Thanksgiving Synergy

Our Covey Habit for the last two weeks has been synergy. Synergy means that we can accomplish much more when we work together as a group than we can when we work alone. The photo at the left is an example of synergy in action. On Friday, November 21, our coaches challenged their P.E. classes to bring a food item to share with a needy family during the season of Thanksgiving. The photo represents a small portion of the food items which were gathered over a two day period which will be shared with not one, but three families. Thanks to the leadership of our coaches and the synergy of our students, three families will have a brighter Thanksgiving than they might otherwise have had. This is just one more example of the kind of leadership by example that happens on a daily basis at Julia Landon. Happy Thanksgiving.

Learning by Doing

ILT Matthew MacLeod, Drug Demand Reduction Regional Representative, from the National Guard has been teaching a series of leadership classes with our 7th grade students. ILT MacLeod (far right) is pictured with a group of students involved in an activity putting loyalty, honesty, and integrity into practice. Students are learning the importance of setting the right example for others by the way they lead their own lives. Loyalty, honesty, and integrity are qualities we expect in those who would be leaders, and practice makes perfect.

Leaders Might not Always Win, but they Never Lose

On Saturday, November 8, a group of Julia Landon 8th graders gave up their Saturday morning to be a part of the City Rescue Mission's Great American Bed Race which was held on the athletic field at Julia Landon College Prep. The Great American Bed Race is one of the fund raising events sponsored by the City Rescue Mission, an organization in Jacksonville which provides job training, help with substance abuse, and temporary housing to Jacksonville's people in need.

This year's theme was the 60's.

Of the 12-entries, Julia Landon was the only school represented. Other than one church sponsored high school youth organization, the other 10-beds were entered by corporate groups.

Half way through our team's heat, the front wheels of the bed broke. Undaunted, team members lifted the front of the bed and pulled it across the finish line as seen in the photo.

While our Great American Bed Race team didn't bring home the trophy, each member is still a winner. Each walked away with a sense of accomplishment as they gave back something to our community. No trophy is worth more than what they learned while researching the cultural, political, and scientific climate of the 60's; or what they learned about construction and principals of engineering as they worked together to build their bed. They learned together, they worked together, they laughed together, they gave of themselves and their time, and they helped make a difference. In this instance of leadership by example we see that leaders might not always win, but they never lose.

Leaders on the Run

Our thanks to the Law Firm of Coker, Schickel, Sorenson and Posgay for a grant to be used in support of Pathfinders, a 6th grade girls' leadership development and running club which was created and is sponsored by Julia Landon Assistant Principal Sara Bravo.

Mr. Howard Coker, a Landon High School alumni, recently visited his alma mater and presented the grant during a brief ceremony. Pictured along with Mr. Coker is the Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School's principal as well as the Pathfinders sponsor and three Julia Landon teachers who assist with the program.

Pathfinders meets every other Monday immediately after school and is open to any 6th grade girl who wants to develop her personal leadership style through interaction with girls her own age under the guidance of strong role models. Running encourages the girls to build a positive self image as they work towards meeting personal goals. Later in the year, Ms. Bravo hopes that many of her girls will participate in the Gate River Run as well as a community service project to be held on our campus in support of the American Cancer Society. Watch for the Pathfinders as they run through San Marco. Not only are they leaders on the run, they are another example of leadership by example.

Leadership in Literacy

During the first quarter, our 7th Grade Service Learning Project benefited the Bright Start! Dyslexia Initiative, a program sponsored by one of our business partners, Nemours Children's Clinic. Our students collected nearly 450 new children's books to be used with dyslexic pre-schoolers in the Bright Start program. Part of our students' total experience included learning about dyslexia. Pictured (from left to right) are Dr. Laura Bailet, Executive Director of Nemours BrightStart! Dyslexia Initiative; Dr. Kelly Coker-Daniel, principal of Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School; Mrs. Linda Hubbard, intensive reading teacher at Julia Landon; and Mrs. Sara Bravo, assistant principal for curriculum at Julia Landon. Following Dr. Bailet's presentation, students were given the opportunity to tour the BrightStart mobile classroom unit. The work being done by Dr. Bailet and her staff is just one more example of leadership by example.

Leadership Jax IS Leadership by Example

Each year Leadership Jacksonville trains and sends another group of dedicated business men and women into our community. As a part of their training, each new class visits schools and experiences education in action. The Class of 2009, accompanied by Dr. Judy Poppell who serves Leadership Jacksonville as the Leadership Development Team and Program Chair visited Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School on the October 16, Education Day. Approximately 28 Leadership Jax Class of 2009 members heard about the leadership component at Julia Landon and spent time touring the facility and visiting classrooms. We were pleased to host the group and hope for more opportunities to share our leadership mission with Leadership Jacksonville, because Leadership Jax really IS leadership by example.

