Mary Rathman

From trashy to flashy
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful presented its fourth annual Trashy Flashy Fashion Show showcasing 53 designs, all made from at least 75 percent recycled materials. The fashion show allowed students to take what they have learned either in the classroom, or through the educational presentations of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and upcycle their waste into a wearable piece of art for the runway.

Four awards each were given to middle/high school designers and the other to college/adult designers of Best Use of Materials, Most Wearable, Avant Garde Fashion, and Top Design.

Wharton High School students Amaani Badet, Bayan Odeh, Michelle St. Paul, Karla Lopez and Samantha Roja Gill were winners in the Most Wearable Fashion category for middle/high school. The students used yarn, ribbon, water bottles, bottle caps, straw and newspaper to create their design.

 

Golf tournament raises more than $120,000
The Pasco Education Foundation’s 17th annual “Swing for the Kids” Fall Golf Classic raised more than $120,000 to support the foundation’s mission to advance student achievement in Pasco County’s public schools.

Since its inception in 2000, the Pasco Education Foundation’s golf classic continues to grow and is a significant fundraiser for the organization’s initiatives.

Future teachers teach seniors citizens
The River Ridge High School New Teacher Academy students took part in “Generational Learning Day” on Dec. 16, by teaching participating senior citizens technology skills, and providing them with resources for internet usage, social media access and identity theft protection.

Students also will teach the seniors how to take selfies, use mobile calendars and speech to text software, and other applications.

The learning day aims to promote inter-generational interaction and technology understanding.

For information, call Beth Hess at (727) 774-7200.

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses: Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school. To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

All properly completed applications will be entered into a lottery. Families will be notified of acceptance status by mid-February, so those who are not accepted have time to complete the traditional school choice open enrollment application between Feb. 1 and March 1.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

PHSC Foundation fundraiser
The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation will host its second annual Sporting Clays Tournament on Jan. 27 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes.

Participants will receive 50 targets, a team cart, lunch, beverages, an awards banquet dinner, official tournament apparel, ammunition and more.

Sponsors and teams will be recognized in promotional materials, including the PHSC website, publications and event program.

For tournament information and sponsorship opportunities, call (727) 816-3410, or visit PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

Cox Elementary celebrates 90
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, will host a second celebration for its 90th anniversary on Jan. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a dinner fundraiser and a Memory Walk featuring photographs through the eras of the school’s history.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

Best colleges in Florida
OnlineColleges.com, a website that provides information about top online colleges and degree programs by featuring school rankings, program guides and career outlooks, has ranked the top 10 schools in Florida for online programs or classes as follows:

• Petersburg College
• Saint Leo University
• Daytona State College
• Broward College
• University of Florida
• Seminole State College of Florida
• Florida State College at Jacksonville
• University of Central Florida
• Eastern Florida State College
• College of Central Florida

Students can view the schools with the highest overall score, can filter schools by tuition, school type, religious affiliation, military benefits and more.

 

Good for the ‘sole’
The final numbers are in for the ‘Two Good Soles’ shoe and sock drive spearheaded by the employees of Pasco County Government, Pasco County Constitutional Offices and Pasco County Schools. The drive collected 1,117 pairs of new shoes and 1,583 pairs of new socks for Pasco County schoolchildren, more than doubling the collection goal of 500 pairs of shoes.

 

 

Caps of Love
Students at Saint Leo University gathered on National Make a Difference Day to sort and prepare bottle caps for donation to Caps of Love.

Students, faculty and staff collected bottle caps for Caps of Love, a Florida-based nonprofit organization that recycles plastic tops. The proceeds from recycling the plastic is used to purchase new and refurbished wheelchairs for children, under the age of 21, with mobility disabilities.

Last year, Saint Leo donated 8,000 pounds of bottle caps, and 14 pallets containing the plastic were shipped by truck to the recycling facility.

The university’s collection will continue through March.

For information, call (800) 334-5532.

Art showcase & book fundraiser
Wiregrass Ranch High School will host a Holiday Art Showcase and Book Fair Fundraiser on Dec. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Barnes & Noble, 28152 Paseo Drive, Suite 100, at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.

