Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Bringing Specialized Pediatric Care To Wellington

Wellington provides a unique quality of life filled with an abundance of parks, quality schools, charming neighborhoods and engaging equestrian interests. Joining the community will be Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, with its first pediatric specialty center in Wellington set to open its doors in early 2019.

The new center will be the largest specialty center outside of the four-floor freestanding children’s hospital. Known in South Florida as one of the region’s leading pediatric hospitals, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital offers a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a child-friendly environment. Located in Hollywood, the pediatric hospital has several satellite physician offices throughout Broward County and southern Palm Beach County.

The Wellington location, which has already broken ground, is located on State Road 7, north of Lake Worth Road and south of Forest Hill Blvd. The new specialty center is a 30,000-square-foot facility and will house board-certified pediatric specialists, an outpatient surgery center, pediatric rehabilitation services and comprehensive imaging services with state-of-the-art technology.

The Pediatric Specialty Center in Wellington will provide services such as pediatric otolaryngology/head and neck surgery (ENT), pediatric general surgery, pediatric orthopaedics and U18 sports medicine, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology and pediatric neurology. In addition, there will be pediatric rehabilitation services, including pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and sports physical therapy as part of the U18 sports medicine program.

The Pediatric Specialty Center was designed to foster collaboration with area pediatricians, as well as other healthcare providers, by extending the hospital’s highly specialized pediatric services closer to home for patients and their families in the Palm Beaches. This will be the third pediatric specialty location in Palm Beach County for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, with the other two located in Boca Raton.

“We are excited to expand our services into Wellington and meet the growing and diverse needs of Palm Beach County,” Vice President of Palm Beach Operations Dawn Quaranta said. “Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital understands the importance of becoming a community partner. Our specialists provide high quality comprehensive care for children in the region.”

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, part of the Memorial Healthcare System, is a freestanding, four-story, 226-bed facility. The hospital showcases an overall “Power of Play” philosophy with each floor displaying themes of sports, arts, games and dreams. Patients, families and visitors experience a whimsical world in which treatment and healing intertwine with medical expertise to provide an experience like no other in the Florida healthcare landscape. This patient and family-centered care culture will be incorporated into the Pediatric Specialty Center in Wellington.

“Since opening our doors, our culture of patient-centered and family-centered care has been consistent. It means that families and healthcare professionals are true partners, working together to serve in the best interest of the patient,” said Chantal Leconte, administrator and chief executive officer of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

This practice has earned the hospital a world-wide recognition as a “Planetree Designated Person-Centered Organization.” It was the first children’s hospital in the world to receive this accreditation. This provides the hospital and its facilities a unique commendation for the compassion and care provided to patients beyond the clinical treatment, and places them in a distinguished network of only 86 other healthcare organizations worldwide with the same designation.

On the clinical front, the hospital has more than 650 physicians on staff, the region’s largest diversity of board-certified pediatric specialists. It has developed into a premier, specialized, quaternary care facility qualified to treat some of the most complex and critical medical conditions. Hence, it has been ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report among the best children’s hospitals in the nation for five consecutive years.

“From its beginnings, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital was designed to stand out as a strong advocate for children’s health and wellness,” Leconte said. “As we extend our services to areas where patients need us, we look forward to further developing our partnerships with pediatricians in the Palm Beach community.”

Through the years, its clinical expertise has grown to offer programs from rehabilitation to dialysis, as well as oncology, cardiac surgery, intensive and emergency care, to name a few. In 2010, the hospital received federal approval from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to launch a pediatric heart transplant program, clearing the path for the first heart transplant in the hospital’s history. Since then, the cardiac surgery team has performed 45 pediatric heart transplants. The hospital is now preparing to launch a pediatric kidney transplant program.

Established in 1992, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital combines advanced technology and the expertise of the largest, most diverse group of board-certified pediatric specialists in the region. With its 2011 expansion, the hospital now has 226 beds and is South Florida’s newest freestanding children’s hospital. It is part of Memorial Healthcare System, one of the largest public healthcare systems in the country. The hospital has pediatric specialty practices in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Miramar, Weston and Hollywood.

For more information about the Memorial Healthcare System, visit www.mhs.net. For additional information about Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, visit www.jdch.com.

Take  A Trip Into The Wild  At Lion Country Safari

For 50 years, Lion Country Safari has proven to be a roaring good time across its four-mile drive-through safari and 55-acre walk-through adventure park. Five decades later, it’s still as wildly popular as ever — a Palm Beach County gem that continues to shine, especially in the summertime.

“Every visit is a different experience,” said Haley Passeser, public relations associate for Lion Country Safari. “People can drive at their own pace in the comfort of their own vehicle and stop and take pictures when they would like. We’re really the only one people can drive through themselves.”

Florida’s only drive-through safari includes 1,000 animals. It has recently been ranked as one of the 10 best wildlife parks in the nation, and one of the best savanna exhibits in the world. The park is a destination for many residents and out-of-town visitors alike, where they experience up-close animal encounters within inches from their vehicles — similar to being on an African safari, where animals roam freely like they do in the wild. It’s also home to the country’s largest herd of zebras and one of the largest herds of giraffe in North America.

