Education Notes 1-15-21
Longhini graduates from College of Charleston
Derek Longhini of Cape Coral graduated with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the College of Charleston in December 2020.
Longhini was among the more than 350 students awarded degrees.
Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the college is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities, cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty, attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.
Fort Myers Christian School 2nd Annual Family Fun Day and Open House
Fort Myers Christian School will host its second annual Family Fun Day & Open House, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 23.
The Family Fun Day & Open House is an event held at Fort Myers Christian School to allow families to tour the facility and speak with teachers and staff while enjoying a host of entertaining activities and a food truck.
“We had so much fun last year at our Family Fun Day & Open House that we are doing it again this year, explained FMCS Principal Mel Mitchell. “This is a great opportunity for interested families to tour the facility, get to know the teachers and staff, and have fun with the whole family.”
The Family Fun Day & Open House will feature a bounce house, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt along with snow cones and the Las Gorditas food truck. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about Pre-K4 through 8th grade and why families trust Fort Myers Christian School for their child’s academic training and spiritual nourishment.
To register for Family Fun Day & Open House, visit bit.ly/fmcsfamilyfunday2021 or look for the hashtag #YouBelongHere. For the safety of all attendees, proper social distancing and facemasks will be required.
FMCS was established in 1979 by First Assembly of God in Fort Myers. The school is celebrating over 40 years of Christian education in Lee County. In 1987, FMCS became a fully accredited PreK4-8th grade school through the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. Fort Myers Christian School’s mission is to work with the home and the church to academically train and spiritually nurture students to become productive citizens in society and impact others for Jesus Christ.
Learn more about the school at www.fortmyerschristianschool.org.
School District of Lee County to host virtual hiring event for guest teachers Jan. 21
The School District of Lee County is seeking guest teachers and will host a virtual hiring event on Thursday, Jan. 21, to increase the number of available guest teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Guest teachers play an important role in maintaining continuity of instruction for students, assuming the role of a teacher when they are absent for the day. The district will conduct virtual interviews to add qualified candidates to its pool of guest teachers. Positions offer flexible scheduling and compensation beginning at $92.70 per day.
To qualify for a guest teaching position with the district, candidates must have a minimum of 60 credit hours in college coursework, provide three qualified references, including one from a current or most recent employer, and complete a background check.
The virtual hiring event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 21 with interviews taking place by appointment. To schedule an interview, visit www.Lee Schools.net/Careers/Hiring_Now.
Lee County Public Schools is the ninth largest district in Florida and the 32nd largest district in the United States. The district educates more than 94,000 students in grades K-12. With approximately 12,000 full- and part-time employees, the district is also one of the county’s largest employers.
Foundation for Lee County Public Schools receives AT&T grant
Students in the grades K-5 in The School District of Lee County will benefit from a statewide investment by AT&T this year, one that seeks to increase understanding of how classroom curriculum translates into STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.
For the 10th consecutive year, AT&T is working with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to provide experiential learning opportunities for students in school districts across Florida through “STEM@Work.” Real-world application of STEM education concepts, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills will all be key elements of the 42 separate projects to be organized and funded through Consortium member local education foundations, including The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
During the spring of 2020, while area schools were transitioning to distance learning plans, the School District of Lee County and Florida Gulf Coast University’s Whitaker Center for STEM Education collaborated on a pilot program that provided 150 “Do it yourself” STEM kits to students at Tortuga Preserve Elementary School – a Title I school in Lehigh Acres. The STEM kits were intended to supplement home science instruction with fun and engaging hands-on activities.
This project STEM Kits for STEM Cadets will provide 400 “Do it yourself” STEM kits to elementary students in 18 classrooms across Lee County schools. The STEM kits will be used to increase student engagement and interest in STEM activities and motivate recipients to participate in regional STEM competitions.
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools will use the requested funds to purchase STEM kit materials. School District of Lee County staff and Florida Gulf Coast University staff and students will then assemble and distribute the STEM kits to elementary students from Face to Face and Lee Home Connect learning models across 18 classrooms in Lee County schools.
In addition to the STEM kits, Florida Gulf Coast University students will provide virtual mentorship opportunities to students that would like to enter a STEM project into an upcoming regional STEM competition, such as the Suncoast Credit Union Elementary Science Expo in May 2021.