Titusville High School's Best Buddies Club Hosts 10th Annual Spread the Word Event

Titusville High School was abuzz as the Titusville High Best Buddies Club hosted their 10th annual Spread the Word event. This year, the word to know, and spread, was inclusion, which could be seen in all those who attended. From students to staff participating in games, partaking in activities, and wearing their blue Best Buddies T-Shirts, the spirit of inclusion was alive and well. Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell also stopped by to participate in the fun and help spread awareness.

Best Buddies is an international, non-profit organization with the goal of helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). There are Best Buddies chapters around the world including several regional chapters in the State of Florida. The Titusville High Best Buddies Chapter belong to the Central Florida Chapter, along with several other BPS schools. The Central Florida Chapter is the fourth largest in the nation and third largest in the state.

At Titusville High, Best Buddies is the largest club on campus, with many students participating as Associate Buddies who attend events, help other students, and develop networking skills. Some students serve as Peer Buddies, a peer, or a person without intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) is matched with a buddy allowing these students to create one-on-one friendships. Together, these buddies plan and execute at least two school-based activities each month; one being a sport/school spirit activity and the other being a campus-wide activity.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the Spread the Word campaign has become the largest Best Buddies campaign nationwide. Six years ago, retired BPS teacher Mr. Coachman, came up with the idea of inviting local first responders to the event. After noticing that many students with IDD had a hard time trusting first responders, Mr. Coachman felt that there was a need to help students build trust with first responders and to show them that first responders are safe. The event has been hugely successful and continues to grow each year.

Current Titusville Best Buddies president, senior Kayla Walsh, has been a Peer Buddy since she joined the club as a freshman. For Kayla, while she admitted the role comes with a lot of planning, she expressed that, “The way the buddy’s get all excited and love being included, makes it all worth it.” As a freshman, Kayla was paired with Dakari Pickens, now a senior. Over the last four years, the two have developed a true bond and friendship. Kayla explained that Dakari loves parties and celebrations; making it a point to always attend his birthday bash every summer. Dakari said he loves the Best Buddies program, noting that “We are a part of the school and everything happening.”

Many Peer Buddies continue to stay involved after graduation as they transition to their new role of alumni. Even after graduating from Titusville High, former Best Buddies president, Maddie Dumonteil, volunteered during the event in support of the organization she has come to love. Maddie, now a student at Eastern Florida State College, is currently in the process of starting a Best Buddies Chapter at the college. 

Best Buddies members plan various events throughout the year. The next event is The Friendship Walk, which is slated for Saturday, April 27 at Lake Eola in Orlando. Attendees can expect numerous vendors, and games to enjoy before the walk around the lake starts, promptly at 10:00 a.m.

Mrs. Kim Coachman, current Best Buddies sponsor, hopes to see the BPS community out in full support of the event and hopes that more schools become inspired to start Best Buddies chapters across the district.

For more photos from the event, click here.

Cocoa Beach Dance Marathon Shatters Record, Raises Over $31,000 for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital

Cocoa Beach Dance Marathon (CBDM) celebrated a significant milestone. During the 2023-2024 school year, CBDM achieved a remarkable feat by raising a record-breaking $31,594.42 to donate to the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. This staggering figure is a testament to the extraordinary growth of the program since its inception five years ago, when it raised $7,000 in its inaugural year.

Dance Marathon is an annual fundraising program and the largest student-run philanthropy at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School. Each year, 100% of the proceeds raised by CBDM directly support the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

In its five-year journey, CBDM has amassed a total of $102,273.88, providing crucial support to the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. These funds have been instrumental in advancing pediatric cancer research, facilitating fetal surgery, enhancing patient care, and acquiring life-saving medical equipment and services.

Throughout the year, CBDM orchestrated various events and fundraisers, including Mayhem on Minutemen, Not-A-Dodgeball, school dances, pieings, and Bundt Cake sales. Culminating these fundraising efforts was a six-hour dance marathon, where students came together to celebrate their achievements.

The students, patients, and families participated in fun, hour-long activities, including a lip sync battle, a rave hour, a Taylor Swift sing-a-long, a trivia session, and an awards ceremony. Patients and families from the hospital also shared emotional stories, underscoring the profound impact of CBDM's contributions on their lives.

During the awards ceremony, students Rhys Gallant, Katherine Harrington, Robert Jeyasselan, and Phaedra Lattouf were honored as top fundraisers, each having raised over $1,000. Additionally, Ava Weido and Julia Dillon received the prestigious Legacy Award, the highest accolade bestowed in Dance Marathon, reserved for graduating seniors who have made a significant impact on the program.