“It’s really naturalistic, not only in the landscape we provide and the habitats we have here, but also the manner in which they’re in the social groups,” Passeser said.

And the animal families are expanding. “When you drive through, there’s a bundle of babies running around,” she said. “It’s really cute.”

Since last September, six babies have been welcomed, including two water buffalo, as well as four giraffe calves. With the world’s giraffe population going through a silent extinction — a 40 percent decline of the wild population over the past three years — Lion Country Safari has partnered with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Giraffe SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program, and also supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

“Coming in to hang out with the babies is a great opportunity while they’re still young,” Passeser said. “They all hang out like a giraffe daycare around their moms.”

For those who want a wilder experience, there are several tour options available for an additional fee, including a one-hour guided walking tour through Safari World that includes an encounter with three different animals.

Visitors looking to capture some great moments on camera can take the 90-minute guided photo tour that brings animals to you while driving through the preserve with vehicle windows rolled down.

The newest tour is geared toward the youngest of animal lovers. Kids age five and under can take the toddler tour, where they go behind the scenes to see prehistoric animals or a personal experience at the petting zoo.

“We wanted to develop something more geared toward them that’s kid-friendly to keep their attention, not run too long, but also still fit in interaction and information,” Passeser said. “We have some animals that aren’t typically on the petting zoo floor like our mini zebu cows or our donkeys, so we try to include our encounters or feedings with those animals as well.”

Kids who dream of becoming a zookeeper can have their chance at one of the safari’s summer camps. The safari day camp for kids ages 6 to 13 is a huge draw. Campers get to learn about conservation, in addition to special interactions. “They get to do behind-the-scenes activities regular visitors don’t get to do, so it makes it extra-special for them,” Passeser said. “Anything from one-on-one time with the keeper, like making diets, to up-close and personal encounters. For example, during rhino week, they meet the rhino keeper and get to touch the rhinos before they go out first thing in the morning.”

On hot summer days, the two water slides at Lion Country Safari are a perfect way to cool off, including a 108-foot-long freefall slide, as well as a 214-foot-long loop water slide. There’s also the water wars water balloon challenge and a 4,000-square-foot water spray ground, complete with newly resurfaced padding. Many umbrellas dot the seating area to keep families cool. Several refreshment stands serve up cool drinks and snacks, or for a meal, try the African-themed restaurant with its revamped menu. Be sure to visit one of the several gift shops as well.

There are dozens of animal exhibits in the walk-through park, including animal theater, giraffe feedings, flamingos and reptiles. Or hop on a ride, like the carousel, dry slides, an elephant amusement ride, mini-golf or paddle your way by boat near islands filled with monkeys and chimpanzees. Visitors can also view the animals in action aboard the Safari Queen pontoon boat tour.

“Our chimp habitat island setting is really special and unique to us. In the wild, chimpanzees are naturally nomadic, as they move around and forage for food and build new nests every night. They like to be on the move quite a bit, so we like to simulate that and make it as natural as possible,” Passeser said. “We’ll create giant popsicles, throw a bunch of produce in a bucket and freeze it, and provide the chimps with a great snack on a hot day.”

For a more rustic adventure, the nationally ranked KOA Campground is next door, where campers can hear the nighttime sounds of Africa. Lions can be heard first thing in the morning within a five-mile radius.

Rain or shine, visitors are welcome every day of the year from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $26 for kids; those 2 and under are free. For a discounted rate, buy online.

For a substantial savings, check out the Summer Savings Pass. It’s $58 for adults and $48 for children 3 to 12. It includes four parks, with unlimited visits to Lion Country Safari, the Miami Seaquarium, the Museum of Discovery & Science and Zoo Miami until Sept. 30. With huge savings like that, it’s time to get wild!

Lion Country Safari is located at 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, off Southern Blvd. For more information, call (561) 793-1084 or visit www.lioncountrysafari.com.

Dr. Kate Brazzale Treats Vulnerable Patients With Compassion And Understanding

Dr. Kate Brazzale still makes house calls. However, as director of pediatrics for Trustbridge, a nonprofit hospice organization serving Palm Beach and Broward counties, Brazzale is probably the last physician parents want to see coming to their door — and the compassionate Brazzale understands the dilemma.

“I’m not a savior, I’m not an angel,” the English-born Brazzale said. “There are so few resources for terminally ill children outside of the hospital. While hospice and children shouldn’t be in the same sentence, the limited time that a terminally-ill child has left should be spent at home with their family.”

Her territory where she makes home visits includes all of Palm Beach County, and she can go from trailers to multi-million-dollar mansions in less than an hour. It’s not the house that matters to Brazzale, it’s the family inside. She holds the child in her arms. She sees them deteriorate.

“I’m the last person they want to see,” said Brazzale, who has lived in Wellington for more than 10 years. “I’m a doctor first; my instinct is to improve upon possibilities. Contrary to what people may think, I’m here to try to carve out some positive time for people and families in dire situations. I don’t want people to be suffering and merely waiting for death — I want them to be living right up until they die.”

