The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Pepin Academies expands into Pasco County

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Pepin Academies, an institution that educates students with learning disabilities, is accepting applications for its new charter school location in Pasco County.

The school, which will begin classes Aug. 18, serves students who have learning or learning-related disabilities.

The Pepin Academies Inc. of Pasco County has been receiving applications from all over Pasco County, and is open to students from outside Pasco County as well, if the parents receive the necessary “out-of-county” paperwork from the district where their child lives.

The school, which was founded in 1999, already has two locations in Hillsborough County — one on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, and the other in Riverview.

Principal Celeste Keller, an educator with decades of experience, will lead the school. She’s been at Pepin for more than nine years, serving as director of the school’s elementary school in Hillsborough, director of its transition school for 18-to-22 year-olds, and most recently, as director of student services.

The Pasco County School Board approved a 15-year charter contract with Pepin Academies, based on its nonprofit status, its track record in Hillsborough, and its intention to secure funding for a permanent building. If substantial progress isn’t made to secure the funding for the school building, the school board could reduce the term of the charter to a maximum of five years, according to a board action taken Feb. 18.

Patty O’ Brien of Zephyrhills said her daughter Paige, 14, has attended Pepin’s school in Hillsborough, but will make the switch to the Pasco location.

“I’m looking forward to this for her because she’s very excited about this new school,” O’Brien said. “I’m very happy with Pepin.”

O’ Brien noted the school concentrates on what her daughter is able to do and builds on that. That wasn’t true in St. Louis, where the family used to live, she added.

By acknowledging her daughter’s strengths, the school has helped her daughter build a sense of self-confidence, O’Brien said, noting her daughter has many challenges. She’s hearing impaired, has autism and has attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

The tuition-free charter school in Pasco initially will operate out of a leased space at 9750 Little Road in New Port Richey. That building has a maximum capacity for 325 students. The school will serve students in third through 10th grade. It will add additional years as it continues operations, but has no current plans to teach children younger than third grade.

The school does not provide transportation, but it will help parents arrange carpools.

In Hillsborough, the school works with Ozzie Saez with Kids Door to Door. Saez currently provides pick-up and drop-off services for some parents. There is a fee, and the family contacts Saez directly to set it up.

Students attending Pepin must have a learning disability which may include: Asperger syndrome, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, educable mentally handicapped, pervasive development delay, or a medical condition that affects learning, such as Tourette syndrome.

Pepin offers students an opportunity to seek a standard or special diploma.

The school’s philosophy focuses education not only on students’ academic needs, but also on their social and emotional needs. Besides accepting student applications, it also is accepting for teaching and staff positions.

To find out more about those positions, check Pepin’s website at PepinAcademies.com.

Published May 14, 2014

New building signals bright future at Saint Leo University

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Imagine, if you will, a place where students learning how to become teachers could work with avatars, to simulate real-life teaching challenges.

Sound far-fetched and futuristic?

Saint Leo University had a ceremony May 2 to mark the beginning of construction of a four-story building that will greatly expand the university’s academic space. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Saint Leo University had a ceremony May 2 to mark the beginning of construction of a four-story building that will greatly expand the university’s academic space.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Well, that’s exactly the scenario that will begin playing out when a new $14 million academic building on the campus of Saint Leo University is completed.

The avatars are actually created by actors in a program developed by the University of Central Florida. The avatars are used to help prepare teachers for situations that may arise in classrooms, said Maribeth Durst, vice president of academic affairs at Saint Leo University.

It’s a great way to practice dealing with situations in an entirely safe environment, Durst noted.

And, that’s just one example of the new ways the university believes its new academic building will broaden opportunities for its students to prepare for their professional lives.

The university had a celebration May 2 to mark the official groundbreaking on the four-story, 48,000-square-foot building. It will have 16 classrooms and 24 faculty offices.

The larger quarters will house liberal arts, education, criminal justice and social work classes, as well as graduate-level classes for continuing professional education. It was designed to foster greater opportunities for students to work together and mingle, Durst said. For instance, instead of long, narrow corridors that tend to separate people, there are gathering spaces to bring them together.

Some highlights include an area to allow simulations of classroom situations and a 21st century classroom for kindergarten through 12th grade education students and others to use.

The fourth floor of the building will be a shell, initially, until there’s a need to build it out.

Creative Contractors Inc., is constructing the structure, with an expected completion date of July 2015. Gould Evans of Tampa is the building’s architect.

