The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

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A contest that will send thousands of dollars to Florida schools is being sponsored by AAA – The Auto Club Group, in which a total of $5,500 in prizes will be divided up among 13 winning high schools.

The Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition (FTSDC) is hosting the Public Service Announcement Contest to promote the importance of educating young drivers.

Entrants must create positive public service announcements (PSA) that help high school students educate their peers about Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.

(Courtesy of AAA – The Auto Group)

Graduated Driver Licensing is a gradual approach to granting teen drivers full license privileges. By allowing teen drivers to safety gain experience during structured hours, exposure to higher risk driving situations can be minimized.

According to a news release, previous AAA Foundation research found that drivers first licensed at age 18 are more likely to be involved in a crash resulting in injuries during their first year of solo driving than new drivers licensed at any other age.

The Graduated Driver Licensing laws in Florida allow young drivers to begin gaining valuable experience behind the wheel at 15 years old.

“Good GDL laws have proven to be effective at reducing teen driver crashes and that’s our focus in everything we do,” Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs director for AAA, said in the release.

For information on keeping teen drivers safe, visit TeenDrivingAAA.com.

The contest is open to public, private, virtual or home-school students in grades nine to 12, in Florida.

The deadline to enter is Feb. 28.

For details and rules, interested schools can use this link to enter: FLTeenSafeDriver.org/gdl-psa/.

Published December 04, 2019

Chalk Talk 12/04/2019

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First-place essay winner stands alongside Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. (Courtesy of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller)

Essay contest winners
Lake Myrtle Elementary School’s Taylor Schamaun’s essay emerged as the winner of the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s sixth annual Constitution Essay Contest.

Students were required to respond to the prompt, “Why is the Constitution Important?”

Schamaun took first place with her point-by-point argument for the excellence of our founding document.

In second place, Oakstead Elementary’s Nathan Grob touted the Constitution for its guarantees of free speech and universal suffrage.

And, Alex Coloyan of Longleaf Elementary snagged third place for his essay praising the Constitution’s contribution as an effective and stable form of government.

Honorable mentions were given to: Abbey Tesh, Hannah Whelan, Eric Bazaria (Wesley Chapel Elementary); Alexandria Csuhai, Nicholas Campbell, Olivia Grob, Elias Watson, Taelor Stevens (Oakstead Elementary); Cali Lopez (Lake Myrtle); Evan Davis, Isabella (Longleaf Elementary); Jamie Kessler, Madison Smith (Cotee River Elementary); and Vanessa Bandini (Calusa Elementary.

A record number 113 Pasco County fifth-graders entered this year’s contest.

Second-place essay winner, Nathan Grob
Third-place essay winner, Alex Coloyan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Choice is open
Pasco County Schools’ choice application window for middle and high school students opened Dec. 3, and will close Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The application is available via the myStudent parent portal.

Parents who do not already have an account, can establish a myStudent account online at the district website, PascoSchools.org (click on the myStudent link in the circle below the large photo).

This will be the only application window for secondary schools, and it will be for all school choice options, including STEM and STEAM magnet schools, International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, and Wendell Krinn Technical High School.

Early release day
Pasco County Schools has implemented a monthly, two-hour-early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Early release days will take place on the second Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January and May.

The next early release day is Dec. 11.

Citizens of the Month
The Dade City Chamber of Commerce has recognized the following students as Citizens of the Month.

September: Mason Pippin, Academy at the Farm; Aysia Sobers, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Wyatt Lowman, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Adalee Krause, Centennial Elementary; Jacob Maeker, Lacoochee Elementary; Mariana Chavez, Pasco Elementary; Luis Perez, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Alaina Wheatley, San Antonio Elementary; Christopher Lewellen, Centennial STEM Magnet Middle; Taijabi Tekleberhan, Pasco Middle; Treasure Diaz-Cherry, James Irvin Education Center; and Yessenia Solis, Pasco High.

