The new year means a new look for our interim reports and report cards. This video explains the changes and the reason they were made.

Brevard Public Schools is celebrating the announcement that Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education.

The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.

“We join the U.S. Department of Education in recognizing Edgewood as one of the premier schools in the nation,” BPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said. “The selection of Edgewood as a Blue Ribbon School is certainly an honor, but it is not a surprise. Edgewood has been a high-performing school for many years. That performance is the result of the hard work and dedication of the students and staff and the support and guidance of the parents and the entire school community.”

This is the third time Edgewood has been named a National Blue Ribbon School; the school was also a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008 and 2017. The designation lasts for five years.

“It is such an honor to work with an amazing school community. Our students, faculty, staff, parents, families, and community members collectively work to seek excellence in who we are and all that we do,” Principal Jacqueline Ingratta said. “I am inspired by our phenomenal students, our awesome staff, and the tremendous support of our parents and families.”

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective and innovative school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores, and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students. Nominated schools also complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement.

Edgewood was nominated as an Exemplary High-Performing School.

“We celebrate with the Edgewood school community. There are few things that can compare to being named a National Blue Ribbon School,” School Board Chairman Matt Susin said. “We are immensely proud of the staff, students, and families that make Edgewood a high-performing school.”

The U.S. Department of Education today recognized 353 schools for 2023. The first National Blue Ribbon Schools were recognized in 1983.

U.S. Department of Education Site: https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/

Edgewood High’s Application: https://tinyurl.com/y8ktys96

Announcement Video: https://youtu.be/KmpzyX8PVlA (Note: Go to the 9:09 mark) 

On Sept. 15, Brevard Public Schools hosted the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Abacus Bee. The APH Abacus Bee is the sole national abacus contest in the United States, open to students aged 5-21 who are blind or visually impaired. This year, the event is only being held in six different regions of the country.

Students from across Florida participated in this mathematics competition, utilizing various techniques such as the abacus, mental math, finger math, or counting cubes/manipulatives to solve multiple problems within a designated time frame.

The event featured six testing rounds of competition, encompassing a range of challenges. These challenges included tasks where students had to read math problems in both print and braille, and subsequently solve them using either the abacus or mental math techniques. Additionally, there was a dictation round where problems were read aloud, requiring students to compute their solutions either on the abacus or mentally, and then record their final answers.

Notably, a student from Brevard secured first place in their category!

Beyond the competitive aspect, the event provided opportunities for hands-on exploration and engaging activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts. These activities were designed for both students and their family members to enjoy together.

It was inspiring to witness these talented young students gather to showcase their skills, solve equations, make new friends, and share their knowledge with their peers.

Millie Kairuz-Bedoya 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!

Support to Teacher Informational Night

Calling all Brevard Public Schools support employees! Discover your path to becoming a teacher at our Support to Teacher informational meeting. Learn about teacher certification options, meet representatives from Eastern Florida State College and the University of Central Florida, and get valuable financial aid insights. Join us on Thursday, October 26th at 5:30pm and take the first step towards a rewarding new career!