There also will be face painting, storytelling, a choir performance, artists in action, improv and more.

To shop online, visit BN.com/bookfairs and use the voucher code “12029922.”

The school’s band boosters also will host a fundraiser on Dec.15 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble.

PHSC seeking mascot successor
Conquor, the sword-wielding mascot representing the Conquistadors at Pasco-Hernando State College since 1993, is retiring, effective this coming spring.

Conquor announced his retirement and kicked off a search for his replacement at a college-wide employee event last month. A retirement celebration will be scheduled at the college’s annual Athletic Awards Ceremony in April, and Conquor’s successor will be introduced to faculty, staff and students during the college’s fall Welcome Week, beginning Aug. 21, 2017.

Conquor, as well as PHSC students, faculty and staff, alumni friends and the community are invited to participate in the mascot selection process. Once the new mascot is selected and approved, a competition will be held to seek student input on naming the new mascot.

Suggestions can be provided at PHSC.edu/mascot, and will be accepted through Dec. 31.

GED classes
Following the November rededication and opening of its new facilities, the Fred K. Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will provide GED classes on Jan. 9, and start a new semester of technical programs on Jan. 12.

For program options, call (727) 774-1700, or visit MTEC.Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses:
Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school.
To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

PHSC Foundation fundraiser
The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation will host its second annual Sporting Clays Tournament on Jan. 27 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes.

Participants will receive 50 targets, a team cart, lunch, beverages, an awards banquet dinner, official tournament apparel, ammunition and more.

Sponsors and teams will be recognized in promotional materials, including the PHSC website, publications and event program.

For tournament information and sponsorship opportunities, call (727) 816-3410, or visit PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

Cox Elementary celebrates 90
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, will host a second celebration for its 90th anniversary on Jan. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a dinner fundraiser and a Memory Walk featuring photographs through the eras of the school’s history.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

The Laker/Lutz News likes to spotlight local school news in our Chalk Talk section every week. Send us your photos, events, accomplishments, etc., so our communities can see what your school is up to! Submissions can be emailed to .

 

Dade City chamber recognizes students
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce has recognized its October and November student Citizens of the Month.

October students honored: Grace Rodriguez, Academy at the Farm; Xiaxia Pelto, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Nolan DiMaria, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Cynthia Schnabl, Centennial Elementary School; Fernando Garcia, Lacoochee Elementary; Chloe Rutherford, Pasco Elementary; Jared Green, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Madison Gocsik, San Antonio Elementary; Isabella Hicks, Centennial Middle; Beautiful Hernandez, Pasco Middle; Donovan Surut, James Irvin Education Center; and, Kayleigh Heather, Pasco High.

Students honored for November: Parker Creech, Academy at the Farm; Daniella Miranda Ramos, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Rene Asbel, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Jayden Mendez, Centennial Elementary School; Jayla Singleton, Lacoochee Elementary; Kesia Judith Osorio, Pasco Elementary; Rosalinda Colunga, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Angelina Agnello, San Antonio Elementary; Andrew Bowling, Centennial Middle; Lucia Sixtos, Pasco Middle; Mekhi Combs, James Irvin Education Center; and, Madison Kaylor, Pasco High School.

Academy recital
The New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy, 10701 Cross Creek Blvd., in New Tampa, will present its first recital of the year on Dec. 11 at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m.

For information, visit NewTampaPPA.com, or call (813) 994-2452.

Special Olympics student-athletes
Special Olympics Florida, Pasco County student-athletes, staff and community business partners will host an “Under the Stars” dinner fundraiser on Dec. 11 from 5 p.m.to 7 p.m., at Sweetfields Farm, 17250 Benes Roush Road in Masaryktown, to raise money to sponsor the Special Olympics student-athletes.

The dinner will include raffles and interaction with Special Olympics student-athletes.

Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to sponsor a student-athlete or make a donation to Special Olympics Florida-Pasco County.

For information or to RSVP, call Phyllis Crane at (727) 207-5146.

GED classes
Following the Nov. 16 rededication and opening of its new facilities, the Fred K. Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will provide GED classes on Jan. 9, and start a new semester of technical programs on Jan. 12.