October: Canaan Pippin, Academy at the Farm; Rosalia Ippolito, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Antonio Chavez; Centennial Elementary; Jamie Angel, Lacoochee Elementary; Carmen Denton, Pasco Elementary; Jaime Contreras, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Adam “Jimmy” Gragg, San Antonio Elementary; Mason Denmark, Centennial STEM Magnet Middle; Jezzabell Duffey, Pasco Middle; Charles Gumulinski, James Irvin Education Center; and Lilli Pollard, Pasco High.

Healthy schools
The 2019 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America ranked Pasco County Schools 42nd on the list, up from 71st place in 2018.

The award culminates a year-long wellness awards program that Healthiest Employers hosts across the United States.

Award applicants are evaluated across six categories: culture and leadership commitment; foundational components; strategic planning; marketing and communications; programming and interventions; and, reporting and analytics.

The district’s health plan budget was increasing at a rate of 9% to 12% annually. Since the implementation of the Pasco Go Healthy program, the district has avoided more than $117 million in medical and pharmacy expenditures.

The data shows that more members are choosing to manage their care at the five on-site health and wellness centers.

Only one other Florida school district ranked among the top 100.

Pre-kindergarten screenings
Pasco County FDLRS Child Find offers developmental information and free screenings in coordination with the Past County Pre-K Assessment Team.

The screenings are for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who may be having difficulties with speech, language, hearing, vision, concepts or motor skills.

Primary emphasis is on children ages 3 to 5.

For information, call Child Find specialist Caitlin Ryan or Colleen Costa at (813) 794-2630, (727) 774-2630 or (352) 524-2630.

Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.

The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.

This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.

Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.

Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.

Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

For information, call (727) 844-7759.

 

Pasco School Board adopts new school boundaries

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The Pasco County School Board unanimously approved school rezonings for the 2020-2021 school year — primarily affecting students living in the Seven Oaks subdivision in Wesley Chapel.

Board members approved the boundary shifts that are aimed to relieve crowding at Wiregrass Ranch High School and John Long Middle School, and to fill seats available at Cypress Creek High School and the new Cypress Creek Middle School, which is expected to open next fall.

Cypress Creek Middle School, now under construction, is expected to open in August 2020. The Pasco County School Board has approved boundaries for both Cypress Creek Middle and Cypress Creek High. The boundary shifts primarily affect students living in the Seven Oaks subdivision of Wesley Chapel, who now attend John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The boundary shift does not apply to Wiregrass Ranch students, living within the rezoned area, who will be entering their junior or senior years. Seniors can ride district buses; juniors cannot.

Board members supported Superintendent Kurt Browning’s boundary recommendations, despite requests by parents to allow current freshman at Wiregrass Ranch to have the option to remain, if their parents provided transportation.

There also was a request to allow rising eighth-graders from John Long Middle to be allowed to attend Wiregrass Ranch High.

In advocating for incoming sophomores, Mike Schulze, a Seven Oaks parent, said “this group is just as important as all of the others.”

Other parents expressed their displeasure with the boundary shifts, citing concerns about disrupting their children’s lives, traffic issues and the greater distance from the Seven Oaks neighborhood to the Cypress Creek school complex, which is on Old Pasco Road.

Board members said Pasco County’s rapid growth continues to force the district to shift boundaries to accommodate growing enrollments.

Board member Allen Altman applauded Browning’s recommendation to grandfather in both rising juniors and rising seniors at Wiregrass Ranch High, which is on Mansfield Boulevard.

“I think based on the numbers and projections. That was generous and accommodating,” Altman said.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said rezonings are always tough.

“I know it’s painful,” Armstrong said.

“The idea is to reduce the number of students at Wiregrass. And, to accomplish that, it’s necessary to move students out of Wiregrass,” she said.

Board member Megan Harding said she had visited Wiregrass Ranch High, where she saw crowded hallways, students eating lunch outside and multiple portable classrooms.

Failing to address the crowding could end up putting Wiregrass on a 10-period day, and that’s not a great option, the board member said.

“This is not a decision I make lightly,” Harding said. “You’re child isn’t a number to me. Your child is important.”

Still, Harding said: “With a rapidly growing area, if we don’t address problems now, it’s only going to get worse.”

There were other boundary changes approved, including shifts that affect an area near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Parkway.

