Students of the month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has announced the students of the month for February. They are: Samantha Cotto of Heritage Academy, Chandler Ross of The Broach School, David Bailey of Chester Taylor Elementary, Tyana Garcia of Zephyrhills High, Julian Herman of Stewart Middle, Isaiah Lawrence of East Pasco Adventist Academy, Emily Kirk of West Zephyrhills Elementary, Victoria Amidon of Zephyrhills Christian Academy and Nathaniel Cardona of Woodland Elementary.
Poetry contest seeking submissions
The Pasco Arts Council is sponsoring its seventh annual Jacaranda Poetry Festival and is inviting poets to enter. All poems must be original and not previously published. The entry fee is $3 per poem with no limit on the number of entries. Those entering must submit three copies of each poem. One should include the name, address, telephone number and email address of the poet. The other two should not contain any identifying information.
Entries may be mailed with a postmark by April 3 or hand-delivered to Pasco Arts Council, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday, FL 34690-2354 Attention: Jacaranda Poetry.
A panel of professional judges, led by published author Alicyn Lopez, will choose the winners. Awards, including cash prizes, will be announced at the Jacaranda Poetry Reading at 1 p.m. on April 20 at the Pasco Arts Council’s art center. There will be poetry readers at this free event, which is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Hillsborough sets Hispanic Scholars record
Hillsborough County Public Schools has its greatest number of National Hispanic Scholars this year, with 32 students achieving the distinction. Last year, the district had 28. The National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students across the nation. The designation is based on criteria including scores on the PSAT and grade point average.
PHCC advances to State Brain Bowl
Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC)’s Brain Bowl Alpha team has earned the right to compete in the 2013 State Brain Bowl by capturing second place in the regional tournament.
The team will compete March 14 through March 16 at Florida Gateway College in Lake City. This makes six years in a row that PHCC has qualified for the state competition.
Raising money for a trike track
Keystone Christian Preschool is having a fundraiser on March 2 at The Eagles Country Club to raise money for a school playground trike track. The event will feature live music, dinner, raffles and a silent and live auction. The club is located at 16101 9 Eagles Drive in Odessa.
For more information, email Isel Hardwick at or call (813) 833-3348.
Academy at the Farm benefit
Academy at the Farm Charter School is having a benefit March 2 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays on Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes. Registration begins at 2 p.m. Dinner and awards will be at 6 p.m. Spaces are filling up quickly. For more information call Dan Fuston at (813) 714-6635.
Splash! grant winners
The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently announced winners in its Splash! grant program. The winners include these Pasco County educators:
—Mary Lou Jordan of Moore-Mickens Education Center in Dade City received a $2,372 grant for her students to maintain various plants and gardens while learning about water conservation through the use of rain barrels. They also will learn about using fertilization practices that do not threaten water quality.
—Lisa Decker of Quail Hollow Elementary in Wesley Chapel received $1,798 to pay for a field trip to the Florida Aquarium, where students will learn about estuaries, specifically Tampa Bay, the rivers flowing into the bay and the plants and animals living there. Students will also test water quality and learn about the water cycle and watersheds in the classroom.
—Natalie Edgeman of Zephyrhills High was awarded $2,998. Her students will visit the Energy and Marine Center and the Crystal Springs Preserve to compare the ecology of an estuary and a spring. Her students will also complete water and soil testing.
MOSI camps
The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) will have a Jedi Training Academy Family Camp-In from 6 p.m. March 2 to 10 a.m. March 3.
Campers will get to build a light saber and train in the art of dueling with a Jedi master/stunt coordinator. They will be able to test their fighter pilot skills in space battles, build droids out of candy and use the force to run through the Jedi temple obstacle course with Yoda strapped to their backs. Dinner and breakfast are included. Preregistration is required. Space is limited. Call (813) 987-6000 or visit MOSI.org for more information.
MOSI also is hosting spring break camps from March 11 through March 15 in Hillsborough County and from March 25 through March 29 in Pasco County.
Call (813) 987-6000 or visit MOSI.org for more information.
Bishop McLaughlin open house
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High is hosting an admissions open house from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 for seventh- and eighth-graders at the high school, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill. Additional information is available by visiting www.bmchs.com or by calling Kathy Hinton-Scott, director of admissions, at (727) 857-2600 ext. 244.
Oakstead Elementary spring sprint
Oakstead Elementary is hosting its third annual Spring Sprint for a Healthier Generation on March 16. The 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run will start at 8:15 a.m.
Participants of all ages are welcome and there will be awards in categories beginning for children younger than age 5 through adults older than 60.
The event encourages families, as well as office workers, to get out and exercise together.
The packet pickup will be from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Oakstead Elementary, at 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes. On race day, the packet pickup begins at 6 a.m. at at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St. in Land O’ Lakes. Early bird pricing is available. To find out more, visit https://sites.google.com/site/oaksteadspringsprint/.
