On April 12, the BPS District Office hosted 10 middle schools for the L3Harris STEM Challenge. Students participated in the design challenge to showcase the collaboration, communication, coding, and engineering skills they have developed throughout the school year.

The goal of the challenge was to expose students to STEM and engage them in real world experiences. The lessons and challenges were designed to expose students to high demand career skills and provide rich learning opportunities in the classroom.

Teams completed the following challenges:

• Collaborate/Escape Challenge: In teams of six, students worked together to complete challenges at five succeeding stations. The challenges involved working as a team, finding hidden clues, solving science problems, and thinking creatively to find codes that unlocked and opened boxes at each station to retrieve new information. The final act for each team was to find their flag and wave it to signal completion of the mission.
• Communication Challenge: Students competed in a challenge to test their ability to communicate in different ways. The challenge was similar to the game ‘Telephone’ but with an interesting twist.
• Coding Challenge: Students had to code four Circuit Playground boards using Microsoft MakeCode to illuminate and sound in sequence. Students then had to place the four Circuit Playgrounds on the Low Earth Orbit Placemat provided. Finally, students were given the location to place the remaining three Circuit Playgrounds on the placemat in the locations indicated.
• Create Challenge: Teams had to utilize one or both of the container prototypes that were previously built during the school year. Students had to understand what cargo their containers would be carrying, how the cargo would be utilized, and what other materials would be available to purchase in their build. Students were given time to shop for materials and then incorporate them before testing. Each additional revision that led to a new attempt at launching the cargo resulted in a loss of points.

BPS and BRPH collaborated on a book drive for the Thrive By Five program. BRPH donated more than 140 copies of the book, "Happy Birthday from the Very Hungry Caterpillar."

The Thrive By Five initiative promotes literacy and school readiness by providing a new book to every child in Brevard County from birth through age five.

Recently, 79 students participated in the 68th State Science and Engineering Fair in Lakeland, Florida. 

Brevard students took home 83 awards, including scholarships to the University of Florida, worth $2,500 per year for four years, Florida Institute of Technology, worth ½ tuition for 4 years (approximately $72,000), and many other cash prizes, totaling almost $1,000.

In addition, two high school Grand Awards were won by BPS students, Dillen Scott of Satellite High and Rushil Shah of West Shore Jr./Sr. High. These awards came with a bid to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas. Dillen also won a bid for the ISEF at the Runner Up Best of Show runoff in March, so his ISEF bid will be transferred to RJ Zrallack of Titusville High, who was the next place student from that runoff. This means that 11 students will be representing Brevard County at the ISEF in May.

Other awards include:

5 middle school and 3 high school Recognition awards

5 middle school and 4 high school Honorable Mention awards

4 middle school and 5 high school 4th place

2 middle school and 9 high school 3rd place

6 middle school and 3 high school 2nd place

2 middle school and 3 high school 1st place

Brevard’s delegation comprised 11% of the fair, but took home nearly 14% of special awards and 12% of place awards. 

Congratulations to all the winners!

Congratulations to Dwayne Kennedy of Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School for winning the Florida Council on Economic Education's Regional Economic Education and Leadership (REEL) Award!

“It’s truly an honor to be selected as this year’s award winner. I pride myself on giving my students real life material which they can take and apply in the real world. I am extremely grateful for my students and staff as they continue to push me to become better daily," Kennedy said.

The REEL Awards honor outstanding teachers across Florida that deliver personal finance and economic education in their classrooms each day.

While Mr. Kennedy serves as CBHS' Economics teacher, he is also an Assistant Varsity Football Coach and Assistant Track & Field Coach.  

On April 11, Tropical Elementary hosted a recognition breakfast to express gratitude for the school's bus drivers and crossing guards.

The cafeteria manager prepared a wonderful breakfast for them, and each were presented a special tumbler made by PTO and cards designed by students.

Thank you to all the bus drivers and crossing guards!

Kristopher Hershman is the Heart of Brevard

The Heart of Brevard is a person who puts their heart and soul into teaching, inspiring, and supporting our children in whatever role they play in BPS.

If you know of a BPS staff member or community partner who is the “Heart of Brevard,” nominate them HERE!

Have you ever wondered about BPS' BAS (Before & After School) Programs? Jen Balletti joins the BPS Smart Podcast to tell us all about it! BPS offers great opportunities for students throughout the school year and even during Summer Break. Take a listen as we chat with Jen & discuss all BAS has to offer you and your students.

Russell Cowan of Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School, Tucker Hanson of Titusville High School, and Hannah Ferguson of Astronaut High School were each named the Titusville Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Adult for the month of April.

The Outstanding Young Adult (OYA) program is sponsored by Community Credit Union and the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation. It seeks to celebrate North Brevard seniors who excel in academics, extracurricular activities and community service, and is open to Astronaut, Space Coast, and Titusville High Schools.