The land is currently undeveloped, but has been approved for a massive development.

The new boundaries assign the entire area to Mary Giella Elementary, Crews Lake Middle School and Hudson High.

Future students in those areas would have been assigned to Land O’ Lakes schools.

Published November 27, 2019

Chalk Talk 11/27/2019

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Saint Leo University’s Class of 1969 celebrates its 50th reunion at the school’s annual homecoming weekend. (Courtesy of The Lions’ Pride Media Group)

Saint Leo celebrates homecoming
Alumni and guests from throughout the United States and the world came home to Saint Leo University to celebrate homecoming weekend at University Campus.

The three-day event included a Greek Mixer; Brews & Bites; a Scholarship Ball; brunch with Jeffrey Senese, Saint Leo president; alumni recognitions; softball, baseball, volleyball and soccer games; a Lions Rally; and, the crowning of the homecoming king and queen.

Members of the Rho Xi chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity present Carla Willis, interim vice president of Advancement and Communication, with a check for $28,080 for scholarships at the 30th anniversary Scholarship Ball.

Alumni awards went to:

  • Antonio Cruz, Christopher Laney and Kevin Sullivan II — Roaring Onward Recognition
  • John Gassler — Benedictine Spirit Award
  • James Cervera — 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award

Maurqise McGill and Victoria Omoregie were crowned the 2019 homecoming king and queen.

The weekend wrapped up with goat yoga, Mass at the Abbey Church, and a brunch.

 

 

Elementary school hosted family night
Chester Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills, hosted a Physical Education Family Night on Nov. 21, for students, families and staff.

Physically active kids are more likely to be motivated, focused and successful in school.

Practicing a skill helps improve abilities and helps to make kids feel more accomplished.

Mastering physical skills builds confidence at every age.

At the event, parents had the chance to learn about healthy eating choices and fun physical activities to do at home with the kids.

Students participated in games like Pin Knock Over, Spike Ball, jump rope and more.

There also was a raffle at the end of the evening, and special appearances by Raymond, the Tampa Bay Rays mascot, and players from the USF Bulls.

Saint Leo: Best for Vets
Saint Leo University was named by the Military Times as the No. 1 university in the country for educating veterans.

Saint Leo ranked first in the nation in the Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2020 in the Online and Nontraditional Schools category.

This ranking recognizes the school’s commitment to educating military personnel, veterans and their families wherever they may be, even if they are deployed.

The first-place ranking marks a jump from last year’s fourth place, and an eighth place in 2017.

More information about the rankings can be found at Charts.militarytimes.com/chart/17.

Financial aid tip
According to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), an important phrase in the language of student aid is “satisfactory academic progress” (SAP).

All colleges that award federal student aid must have SAP standards, based on three key areas: GPA, pace, and a maximum time frame.

The GPA may vary by school, major and whether the student is an undergraduate or graduate student.

The pace means that the student has to pass a stated percentage of the classes taken in a given period of time. This also may vary by college.

The maximum time frame means the student will have to finish his or her degree within a given number of attempted credit hours.

If a student does not meet the school’s SAP standards, he or she may not be able to receive state or federal student aid.

The public, nonprofit agency KHEAA was established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.

For information, visit KHEAA.com.

Withlacoochee Electric scholarships
The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) will accept applications for scholarships, starting Dec. 1.

Students will be selected in their senior year of high school by local guidance counselors and WREC personnel.

Each applicant must:

  • Be a high school senior and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Be a dependent of a WREC member
  • Be a bona-fide resident within the service area of WREC for at least one year prior to Dec. 1
  • Plan to attend an in-state college, university or technical school full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester)
  • Maintain a 2.0 GPA each semester (or higher if mandated by the institution) to maintain eligibility

Each successful candidate will receive $1,375 per semester (maximum $11,000) for undergraduate studies.

Applications will be available after Dec. 1 at high school guidance offices, any WREC district office, or online at WREC.net.

Completed applications must be mailed to WREC headquarters and postmarked no later than March 20.

Bahamas school supply drive
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is collecting donations of school supplies to assist the schoolchildren of the Bahamas. An estimated 18,000 children and their families have been displaced since Hurricane Dorian struck the islands on Sept. 1.

