As the new principal of Pines Middle, it is my honor to serve our community and the educational needs of our students.

Pines Middle School has a long history in our community, and I am proud to be part of this new era. Pines Middle School has a beautiful facility with state-of-the-art technology and a campus that shines bright. Our goal is academic excellence through hard work of our students, teachers, parents, and staff. We offer challenging academic courses, an outstanding athletic program, science acceleration, a performing arts program, and various school clubs.

For the 2022-2023 school year, we will continue to offer block scheduling to promote our large high-interest elective offerings along with over 8 high school credit classes. Our students will have the opportunity to select classes that interest them. Some of our most popular classes are forensics, robotics, film, Peer Counseling, Drama, STEM Design, Drama, Art, Physical Education, Spanish, Band, Chorus, TV Production, Speech and Debate, and our new aviation initiative with Embry Riddle University, to name a few.

Additionally, our athletic program offers 17 competitive after school sports teams. Currently, we are having soccer and cheerleading try-outs. All Pines Middle School students may tryout, and as with all programs, these teams are free of charge to all students.

We invite you to join the PTA or become a member of the School Advisory Committee (SAC). These are just two of the ways to stay engaged in your child’s education. Together we can make sure that every child is academically prepared and that they have their social and emotional needs met.

I also encourage businesses throughout our community to become involved with our new initiatives and be part of our SAC.

This year I was so excited about meeting our Panthers and beginning a year that, I have no doubt, will be amazing for all of our students, staff, and families. We can’t wait to build upon the successes we’ve had coming out of the pandemic and to continue to prosper in and out of the classroom!

Pines Middle School is located at 200 Douglas Road, Pembroke Pines 33024. (754) 323-4000.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Broward County Public School Calendar*

Changes may be made. Visit www.browardschools.com for updates.

2022- - 2023 CALENDAR 2022

NOVEMBER

Tuesday, November 8: Employee Planning (no school for students) Friday, November 11: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed Monday - Friday, November 21 - 25: Schools Closed

DECEMBER

Monday - Friday, December 26 - 30: Schools Closed

2023

JANUARY

Monday - Friday, January 2 - 6: Schools Closed Thursday, January 12: Early Release Day, End of 2nd Quarter Friday, January 13: Employee Planning (no school for students) Monday, January 16: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed

FEBRUARY

Tuesday, February 14: Early Release Day Monday, February 20: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed

MARCH

Thursday, March 16: Early Release Day, End of 3rd Quarter Friday, March 17: Employee Planning (no school for students) Monday - Friday, March 20 - 24: School Spring Break

APRIL

Friday, April 7: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed Thursday, April 20: Early Release Day Friday, April 21: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed

MAY

Monday, May 29: Schools and Administrative Offices Closed

JUNE

Thursday, June 8: Early Release Day, Last Day of School Friday, June 9: Employee Planning (no school for students)

HURRICANE MAKE-UP DAYS

January 12, 2023 February 14, 2023 March 16, 2023 June 8, 2023

SCHOOLS ACADEMIC DIRECTORY

CHARTER SCHOOLS

GREENTREE PREP CHARTER SCHOOL Greentree Prep Charter School provides learning beyond the standards for gifted and talented students and those who want to learn in a gifted learning environment. Our goal is to challenge and motivate students and help them achieve their personal best through individualized programs. Our charter school offers innovative, research-based education in a nurturing environment with a private school feel. Now accepting applications for K–8th grade students. (954) 780-8733. Located at 6301 SW160th Avenue (Dykes Rd), Southwest Ranches 33331. www.greentreeprep.com.

PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER SCHOOLS PEMBROKE PINES FSU CHARTER ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL: Dr. Lisa Libidinsky. WEBSITE: pinescharter.net. 601 SW 172nd Avenue, Pembroke Pines 33029. (954) 499-4244.

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER WEST CAMPUS ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE PRINCIPAL: Michael Castellano. WEBSITE: pinescharter.net. • ELEMENTARY: 1680 SW 184th Avenue, Pembroke Pines 33029. (954) 450-6990. • MIDDLE: 18501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines 33029. (954) 443-4847.

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER EAST CAMPUS - ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL: Channale Augustin. WEBSITE: pinescharter.net. 10801 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines 33025. (954) 443-4800.

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER CENTRAL CAMPUS ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE PRINCIPAL: Sean Chance. WEBSITE: pinescharter.net. 12350 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines 33026. (954) 322-3300.

