Education

Chalk Talk 01-22-14

January 22, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Financial aid information nights
Hillsborough County Public Schools Guidance Services is hosting financial aid information nights for high school students and their families.
Financial aid representatives will explain the financial aid process, review how colleges and universities compile financial aid packages, and discuss available local, state and federal aid.
All meetings start at 6 p.m., in each school’s auditorium:
• Jan. 23, Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., in Tampa
• Jan. 28, Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road
• Jan. 30, Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave., in Tampa

Speaker series at Saint Leo
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host these upcoming free events:
• Jan. 28, 7 p.m., University Speaker Series with author Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” about the challenges facing women around the globe.
• Jan. 29, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., Literature for Lunch with poet Joseph Miller. Guests must bring their own lunch.
• Jan. 29, 2 p.m., lecture and book signing with Mary Christine Athans on the topic of “In Quest of the Jewish Mary.”
• Feb. 18, 7 p.m., University Speaker Series with scientist Robert Musil on contemporary sustainability, social responsibility and health issues.
• March 3, 7 p.m., Spring Choral Concert
• April 15, 7 p.m., Spring Sing
For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

Home education information
Classical Conversations, a Christian home education support group that meets every Tuesday, will host an open house Jan. 28 for an in-depth look at classical conversations. The group engages students ages 4 to 18 in academics and fine arts, and equips parents to classically educate their children at home.
For information, call Michele Rearden at (813) 365-2843, or email .

John Long Middle wants your jeans
The John Long Middle School PTSA is hosting its annual Jeans for Teens drive. Jeans for Teens has collected more than 2.5 million pairs of jeans through Aeropostale, and with the help of drives in more than 12,000 schools, for the homeless youth in the country.
The school, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has a bin placed in the office for January to collect donations.
Everyone who donates a pair of jeans will receive an Aeropostale coupon.
For information, call the school at (813) 346-6200.

Common Core info meetings
Pasco County Public Schools has scheduled meetings to educate parents and the community about Florida’s new standards for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Meetings are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for parents whose children attend the high schools and the elementary and middle schools that feed into them.
Guests will hear a presentation by district experts, receive materials explaining what the Common Core state standards are, and participate in a question and answer period.
Upcoming meetings are:
• Feb. 6, Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane, mini theater, Room 500
• Feb. 25, Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, cafeteria
• March 4, Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel, business learning community area

Hillsborough recognized for early reading
Hillsborough County’s campaign to improve reading proficiency among its youngest students has earned recognition as a 2013 Community Pacesetter.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a nationwide movement to address readiness, attendance, summer learning, parent involvement and reading on grade level by third grade. The United Way and Hillsborough County Schools led the initiative.
More than 50 agencies in Hillsborough County were brought together to develop and implement a community action plan.

December Student Citizens named
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized Student Citizens for December, chosen for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. They include, from left, Jacob Smith of Woodland Elementary School, Savannah Woods of Heritage Academy, Laci Carter of East Pasco Adventist Academy, Amber Flanagan of Zephyrhills High School, Alena Chavez of West Zephyrhills Elementary School, Deserae Smith of The Broach School, and Ethan Poe of Florida Autism Center of Excellence. With the children are Santa Claus and Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess.

Pilot Club honors Stewart Top Dogs
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills recognized the Top Dog students for the second quarter from Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills at a recent luncheon. Students are chosen for serving as positive role models for their peers, based on citizenship, leadership and academics. Students awarded with a certificate and dog tag were Ryan Diaz, Ben Isaacs, Darion Lopez, Paige Zimmer, Logan Castro, Eleanor Wilkerson, Levi Smith, Aleksander Martin, Brooklyn Holmes and George Morris.

Encore Academy to host senior expo
Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Encore Academy will host a Winter Senior Expo on Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road.
The event is free and participants can learn about services available from area agencies and businesses, and attend mini-seminars on topics such as art and painting, beginning computer, digital photography, and more.
Seating is limited. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
For information, visit PHCC.edu/encore.