Ten schools were destroyed on the island of Abaco alone, while many other schools sustained damages.

The children of the Bahamas, some of whom lost family members, classmates, and their homes are transitioning to schools that are undamaged but strained to accommodate additional students.

Donations of classroom supplies will be accepted at all PHSC libraries.

Each college store also is accepting donations and selling discounted supplies to anyone contributing to the drive.

Needed items include new backpacks, flash drives, notebooks, binders, calculators, pens, pencils, art materials, and other typical classroom supplies.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 5, as the items will be shipped to the Bahamas in December.

Campuses are in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Brooksville and Spring Hill.

For information, email Lucy Miller, director of community outreach, at .

Pre-kindergarten screenings
Pasco County FDLRS Child Find offers developmental information and free screenings in coordination with the Past County Pre-K Assessment Team.

The screenings are for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who may be having difficulties with speech, language, hearing, vision, concepts or motor skills.

Primary emphasis is on children ages 3 to 5.

For information, call Child Find specialist Caitlin Ryan or Colleen Costa at (813) 794-2630, (727) 774-2630 or (352) 524-2630.

Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.

The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.

This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.

Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.

Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.

Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

For information, call (727) 844-7759.

Chalk Talk 11/20/2019

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(Courtesy of Melonie Monson)

Chamber honors student citizens
Eight students from across the community were honored as The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Students of the Month for October. Students are recognized for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Front row, from left: Olivia Williams, The Broach School; Rudy Shari, Heritage Academy; Austin Jacobs, Chester Taylor Elementary; Landon Connell, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Lilly Garcia-Mahon, Woodland Elementary; and Melonie Monson, Zephyrhills chamber. Back row, from left: Katy Boyd, chamber ambassador chairperson; Malachi Kellerman, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Bella Crain, Stewart Middle; Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills High; Lance Smith, City of Zephyrhills councilman; and Vicky Jones, Zephyrhills chamber president.

Student achievements

  • Kerry Cordero, of Odessa, graduated from Western Governors University with a Bachelor of Science, IT.
  • Charlene Meyer, of Odessa, graduated from Western Governors University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
  • Julianna Mitten, of Odessa, served at Dayton, Ohio’s Life Enrichment Center alongside fellow senior Cedarville University nursing students, to complete seven week clinical studies as part of the Nursing Care of Population course.
  • Nelson Napoli, of Land O’ Lakes, graduated with an online MS Performance Improvement from Grantham University, a 100% online school.
  • Daniel Penning, of Odessa, graduated from Western Governors University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, IT management.
  • Anntara Roy, of Lutz, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, in Boston.
  • Artemii Stepanets, of Lutz, was named a Harrison Scholar at Mariette College in Ohio. Stepanets is a graduate of Academy at the Lakes and is majoring in petroleum engineering.

Schools take a break
As a reminder, Pasco and Hillsborough county students will have a Thanksgiving/Fall break from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. All students will return to classes on Dec. 2.

Withlacoochee Electric scholarships
The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) will accept applications for scholarships, starting Dec. 1.

Students will be selected in their senior year of high school by local guidance counselors and WREC personnel.

Each applicant must:

  • Be a high school senior and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Be a dependent of a WREC member
  • Be a bona-fide resident within the service area of WREC for at least one year prior to Dec. 1
  • Plan to attend an in-state college, university or technical school full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester)
  • Maintain a 2.0 GPA each semester (or higher if mandated by the institution) to maintain eligibility

Each successful candidate will receive $1,375 per semester (maximum $11,000) for undergraduate studies.

Applications will be available after Dec. 1 at high school guidance offices, any WREC district office, or online at WREC.net.

Completed applications must be mailed to WREC headquarters and postmarked no later than March 20.

AP Capstone diploma recipients
Pasco County Schools has announced that 32 students earned the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma, and six students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate last school year.

The AP Capstone program develops students’ critical thinking, research, and presentation skills, both individually and as a team.

Students conduct academic research on topics of personal interests in two interdisciplinary courses.

