Education

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.

East Pasco students to have more educational options

December 4, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Students on the county’s east side will have a broader range of educational options beginning next school year as Pasco County Schools initiates Cambridge education programs at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools.

An international program that offers students the opportunity to earn college credits is being introduced at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools next year. A large crowd of parents and students turned out to find out more about the program at a recent information meeting. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The programs, which are known for their academic rigor, will be housed at those two schools, but will also be open through school choice to students from Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel high schools, and also to students from Centennial, Stewart and Weightman middle schools.

Students who successfully pass the examinations attached to the Cambridge program can earn up to 45 college credits at Florida public universities. Those achieving the Cambridge diploma will qualify for the highest award available in the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship program.

Pasco educators believe that students who complete the Cambridge course of study will be better prepared to succeed in college.

The University of Cambridge launched the program more than 150 years ago, beginning with 370 candidates in seven British cities. Now it has more than 8 million diploma candidates in more than 160 countries.

A large crowd of parents and students attended a recent information session at Pasco Middle to find out more about the programs.

“We wanted to bring a rigorous program to these kids in the east side of the county,” Pasco Schools superintendent Kurt Browning said. “This is an established program.”

Students have the opportunity to earn college credits that will result in substantial savings in tuition costs, but they’ll have to apply themselves to make that happen, Browning said.

“They’re going to have to work. They’re going to have to work hard,” he said.

Another information session about the Cambridge option is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., in the media center at Wesley Chapel High, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

The program, known formally as Cambridge International Examinations, offers the opportunity to earn an Advanced International Certificate of Education. It is offered through the University of Cambridge International Examinations, a division of the Cambridge, England, school.

The program seeks to develop learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.

To apply for the Pasco programs, students must:

• Have a score of Level 3 or above on reading and math on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

• Submit two teacher recommendations.

• Have an unweighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

• Complete a 300- to 500-word essay.

The application deadline is Jan. 31.

Pasco Middle will house the Lower Secondary Program, which is designed to prepare students to continue onto Cambridge course work at Pasco High.

“We were very impressed with the Cambridge schools that we went to go see,” Kim Anderson, principal at Pasco Middle, told the audience at the recent information session. “The students that we saw in these programs were outstanding. They were thinking, at times, far above some of the adults in the room.”

The program offers academic rigor, much like the district’s International Baccalaureate program offered at Land O’ Lakes and Gulf high schools, but offers students more flexibility, district officials said. The program requires students to pass six exams to receive a diploma. Three of those exams must be in each of the program’s study areas, but the student gets to choose the other three.

In the IB program, five of the six required exams must be taken in specific study areas.

Because of its flexibility, students should have no problem taking electives and participating in extracurricular activities, such as band, officials said.

Students are also able to get college credits for single courses, if they pass the exams, even if they do not take enough of the courses to get a diploma.

The program will begin next year, with students entering sixth grade through 10th grade eligible to take part. The district will provide transportation to students in participating schools.

District officials said they’re going to wait until the applications are in before determining how large the programs will be.

To learn more about the Cambridge program, contact:
Jenny Borders at Pasco Middle School:

Saint Anthony School builds on optimism

November 27, 2013 By B.C. Manion

There was a time, not many years ago, when the future appeared uncertain for Saint Anthony School in San Antonio.

Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of shutting down the elementary school.

Sister Alice Ottapurackal is the principal of Saint Anthony School. She is optimistic about its future growth. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

“At that point, when the enrollment was really low, a group of parents rolled up their sleeves and went to work in every way they could (to) get the word out about the school,” said Will Plazewski, whose son represents the fourth generation of his family to attend Saint Anthony. “It was amazing that even though the school has been here for 129 years, how many people in East Pasco County had no idea that it existed.”

Parents spread the word, and a 15-second commercial at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel also helped attract students, he said.

Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal, attributes the turnaround to a higher power.

“The enrollment went up — God’s special blessing,” she said. “Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer.”

