SPRUCE CREEK, FL - Yes, the Darling family, at the heart of J. M. Barrie's imperishable "Peter Pan," is back. And once more, the little boy who wouldn't grow up is diverting those who haven't yet grown up (and their parents), this time at the Theater at Cypress Creek Elementary School.

The famous theatrical play of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie was performed by the students of Cypress Creek Elementary School in Port Orange. The ensemble included a large number of Spruce Creek Fly-In kids attending the popular school.

The medium for telling the tale 101 years after its first appearance onstage is this production starring 9-year-old Nicole Bravo, who played the role of Peter Pan.

The story, for those who have not seen some version, is of the playful spirit who is Pan (Nicole Bravo). He comes visiting the children of the Darling household from the mystical place called Neverland. After Pan loses his shadow (Meryl Liu), Wendy Darling (Chloe Arlow) helps him get it back and Pan ends up bringing all three children flying with him back to his Neverland. Neverland is comprised of smaller regions, one with Indians, one with pirates, one with the foundling Lost Boys.

Pan is in a constant war with Captain Hook (Zachary Fedea). He fights Hook while trying to play father to the Lost Boys who need a mother. Pan wants Wendy to be a mother to the lost boys. Tink (Marta Zerukha), though incompatible with Peter, is jealous of female competition for Peter's attentions. This Tinkerbell played a delightfully sweet role despite the writer's original intentions of a mischieving fairy.

But despite the famous resurrection of the moribund Tinker Bell, the perils of the lagoon in Neverland, the conflicts between Lost Boys and Indians, the menace of poisons and crocodiles, and the vigorous dances of Tiger Lily (Nikki Nguyen) and the Indians, the show grips the audience when Zachary Fedea as the comically villainous Captain Hook appears, assisted by his sidekick, Mr. Smee (Hallie Williams).

The show culminates with one last encounter with his archenemy Peter pan. Pan has his final bout with Hook in a sword fight which he deftly wins to the cheers of the Lost boys, Indians and the Darling children.

This is a feast for the eyes and these kids have made an unforgettable performance.

The shows were held May 27th and 28th at the Cypress Creek Elementary School's Auditorium. The producers were teachers Kimberly Krivich and Julia West. The cast included students from Mrs. West's First Grade Class and Ms. Krivich's Fourth Grade Class.

Nicole Bravo, the daughter of Carlos and Patricia Bravo, is an accomplished pianist and straight-A student and this is her first theatrical performance. The Bravos operate Karlhaus Realty based at the Spruce Creek Fly-In. Karlhaus is an exclusive worldwide real estate consultancy boutique that markets Spruce Creek Real Estate.

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Photos © Spruce Creek Journal

About Cypress Creek Elementary School...

Headed by Principal David Butler, Cypress Creek Elementary School is located on Williamson Boulevard just east of the Spruce Creek Fly-In. This Volusia County school is the newest in the network and enjoys modern facilities and sports grounds, including a media room and library, auditorium, cafeteria and modern classrooms with the latest in electronic communications.

Computers available throughout are connected to the school's network and allow the students use of state-of-the-art technologies in their learning. The school's famous music department has an ensemble (The Otters) that performs a dynamic percussion show at various events for the local community. The Curriculum covers Kindergarten to Fifth Grade. Cypress Creek is among the few public elementary schools in Florida to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will offer two new doctoral degree programs in 2009, including the first Ph.D. in Aviation in the U.S.

The new Ph.D. in Aviation program will allow students to pursue interests in aviation in a multidisciplinary environment. The flexible, online program will require one week a year on campus and will take about three years to complete.

Embry-Riddle is also offering a new Ph.D. program in Engineering Physics at the Daytona Beach Campus, which covers topics in space physics, upper atmospheric physics, remote sensing, spacecraft instrumentation, spacecraft systems engineering, and control of aerospace systems.

"These doctoral programs are designed to give both working professionals and research professionals the opportunity to pursue their intellectual interests through rigorous programs and meet their professional goals to prepare them to serve as our aviation, science, and engineering technology leaders of tomorrow," said Dr. John P. Johnson, Embry-Riddle president.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace. The main campus of Embry-Riddle is located six miles north east of the Spruce Creek Fly-in, at the Daytona Beach International Airport.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has once again earned the top ranking in the annual “America’s Best Colleges” guide published by U.S. News & World Report magazine.

In the specialty category of “Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Programs” at schools where the highest degree is a master’s, Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus took first place, followed by the U.S. Air Force Academy in second, and Embry-Riddle’s Prescott, Ariz., campus in third.


The university, which has one of the largest aerospace engineering programs in the nation, has won the top spot every year since the category was introduced in 2001.

“For the ninth year in a row, U.S. News has honored Embry-Riddle for outstanding achievement in ‘Aerospace Engineering’ and in the ‘overall Undergraduate Engineering’ category,” said Dr. John P. Johnson, the university’s president. “We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and think it is a reflection of Embry-Riddle’s quality faculty, staff, and students in our engineering departments and throughout the university."

In the overall category of “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” where the highest degree is a master’s, both campuses rank in the top 20. Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus is ranked number nine, tied with Villanova University. Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus is number 20, tied with Baylor University, Bradley University, Santa Clara University, and Valparaiso University.

Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus is 13th in the overall category of “Best Universities – Master’s” (South Region).

The rankings for the “Best University” category are based on reputation (25%), graduation and retention rates (25%), faculty resources (20%), student selectivity (15%), financial resources (10%), and alumni giving rate (5%). The rankings for the engineering programs are based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty who rated each program they are familiar with.

Highlights of the college rankings are scheduled for publication in the Aug. 27 edition of U.S. News & World Report magazine, available for newsstand purchase Monday, Aug. 20, the same day the 2008 “America’s Best Colleges” guidebook also becomes available.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering. The university educates more than 34,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., Worldwide at more than 130 centers in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and through online learning. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu.

Embry Riddle University is located six miles north east of the Spruce Creek Fly-in, at the Daytona Beach International Airport.

SPRUCE CREEK - Newsweek Magazine has again ranked Spruce Creek High School in the top 100 schools in the nation. The prestigious ranking is based on the number of International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and Cambridge exams schools give compared to their numbers of graduates. This is the fifth year the Spruce Creek school has made the list. By scoring high on those exams, students can earn college credit for courses taken in high school.

All schools that made the top 100 are in the top 5 percent of public schools. The top 100 schools are selected out of the top 1,300 top U.S. high schools. The selection criteria also rates the schools on a "Challenge Index" reflecting research showing a strong correlation between the rigor of a student's high school courses to success in college. For 2008, Spruce Creek High School ranked 92 on the list.

Spruce Creek High School is the Volusia County public school designated for Spruce Creek Fly-in residents. For more information see Newsweek's Top of the Class.