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER MIDDLE & HIGH - ACADEMIC VILLAGE PRINCIPAL: Peter Bayer. WEBSITE: www.pinescharter.net. • MIDDLE: 17195 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines 33331. (954) 538-3700. • HIGH: 17189 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines 33331. (954) 538-3700.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS & PRESCHOOLS

A WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE PRESCHOOL & LEARNING CENTER VOTED BEST PRESCHOOL IN PEMBROKE PINES 2 YEARS IN A ROW! Recognized as one of the top schools in the state, now offering classes for infants to first grade. The school offers an accelerated learning program for all students and has received A+ rating from the state for more than 18 years for Academic Excellence in Early Learning. Certified, Degreed Teachers, Low Ratios and Accelerated learning curriculum is offered. Our VPK students READ in less than 4 months. Now accepting VPK vouchers. NEW TODDLER & INFANT CLASS OPEN! Rated #1 choice by parents, teachers and educators in the community! AWOK uses proven developmental skills that will help a young child expand their thinking process. Through music and play, we will stimulate the child’s ability to understand different concepts that will help build a strong academic foundation. Contact us for more information. (954) 430-7707, 750 NW 180 Terrace, Pembroke Pines 33029. www.worldofknowledgekids.com.

NOB HILL ACADEMY Nob Hill Academy is a modern and bright state-of-the-art facility. We offer Developmental Programs, Free VPK, Afterschool Program (pick-up from area schools) and Summer & Winter camps available. Locations in Sunrise (2 locations), (954) 748-2489, Davie (954) 791-9270 and Pembroke Pines. (954) 437-3949.

APPLE TREE MONTESSORI Apple Tree Montessori offers an advanced curriculum for PreK2-3rd grade students. Our students receive honors course credits in middle school. A true Montessori school with Certified Montessori Teachers. Small class sizes for individual attention and a proven curriculum to help students achieve high scores in SAT’s. Visit the school and see the improvements to the campus and program. Located at 6301 SW 160th Avenue (Dykes Rd) in Southwest Ranches. (954) 252-9250. www.appletreemont.com. NOW OFFERING VPK.

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES – EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER • CENTRAL CAMPUS: 12200 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines 33026. (954) 322-3350. • WEST CAMPUS: 1600 SW 184th Ave., Pembroke Pines 33029. (954) 443-4816.

READING

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY 16835 Sheridan Street, Davie 33331. (954) 357-6580. Monday-Wednesday 10am-8pm. Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Curbside service everyday from 11am-5pm.

PEMBROKE PINES WALTER C. YOUNG RESOURCE CENTER 955 NW 129th Avenue, Pembroke Pines 33028. (954) 357-6750. Monday & Wednesday 8am-8pm, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8am - 4pm. Saturday 10am-6pm. Sunday closed.

SOUTH REGIONAL/BROWARD COUNTY LIBRARY 7300 Pines Blvd. Building 81, Pembroke Pines 33024. (954) 201-8825. Monday-Wednesday 10pm-8pm. Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm.

TUTORING SERVICES

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER Grades K–12. Through a thorough academic evaluation we will pinpoint your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and tailor a program just for your child. Reading, Math, Writing, Phonics, Study Skills, FSA Prep, HS Entrance Exam Prep, Tutoring in any subject. College SAT/ACT Prep. Locations: Pembroke Pines West (954) 4314443 & Plantation (954) 474-4144. Use Code PPWINTER 22 FOR A $100 EVALUATION ($195 value).

Silver Palms Elementary’s motto “Kindness is our Culture” guides everything we hope to accomplish. Our purpose is to provide a safe and secure learning environment where students and families feel at “home”. Our community works together to provide an environment where students thrive academically and socially while learning the value of being kind and respectful. We collaborate with our community to provide a safe, secure environment by implementing safety protocols that are embraced and appreciated by our families.

Since conditions at Silver Palms are safe and kind, we can provide quality educational experiences in student-centered classrooms while challenging students to develop the skills they need to compete in the 21st century. Students learn to be citizens of the world who are responsible, respectful, cooperative, and kind. The high-quality teaching and learning experiences provided prepare them to compete in an ever-changing technological, demanding, diverse, and global society. Simply put, we prepare our students for tomorrow through excellence today! As a result, of our vision and mission, Silver Palms is an “A” school! Peace week was an opportunity for children to practice the tenets that make Silver Palms such a special place to learn and grow. Our Dolphins spread peace, love, and kindness by participating in a week’s worth of peace themed activities. Teachers, staff, and parents worked together to actively engage students in activities that promote peace.

