Prayer is as welcome at Seminole schools as pencils, books and recess. "I am thankful that our Tribe honors God and that you all are able to be standing here today for Him," Josh Jumper said to more than 100 Ahfachkee School students, teachers, parents and community leaders gathered just after

BRIGHTON — Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School held its annual Student Council inauguration ceremony Sept. 24 in the school gymnasium. Parents, community members, fellow students and staff watched as Brighton Councilman Andrew J. Bowers Jr. swore in the 10 elected Student Council representatives. The elected representatives raised their right hands and placed their

BRIGHTON — Students donned their best patchwork and Seminole attire Sept. 24 for Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School’s annual traditional clothing contest in the school’s gymnasium. Members of the Seminole Police and Seminole Fire Rescue departments served as judges. Boys and girls from each grade vied for first-place ribbons as they

Lee Zepeda, a former teacher and principal at Ahfachkee School, was recently tapped to serve as Education Department director as the new school year began. "This was a huge opportunity to step back into education again," Zepeda said. "It’s an opportunity to refocus the department and remind ourselves we are supposed

Indian Day celebrations came earliest for the youngest Tribal members Sept. 18 when preschool students tribalwide attended simultaneous events to honor culture, tradition and Seminole pride. Thommy Doud, director of the Tribe’s preschools, said nearly 220 children participated in Indian Day happenings at the same time in Immokalee, Big Cypress, Hollywood

BIG CYPRESS — Foreign exchange students from Italy who visited the United States in early September learned more than they expected after a day-long educational adventure at Billie Swamp Safari. "I had no idea that when we would tour America we would come here. I never made the connection that the

Something newfangled took children and teens by surprise during the first Police Explorers Program meetings of the school year at Big Cypress, Brighton, Fort Pierce, Immokalee, Hollywood and Tampa reservations. "We are evolving," said Seminole Police Department Officer Michele Harbin at the Sept. 9 meeting at Big Cypress Community Center. "And

HOLLYWOOD — Robert North sees rock ‘n’ roll possibilities inside the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club music studio. Two top-notch, complete drum sets fill the floor; a row of electric and acoustic guitars, including two Fender Stratocasters, line a wall. Among the periphery: two keyboards, a xylophone, several amps, yards of

BRIGHTON — Dunkers, high fliers and trick dribblers of the Court Kingz basketball team challenged Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School faculty to a game Sept. 18 and shared their anti-bullying message with students while they were at it. Principal Brian Greseth led a team of 10 teachers and aides, but while the

HOLLYWOOD — Hollywood Preschool welcomed the new school year with a Scholastic Book Fair to help equip students and parents for a year of reading and learning. The fair, which ran from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, raised money for new books in the classrooms. "After the last one in March,