ER Ambassadors Serve Community with Eco Action
Next Work Day is Scheduled for December 14
When the magnet opened in 2002, now retired teacher Kay Burley work with the South Florida Water Management District to establish the ER Ambassadors (Everglades Restoration).
Since then teacher Matt Zealy took up the cause and has expanded the club members' participation in numerous Earth Day-type community events as well as monthly Eco Action days working in local parks. The first event for 2019-20 was at Secret Woods Park in Fort Lauderdale.
Each year the Kay Burley-Matt Zealy ER Ambassador scholarship is given to a member.
Since then teacher Matt Zealy took up the cause and has expanded the club members' participation in numerous Earth Day-type community events as well as monthly Eco Action days working in local parks. The first event for 2019-20 was at Secret Woods Park in Fort Lauderdale.
Each year the Kay Burley-Matt Zealy ER Ambassador scholarship is given to a member.
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Camp Everglades Welcomes Students to Magnet
Zealy, Bergeron, Henschel.
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Newcomers into the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration Magnet once again got their feet wet at Camp Everglades in August before school began.
For the first time campers merged with the Paladin Round Up to gather more information about the start of school. The Round Up shared |
general information about South Plantation High and Camp Everglades focused on the magnet program itself. Students had their first look at visually sampling water and its inhabitants.
Guest speaker Ron Bergeron, a sitting member of the Fish and Wildlife Commission explained his love of the Florida Everglades and |
how everyone could enjoy Florida's unique habitat.
Former ER Ambassador President Jacob Ewert shared how magnet program activities and opportunities have shaped his future. He was Broward County's P3 High School Environmental Student of the Year in 2018. |
2016-2017
Senior Symposium Showcases Projects
Solar charging station
As the school year closes, completion of the magnet curriculum includes the research and presentation of a Senior Project. Each year, community professionals and teachers evaluate
he projects as the students explain the work they completed, similar to science projects.
Since seniors had the option to take courses from marine science to limnology, ecology to art-based ones, a wide variety of topics were
covered.
Students built a solar powered chargingstation located outside the magnet building others to charge their cell phones, others made clothing out of recycled items, organized community-based environmental activities, and several created the annual report and environmental based opinions in the news.
he projects as the students explain the work they completed, similar to science projects.
Since seniors had the option to take courses from marine science to limnology, ecology to art-based ones, a wide variety of topics were
covered.
Students built a solar powered chargingstation located outside the magnet building others to charge their cell phones, others made clothing out of recycled items, organized community-based environmental activities, and several created the annual report and environmental based opinions in the news.
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Students Share Environmental Concerns
Once again, Tree Tops Park in Davie opened its gates for the annual Water Matters Day festivities. Personnel from many groups and companies shared their environmental knowledge March 11, 2017.
Magnet students from South Plantation High have participated for all 15 years of the event. More than 70 booths were filled by exhibitors making it an educational and fun-filled day.
Missing from this year's event, was the Water Bus, the mobile classroom manned by the ER Ambassadors from SPHS. In its place were three booths filled by 4-H members and the ER Ambassadors. Children held animals and made crafts at the booths. Adults had their landscape questions answered and even purchased blooming plants. For the past 10 years, the costume of Freddy, the South Florida Water Management mascot, has been worn by a Paladin student.
Students won the essay contest and earned trips and membership in local environmental venues.
Magnet students from South Plantation High have participated for all 15 years of the event. More than 70 booths were filled by exhibitors making it an educational and fun-filled day.
Missing from this year's event, was the Water Bus, the mobile classroom manned by the ER Ambassadors from SPHS. In its place were three booths filled by 4-H members and the ER Ambassadors. Children held animals and made crafts at the booths. Adults had their landscape questions answered and even purchased blooming plants. For the past 10 years, the costume of Freddy, the South Florida Water Management mascot, has been worn by a Paladin student.
Students won the essay contest and earned trips and membership in local environmental venues.
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Elementary Students Learn About Everglades Restoration
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Usually the ER Ambassadors go off-campus to share their knowledge about environmental stewardship. But in February, children from Broward Estates Elementary came to the South Plantation campus for Immersion Day 2017.
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In modules developed by the ER Club, the youngsters rotated through different venues both inside and outside to learn about habitats plants, animals and water conservation. ER President, senior Casey Horland, coordinated the event.
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Frackopoly Author Speaks to Students
For the past several years, the magnet's Speaker Series invites an author who has a publication about a current environmental issue to speak to students.
"Speakers open our eyes to outside views and not just information in mandated textbooks and classes," said junior Juan Cabrera. "I learned about fracking in AP Environmental Science last year, and today I
learned the importance of changing public policy about the fair and equitable use of our natural resources."
In October 2016, Wenohan Hauter, Founder and Executive Director of Food and Water Watch, spoke to all magnet students. Her latest book, Frackopoly, covers hydraulic fracturing or fracking.
Sophomore John Paul Carriego won the preliminary essay contest about Fracking and opportunity to introduce Hauter.
After her presentation, the author answered specific questions, encouraged students to be activists about their beliefs, and signed books. "Students need to get involved in the decisions that affect their lives in the future through political action, " Hauter said. She also wrote Foodopoly, an account of the business behind the meat, vegetables, grains and milk that most Americans eat every day.
The speaker series is sponsored by Books & Books and F.E.R.M., the magnet parent organization.
"Speakers open our eyes to outside views and not just information in mandated textbooks and classes," said junior Juan Cabrera. "I learned about fracking in AP Environmental Science last year, and today I
learned the importance of changing public policy about the fair and equitable use of our natural resources."
In October 2016, Wenohan Hauter, Founder and Executive Director of Food and Water Watch, spoke to all magnet students. Her latest book, Frackopoly, covers hydraulic fracturing or fracking.