Beverly Frank, the project architect, said the design seeks to embody Saint Leo’s core values of excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship and integrity.

“The culture at Saint Leo is very inspirational,” Frank said.

The entire design, from how the building was sited to its color palette, drew on the university’s desire to create a welcoming environment, and to create a sense of connection. That connection applies both to people within the building and to the building’s relationship with other places on campus.

The building uses energy-efficient systems and follows the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, Frank said.

Saint Leo University is a regionally accredited, liberal arts institution at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Published May 14, 2014

Chalk Talk 04-30-14

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Wiregrass students ‘believe, dream, inspire’
Students from Wiregrass Ranch High School created original works of art related to the theme “Believe, Dream, Inspire” for this year’s Reflections Art Program. Categories included literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, film production, and choreography and dance.

Winners at the county level will move on to states level in the National PTA Reflections Program. They included:
• Literature: Delaney Wolkov in first, Bryce Pfieffer in second, and Selyne Singh in third
• Photography: Jordan Welniak in first, Jake Richmon in second, and Denali Krampe in third
• Visual Arts: Kaylee Brennan in first, Eric Boudreaux in second, and Mrudula Peddinti in third

Mohr gets USDA honorable mention
Mandi Mohr, an eighth grader at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, was awarded an honorable mention from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for her project “Cash Cows” at the Florida State Science Fair Competition in Lakeland earlier this month.

She also received a special recognition award from the science fair, and an additional award and cash prize from the Association of Fertilizer and Phosphate Chemists.

LOLCS students shine at national competition
Three Land O’ Lakes Christian School students received national honors at the 37th Annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., earlier this month.

Students representing almost 200 Christian high schools, competed in 77 categories in the basic areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.

Local students recognized were:
• Vickie Frazier, senior, first place in oil painting
• Abigail Del Monte, senior, second place in Spanish academic testing
• Tommy Campbell, sophomore, second place in topical preaching

WRHS book fair
The Wiregrass Ranch High School art department will host an “Art Matters” Book Fair May 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.

There will be art displays, story time at 6 p.m., gift-wrapping services for Mother’s Day, face painting, drama improvisation, music and prizes.

A percentage of Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit the high school’s art department.

For those who cannot attend, visit BN.com/bookfairs from May 8 to May 13, to support the school online, and enter Bookfair ID 11350956 at checkout.

Hagan is distinguished alumnus
Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan was honored as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for his contributions to the community by The Hillsborough Community College Foundation at the 2014 Presidential Showcase April 17.

Hagan has served on the commission since 2002. He also was vice chairman and chaplain.

Zh ChalkTalkChamber names Student Citizens for April
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized the following Student Citizens at an April ceremony in their honor. Each month, one student from 10 area schools is selected for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Celebrating are, from left, Taylor Napier of West Elementary School, Shiloh McCoy of Heritage Academy, Olivia Laginess of Taylor Elementary School, Samuel Nix of The Broach School, Austin Manley of Stewart Middle School, Mary Veller of Woodland Elementary School, and Chloe Isaacs of West Zephyrhills Elementary School. Joining them are chamber executive director Vonnie Mikkelsen and chamber president Carolyn Sentelik, along with Student Citizen of the Month chair A.J. Hernandez. (Courtesy of Gary Hatrick)

Nursing info session at PHSC
Pasco-Hernando State College will host an information session on its new nursing bachelor’s degree program May 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at its West Campus, 10320 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

The session will feature information about the online degree program for licensed registered nurses who have a nursing associate’s degree, with additional skills in management, leadership, theory and research.

The first class begins in August, and interested students my apply for admission no later than May 30.

The session is free, but seating is limited.

To RSVP, visit PHSC.edu/rsvp.

For information, call (727) 816-3274.

‘Bee Bully-Free’ in Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills area schools have been encouraging students, teachers and staff to wear black and yellow on the last Friday of each month as part of the “Bee Bully-Free Initiative.” The initiative provides stickers and coloring book pages for schools that request them, participates in the Great American Teach-in, and provides certificates and awards for students who transform from bullies into kinder versions of themselves.

The last ‘Bee Bully-Free” day is May 30.

For information on the initiative, visit Facebook.com/beebullyfree.

Saint Leo grads ready to learn something new from Petters, Davidson

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Last year, Huntington Ingalls Industries earned more than $6.8 billion.

