• April is School Library Media Month. Research shows that the highest achieving students attend schools with good library media centers. In fact, a substantial body of research conducted in various states, including Florida, indicates a positive relationship between school libraries and student achievement. To focus citizens’ attention on school library media center resources that help students learn and grow, the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) annually designate April as School Library Media Month. So, we will have some activities to celebrate! The Media Center plans to show one film based on a book after school each Thursday in April. Here's the schedule:
  
  • Thursday, April 2nd: Persepolis (based on the graphic novel)
  • Thursday, April 16th: Secret Life of Bees
  • Thursday, April 23rd: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
  • Thursday, April 30th: Twilight
  
  
• The Drama Department participated in the largest high school theatre festival in the world, The Florida State Thespian Festival (over 6,000 students in attendance). It was an inspiring learning experience for our students and a reminder of the very important role that the arts play in education. Our students also did very well in the competition portion of the festival.
  • Daniel Rodriguez was awarded a Superior and a Critic's Choice award for his monologue performance, which means he was one of 5 performers selected in the ENTIRE STATE to perform at the final ceremony in front of an audience of about 3,000 people. It was very exciting to see South Miami represented on that stage.
  • Emary Aguilera was also awarded a Superior for her Pantomime.
  • The other students who competed in Duet Acting, Publicity, Solo Musical and Ensemble Acting also did extremely well (Stephanie Salazar, Janise Duboue, Grethel Ortiz, Rhyssa Beckford, Jonathan Fernandez and Amy Diaz).
  
  
• Congratulations to the Visual Media Arts and Photography magnet students who participated in the 57th Annual Youth Fair 2009.
  • The following students participated in the Photography Exhibition:
    • 1st Place plus *Special Awards
      • Vanessa Alvarez 11
      • Rick Betancourt 12
      • Janel Vega 12
      • Gabriela Velez 11
    • 1st Place Blue Ribbon
      • Julie Arango 11
      • Sasha Bruno 11
      • Alexandra Epstein 10
      • Judith Guevara 09
      • Jasmine Lee 09
      • Mercedes Ortiz 09
      • Christina Pinder 11
      • Cynthia Quinteros 09
      • Ian Raisbeck 11
      • Joanne Rodriguez 11
    • 2nd Place
      • Valerie Aleman 10
      • Alejandra Deleon 09
  • The following students participated in the Fine Art Exhibition:
    • 3rd Place
      • Amanda Cuervo 09
      • Andrea Ramirez 11
      • Ashley Simpson 1

 

• The annual Magic Show will be this Friday 4/17 in the auditorium. We will be having a show at 3pm and 7pm. The show has something for all ages, from 4 to 104. It is a wonderful hour of fun for everyone. Free for faculty, $5 for everyone else.
  
  
• The following magnet visual art students recently received the following awards. Congratulations to them all.
  • Sulay Palenque won Second Place in the Publix Design Challenge sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and received a $300 gift certificate to Pearl Art Supply.
  • Julio Laborde was selected as one of two recipients for the Mary Beth Tinker Award, which is a student choice best in show, for the McCormick Freedom Museum’s 3rd annual student expression contest and exhibit Seen and Heard 2009, in Chicago. Julio will be awarded $500.
  • Alden Solis is exhibiting a painting in the 2009 Congressional Art Exhibition in Washington, D.C. representing Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
    
    
    
• On behalf of the Social Studies Department, please join us in congratulating Dr. Keith Astuto. He was honored at a luncheon last Thursday for being the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank's, Miami Branch, Lesson Plan Winner. Dr. Astuto has a beautiful marble trophy and money in his pocket to recognize this outstanding achievement. Dr. Astuto teaches AP American Government and Macro Economics as well as regular American Government and Economics classes.
  
  
• The Cobra Readers will be sponsering another book swap in the Media Center on April 29-30th. Check out the videos below to see what its all about.
  
  
  

• Our Fine Arts students, and Magnet Visual Media Arts, Fine Arts, and Photography students participated in the 2009 Annual Countywide Exhibition. We would like to congratulate the following students for the outstanding artwork they have produced this school year. The exhibition opening will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Miami Design District Gallery; 4141 NE 2nd Avenue, Mid II Building, Suite 110, Miami, Florida 33132
  • Laura Garcia 12 (invitation artwork)
  • Jennifer Hernandez 12
  • Judith Martinez 11
  • Joanne Rodriguez 11 (3 pieces)
  • Ashley Simpson 12
  • Gabriela Velez 11
  • Sabrina Alfonso 10
  • Alice Betancourt 10
  • Jean Carlos Fernandez 12
  • Maria Green 10
  • Kevin Santamarina 10
    
    
• Mrs. Mary Galeri was honored Thursday, April 23, 2009 as a Finalist for the Miami-Dade Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year. The dinner and ceremony took place at Jungle Island. Attending in Mrs. Galeri's honor were Kristen Galeri (daughter), Dr. Keith Astuto, Dr. Silas Ashley, Ms. Martha Chang, Mrs. Trish Coyle and Ms. Rose Tresvant. Also being honored for her work in promoting economic education was Dr. Gail Hawks. Dr. Hawks has been a cherished mentor for Mrs. Galeri and the Social Studies Department of South Miami Senior High. Mr. Sam Scarnecchia, a friend, mentor and former Assistant Principal of South Miami Senior High is also pictured. He dropped by from the University of Miami's Hall of Fame Dinner to congratulate Mrs. Galeri.