VO

LUME 8 ISSUE 5

AdministrationMrs. Ann Clark

Principal

Ms. Fallon FelsenAssistant Principal

Mr. Larry MatzAssistant Principal

School CounselorsMs. Caleine Ajusma

Ms. Laura Iovine

Polo Park M.S.11901 Lake Worth Rd.Wellington, FL 33449

tel: 561-333-5500fax: 561-333-5505

Principal’s Message

For the Parents, Staff, Students, and Community of Polo Park Middle School

JUNE 2016

MissionPolo Park Middle School

will empower our students to attain their maximum

potential through partnering with parents and the

community to foster the understanding, cooperation,

and communication skills necessary for students to

become literate, productive citizens.

Vision Polo Park Middle School is committed to empowering students to become productive and responsible citizens with the skills needed to succeed in a diverse and global society. Students will become responsible, independent, and creative life-long learners.

To download a PDF version of this newsletter, go to http://academypublishing.com/schools/polopark/polopark.php

If you need help translating this document, please contact Polo Park Middle School at 561-333-5500.Creole Version:Si w bezwen èd tradui dokiman sa a, tanpri kontakte Polo Park Middle School nan 561-333-5500.Spanish Version:Si necesitas ayuda para traducir este documento, favor de comunicarse con Polo Park Middle School al 561-333-5500.

Polo Park Pride•Be Positive•Be Respectful•Be Independent

•Be Disciplined•Be Excellent

County Web Addresswww.palmbeachschools.org

School Web Addresswww.edline.net/pages/

polo_park_middle_school

Dear Polo Park Families: Thisyearflewbyquickly.Ihaveenjoyedgettingtoknowyouandyourchildrenandithasbeenadelight to see them accomplish so much in and out of the classroom. It was a wonderful year! Researchintheareaofliteracytellsusthatstudents’readingachievementcanfallsignificantlyover summer vacation. It is often referred to as the “summer slide.” In an effort to ensure that the learning gains students have made this year do not lose ground, we are encouraging all students and their families to make independent reading a priority over the summer. We would like for your child to read at least one of the Sunshine State Reading Award books for summer reading. These books cover a variety of genres and have been picked by media specialists across the state. I spend time reading manyofthemaswellandfindthemengaging.Thelistislocatedonourwebsiteandinthisnewsletter.Students have also received a copy of the list from their language arts teachers as well. All students will be expected to take a Reading Counts test on their book of choice when they return for the 2016-2017 school year. Additionally, the summer is a good time for students to review math and keyboarding skills. Many age-appropriate activities are located on the student link on the school district website. Our PTSA has been a huge help this year. From providing ice cream parties, assisting in awards assemblies, helping with our walk-a-thon and volunteering where needed, they have provided a tremendous amount of support for our school and your child. Most of the money raised has been used to provide computers for our new computer lab! Polo Park is lucky to have a group of such dedicated parents. We have been actively searching out grants to develop a strong STEM program. Recently we received a $37,000 grant from the Jacobs Family Foundation to support a STEM Student Leadership Project.Additionally,wereceivedadonationfromtheSolidWasteAuthorityforbooksforourMediaCenter and a $500 donation from FPL for energy conservation. Please note the change in school time for next year. Polo Park’s school day will begin at 9:30 am. and will end at 4:05 pm. The bell allowing students to enter the campus will ring at 9:15 am. Dismissal time on our Professional Development Days is 1:20 pm. I hope you have a fantastic summer and I look forward to seeing you and your child next year!

Sincerely,Ann H. Clark

2Science Center Competition

Polo Park Middle School Students participated in the South Florida Science Center Drop It, Clean It Engineering Competition this past April and won awards in the Cleanest Water Filter category. Engineering Results for the CLEANEST Water Filter built are in and Polo Park won them ALL from all the middle schools that participated.• 3RD place- Jaime Rodriguez• 2ND Place- Travis Curling and Zack Ziffer • 1ST Place- Dylan Haas and Xion Linton

Congratulations to all the competitors!

Summer Reading at Polo Park Literacy research tells us that students’ reading achievement canfall significantlyoversummerbreak. Inaneffort toensurethatthe learning gains you have made this year are not lost, we are encouraging all students to make independent reading a priority over the break. In order to achieve that goal, Polo Park Middle has created a summer reading program. Attached is a list of the books to choose from for your summer reading. In September, all Polo Park students will be expected to take a Reading Counts test on the book they chose to readoverthesummer.Thiswillbeoneofyourfirstgradedassignmentswhenyoureturntoschool.SpecificsontakingyourReadingCountstest, by September 9, 2016, will be provided by your language arts teacher once school has begun. This year we are adding an incentive drawing to our summer reading program. All students completing their summer reading by September 9th will be entered in a drawing for a $25.00giftcertificate.All Fall Down by Ali CarterBot Wars by J. V. KadeThe Crossover by Kwame AlexanderEcho by Pam Munoz RyanFrenzy by Robert LettrickThe Honest Truth by Dan GemeinhartInsignia by S. J. KincaidThe Luck Uglies by Paul DurhamThe Neptune Project by Polly HolyokeNickel Bay Nick by Dean PitchfordThe Sinister Sweetness of Spendid Academy by Nikki LoftinThe Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber HurwitzThe Tapper Twins Go to War by Geoff RodkeyTurn Left at the Cow by Lisa BullardThe Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry

From the Desk of Your Health Care District School Nurse

Distracted driving is an important health issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in the United States, more than eight people each day are killed in accidents involving a driver who was distracted by some other activity, such as using a cell phone or eating. On April 3, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported the results of a study which suggests that laws banningtextingwhiledrivingmaybepreventingsomeserioustrafficaccidents as well as reducing the number of fatal accidents found in apreviousstudy.Stateswhichallowlawenforcementofficerstopulldriversoverjustonsuspicionoftextingsawthegreatestreduction. When driving, it is important to reduce all distractions. The CDC maintains that texting is particularly dangerous because it causes drivers to take their hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and minds off what they are doing. The month of May is recognized nationally as Trauma Awareness Month. This year the Palm Beach County Trauma System, which is overseen and funded by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, marks its 25th year of providing lifesaving care to residents andvisitorswhoaretraumatically injured.TheHealthCareDistrict’sTrauma Agency provides student education on trauma prevention that addresses youth driving risk behaviors. To learn more visit, www.traumahawk.org. For information about the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s School Health program visit www.hcdpbc.org/schoolhealth.

Student Wrestler Wins

Championship Polo Park Middle School would like to congratulate 8th grade student Justin Henry. Justin moved from to Florida from New Jersey this school year and has been competing as a member of the Wellington Wolverines Wrestling Club. This March, Justin capped off what had already been a highly successful season when he won the FAWA Folkstyle Style State Championship at 112 pounds. We expect Justin to continue his winning ways as he moves on to high school wrestling competition. Congratulations Justin and keep up the great work!

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Stallion SentinelJune 2016

Published Five Times Per YearFulton-Holland Educational Services Center

3300 Forest Hill Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Issue #5

2016 - 2017 PDD Bell SchedulePeriod Time DurationBreakfast/Duty 9:15-9:25 10 minTransition 9:25-9:30 5 min1st 9:30 – 10:32 62 minTransition 10:32-10:36 4 min2nd 10:36 - 11:38 62 minTransition 11:38 - 11:42 4 min3rd 11:42 -1:20 90 minA Lunch 11:42 – 12:12

30 minutelunchperiods

Transition 12:12-12:16 B Lunch 12:16 - 12:46Transition 12:46– 12:50C Lunch 12:50 – 1:20

C Lunch will be dismissed from the cafeteria.

2016 - 2017 Regular Bell SchedulePeriod Time DurationBreakfast/Duty 9:15-9:25 10 minTransition 9:25-9:30 5 min1st 9:30 – 10:26 56 minTransition 10:26 - 10:30 4 min2nd 10:30 - 11:25 55 minTransition 11:25 - 11:29 4 min3rd 11:29 -1:07 90 minA Lunch 11:29 – 11:59

30 minutelunchperiods

Transition 11:59 -12:03 B Lunch 12:03 - 12:33Transition 12:33 - 12:37C Lunch 12:37 – 1:07Transition 1:07 – 1:11 4 min4th 1:11 - 2:06 55 minTransition 2:06 – 2:10 4 min5th 2:10 -3:05 55 minTransition 3:05 – 3:09 4 min6th 3:09 – 4:05 56 min

Students of the Month Each month grade level teams select a student who stands out both academically and behaviorally for the Academic Student of the Month. Additionally, elective teachers pick an outstanding student for the Elective Student of the Month and our coaches and physical education teacherspickanathletefortheAthleteoftheMonth.Thestudentsreceiveacertificateandtheirpicturesarepostedoutsidethemainofficeforalltosee.Pleasecongratulatethefollowingstudentsrecognized for the months of April and May.

