On March 11, Palm Bay Magnet High School's robotics team competed at the VEX VRC North/Central Florida High School Regional Championship in Tampa, Florida. PiraTech Robotics won the Energy Award and placed 13th overall in the Programming/Driver Skills competitions. This performance earned them an invitation to the VEX Robotics World Championship next month in Dallas, Texas.

Congratulations are in order for students Jaedon Hight, Josh Furber, Josh St. Croce, Cody Franklin, and Lila Ianowski.

On March 21, Community Credit Union (CCU) hosted their event, 321 Financial Liftoff, at Melbourne Auditorium. The event was attended by 800 students from Cocoa High School, Astronaut High School, Palm Bay Magnet High School, and Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School. 

The purpose of the event was to provide high school students lessons in best practices and to share how CCU Florida can be a support system throughout their individual financial journey.

The event was hosted by social media influencer Kyrus Westcott and credit union industry advocate Hilary Reed. It also featured three local business owners who attended high schools in Brevard County:

• Benjamin Stern, the founder and CEO of Nohbo and former Shark Tank contestant, based in Melbourne, Florida.

• Dalton Smith, founder of NPI productions, adventurer, and adrenaline addict, based in Satellite Beach, Florida.

• Tinasha Dorsey, owner of Bling by Tinasha, a nail salon based in Rockledge, Florida.

Recently, Audubon Elementary School hosted its 2nd annual Kindness Week. Each grade level was given $100 to spread kindness in the community. Below is a list of ways the Audubon family shared and spread kindness throughout Brevard County.

• VPK purchased puzzle books to take to the residents at Westminster Asbury and Solaris Healthcare.
• Kindergarten created cards for residents at Courtenay Springs Village Nursing Home. They also donated socks, deodorant, candies, etc.
• First grade collected snacks and drinks for the Brevard County Sheriff's office and delivered them to the precinct.

• Second grade collected items and donations for the Brevard Humane Society.
• Third grade collected and donated goodies for the Women’s Center of Brevard.
• Fourth grade donated lunch to the local Fire Department, including pizza, soda, snacks, and a ‘Thank You’ cake.
• Fifth grade made cards and collected hygiene items and monetary donations for the House of Hope.
• Sixth grade made beautiful banners and donated their money to the Veteran’s Memorial.

On March 8, Palm Bay Magnet High School Fire Academy instructor, Lt. Chet Bombriant took his class on a field trip to the Brevard County Fire Rescue Drill Yard. While there, the students were able to watch new recruits perform a training exercise using a Burn Building, which is a multi-level live fire training simulator configured out of metal shipping containers in which firefighters can practice staging, entry techniques, and search and rescue techniques. After the simulation was over, the students took a tour of the Burn Building. 

The goal of the field trip was to give students a glimpse into the fire academy and what it takes to be a firefighter. The Fire Academy program at Palm Bay Magnet High School is in its first-year of instruction. The course is available to students from 9th-12th grade, but only grades 10th-12th undergo hands-on firefighting training. The course for 9th grade students focuses more on comprehensive fitness to build muscular strength and endurance for the strenuous activities firefighters often endure.

If you would like to see more photos, click here. If you would like to watch a video of the field trip, click here.

Congratulations to Jackson Middle School teacher, Mrs. Alexandria Wicker, on receiving the Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). 

The award is one of many awards that the NSTA uses to honor K–12 teachers, principals, professors, and other science education professionals for their outstanding work and achievement in science education. 

Awardees will be recognized during a special celebration taking place during the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 24.

Maycee Brown 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!

Learn More About the BPS Parent Survey

No doubt you've heard about the BPS Parent Survey, but do you know what it is? Listen as we interview Caitlin Maffeo, BPS Community Engagement Coordinator, about common FAQs regarding the Parent Survey.

To take the Survey, click the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DY8ZH5Y

Brianna Bianco of Bayside High School

Brianna Bianco of Bayside High School was invited to tryout to become a Universal Cheerleading Association Instructor and Staff Member. After an 8-hour tryout with multiple elimination rounds, Brianna was selected and hired.

UCA is the largest cheerleading camp company in the world, offering the widest array of dates and locations of any camp company.

UCA Instructors are referred by the nation’s top programs, collegiate coaches, and current staff members. They are hand-selected based on their skill, knowledge, experience and teaching ability.