Near Extinct Butterfly Species Revived by G-Star Environmental Class!

 

Have you ever heard of the Atala Butterfly or the Coontie plant, the Zamia Pumila, which it lives on? We haven't either, but we recently found out that they were on the brink of extinction. That is until we discovered that one of our teachers, Mrs. Renee Rasha and her students, had been planting the native coontie host plant around our campus for years to attract the Atala Butterfly. Just a week ago they finally recruited the beautiful Atala butterfly to the G-Star Campus! That blew us away! It can be spotted around our enhanced G-Star Tropical forest (between Buildings J and K). Now keep in mind that this magnificent butterfly was believed to be extinct in the wild a few years ago, but now not only has it shown up on our campus, Mrs. Rasha and her students actually witnessed an Atala coming out of its chrysalis which was quite a beautiful sight to see. We now have many Atala butterflies growing in our garden!

 

Botanist Chris Lockhart verified the Atala butterflies, eggs, chrysalises, and herbivory on our native Zamias and alerted researcher Sandy Koi, a graduate student specializing in this butterfly at University of Florida.

 

G-Star is now on Ms. Koi research map and is interested in any more information, observations that we can tell her about our Atalas.

 

For the past two days, Mrs. Rasha and her students have tended to the Tropical Forest area, checked on the caterpillars, planted six Zamias, watered all newly planted plants, and raked leaves (using them as a natural mulch, smoothing them across the forest floor).

 

As you can see this is another occasion on which we have made history at G-Star School of the Arts. This is a very proud and momentous occasion for G-Star. To start a brand new ecosystem for a species of butterflies believed to be extinct and have them appear at our school is beyond words! We are very excited about this project and are fortunate to have students that care so deeply about this matter and our environment. That’s what we here at G-Star try to do! We hope to continue making exceptional achievements like this as we move on towards the future.

 

 

We’re Proud of our Anti-Bullying Record!

This week the Palm Beach Post printed an editorial stating, “Palm Beach County’s schools had the highest number of reported bullying incidents in the state, with 748 reported in 2012-13.”  They went on to state that the next highest number was Miami-Dade with 541 incidents.  G-Star School of the Arts is proud of our anti-bullying and anti-drug record.

Our G-Star School of the Arts for Film, Animation and Performing Arts has the strongest anti-bullying and anti-drug policy of any school in Florida.  We are in our 12th year and we have never had a fight at our school.  Our incidents of bullying are near zero as well as drug use, and those are dealt with immediately.  We follow Supreme Court case law and our methods have been observed by the Sheriff’s Department as well as local police departments.  We developed our own program that no one else has.  This program has made our school one of the safest in the nation.  As a result of not having to encounter the fear of bullying and drugs in our school, our students are polite, kind, and accepting of each other.  We thank our students and parents who appreciate the stand we take and the methods we use because in a safe environment such as G-Star School has, the students can excel in their education with freedom from fear of harassment.  

Please read our student and parent’s comments on this subject and others on this website.  Please click on “Main Menu” and then click on “Parent’s and Student’s Comments”. 

Announcements, October 27, 2014

 

Spirit Bracelets are only $1. Spirit Beads are also $1. Come out and support your class.

Do you like getting your hands dirty? Come join Adventures Garden Club! It’s Mondays after school and you can earn your community service hours. Meet in Ms. Rasha’s room.
Field Day and Class Colors day is being postponed until Friday, Novmeber 7^th due to conflicts with the testing schedule. But don’t worry, the competition is still on like Donkey Kong! Remember, Freshmen wear green, Sophomores wear yellow, Juniors wear red and Seniors wear blue. Get ready to prove who is the dominant class of 2015!

Field Day will be followed by the Rockin’ 50’s Homecoming dance on November 8^th. So get ready for two weeks of fun: Spirit Week and then Homecoming!

Spirit Week is finally here! Get ready to show your school pride by participating daily in the following fun themes: On Movie Madness Monday, celebrate cinema by dressing up as your favorite movie star or character.

Tacky Tourist Tuesday is your chance to break out your Hawaiian shirts, plaid shorts and fanny packs as we bring vacation to school.

On Sci-Fi Wednesday, dress up as your favorite cyborg, alien, space traveler or even Middle Earth character. Let your imagination take you where no person has gone before.

For Throwback Thursday, take your time machine back to your favorite era and strut your retro style.

Friday is Halloween! It is open season for any costume you choose. Just remember, dress code still applies; no masks, weapons or revealing outfits.

Make sure you’re “on flee’ for Spirit Week!

The Model UN Club will meet in Mr. Hoy’s room in A-108 after school on Tuesday, October 28^th. See you there.

The G-Shorts Student Film Competition needs a new logo. This competition is open to all G-Star students.

See Mr. McClory for complete details. The winning logo will appear at Public Events and G-Stars Social Media Pages. Put your Artistic Talents to work and WIN.

The G-Shorts Student Film Competition is now open. The theme this year is IMAGINATION. Get your Production Group together. Each production group must include at least one freshman. Pick up your G-Shorts Entry Form from Mr. McClory’s in K-104. Your imagination could make you a winner.

For all the boos out there, Prom Committee will be selling boo grams this week! Boo grams will be sold for 50 cents each and you can add a lollipop for just 50 cents more! We will be selling in front of the commissary during lunch. Be sure to buy some for your friends.

Sophmores, Juniors, and Seniors, if you are interested in dual enrollment for the Spring term please make an appointment to meet with your guidance counselor.

