Nassau Notebook

The 2nd-grade team at Wildlight Elementary transformed their classrooms into a vibrant construction zone this week! In reading, students "dug in" to story elements and "excavated" different characters' perspectives. During math, they "measured up" by calculating perimeters of 2D figures and "built" upon their understanding by identifying figures by names, sides, and vertices. This interactive project was made possible by a grant from the Nassau Education Foundation.

Southside Elementary’s Spooky STEAM Night was a huge success, thanks to the support of parents, staff, and community volunteers. Families enjoyed a night of fun and learning, exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) activities. Special thanks to the millage increase for funding a full-time art teacher, the Department of Defense for providing iPads, Osmos, and Sphero robots, and the FBHS Aerospace Instructor and students for their contributions.

Kindergarten students at Hilliard Elementary are partnering with Nassau County 4-H for Science Mondays. This week, students conducted a “Soda Volcano” experiment, predicting which soda would create the biggest eruption. They also discussed the scientific process and the importance of observation skills.

The Jr. Beta Club at Bryceville Elementary celebrated Founder’s Day by spreading kindness and reading to kindergarten, first, and second-grade students.

Southside Elementary hosted another Multi-Sensory Monday led by the UDL team. Teachers learned about various strategies to engage students’ brains through kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and tactile methods, focusing on enhancing phonics instruction.

Yulee Middle School showed their support for Breast Cancer Awareness with a Pink Out Spirit Day.

In Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Alderman’s 7th-grade ELA class, students engaged in a hands-on, Halloween-themed activity. As part of a prereading exercise, they investigated the crime scene from "The Tell-Tale Heart," analyzing evidence and presenting their findings in a report to a "District Attorney."

In honor of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Transition Department highlighted students in programs like Project SEARCH, the BRIDGE program, and TAP. These students gain real-world experience through internships and work-based learning, helping them build skills and prepare for future employment in the community.

Mrs. DeClementi’s class at Yulee Primary learned about sink and float while exploring pumpkins. After predicting whether pumpkins would sink or float, students were surprised to see them float! They also counted seeds in groups of ten, discovering that one pumpkin had 680 seeds and another had 520. Students took seeds home to start their own pumpkin gardens.

The Yulee High School Marathon High Running Club participated in a 6-mile costume run as part of their training for the upcoming Donna half marathon. Students enjoyed Halloween decorations along the route, completing this milestone as they prepare for the 13.1-mile race in February.

Students in Fernandina Beach High School's Career Experience class earned their ServSafe Food Handler certification, a recognized food safety credential. This achievement enables them to work in commercial kitchens, opening pathways to employment in the food industry.

This month, Fernandina Beach High School's Career Experience class toured the Vertical Program at FSCJ Downtown, which offers career readiness training for adults with intellectual disabilities. This inclusive program provides students with meaningful, industry-recognized credentials that can lead to employment in the community.