Panther Press

From the Desk of Dr. Cady:

 

Dear Panthers!

Now that we are enjoying the crisp fall air, let’s look back at a month packed with great times as we get ready to board the express train through the amazing holidays into the New Year. First of all, I’d like to thank our PTSO leadership and volunteers who did a great job working the Scholastic Book Fair. We appreciate them and our first-grade team leader Mrs. Power for organizing it on behalf of the school. I love spending time at the Book Fair to experience the excitement when children move quickly toward their favorite books by their favorite authors. That’s my dream for our Media Center; soon we will complete the final touches on our new Media Center, a place children can go on a regular basis and be drawn like a magnet to their favorite characters between two book covers. I can’t say enough about the importance of reading for children. Our reading skills tell us how far we will go in life.

Warmest Regards,
Dr. Julie Cady


 

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS:

New Positions Benefit Every Student, Every Teacher

Three familiar faces in new positions will help students learn, by making sure all teachers in all grade levels and subjects have the tools they need to help each student succeed, according to their individual learning styles. Mrs. Oliver transitioned from first-grade teacher to a teacher coach, allowing her to build, share, and amplify teacher strengths so that students greatly benefit. “I’m honored to know that my teaching skills are deemed worthy enough to share with other teachers,” Mrs. Oliver said. “In addition to helping strengthen weaknesses, this allows us to see the best practices of teachers and share them schoolwide.”

Another teacher coach, Ms. Sartorio transitioned from helping students fill in gaps due to individual learning styles, to teaching teachers how to do this in their own classrooms. “I’m looking forward to outfitting teachers with these skills,” Ms. Sartorio said. Mrs. Falusi, another great addition to the trio, was elevated to Student Services Coordinator. This allows her to oversee teachers and students to determine the best student service to tap to intervene for each student in need. “Education is an encore career for me. As a successful business owner for many years, I am used to doing a lot of things, whatever is needed. I love that,” said Mrs. Falusi, who recently completed her master’s degree in education management. “This allows me to use my skills but use them to educate children. Working in education gives me the feeling I am making a difference every day, and we need to make sure we are running a tight ship, so it is the perfect combination.”

Book Fair a Success Despite Short Week

When Emma Cadet rounded the corner, the kindergartener’s eyes widened in wonder at the Scholastic Book Fair held Sept. 23-27. “Everything is so beautiful,” she said to her dad, Mr. Cadet, who was visiting for Bring Dad to School Day. “I want all the books I love!” While inclement weather canceled school for one of the days, we still made students happy with the opportunity provided them to pick out a special book or two. “I’m so appreciative of our parent volunteers in the PTSO who work so hard to assure each Book Fair is a success, and that improvements are made to the school with the proceeds,” Dr. Cady said.

PTSO President Mrs. Carpenter added, “The Book Fair this year was incredibly successful despite the shortened week with the hurricane. We saw so many excited students bringing their dads with them to shop. The PTSO Board and volunteers worked incredibly hard all week and we adjusted the shortened schedule to make sure that all students had the opportunity to shop.” Proceeds from the Book Fair will be used to purchase additional tables and chairs and rolling bookshelves for the Media Center, where the Book Fair was held for the first time.


 

Dads Day a Favorite Special Event

Dads Day at Viera Charter School does a lot of things for students. For starters, it lets a student know they matter to that dad or other important adult in that child’s life. Secondly, it lets them know that their family values education. We make it a point to have teachers put on a lesson and give dads an experience of the classroom in action. Where possible, teachers included dads in the activities. “I loved it,” said elementary music teacher Mrs. Blais. “The dads stood around for a moment, and I placed musical instruments in their hands and had them pull up a seat on the floor with their child. There they were, all making music together having a ball. It was a memory maker for sure.” Younger students thrilled to make a colorful paper tie and hang it around their proud dad’s neck. Readers Theater teacher Ms. Mercer left it to students to get their dads to read a part in the play, and no one refused. “It was hilarious. Everyone had the belly laughs,” Ms. Mercer said.

What does Dads Day do for dads? “Today has meant the world to me,” parent of kindergartener Mr. Cadet said. “I mean, I see how Emma changes every day, how she is learning so much. It’s nice to see how that happens daily in the classroom.”   