‘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 Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25 and May 30.
For information on the initiative, visit Facebook.com/beebullyfree.

Cox Elementary principal wins new state honor

January 15, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Yvonne Reins, principal at Cox Elementary School in Dade City, has been named an “Elite Principal.”

She is being honored as part of a new program that’s a collaboration between Florida TaxWatch and Learning Systems Institute Principal Leadership Initiative.

TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research and government watchdog. The Learning Systems Institute is part of Florida State University.

The data-driven awards were based on the ability of students to surpass predicted scores, given their prior achievement, and other student and school characteristics. The predicted student achievement scores were determined by using previous Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores.

Yvonne Reins has been named an Elite Principal in a new awards program that is based entirely on academic gains being made by students in Florida’s high-risk schools. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Two elementary, two middle and two high school principals of high-risk Florida public schools will be honored in a Jan. 23 ceremony in Tallahassee, where they will receive statewide recognition and a $5,000 cash prize.

Reins, who is from a family of educators, said her mother will accompany her to the ceremony.

The award aims to acknowledge that schools that perform well require great leadership, said Dominic M. Calabro, president and chief executive officer of Florida TaxWatch. A principal has to balance many competing demands. Principals are the CEOs of their school.

While teachers are on the front lines delivering instruction, it takes excellence at the top to create the atmosphere that nurtures, advances and retains great teachers, he said.

High-risk schools were selected for the award because the idea is to demonstrate that all students can, in fact, learn – regardless of language barriers, income level or other potential obstacles, Calabro said. An outstanding leader can turn around a school that’s not working, but a poor leader can quickly undo excellence, he added.

The goal of the program is to study what these principals are doing and to replicate successful approaches elsewhere. It’s also important to include these principals in discussions about state educational policy, he said.

The principals will be incorporated into a five-year study performed by the Learning Systems Initiative to identify a principal’s role in recruiting, retaining and developing outstanding teachers.

The awards are based solely on state Department of Education data.

When Reins received word she’d been named an Elite Principal, she was shocked.

“I had no idea that that award even existed,” said Reins, who has been at the helm of Cox Elementary for five years. “What’s so nice about this award is that it is based on data. Not nominations. It’s based on facts. The data doesn’t lie. It is what it is.”

She said her school uses a team approach.

“This is a tribute to the hardworking staff that I have,” Reins said. “I told the teachers, ‘It’s because of you. This is our award, not mine.’”

But it’s not just the teachers who deserve kudos, she said.

“Everybody here in this school is very dedicated to our students in more ways than one,” she said. “We all truly care about them — everyone from the cafeteria staff, who provides nutrition to our students, to the custodial staff that maintains a clean and safe learning environment.”

There is a culture of high expectation, coupled with support, Reins said. “There are no excuses. We know that our children can rise to the occasion, rise to our expectations. We just need techniques and strategies to help them move along.”

Teachers meet weekly to share strategies and do grade-level planning. It allows them to talk, solve problems, and plan lessons to meet the needs of each and every student, she said.

“There may be a child that is low in reading, but high in math. They’re going to emphasize those strengths,” Reins said. “This significantly affects their (students’) self confidence and their eagerness to learn. It affects their whole attitude about school and its relevance to their lives.”

The teachers use data to inform their instruction. They seek advice from other teachers for strategies to help students succeed.

“That’s all part of being a professional,” Reins said.

Teachers also pay attention to what students already know, so they can build on that, Reins said.

Cox qualifies for additional funding because it is a school serving many children from low-income households. This year, the priority is to use those funds for additional staff and for professional development for teachers, Reins said.

Involving parents is important, too.

“The teachers try to develop a strong school-home relationship,” she said. “They want their parents to become more involved in their children’s education.”

The school soon will host a night for parents of kindergarten, first- and second-grade children to help parents learn how they can help their children with reading strategies.

“Many parents don’t know how to help their children, and it’s through no fault of their own,” Reins said.

While the school is committed to academic success, it still has a long way to go, Reins said. This award, however, is appreciated.

