The Source: The 2018-2019 Enrollment Window Has Opened! Apply Now for Choice/Career Programs

November 3, 2017

Choice Application Window is Now Open: Here are Five Things You Need to Know

They say you can never have a shortage of options. When you factor in 117 different campuses with more than 300 Career Academies and Choice Programs, the School District of Palm Beach County gives students more to choose from than ever before. As of 3 p.m. on November 1, the window for Choice applications for 2018-2019 is open.

At the Showcase of Schools earlier this month, an estimated 14,000 people walked through the Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. In case you were unable to attend, or failed to make the full rounds that featured mascots, robots and performers, here are five things you need to know to guide you through the application process.

Daylight Saving Time is Ending: It's Time to "Fall Back!"

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 5. Don't forget to set your clocks back before you go to bed on Saturday, November 4.

#ThankATeacherPBC: Olympic Heights May be the Destination for Computer Science

Before Nimmi Arunachalam began her second career as a teacher at Olympic Heights Community High School, she worked as a business analyst for a software company in India, translating complex programming into something the average client could digest.

Now she shares the lessons she learned in her first career with a new generation of computer engineers and programmers at Olympic Heights, and her work in the classroom has earned her national recognition.

Last month, Arunachalam was recognized as the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Teacher of the Year for computer science. Implemented in more than 10,500 schools nationwide, Olympic Heights adopted the real world, applied learning PLTW curriculum which is now affiliated with College Board, to offer high stakes Advanced Placement courses in both engineering and computer science. Read more...

Japanese Exchange Students Visit School District, Forging Bonds and Making Memories

Seven students from Miyazu High School in Japan visited two School District of Palm Beach County schools during a seven-day trip to South Florida as part of the City of Delray Beach's Sister City program.

The high school is located in the city of Miyazu, a sister city of Delray Beach, and the birthplace of George Morikami, for whom Morikami Park Elementary and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is named.

The students were accompanied by their teacher as well as a chaperone/interpreter who guided them through a tour of the Morikami Museum on the weekend of their visit, and their subsequent visits to Atlantic Community High School and Plumosa School of the Arts during the school week. Read more...

Seminole Trails Elementary Celebrates Love of Language During Vocabulary Day Parade

Colorful ensembles and linguistic prowess were the orders of the day during Seminole Trails Elementary School's fifth annual Vocabulary Day Parade. Students researched and dressed the part of their vocabulary words, allowing them to expand their language skills while enjoying a costume parade. Teachers, parents, community volunteers and School Board Members managed to get in on the fun as well. Read more...

A "Garden of Dreams" is Now a Reality at Omni Middle School

From the chatter in the cafeteria to the lectures in the classrooms, sometimes a quiet few square feet of real estate can feel like your own corner of the world. Students need a peaceful space available to retreat to so they can reflect on what they learned and how it will factor into who they want to become.

On October 27, the students of Omni Middle School welcomed the "Dream Garden" to their campus, provided by Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful (KPBCB), an organization that partners with both public and private entities to adopt environmentally conscious programs and practices. Read more...

West Boca Raton Community High School Wind Ensemble Invited to Perform at Prestigious National Music Festival

West Boca Raton Community High School's Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the 2018 Music for All National Festival, the nation's most prestigious festival for scholastic musical ensembles. The 27th annual festival will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 15 - 17, 2018.

The West Boca Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Larry Shane, was selected to perform by a panel of esteemed music educators and conductors based on a recorded audition. One of only 26 high school bands from across the nation selected to perform at the 2018 Festival, West Boca students will perform in concert, be evaluated by renowned music educators and participate in master classes and special events. Read more...

Binks Forest Elementary PTA Raises Nearly $20,000 During "Party With a Purpose" Fundraiser

Binks Forest Elementary School's PTA raised nearly $20,000 for the purchase of student laptops at its inaugural "Party with a Purpose" fundraiser. Binks Forest is home to 1,000 K-5 students. The school currently has one laptop for every three students.

"We want to incorporate as much technology as we can into our academics," said Principal Michella Levy. "Our PTA sees the need to keep up with the 21st century and the world that we live in."

Local favorite Romeo's Italian Eatery hosted the event on October 7, closing down the restaurant for the invitation-only event featuring casino tables, slot machines, a luxury gift basket raffle and a silent auction that included Caribbean vacations and a set of braces donated by Binks' very own Shullman Orthodontics.

Hurricane Irma forced the party to be rescheduled from its original September 9 date, but that didn't deter parents and staff from turning out. The 170 tickets, which cost $40, sold out quickly. Romeo's was at capacity, with parents, teachers and administrators enjoying gourmet tapas and other Italian favorites.

" Party with a Purpose" was Binks Forest's first adults only, off-campus fundraiser. Law firm Pike & Lustig, Marco ' s Pizza and Romeo 's sponsored the event.

"We wanted a fun night out for parents and staff," said PTA president Jenn Appel. "Our PTA executive board is a team of full-time working parents who donate generously of their time. We planned and executed this event in two months and had a great time doing it."

Binks Forest is notable for its parent involvement, something that has helped the school remain a top performer in the face of statewide budget cuts and earned it awards and recognition at both the local and state levels.

Last year, the Binks Forest PTA gave back $83,000 to the school, money used to buy laptops, new furniture for the media center, supplies for the Fine Arts department and new playground equipment.

For the third year in a row, the Palm Beach County Council of PTA/PTSA named Binks Forest the PTA of the Year at its annual meeting, where the school was also recognized as Administration of the Year - every one of the school's teachers has joined the PTA and are highly involved in PTA programs and events. Binks Forest also received the Advocacy Award.

At its annual meeting in Tarpon Springs over the summer, the Florida PTA honored Binks Forest, one of the organization's 1,450 schools throughout the Sunshine State, with the Student- Community Involvement Award. Congratulations to the students, faculty, staff and parents at Binks Forest Elementary School!

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