Huntington Ingalls Industries president and chief executive C. Michael Petters, right, shakes hands with employee Timothy Madden at the yard at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. Petters hails from Pasco County, and he and sister Susan Davidson will speak May 3 at Saint Leo University commencement ceremonies. (Courtesy of Chris Oxley)
Huntington Ingalls Industries president and chief executive C. Michael Petters, right, shakes hands with employee Timothy Madden at the yard at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. Petters hails from Pasco County, and he and sister Susan Davidson will speak May 3 at Saint Leo University commencement ceremonies.
(Courtesy of Chris Oxley)

Chances are, you’ve never heard of this Virginia-based company. But you should definitely be familiar with its products — nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that are more than 1,000 feet long and weigh 100,000 tons — and you may even know its president and chief executive officer.

C. Michael Petters has led Huntington Ingalls since before it was spun off from Northrop Grumman. Petters is a preeminent shipbuilder who learned his skills through the U.S. Naval Academy and the College of William and Mary, but the foundation of his success goes back even further — all the way to the small German Catholic St. Joseph community in Pasco County.

There, Petters and his siblings worked hard on the family’s orange groves, but still remained focused on education and service. So it’s no surprise that not only has Petters been invited to speak at upcoming commencement exercises at Saint Leo University, but so has his sister — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Susan Davison.

The Class of 2014 graduation marks a milestone in the Petters’ family history — it’s 60 years after their father graduated from what was then Saint Leo Prep School.

“My parents were committed,” Petters said. “They were committed to the farm and their business and to their acquaintances and all that, but the one thing that they held out there more than anything else was education.”

Petters’ grandfather said each person should strive to learn something new every day. That prompted a daily question from his own father, asking what he’d learned.

“If you said ‘nothing,’ that wasn’t a good answer,” Petters said. “It didn’t matter to my parents whether it was classroom training or not. It was learning, and it wasn’t just words to them. They went the extra mile to make sure they could afford to send us to schools.”

Yet, good schools cost money, something the Petters didn’t necessarily have a lot of. So Mike Petters and his siblings would work their way through school, and even paused long enough to serve their country in the military. Petters would end up on the USS George Bancroft, a nuclear-powered submarine in the 1980s. And sister Susan Davidson would make her career in the military.

Davidson received her commission in 1983, but didn’t begin active duty until 1986 after a short delay when she had to help replant the family orange grove that was damaged in a hard freeze.

Davidson served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s, and later in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two years ago, she assumed command of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution. But they are not the only Petters children who have found success.

“The whole gang has been successful,” Petters said. “We even have a rocket scientist and a helicopter pilot in there. And they’ve all been successful because they have taken this never-stop-learning approach, and made it the drumbeat of their lives.”

Commencement ceremonies are set for May 3, honoring the portion of Saint Leo’s 16,000-student body who have finished this level of their education. However, if graduates walk away from anything after Petters’ remarks, he hopes that it’s with the understanding that education never ends.

“Where you’re from is an asset,” Petters said. “Everything you have done up to today prepares you for what you’re going to be doing tomorrow.”

Published April 23, 2014

Rediscovering the Old Lutz School

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When you meet a child, you might ask them what school they attend. There are several elementary schools in the area, so you’d have no way of knowing unless you asked.

The Old Lutz School back when it wasn’t so old, as featured in the book ‘Going, Going, Almost Gone: Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pioneers Share Their Precious Memories.’ (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Macmanus and Susan A. Macmanus)
The Old Lutz School back when it wasn’t so old, as featured in the book ‘Going, Going, Almost Gone: Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pioneers Share Their Precious Memories.’
(Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Macmanus and Susan A. Macmanus)

But if you lived in Lutz around 80 years ago, you’d never have to ask that question. You’d know exactly what school they attended, and you’d know exactly where it was. That’s because there was just one school and everyone went there.

The Old Lutz School was a two-story brick structure on North U.S. 41 — and actually, it still is. You’ve probably driven by it at some point, and it might even be part of the view on your daily commute.

It’s kind of hard to miss, since it doesn’t look like anything else. It’s not a school anymore, of course. But it is in the National Register of Historic Places, and it looks awfully good for a building that’s older than FM radio and the ballpoint pen.

OK, it was built in the 1920s, so you know it’s old. For decades it was where local children went until they grew up and went to work, or war, or wherever life sent them.

They all had that one building in common. But when does a location go from just being some old building to a community treasure? For the Old Lutz School, it was around 1977.