Sophomore John Paul Carriego won the preliminary essay contest about Fracking and opportunity to introduce Hauter.
After her presentation, the author answered specific questions, encouraged students to be activists about their beliefs, and signed books. "Students need to get involved in the decisions that affect their lives in the future through political action, " Hauter said. She also wrote Foodopoly, an account of the business behind the meat, vegetables, grains and milk that most Americans eat every day.
The speaker series is sponsored by Books & Books and F.E.R.M., the magnet parent organization.
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Symposium Showcases Projects
With a new approach to accommodate the dates of senior activities and exams, the magnet program held it annual Senior Symposium in early March instead of late April.
Humanities, Marine Science, Zoology, Ecology and Internship classes were options for the soon-to-be graduates to create their projects culminating their four years in the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration program.
Because the magnet encompasses all areas of school including the arts and sciences, the projects varied from recycling to music, from technology to writing books. In order to graduate as a magnet student with successful completion of the four-year curriculum, seniors ware required to have a suitable project. They will receive the Gold Medallion to wear at graduation at the Magnet awards Ceremony in early May.
Humanities, Marine Science, Zoology, Ecology and Internship classes were options for the soon-to-be graduates to create their projects culminating their four years in the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration program.
Because the magnet encompasses all areas of school including the arts and sciences, the projects varied from recycling to music, from technology to writing books. In order to graduate as a magnet student with successful completion of the four-year curriculum, seniors ware required to have a suitable project. They will receive the Gold Medallion to wear at graduation at the Magnet awards Ceremony in early May.
Magnet Program Holds Open House in 2016
Science option: Honors Zoology
The Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration program hosted an open house, a Magnetic Experience, January 14, 2016. If you missed the Open House, call for information at 754-323-1982.
Prospective students and their parents toured the school, met the staff, and found out information specific to the science-based magnet. The magnet is open to all students throughout Broward County.
Qualified students are accepted into the nationally recognized program through a random-selection process. In addition to completing the application online, parents must submit their child's most recent test scores and report cards. Broward County Public Schools has a specific application process.
Prospective students and their parents toured the school, met the staff, and found out information specific to the science-based magnet. The magnet is open to all students throughout Broward County.
Qualified students are accepted into the nationally recognized program through a random-selection process. In addition to completing the application online, parents must submit their child's most recent test scores and report cards. Broward County Public Schools has a specific application process.
Engineering drone class
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Everglades Ambassadors
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Refreshments from culinary arts
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Paladin Society members
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Honors Zoology course
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Fairchild Challenge Team Continues Thematic Work
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Magnet students continue to explore environmental issues as they participate in the Fairchild Challenge in Coral Gables under the guidance of Ecology, Pine Jog (dual enrollment) and AP teacher Jessica Brown.
For the past 10 years, South Plantation students have successfully competed in the options created by the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens personnel. |
Former Magnet Coordinator Pam Krauss began competing and with different teams won seven consecutive titles, a feat still unmatched in 2016.
Options vary from art, debate, essay writing and community service enabling students of varying talents to explore different environmental issues. Fairchild offers different workships at the gardens in Miami to assist the students throughout the competition. |
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Students Discuss the Everglades with Senator Bob Graham
At the January 2014 Everglades Coalition held in Naples, Florida, Senator Bob Graham spent time with the South Plantation contingent. While a U.S.Senator he helped develop the restoration policy for the Everglades.
The Coalition is an annual gathering of the stakeholders involved in the restoration of the Everglades. South Plantation magnet students and teachers have participated in the event for the past 13 years, the only group of students to be involved all those years.
The Coalition is an annual gathering of the stakeholders involved in the restoration of the Everglades. South Plantation magnet students and teachers have participated in the event for the past 13 years, the only group of students to be involved all those years.
At the 2013 Magnetic Experience prospective students explore the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration magnet program.
Students garden for Green Apple Day of Service 2013
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A government shutdown did not keep students in the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration magnet program at South Plantation High from celebrating National Public Lands Day known as the Green Apple Day of Service on October 4, 2013.
More than two dozen students and community volunteers worked during the morning to refurbish and maintain the hardwood hammock that former magnet students created at Jack Carter Harmony Park in Plantation. The seedlings other students planted six years ago have grown into mature trees and shrubs proving a refuge for local wildlife and cool shade for residents who walk in the park. Later the volunteers worked in the wildflower garden that skirts the parent drop-off road at the school and includes powderpuff, tickweed, blanket flower and Florida's state wildflower. Nature continues to replant the wildflowers |
that bloom but the students must remove weeds and add mulch to help control the weeds. Students will continue to work both gardens during the year under the guidance of Magnet Coordinator Pamela Krauss and student coordinator Katie Van Winkle.
Before they left, the students prepared the school vegetable gardens for a winter planting. Last year the vegetables were donated to a local food bank. |
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Seniors Visit ECHO Farm in 2013
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) Farm is a non-profit organization determined to fight world hunger by seeking alternative, sustainable methods of farming in difficult climates. Magnet seniors had the opportunity to explore ECHO farm and their farming techniques.
Paige, the Bald Eagle (now retired), visits South in Early Years
Studying wildlife and their habitats is part of the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration Magnet at South Plantation High. On May 17, 2010 more than 300 magnet students will be able to see a program featuring a bald eagle and learn from Lynda White of the Audubon Society. Two programs are scheduled: 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in the Culpepper Amphitheater at South Plantation High located at 1300 S.W. 54th Avenue in Plantation.
The event was co-sponsored by the South Florida Audubon Society (Broward County).
The event was co-sponsored by the South Florida Audubon Society (Broward County).