John F. Kennedy Middle School's Beta Club proudly hosted its inaugural Beta Club Campus Beautification Day, a collaborative effort with the City of Rockledge and the Kennedy PTO.

Recognizing that Kennedy Middle deserved a little love and care, Beta Club sponsor, Mrs. Barbara Sweeney, and PTO lead, Mrs. Jenny Smith, spearheaded a transformative vision for Kennedy Middle. The event drew together a team of students, staff, PTO members, and Rockledge City Councilman Dr. Michael Cadore to breathe new life into the school grounds.

Their efforts were nothing short of remarkable. Together, they installed new grass and spread mulch along the outside of the school's front office, raked leaves, refreshed the walls with a thorough cleaning, organized the yearbook closet, planted flowers at the base of the school sign, and painted panther paws on the ceilings of the hallways. Additionally, the team undertook the revitalization of the school sign, bike racks, and baseboards of the hallways and cafeteria.

The support from the PTO and the City of Rockledge was indispensable. The PTO, led by devoted members such as Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Katy McGuire, Mrs. Stefanie Cavender, Mrs. Laura Monninger, and Mrs. Mary Peacock, rallied the community, securing generous donations ranging from bags of mulch, pavers, and paint, to garbage bags and sanitizing wipes. Councilman Dr. Cadore not only assisted with the landscape portion of the event but also provided a hearty lunch, fueling the team's efforts.

The National Junior Beta Club is an organization with the purpose to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership, and service among secondary school students. Established over 30 years ago, the Kennedy Beta Club now boasts an active membership of approximately 60 students, each committed to making a meaningful difference within their school and beyond.

Kennedy Middle School had undergone a remarkable transformation, a testament to the power of community and collective action. Thank you to Mrs. Sweeney, Mr. Bob Bertram, and Principal Andy Papczynski for their invaluable guidance and unwavering support in making the Beta Club Campus Beautification Day an unparalleled success. Additionally, thank you to the PTO and the City of Rockledge for their assistance on a day that exemplified the very best of Kennedy's spirit.

For more photos from the event, click here.

2024 Secondary Mathematics Tournament

On March 4, Brevard Public Schools held its Secondary Mathematics Tournament. Fifty teams of students representing 15 schools competed in a demonstration of their math skills through written tests and a Math Bowl.

Following the event, an awards presentation honoring the top three winning teams for both the written and the bowl categories was held.

Written Test

Division 1 - M/J Grade 7 Math Adv.:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: Kennedy Middle
• 3rd Place: Jefferson Middle

Division 1 - Algebra 1:

• 1st Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: DeLaura Middle

Division 1 - Geometry:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: Viera Charter

Division 2 - Algebra 2:

• 1st Place: Kennedy Middle
• 2nd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: Viera High

Division 2 - Pre-Calculus:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: Heritage High
• 3rd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High

Division 2 - AP Calculus/AP Statistics:

• 1st Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: Bayside High
• 3rd Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High

Math Bowl

Division 1 - M/J Grade 7 Math Adv.:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: Stone Middle

Division 1 - Algebra 1:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: Central Middle

Division 1 - Geometry:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: DeLaura Middle
• 3rd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High

Division 2 - Algebra 2:

• 1st Place: Melbourne High
• 2nd Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High

Division 2 - Pre-Calculus:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: Melbourne High
• 3rd Place: DeLaura Middle

Division 2 - AP Calculus/AP Statistics:

• 1st Place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High
• 2nd Place: West Shore Jr./Sr. High
• 3rd Place: Heritage High

While not finishing within the top 3 in any of the categories, students from McNair Middle (Best Finish: 5th Place in Div. 1 Written M/J Grade 7 Math Adv. and 7th Place in Div. 1 Bowl M/J Grade 7 Math Adv. and Algebra 1), Southwest Middle (Best Finish: 6th Place in Div. 1 Written Geometry and 6th Place in Div.1 Bowl Geometry), and Merritt Island High (Best Finish: 4th Place in Div. 2 Written AP Calculus/AP Statistics and 7th Place in Div. 2 Bowl AP Calculus/AP Statistics) still had brilliant showings in the tournament.

Congratulations to all the participants, organizers, and supporters for contributing to the success of this event. For more photos from the event, click here.

Cocoa High School's Tiger Battalion Achieves Near-Perfect Score in JROTC Program for Accreditation

Cocoa High School’s Tiger Battalion executed their JROTC Program for Accreditation (JPA) Inspection. The inspection was conducted by Jerome Gates, JROTC Education & Training Specialist, from Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The JROTC Program for Accreditation (JPA) is used to evaluate secondary educational institutions and JROTC instructors, as defined by public laws, contracts, Army Regulations, and USACC policies to ensure compliance with minimum program criteria.