And this is the school today. Not much difference, is there? (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
And this is the school today. Not much difference, is there?
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

A couple years earlier, it had stopped functioning as an actual school after nearly 50 years in service, and was a candidate to be torn down. The school board saw an old building: Something that required maintenance and resources when money was tight and actual schools (and their students) needed those funds.

But longtime residents — Lutz is still one of those places where you can actually find longtime residents — saw a community treasure, and stepped up to save it. They worked out an arrangement where the building would stay, but the maintenance and upkeep wouldn’t burden the county.

Today, the county owns the building, but leases it to a group called Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building for a token sum, and they keep it looking pretty much the way it’s always looked.

It does have an unusual look. Its architecture is textbook Georgian Revival. If that doesn’t mean much to you, don’t feel bad. I had to look it up myself.

Back when the school was built, it was popular to emulate the American Colonial style that was used often back in the 1700s. So, this historic school was actually designed as a “modern” tribute to an even older style.

Typically, that means a two-story building with evenly spaced windows in the front. And if you drive by the Old Lutz School today, that’s exactly what you’ll see.

And when it was built, the school was pretty modern. It has indoor plumbing, after all. And there were no water pumps; it had a fancy water tower instead. There wasn’t any air conditioning, of course, but it had a prime location right by the dirt road that we now know as North U.S. 41.

That is a state-of-the-art facility, my friends.

Or it was, anyway. We know all that sounds quaint by today’s standards. So why go to the trouble of saving an old school, anyway? Schools pop up all the time. What’s one more or less?

Well, it has to do with the school, but also the people who live here. Lutz is proud of its heritage. Its history means something, and it’s important to protect it. So with some effort and community support, that’s what they did.

By the way, the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building really is just that: A small group of citizens who care about the school and the area’s history. It’s not a well-funded organization with a large staff dedicated to overseeing this historical landmark.

In reality, it’s maybe 10 regular volunteers who find creative ways of keeping this building looking nice. And it’s not cheap, either. Utilities can run in the hundreds per month, insurance in the thousands each year, and larger maintenance tasks can only be done in sections. But they do a great job.

If you look at an older photo and compare it to a modern one (like, say, the photos that accompany this story), you’ll see many more similarities than differences. That’s pretty impressive.

Usually you have to seek out local history, and spend a few hours in a museum or go out of your way to see a historic building. But not this one. You can see it every day.

You could get in your car and go there right now if you wanted. I’d prefer you finish reading this story first, though, because I spent a lot of time on it. I even stood in the median to take the photo, and I’m still not completely sure that’s legal.

But the school is probably just minutes away from you. Lutz history is right there, not far from a cellular phone store and right in front of three lanes of paved asphalt going in either direction.

Maybe you’ve seen it, but didn’t know what it was. Or maybe you know all about it, but you’re busy and don’t really notice it anymore. My advice is to pay attention to it when you can. And when they have events, attend them and support the school’s maintenance. They just had one last weekend, but they’ll have more.

Help your neighbors keep it looking nice. And if you have a skill or some time to donate, give them a call. They’re not picky, and they could use the help.

You can reach them by calling Suzin Carr (our current Guv’na) at (813) 453-5256. They also have a Facebook page (after all, what self-respecting historical landmark built in the 1920s doesn’t have a healthy social media presence?). Just look up the group’s name.

So reach out and help if you can, but either way, you should take note of it as you drive by. Even though it hasn’t been an actual school for nearly 40 years, there’s a history lesson waiting for you there.

Published April 23, 2014

Teacher uses technology to open new worlds of learning

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There’s no doubt about it. Language arts teacher Aimee Nadow is tech-savvy.

Aimee Nadow uses a combination of technical skills and a personal touch to make her classes engaging. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Aimee Nadow uses a combination of technical skills and a personal touch to make her classes engaging.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

On any given day, the Academy at the Lakes teacher uses technology to help her students enhance their reading, writing and creativity. On one day, for instance, she’ll set them loose on AutoCAD computer design software to create the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet.” On another day, students use PicMonkey photo editor to design book covers for the manuscripts they’re writing.

They’re also frequent users of Pinterest to digitally “pin up” work that they’ve done, and they know how to edit digital clips.

Harnessing technical tools in her classes is all in a day’s work for Nadow, whose mother was a children’s librarian, and her father ahead of the crowd when it came to technology.

Nadow has a deep appreciation for the power of language, and a clear understanding of how traditional and modern tools can enliven lessons. She sees the value of being able to skim information, but also knows the importance of being able to delve deeply into subjects to gain knowledge.