Children spent a week celebrating peace! To foster a sense of community and togetherness, students demonstrated how important it is to be ambassadors of peace. Sharing inspiring quotes during morning announcements encouraged peers to start each day on a peaceful path. Throughout the week, while visiting classrooms, we saw students engaged in peace themed literature studies. The insight our young ones shared about how important peace is to build healthy relationships and foster a positive school culture was extraordinarily powerful! The messages read on their Peace Pinwheels will ring true in our hearts for years to come. “Love each other”, “Smile”, “Be a friend to a new student”, “Say hello” were among the many positive messages. A German proverb states, “[those] who teach children learn more than they do.” Their powerful peace messages are evidence of the truth of this profound proverb.

Moreover, our teachers took parents on a journey through a day in the life of their child. They shared information about the high-quality curriculum and dynamic instructional strategies implemented that enable students to develop critical and creative thinking skills that give our children an edge.

Finally, Silver Palms’ PTA Board and club sponsors hit the ground running! The few, but powerful PTA parents who give freely of their time to support students’ educational experiences are hard at work! Our school is filled with Dolphin Pride! Finally, the variety of clubs offered (Debate, Chess, Math, Chorus, Student Council, SECME, Robotics, and Kindness Ambassadors) allow children to discover new passions and hobbies, and the clubs nurture life skills that will benefit our children throughout their lives. We welcome you to join the Silver Palms family and let your Dolphin pride shine!

Principal Shearer is so proud of her students and staff and welcomes you to join the Silver Palms family. 1209 NW 155th Avenue, Pembroke Pines 33038. (754) 323-7450.

Pembroke Lakes Elementary (PLE) offers a variety of clubs to students such as Chorus, Speech and Debate, Game Day, Student Leadership, and Safety Patrols, just to name a few. One of PLE’s newest clubs is the Minecraft Student Ambassador Program. Minecraft Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that gives teachers a revolutionary approach to use Minecraft to engage students and spark their love for learning.

By fostering a love of play and future-ready skills like creativity, problemsolving, and systems thinking, Minecraft: Education Edition helps kids get ready for the future. Minecraft offers an entertaining substitute to assist educators in transforming learning through game-based learning! “Our students thrive when they have the opportunity to work together to create something they are truly passionate about,” said Jessica Rivero, third grade teacher and Co-Club Sponsor.

Minecraft: Education Edition prepares students for the workforce of the future by fostering skills such as teamwork, communication, and critical analysis. Students can try new things in an open learning environment that encourages creative thinking and problem-solving. “I have been playing Minecraft since the second grade. I built multiple houses and created many worlds. My favorite part of Minecraft is building anything that comes to my mind. I put lots of effort into my worlds,” stated Zayd Peshimam, fourth grade student and Minecraft Ambassador.

This year the Minecraft Student Ambassador program is offered to third and fourth grade students who are passionate about Minecraft and want to help, train, and mentor other students and teachers in their school and/or district using Minecraft: Education Edition.

Minecraft Student Ambassadors (MSAa) participate in this program and provide Minecraft help in the form of demos, training, small group leadership, one-on-one sessions, and other support as needed. “The best part about the club is that students are taking on leadership roles, which is great because I am not as experienced as them when it comes to Minecraft education,” Mrs. Katrina Fossella, Media Specialist and Co-Club Sponsor, shared.

Students become part of a community of student ambassadors who are enthusiastic about Minecraft. They can work with other ambassadors, learn, and develop during regular events and activities designed specifically for student ambassadors, such as live boot camps.

Additionally, chances to test out new Minecraft features will be made available to MSA’s. They will also have access to the Minecraft Education Team.

The Minecraft Student Ambassador program is a win-win situation for both students and educators since it allows students to gain leadership and 21st-century skills while doing something they already enjoy. 11251 Taft Steet, Pembroke Pines 33026. (754) 323-6970.

It may be hard to hear your child declare their dislike of reading, but there is a reason for it—probably several, in fact. Children who are lacking some of the reading building blocks that are essential for reading fluency and comprehension might find the entire process frustrating and avoid it altogether. What can you do? Make sure your child has the basics down, then help them rediscover reading as an enjoyable pastime. Here are several tips:

Read together and pay attention. You might not be an expert in reading instruction, but if you observe your child’s reading, you will pick up what they do well and where they have difficulty. Listen for how they sound out words and word sounds (phonics) and whether they recognize sight words that don’t sound like they are spelled (for example, the). Take note of whether your child recognizes patterns and letter behaviors and decodes words to break down longer words into smaller words.