“It’s encouraging,” Reins said.

Lutz Preparatory readies new middle school

January 15, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Lutz Preparatory School is gearing up to add a charter school for middle school students, beginning with the fall 2014-15 school year.

Lutz Preparatory is adding a public charter middle school on its campus at 17951 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

While the school will be located on the Lutz Prep campus, 17951 N. U.S. 41, now occupied by a kindergarten through sixth-grade program, the middle school will be considered a separate entity, under the charter approved on Dec. 10 by the Hillsborough County School Board. The final step to the charter, which involves signing the five-year contract, is expected in March.

Diane Farmer, principal of Lutz Prep, said the new middle school would open for students in sixth and seventh grades. Eighth grade will be added in the 2015-16 school year.

The new charter middle school, like the elementary school, will focus on providing a traditional education, in which all students have learning plans, Farmer said.

A middle school committee has been visiting charter schools and kindergarten through eighth-grade schools in Florida that are known for their excellence to learn about the programs they offer. The committee is researching curriculum options.

The plan is to create a schedule that focuses on student achievement, Farmer said. The goal is not merely to add more grades at the campus, but to create an outstanding middle school.

In the long-term, Lutz Prep wants to add a high school, too, Farmer said.

The middle school, like the elementary school, most likely will draw students not only from Hillsborough County but also from Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando and Polk counties, as well, Farmer said.

The principal believes parents are drawn to the school because it has such a dedicated staff. It’s not a bit unusual, she said, to see many cars in the parking lot long after the school day has ended because the teachers are so committed to delivering live and engaging instruction.

Before teachers are hired to teach at Lutz Prep, they must demonstrate their skills by delivering a lesson to students, Farmer added.

Besides having a dedicated staff, Farmer believes another chief strength of the school is the commitment of its parents.

“Our parents stay engaged,” Farmer said. “The culture is total family involvement.”

By state law, all of Lutz Prep’s fifth- and sixth-graders will be given preference for enrolling in the middle school before any new students will be enrolled. The school expects a few seventh-grade openings, and will be filling those through a lottery system.

Applications must be received by Feb. 3 at 2 p.m., to be considered for this year’s lottery.

Anyone who would like more information can attend an open house and information session on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m., at the school, or can visit the school’s website at LutzPrep.org.

Chalk Talk 1-8-14

January 8, 2014 By Mary Rathman

Chorus Christmas program a real treat
The Liberty Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Joseph Canessa, performed ‘A Winter Celebration’ on Dec. 13 for faculty, students and families. Musical selections included classic Christmas songs, interpreted modern songs, and featured individual singers and small groups.

Outstanding social studies teachers honored
The Florida Council for the Social Studies recognized outstanding elementary, middle and high school social studies teachers at a conference in Daytona Beach. Joining Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning are, in back from left, River Ridge Middle School principal Jason Joens, Wiregrass Ranch High School assistant principal Robyn White, Connie Hines of Wiregrass Ranch, Karen Schmidt of River Ridge Middle, Erin Greco of Denham Oaks Elementary School, Denham Oaks Elementary principal Mardee Powers, Paula Lesko, and school board chair Alison Crumbley.

Encore Academy to host senior expo
Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Encore Academy will host a Winter Senior Expo at several locations. The event is free and participants can learn about services available from area agencies and businesses, and attend mini-seminars on topics such as art and painting, beginning computer, digital photography, and more.
Seating is limited. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the expo runs until 2 p.m.
The expo dates and locations are:
• Jan. 10, West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road
• Jan. 17, Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court
• Jan. 24, North Campus in Brooksville, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
For information, visit PHCC.edu/encore.

LOLHS interact club car wash
Charter members of the Land O’ Lakes High School Interact civil club, under the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, will host a car wash fundraiser on Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LOL Transport & Moving parking lot, located on the corner of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and Ehren Cutoff. The club is raising money for an international service project to get hygiene kits for Honduras.