The independent private school where she teaches has long understood the quality of Nadow’s teaching skills, middle division director John Pitcairn said. And, Academy at the Lakes is delighted that Nadow has received national recognition.

The middle division teacher recently was named a 2014 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. It’s a distinction bestowed to just 100 educators nationwide.

As a member of that select group, the Land O’ Lakes woman will take part in a yearlong professional development program.

She is excited by the prospect of being able to learn from other educators who share her enthusiasm for using technical tools to enliven instruction. During a recent class, Nadow used a giant touch-screen television to display images and to foster discussion regarding a Holocaust art project the students will create.

They have been assigned to demonstrate their understanding of the book, “Night,” by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor. They’ll show the teacher what the book means through an art project of their choosing, and they’ll describe their artistic intentions in accompanying text.

Besides preparing students for that assignment, Nadow also guided them through software called ETS Criterion that analyzes writing to identify grammatical and sentence structure issues that should be addressed. As students navigated through the program, Nadow moved about the classroom, responding to their questions and helping them stay on track.

She offered extra help outside of class, if anyone needed it.

Nadow clearly is in command of her technical skills, but she also has an obvious rapport with students. She said she has a secret weapon: It’s called respect.

On the first day of classes she tells her middle division students that she will treat them as adults, unless they behave as children — in which case, they’ll face the consequences.

“I try to afford them as much dignity as possible, because I remember situations when I was in middle school and I would see a student that would be treated unfairly, or would be embarrassed in front of the classroom,” Nadow said. “That is absolutely not the way to teach. You lose so much time if you’re focused on classroom management, rather than learning.”

“Seventh and eighth grade is my perfect fit,” she said. “I really enjoy their (students’) sense of humor, their creativity, their willingness.”

Nadow also appreciates their trust, and believes in using a personal touch with her students.

As they file into her classroom, she greets each student by name and shakes each hand. As the kids make their way to their places, there’s a low-level rumble as they chat.

The teacher uses a simple routine to settle them down. She counts — 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — and by the time she finishes, students are focused on her.

It’s easy to see that Nadow strives to create an environment where students are engaged and want to learn. When she poses questions, they are eager to respond and share their ideas.

While she obviously is technically competent, Nadow also possesses other important skills that equip her to be effective, Pitcairn said.

“It’s her enthusiasm, her positivity, her joy, her human qualities that are a critical part of making her the very valuable teacher that she is today,” Pitcairn said.

Posters in her classroom reveal that Nadow has high standards, but a kind heart. One sets out the class rules. Of course, it has such things as “Always tell the truth. Work hard. Listen to your parents. Keep your promises.”

But it also includes these instructions: “Laugh out loud. Be grateful. Use kind words. Try new things. Dream big.”

Another poster offers this message from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.”

Finally, a sign above the classroom door proclaims “Carpe diem,” or “seize the day.”

That seems to be Nadow’s motto, and one she wants to pass along to her students.

Published April 23, 2014

Pasco agribusiness teacher wants her knowledge to grow in Korea

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Kelli Hamilton has a condition and she isn’t a bit ashamed to admit it.

“I’m an ‘ag’ nerd,” said the Pasco High School agribusiness and natural resources teacher.

Kelli Hamilton enjoys sharing her knowledge of agriculture in different parts of the world with her students at Pasco High School. She plans to get an up-close look at agriculture in South Korea this summer through an overseas study program. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Kelli Hamilton enjoys sharing her knowledge of agriculture in different parts of the world with her students at Pasco High School. She plans to get an up-close look at agriculture in South Korea this summer through an overseas study program.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She’s so interested in agriculture that she’s planning to spend a month in South Korea this summer learning about that country’s agricultural education programs. Hamilton already has been to Ireland and to Iowa to get acquainted with agriculture in those parts of the world.

She’s making the trip to South Korea through a University of Florida/Penn State Program for undergraduate, graduate and kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers. Hamilton is among a group of teachers from Florida, Pennsylvania and Connecticut who are making the trip, traveling with eight students from Pennsylvania State University, and four faculty members from the two universities.

While in South Korea, they will see the country’s Future Farmers of Korea program, which is based on FFA. They also will observe various levels of education programs and various agricultural techniques.

The trip begins June 14 and concludes July 13.

“I’m pumped,” Hamilton said. “I definitely want to learn more about how they do their education system.”

She hopes to pick up different teaching techniques and to have a better understanding of the differences between agriculture in South Korea and agriculture here.