Leadership in Different Places

The flag in the picture is waving in the afternoon breeze in front of Julia Landon College Prep and looks no different than flags waving in the breeze where ever the American flag is flown. The thing that makes this particular flag special and worthy of note is the story of how it made its way to our school.

The story begins with Ms. Aristian Franklin, health teacher. Ms. Franklin is one of those teachers who loves her students and is loved by them. She is able to take her subject matter and make students want to be in her class. This was all put on hold early last spring when Ms. Franklin and her United States Army Reserve unit were sent to Iraq where she has shifted the focus of her leadership skills from classroom teacher to soldier serving at the 345th Combat Support Hospital. That's really where the story of our flag has its roots.

Our own school flag was torn to pieces during Tropical Storm Fay. A neighbor, who is a military veteran himself, removed the flag and disposed of it in proper military fashion thereby leaving us without a school flag. After hearing about our flag, Ms. Fanklin made arrangements to have the flag which was being flown over her own military installation sent to Jacksonville. It now proudly flies in front of Julia Landon. This particular flag reminds us of Ms. Franklin and her leadership as teacher and soldier. Thank you, Ms. Franklin, for all that you do. It's just leadership in different places.

Leadership by Example in Education

One of the greatest honors is to be recognized by others as being known as one of the best. Congratulations to (left to right) Ms. Shirlee Kastelan, 8th grade science; Mr. John Manias, 6th grade science; Ms. Kathryn Flynn, 6th grade ELA; Mr. Kristopher Beckstrom, director of music; Ms. Amy Sargent-Wells, 6th grade ELA; Ms. Kristie Putnal, 6th grade math; and Ms. Pam Smith, 7th grade science for be nominated to represent Julia Landon College Prep as the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year. One of these exemplary teachers will be chosen through a vote of their peers as being representative of the best of the best. The lives of our students are enriched every day because these teachers are a part of our Julia Landon faculty. Their dedication to excellence is put into practice as they demonstrate leadership by example in education.

Taking Leadership to new Heights...

Ms. Shirlee Kasztelan, 8th grade science teacher at JL College Prep & Leadership

Develop-ment School, led her students to new

"heights" recently as she took part in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery Program. Being selected from a massive group of applicants, Ms. Kasztelan completed online and on site training before taking one of the four zero gravity flights being offered to science and math teachers this year.

Ms. Kasztelan's students partnered with their teacher by completing a series of online zero gravity physics labs and by designing a number of experiments, which were approved by scientists at NASA, for Ms. Kasztelan to perform during her zero gravity flight. Students were also able to track her experience on line the day of the flight, September 30.

When asked how her experience would inspire her students as they develop their leadership process, she quickly replied, "Students will benefit from my experience by witnessing that hard work and taking the time to apply for opportunities may actually pay off. If they believe, they can take the leap of faith and go for it."

Expect the Unexpedted

We were pleased to have Dr. David Kikoler, head of American Education Solutions, as our unexpected guest on Friday afternoon, September 26. Dr. Kikoler and his associates collect data from forty-four school districts spread across the nation who have been awarded federal grant dollars as seed money to begin new magnet programs. Our school is one of ten Duval County schools receiving grant money from the Dreams Begin Here grant. Continued grant funding is contingent on completing and documenting requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education. It's Dr. Kikoler's job to review our data and present it to the DOE in such a way that clearly represents the work being done at Julia Landon.

Following a morning meeting with the principals and CIS's from the Dreams Begin Here schools, Dr. Kikoler and Ms. Ann Edgecombe from the magnet office paid an unexpected visit. Dr. Kikoler and Dr. Coker-Daniel are shown in the photo as we began our unexpected tour of the facility and classrooms, providing Dr. Kikoler with a glimpse of the good things happening every day at Julia Landon. Even though good leaders begin with the end in mind, they must always be ready to expect the unexpected.

Leadership is not a race. It is a journey.

Ms. Bravo, assistant principal for curriculum and organizer of Pathfinders, met with a room full of 6th grade girls for the first Pathfinders meeting on September 22. Pathfinders is a non-competitive club for 6th grade girls. The focus is to empower young girls and to enhance their self-image and leadership potential. Physical activity will be done only to the capability of the individual student's ability and potential.

