Three students at Mater Academy won the regional VEX Robotics challenge at Jose De Diego Middle School and advanced to the Florida State Championships. The Lionbots took first place in the regional STEM project, skills and excellence awards. At the state competition, the Lionbots will be competing against their counterparts from top STEM schools, bringing STEM skills to life by tasking teams of pupils with designing and building a robot to...

  Just before she earned her Bachelor’s degree at Florida International University, Lilian Gonzalez discovered her true calling while working alongside her trusted adviser as an intern – teaching art. “I had the opportunity to intern at Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary under the guidance of one of the best art educators in the county, Mabel Morales,” Gonzalez said. “My mentor was inspiring and made me...

  Celebrations did not end at the holiday season at Dade Christian School. Homecoming, a significant part of the school’s traditions, will be commemorated starting Monday, January 29. Although the school’s first graduating class was in 1967, Homecoming traditions didn’t start until the mid 70s.  Students enjoy a whole week of dressing-down with a daily change in theme. This year, students will be able to dress up...

  Prior to the holiday break, the students of Monsignor Edward Pace High School’s Mission Club held a holiday party to prepare special stocking stuffers for children of families in need at Christmas. The annual event held at Pace was sponsored by Stephen Pelzer, a class of 2012 Pace alumnus and his family. It was 15 years ago when Pelzer, at just 8 years old, was filling Christmas food baskets with his family and realized...

  Bob Graham Education Center’s (BGEC) two top teachers for 2017-18 are Lusila Garcia, who was named Teacher of the Year, and Tabitha Stanley Williams, who was named Rookie Teacher of the Year. Garcia is a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher of the gifted program at BGEC. She graduated from FIU in 1995 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and began her teaching career at Poinciana Park Elementary in Liberty City. She taught there for...