The JPA criteria is outlined and evaluated on the following: 

1. Battalion Staff Continuous Improvement Briefing and Interview 
2. Service Learning Briefing 
3. Cadet Portfolio and Interview 
4. Instructor Portfolio and Interview 
5. Unit Report 
6. In-Ranks or Drill (evaluate one or the other, not both) 
7. Color Guard 
8. JROTC Program for Accreditation School Visit Points

The cadets performed exceptionally well earning a near perfect score, accumulating 985 points out of a possible 1000. This 98% grade allows the cadets to continue to wear their Honor Unit with Distinction Gold Star on their uniforms, a tribute held since 1971. Additionally, two 6th Brigade Cadet Command Coins were awarded to the cadets for their superior performance during the inspection. 

Cadet Kenna Jeffers was presented a coin for her presentation skills as she briefed the continuous improvement plan for the Tiger Battalion. Cadet Makenzy Navarrete earned recognition for her efforts in leading the Battalion to excellence as the Tiger Battalion Commander. 

Daniel Miller 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.

Calling certified teachers! Join us for our annual Virtual Spring

Teacher Career Fair on April 10th. Explore teaching opportunities with Brevard Public Schools and secure your perfect position for the 2024-2025 school year!

Interested candidates must pre-register here.

Questions? Contact one of our district recruiters:

Tori Huss

Susan Kirk

We value the feedback of our families and want to ensure that we are providing the best educational experience for our parents/guardians and students.

To facilitate this process, we invite parents/guardians to take part in the Family Survey. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be available in the following languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, French, and Portuguese. 

Your responses will help us identify areas where our schools can improve and celebrate the things our schools are doing well. The survey window will be open from March 4th - March 22nd. Click here to take the survey.

On March 15, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation will host a free College and Career Readiness Event at the Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center. This is an aerospace and technology-focused conference where high school students can learn step-by-step how to effectively network, make connections in the industry, and explore career opportunities along both academic and trade routes. Students are given opportunities to speak one-on-one with aerospace and tech industry professionals. 

The space and tech industries need engineers, astronauts, welders, pipefitters, plumbers, teachers, lawyers, artists, entertainers, and more. There will be industry, trade school, and university representation. This event will include a college/career readiness exhibit hall, workshops/breakout sessions, panel discussions from industry employees, and a keynote speech by a leader of Microsoft Corporation.

Participating organizations include NASA, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, the University of Central Florida, SpaceX, Embraer, and more! Registration is open through March 8, 2024. 

To register, please click here.

Furthermore, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, in partnership with Epic Flight Academy, is providing one student with a full scholarship to their Aircraft Mechanic Program. The scholarship covers tuition and materials for the 19-month program, valued at $45,000. This includes five courses, books, tools, materials, and three FAA written exams. All applicants must graduate high school in May 2024 or be a recent high school graduate (May 2023). To qualify for the scholarship, applicants MUST apply in advance and attend the 2024 College and Career Readiness Event on March 15, 2024.

To apply for the scholarship, click here. For more information on the Aircraft Mechanic Program, click here. Questions? Click here.

In collaboration with the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit, Melbourne High School will host the 2nd annual Melbourne Invitational on Saturday, March 9th at 10:30 a.m. 

The competition will feature 38 winter guard, percussion, and winds ensembles from across Central/North Florida and Southern Georgia, including nine teams from Brevard County (Bayside High School, Eau Gallie High School, Johnson Middle School, Melbourne High School, Merritt Island High School, Palm Bay Magnet High School, and Viera High School).

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, please click here.

From March 11-14, Brevard Public Schools will host Elementary Parent/Guardian Math Night. During the event, parents and guardians will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the Florida B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics and learn about the ways they can help their child grow as a mathematician from home.

• Central Area - Monday, March 11 at the Brevard Public Schools District Office (2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne, FL)
• North Area - Tuesday, March 12 at South Lake Elementary (3755 Garden St., Titusville, FL)
• South Area - Thursday, March 14 at Meadowlane Intermediate (2700 Wingate Blvd., Melbourne, FL)

These events will run from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Register here.

The Brevard Schools Foundation is hosting a Family Literacy Workshop on April 5th at 11:00 a.m. in the Brevard County School District Building. This free workshop will focus on the science of reading and provide parents and caregivers with strategies, tips, and tools to support the development of their child’s cognitive skills, language, and comprehension.

Door prizes and a take-home lunch will be provided. Pre-register here.