But it takes a toll on Brazzale. A regular cozy movie night with her husband and two young children at their home surrounded by trees becomes a welcome respite from particularly arduous days.

Dr. Faustino Gonzalez, chief medical officer of hospice services at Trustbridge, is extremely proud of Brazzale. He trained her, and she was the first graduate of their fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine program in 2009.

“She set the bar,” Gonzalez said. “She is the yardstick that we measure other graduates by. She has a visceral understanding of what it takes to care, the empathy, the ability to put herself in the shoes of the patient and the patient’s family.”

Brazzale took a meandering path to becoming a physician. Both her parents are doctors in England, but she opted to try other professions. At first, she wanted to be an architect, attending the prestigious Bartlett School of Architecture in London. That lasted a semester. She opted to switch courses and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree with honors in human sciences at University College London. During that time, Brazzale had multiple temporary jobs at Whittington Hospital, working with oncologists and palliative nurses. Immediately following her undergraduate years, she worked in pharmaceutical sales before deciding to study further, returning to medical school at the very same university at age 24. “Everything seemed to pull me that way,” Brazzale recalled.

Currently, Brazzale treats approximately 130 patients in hospice care, all based at home, and sees them in order of need.  She also does some work on inpatient hospice facilities, as well as palliative consultations. “Children are always less predictable and need closer supervision,” said Brazzale, who usually spends about an hour visiting with each patient and their family.

Her goal is to visit about 25 patients per week when making house calls. However, when doing rounds on various inpatient hospitals and facilities, that number swells greatly. The paperwork involved with each case accounts for almost doubling the work load.

“I have some great nurses,” Brazzale said. “Motivated, enthusiastic nurses make a team. We all share our ideas. Hospice is physician-lead, but nurse-run. There’s no room for any egos.”

Gonzalez marvels at Brazzale’s skills, especially for her calm demeanor and empathy toward patients nearing the end of their lives.

“She’s a whole person, a classic physician, someone who’s well-rounded… there’s more to them than their clinical skills,” Gonzalez said. “Therapeutically, she’s an excellent physician. Taking care of people [in hospice] requires the ability to empathize without taking it home. She’s kind, she’s smart.”

After a day on the road, Brazzale completes her work in her home office, dictating notes, writing prescriptions, sending out e-mails and texts, and organizing herself and the team for the next day. But she always tries to make time for her family.

“Having children made me more confident,” said Brazzale, who describes herself as an introvert. “My children ground me and help me value core life principles. Many times, they inadvertently offer me wisdom via their ability to verbalize exactly what is on their minds in straight talk.”

Brazzale loves to read and said that for her, running is “incredibly therapeutic.” She also plays the cello and piano, and enjoys art and sculpture, so much so that she often puts large canvases flat on the front lawn and, together with the children, gets creative, artistic and messy, resulting in several “masterpieces” that grace the wall of the family home.

“I have yet to conquer my kid’s homework — the curriculum is very different from the way I learned,” said Brazzale, who also admitted to working on her cooking skills, creating new dinners together with her enthusiastic seven-year-old daughter every Wednesday night.

Brazzale believes curiosity about people and their lives can lead to helping a great deal.

“I get to hear so many amazing stories,” Brazzale said. “I am privileged to be shown so many wedding photos, vacation photos, family snapshots — it reminds you that each encounter is with a whole person who has touched many others. I truly believe it is very important to all us clinicians to see the person as they were in their prime — before they became ravaged by sickness and exhaustion. The simplest way this can be done is perhaps with a beautiful, typical portrait-type photograph or cheerful snapshot displayed near their bed, whether they are home or in a facility. All those involved in their care are grateful to be reminded of their humanity and appreciate the ability to relate.”

In addition to her position at Trustbridge, Brazzale has been a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Family Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale since 2012 and an affiliate assistant professor of medicine at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami since 2013.

She believes the most important teaching lessons happen during the discussions that take place during brief car rides in between patient visits. Her first directive — don’t wear a white coat to home visits, because most people are more comfortable having medical personnel in their home without this typical, more formal apparel.

She also teaches the students that they must blend in and respect the family and household within minutes of walking through the door. They must be able to pick up on cues, and echo the environment, setting the tense family and patient at ease. She believes that without making the family and client feel comfortable, there is no way to invite the trust necessary to enable any form of team work.

“I love teaching, I want to re-enthuse them, remind them why they got into the job,” Brazzale said. “I am passionate about what I do. Every child I am privileged to care for teaches me more; every parent I encounter humbles me further.  Every day I hope my knowledge and awareness continue to grow. I cannot imagine doing anything else.”

Learn more about hospice services through Trustbridge at www.trustbridge.com.

Binks Pointe Luxury Townhome Community Now Open To Residents

Years in the making, the new Binks Pointe community has arrived, and residents can finally purchase these high-end, luxury townhomes located off Binks Forest Drive, just across the street from the prestigious Wellington National Golf Club.

As the original families of Wellington look to downsize and new couples seek homes in the family-friendly community, Binks Pointe couldn’t have found a better time for its grand opening.

