Sugarloaf School's middle school students have upgraded to plastic when it comes to racking up points for good behavior on campus.

Positive Behavior Support, or PBS, is moving into the 21st century, Principal Harry Russell said of the switch from paper tickets to bank cards.

"The PBS program began to get a little stale with our middle school students and this idea presented by teacher Tracy McDonald really gave the program a much needed shot in the arm," said Russell.

"Like I told the kids, 'You all are making history with this program; nobody else in the country is doing what we're doing,'" Russell said of the switch that began last month.

Started at the University of South Florida, PBS is a program that seeks to "assist schools to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school cultures," according to the program's website, http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu.

Russell said, "You need to learn to behave before you can learn. The program recognizes students who consistently exhibit proper behaviors and motivates others to make better choices at school. Kids will be able to redeem their points earned on their card for things like an afternoon movie in the school gym, lunch with the principal or attending a dance."

The plastic cards can also teach students about real-world banking skills and financial literacy, supporters said.

"Not only is it a cleaner program, the students have a card that is theirs and theirs alone," said Centennial Bank's Stephanie Scuderi. "Students can redeem their points by swiping their cards in magnetic stripe readers located around campus."

Florida has variations of the PBS school program in 51 counties, as well as in several states throughout the United States.

Currently, six schools in Monroe County have adopted the Positive Behavior Support program structure.

glynn archer elementary

Students study Keys history, shoot hoops

Fourth-graders at Glynn Archer recently completed a book study on "Kidnapped in Key West," written by Edwina Raffa and Annelle Rigsby, and also have been learning about Henry Flagler's Florida Keys railroad.

Students attended an assembly in recognition of the 100-year anniversary celebration, and student Carlos Camacho-Trevino even dressed up as Henry Flagler (see at right).

Students throughout the school will be celebrating the 100th day of school with counting activities, special projects and treats. Principal Henry Boza is proud to congratulate the following students for their success at the recent Hoops basketball contest: Shaniya Winn, Lamont Woods, Cole Debenedetti, Jason Nunez, India Wiggins and Amarion Davis.

The Parent Teacher Organization will present a free movie night at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the school's auditorium. "The Smurfs," will start about 5:45 p.m.

KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

School wins academic championship

The Monroe County School District Academic Challenge Championship of the Islands was held Thursday at Marathon High School.

Key West High School won first place in the annual competition that pits teams together from the county's three public high schools.

Marathon High School came in second place with Coral Shores placing third.

Key West's team will now represent Monroe County in the State Commissioner's Academic Challenge Competition at Disney World in Orlando on April 19-21. The team is coached by teacher Kerri McLean.

"Congratulations to the three teams who competed for several hours today with intense competition," the School District announced on its website.

Middle School Honor Roll

Straight A's:

Sixth grade: Kyle Iarrobino, Madeline Launstein.

Seventh grade: Annastacia Cassidy, Emily Conn, Don Ellington, Emily Girard, Samantha Golden, Carlie Meehan, Garrett Memoli, Aubrey Sweeney, Nathan Tuttle, Gavin Willis, Stephanie Zou.

Eighth grade: Timothy Fricke, Kaitlin Giffin, John Keane

A/B Honor Roll:

Sixth grade: Joshua Baldwin, Jessica Bryant, Brinn Davis, Olivia Dutoit, Emily Gardner, Brandon Geide, Londail Johnson, Jackson McDonald, Phuong Khanh Nguyen, Dawn Rengill, William Roesser, Brooke Stanyer, Mariel Wiley, Sierra Wright, Jesus Yanes, Anna Zheng.

Seventh grade: Brittney Andrews, Lilyanna Bailey, Chyanne Bidonne, Zachary Brannan, Jasmine Brookins, Chris Brown, Megan Cassidy, Benjamin Cassis, Brayden DiMarino, Cameron Osborne, Li Hong Ren, Patrick Roesser, Cole Stangler, Katherine Smith, Julia Stephenson.