“I’m intrigued about the Korean agriculture just because it’s a developing country,” Hamilton said. “They’ve had a lot of strife in the past 50, 60, 70 years, so I want to see how they’re changing and adapting to that.”

The study abroad course and experience is a joint venture between the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida, and the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State.

In an essay explaining why she wanted to study abroad in Korea, Hamilton wrote, “When traveling overseas, we are able to see the same thing through a different set of lenses.

“Agriculture is in every corner of this planet,” she added. “It is different in some ways, but ultimately the same.”

She also expressed confidence that she could transfer the knowledge she gains into lessons in her Pasco High classroom.

Hamilton already knows how to give students real-world lessons, said Amber Hill, 17, a senior.

“She’s an amazing teacher. She doesn’t just give us facts. She gives us hands-on opportunities. She cares about what you learn,” Hills said.

Besides investing her time in the trip, Hamilton also is investing her money. She’s eager to make the trip.

“I’m pumped,” Hamilton said. “I’m going there to see how they do agriculture education, at all different levels from elementary to high school to college.”

Recently, Hamilton was talking to her students about differences that farmers encounter in different parts of the world. She talked to them about how terrain, equipment, weather, water and soil fertility can influence what crops are produced and where they are marketed.

She talked about some of the strengths and pitfalls of modern machinery and technology that today’s farmers can use.

“I actually went to visit a farm in Iowa. They have this huge sprayer, and it was on a pilot,” Hamilton said. “Basically, they use GPS.”

By using modern technology, farmers can fully utilize the space they have, can reduce manual labor, and can use less fuel, she said.

But there can be a downside.

“There was a lot of rain this past year, so part of the field had fallen down into the river, Hamilton said. “The tractor was on autopilot and it didn’t account for that terrain washing into the river, so he (the farmer) ended up flipping his brand-new sprayer.”

The farmer went into the river with it, and it turns out that it’s not so simple to shut down the computer system, she said. There’s a lot of debate in the United States and internationally about the benefits and risks of new technology, she said.

Hamilton also talked with the students about the economics of agriculture and the rules of supply and demand. If there’s a high supply and a low demand, prices drop, she told them.

Courtney Nathe, 17, said she hopes Hamilton will create a presentation that the teacher can share with students when she returns.

“I definitely think it’s a good opportunity for her, just to see what it’s like in an international market,” Nathe said.

She also thinks Hamilton is a worthy candidate for the program and will be able to convey what she learns to her students.

“She makes class interesting. She communicates well with teenagers,” Nathe. “She’s young enough that she does understand (teenagers), so it makes the class a little bit more interesting and we learn.”

Published April 16, 2014

Chalk Talk 04-16-14

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Oakstead kindergarten open house
Oakstead Elementary School, 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Kindergarten Open House April 29 at 7 p.m., in the cafeteria. 

Registration packets will be distributed. Students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014. Completed packets will be accepted beginning May 5 and throughout the summer.

For information, call (813) 346-1500.

Double Branch kindergarten orientation
Double Branch Elementary School, 31500 Chancey Road in Wesley Chapel, will host a Kindergarten Orientation April 29 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the cafeteria.

Incoming kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014 to register for the 2014-2015 school year.

Packets picked up that evening must be completed and the school will begin to accept them beginning May 5  from 9 a.m. to noon in the media center. 

For more information on documents needed, call (813) 346-0402.

PHSC names Academy leaders
Pasco-Hernando State College has named Charlie May director of public service programs, and Patricia Maxwell instructor coordinator of the Law Enforcement Academy.

May most recently served as forensic services chief for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, and is retired after 25 years of service to that office. He is a former police officer with the New York City Housing Authority.

Maxwell is an adjunct law enforcement instructor at Hillsborough Community College, and was most recently the assistant terminal manager at Murphy Oil Corp. She is a former officer with the Temple Terrace Police Department.

President’s List welcomes Smith
Robert Ellis Smith of Land O’ Lakes, was named to the President’s List at Pensacola Christian College for academic achievement during the fall semester.

Pensacola Christian College is a liberal arts college with an enrollment of 4,500 students.

Robert played baseball, basketball and football at Academy at the Lakes, is an advanced pianist, and obtained his Florida insurance license just shy of the age of 18.

He is the son of Robert and Sheri Ellis Smith of Land O’ Lakes.

HCC open houses
Hillsborough Community College will host an open house at its Brandon Campus, 10414 E. Columbus Drive, April 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Program, admissions and financial aid information will be available.