Hope you are ready to twist and shout November 8^th because SGA will be rolling out the rock and roll for this year’s homecoming. So don’t miss out on G-Stars first 50’s dance. Get your tickets for only $15.

 

 

 

X-SCREAM HALLOWEEN TONIGHT!

This year’s X-Scream Halloween event put on by our students in our motion picture studios Sound Stage 1 is the “Single Biggest Haunted House in Florida”, larger than any at Universal Studios or Busch Gardens!  Hundreds of our students have done a magnificent job with set building, costuming, prosthetic makeup, lights, sound and atmosphere.  It is spooky!  We have received nothing but raves about it with many patrons saying it is the best they’ve ever been to!  X-Scream Halloween continues Friday and Saturday, October 24 & 25, and next week on both Friday and Saturday, October 31 & November 1.  Check out some photos of our students in the show below:

 

 

G-Star will be at the Student Showcase of Schools tonight!

Each year the PBC School District puts on the Student Showcase of Schools featuring the elite Magnet, Choice and Charter School programs.  Approximately 15,000 people are expected to attend the event where top academic students in the County are able to meet, ask questions, and receive information from the persons operating the various programs.  G-Star School of the Arts is well represented at the event that takes place at the Fairgrounds on Southern Blvd. from 4 PM to 8 PM in the main convention hall.  We will be located in the end row to the left.  Please let anyone you know that may be interested in attending G-Star this year or next year to stop by our booth.  We will be doing “Hollywood Monster Makeup” on attendees by our student makeup artists from our X-Scream Halloween event at our school.  Lots of giveaways, so stop by!

G-STAR STUDENTS SHOOT DOCUMENTARY ON WWII VETERANS FOR TV SERIES

Their war was over almost 70 years ago.  Their mission: Save The World! And they did.  World War II is a fading memory, but not for these valiant warriors – it is as vivid and sharp as the day they made sacrifices for all of us.  At 4 PM on Thursday, Oct. 16, the students of the G-Star School of the Arts, a public charter high school in Palm Springs, Florida are shooting the first episode of a 13-part TV series of documentaries at G-Star Studios aimed for The History Channel or The Discovery Channel.  “These veterans have taught us that ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’”, says Associate Producer, Madison Lillard, a sophomore student.  “They are a national treasure.  Their lives may be fleeting, but our gratitude will never end.”  Last school year the G-Star School students produced their first WWII heart-wrenching documentary about five heroes from The Battle of the Bulge to Iwo Jima.  This year the production evolved into a combination of that format plus another student program started last school year titled “Adopt a Veteran, Fallen Hero or Holocaust Survivor”.  The production crew will be filming fellow students as they interview the veterans one on one, while going over their memorabilia and learning their first-hand combat stories.  This direct connection between 14 and 15 year old students and 90 year old veterans has never been documented before.  “With world events unfolding as they are today,” says educator and Executive Producer Gregg Suskin, “these veterans want our younger generation to be strong Americans who are willing to defend our freedom.  Over 400,000 young Americans of every race, religion and socio-economic background fought together and died to save the world – and they succeeded.  It is only right that we honor their ultimate sacrifice with this documentary series telling the story of local WWII veterans.”

 

Announcements: October 6, 2014

Just a Reminder: Students Diagnostic Testing will begin on Monday, October 6^th. Subjects we are testing are Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Biology, US History, 9^th grade reading and 10^th grade reading.

Attention G-Star Students: Lets ride the Flavor wave…Make sure you save your $2, $3, or $4 bills! Prom will be selling Refreshing Kona Ice in front of Portables M and N this Friday. Look for the colorful truck with Hawaiian music. We have posters all around the school and tons of flavors to choose from!!!
Have A TropiKona Day!

Juniors and Seniors, UCF will be here October 8^th. Please see Ms. Sammarco to sign up. Students will not be able to sign up the same day.

 The GSA is going to be holding elections for officers on October 7^th anyone interested in running for President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer should see Mr. Weiss in room J-219 by the end of this week. Also, next week on October 7^th they will be taking their yearbook picture.

Do you enjoy drawing, painting, or anything else that involves art? Come out and join us in K-109 every Friday from 2:40 – to 3:00 PM. Please bring any art materials that you have to work with.

Spirit Week shirts are still on sale for $12. Last day to buy will be October 10^th.

Spanish Tutoring: Spanish I – any odd days. Please see Mrs. Paro room J-213                                Spanish II, Tuesdays during lunch and after school. Please see Mrs. Fanego in Room J-211.               Spanish 3 and IB – Please see Mrs. Castro in room J209 on Wednesday during lunch and after school. Spanish IB/AB Intro – Thursdays during lunch and after school, please see Mrs. Branda.

Calling all writers! Calling all writers! Come to Creative Writing Club. We meet Wednesdays during the first half of lunch in Mr. Crews room J-210. Come share your work with others and grow to be a better writer.

Attention Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors! It’s that time of year again to stop by the Theatre Departments Office and buy tickets for the One Act Festival! Every Man & WoMAN should be there October 20^th through October 23^rd, to be a part of H building history and enjoy our 1^st ever musical production, and a hilarious twist on a classic! $12 for students and $15 for general admission. Don’t forget TLE forms for the in-school performance for Friday, the 24^th.

Seniors, if you have turned in your quote terms, baby pictures and have taken your portraits you are eligible for a free lollipop courtesy of the yearbook. If you have completed these tasks by October 17^th you can stop by J-219 before school or during lunch to pick-up your prize.