Free workshops for child care providers
Hillsborough County Extension offers workshops that provide training and technical assistance to early childhood professionals. The workshops are free for all licensed childcare providers in Hillsborough County. For others, the cost is $10.
The upcoming schedule is:
• Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., What does time mean to children
• Jan. 16, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., How to get parents on your team
• Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Science for preschool children
Registration is required for each workshop, and must be done online at extension.psu.edu/cyttap.
For information, call Diana Converse at (813) 744-5519, ext. 54140.

Financial Aid information nights
Hillsborough County Public Schools Guidance Services is hosting financial aid information nights for high school students and their families.
Financial aid representatives will explain the financial aid process, review how colleges and universities compile financial aid packages, and discuss available local, state and federal aid.
All meetings start at 6 p.m. in the school’s auditorium:
• Jan. 14, Brandon High School, 1101 Victoria St.
• Jan. 16, Jefferson High School, 4401 W. Cypress St., in Tampa
• Jan. 23, Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., in Tampa
• Jan. 28, Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road
• Jan. 30, Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave., in Tampa

One-woman Rosa Parks show
Pasco-Hernando Community College’s 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture Series will feature a one-woman monologue by Gwendolyn Briley-Strand called “Rosa Parks: Such a Time.”
There will be a presentation on Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the North Campus, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Room B-104, in Brooksville.
There will be two additional performances on Jan. 16. One at 9:45 a.m. at the West Campus Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey, and one at 7 p.m. at the Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Room B-105.
The performances are free. For information, call (877) 879-7422.

Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch is ready for students

January 8, 2014 By B.C. Manion

When Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch opens its doors to students on Jan. 13, it will mark a new chapter in Wesley Chapel history.

It will be the first time that students in that community will be able to attend college, without having to commute.

Stan Giannet is the provost of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a new satellite campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College set to open its doors to students on Jan. 13.

Stan Giannet, provost of Pasco-Hernando Community College’s fifth campus, is fired up about the campus’ inaugural day of classes.

“We’re ready. We’re poised to open successfully,” he said.

Porter Campus will have a beginning enrollment of about 1,300 individual students, which is within the college’s projections, Giannet said. Its inaugural staff consists of 48 full-time positions, including 15 faculty members and 33 staff members. There also will be a large number of adjunct faculty members.

Officials theorize students come from Wesley Chapel, choosing the Porter Campus over the college’s East Campus in Dade City and West Campus in New Port Richey. At the same time, the college also expects to pick up some enrollment from nearby counties.

“We also know that many students in Wesley Chapel might not have been going to school,” Giannet said. “There’s no doubt that we’ll be bringing in students from Hillsborough, maybe even Polk.”

Porter Campus officials won’t be able to pinpoint where the enrollment is coming from, however, until they do a ZIP code analysis, expected to take place after the semester begins, Giannet said.

The campus, at 2727 Mansfield Blvd., is situated off State Road 56, about two miles east of Interstate 75, in the heart of Wesley Chapel. It is across the street from the planned Raymond James financial services office park, next to Wiregrass Ranch High School, down the road from The Shops at Wiregrass and around the corner from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

In addition to offering a two-year degree program, the campus plans to launch two bachelor’s degree programs in the fall. One is a bachelor’s degree in nursing and the other is a bachelor’s in applied science, focusing on supervision and management.

In keeping with its new baccalaureate offerings, the Pasco-Hernando Community College board is scheduled to vote on Jan. 21 on a proposal to change the college’s name to Pasco-Hernando State College.

As it opens, the Porter Campus is offering about 160 bricks-and-mortar, face-to-face sections and about 15 hybrid sections, which includes online and face-to-face instruction, Giannet said.

“That’s not counting our nursing courses. We’ll have several courses in our nursing program, which is a limited access program,” he added.

Courses being offered run the gamut from microbiology and human anatomy, to psychology and sociology, to cinema and literature.

The campus also will be the only PHCC location to offer two new certification programs. Those programs are for surgery and pharmacy technicians, both fields where workers are in high demand.

Porter Campus has six buildings, including a seven-story classroom building — said to be the tallest structure in Pasco County. It consists of a three-story parking deck, topped by four floors of classrooms and labs.