Let your child choose their own reading material. Whatever type of reading material piques your child’s interest, go with it. The more your child picks their own books, the more interested in it they will be. Don’t rule out magazines, comic books, articles, riddles and other forms of reading. Go to the library often and let your child wander. Get the help of the librarian too—they are very familiar with how to engage reluctant readers with the right type of books and other material. Sometimes, it takes finding the right books to engage your child in reading.

Try to make reading fun. It’s hard to do when your child has lost interest in reading, but do your best to encourage your child to read and make reading fun. For younger children, try matching words and pictures to work on vocabulary. Play word Bingo and other word games. Read fun and interesting books as a family with hot chocolate or lemonade after dinner a few nights a week. And as much as possible, let your child see you reading and talking about what you read with enthusiasm.

Don’t push too hard. To the struggling student, reading feels daunting and stressful. Try to ease your child’s mind a bit by setting small goals—15 minutes a day for starters. Every day that your child reads, encourage them to try reading on their own first. If they get stuck on a word or section, they can always come to you with questions. Establish the habit, but don’t force reading. If there’s a problem, it needs to be addressed before your child will ever embrace reading by choice.

When all else fails, read to your child. This might not work with older children, but if your younger child resists reading, read to them instead. Developing that listening comprehension and understanding of language is important. Plus, reading aloud will introduce your child to the joy of getting lost in a good story. Do this as much as you can while your child is still developing their own reading skills.

If your struggling reader doesn’t like reading and you’re not sure how to help, call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN. We’ll do an academic evaluation of your child prior to beginning instruction so that we have a good sense of where your student is and where they should be based on their grade. Once we pinpoint any skill gaps and trouble spots, we’ll develop a personalized learning plan that will help your student succeed.

Written by Iris Lee, Student Life Editor

After spending hours during her early high school years researching the college recruitment process for student athletes, a lightbulb suddenly went off in her head. Realizing how long and complicated the recruitment process may seem, junior Valerie Questell, president of the National Athlete Honor Society, began to grasp just how many talented athletes could benefit from simply being guided through the recruitment process.

As a result, PPCHS’s very first National Athlete Honor Society was founded.

The National Athlete Honor Society, also known as AHS, is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to representing students that are excelling in both athleticism and academic merit. Starting a brand new honor society at PPCHS is no small task, yet Valerie and the senior class vice-president, Adam Abougendia, are tiressly working on ideas and making goals for this school year. “I want to set a foundational record of many events and activities for this school year. And, I’d like to increase the percentage of college athletes that have attended Charter schools,” said Valerie. As for Adam, “The biggest goal for me is having student athletes be recognized for their talent and to recruit as many athletes as we can.” The pair have ambitious plans for AHS, considering they are also athletes. Valerie and Adam are certainly aware of how important it is for athletes to balance both their physical and mental health. “In addition to focusing on recruitment, I also want to create a safe space for athletes to form a community so they can feel free to talk about mental health, as well as how they’re doing academically and athletically,” says Valerie.

On August 23rd, AHS held their first informational meeting in Mr. Jablonka’s room. Generally, a brand-new club’s turnout would increase slowly, but that was definitely not the case. Word of the National Athlete Honor Society spread like wildfire on school grounds, and there were over 100 students who attended the first meeting. “We had a hundred people show up in a 30-person classroom, it was crazy,” says Adam. “The meeting was awesome! I didn’t expect that many attendees. As soon as everyone started filling the room, I could practically feel the buzz of excitement bouncing off the walls,” adds Valerie. “Mr. Jablonka did an excellent job at securing the crowd, and the meeting finished with the most rewarding applause I’ve ever heard.” We had over 70 applications in one day.

Although the National Athlete Honor Society’s first meeting was just held in September, the potential displayed by AHS was astronomical, and for good reason. The college recruiting process for athletes isn’t easy, and AHS provides a huge window of opportunity for many student athletes at PPCHS. The bar is certainly set high for AHS, and we look forward to all its accomplishments in the future!

Pembroke Pines Charter High School is located at 17189 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines 33331. (954) 538-3700.

VPK students attending A World of Knowledge Preschool and Learning Center can READ before entering kindergarten and the majority are placed in higher reading and math groups, and gifted classes in the public school system.

For 19 years the center under the direction of Elizabeth Gonzalez, has introduced the concepts of letters, sounds, and higher order critical thinking skills in a fun, interactive and engaging way. The school is recognized by many educators and parents as #1 Choice for QUALITY in Early Learning.

“The BEST COMPLIMENT I receive, comes from our parents, when they share success stories of their children, and attribute them to the foundation they received at A World of Knowledge” said Elizabeth Gonzalez, Director.