To receive the diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional AP exams.

To receive the certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.

Students focused their research on a range of topics, including the extent to which phthalates used in U.S. food packaging harm human health, whether brine deposits from desalination plants trap excess CO2 in oceans and reduce the effects of ocean acidification, and how the utilization of hexagonal house structures made of hempcrete can create a more cost-effective, durable home.

Of the Pasco County Schools students who participated in the diploma program, the number of diplomas increased from 20 in the 2017-2018 school year.

Bahamas school supply drive
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is collecting donations of school supplies to assist the schoolchildren of the Bahamas. An estimated 18,000 children and their families have been displaced since Hurricane Dorian struck the islands on Sept. 1.

Ten schools were destroyed on the island of Abaco alone, while many other schools sustained damages.

The children of the Bahamas, some of whom lost family members, classmates, and their homes are transitioning to schools that are undamaged but strained to accommodate additional students.

Donations of classroom supplies will be accepted at all PHSC libraries.

Each college store also is accepting donations and selling discounted supplies to anyone contributing to the drive.

Needed items include new backpacks, flash drives, notebooks, binders, calculators, pens, pencils, art materials, and other typical classroom supplies.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 5, as the items will be shipped to the Bahamas in December.

Campuses are in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Brooksville and Spring Hill.

For information, email Lucy Miller, director of community outreach, at .

Volunteers needed
The GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club is looking for dependable high school students for a variety of volunteer opportunities.

The club is a 501© nonprofit organization, and time spent volunteering will count toward the necessary Bright Futures scholarship hours.

For information, text the word ‘volunteer’ to (813) 461-3131.

Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.

The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.

This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.

Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.

Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.

Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

For information, call (727) 844-7759.

School boundary proposals draw opposition

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Compared to school boundary hearings in recent years, the crowd was relatively small at a public hearing last week on proposed boundary changes for Pasco County Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Still, concerns expressed by parents were similar to the types of concerns generally raised at school boundary meetings.

Boundary changes planned for next year primarily involve changes needed due to the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School, set for next fall.

Initially, the school district had planned to open a high school and a middle school on its campus at 8701 Old Pasco Road. But, it couldn’t afford to build both, so it used its high school campus to serve students in grades six through 12.

Cypress Creek Middle School, now under construction, is expected to open in August 2020. The school district is now considering boundary shifts to ease crowding at John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High, in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

When the new school opens next year, the middle school students on the campus will be shifted to the new school, and boundary changes will fill up remaining space at both the high school and the middle school.

The district’s proposal calls for filling the vast majority of those seats by shifting students from Seven Oaks now assigned to John Long Middle, to Cypress Creek Middle.

It also would shift Seven Oaks students now assigned to Wiregrass Ranch High, over to Cypress Creek High.

The change would not apply to rising seniors, who would be grandfathered in.

And, before the public hearing began, Superintendent Kurt Browning announced the proposal also calls for grandfathering in rising juniors.

The seniors would continue to be able to ride district buses; the juniors would not.

Other students can apply for school choice during the open enrollment period.

Parents who spoke at the public hearing offered a litany of reasons they oppose the proposed boundary shifts.

Mike Schulze, who lives in Seven Oaks, put it this way: “This is a personal thing for our family, for my son. This is not just a number on a sheet.”

He asked the board to consider the impact the boundary shift would have on students who will not be grandfathered in, including his son.

“His dream since he was in third grade was to go to Wiregrass Ranch High School and play basketball,” Schulze said. He asked board members to consider allowing all students to finish out their education in the school where they started.

Other parents also asked board members not to disrupt the academic or social life of their children.

They told board members they chose to live in Seven Oaks because the subdivision’s students were assigned to John Long and Wiregrass Ranch.

They voiced concerns about sending their children to schools that are farther away.

They questioned the decision to reassign school boundaries for an established neighborhood, instead of changing boundaries in newer neighborhoods.

They asked why the district can’t build additional wings at Wiregrass Ranch to accommodate additional students, to avoid redrawing lines.

Many of those same issues were raised in emails sent to district staff regarding the proposed changes. There also were criticisms of the district’s lack of planning for future growth.