The nursing lab on the fifth floor simulates a hospital ward. The equipment is so current that the mannequins there can talk and breathe, officials said during a November preview tour.

Porter Campus boasts a beautiful architectural design, Giannet said, but it won’t truly come to life until the students, staff and faculty are using it.

“We want to create a milieu, an ambience, that will be conducive to a totally meaningful experience — from the learning perspective and from the working perspective,” Giannet said.

He wants the campus’ staff and faculty to enjoy being at the campus, serving students and he wants students to enjoy being there, too.

“We have small classes, “ Giannet said, enabling teachers to know students by name.

He also plans to have an open-door policy.

“Students can come to the provost office at any time,” Giannet said. “If the student perceives that he or she is valued, they feel more invested in their education. The research is unequivocal: The more connected that students feel to the campus, to the faculty, to the events on campus, the greater the likelihood that they’ll be retained and will succeed.”

The college will work closely with guidance counselors at Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools, he said. Besides being able to earn college and high school credits through dual enrollment programs, students also will have a chance to have their questions answered about degree programs available through the college.

Giannet said he’s gratified by the warm reception that the new campus has received.

“The community has shown a tremendous interest in the campus and in the programs we are going to have,” he said.

He expects the college to forge close relationships with businesses and organizations in the community. It already has established a relationship with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

“We’ve developed a partnership for our students to have their clinicals on that site, for our nursing students and some of the other Allied Health. That’s already in the works,” he said.

Work also is under way to create opportunities for Porter students at the North Tampa Behavioral Health center, a new psychiatric hospital on State Road 56.

“As a psychologist, I’m very excited about that,” Giannet said.

The campus was named to honor the Porter family, which donated more than 60 acres for the facility. It is the same family that sold the land now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The family also owns the land expected to become the site for the Raymond James office park.

A culture of caring is needed at school, home

December 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Since becoming Pasco Superintendent of School, I have spoken at length about creating a culture of caring and respect, and the importance of social-emotional learning — giving our students the skills they need to navigate their lives in a healthy, positive way.

And that is why I feel compelled to write today. Recently, the Pasco County community lost a 16-year-old in a senseless act of violence committed by another teenager.

The District School Board of Pasco County has been working diligently to foster a culture of respect. We started this conversation over the summer at the Together We Stand youth summit, and we now must raise our voices to get the message across.

Today, I write this letter to continue the conversation about how we can all help our kids grow into responsible and caring adults, who interact with one another in a civil, respectful way. I don’t have all the answers in our schools, but I know we cannot do this without the community.

I know it will take deliberate and tough conversations within families and communities to help kids learn how to deal with conflict and cope with adversity appropriately. We must work together!

Whether you’re a Pasco native, or you moved here from somewhere else; whether you’re rich or poor; whether your skin color is red, olive, black or white — this culture of violence is our problem, and we must work together to create the type of community we want for our children. A culture of caring and respect must transcend the school doors and spill over into the community, especially during this holiday season.

In the meantime, I call on government, business, community, faith, and especially our youth leaders to resume talking about how we can address the problems our kids are experiencing. I urge parents and caretakers to talk to their children on an ongoing basis about what’s appropriate and not appropriate. Know their friends. Watch their Facebook and Twitter conversations. Set limits and talk to them about your expectations.

If you have any thoughts or ideas to help further this dialogue, please do not hesitate to email me at .

We do not need any more children killing children. We need adults and children to practice respect and to care for each other.

Are you with me?

By Kurt Browning is superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

Chalk Talk 12-25-13

December 25, 2013 By Mary Rathman

Kids Care Club recognized
The Kids Care Club at Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel has been nationally recognized as club of the month for December. The group consists of 45 students and is headed by Yvette Hoff with assistance by Andria Roscart. The club works with local charities and is currently working with the Tampa Bay area Pajama Program. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Elementary School)

College Board recognizes students
More than 70 Land O’ Lakes High School students were recognized for their exceptional achievement on a variety of academic measures on Nov. 21 with a breakfast in their honor at the Land O’ Lakes High School Academy of Culinary Arts.
The students demonstrated the highest qualifying scores on Advanced Placement examinations, earning AP Scholars designation, National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist ranking, College Board National Achievement Scholar recognition, and perfect sub-scores on the ACT or SAT college entrance exams.
Hallie Grimes was recognized as the Outstanding Senior for the Class of 2014.