Perfect for families or the semi-retired, each of these three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath homes comes with a two-car garage, impact doors and windows, and use of the 4,750-square-foot clubhouse with its spacious Grande Hall, bistro bar area, fully equipped fitness center, game room, catering kitchen, heated swimming pool, sundeck, putting green and horseshoe pit.

Priced from the $370,000s, each of 90 units has an open plan, quality finishes and high ceilings.

“We’re a very small, intimate builder,” Mike Smolak of Schickedanz Builders Group explained. “We’ve been in South Florida since 1981. We make every effort to make our homes as quality-minded as possible, and that goes not only from the structure itself, in meeting — and exceeding — all the building codes, but to our service. If you’ve got a problem, we’re going to be there to take care of it. You don’t have to call an 800 number somewhere. We’re accessible.”

Sales agent Teresa Appelgate stressed that it is a family-owned builder business with the highest of integrity and quality.

“Our clients are never disappointed when they close,” she said. “I meet the buyers, help them with their color choices and so on. We’re getting young families that are here specifically for the schools — Binks Forest Elementary School, for instance — and many current Wellington residents from the Binks Preserve and the Binks Estates, who know the value of the Binks Forest area. They want to downsize, so they can lock and leave without worrying about mowing the grass, putting up hurricane shutters and dealing with a pool. We are also getting some seasonal equestrians looking for a second home. It’s a very nice neighborhood for people — and they still get a new house, not a re-sell.”

Schickedanz Building Group chose Wellington carefully, even as the community approached the maximum build-out for new construction. They liked its “hometown character.”

“For the people who want to live in Wellington, the schools may be important for them, the Wellington lifestyle would be important to them,” builder Garry Schickedanz said. “There aren’t that many opportunities in Wellington to buy a new home.”

Wellington has been named among the “Top 100 Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine based on it having more than two dozen neighborhood parks and its reputation as the international epicenter of equestrian sports. The community’s newly renovated, world-class Wellington National Golf Club is within walking distance of Binks Pointe.

The townhomes of this small gated community feature walking trails with numerous gazebos, a nature preserve with a boardwalk and lookout, and abundant guest parking.

“When you walk into this townhome, it feels and lives like a home,” Smolak said. “You’ve got volume ceilings on both the first and second floors — it just gives you a feeling of expansiveness. We’ve incorporated a covered patio on the first floor, and above it, off the master bedroom suite, is a covered balcony. You’ve got a huge master bedroom area, along with two very large walk-in closets, over 12 inches of vanity top with two sinks. You’ve got a shower that is just magnificent. You’ve got to come see that to believe it. It has frameless doors and two showerheads.”

Appelgate agreed that the homes are surprisingly spacious.

“That’s one comment that we do get frequently,” she said. “When people come in, they say it doesn’t feel like a townhouse. The volume ceilings, the downstairs open area, there aren’t a lot of chopped-up areas.”

When designing the Binks Pointe townhomes, Schickedanz Building Group took into consideration what is of primary importance to families today:

• The main living space offers 8-foot-tall doors, LED lighting and oversized tile. The carpeted stairway has a red oak handrail with black ornamental balusters. The entire home has been pre-wired for telephone, cable television, high-speed internet and entertainment system speakers, and has a built-in security system.
• The eat-in kitchen features solid quartz countertops with a backsplash, maple cabinetry with soft-close drawers and doors, under-cabinet xenon lighting, a stainless-steel appliance package, crown molding, recessed lighting and a separate breakfast bar.
• The powder room has polished chrome fixtures and a pedestal sink, while the second bathroom offers maple cabinetry and a quartz vanity. The master bath offers maple cabinetry with soft-close drawers and doors, a quartz vanity top with a dressing table and two sinks, that awesome shower and a linen closet.
• The master suite has an elegant coffered ceiling, 8-foot-high double-entry French doors, two spacious closets with 8-foot mirrored sliding glass doors, and a covered second floor balcony with a railing.

“In today’s world, there’s nothing more important than quality,” Smolak stressed.

By mid-June, eight units had been completed. One was being used as a model, one buyer was moving in at the end of the month, and three families were already firmly ensconced in their new luxury townhomes. A seven-unit building will soon be move-in ready, and a second model is being prepared to show an interior unit.

The new Binks Pointe development will have only 17 buildings at close-out, making it a rather friendly little neighborhood. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, you may want to hurry.

Binks Pointe is located at 15700 Binks Pointe Terrace, just off Binks Forest Drive. Model tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.binkspointe.com or call (561) 508-1324.

European Wax Center Brings Unique Expertise And Stellar Customer Service To Wellington

After practicing law for 24 years, Lisa Monica Schiller was looking to own her own business. She was a regular guest of the European Wax Center, so she was familiar with the company’s product and quality of service. When she discovered that EWC had a prime franchise territory available, it was a match made in Wellington.

“I couldn’t imagine a better opportunity for me than owning an EWC franchise,” said Schiller, whose new business opened in May near Whole Foods Market on State Road 7.