For information, email .

Freedom High shoe recycling
Freedom High School, 17410 Commerce Park Drive in New Tampa, is hosting a shoe recycling drive through April 25.

All footwear, except metal cleats, will be accepted in old grocery bags. Bags can be dropped off in the shoe recycling bin of the school’s front parking lot.

For information, email .

Hillel students winners in art
Five students at Hillel Academy, 2020 W. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa, were honored at the 19th Annual Rembrandt Youth Art Competition. More than 120 entries were part of the Hillsborough countywide show.

The student winners were:
• 5- to 6-year-olds: Sam Hyman, third place, “King of the Jungle”
• 9- to 10-year-olds: Malina Seldes, first place, “Under the Sea”; Albert Tawil Brown, honorable mention, “Bamboo”
• 11- to 12-year-olds: Arielle Solomon, first place, “Nantucket Dream”; Briana Miele, honorable mention, “Three Course Dinner”

Kervin makes Honor List
Audrey Kervin of Lutz was named to the Honor List of Oxford College, a two-year liberal arts division of Emory University in Oxford, Ga., for the fall semester.

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to receive the honor.

Lindo on Dean’s List
Michael Lindo Jr., of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List at Berklee College of Music for the fall semester.

The Berklee curriculum focuses on practical career preparation for the music industry, and has campuses in Boston and Valencia, Spain.

PHSC faculty, staff garner excellence
Pasco-Hernando State College has announced its recipients of the annual National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Awards.

The 2014 honorees include Rene Brioso, assistant professor of information technology programs; Shirley Cherry, associate professor of mathematics; Patricia Garcia, assistant professor of nursing; and Burt Harres, vice president of instruction and provost, West Campus.

NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

PHSC’s NISOD Excellence Award recipients are invited to attend the 2014 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence May 25-28 in Austin, Texas. They will be honored during a ceremony that has become the largest gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators and staff.

(Courtesy of Georgene Orlowicz)
(Courtesy of Georgene Orlowicz)

Clowning around at Wesley Creative
The Clown Unit of the Ladies Oriental Shrine Cairo Court 97 visited Wesley Creative School in Dade City. The ladies told jokes, performed skits, gave out stickers and small gifts, and entertained the children and their teachers. The students and their teachers collected aluminum can tabs and donated them to the Clown Unit in exchange for the performance. Taking part in the fun were, back row from left,Catherine Parker, Linda Sumner, Patty Thompson, Virginia Hale, Isabelle Collins, Director of Wesley Creative School JoAnn Wilks, Gayle Johnson, Carol Miller, and M.J. Price (sitting in middle). The VPK children are Brycelin Infantino, Julia Cotter, Chase Carvill, Alexis Perez, Zachary Morrow, Maddie Rodriguez, Kylie Simon, Sebastian Esqueda, Aniya Gant, Zechariah Johnson, Layla Miller, Autumn Bennett, Cagen Wood, Diego Valdo Vinos, De’Onna Miller, Jason Byrd, Keilah Holtzhower and Darion Mings.

Student Citizens recognized by chamber
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized Student Citizens for March. Each month, one student from 10 area schools is selected for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.

Students recognized were Anyla Jordan of Chester Taylor Elementary School, Kelli Waver of The Broach School, Natalee Mason of Raymond B. Stewart Middle School, Victory Tinney of Zephyrhills High School, Shalyn Carter of East Pasco Adventist Academy and Hannah Gouldborne of Heritage Academy.

‘Bee Bully-Free’ in Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills area schools are encouraging students, teachers and staff to wear black and yellow on the last Friday of each month as part of the “Bee Bully-Free Initiative.” The initiative provides stickers and coloring book pages for schools that request them, participates in the Great American Teach-in, and provides certificates and awards for students who transform from bullies into kinder versions of themselves.

Upcoming black and yellow Fridays are April 25 and May 30.

For information on the initiative, visit Facebook.com/beebullyfree.

 

Holocaust survivor shares his story at Land O’ Lakes High

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As the speaker wrapped up his talk, Land O’ Lakes High School students streamed down to the front of the auditorium to shake his hand and pose with him for photos.