Eighth grade: Kristin Ayala, Thomas Carbone, Michael Cleaver, Miles Cooper, Ryan Cziko, Dustin Eamilao, Sydney Graft, Joseph Guminski, Ian Hausenfluck, Damian Jones, Emily Kailian, Danylo Khodosevych, Caylee Levine, Stephen Morlock, Ernesto Vega

ELEMENTARY HONOR ROLL AND PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Elementary Straight A's Honor Roll:

Mrs. Palladino: Aaron Cassidy, Abigail Leach, Riley McDonald, Michelle Vasquez, Abagail Woods

Mrs. Roman: William Cross, Gwenyth Gaines, Marley Kahle, Sophia Kroening, Jennifer Sambrana, Natalie Woodruff

Mrs. Smoot: Aidyn Gayle, Madeline Marciniak, Carina Martinez, Lucas Montiel, Isabella Oliverio, Samantha Wagner, Chloe Wicht

Mrs. McKillip: Trinity Winemiller

Mrs. McPartlin: Emily Bracher, Kellen Furmaniak, Melissa Mercado, Lauren Moorlag, Gillian Weinhofer

Mrs. Wright: Catarina Dubyk-Cassidy, Marina Goins, Christopher Rackley

Mrs. Caton: Sam Tuttle

Mrs. Vazquez: Kelsie Fountain, Stryder Graft, Carly Sweeney, Arielle Vasquez

Mrs. White: Hanna Kahle, Grant Memoli, Talin Royal, Justice Winemiller

Mrs. McKenzie: Jarren Feathers, Margaret Iarrobino, Zoe Winemiller

Mrs. Steepy: Xavier Herrera

Mrs. Cosmos: Melina Aguinaga, Sierra Brookins, Jared Cziko, Brieauna VanStry

Mr. Hunter: Amy Athens, Andreas Gukeisen, Ryan Keane, Kristina Starsiak, Daniel Walsh

Mrs. Masters: Reagan Fountain, Nichole Frank, Micaela Price, Cruse Sweeney

Elementary A/B Honor Roll:

Mrs. Palladino: Lunasatarius Bundy-Gilday, Chili Byrne, Ty Cervantes, Nathaniel Frank, Alexandra Gagnon, Ella Hall, Brandon Vigus

Mrs. Roman: Jasmine Berwick, Victoria Cross, Aric O'Bryan, Amado Rodriguez, Emma Scanlon, Dominick Stiglitz

Mrs. Smoot : Liam Carrick, Chloe Genest, Jerry Jones, Aliza Madrigal, Marcos Montiel, Rebecca Scali, Aaron Schroeder

Mrs. McKillip: Daniel Boggs, Chloe Broz, Kristina Duncan, Gabriel Dunn, Anissa Nieves, Mercedes Petro, Adrian Salvador

Mrs. McPartlin: Releigh Cullum, Jeffrey Joiner, Danielle Jones, Joshua Land, Carli Morell, Steven Pita, Alexander Rodriguez

Mrs. Wright: Nicholas Abroe, Chloe Dale, David Delph, Kelly Gardner, Haydn Jones, Chase Langdale, Ashleigh Renn, Rio Rivera, Emily Roberts

Mrs. Caton: Sarah Centonze, Jean Duperon, Jemma North, Grace Payne

Mrs. Vazquez: Shelby Cross, Gemma Egan, Jordan Hartley, Donovan Jones, Sabrina Rihl, McKenna Upthegrove, James Vakilpour

Mrs. White: Sebastian Amneus, Coral Geide, Abigail Marciniak, Matthew Portillo, Kelly Threadgill, Michael Walker, Kiera Wicht, Thomas Winegarden

Mrs. McKenzie: Alberto Aguirre, Nicholas Burgess, Maleek Cole, Josh Conn, Noah Goins, Isaac Millsaps

Mrs. Steepy: Sarah Ross, Jordyn Wilson

Mrs. Cosmos: William Cepero, Morgan Krajanowski, Vivian LaValle, JaeCee Rengil

Mr. Hunter: Scout Graft, Joanna Posada, Masyn Sellers

Mrs. Masters: Peder Bidonne, Emma Del Torre, Andie Fricke, Mako Geide, Jonathan Grondland, Kyle Kobelski, Kory Wilson Mrs. Welch: Cameron Willett

Elementary Perfect Attendance:

Mrs. Palladino: Aaron Cassidy, Alexandra Gagnon, Devon Gilday, Ella Hall, Riley McDonald, Abagail Woods