“Corporate did its research and saw a need for an EWC in the Wellington area,” Schiller explained. “I was lucky enough to be presented the opportunity. I can’t imagine a better location than Wellington’s unique hometown, family environment. Our center is the perfect addition to a community that expects and deserves the highest quality services. Where better to offer the ultimate wax experience and pampering from the moment a guest steps into the center to the moment they strut out?”

Since her grand opening, Schiller has been thrilled with the community’s initial response. “The business is seeing a rapid increase in new guests and a consistent increase in our repeat guests,” she said. “Our scheduling books are getting busy, and our guests seem to be thrilled with the services.”

Schiller said that EWC’s success can be attributed to exceptional customer care, premium quality services and products, and the belief that luxurious waxing should be attainable to anyone seeking beautiful skin. Regular waxing, she noted, ensures that hair grows back softer, finer and sparser, making ongoing maintenance much more comfortable.

Her new location has been steadily building clientele with her local marketing.

“This includes our refer-a-friend program — for every friend referred, the guest receives $10 on their account — our advertising, our e-mail and local mail campaigns, meeting people out and about in Wellington, partnering with neighboring businesses, and our involvement with the local chamber of commerce and the community.”

The focus, however, is on providing the ultimate guest experience so that existing clients are so happy with the experience that they tell others.

“One of our first acts as a new business was to join the Wellington Chamber of Commerce,” said Schiller, adding that she and her manager are members of the chamber’s Medical & Wellness Committee. “Additionally, we were the host business for the Women of Wellington’s Luau Summer Mixer to benefit Animal Care & Control. We are very excited to have been able to host this wonderfully successful event. We have additional events in the works throughout the second half of 2018 with local businesses and charities.”

Schiller is proud that her franchise has become an integral part of the Wellington community.

“Our facility, like each and every EWC, features the highest level of professionalism, timeliness, unparalleled products and the top experts available in waxing and customer service — all in a chic and sophisticated European-inspired center,” she explained. “But the number-one reason our guests return is that they love the way we consistently deliver smooth, silky skin from the most comfortable wax experience they’ve ever had.”

The store also carries its own line of pre-wax and post-wax maintenance products that continue to work between waxes to ensure visibly smooth and hair-free skin. “The EWC product line will improve the way the skin looks, feels and responds to the hair regrowth process,” Schiller said.

Summer is a great time to try out the EWC experience, she said.

“We are offering our summer product limited-edition travel kits with some of our most popular products, as well as our back-to-school brow kit,” Schiller said. “Additionally, through the summer, we will be offering $10 off any $45 or more full-priced services for anyone who mentions that they saw our ad — or this article — in Wellington The Magazine. We will also offer, throughout the summer, our specially priced wax pass, which allows guests to buy nine services and get two free, or buy six services and get one free. Plus, we offer our 12-month unlimited bikini, eyebrow, underarm or full-face wax pass, as well as our student wax pass, which allows those with a valid student ID to purchase four services and get one complimentary.”

Schiller expects to add other promotions over the next few months.

“Guests should also check back through the summer for surprise promotions, specials and new product launches, including our newest face mask, which not only hydrates, but is the only mask on the market that contains hair growth inhibitors,” she said. “And for first time guests, we will continue to offer women their first eyebrow, underarm or bikini line complimentary, or 50 percent off their first Brazilian, and for men, their first eyebrow, nose, ears and brows treatment is complimentary.”

As a brand, EWC is dedicated to delivering an unparalleled experience, Schiller said.

“Our center offers our guests a luxurious waxing experience with our proprietary, trademarked comfort wax, in a modern environment featuring crisp, clean centers, with our private waxing suites and the most professionally trained waxing experts with exceptional service,” she said. “There are other businesses that offer wax services, but here at EWC, that is all we do, and it’s what makes us the experts in waxing.”

Founded by siblings David and Josh Coba in 2004, the EWC concept is to bring its unique waxing expertise and experience to women and men across the United States. The Wellington location is open seven days a week, with late evening hours to accommodate busy schedules.

“And with close to 700 centers open nationwide, guests can enjoy our first-class experience that is competitively priced and consistent every single time at every location,” Schiller said. “Plus, guests have the luxury of using their wax passes in any EWC throughout the country.”

European Wax Center in Wellington is located at 2557 S. State Road 7 in the Whole Foods Market plaza. For more information, call (561) 257-5099 or visit www.waxcenter.com.  

Wellington Youth Battle Blood Cancer Through LLS’s ‘Pennies For Patients’

For 10 years, the students of Elbridge Gale Elementary School in Wellington have rallied as only the young and energetic can to battle an unlikely foe — blood cancer.

This year marked a decade of the students participating in the Student Series Pennies for Patients program, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Palm Beach Area Chapter. In 2018, they raised more than $10,000, all while having a ton of fun.

On March 15, the students put their teachers and administrators to the test during the annual Pie Day. Students paid $10 to “pie” a teacher, $20 for the assistant principal and $30 for the principal.

“This was our fourth annual Pie Day, so our kids look so forward to this event every year, and now it runs like such a well-oiled machine,” said Nicole Martinez, guidance counselor at Elbridge Gale Elementary School and Pennies for Patients coordinator. “We all try to have fun with it, as we know what an amazing cause it supports. The kids think it’s the best thing ever when they get to pie their teachers.”