Browning said the district considered building an addition at Wiregrass Ranch, but to do so would mean removing facilities that are needed for the school’s athletics, so that isn’t possible.

Board members Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong addressed comments related to planning.

“The school district does not get funding for a seat, for a student, until that student is already enrolled in school and counted,” Altman said.

Armstrong added: “It’s actually by state statute that we cannot start building a school until we have the total money in the bank to finish it. That makes the monetary part very tough, since we don’t get the funds until after the people are here.

“The other problem we have is locating school sites where the new buildings are going to be. We don’t always have access to obtaining a school site that would be affordable for us.”

There are other boundary changes proposed that would affect an area near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Parkway that is currently undeveloped, but has been approved for a massive development.

The proposal calls for assigning the entire area to Mary Giella Elementary, Crews Lake Middle School and Hudson High.

Under the current boundaries, some of that future growth would have been assigned to Land O’ Lakes schools.

The Pasco County School Board is set to vote on the proposed changes at its Nov. 19 meeting, at 6 p.m., at the school district headquarters, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco school choice
Pasco County Schools is hosting expo-style events to inform families about school choice options in the district.

The west-side Pasco Pathways Expo is set for Nov. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at River Ridge High School, 11646 Towne Center Road, New Port Richey.

The east-side Pasco Pathways Expo is on Nov. 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

The expos will feature informational sessions that cover the general application process. In addition, many of the district’s schools will showcase their unique educational options, such as  STEM and STEAM magnet schools, the Cambridge International Education Programme, International Baccalaureate, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Career Pathways, Pasco eSchool, and more.

The school choice application window will run from Dec. 3 to Dec. 13 for middle and high schools, and from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31, for elementary schools.

For more information, or to register to attend either of the expos, parents should visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Pasco Pathways link.

Published November 13, 2019

Zen Den strives to increase inclusion

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Anna Melgaard couldn’t help but smile as she watched her son, Wayde, play in the Zen Den at Maniscalco K-8 School, a room designed for children who have sensory issues.

The first-grader has autism and found a place to have fun, while other students were out in the cafeteria celebrating the Lutz school’s Fall Ball event.

“The Zen Den is catered towards kids who have sensory issues,” said Daniella McClutchy, president of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA).

The Zen Den creates a serene atmosphere at Maniscalco K-8 School, for students who have sensory sensitivities. It was unveiled on Oct. 25, during the school’s Fall Ball. (Brian Fernandes)

Based in a music room, the environment is a place of solace for special needs students who may be overwhelmed with too much noise.

The PTSA board realized it was hard for these students to be included in certain school events, McClutchy said. So, the board decided to take action — creating the Zen Den.

The term “Zen” refers to a form of meditation that aims to bring about a state of calmness.

The play space is intended to do just that.

It has an array of colors – from pillows of various shapes, chairs, blankets, bean bags and a matted floor.

It also has Legos, coloring sheets and headphones to block out the noise.

McClutchy noted that Maniscalco embraces diverse students, regardless of their limitations.

The Halloween-themed Fall Ball was the first time the Zen Den play space was implemented at the school.

At the Fall Ball, faculty members and parents accompanied students dressed in costumes to the school’s cafeteria, where there was dancing in the open space.

Some students needed a break from the large crowd and the lively tunes playing, so they headed to the Zen Den.

Tammy Reale, Maniscalco’s principal, said: “Some of them get very overwhelmed with noise, so that gives them the opportunity to step away, take a moment and then come back and be able to have fun with their peers.”

The school serves over 140 students with varying exceptionalities – those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, Reale said.

Several classrooms cater to these students, including some students with autism spectrum disorder, which refers to a broad range of conditions that can cause significant social, communications and behavioral challenges.

The classrooms also incorporate a “safe place” or a “chill corner” for students to take a break and regroup before joining their fellow classmates.

Some of the faculty at the school have children there who have special needs.

Reale said that this is a “win-win” situation, because the teachers know how to educate and empathize with other parents with unique kids.

Melgaard is a math and science teacher at Maniscalco. She sees the challenges her 6-year-old son faces at school and at home.