For program options, call (727) 774-1700, or visit MTEC.Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses:

Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school.

To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

PHSC goes smoke and tobacco free
The Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to prohibit smoking and the use of tobacco products college-wide, effective Aug. 14, 2017.

In the coming months, an ad hoc committee, which includes representation from students, faculty, staff and administrators, will assist in transitioning PHSC to a smoke-free/tobacco-free environment.

During the transition, all campuses will host free smoking cessation programs. There also will be other resources to assist employees and students interested in giving up tobacco.

All-State Orff Ensemble
Some Corbett Preparatory School of IDS students, in grades four to eight, were chosen to appear in Orff or choral groups during the Florida Music Education Association’s professional development conference in January at the Tampa Convention Center.

The conference attracts more than 8,000 music educators, students, exhibitors and advocates, and hosts the All-State bands, orchestra and choruses.

Representing Corbett Prep:

Milannia Travaglino, of Land O’ Lakes, fourth grade, Elementary Orff Ensemble

Julia Cox, fifth grade, Elementary Chorus

Nitya Padmanabhan, fifth grade, Elementary Chorus

Alex Smith, seventh grade, Middle School Mixed Chorus

Rylie Nelson, of Wesley Chapel, eighth grade, Middle School Mixed Chorus

Asha Sneed, eighth grade, Middle School Mixed Chorus

Will Sobel, eighth grade, Middle School Mixed Chorus

This is the second year in a row Julia Cox and Rylie Nelson have been selected for All-State chorus. Milannia Travaglino is the first student from Corbett Prep to join the All-State Orff Ensemble, which was formed last year.

October Citizens of the Month
Eight students from Zephyrhills schools were honored at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month awards ceremony at The Church at Chancey Road. Each month, one student, from 10 area schools, is selected for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. The students receiving honors were Savannah Stephens, Zephyrhills High School; Brooke Baldus, Raymond B. Stewart Middle; Thomas Puhek, The Broach School; Brendan Smith, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Deric Smith, Hope Ranch Learning Academy; Ethan Guo, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Noah Lane, Chester W. Taylor Elementary; and, Kaelyn Ingram, Woodland Elementary.

 

Constitution essay contest winner
Jessica Carver, a fifth-grader at Lake Myrtle Elementary School, won the Clerk & Comptroller’s Constitution Essay Contest for her essay on the topic ‘Why is the United States Constitution Important?’ From left: Superintendent of Pasco County Schools Kurt Browning, Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Paul O’ Neil, Jessica Carver and School Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley.

Wiregrass Elementary dedication
Wiregrass Elementary School, 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, will host a dedication ceremony on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

There will be a short program, student performances and refreshments.

Martinez Middle dinner, concert and art show
Martinez Middle School, 5601 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will host a Holiday Dinner, Concert and Art Show on Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be a sit-down dinner prepared by culinary students and served by band members, and holiday music performed by the Mustang Band.

There also will be holiday shopping available through the art show silent auction. The school’s art students produced the artwork. Purchased artwork will be available for pickup at 7:10 p.m.

All proceeds will benefit band, culinary and art classes.

The cost is $10 in advance with an RSVP by Nov. 30, or $15 at the door.

For information, email Jim Anderson at .

PHSC seeking mascot successor
Conquor, the sword-wielding mascot representing the Conquistadors at Pasco-Hernando State College since 1993, is retiring, effective this coming spring.

Conquor announced his retirement and kicked off a search for his replacement at a college-wide employee event last month. A retirement celebration will be scheduled at the college’s annual Athletic Awards Ceremony in April, and Conquor’s successor will be introduced to faculty, staff and students during the college’s fall Welcome Week, beginning Aug. 21, 2017.

Conquor, as well as PHSC students, faculty and staff, alumni friends and the community are invited to participate in the mascot selection process. Once the new mascot is selected and approved, a competition will be held to seek student input on naming the new mascot.

Suggestions can be provided at PHSC.edu/mascot, and will be accepted through Dec. 31.

Saint Anthony School receives plaque
Camp Invention, the nation’s premier summer enrichment day camp program, supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, has honored St. Anthony School for its commitment to inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship with an innovation recognition plaque.