Student-built Robot Makes Chairman a Sweet Deal

Our state-of-the-art Robotics classes are taking the school by storm, and the VCS Governing Board got an up close and personal experience of their products at the Sept. 25 meeting. Robotics teacher, Mr. Boucher, instructed “Clank” to go pick up a box of Crackerjacks from Dr. Cady at the podium. Clank grasped the box, and dutifully rolled 15 feet across the floor to the dais where Chairman Robert Jordan sat at the helm; our fearless leader bent down to extract the prize from Clank’s careful grasp. “Well, that’s impressive,” Mr. Jordan said with a gleam as he took the prize. Mr. Jordan is a contractor to the space and defense industry, so he has a vested interest in impressive students who can do impressive things.

Sixth grader Troy Smith built the handy bot to exhibit the types of creations being made that were once futuristic, and now are a growing response to the many needs of humankind. “I love how we start off with a problem, and then we figure out what we need to use to get the bot to move, to grasp an item, what is the weight of the item, how much weight will we need in the base so it doesn’t topple over, how much energy will you need to move that much weight. It can be endless,” Troy said. “There is a lot of trial and error, but when you get it to do what you need it to do, it’s very satisfying.”


 

VCS Governing Board Seeks Family Input on Sports, Auditorium Projects

Athletics is not just our theme for the year: VCS is investing in team sports and is looking for input from parents of students on the design, funding, and construction of a new Sports Complex. “Our goal is to have state-of-the-art facilities that are of professional sports performance size and standards,” said Steve Muzzi, community liaison to the board. The decision to collect parent input at the Sept. 25 Governing Board meeting also applies to construction of a performing arts center with classrooms.

“The board has always been supportive of sports and performing arts,” Principal Dr. Cady said. “Our leadership understands the contributions that athletics and performing arts makes to academics and to the development of children to navigate life successfully.” Initial plans call for constructing the performing arts center along Judge Fran Jamieson Way where the existing practice fields and track are currently located. These facilities would be expanded to regulation size for each sport and moved to property recently purchased from The Viera Company. This would require taking part of the existing faculty parking, but would provide a large net increase in parking because of additional parking surrounding the Performing Arts Center. If you are interested in providing input, contact Mr. Muzzy at liaison@vieracharterschool.com.  

Science is Delicious!

Middle school Science teacher Mrs. Tharrington proved her hypothesis that if you add chocolate, it will get students’ attention. Her teaching on creating and using Thermal Insulated Containers was a smash success. The lesson goes beyond making chocolate pudding, moist chocolate cake, or hot cocoa for immediate consumption, or even keeping liquids and other matter hot or cold in general.

The hands-on experience can be out of this world, such as when sub-freezing fuels are used to launch space vehicles into space. “I never realized that until we did this project,” said eighth grader Gabriella M. In fact, the space flight of today would not be possible unless space engineers could find a way to keep cold things cold but not too cold, and keep hot things from burning up on reentry to earth’s atmosphere. “That would be so totally awesome to do. Science is the coolest,” Gabriella added.


 

Speech and Debate Club Elevates VCS Status

The first-ever VCS Speech and Debate Club kicked off Sept. 30 with nearly 40 middle school students coming to find out about all the meets and contests they will prepare for in the coming year. The club is part of Artemis Academy, which is a pathway to prepare students for their high school of choice. Dr. Whiting’s children are VCS alumni who chose US top school Edgewater High School to pursue technical and engineering dreams. “Speech and Debate Club is one of the greatest things you can do to help prepare young minds for leadership roles,” said Dr. Whiting, middle school Global Perspectives chair who possesses a doctorate in jurisprudence. “And there is nothing that helps you to change people’s minds like a good debating skills.” Dr. Whiting answered the call to head up the club, along with ELA teacher Mrs. Baniewicz, based on a student survey of clubs they would like to see.

Eighth grader Jordan Brewer requested a debate club. Why? “Because it’s fun. It’s fun to learn the skill of making and winning an argument. There’s a lot you can do with that,” said Jordan, referencing the current election season underway, where debates can determine the next leader of the free world. One of the things that Jordan did with that skill recently is write and deliver a political speech about why he should be voted in as eighth grade class president. The result? He won! He had already developed that skill last year as one member of a six-student team who took our Odyssey of the Mind middle school team to the World competition, placing ninth. If you are interested in finding out more about the Speech and Debate Club, or helping raise funds to cover student competition fees, contact Dr. Whiting at kwhiting@charterk12.com.