“Just things that you wouldn’t normally think about, he struggles with all the time – making friends, talking to people, doing work, sitting in a seat,” she explained.

Melgaard said she was surprised when she heard that the PTSA board was going to introduce the Zen Den.

“It makes you feel like your child matters, because they’re doing things to show that they know that there’s kids that need more,” she said.

Other students without sensory issues also came into the Zen Den to have some fun, too.

It was a chance for Wayde to interact with other kids, and for those kids to better understand Wayde and others in his situation, Melgaard said.

There are plans to include the Zen Den in future school functions going forward, McClutchy noted.

“It’s something I’m so proud of, and it makes all the hard work worth it. It’s helping so many people on such a deeper level,” she said.

Published November 13, 2019

Jewish scholar talk: Early rabbis, ancient synagogues

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How did the Jewish faith go from all but destroyed in its structures by the Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years ago, to the modern world religion as we know it today?

To Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer, that’s the “billion dollar question.”

The internationally recognized Jewish studies scholar visited Saint Leo University on Nov. 5 to present a free lecture titled “Rabbis and the Ancient Synagogue.”

Langer also was on hand to receive the university’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies’ Eternal Light Award — recognizing her efforts to promote respectful interreligious dialogue.

Jewish scholar and Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer was a featured speaker at Saint Leo University, where she gave a free lecture titled ‘Rabbis and the Ancient Synagogue.’ (Courtesy of Jo-Ann Johnston, Saint Leo University)

Langer is an ordained rabbi and professor of Jewish studies at Boston College.

She also is associate director of Boston College’s Center for Christian-Jewish Learning and  author of several books and scholarly articles.

Her talk at Saint Leo spanned from synagogues in late first century Judea to modern times.

Synagogues in Jesus’ time were much smaller in nature, maybe accommodating up to 20 to 30 people at a time, she said.

She acknowledged “there’s very little we can say about what exactly was happening in the (ancient) synagogue based on what archaeological remains show,” but noted New Testament stories mention reading scripture and preaching or teaching based on said scripture.

Langer went on to point out the New Testament makes no mention of a rabbi or “real authority figure” and “no indisputable evidence there was indeed some kind of verbal worship of God” inside these ancient synagogues in the early first century.

Simply, it is believed these ancient synagogues originally functioned more as a Jewish community center and a house of study, rather than a house of worship.

So, how did synagogues develop into a place of prayer that follows rabbinic leadership as its clergy common today?

According to Langer, the rabbinic-synagogue tradition formed slowly following the exile and destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in the Jewish-Roman in 70 C.E.,  which led to the end of the Jewish monarchy.

The Temple of Jerusalem in ruins, Jews no longer had a place to sacrifice animals as their official form of worshipping God.

“Today’s scholars are pretty well agreed that losing the only place where Jews could fulfill God’s expectation of worship generated a major trauma. Jews were in shock,” Langer noted of this event.

Because of that, Langer explained worship evolved from sacrifice to become “purely verbal,” and “met the needs of the world that no longer had the Jerusalem temple.”

Further, the responsibility for this new form of worship “transformed from belonging to a hereditary priesthood, to resting on the entire community,” she said.

With that, Langer said it was a relatively small group of rabbis who rose up and won out in this endeavor, throughout the Land of Israel and Babylonia initially.

“They (rabbis) fairly quickly found out what temple rituals could be continued elsewhere and how to compensate for those central ones that could not,” Langer said.

To spread influence, Langer explained these early rabbis used persuasion tactics and developed arguments “to convince both rabbis themselves and non-rabbis that there are advantages to participating in public prayer in the synagogue.”

That, she said, included various forms of exhortations in rabbinic text on the significance of community gathering in a synagogue for prayer, such as:

  • “One must pray in a place specifically designated for prayer.”
  • “When one prays within its home, it’s as if one prays encircled within an iron wall.”

(Presumably, praying in the home prevented prayer from reaching God, Langer said.)

