Scholarship awarded
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. She plans to use the money toward a degree in phlebotomy.
Wiregrass Ranch student gets national honor
Caroline E. Eichelberger, a Wiregrass Ranch High School student, has been selected to be a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. The organization recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment.
NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. From high school to college to career, NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources needed to develop their strengths and pursue their passions.
Book drive for Lacoochee Elementary
Anne Sawl, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, is organizing a book drive for a community service project, to benefit the children at Lacoochee Elementary School. Books can be dropped off at Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, during the week of Oct. 10. There will be donation boxes in Pine View’s cafeteria. PVMS National Junior Honor Society will assist in the collections.
For information, email Sawl at .
Martinez Middle blood drive
Martinez Middle School’s staff and parents will host a blood drive with OneBlood on Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 5601 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Signup slots are limited.
For information, call (813) 558-1190, or email .
Job and internship fair
Pasco-Hernando State College will host the CareerSource Pasco Hernando Job & Internship Fair on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon, at PHSC East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City.
For information, contact Nathan Stevens at (352) 585-5117 or .
Lights on Afterschool event
The Pasco County Schools’ PLACE afterschool program will host its fifth annual “Lights on Afterschool” event at Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Ave., in Hudson, on Oct. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Pasco Learning and Activity Centers of Enrichment (PLACE) celebration will include the River Ridge High School JROTC’s color presentation, a parade of PLACE program students, activities for children and a student art exhibit.
The guest speaker will be Florida Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Sharon Carie. There also will be food and refreshments available for purchase to support several school-based organizations.
For information, call Maree Marian at (813) 794-2124.
Boundary committee meetings
The High School GGG Boundary Committee has added two additional meetings and a parent information night to its schedule, to review maps and demographics of affected schools and work on potential boundary options for the school under construction on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.
Committee meetings will be on Oct. 20 and Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A parent meeting will take place on Nov. 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Boundary committee meetings are public meetings. Members of the public may attend as observers only.
All meetings are at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road.
To see documents considered by the committee, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Rezoning link on the right.
Wharton newspaper staff garners awards
Members of the Wharton High School newspaper staff competed at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s District 4 Workshop at the University of South Florida. The district includes seven counties: Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk.
Members of the staff brought home eight awards — four that were pre-submitted, and four that were on-the-spot.
Award winners in the pre-submitted contests were Rachel Letteiro, first place, architectural photography; Jiwoo Moon, second place, health page design; Ashley Zack, second place, infographic design; and, Ryan Russell, third place, infographic design.
Winners in the on-the-spot contests were Lexie Savedge and Ryan Russell, first place, collaborative commentary writing; Sonal Madhok, first place, poetry writing; Rachel Hineline, honorable mention, news/feature writing; and, Olivia Miranda, honorable mention, candid photography.
“I was very proud of how the students did competing at the workshop,” Kyle LoJacono, Wharton newspaper adviser, said in an email. “It was great that they won eight awards, and I loved the fact that it was in several different categories. They won awards for their design, writing and photography skills, and I think that speaks to how well rounded the current staff is.”
Bishop McLaughlin open house
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill, will host an admissions open house on Oct. 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Registration starts at 1:30 p.m., followed by a program at 2 p.m.
For information, call (727) 857-2600, ext. 244.
Denham Oaks seeking partners
Denham Oaks Elementary School, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., has been in the Lutz area for more than 20 years and is looking for businesses to support the school.
Sponsorship opportunities start at $25, and allow the business to build its brand among local residents while supporting education.
There also are opportunities to join the School Advisory Council or serve as a judge for the student arts contest.
For information, visit DOES.my-pta.org, or email .
Sponsor Student of the Month program
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has promoted the Student of the Month program for more than 20 years. Chamber businesses partner with local schools to encourage youth.
In most cases, the schools choose one student each month from September to May to be the winner of a trophy and T-shirt recognizing their achievement.
The business name is listed on the T-shirt, and the schools typically provide the business with the opportunity to visit the school each month and present the award.
The cost of a company to be a sponsor is $250 for the year.
Those interested in sponsoring a school or continuing a sponsorship from the previous year, can email the chamber office at , or fax to (813) 909-0827.
Donate shoes and socks for students
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office is participating in the new shoes and socks collection campaign to assist local students and families in need. A collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, the “Two Good Soles” campaign, is seeking to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.
All five tax collector’s offices will be collection sites for donations until Oct. 25, and will have a labeled collection box near the door.
For information and office locations, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.
Students ‘escape the tomb’
The sixth grade World History class at Paul R. Smith Middle School in Holiday took part in an Indiana Jones-themed activity, “Escape the Tomb,” based on the achievements of the Ancient Egyptian civilization.
Students worked in groups and followed standards-based clues to unlock a series of boxes to “escape the tomb (room).”
Using a 44-minute timer, students worked collaboratively to answer questions/clues in order to complete a performance task. They were given a short set of instructions via a pre-recorded video to describe the task, and then followed a set of clues related to the achievements of the civilization.
The correct answer allowed the students to unlock a box that held a new clue.
Students who were able to answer all questions correctly and follow the clues escaped the “tomb.”
Each team that participated earned school incentive “flight tickets” for working cooperatively and problem solving. The team with the fastest time earned a prize.
Early childhood program
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers an Early Childhood Center through the state funded VPK program.
This is a faith-based structured preschool learning environment. The program starts at age 2, and focuses on phonetic awareness, letter recognition, writing skills, reading strategies and problem solving activities.
There are two sessions: a morning preschool program and an afternoon program. Extended hours are offered, if needed.
For information, contact Corrine Ertl, center director, at (813) 948-5999 or .