November 27, 2018
Brevard School Board Welcomes Two New Members

Congratulations to the newest members of the Brevard County School Board: Cheryl McDougall, District 2 (left) and Katye Campbell, District 5 (right), who were officially sworn in on November 20th, joining Matt Susin (District 4), Tina Descovich (District 3) and Misty Belford (District 1).
West Shore Named 2018 National Blue Ribbon School
Congratulations to West Shore Junior/Senior High School for being named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

Superintendent Mullins joined Principal Rick Fleming and the West Shore team in Washington, D.C. to receive the award from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

This is West Shore’s third time earning the National Blue Ribbon School distinction. They are one of only five schools in the country that has received this prestigious recognition! In 2017, three Brevard schools earned National Blue Ribbon honors: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High on Merritt Island; Robert L. Stephenson on Merritt Island; and Manatee Elementary in Viera.
Hoover Middle School's Mentoring Program is
Making a Difference in Students' Lives
Playing basketball or chess, or writing haiku and reading poetry, or just eating lunch together are but a few of the activities Hoover Middle School mentors do with their mentees once a week during the school day for 30- minutes. These 25 mentors, who come from all walks of life including Patrick Air Force Base airmen, local clergy, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, realtors, and insurance agents, among others, are focused on building positive relationships with their assigned students. 

Mentoring is considered to be one of the most effective social-emotional intervention strategies for children who have either experienced trauma or are in need of an “extra leg-up” in life. Even though the program just started at the end of September, Hoover teachers are already reporting positive shifts in attitudes and behavior in program students. 

There are still a number of referred students who need mentors. To volunteer as a mentor at Hoover Middle School or for more information, please contact Laurie Chalko at 321-727-1611, extension 1014 or email at chalko.laurie@brevardschools.org
Orlando Magic Offers Discounted Game Tickets to
BPS Teachers & Employees

The Orlando Magic is showing its appreciation to BPS teachers and employees by offering discounted game tickets for as low as $12! 

Check out the selection of five possible games in November and December.

Click here for ticket ordering and use code: LIOTTA.
BPS Students with Disabilities Receive Free Health & Fitness Services Compliments of EIite Fitness Centers
Brevard Public School’s EMPLOY program has partnered with Elite Fitness Centers to provide a fitness and nutrition program for students with disabilities. EMPLOY is a community internship transition program for students with disabilities who are 18-22 years old, and offers community work internships, as well as provides students with other community experiences essential for adult independent living. Healthy living and nutrition are part of the overall instruction of the program.
Owner of Elite Fitness Richard MacNabb has generously offered membership to Elite's Palm Bay gym free of charge for students enrolled in the EMPLOY program. “We love when the students arrive, their energy and smiles fit right in with our family atmosphere gym,” said MacNabb. 

The program will incorporate the use of personal trainers, group fitness classes and exercise equipment to promote healthy life styles. 

“It is evident that life style choices are very important for the students as they enter the employment world," said EMPLOY instructor Mary Kay Trowbridge. "Promoting healthy eating and exercise is vital to overall positive lifestyle to become more successful in the work place." 

To learn more about the program, contact Trowbridge at trowbridge.marykay@brevardschools.org.  
Madison Middle Schoolers Gain
Inspiration from Space Exploration
A select group of 27 ladies from Madison Middle School were invited to attend an event at NASA where they completed STEM challenges, met with astronauts, and participated in mentoring activities with women in the space program. They even spent the night in the shadow of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Students and their chaperones returned to school with a renewed energy and enthusiasm for space and the possibilities for women in STEM fields offered right here in Brevard County.
Heritage High School Sets the Bar for Blood Donations
Heritage High School’s Sports Medicine Academy hosted its first blood drive of the 2018-2019 school year.

Sports Medicine students conducted all of the blood donation sign-ups leading up to the drive, and assisted the One Blood team with checking in students for their assigned appointment times, serving drinks/food as needed to students requiring a post donation sugar boost, and being on-hand to assist with any students who required first aid attention for nausea. All told, students assisted with 136 Panther donors, which amounted to an impressive 111 units of blood. 

In year's past, t he school has set records for the most blood donated in the region. In fact, t he drive has gotten so big that the One Blood company requires 4 Big Red Buses when it comes to Heritage High.

Heritage will host three more blood drives between now and the end of the school year. 
Fountains of Melbourne/Palm Bay Elementary Annual Kickball Game Proves Age is But a Number
For the last four years, The Fountains of Melbourne, a Kisco Senior Living community, has worked side by side with Palm Bay Elementary to ensure local students have access to the materials they need to be successful.

As part of the collaboration, The Fountains organized a number of initiatives to benefit the school, including school supply drives, teacher appreciation events, guest speakers and renovating Palm Bay’s softball and kickball field. In turn, Palm Bay students have visited residents at The Fountains for a variety of inter-generational activities. This unique partnership has brought the senior living community and school together in hopes of strengthening the greater community and helping one another in times of need.

To celebrate this special partnership, The Fountains and Palm Bay Elementary recently hosted their annual kickball game on the school’s renovated field, pitting The Fountains employees and residents against students and faculty from the school, as well as Brevard School Board members and BPS Superintendent Mark Mullins. The game lasted six innings and resulted in a well-fought tie score.
Ever wonder where that extra half-cent surtax goes? BPS Facilities Services is keeping track of every dollar that is spent! To learn more about our surtax projects, visit Brevard Schools' Capital Projects or check out our Facility Services' Facebook page.
The Scoop , a Human Resources Services' publication, provides valuable information on topics such as professional development and standards, labor relations and compensation and employment services.
Spotlight on Benefits
Spotlight on Benefits, an Office of Employee Benefits and Risk Management publication, provides information and reminders about the many benefit options and features within the BPS employee benefits program to help participants get the “biggest bang for their benefit buck.”

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BPS NEWS FLASH is a publication of Brevard Public Schools.
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