Mrs. Roman: Victoria Cross, Jennifer Sambrana, Emma Scanlon, Dominick Stiglitz

Mrs. Smoot: Chloe Genest, Jerry Jones, Lucas Montiel, Marcos Montiel, Isabella Oliverio

Mrs. McKillip: Daniel Boggs, Kiara McKim, Anissa Nieves, Asher Sargent, Trinity Winemiller

Mrs. McPartlin: Rachel Eads, Danielle Jones, Joshua Land, Melissa Mercado

Mrs. Wright: Catarina Dubyk- Cassidy, Robert Fitch, Rio Rivera

Mrs. Caton: Jean Duperon, AJ Rabinowitz, Graycen Stangler

Mrs. Vazquez: Dominick Dela Torre, Dayton Dotson, Kelsie Fountain, Donovan Jones, Aaron Shockley, Carly Sweeney, McKenna Upthegrove

Mrs. White: Sebastian Amneus, Andres Mendieta-Kuhnke, Kelly Threadgill, Justice Winemiller, Katie Wuerth

Mrs. McKenzie: Alberto Aguirre, Joshua Conn, Daniel Delph, Jose Guadarrama, Margaret Iarrobino, Kelly Smyth, Zoe Winemiller

Mrs. Steepy: Abigail Fricke, Xavier Herrera, David Vecino-Hernandez, Jordyn Wilson

Mrs. Cosmos: JaeCee Rengil

Mrs. Masters: Daunte Aguilar, Peder Bidonne, Emma Dela Torre, Reagan Fountain, David Linville, Micaela Price, Demi Stiglitz, Cruse Sweeney, Kory Wilson

Elementary Honorable Mention:

Mrs. Palladino: Omar Aguirre, Somalia Dumas, Madelyn Eubanks, Devon Gilday, Briana Martinez

Mrs. Smoot: Marcelino Acosta, Richard Duyser. Mrs. McKillip: Anthony Blake

Mrs. Wright: Calob Estevez, Trista Winegarden

Mrs. Caton: Carson Anderson, Alex Bailey, Hannah Burke, Emma Cassis, AJ Rabinowitz, Mae Cee Rengiil

Mrs. Vazquez: Dominick Dela Torre, Antonio Doblas-Gil, Dayton Dotson, Sabian Keller, Aaron Shockley.

Mrs. White: Tyler Huber, Cory Price

Mrs. McKenzie: Daniel Delph

Mrs. Steepy: Alyssa Ravelo, Angelina Santos.

Mrs. Cosmos: Kaitlyn Barba, Liam Hausenfluck, John O'Malley, Makaela Sellers.

Mr. Hunter: Savanna Artigue, Brooke Bailey, Devon Kavanaugh, John Simmons

Mrs. Masters: Gavin Vanover

In celebration of Black History Month, the Florida Department of Education's Just Read Florida! Office has released a suggested reading list which showcases African-American authors.

Students and families across the state are encouraged to explore these selections during Black History Month and throughout the year to gain a better understanding of the many contributions of African-American culture to our society, said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson.

"Reading is the foundation for all learning and serves as a continuing source of discovery throughout our lives," said Robinson. "This year's 'Black History Month Recommended Reading List' contains many inspirational selections that are sure to captivate readers of all ages."

The high school list includes: "Copper Sun," by Sharon Draper; "Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary," by Walter Dean Myers; "Trouble's Child," by Mildred Pitts Walter; "I Have a Dream," by Martin Luther King Jr.; "Don't Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday," by Alexis DeVeaux; "Barbara Jordan," by James Haskins; "Movin' Up," by Berry Gordy; "A Wreath for Emmett Till," by Marilyn Nelson; and "I Never Had It Made: The Autobiography of Jackie Robinson," by Alfred Duckett.

The list for fourth- and fifth-graders includes: "Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra," by Andrea Davis Pinkney; "The Hunterman and the Crocodile," by Baba Waguè Diakitè; "Meet Danitra Brown," by Nikki Grimes; and "The Road to Memphis," by Mildred Taylor.

The complete list is available at www.justreadflorida.com/BHM.asp.

The list provides a wide variety of suggested books for students of all ages and grade levels.

Just Read, Florida! makes reading a priority in Florida's public schools and among the community groups and volunteer organizations that support them. For more information about the Department of Education's Just Read, Florida! office, visit www.justreadflorida.com.