The ceremony included School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff, School Board Chair Heather Kahoun, School Board Member Terry Castillo, and Williams Company Project Manager Freddy Torres. Island Village Elementary’s own Principal Audie Confesor opened the ceremony, with Assistant Principal Patty Cummings extending a warm welcome to all attendees.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of colors by Celebration High School ROTC, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Kindergarten student Ryan Thajeel. The IVES ALL County Chorus’s rendition of the national anthem was a poignant moment, setting the tone for the day’s celebrations.
“We all go through our ups and downs in our journeys no matter what we do in life, but to hear the laughter, the comraderie, the kids just going crazy about what they’re doing for the school and all the parents that have come together for this moment, it’s truly amazing,” Island Village Elementary School Principal Audi Confesor shared during the ceremony.
True to its belief in the power of creativity, the ceremony featured performances by the IVES Music Club, who delighted the audience with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and the MUSICAL Cluster, whose performance of “Tomorrow” inspired hope and anticipation for the future, and the Celebration High School Jazz Band.
Island Village Elementary School is dedicated to the belief that all students possess innate talents and gifts, whether in academics, the visual/performing arts, or athletics. The school’s mission is to unlock and nurture these talents, building a model professional learning community that prepares future leaders. With the motto “Ignite Your Joy,” the school endeavors to spark a lifelong passion for learning in every student.
“We’re really proud of Mr. Confesor and everything his team has done to pull this school together, and this community together. This is a very tight knit group. There are a lot of things that are unique to Island Village, enrichment clusters being one of those things. At Island Village Elementary, they actually talk about students Igniting Their Joy, and that is the goal of the school, and that is the goal of every student -every day as they walk in every single day,” Superintendent Dr,. Mark Shanoff said after the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The school proudly adopts the Osprey as its mascot, symbolizing the qualities of adaptation, focus, and determination that it aims to instill in its students. Dressed in the school colors of purple and yellow, the Island Village Elementary community is united in its mission to ignite joy in learning and collaboration.
As Island Village Elementary School – School of Creativity and Talent Development welcomes students and families, it stands as a testament to the remarkable journey that lies ahead. A journey where dreams take flight, talents are nurtured, and every student is encouraged to shine brilliantly. Welcome to the vibrant, inclusive, and inspiring world of Island Village Elementary School, where the future of education is bright and every day is an opportunity to “Ignite our JOY.”
For more information about Island Village Elementary School, visit https://www.osceolaschools.net/ives
