Sunday, March 10, 2013

NEWS RELEASE: MARCH 1, 2013

March 1, 2013

Hands-on project makes a difference at school
Heavy rains did not prevent more than 350 volunteers from being part of a recent national day of service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The volunteers converged at several events, including projects at Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale. There, volunteers made and packed lunches for distribution at a homeless shelter, donated blood, wrote letters to soldiers stationed overseas, planted a butterfly garden, built benches for a re-landscaped peace garden and more.

School board approves school boundary changes
The Broward school board approved new boundaries Wednesday that would kick in next school year. During a public meeting Wednesday, the board reviewed proposed changes including a plan to convert ArthurAshe Middle Schoolin FortLauderdale into an adult workforce development program and expand DillardHigh School into a grades 6-12 magnet program. 

Fewer students learn cursive handwriting
Cursive handwriting not in Common Core State Standards
Fewer students are learning how to write in cursive "I can read it just fine, but writing is a struggle," said 17-year-old Sam Reich, a high school senior. Reich, like many other students his age, is headed to college without learning cursive handwriting. "After fifth grade, I never was questioned for not knowing cursive again," he said. "Unfortunately, it's a dying art," said Lucy McGuire, a teacher at Coconut Palm Elementary School in Miramar.