Now, enrollment stands at 213, and prospects for future growth are so bright that ground was broken on Nov. 17 for a new building. The new structure will accommodate 270 students.

Instead of lamenting the closure of a school that enjoys a rich heritage, Saint Anthony School is now celebrating a new chapter in its history. About 200 people turned out for the groundbreaking festivities, Plazewski said.

Construction on the new 17,905-square-foot building is expected to begin Dec. 1, and be ready for use by next fall. The new three-story brick structure will be situated on a space now occupied by five portable classrooms.

Even with the new building, the school will continue to emphasize academic excellence while teaching the Catholic faith, the principal said.

“All day long, we are teaching them about Jesus,” Ottapurackal said. “It is so important, especially nowadays, when you don’t see a lot of support in society about faith.”

Helping children form their faith is fundamental, the principal said.

“Once you have God in you, the other things will come,” Ottapurackal said. “Our focus is on whole child education, not only intellectual, but spiritual, moral, social, (and) emotional aspects of the children.”

Teachers know their students well, the principal added.

“Our teachers are well-connected with them because of the family atmosphere we have here,” she said.

Saint Anthony School serves kindergarten through eighth grade. Tuition is $4,375 for practicing Catholics and $5,075 for others. Since 2000, the school has produced 14 valedictorians and salutatorians at area high schools, Plazewski said.

Parents who are interested in pursuing a Catholic education for their children should not be discouraged by the tuition, Ottapurackal said. Assistance is available in various forms.

“Catholic education should be for any group of people, whether they are rich or poor, regardless of race,” the principal added.

Unlike previous buildings that were constructed on the school campus, this one will be an additional building, not a replacement. The existing brick structure, built in 1922, will remain and will be used for some school functions.

The new building will be the fourth in the school’s history. The current building replaced a two-story structure built in 1899. The original building was a 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in November 1884.

Not only is Saint Anthony School the oldest parochial school in the diocese, it’s also one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida, Plazewski said.

“It is by far the oldest school in Pasco County of any kind,” he said. “The only thing that’s close to it is Saint Leo University.”

San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children.

When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers, Plazewski said. Morse reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.”

With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen.

Today, Saint Anthony School draws students from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other communities.

And, its new building sends a clear signal that the school intends to be there for many years to come.

Chalk Talk 11-27-13

November 27, 2013 By Mary Rathman

Students tap into their creative side
Nine students from Liberty Middle School drew on their creativity to enter the 2013 National PTSA Reflections Art Competition, ‘Believe, Dream, Inspire.’ First place winners were Mackenzie Bray in visual arts, Amanda Yelvington in photography, and Taylor Pfister in dance choreography. These students will now participate in the district level competition. Honoring the three were, from left, principal James Ammirati, Matthew Rothfarb, Isabel Pliska, Bray, Pfister, Madelyn Greco, Kelly Tian, Chloe Kelley, PTSA’s RoseMarie Kelley, Yelvington, and PTSA’s Melissa Aucker.

John Long students take hike for school
Dr. John Long Middle School students celebrate at a party after their Go Take a Hike Walkathon on Oct. 18 netted more than $10,000 for the school. Students bringing in the most pledges were Vashawn Williams, Lucas Pelt and Taylor Bruno.

Red Ribbon Week contest
The National Family Partnership is looking for entries for the new theme of next year’s Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s largest and oldest drug prevention campaign.
The winning slogan and design will be used throughout 2014 at schools and communities across the United States, and the winner will receive $500 worth of Red Ribbon Week merchandise for their school.
Entries must be received by Dec. 2 via email to , or by traditional mail to National Family Partnership, 2490 Coral Way, Miami, 33145. Entrants must include their name, school, telephone number and email address.
For complete contest rules, visit RedRibbon.org/enter.

New Cambridge program presentations
Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools will launch new Cambridge education programs, developed 150 years ago by the University of Cambridge in England.
Parents with students entering the sixth through 10th grade in the 2014-15 school year, and wishing to learn more, have a choice of two upcoming meetings:
• Dec. 3 at 6 p.m., Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
• Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel
Those who cannot attend a meeting can learn more about the program, its benefits, get application and acceptance requirements, and have their questions answered by school and district officials.
For information on the scheduled presentations, call Linda Cobbe at (813) 794-2717.