Teacher of the Year 2024-25

Mrs. Eugenia Marrero was named Teacher of the Year for 2024-25. This middle school Spanish language teacher is already at rock star level because she goes above and beyond to help inspire students to learn the language and the culture of the Motherland, whether that is Spain or lands in the Americas, and many other places in the world. She created a signature event planned for the third year called International Heritage Night. “It’s a way students and families can share their backgrounds and cultures with each other and feel a sense of pride,” Mrs. Marrero said. In addition to a special selection of music and song from students and bands, festival goers played authentic games from a variety of countries and enjoyed snacks with unusual spices, textures, and flavors.

Dr. Cady loves the event and never fails to appear in full regalia of red, white, and blue. “I consider that my heritage and I love representing America,” Dr. Cady said. “Mrs. Marrero taps into that pride to inspire students to learn the language and culture at a deeper, more meaningful level.”


 

Employee of the Year 2024-25

Miss Ilu Oliu was named Employee of the Year for 2024-25. Miss Ilu, as she is known by students, has filled many different jobs over the years. “That’s one of the many things that make her so valuable, she is willing to do whatever job she is needed to do, and she does it with the same level of effort and integrity that we can count on completely,” Principal Dr. Cady said.

Last year, Miss Ilu served at the front desk, one of the busiest and most stressful positions. No matter how challenged, the person in this professional position must always be a mirror of the school itself. This year, with some staffing changes in the Clinic, Dr. Cady needed someone who had experience in many positions to get and keep the new system running smoothly. “It’s such an honor to be noticed and thought of for this award,” Miss Ilu said.

Volunteer of the Year 2024-25

Mrs. Jennifer Hendry was named Volunteer of the Year for 2024-25. Mrs. Hendry spent many years assisting with the twice-annual PTSO Scholastic Book Fair, supporting VCS-lead Mrs. Power, a volunteer position which continues. That makes sense in light of an official title she picked up this year from Principal Dr. Cady: Media Mom. It’s kind of like a Room Mom, as she has served for many years for daughter Zoey, who is now in middle school. Except in this case, this is for the new Media Center, which now hosts the book fairs.

“I was totally shocked,” Mrs. Hendry said, as evidenced by pictures from the night. VCS is a family affair for Mrs. Hendry. She is the sister of Mrs. Wampach, who is mom to Claire in first grade, and is also one of the room moms for her teachers, Mrs. Power and Mrs. Auger. The student cousins are best friends.


 

It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Dress down days are always a blast. On Sept. 19, the world celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a fun holiday started in 1995 by two friends in 1995 in Oregon over a game of raquetball. Teachers used the theme to teach mathematics, writing, anything that involved coins, numbers, seafaring, or words, especially the word, “AARGH!” if it were one, while making a scary face and curling an index finger into a hook. All while one shivers one’s timbers.

More Dress Down Days: Favorite College, Disney

Our official dress down days of the month were Favorite College and Disney, a couple of our favorites. As an AVID school, we have all the popular and strategically attractive colleges displayed around the middle school campus in hopes of giving students ideas that include higher education. And it’s fun to stoke friendly rivalry among students, faculty, and staff, which can often include college sports. For Disney, it is a key to the culture at VCS. “If you can dream it, you can do it,” said Dr. Cady, quoting the amazing Walt Disney. It was once our annual theme. “Our job is to lead students to a variety of fun activities, skill building, sampling of sports, and potential vocations with electives and extracurricular activities that support academics. Our end goal is to have them be led by their interests and give them the support they need to get there.” Enjoy our delightfully Disney photos!


 

Governing Board Liaison

Per F.S.S. 1022.33(9)(p)2. Each charter school’s governing board must appoint a representative to facilitate parental involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concerns, and resolve disputes. Viera Charter School, Inc., the governing board for Viera Charter School has appointed Steve Muzzy as the representative for your student’s school.  The governing board representative for Viera Charter School may be reached at Liaison@vieracharterschool.com.


 


 

PTSO

 

Visit the Viera Charter School PTSO website where you can sign up for their monthly newsletter, shop for spirit gear, find their calendar of events, volunteer information and much more.


 

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