The group meets for two hours, twice a month. During the two hours, half of the time is spent indoors working on leadership activities, engaging in group discussion, journaling, and reading. The rest of the time is spent outdoors stretching, walking, and running.

From the looks of the group, it's going to be an interesting journey.

FCAT Bell Ringer...Leadership...Spanish

What do FCAT Bell Ringers, leadership skills, and Spanish have in common? Nothing, unless you're in Ms. Dennis' Spanish class.

Each day our elective teachers begin class with an FCAT Bell Ringer designed to reinforce computational skills. After giving students time to complete the math problems for the day, Ms. Dennis reminded students that good leaders give genuine praise when they see something being done well. The entire class practiced Spanish phrases that could be used to compliment someone on a job well done. One student was appointed as leader while other students were called upon to give answers to the problems (in Spanish, of course). The leader rewarded correct answers with a compliment in Spanish.

Again, what do FCAT Bell Ringers, leadership skills, and Spanish have in common? Everything, if you're in Ms. Dennis Spanish class where she practices leadership by example!

"Roadways" in the Sky

Imagine this.... You're traveling at a speed of more than 450-miles per hour and you're more than 38,000 feet above the ground. You're getting close to your destination, but there are about 60 other airplanes heading to the same place and getting ready to land pretty much at the same time. How will all the planes land safely? The answer is simple. Air traffic controllers like Mr. Tony Collazo, father of 6th grade student Nick Collazo, watch the skys through modern technology and safely guide pilots to the right place at the right time.

Mr. Collazo, a former military air traffic controller, visited Mr. Manias' 6th grade science class and explained how it all happens. Mr. Collazo is one of those unseen leaders who makes travel through the "roadways" in the sky safe for hundreds of travelers every day.

Thanks to Mr. Collazo for visiting Julia Landon and sharing his interesting profession with our students.

An Army of One...or Two...or Three.... or....

ILT Matthew MacLeod (center) and two of his soldiers met with our 7th grade teachers to explain a five day Youth Leadership Program being presented to our 7th grade students during November. While the program will be presented primarily through Ms. England's geography classes, all teachers on the team will be involved with supplemental activities. Each of the classes will begin with a short period of instruction followed by group activities designed to put leadership skills into practice. The closing activity promises to "rock"our students' worlds! We look forward to having ILT MacLeod and his men with us at Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School.

....Breaking News!

"Lights! Camera! ACTION!" Each Tuesday and Thursday at the end of first period, our morning news team goes live and broadcasts coverage of school news and current events at Julia Landon College Prep.


As seen in the pre-broadcast photos, it takes teamwork behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera to produce the show.
In the coming weeks, our crackerjack news crew will be roaming the halls and classrooms with press badges and cameras in hand as they search for fast breaking local news at Julia Landon.



Our sincere thanks are extended to Ms. Peacock-Preston and her production crew for making it happen.

Julia Landon Lions Stalk the FCAT

Today was the first day for dressing out in our P.E. classes and the first day of a routine that will last for the entire school year, stalking the FCAT! Each day, this pride of black and orange clad lions begins class with an FCAT Bell Ringer that will ultimately bring them one step closer to capturing the biggest lion of them all, the FCAT. As Stephen Covey would say in his Habit #2 of Highly Effective Teens, "Begin with the end in mind!"

Symposiums with Sylvester: August 27, 2008

As part of our ongoing business partnership with Nemours Children's Clinic, Dr. Jim Sylvester will host a monthly symposium for our 8th grade students. Dr. Sylvester, a molecular geniticist, brought Mr. Paul Garfinkel from the Nemours Research Review and Ethics department for the first symposium.

Dr. Sylvester and Mr. Garfinkel gave an overview of the work being done at Nemours and its importance to our own community, the nation, and the world. Students were encouraged to log on to http://www.kidshealth.org/ for the latest in health related topics and information.

Students were emcouraged to begin planning for their futures by

• making the most of their educational opportunities,


• learning to relate to and work well with others, and


• being able to accept change.

We look forward to our next Symposium with Sylvester.

Off and Running

It's been a busy summer preparing for our new mission as a dedicated magnet specializing in rigorous learning and emphasizing leadership skills, but it's all been worth it because Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School is off and running.

Besides a hard working staff, countless hours of volunteer hours have been spent preparing for our inaugural year. We couldn't have done it without our wonderful PTSA and the support of our business partners.

We're ready to begin, and we're glad you have chosen to be a part of the exciting things happening at Julia Landon College Prep.