June 27, 2015

Flagler FPS is very proud that Flagler Schools selected the Future Problem Solving Program as the topic for the inaugural radio show on WNZF. Titled "Knowledge Is Power", the first airing of the show occured on Saturday, June 27th at 11:30AM. The half hour show will run every Saturday at 11:30AM, and will highlight the great things going on in Flagler Schools!

The first show was hosted by School Board Chair Colleen Conklin, and included a wide assortment of guests, including a recent Flagler Palm Coast graduate and veteran of many FPS competitions, current students that just returned from the International Conference with trophies, an FPS parent and a second school board member, Andy Dance, who discussed the creation of a county wide suppoprt group, formed with the mission to increase awareness of the FPS program in the community and to help raise funds for the students that attend the International Conference every year.

Click the link below to hear the entire 30 minute show without interuptions or commercials!

Buddy Taylor Middle School Future Problem Solvers

March 23, 2015 - BTMS Future and Community Problem Solvers were successful at state competition in Orlando last week.  Several students and teams placed at state competition and some of them will be moving on to international competition at Iowa State University in June.

Daniella Sbordone is an eighth grader who won grand champion in scenario writing.  Showing her creativity and extraordinary writing skills, Daniella reigned supreme at the competition in both individual writing and team writing.

“Don’t Stress, You’ll Beat that Test,” a community problem solving project also won grand champion.  This project’s focus is on helping students practice skills necessary for test-taking success.   The members of this team are Brian Cote, Valerie Diaz, Sharon Gardner, Dallas Nickels, Daniella Sbordone, and Chase Smith.

Michael Pierre, project “Screen Escape,” is grand champion for an individual project focusing on bringing awareness to and reducing the amount of time people spend on electronic devices.  He worked solo on this project to make a difference in his community.

“Fantastic Future For You” placed first in the Community Problem Solving competition, their project focusing on guiding students in making appropriate choices in order to find success in the future.  This group has visited various elementary school classrooms with their lesson and demonstration.  The members of this team are Madison Bitner, Gianna LaBarbera, Sarah Main, Mariann Trecki, Amy Raleigh, and Ellis Valladeres.

All of the students in Future and Community Problem Solvers are conscientious self-motivators who work on their projects on their own time during lunch, after school, and many times, on weekends. Their coaches, JoEllen Caines and Christine Haire are proud to support them at Buddy Taylor Middle School.

On March 15-18 2015, ten Matanzas High School students participated in the Florida Future Problem Solving (FPS) State Competition in Orlando.  They were:  Teptida Caroline Battenhouse, Delaney Booth, Cristina Cabada, Ladyann Holderzwink, Maggie O’Mahoney, Erin Robinson, Bryce Binns, and Daniel Chahin-Santiago.  Also invited but unable to attend were Kelly Akers and Samanatha Lewis.  The topic for the state competition was Enhancing Human Potential. Winning awards at the State Competition were:

• Bryce Binns, 3rd place multi team booklet;
• Ladyann Holderzwink, 2nd place group scenario writing and
• Teptida Battenhouse, 1st place group scenario writing

Also winning a Grand Champion award in the middle division and invited to the International Competition in Ames, Iowa is Project KETCH, a Community Problem Solving (CmPS) project created by Delaney Booth and Maggie O'Mahoney, both 9th graders.  Project K.E.T.C.H. (Kindness, Equality, Tolerance, Caring, and Honesty) is a character development program that sought to educate children in the Flagler school district about the importance of equality.

The two students did a series of teachings in a fifth grade classroom. The topics covered in the 10-week program were body image, disabilities, gender stereotypes, ageism, race equality, and religious equality. Through a series of PowerPoint teachings and engaging activities, the two students tried to ensure that the fifth graders had fun while learning about equality.  They are planning to make their project virtual soon and are VERY excited to be going to the international competition. 

Coaches Tom DeCeglie and Jeanne Nix – as well as all the rest of the MHS Pirate family - are proud of the creativity and hard work of these students. 

At Bunnell Elementary School, for four years strong, the Future Problem Solvers have been helping out this community one project at a time! Their projects have ranged from helping out Kindergarteners to thinking of ways to help drunk drivers make the right choices. This afterschool club has been thinking of ways to assist the community since it debuted in 2010, and this year is bigger than ever!

Read more about the BES FPS students in this article by the FlaglerSchools Observer.