2008-2009 Social Studies Department News

• Check out the AP Geography final presentations for 2009. Click on the image below for more.
  
  
• Please join the Social Studies Department in congratulating the following students and teachers who were honored at a luncheon at Bonaventure Country Club in Weston, Tuesday, May 19, for winning the Florida Stock Market Game and the Invest Write Competitions.

  • Christina Garcia- Alario (Invest Write Winner - 2008 1st Place State Winner/7th Place National Winner)
    • Teacher: Mary A. Galeri
  • Saranhais Zerpa (Invest Write Essay Contest- Spring, 2009 First Place State Winner)
    • Teacher: Keith Astuto
  • Chris Rascon, Sara Rojas, Julio Sanchez, Ashley Simpson, Noland Torres, and Esmee Vera (Stock Market Game - Spring 2009 1st Place District Winner/3rd Place State Winner)
    • Teacher: Patricia Coyle
      Click on the image below for the full gallery.
      
    
    
• Dr. Keith Astuto of the Social Studies department has won top honors from the Atlanta Federal Reserve in its 2008-9 Lesson Plan of the Year contest. The competition, open to middle and high school educators in the southeastern United States, challenges them to create a lesson plan using materials and websites from the Federal Reserve System. As this year’s Miami Branch winner (he took 3rd place last year) Dr. Astuto flew to the Atlanta headquarters of the FRB where he matched plans with the victors from the other branches of the central bank. His lesson plan, which he adapted for his AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. Government, and Senior Economics courses, will be posted on the FRB Atlanta web site for other educators to access.
  

  Dr.Astuto with Bobbie McCracken, a VP with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.   Click here for more information

  Dr. Astuto in front of the board room at the Sixth District w/Ms. McCracken, Lon Lazzeri of the Miami Branch of the Atlanta FRB, and Al Melchior who is the Educational Outreach Specialist for the Miami Branch.

  
  
• 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.