A World of Knowledge offers an accelerated learning program which allows children to explore everyday concepts at their pace, in a fun way allowing them to reach for higher goals. Children graduating from our VPK program are engaged in numerous phonemic awareness activities and read before they enter Kindergarten. Gonzalez proudly adds: “Our success with the children is based on our teaching styles, low child to teacher ratio, staff dedication and the unique multicultural themes and concepts which are introduced to the children. Multicultural Awareness, Character education, values and etiquette are also essential components of our curriculum.”

Contact A World of Knowledge Preschool and Learning Center and experience the difference for yourself. Call 954-430-7707 or visit www.worldofknowledgekids.com, for more information. 750 NW 180 Terrace Pembroke Pines, Fl 33029.

On Friday, September 9, 2022, our Pines Lakes Elementary School Panthers participated in the Painted Lady Butterfly Birthday Release celebration! This day was extra special because it was the culminating event in the metamorphosis of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Each of our students had the opportunity to learn through observation about the life cycle of butterflies. Students had learned about the butterfly’s life cycle, physical characteristics, and habit during their STEM Special each week. Students from Pre-K-5th grade witnessed the caterpillar upon their arrival in clear plastic jars from Insect Lore and our Donor’s Choose educational opportunity. Students made daily observations regarding the caterpillar, the formation of the chrysalis, and the magnificent hatching out of the fluttering Painted Lady butterflies! Students observed this life cycle from six individual nets housing five butterflies each. Students were engaged in a variety of discussions about their personal observations in the classroom setting and comparing those to their outdoor observations of other butterfly species. Students noted many curious facts about the Painted Lady butterfly. For example, students were astonished that butterflies have a proboscis to drink the nectar from flowers, that their chrysalis develops from a silk netting, and that they are diurnal/ solar powered (they can only fly in the day). Each day students had the opportunity to observe the metamorphosis taking place within each net. The Pre-K students were excited and noted the sound and movement the fluttering butterflies made. They were thrilled and would exclaim, “Look! They are moving, they are real butterflies!” The intermediate students made many poignant observations regarding the size of the caterpillars. They identified that one net had significantly smaller sized caterpillars. The students wondered whether the caterpillars would be strong enough to form into chrysalis and then hatch into butterflies. Ultimately, their observations indicated that the size of the caterpillar did not inhibit the process of their development. Students in each grade level also marveled at the details of the butterfly’s wings, antennas, and legs when using mini hand held magnifying glasses. Our schoolwide culminating activity was a huge Painted Lady Butterfly Release celebration. With our superlative staff’s collaboration our walkways were decorated with Painted Lady posters gilded with gold glitter. Our staff also came together with a giant speaker so we could sing and count down each release with the grade levels. We had a magical bubble machine along with a birthday inflatable. The scene was set for a celebration and the students sang, applauded, and cheered as the butterflies were released into the garden. The merriment continued as our Administrators and Support Staff joined in the celebration with great joy. The Painted Lady butterflies brought tremendous happiness, wonder, excitement, and collaboration throughout our amazing school community. 10300 Johnson Street, Pembroke Pines 33026. (754) 323-7000.

The entire team at Pasadena Lakes Elementary, administrative, faculty, clerical, and facilities, is committed to providing the education that will foster the leaders of tomorrow in a safe and nurturing environment. Our theme for the 2022-2023 School Year is, “PLE: Where Great Habits Lead to Great Leaders!” With this mindset, we continue to use evidenced-based educational methodology and strategies that meet the unique and individual learning and socioemotional needs of our students. This includes learners in our ASD special program classrooms, intensive and specialized pre-k programs, VPK/ Head Start programs, and our general education classrooms. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This quote by Nelson Mandela conveys the power of a quality education.

Great happens here! Pasadena Lakes consistently implements educational best practices and innovations with fidelity including incorporating technology appropriately in the curriculum and a multitiered approach to closing achievement gaps.

Our diversity is our superpower! We believe the diversity of our students and staff makes us stronger! Our school is a melting pot of cultures, languages, customs, and neurodiversity that we leverage to create a safe and equitable learning environment. As Pasadena Lakes “We all Belong” and “Ohana means Family.” It’s a place families trust to help their children achieve success.

We are committed to being a staple in the Pembroke Pines community as we partner with you to develop citizens that will be the leaders of tomorrow. Learn more about us by visiting our webpage at www.browardschools.com/pasadenalakes. Additionally, you can follow us on Twitter @PasadenaE and like us on Facebook @PasadenaLakesE, or simply come on in and get to know us. We are located at 8801 Pasadena Blvd. Pembroke Pines 33024. (754) 323-6900.