Since 2008, the Elbridge Gale students have also held dress down days, bake sales and skate nights to support blood cancer patients and their families. During that time, the students have raised more than $100,000 total, one penny at a time.

“We are truly grateful to the students and faculty of Elbridge Gale Elementary School through our Pennies for Patients campaign. Their commitment to instilling leadership and support for those fighting cancer will add tremendously to our mission to find cures for blood cancers,” said Pamela Payne, executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Palm Beach Chapter.

Students of other Wellington-area schools also accepted the challenge to raise as much money and awareness as they could during the month of March in small, yet meaningful ways. By collecting the smallest dominator of U.S. currency, they raised thousands of dollars. Three schools challenged each other to a “Penny War” among the students and staff of the Renaissance Charter School at Wellington, the Renaissance Charter School at Cypress and the Renaissance Charter School at Palms West.

The Renaissance Charter School at Wellington emerged victorious, collecting $2,281.82 in donations in three weeks. An award ceremony and check presentation was held on March 27 with Principal Mary Beth Greene; Karla Santiago, administrative assistant to the Principal; and teacher Jessica Fischer, the school’s Pennies for Patients coordinator. Kindergarten and first-grade students were also in attendance.

Other participating Wellington schools included Binks Forest Elementary School, which has consistently raised between $4,000 and $6,000 for the past seven years, and Wellington Elementary School, where students finished strong this year by doubling the amount they raised in 2017.

This year, the local LLS chapter was able to partner with the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center. With 138 pediatric beds, it is the largest children’s hospital in Palm Beach County. With its award-winning pediatric emergency department, special surgical care unit, prestigious pediatric cancer program and comprehensive outpatient centers, it is committed to area children. Additionally, the hospital has a dedicated team of child life specialists. These highly trained professionals use various medical play tactics and kid-friendly language to help children of various age groups understand why they need medical treatment, while also guiding parents on how they can help their child feel more relaxed during a hospital stay.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.lls.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

Area Private Schools offer Strong Academic Programs for All Grade Levels

The old adage “live and learn” is alive and well here in the Wellington area. The living is wonderful, and the learning opportunities include some of the best private schools in the nation at all grade levels, preparing students for the next stage of their education.

 

American Heritage School

As one of South Florida’s top private schools, the nationally recognized American Heritage School teaches knowledge, integrity and compassion to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, with a low student to faculty ratio of eight to one.

The fully accredited school features a 240-acre campus in Delray Beach, as well as a 40-acre campus in Plantation in Broward County. The co-ed, non-sectarian college preparatory day school has an enrollment of approximately 4,300 students.

“One of our strengths is the broadness of our curriculum with almost 300 different course offerings in the high school alone, including 30 different Advanced Placement courses, with the highest passing rate in Palm Beach County, a 92 percent passing rate,” American Heritage Vice President Dr. Douglas Laurie said.

One key strength of the school is its strong specialty programs. “We have a pre-medical program and a pre-law program,” Laurie said. “Right now, we are building a multi-million-dollar science research and engineering building for our engineering, robotics and science research program.”

A key strength of the programs is who is teaching them.

“All three of these programs are taught by medical doctors, attorneys and engineers who are on staff teaching the courses,” Laurie said. “These are courses that no other school has, like medical terminology, embryology, pathology, electrical engineering, trial advocacy, moot court, criminal law, mock trial, family law, business law, civil engineering — and they’re all advanced courses.”

American Heritage students also get real-world experience outside the classroom. “Students can serve internships and visit with doctors and lawyers and engineers, and see the practice of medicine and law and engineering to help them decide if that’s what they want to do,” Laurie said. “That’s one of the unique things that we have.”

The school also has an extremely accomplished math competition program. “We are the number three private school in the nation in math competition, and the number one school in Palm Beach County,” he said. “In the science competition, we’re one of the best in the country.”

All these programs make sure students have the ability to shine academically.

“We’re wont to find competitive outlets for students with high academic standards to be able to compete, and so we make sure that we challenge them in the classroom and we treat these academic competitions as a team, like a lot of schools might treat a sports team, because the students are competitive and highly intelligent,” Laurie said. “We want to make sure they have a chance to shine, and it bodes well for the college resumes.”

Students from the school, representing the United States and 43 other countries from around the world, have three times the national average placement at prestigious U.S. colleges and universities.

There is also an award-winning fine arts program with 75 choices for students. “So, if someone’s interested in the fine arts, it’s also a great place to be,” Laurie said.

The school provides a rigorous private school education with participation in community involvement, a wide variety of service activities and a technologically advanced and well-rounded environment. Express bus transportation is offered from the Wellington area, which is home of many American Heritage students.

Each campus features athletic teams with a no-cut policy, extensive after school activities, a gymnasium, Olympic-size pool and tennis complex. The school seeks to graduate students prepared in mind, body and spirit to maximize their potential and meet the requirements of the colleges of their choice.

For information about American Heritage School, call (561) 495-7272 or visit www.ahschool.com.