Camp Invention provides an opportunity to students in kindergarten through sixth grade to exercise their creativity through hands-on STEM curriculum. The curriculum focuses on fostering creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving.

To date, St. Anthony School has participated in two Camp Invention programs.

Camp Invention created the recognition plaque to show appreciation for schools and organizations that host the summer enrichment day camp program.

The plaque will be on display at St. Anthony School, 32902 Saint Anthony Way in San Antonio, bearing each year the school has participated in the program.

 

Caitlyn Fontan receives scholarship
The East Pasco Democratic Club presented a $500 scholarship to Pasco-Hernando State College student Caitlyn Fontan. Fontan was selected for her drive and fortitude, and plans to use the money toward a degree in phlebotomy. From left, Caitlyn Fontan; Beverly Ledbetter, East Pasco Democratic Club president; and, Kristine Hires, EPDC treasurer.

Wiregrass Elementary dedication
Wiregrass Elementary School, 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, will host a dedication ceremony on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

There will be a short program, student performances and refreshments.

Martinez Middle dinner, concert and art show
Martinez Middle School, 5601 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will host a Holiday Dinner, Concert and Art Show on Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be a sit-down dinner prepared by culinary students and served by band members, and holiday music performed by the Mustang Band.

There also will be holiday shopping available through the art show silent auction. The school’s art students produced the artwork. Purchased artwork will be available for pickup at 7:10 p.m.

All proceeds will benefit band, culinary and art classes.

The cost is $10 in advance with an RSVP by Nov. 30, or $15 at the door.

For information, email Jim Anderson at .

Knights of Columbus support Pasco ESE students
Knights of Columbus Council 8104 of Land O’ Lakes hosted its annual tootsie roll drive fundraiser and raised $7,000 for ESE student programs at four Pasco County schools.

Each school will receive about $1,743 each. The schools that will benefit are Denham Oaks Elementary School, Connerton Elementary, Land O’ Lakes High and Pine View Middle.

PHSC appoints administrators
Pasco-Hernando State College has named Kevin O’ Farrell, provost, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Patricia Campbell, dean of arts and sciences; Billie Gabbard, dean of nursing and health programs; and, Sonia Thorn, associate dean of academic affairs and institutional accreditation.

For information about PHSC, visit PHSC.edu.

Pasco County Schools earns silver
The District School Board of Pasco County was awarded the Florida Healthy School District Silver Award by the Florida Action for Healthy Kids and the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership. The district was presented with a silver-level flag.

The district earned the honor for demonstrating high scores in all areas, with the highest scores related to policies and processes in these areas:

• District infrastructure (88 percent)
• Physical education (87 percent)
• Health services (90 percent)
• Counseling, psychological and social services (86 percent)
• Healthy school environment (87 percent)
• Employee wellness (85 percent)
• Family and community involvement (91 percent)

Trevor McCabe in honor society
Trevor McCabe, of Odessa, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. McCabe was initiated at the University of Florida.

Approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni are initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

School board amends school name
The District School Board of Pasco County voted to temporarily name the new school under construction on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Cypress Creek Middle/High School.

The board named it Cypress Creek High School at a Nov. 1 meeting, but because the school will serve sixth through 12th-grade students until a middle school is built, the name was changed to be inclusive of the middle school students.

When a middle school is built, the high school name will revert to Cypress Creek High School.

All-State bands, orchestra
Pasco County students auditioned for All-State Middle School Band, Honor Band, Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra in September. Students who make one of the band groups are guaranteed a spot in the Pasco County Schools All-County Band, but still need to audition for chair placement.

The following students were recognized:

• Matthew Benjamin, French horn, Seven Springs Middle School, All-State Middle School Band
• Kaitlyn McCarty, percussion, Hudson Middle, All-State Middle School Band
• Nathan Laird, euphonium, River Ridge Middle, Middle School Honor Band
• Abigail McNulty, percussion, J.W. Mitchell High, All-State 9-10 Grade Concert Band
• Anna Dorey, French horn, J.W. Mitchell High, All-State 11-12 Grade Symphony Orchestra