Wiregrass offers ACT practice test
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, is offering the Princeton Review Practice ACT Test and Strategy Session on Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the school’s cafeteria. Students should bring No. 2 pencils and a scientific calculator. Lunch will be provided. Check-in begins at 10:45 a.m.
Cost is $15 by Jan. 17, and $20 at the door Jan. 18.
Forms can be picked up at the school’s student services, or online at WiregrassPTSA.org.
For information, call Val Lanza at (813) 426-7399, or email .

Hillsborough graduates are college ready
More graduates from Hillsborough County Public Schools are ready for college upon graduation, according to the latest results from Florida’s Common Placement Tests.
The college-readiness rate for HCPS 2012 graduates who attended college in Florida rose to 72.5 percent, up from 69.1 percent the previous year. The HCPS rate is more than six percentage points higher than the state rate of 66.4, and is higher than all Tampa Bay area school districts and the state’s largest districts.
The Common Placement Test results measure the reading, writing, and math abilities of Florida high school graduates who go on to attend Florida colleges.
For the full Common Placement Tests report, go to the Florida Department of Education website at FLDOE.org/articulation/perfCPT/.

Econom Katlyn accepted to ambassador program
Econom Katlyn of Lutz has been accepted to the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Ambassador Program for the 2013-14 academic year.
The program helps students build on leadership skills and strengthen resumes. Students can take advantage of networking opportunities with faculty, administrators, staff, parents, alumni and prospective students.
Katlyn is majoring in English at the school.

Sanders Memorial Elementary to reopen as magnet school

December 25, 2013 By B.C. Manion

It may be a while, but when Sanders Memorial Elementary School reopens in Land O’ Lakes, it will become Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school.

Sanders will emphasize science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, said Dave Scanga, executive director of the Central Region of Pasco County Schools.

This is a preliminary rendering for what Sanders Memorial Elementary School will look like when it is redeveloped. The appearance could change slightly because the final plans are not yet done. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district funded the redesign of Sanders in 2008, but the project was put on hold because the housing market crashed. Now the district is looking to open Sanders in the 2015-16 school year. But first construction plans for the school must be updated to comply with changes in the Florida building code as well as educational needs of the magnet program.

The enrollment would be drawn largely from the Land O’ Lakes area to relieve overcrowding at Connerton Elementary School, Scanga said. Remaining seats would be open for students living outside the school’s normal boundaries.

When completed, Sanders — located at 5126 School Road — will be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain on site. The rest were demolished.

Besides being the district’s first magnet, Sanders also will benefit from an agreement between the school board and Pasco County. The arrangement aims at providing more recreational opportunities for school children and the community at large, while also broadening learning opportunities and providing a venue to accommodate community gatherings.

The county expects to make about $1.5 million in improvements in 2014 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park, located at 5401 U.S. 41.

The school board set the redesign of Sanders into motion on Dec. 3 by approving the expenditure of $684,350 for architectural services from Williamson Dacar Architects for the design, permitting and contract administration services. The district also has put out a request for qualifications for the Sanders project.

In keeping with the school’s educational mission, the updated plans will include some special design features.

For instance, the classrooms will have wireless technology, and space will be planned to give students room to collaborate. There also will be storage space for student projects and sinks in classrooms, to accommodate experiments.

Plans also will include several site design elements, which may not be built right away, but added later. Those include:
• An environmental center and boardwalk through the wetlands. Designs for the environmental center will include a covered work area with power, water and wireless connections.
• Photovoltaic demonstration panels to be used as a teaching tool for students.
• A solar hot water heater system to be used as a teaching tool for students.
• Provisions for a wind turbine.
• Areas for student gardens around the classroom buildings.