 

Wellington Preparatory School

The Wellington Preparatory School offers an accelerated program for kindergarten through sixth grade. Its mission is to deliver a top academic education while providing supportive co-curricular activities in a co-educational, non-sectarian, private school environment.

The school was founded by Jeffrey Altschuler after a successful career growing Meritas Schools, a premium kindergarten through 12th grade family of college preparatory schools around the world.

Wellington Prep follows an accelerated program that encompasses a modified gifted curriculum with various supplemental programs.

“We are an advanced college preparatory school always staying one grade level ahead, with a small ratio of 15 students per teacher,” Principal Sandy Montoya explained.

The core curriculum includes math, science, social studies and language arts, including reading, writing and phonics.

“Co-curricular activities provide for the study of violin, art, karate and Spanish,” said Montoya, adding that Wellington Prep students also learn about health and nutrition. “The program is highly focused on academics with an emphasis on security.”

As academic performance is directly related to instructional time spent on each subject, the school devotes specific hours to core subjects. Additional co-curricular activities are available before or after school for parents requiring additional time at the beginning or end of the school day.

Each student learns conversational Spanish, as well as how to read and write the language, and students take a violin class. In addition to helping with the music education and coordination, the study of a non-fretted instrument has been shown to assist with math and reading skills.

Children are exposed to the lives and art of the great masters at each grade level, with a more in-depth experience as they grow older in the Meet the Masters art curriculum.

For more information about the Wellington Preparatory School, call (561) 649-7900 or visit www.wellingtonprep.org.

 

Education Place

When a flexible schedule is of paramount importance in a student’s life, Education Place in Wellington is on hand to meet their educational requirements.

“We provide for professional children, athletes, those whose parents have constrained schedules and students who find other environments too overwhelming or prefer flexibility in their education,” explained Judy Blake, director of the Lower School at Education Place. “The school is by no means easy. There’s a lot of accountability for the student.”

Nationally and internationally accredited, the school covers grades one through 12 and teaches many equestrians in the Wellington area from around the world, allowing these students to continue their educations by working from outside a traditional school.

“We have students who participate in polo, jumping and dressage, plus child actors and athletes,” Blake said. “They work individually or in small groups, on-site or as they travel. We have a very small population of about 100 students with a small ratio of seven students for each teacher.”

The Education Place program is tailored to each student.

“These teachers can provide a lot of instructional support depending on what works best for the student,” Blake explained. “They get to know the students very well. The program is student-driven with the children managing their time and their academics. They take personal responsibility, learn to be independent and manage their time and their academics, even in the first grade. As they grow older, they are given more demands and responsibility. Our high school graduates find they can go to any college they want and frequently have scholarships available to them.”

Education Place runs 12 months a year because students travel with their sport or career, and this maximizes their opportunities to learn.

“The school also serves the general population, as well as students who are professionals and children of professionals,” Blake said. “It succeeds whenever flexibility is a big factor.”

For more information, call (561) 753-6563 or visit www.1educationplace.com.  

 

Temple Beth Torah’s Leonie Arguetty Preschool

Temple Beth Torah’s Leonie Arguetty Preschool for children ages 2 to 5 is a place where little learners thrive academically, in an atmosphere of joy, curiosity, self-esteem, friendship and respect.

As the only NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and Gold Seal accredited program in the western communities, its educational strategies are based on cutting-edge research in best practices for young children.

“Our mission is to provide academic readiness, and to instill cultural identity, Jewish values and character development in all of our students,” said Sandy Wilensky, the school’s director.

The program offers a combination of secular and Judaic developmental curricula, designed to empower all children to reach their potential. Challenges that exceed the level of present mastery are offered throughout the day, providing opportunities to learn, practice and expand newly acquired skills and recognize and nourish individual variations.

The preschool’s integrated academic program embeds all of the learning objectives in children’s experiences so that each child’s learning is unique and meaningful. “For children under 6, the research on early learning shows that more of what is learned must be meaningful on the day it is learned, in addition to its context for future learning,” Wilensky explained.

In addition to the indoor classrooms with centers for learning, extensive outdoor spaces include gardens planted and cared for by the children and materials to learn fine motor control, such as outdoor chalkboards and drawing boards.

Throughout the day, the school’s teachers combine carefully framed learning objectives with the spontaneity that emerges from children active in the learning process.

Themed areas of study, including problem solving, scientific exploration, math, language, writing and literacy, along with creative art, music, movement and dramatic play, are an integral part of every child’s day. The Assessments Teaching Strategies GOLD method assures that the children are progressing in all areas of kindergarten readiness.

For more information about Temple Beth Torah’s Leonie Arguetty Preschool, call (561) 793-2649 or visit www.templebethtorahpre school.com.––

Elite Sports Programs Shine At Area Private Schools

The King’s Academy

The TKA boys track team was regional champion for the first time in school history, while girls track captured the team’s second regional championship, and first since 2006. Together, the Lions sent 26 athletes to the Class 1A state meet.

