Bahamas school supply drive
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is collecting donations of school supplies to assist the schoolchildren of the Bahamas. An estimated 18,000 children and their families have been displaced since Hurricane Dorian struck the islands on Sept. 1.
Ten schools were destroyed on the island of Abaco alone, while many other schools sustained damages.
The children of the Bahamas, some of whom lost family members, classmates, and their homes are transitioning to schools that are undamaged but strained to accommodate additional students.
Donations of classroom supplies will be accepted at all PHSC libraries.
Each college store also is accepting donations and selling discounted supplies to anyone contributing to the drive.
Needed items include new backpacks, flash drives, notebooks, binders, calculators, pens, pencils, art materials, and other typical classroom supplies.
The deadline to donate is Dec. 5, as the items will be shipped to the Bahamas in December.
Campuses are in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Brooksville and Spring Hill.
For information, email Lucy Miller, director of community outreach, at .
Schools take a break
As a reminder, Pasco and Hillsborough county students will have a Thanksgiving/Fall break from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. All students will return to classes on Dec. 2.
Volunteers needed
The GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club is looking for dependable high school students for a variety of volunteer opportunities.
The club is a 501© nonprofit organization, and time spent volunteering will count toward the necessary Bright Futures scholarship hours.
For information, text the word ‘volunteer’ to (813) 461-3131.
Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.
The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.
This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.
Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.
Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.
Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.
The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.
For information, call (727) 844-7759.
Education month
The District School Board of Pasco County, along with the Florida Department of Education, recognizes November as Florida Family Engagement in Education month, to highlight the role parents and families have in student education.
Parents, grandparents, guardians and extended families are encouraged to be involved throughout the year.
Parent-teacher conferences are one of the ways to be involved and stay engaged in your student’s education.
For engagement ideas, visit PTAOurChildren.org.
Band yard sale
The Zephyrhills High School Band will host an indoor yard sale on Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Zephyrhills First Nazarene, 6155 12th St., to help fund a trip to Washington D.C., to march in the 2020 National Memorial Day parade.
For information, call Meggan Nichols, the ZHS Band sponsor fundraiser coordinator, at (813) 403-0700.
Barbeque benefit
The Great American BBQ, benefiting Hudson Elementary School, will take place Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at SunWest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway in Hudson.
There will be eating competitions, live music, volleyball and cornhole, and a contest for the best sauce. Admission is $5.
For information, call (727) 674-1464.
School choice expos
Pasco County Schools will host expo-style events, one on each side of the county, to inform Pasco County families about the upcoming school choice application windows and innovative program options.
- Nov. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at River Ridge High School, 11646 Towne Center Road in New Port Richey
- Nov. 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road
The expos will feature informational sessions that cover the general application process.
In addition, many Pasco County schools will showcase unique educational options, such as STEM and STEAM magnet schools, the Cambridge International Education Programme, International Baccalaureate, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Career Pathways, Pasco eSchool, and more.
The school application choice window will run from Dec. 3 to Dec. 13 for middle and high schools, and from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 for elementary schools.
For information or to register, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Pasco Pathways link.
Fee adjustment review
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at a Nov. 19 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.
Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing.
Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.
All fees charged by vendors are negotiated by the college, with additional fee increases and decreases expected in the coming academic year.
For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on the Policies and Procedures link.