Clay County Schools Receive High Rankings 2012

Posted on February 2, 2012 by jbarwig

Clay County Schools Rock On!

The Florida Department of Education has released the 2011 FCAT rankings. Based on FCAT scores (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), the numerical rankings are based on each district’s total points.

Clay County moved up one spot in the rankings in 2011 placing 13th out of 67 districts in Florida with another “A” rating for the district. Overall, Clay County schools showed gains this year in Reading, Science and Learning Gains in Reading. Scores stayed consistent for Math and Learning Gains in Math but dropped one point in Math and Reading.

Northeast Florida is home to the number one school district, St. Johns County with Nassau also posting an “A” rating (29th in the state).

Nationwide, Florida received high marks in both the Standards, Assessments, and Accountability categories along with the Teaching Profession category. The results in Education Week’s Quality Counts 2012: The Global Challenge – Education in a Competitive World released in January ranks Florida 11th in the nation overall!

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Eagle Landing Tennis Classic Presents Check to Clay County Charity

Posted on November 7, 2011 by jbarwig
Virginia Hall, Jane Lanier and Mark Arrowsmith

Virginia Hall, Jane Lanier and Mark Arrowsmith

EAGLE LANDING, ORANGE PARK, FL

The Eagle Landing Tennis Classic presented a check for $3000 to J.P. Hall Sr. Children Charities at a recent luncheon held at the Eagle Landing Golf Club. Receiving the donation on behalf of the charity was its director, Virginia Hall.

For the third straight year the Eagle Landing Tennis Classic raised funds for J.P. Hall Sr. Children Charities and the Mali Vai Washington Kids Foundation. With over $9,000 in donations for 2011, the tournament added The Wounded Warrior Project to their charities of choice.

Sponsored in part by St. Vincent’s HealthCare, the Eagle Landing Tennis Classic is held in early May each year. Over 100 young men from all around the world compete for $10,000 in prize money and ranking points as they work their way up the pro circuit ladder.

The USTA Pro Circuit tournament is one of a kind as it raises funds for worthwhile charities and is the only tournament where the community’s residents house players creating bonds that last a lifetime.

The tournament offers the community an opportunity to watch world-class tennis in their own backyard. While donations are always welcome, the public is invited to watch for no charge.

For more information on available sponsorships for the 2012 Eagle Landing Tennis Classic and its charities, contact Mark Arrowsmith at (904) 291-4343 or email marrowsmith@eastwestc.com.

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Mowing the grass – love it or hate it!

Posted on July 25, 2011 by jbarwig

I happen to love to mow my yard. We’re not talking about sitting on a John Deere, zipping across the lawn, trying to set a previous cut ‘n trim record. I enjoy the hard work of a push mower (okay, so it’s self-propelled – I still have to work hard) and the satisfaction of seeing a job well done. I literally wrestle the job away from my husband and son. No kidding.

Maybe it’s the fact that my dad was the teacher of the fine art of mowing the lawn, from the safety factors of starting the mower to the finer tips of laying out the groundwork to the carefully and oft yelled reminder – “NEVER EVER go backwards” lest I cut off my toes. Maybe it’s the smell of cut grass. Or maybe it’s just the physical exercise. I’m out in the sun, the lawn mower drowns out everything – the traffic, the neighbors, the job, the noise….it’s just you, the lawn and the mower.

St. Augustine grass doesn’t ask for much here in Florida. Drought tolerant, grows well with the reclaim water used in Eagle Landing provided by the Clay County Utility Authority.  Species approved for use within Eagle Landing are Floratam and Palmetto (slightly more shade tolerant).  Both varieties prefer to be cut with a sharp blade, watered in the early morning, cut late in the day (don’t cut in the afternoon -  during times of extreme heat). Avoidance of the extremes – from unusually wet to extraordinarily dry conditions – will keep fungus growth (wet) and cinch bugs (dry) at a minimum.

Talk about lawns. Have you seen the spectacular greens of our Eagle Landing golf course? Granted, different types of grasses but taken care of with a tireless staff, hard-working equipment and the expertise of our VP of Golf Course Development.

Get outside today and mow your lawn. Better to mow often (better for you and your grass) and enjoy the outdoors.

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Professional Men’s Tennis at Eagle Landing!

Posted on May 3, 2011 by jbarwig

If you want to experience the thrill of professional tennis without traveling for hours to the Australian Open or Wimbledon, visit Eagle Landing in Orange Park, FL this week for the USTA Pro Circuit Men’s $10,000 Tournament. Presented by East West Communities and St. Vincent’s HealthCare, this marks the third annual tournament that also benefits charity.

Beginning May 3rd, 128 young men from all over the globe will compete for prize money and ranking points as they climb the ladder in their quest to become one of the best tennis players on the planet. Andre Agassi started this way – so who knows what future star will sweat, hit, serve and slam their way to the singles final on Sunday morning, May 8th.

Both single and double matches are on tap all week with the doubles final set for Friday night under the lights. While all the other matches this week are free to the public, our “Dinner & Doubles” will serve up burgers, soda and beer for $20/adults and $10/kids – all proceeds benefiting the tournament’s three charities – Mali Vai Washington Kids Foundation, J.P Hall Sr. Children Charities and Wounded Warriors Project.

Mali Vai Washington Kids Foundation promotes academic achievement and positive life skills to Jacksonville youth through the game of tennis and J.P. Hall Sr. Children’s Charity is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged children right here in Clay County.

This is the first year the tournament has partnered with the Wounded Warriors Project which offers programs and services to severely wounded veterans as they transition from active military to civilian life.

Morning matches begin around 8:30am so don’t miss your chance to cheer on the players.  “Dinner & Doubles” starts at 6pm, Friday, May 6th – call (904) 291-4343 for more information.
Eagle Landing Tennis Center & Athletic Club
3973 Eagle Landing Parkway
Orange Park, FL  32065

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