Highlighting the track team’s performance at states was Brianna Oats, who brought home two third-place finishes in the 300-yard hurdles and in the 100-yard hurdles, where she was just 1/100th of a second out of second place. Justin Bridgewater had the best finish, placing second in the 800-meter run.

Cheerleading has been one of TKA’s best programs over the last decade, and this year was no different. The competitive cheer team, coached by Jenn Allen, was the runner-up in the Class 1A medium division non-tumbling, and also earned National Grand Champion honors for a second time at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders Championships.

The girls volleyball team went 26-1, winning the district and finishing as the regional runner-up. Madeline Furtado was named the National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) National Player of the Year, and Ashlei Furtado was NCSAA Coach of the Year.

The Lions football team won the South Florida Conference championship for the second consecutive season, and the boys lacrosse team had a breakthrough season, going 16-2 and finishing as the district runner-up.

“It has always been my desire and goal to support our teams, help with resources, and encourage a pursuit of excellence in all of our individual programs,” TKA Athletic Director Adam Winters said. “We have seen a resurgence in many teams, with others really encouraging and pushing their athletes to reach their potential. Many of our teams have become competitively relevant, while others are taking strides forward in competing at a high level. I am proud of our coaches, their desire to impact lives for the lord, while building champions from elementary through the high school levels.”

American Heritage School

The American Heritage School boys soccer team, featuring a lethal combination of speed and skill, rose to the top once again, capturing the Class 2A state championship with a dominating 5-0 triumph over the Bolles School in Jacksonville. It was the team’s second consecutive shutout, as the Stallions outscored their opponents 15-3 in the five state playoff games.

It was the fourth state championship, but first since 2011, for American Heritage. The Stallions also won titles in 2009 and 2006, reaching the state final on three other occasions since 2004.

But the team struggled in the last five years relative to these past successes, failing to reach the final four every year since 2013. That changed this year as the veteran American Heritage squad got goals from Nick Ludovico, Alex Guichard, Doug Phillips, Nick Marchionni and Giovanni Fraser and cruised to victory, getting back to a familiar position as the premier team.

The Stallions also dominated the Class 2A tennis finals with Melissa Sakar winning the girls individual and overall singles titles, and added the girls doubles title with Hayden Bethea. Not to be outdone, Steven Sun captured the boys singles overall title and added the doubles overall crown with Hunter Robbins.

American Heritage ended the season on a high note when the girls lacrosse team, coached by John McClain, captured its first state title, defeating Lake Highland Prep 10-7 for the Class 2A crown.

It was the second state tournament appearance in the past three years for the Stallions, who were ranked No. 1 in the country for a short time and spent most of the season in the Top 10. The program began just four years ago.

The Stallions were led all season by sophomore Caitlyn Wurzburger, who reached the 100 goals/100 assists mark for the third time; reportedly only the third time it has been done by a high-schooler. She had a lot of help, including from Allegra Catalano, Kylie Hazen and Megan Mangines, who all return next season.

The Stallions were dominant en route to the title game, eliminating 10-time state champ Vero Beach 11-5 in the state semifinals and advancing to the final four with a 16-4 win over perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. They finished with a 21-1 record.

The American Heritage baseball program has been led by manager Carm Mazza for 20 years and is almost always one of the top teams in the county. The squad reached the state semifinals in 2017, and in mid-April, Mazza earned his 400th career victory. This season, the team amassed a 22-6 record and reached the regional final in mid-May with an eye on the state title.

OXBRIDGE ACADEMY

The highlight this year for the Oxbridge Academy was its dominating victory in the Class 5A girls basketball championship game. Four players scored in double figures en route to a 55-39 triumph over Lake Highland Prep. There were no seniors on the roster.

Alexa Zaph led the ThunderWolves with a game-high 18 points, supported by Haley Howarth (13 points), Aaliyah Stanley (12 points) and Kaylon Smith (10 points).

It was the school’s first state title in girls basketball and second overall state crown. Last year, the girls soccer team captured the Class 2A championship. “For us, the scoreboard will never determine our success,” Athletic Director Patrick Hollern said. “We want our students to make a positive impact in the next 10, 15 years.”

Individually, Hannah Kanjian won the Class 2A state title in the high jump and was also a member of the soccer team that reached the state championship game this year, dropping a 4-0 decision. Kanjian cleared 5 feet, 3.75 inches on her third attempt in the three-way jump-off to earn the title.

There isn’t a regulation track at Oxbridge, but the school now has a high jump pit. “It shows her determination,” Hollern said. “She adopted that spartan mindset.”

The Oxbridge football team also reached the state championship game, but their rally fell short, losing 31-28. The ThunderWolves finished with a 10-2 record.

“Their great comeback showed great resolve,” Hollern said. “It was an emotional game, and I know the team can learn from it. We learn from the setbacks, and we learn from the successes.”

Other top performances included Jen Secrest’s third-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly at the Class 1A state swim meet, as well as Jamian Lovett’s sixth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at the Class 2A meet.

What impresses Hollern is how the teams and athletes compete at Oxbridge, which has about 525 students while completing its seventh year. “We’ve done well with wins and losses, but I’m hoping we make a bigger impact than that,” Hollern said.