Center for the Arts host school bands
The Center for the Arts at River Ridge 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. 3, Bayonet Point Middle School Band Concert
• Dec. 4, Gulf Middle School Band Concert
• Dec. 9, Hudson Middle School Band Concert
• Dec. 10, Chasco Middle School Band and Choral Concert
• 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
The Center for the Arts is at 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey.

University women book club
The Tampa Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m., for a book discussion on “Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin. The group will meet at Barnes & Noble, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood, followed by lunch at Carmel Café & Wine Bar.
For information, call Avis Chaplick at (813) 920-7077.

Mandarin Chinese classes
Those interested in Chinese language and culture, can join a Mandarin Chinese class on Dec. 7 and Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The class will be conducted by an experienced Chinese volunteer teacher.
For information, call Michele Laney at (813) 929-1214.

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 as follows:
• Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Teaching Music to Young Children
• Dec. 10, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Math for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• 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.

Marching Virginians welcomes Shelby Coleman
Shelby Coleman, an animal and poultry sciences student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has become a member of the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech. Coleman plays the clarinet and is a rank captain.
Coleman is a graduate of Freedom High School in New Tampa.

Chalk Talk 11-20-13

November 20, 2013 By Mary Rathman

Diego Montoya wins essay contest
In honor of Constitution Day in September, the Pasco County’s clerk and comptroller’s office conducted its Constitution Essay Contest for fifth-grade students. First place was awarded to Diego Montoya, center front, a student at Odessa Elementary School. Diego wrote, ‘This document to me is important because as a U.S. citizen it protects my rights. No one can steal them as long as it stands.’ Joining Montoya, from left, are district superintendent Kurt Browning, clerk and comptroller Paula O’Neil, parents Maria and Andres Montoya, teacher Mary Wainwright, principal Teresa Love, and school board chair Cynthia Armstrong. (Photo courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Service & Safety Fair at Steinbrenner
Steinbrenner High School is hosting a Community Service & Safety Fair on Nov. 21 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for students who need Bright Futures approved volunteer hours. The fair will be in the school’s cafeteria, and there will be several nonprofit organizations available for guests to speak with. Steinbrenner is at 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Music school open house
Claudia’s School of Music in Lutz is hosting an open house Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests can meet the teachers, learn about lessons and programs, and take part in product presentations on digital pianos, guitars, violins, and more. The school is at 17615 Hunting Bow Circle, Suite 102, in Lutz.
For information, call (813) 926-1188, or visit ClaudiasSchoolOfMusic.com.

Academy at the Lakes offers tours
Academy at the Lakes Wendleck Campus, 2220 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers weekly group tours as follows:
• Early Childhood Group Tour, prekindergarten and kindergarten, Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
• Elementary group tour, grades 1-4, Thursdays at 9 a.m.
• Middle division group tour, grades 5-8, Wednesdays at 8:45 a.m.
• Upper division group tour, grades 9-12, Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
For information, email .

MOSI offers preschool science
The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, now offers PeeWee Wednesdays, with free preschool science activities every Wednesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be a science activity or demonstration for children younger than 4. Kids eat free in the café with an adult meal purchase.
For information, call (813) 987-6000.

PHCC offers new online social media courses
The Pasco-Hernando Community College corporate training department now offers two new online courses, “Introduction to LinkedIn Career Networking” and “Using Social Media in Business.” Participants can learn to develop business contacts, and use the most popular media platforms to grow and promote their businesses.
To learn more, call (727) 816-3123, or email .

Italian American Club donates to ABC
The Italian American Club has donated $1,000 to the Assist, Believe, and Care programs at R.B. Cox Elementary and San Antonio Elementary schools. The ABC program is designed to provide school supplies, clothing and other essential services to students and families in need.