After his talk, Philip Gans showed students his concentration camp tattoo, shook hands with students and posed with them for pictures. The students seemed eager to have a personal encounter with someone who had survived one of history’s most horrific chapters. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
After his talk, Philip Gans showed students his concentration camp tattoo, shook hands with students and posed with them for pictures. The students seemed eager to have a personal encounter with someone who had survived one of history’s most horrific chapters.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They wanted a personal encounter with Philip Gans, a man who survived the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II. Gans was at the high school to share his story, so others won’t forget the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

“Your children will never have a chance to see a concentration camp survivor,” Gans said, speaking to teachers and students from U.S. history, world history and several other classes.

Social studies teacher Whitney Miller arranged the visit, saying it’s important for students to use the most primary source of information they can receive.

Gans, now 86, said his life in Amsterdam began as a happy one.

“We had a good life,” he said. “Dad had his own business. We had people working for us. We had domestic help. We even had a car.”

But Gans and his family were Jewish, so when the Nazis invaded they went into hiding beginning in August 1942, moving from place to place for nearly a year to avoid detection. On July 24, 1943 — the evening of his father’s birthday — they were arrested. Gans was 15 at the time.

The family was taken to a detention camp, where they remained a month before being sent to Auschwitz III, a slave labor camp. They loaded more than 1,000 people into cattle cars and carted them to the concentration camp, jamming 50 to 60 people in each car, Gans recalled.

There were no bathrooms. Those who needed to relieve themselves were forced to do so in a pail, in full view of others, Gans said.

“They had no respect for humanity. As a matter of fact, they were savages. They were brutal,” he said.

When they arrived at the camp, they separated the men and older boys from the women and children.

He never saw his mom, sister or grandmother again.

Once Gans he arrived at the camp, he was known as No. 139755. It’s tattooed on his arm and on a replica of the shirt he wore at the concentration camp.

“The conditions were unbelievable,” Gans said.

During his time of confinement he never saw a toothbrush or toothpaste. He showered about once every 10 days, he said.

Besides the physical hardships, prisoners endured mental abuse, he said.

“They did everything to make life miserable for you,” Gans said. “They were brutal.”

Workers kept trying to work, even when they were deathly ill, he said. They knew the consequences if they didn’t.

“Everybody knows if you’re too weak to work, you’d wind up in the gas chamber,” Gans said.

Despite the hardships, Gans considers himself one of the lucky ones.

“I survived,” he said. “There were many people who did not survive. My dad, for instance, he was the only (one) of the 21 members of his family that did not die in the gas chambers. He died in a death march April 1945, a month before the liberation.”

Gans said he, too, walked in the death march — long brutal hikes used by the Nazis when moving prisoners from one concentration camp to another — before being liberated by the American Army on April 23, 1945. He was 17.

Besides using his message to remind people of the atrocities of the Holocaust, Gans also spreads another message. “Erase hate,” he urged the audience.

“When you go home tonight, take out your dictionary and cross out the word ‘hate.’ Hate is corrosive,” Gans said.

He also encouraged students to never give up hope and to take action when they witness something wrong going on.

“Don’t hate and don’t be a bystander, especially in this day and age when so many kids are being bullied and then the next day in the newspaper (you read) that kid committed suicide,” Gans said.

Those who stand by idly and let the bullying happen, he said, “are partly to blame.”

“If you see something that’s being done wrong, even if you have no interest, speak up,” Gans said.

Published April 9, 2014

PHSC celebrates opening of new Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch

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Pasco-Hernando State College celebrated the formal dedication of its fifth full-service satellite campus, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, with a ceremony at the campus on April 2.

Members of the Porter family joined Pasco-Hernando State College president Katherine Johnson at the open house and dedication of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. Attending, from left, are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
Members of the Porter family joined Pasco-Hernando State College president Katherine Johnson at the open house and dedication of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. Attending, from left, are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

About 400 to 450 guests mingled, toured the campus and enjoyed refreshments at the celebration. It honored the Porter family, who donated 60 acres of land for the campus, and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel for establishing an endowed scholarship.

“We certainly feel honored,” J.D. Porter said before the ceremony.

The family is especially gratified to play a role in promoting education, he added.

The opening of the campus signaled the first time in Wesley Chapel history that a student could attend preschool through college without leaving the Wesley Chapel community.

Porter said the new campus will play a significant role in the future of Wesley Chapel, as businesses will be able to take advantage of the college’s proximity to ensure that their workers keep current on new technologies. And students will benefit from the close relationship between the college and the business community.

He expects the college to continue to play an even larger role as time goes on.

The current buildings are on about six of the 60 acres the family donated, Porter noted.

Obviously, that leaves plenty of room for expansion.

Published April 9, 2014