School Employees of Year selected
The 2021-22 School-Related Employees of the Year have been selected from each of the district’s 43 schools, along with three district representatives. School-related employees are essential to the successful operation of a school or school district office.
These nominees were chosen for the significant contributions they have made in their schools and community and to the school district as a whole. Criteria for the award includes exemplary job performance, dedication on the job, interpersonal skills, leadership ability, in-service/training to upgrade skills and contributions to the school and school district environment.
School-Related Employees of the Year for local schools are: Courtenay Page, Alice B. Landrum Middle School; Nicole Cooks, Allen D. Nease High School; Kathleen MacGilvray, Ocean Palms Elementary School; Nelson Chute, Palencia Elementary School; Alice Fasula, Palm Valley Academy; Kathleen Tompkins, Pine Island Academy; Daniel Clark, Ponte Vedra High School; Bradson Ephraim, PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School; and Joy Calvo, Valley Ridge Academy.
Real estate company give gifts to children in foster care
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty is helping to make the holidays extra special for 80 Northeast Florida children in foster care.
The company’s Metro Offices of Avondale/Ortega and San Marco/San Jose took part in Family Support Services of North Florida’s annual Be an Angel holiday drive, an effort to make Christmas special for First Coast children in out-of-home care. Angels buy gifts from a child’s wish list or make a monetary donation so that the children receive Christmas presents they would not otherwise be able to enjoy this time of year.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Realtor Kimberly Waterhouse managed the real estate firm’s campaign. With the support of the Metro team, she collected and purchased gifts to make Christmas wishes come true for 40 children in foster care. Additionally, Waterhouse secured a $14,000 donation from the Gray Charitable Trust to provide Christmas presents to 40 foster children in the Independent Living program. Family Support Services of North Florida is the lead community-based care agency for foster care and adoption in Duval and Nassau counties.
Club adopts new name: Rotary Club of Palm Valley
The Ponte Vedra Beach Sunset Rotary Club is now The Rotary Club of Palm Valley.
After the members saw the confusion created by having three local Rotary Clubs with “Ponte Vedra” in their names, they looked back at the community’s roots to rebrand the club.
In addition to a new name, the club now follows a new format, meeting in person on Wednesdays twice monthly (typically the first and third week of each month) at Marsh Landing Country Club. The two dinner meetings begin with social time at 6 p.m. and dinner service at 6:15. The official meeting is called to order at 6:30 and ends no later than 7:30.
During the second week of the month, club members enjoy various social events of a different nature and location each month.
During the fourth week, the club commits to a variety of monthly community service projects and philanthropic endeavors. Their efforts include work with the Peace of Heart Community, the Jeff Hart Service Above Self Scholarship, Replenish the Pantries Food Drives, Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Drive and more.
For further information, go to PalmValleyRotaryClub.org, email admin@PalmValleyRotaryClub.org or call club President Zeke Paxton at 770-820-4138.
Symphony adds diversity, equity and inclusion position
The Jacksonville Symphony is adding a vice president of education and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to its executive team. The position will be held by Marianne Rice, previously the director of music education and community engagement.
The addition comes after the symphony created the organization’s first diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) task force. The task force is comprised of symphony board members, staff and musicians, with a focus on developing a working initiative that represents the greater Jacksonville community by presenting change through dialogue, inclusion and accountability.
“There should be no doubt that these DEI initiatives are an integral part of the symphony’s mission to enrich the human spirit through symphonic music,” said President and CEO Steven Libman. “The goals created by our diversity, equity and inclusion task force set the stage for a bright and inclusive future for the Jacksonville Symphony in our community.”