New charter school launches website
Classical Preparatory School, a new charter school planned for Land O’ Lakes opening in the fall of 2014, has launches its website at www.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 from Lutz.

University women book club
The Tampa Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. for a book discussion on “Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin. The group will meet at Barnes & Noble, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood, followed by lunch at Carmel Café & Wine Bar.
For information, call Avis Chaplick at (813) 920-7077.

Marching Virginians welcomes Shelby Coleman
Shelby Coleman, a major in animal and poultry sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has become a member of the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech. Coleman plays the clarinet and is a rank captain.
Coleman is a graduate of Freedom High School in New Tampa.

Young woman encourages others to gaze at stars

November 20, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Melanie Crowson set up her telescope in the side yard of the New River Branch Library on an evening in October and welcomed anyone with an interest to come take a peek at the stars.

In a sense, the young woman from Wesley Chapel was coming full circle.

Melanie Crowson’s interest in astronomy began when she was very young. She now offers free community viewings, using the telescope she and her father made when she was in high school. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

“We actually used to go up to the New River Library when we were kids, and I would check out all of the astronomy books,” said the 23-year-old who aspires to become a professional astronomer.

Crowson enjoys sharing her love for astronomy at the occasional community viewing nights that she offers.

“It’s fun,” she said. As the viewing night approaches, she’s excited about sharing astronomy. When it’s over, it’s nice to relax.

She loves introducing others to the world of stars, planets and galaxies. She also enjoys talking with people who share her fascination with celestial bodies.

“You end up discussing some interesting theories,” Crowson said.

The astronomy student eventually wants to work at a planetarium or an observatory, and is taking online courses to pursue those aims through American Public University.

Crowson, who is a Christian, also hopes to use astronomy in connection with her spiritual life, too. She said she is getting to know God in a new light through her interest in astronomy. It’s driven her to learn more and hopes one day to help develop new scientific evidence of the existence of God.

People talk about loving God with their whole heart, Crowson said. She wants to make full use of her intellectual capabilities to love God with her whole mind, too.

Her fascination with celestial bodies began quite early in life.

“I think I’ve always been interested, since I was a real small kid,” Crowson said.

She recalls going on occasional rides during the dark early morning hours with her dad, who was delivering his newspaper route.

“It was really cool. We could see all of the stars,” Crowson said.

As she learned more about stars and planets, her fascination grew.

Crowson, who was home-schooled, said her parents encouraged her to pursue her curiosity about the heavens.

During her high school years, she and her dad ran across a book that provided instructions for building a telescope. They decided to take on the challenge.

She chronicled the project in a manual she titled, “Closer To The Stars: Detailed Instructions for Building Your Own Telescope.”

It took about two years to build the telescope and it cost about $1,000. It would have been cheaper to buy a telescope, but then she would have missed out on valuable lessons, Crowson said.

Building the telescope helped her better understand how it works, she said. It also gave her a chance to apply math in real life.

“We used math to figure out sizes, distances, making sure the corners lined up,” Crowson said.

If something goes wrong with her telescope, she also knows how to fix it.

“We built it so that we know where everything is. I know exactly what every screw is there for and what it does, what it’s holding together,” Crowson said. “I know which parts I can take apart. If I need to replace anything, I know everything about it.”

Having community viewing nights gives Crowson a way to share what she loves and offers an opportunity to inspire others. She hopes people who come to peer through her telescope will enjoy what they see.

She also hopes it piques their curiosity.

“Maybe it will make them wonder: What’s out there? How was it made? Was it really a Big Bang? Make them question it a little bit more,” she said.

Maybe gazing through the telescope, the experience “will bring them closer to God,” she said.

If you would like to know more about Melanie Crowson’s community viewings, email her at .

New charter school aims to help children with autism

November 13, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Children with autism often are unable to say what they need or want, said Carrie Walker.

She’s the director of Florida Autism Center of Excellence, a Pasco County charter school that opened this year in Zephyrhills.