6th GradePablo Pedicino

7th GradeEryn Wioncek

8th GradeJasmine Pickens

ElectiveCassidy Strubbe

AthleticLindsay Schindler

6th GradeJohan Saintil

7th GradeMya Levine

8th GradeAdam Fabricant

ElectiveRyann Bierman

AthleticKeshailyn Cowles

PTSA PTSA had a busy end of the school year sponsoring our school awards ceremonies and events and the 8th grade end of year celebration. As we bid farewell to some of our Board Members, some who have been with us for several years, we welcome our new Board and are looking forward to another successful year at Polo Park. Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers, business partners and to everyone who supports our PTSA. Through our generous families, business partnerships and dedicated volunteers, PTSA was able to accomplish so much this year – we purchased 16 computers for the new computer lab, provided grants to enrich education, provided classroom supplies, sponsored honor roll celebrations, reading incentives, school dance, 8th grade year end celebration, and teacher and staff appreciation, purchased 8th grade t-shirts and assisted with ScholasticBookFair,EquestrianFamilyNight.Ourbusinesspartnerspurchasedtablesandbenchesforourcourtyard,providedrafflesandcontributedinsomanyotherways. We are currently accepting new business or family sponsorship for our upcoming school year. New banners will be put up in August as part of the renewed and new sponsorship. Email Amy Roberts at asrfl@bellsouth.net for more information on how you can support Polo Park. Have a fun and safe summer!

In Tune With Wellington’s Needs

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Polo Park Middle School Excellence Awards Polo Park recognized student achievement at award ceremonies this May. On May 25th, sixth graders were recognized for their accomplishments, seventh graders were recognized on May 26th and our 8th graders on May 27th. Parents of students receiving awards looked on with pride as their students were called to the stage. This year’s recipients of the Principal’s PRIDE Award was Jake Levy and the Principal’s Award went to two deserving students, Adah Smith and Samirah Abellard. These are the highest awards that an eighth grader can be awarded at Polo Park. Congratulations to award winners! After the ceremonies, refreshments were served.

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Drama and Chorus Production

This year Polo Park added two new activities that culminated in an incredible evening of drama and song. The chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Beach, started the evening with a medley of songs.Next,underthedirectionofMs.AjusmaandMs.Gordon,our students preformed a one act from Alice in Wonderland. After an evening like this, it is evident that Polo Park excels in the arts as well as the academics.

Polo Park Middle School Band Concerts

Spring band concerts were held on May18 and May19th at Polo Park. On May 18th the Beginning Band and the Jazz Band performed. ItwashardtobelievethatthestudentsintheBeginningBandjuststarted playing this year. The Jazz Band was awesome. On May 19th the Intermediate Band and the Advanced Band performed, keeping the audience entertained throughout the evening. Kuddos go out to Mr. Graham and his students.

Pictures from our Polo Park concerts

A few spots are left!

We need you!Nora Bernstein

Polo Park Middle Schoolbernstein@palmbeach.k12.fl.us

Advertise in the Stalion Sentinel! This is a wonderful way for your company to get community recognition and exposure,

and at the same time help support your local schools!

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From The Library Media Center Wefinishedtheyearinthelibrarymediacenterwithourliteracycelebrations.OnTuesday,May24th,werecognizedtheaccomplishments of our most dedicated readers. This year we had 41 students who read 500,000 words or more, based on Reading Counts, earning them a place in the Million Word Club or the On a Roll Club. These students were invited to a luncheon where they celebrated their successes while dining on Chinese food. At the student awards ceremonies these student were recognized for their accomplishments and they each received a beautiful trophy. Later that Tuesday, we celebrated the Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) readers. These students read 3 or moreoftheSSYRAbooksandpassedthecorrespondingReadingCountsquiz.Studentsweretreatedtoice-creamsundaeswith up to 15 toppings. These students also received a copy of one of this upcoming year’s SSYRA books. We also recognized Mrs. Llewellyn as the winner of the 2015 – 2016 Polo Park Choice Award. She had selected Wonder to promote as her favorite middle school read. More students read her pick than any of the other choices. She received a trophy and a gift card to a local restaurant. I’d like to thank the following businesses for their support of the library media center and thecelebrationliteracyandeducation:WalmartNeighborhoodMarket,BonefishGrill,andParkAvenueBBQGrille.

Celebrating literacy at Polo Park

For the Parents, Staff, Students, and Community of Polo ParkMiddle School

Polo Park Middle School11901 Lake Worth Rd.Wellington, FL 33449

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDOrlando, FLPermit #2346

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National Junior Honor Society On Monday, May 23rd, Polo Park held its annual induction ceremony into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). The National Junior Honor Society is the nation’s premier organizationestablishedtorecognizeoutstandingmiddlelevelstudents.Morethanjustanhonor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character. 8th Grade

Yearbook Signing Party

On Tuesday, May 31st, Polo Park 8th graders gathered in the cafeteria for the 8th grade yearbook signing party. Students who purchased yearbooks could have them signed at that time. Most students wore their Polo Park t-shirts with all of their names printed on the back. The party, sponsored by the PTSA, was a huge success. The DJ, photo booth, and food made for a fabulous time. We wish our 8th graders well as they transition to high school and we look forward to hearing about their achievements in the years to come.