Mary Rathman

A ‘fine’ collaboration to help students
The First National Bank of Pasco (FNBP) and the Pasco County School Board distributed the second quarter fine arts classroom grants to six area schools, through the collaboration called ArtsFirst. Grant applications are submitted by Pasco fine arts teachers, and awarded based upon the grant’s likelihood of improving student achievement and opportunity. Schools receiving grants were Double Branch Elementary, Paul R. Smith Middle, Raymond B. Stewart Middle, River Ridge High, Sunlake High, and Wesley Chapel Elementary. Funds can be used to purchase anything from instruments to technology to art supplies. Paul Smith Middle’s band director Kelsey Synnett, left, accepts a check for percussion instruments and accessories from Kathy Balthazard, area sales manager for FNBP.

Honor Society inductees
These local University of South Florida students were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society: Alexander Mercier Sr., of Odessa; Amber Pirson, of Lutz; and, Meena Yaduguru Sundinti, of Lutz.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897, and today there are chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines.

Food waste contest
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched “Ace the Waste!” – a student competition for food waste reduction ideas.

Students ages 11 to 18 can submit proposals on reducing food loss and waste anywhere along the supply chain, from the farm to the dinner table and beyond.

Topic ideas include: Preventing food waste; Recovering wholesome, excess food to feed people; Recycling food scraps to keep them out of landfills; and, Raising awareness.

Students may submit a one- to two-page proposal or a one- to two-minute video.

Submissions will be judged on impact potential; originality and creativity; clarity of expression; and, adherence/appropriateness to theme.

One winner will be selected from each of two categories: ages 11 to 14, and ages 15 to 18.

The deadline for proposals is May 24 at 5 p.m.

For details and to submit ideas, visit tinyurl.com/y4cj6kpr.

Friendship Walk
The Dr. John Long Middle School Best Buddies Chapter will again take part in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk on May 4 at 9 a.m., at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

Best Buddies matches intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) students with peer volunteers to form a ‘buddy pair,’ and to encourage one-to-one friendships between typical students and students with an IDD.

Register to walk or make a donation to help support Long Middle School’s chapter by visiting tinyurl.com/yxqtoeos.

Preschool to offer food program
Simply Kids Preschool, 27300 Dayflower Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, announced its intention to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Care Food Program, a federally funded program that reimburses child care providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled, eligible children.

Meals will be available at no separate cost to all participants enrolled at the center, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Parents/guardians of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals must complete an application.

The policy statement of income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals is on file at the child care center and may be reviewed by any interested party.

For information, contact Nicole Nadeau at (727) 831-8198 or .

Top Dog students
Students from Stewart Middle School were honored at a lunch after being named the school’s Top Dogs. One student is selected by the teachers from each team of 125 students each quarter.

The third quarter Top Dogs were Kristina Harrelson, Logan Merritt, Jaiden Wells, Deme Dooley, Emilio Gutierrez, Zachary Cannon, Chloe Ezzo, Emma Smith, Ayden Jones and Saniyah Wilson.

Each student received a certificate and a gold dog tag.

Saint Anthony school celebrates 135 years
St. Anthony Catholic School, 12155 Joe Hermann Drive in San Antonio, will celebrate its 135th anniversary on May 10. It is the oldest Catholic elementary school in Pasco County and the fourth oldest Catholic school in the state.

There will be Mass at 9 a.m., presided over by the Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of St. Petersburg, followed by a spring concert at 10:30 a.m., performed by the students in San Antonio Park.

After the concert, guests can take part in a family picnic.

For information about the celebration or the school, call Sister Alice Ottapurackal at (352) 588-3041.

To RSVP, visit StAnthonySchoolFl.org.

Financial aid tip
Veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces may be able to take advantage of numerous student financial aid programs.

The federal government also offers programs for the dependents of veterans and service members.

Federal programs include:

• GI Bill benefits, first passed in 1944 for veterans of World War II. There are several versions with benefits that vary according to when you entered the service, when you left the service and other criteria. Visit Benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
• Federal Tuition Assistance, for active duty members an all branches of the armed forces. For information, contact the college financial aid office or the unit education officer.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, for students who had a parent or guardian die as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept. 10, 2001. For information, look under ‘Types of Aid’ at StudentAid.ed.gov/sa/.

Scholarship program expands
The North Tampa Bay Chamber is expanding its high school scholarship fund to include recipients from Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Freedom and Wharton high schools.

The chamber has partnered with the career counselors at each campus, where all students have applied by completing a comprehensive application, including a short essay.