“They’re hungry. They’re sleepy. They can’t express when they’re hurting,” Walker said.

Carrie Walker is the director of Florida Autism Center of Excellence, which is located at 39375 Chancey Road. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

That inability to communicate can cause frustrations, which boil over into behavior problems, Walker added. So, it’s essential to help them learn that their voice is a tool to help them get what they need or want.

“You want to focus on the language first,” said Claire Stanford, a board-certified behavior analyst who works with children at the charter school for prekindergarten through fifth-grade students.

Although public awareness about autism has improved, stereotypes about it still exist, both women said.

Some people lump all children with autism into the same group, failing to distinguish their individual differences. Others assume that children with autism must have low IQs because of their inability to verbalize. Others brand children with autism as being bad kids.

“Autism is a spectrum,” Walker said. Each child faces individual challenges.

By helping children develop and use language skills, problems with behavior often are resolved, Stanford said.

The Florida Autism Center of Excellence aims to help students gain academic, social and behavioral skills needed to be independent in later life. The center uses the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis — a research-based strategy that has been proven to be effective for teaching students with autism.

“We break the goals down into small, discrete, observable steps,” Stanford said. Students are given praise and reinforcement for exhibiting those steps.

While many schools use a stoplight system to regulate behavior, the charter school does not. At those schools, all of the kids will start on green, Stanford said.

“There’s nothing they can do but go down,” she said.

The charter school teaches children to substitute unacceptable behaviors with acceptable choices, Stanford said.

“We do not use punishment,” Walker said.

The school uses individual language assessments to pinpoint gaps. Stanford then helps teachers write a teaching plan, and a data sheet is used to monitor how a student is faring. Parents receive monthly progress reports.

The idea is to tailor instruction to meet an individual child’s needs.

The charter school, on Chancey Road, operates out of a number of portable classroom buildings. It has an enrollment of 18, and is continuing to accept new students until it reaches this year’s cap of 38. Once that happens, new students will be admitted through a lottery system.

Next year, the school hopes to add middle school classes. Ultimately, it would like to have 110 students, Walker said.

To be eligible, students must have a diagnosis of autism by a medical doctor or an Individual Education Plan issued by a school that states the student has autism, Walker said.

She encourages families to take quick action if they believe their son or daughter has autism. The sooner a child is diagnosed, the sooner he or she can get help.

“You want to get them enrolled as early as possible,” Walker said. “Early intervention is the key.”

The charter school also wants to give parents support and help. Parents often feel they are being blamed for their child’s behavior, Walker said.

“For some of them, they feel they’re being pointed at, they’re the cause,” she said. “This is a safe environment for them. They don’t feel judged.”

Walker said the work she does is rewarding.

“I like to see the gains,” Walker said, referring to the progress that students make. “I like to give hope to the parents, because there is hope.”

What: Florida Autism Center of Excellence is a Pasco County Schools charter school providing services for children with autism. It serve prekindergarten through fifth grade, and hopes to add middle school classes next year.
Where: 39735 Chancey Road, Zephyrhills
Web: www.FACEProgram.org
Phone: (813) 395-5952

About autism
As a spectrum disorder, children and adults with autism can exhibit any combination of these behaviors in any degree of severity.
Some examples of behaviors a person with autism may display are:
• Communication: Children may have difficulty in verbal and nonverbal communication. There may be a lack of language development. Speech may be limited or disordered, or they may engage in one-sided conversations. They may have challenges with body language, facial expressions, gestures and signs.
• Social Interactions: Children may exhibit highly inappropriate behaviors and may show indifference to others. They may avoid affection, eye contact, and may play by themselves.
• Imagination: Play may be limited to one or two activities, involving repetitive actions.
• Playing: Children may use toys inappropriately and not for their intended purpose.
• Repetitive Behaviors: Children may develop ritualistic behaviors and obsessions.
Autistic behaviors may include rocking, spinning, flicking hands or fingers in front of their eyes, tapping objects and mouthing objects.
Source: www.FACEProgram.com