Alison Crumbley, chairwoman for the Pasco County School Board, said she supports giving parents another school choice. At the same time, she wants to see more educational opportunities in these academic areas for children in schools throughout the district.

There are hundreds of thousands of jobs that are not being filled in the country because of a shortage of skilled workers, Crumbley said. She wants district schools to do more to help its students acquire skills they will need to pursue those kinds of careers.

David Heller: ‘He was a big kid at heart’

December 11, 2013 By B.C. Manion

David Heller wasn’t the kind of guy who had to impress others by symbols of success, say those who knew him well. He was much more interested in how he treated others.

Heller died Oct. 29 from an enlarged heart. A celebration of his life is planned for Dec. 14 at 10 a.m., at Reilly’s Reserve in Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., in Tampa.

The 48-year-old was a science teacher at a number of schools including Orange Grove Elementary School, Mary Help of Christians School, Pepin Academy and Randall Middle School. Although he taught science, his brother Mark Heller said he was really a “teacher of life.”

“I think he found the most meaning in his summer work,” said Mark Heller, head of school at Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes. “He was one of those teachers who never took a summer vacation. He always worked, and he worked at camps his entire adult life as a camp counselor.”

For many years, David Heller worked as the lead counselor at Camp Hiawatha in Odessa, and after that closed, he came to work at Summer at the Lakes, the summer day camp offered by Academy at the Lakes.

“David always taught life lessons through fun activities,” his brother said. “Usually, they were lessons about character, lessons about respect — from things as simple as taking turns, to rolling with the punches — understanding that certain things are more important than other things.”

Barbara Soule, director of Summer at the Lakes, said she was shocked when she heard the news of David’s death.

“He’s going to be greatly missed,” Soule said. He had a knack for connecting with others, especially kids. And they flocked to his camps.

“The kids were not just taking a camp, they were taking the camp because of him,” said Soule, noting he took great care to keep kids not only safe, but made sure they were having a great time, too. “To me, he was the epitome of a great camp counselor. I think he was a big kid at heart. He told jokes all of the time, and he loved to tell stories.”

David Heller taught archery, canoeing and fishing programs.

“It was very important to him that the kids catch a fish,” Soule said, and if a camper was having trouble, he would bring in a trinket and tell the camper it was a good luck charm.

Soule said she doesn’t know how or why it worked, but somehow it did.

“By golly, they’d always catch a fish. The kids were so excited,” Soule said.

Penny Benson, who works in the business office at Academy at the Lakes, said David Heller taught her daughter Brandy how to fish. The family still has a picture of Brandy with the bass she caught using a cane pole and a hot dog, Benson said.

When Benson told her daughter about the camp counselor’s death, the teenager immediately began telling her mom about the inside jokes she shared with the outdoors enthusiast.

“She loved Mr. David,” Benson said. “I felt like it hit my family, too.”

Heller said there was no indication that his brother was ill.

“He came home and laid down to take a nap and never woke up,” he said. “Though I’m deeply sad, I feel really proud that this really good man was my brother, and he is remembered so fondly by all because he was just plain good.”

Mikey Mauger, a junior at Sunlake High School, sent Mark Heller a sympathy note after David Heller’s death.

“I fortunately had the privilege of working with him at camp this summer for three weeks,” Mauger wrote. “One thing I will never forget is that he taught me that loving relationships with good people are more rewarding than any material possession or individual achievement.”

Those were exactly the kinds of lessons that mattered to his brother, Heller said.

Besides Mark, David Heller is survived by his mother and father, Jack and Judy Heller; his sister, Lynn Heller; his sister-in-law, Kathy; his nieces, Eden Heller and Kennedy Lachicotte; his nephew, Ben Lachicotte, and his girlfriend, Lori Capra, of Olympia, Wash.

Those wishing to honor David Heller’s memory can contribute to the David Heller Summer Opportunities Scholarship Fund, c/o Academy at the Lakes, 2331 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, 34639.