Upcoming presentations for the ceremonial checks will take place as follows:

• Wiregrass Ranch: May 23 at 6 p.m.
• Wesley Chapel: May 28 at 7:30 a.m.
• Cypress Creek: May 28 at 9 a.m.

For information regarding the scholarship program, email .

Teddy bears aim to help ease trauma
Hillsborough County Public Schools has a new initiative called, The Elementary Teddy Bear Project. The HCPS security and emergency management office, in partnership with The Kiwanis Club, purchased more than 900 teddy bears for elementary school counselors to loan or share with traumatized students throughout the school year. Each elementary campus received four to five bears. The goal is to help children address unresolved emotional issues that could hinder the child’s socialization and learning processes. School security officers use the teddy bears as a way to build relationships with the most vulnerable students.

Info night at Stewart Middle
The Pasco County Schools afterschool enrichment programs department will have a community information night for a Century Community Learning Center grant-funded afterschool program on April 25 at 6 p.m., at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The district is preparing a grant proposal for the afterschool programs for students attending select elementary and middle schools.

Families are encouraged to come out to help develop the vision for the Century Community Learning Center.

Scholarship program expands
The North Tampa Bay Chamber is expanding its high school scholarship fund to include recipients from Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Freedom and Wharton high schools.

The chamber has partnered with the career counselors at each campus, where all students have applied by completing a comprehensive application, including a short essay.

Presentations for the ceremonial checks will take place as follows:

• Freedom: April 25 at 6 p.m.
• Wharton: April 25 at 6:30 p.m.
• Wiregrass Ranch: May 23 at 6 p.m.
• Wesley Chapel: May 28 at 7:30 a.m.
• Cypress Creek: May 28 at 9 a.m.

For information regarding the scholarship program, email .

Saint Leo commencements
Saint Leo will host its Baccalaureate Mass on April 26 at 4 p.m., in the Marion Bowman Activities Center, at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Following the Mass, “Saint Leo Under the Stars” will take place with campus tours, food, games, photo opportunities and fireworks.

And, on April 27, more than 1,250 students will receive degrees during commencement ceremonies for Saint Leo. The university’s Florida locations will all come together to celebrate at two ceremonies, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 in Tampa.

The morning ceremony will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the afternoon ceremony will be from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The guest speaker for the morning commencement will be former 6th Judicial Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper, and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco will speak at the afternoon ceremony.

For more information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

Mobile dental services
The Department of Health Pasco County is partnering with the Pasco County School Board to provide preventive dental services for students in Title 1 schools in Pasco County.

The dental bus will travel to selected schools to give dental assessments, sealants, fluoride varnish, and education for the students.

The remaining school schedules for the East side of Pasco County are as follows:

• April 29 to May 2: West Zephyrhills Elementary
• May 6 to May 9: San Antonio Elementary
• May 13 to May 16: Quail Hollow Elementary
• May 20 to May 23: Lacoochee Elementary

In order for a child to be seen on the bus, the required forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian.

For more information, visit Pasco.FloridaHealth.gov and click on “Smile Care A Van.”

Steinbrenner gala
Steinbrenner High School’s football and cheerleading program will host a Leadership & Legacy Gala on May 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Cheval Clubhouse, 4312 Cheval Blvd., in Lutz.

This is a casual, family friendly event open to all. The gala will feature a live DJ, a live and a silent auction, a putting contest, hors d’oeuvres, a 50-50 drawing, a cash bar and a raffle.

The keynote speaker will be former Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson.

For sponsorship opportunities and tickets, visit SteinbrennerGalaAndGolf.com.

New tool for science teachers
Middle school science teachers now have a new tool from the University of Florida to teach students about pollinators and the role they play in producing food.

Nicole Pinson and Alicia Lamborn, horticulture agents with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension in Hillsborough and Baker counties, respectively, helped to develop the new curriculum called “Pollinator Power.”

The curriculum contains three lesson plans and a variety of activities to introduce students to pollinators in fun, interactive ways.

It includes a Pollinator Power Safari Kit that contains bug jars, a butterfly net, magnifier, and insect and flower rubbing plates.

With the supplies, students can scout a garden or landscape for pollinator insects and animals.

Other activities let students “Be the Bee,” by  hand-pollinating squash or zucchini flowers, and construct a ‘bee hotel’ to set up in a pollinator-friendly part of the school.

For educators with students who are afraid of bees and wasps, the program can help those students better appreciate the insects and their benefit.

To order the Pollinator Power curriculum, visit the UF/IFAS bookstore website at IFASBooks.com.