Chalk Talk 12-11-13

December 11, 2013 By Mary Rathman

Wildcats spring into action
The Wildcat Garden at Wesley Chapel Elementary School is blooming with fruit trees, strawberries, tomato plants, broccoli, lettuce, okra, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. The NFL Fuel Up To Play 60 and the Dairy Council of Florida provided funds to purchase plants and supplies, and students and volunteers dug in on Wildcat Garden Day to plant, mulch and water the garden. Fourth grade student Sania Siddiqui prepares her pomegranate bush for planting. (Photo courtesy of Wesley Chapel Elementary School)

New space dedicated with prayer and song
Father Stephan Brown and Saint Leo University music instructor Cynthia Selph recently celebrated the renovation of a university campus building to house the music department, along with female members of the Saint Leo Singers, one of the student choral groups. Students and faculty perform in both fall and spring semesters in programs that are free and open to the public, in addition to the annual Christmas program. (Photo courtesy of Erin Skoczylas)

Wiregrass Ranch named distinguished school
Wiregrass Ranch High School has received the Apple Distinguished School designation for the second time.
Apple recognizes a select class of institutions nationwide as exemplary learning environments and centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence.
Wiregrass Ranch was recognized for consistently supporting student learning with daily, instructional technology use.

School board elects Crumbley, Luikart
The Pasco County School Board recently elected Alison Crumbley as chairwoman, and Steve Luikart as vice chair.
Crumbley was elected to the District 4 school board seat in 2010 to complete the final two years of Kathryn Starkey’s term when Starkey ran for county commission, and was re-elected in 2012 to a four-year term. Crumbley is marketing director for her family’s real estate company.
Luikart was elected to the District 5 school board seat in 2010, and is serving a four-year term. Luikart is a retired school administrator.

Center for the Arts host school bands
The Center for the Arts at River Ridge, 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey, will host a variety of school bands throughout December. All concerts are at 7 p.m., and admission is free. The upcoming schedule is:
• Dec. 11, River Ridge High School Band Concert
• Dec. 12, Cypress Elementary School Band Concert
• Dec. 13, Gulf Middle School Glee and Talent Showcase
• Dec. 14, Mitchell High School Prism Band Concert
• Dec. 16, Moon Lake Elementary School Music Concert
• Dec. 17, Long Leaf Elementary School Choral Concert
• Dec. 18, Calusa Elementary School Band Concert
• Dec. 19, River Ridge Middle School Band and Choral Concert

New Christian special needs school to open
Esther’s School — a special needs school specializing in autism, Down syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and learning differences — is slated to open Jan. 6.
The school will combine a Christian education with individualized learning and character building. Each child will work at his or her own pace. Diagnostic testing and individualized curriculum will be offered.
It will be located at St. James Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in New Tampa.
For information, call Marilyn Davis at (813) 454-8377 or (727) 544-4700.

Free workshops for child care providers
Hillsborough County Extension offers workshops that provide training and technical assistance to early childhood professionals. The workshops are free for all licensed child care providers in Hillsborough County. For others, the cost is $10.
The upcoming schedule is:
• Dec. 12, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Art appreciation for young children
• Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., What does time mean to children
• Jan. 16, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., How to get parents on your team
• Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Science for preschool children
Registration is required for each workshop, and must be done online at extension.psu.edu/cyttap. Click on the green “state training” tab at the bottom of the page, choose “Florida,” then “Tampa,” and find the workshops.
For information, call Diana Converse at (813) 744-5519, ext. 54140.

New charter school launches website
Classical Preparatory School, a new charter school planned for Land O’ Lakes opening in fall 2014, has launched its website at ClassicalPrep.org.
The website serves as a resource for information about the school’s program, including frequently asked questions, and a letter of interest form for prospective students.

Heather Edwards elected to student government
Heather Edwards, a freshman and psychology major at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., was elected to the school’s student government for freshman class student services for the 2013-14 school year.
Edwards is a native of Lutz.