  • “Prayer in the synagogue is especially effective, because it’s like an ideal sacrifice in the temple.” (Prayer in a synagogue compensates for the loss of the Temple of Jerusalem, Langer said.)
  • “Prayer offered in the synagogue is guaranteed to work, and failure to participate has dire consequences.”
  • “If one enters synagogue with a buddy to pray, but does not wait for buddy when leaving, then one’s own prayers are ruined.”

But, the shift to get Jews to comply to such edicts didn’t happen overnight.

Langer noted some Jews previously had gotten used to ancient synagogues as not for prayer, but “for all sorts of profane purposes,” such as using the space for funerals, for making rope or fishnets and so on.

Langer said the rabbis’ efforts to get non-rabbis on board to conform to their liturgy and rituals “was a long and bumpy process” that took centuries. In fact, she said it wasn’t until late third century “there were some, but perhaps not all synagogues that housed rabbinic ritual life.” And, it wasn’t even until the end of the first millennial, or another 700 years or so, that the symbiotic rabbi-synagogue union became normalized, she said.

Published November 13, 2019

Two Good Soles drive smashes record

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Pasco County government and its constitutional offices collected more than 3,000 pairs of shoes for local students — smashing a previous record for the annual Two Good Soles Shoes and Socks Drive.

The drive, now in its fourth year, yielded 3,057 pairs of shoes and 13,285 pairs of socks. The items will be donated to students in Pasco County Schools.

Cathy Pearson, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public services, set a goal of 2,000 pairs of shoes for this year’s challenge. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Last year, donations totaled 2,264 pairs of shoes and 6,609 pairs of socks.

Besides vastly exceeding last year’s totals, the collection also shattered the goal of 2,000 shoes set by Cathy Pearson, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public services.

Pasco County and Constitutional Office staff gathered at Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey on Oct. 29 to officially donate the footwear and tally the results.

Pasco County’s Internal Services Branch won the trophy for the most donations from county branches. The Pasco Property Appraiser’s Office won for most donations collected by a constitutional office, just surpassing the Tax Collector’s Office.

The Public Services Branch placed first in the decorated collection box competition with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department’s “Playground Box.”

Pearson recapped this year’s efforts for the Pasco County Commission at its Nov. 5 meeting.

She was delighted by the level of giving.

“We have just made some students very, very proud and very happy. That couldn’t have happened without the great community that we have,” Pearson said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley was impressed, too.

“If you figure $40 for a pair of shoes, there’s over $120,000 worth of shoes there — just amazing,” he said.

Pearson added: “It’s all for a great cause, it’s all for the kids. I couldn’t be more proud and humble, to be part of this community. Thank you all and we’re looking forward to the fifth annual next October.”

Published November 13, 2019

Chalk Talk 11/13/2019

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Bahamas school supply drive
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is collecting donations of school supplies to assist the schoolchildren of the Bahamas. An estimated 18,000 children and their families have been displaced since Hurricane Dorian struck the islands on Sept. 1.

From left: Pastor Stephan Knowles, Strong Tower Community Church, Abaco; Senior Mistress Agartha Francis, teaching assistant, Thompson Junior High School, Nassau; PHSC alumnus D’Angelo Ferguson, CEO, Alfred and Nancy Stuart Foundation; and, Andrew Dean, teaching assistant, Thompson Junior High School. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Ten schools were destroyed on the island of Abaco alone, while many other schools sustained damages.

The children of the Bahamas, some of whom lost family members, classmates, and their homes are transitioning to schools that are undamaged but strained to accommodate additional students.

Donations of classroom supplies will be accepted at all PHSC libraries.

Each college store also is accepting donations and selling discounted supplies to anyone contributing to the drive.

Needed items include new backpacks, flash drives, notebooks, binders, calculators, pens, pencils, art materials, and other typical classroom supplies.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 5, as the items will be shipped to the Bahamas in December.

Campuses are in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Brooksville and Spring Hill.

For information, email Lucy Miller, director of community outreach, at .

Schools take a break
As a reminder, Pasco and Hillsborough county students will have a Thanksgiving/Fall break from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. All students will return to classes on Dec. 2.

Volunteers needed
The GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club is looking for dependable high school students for a variety of volunteer opportunities.

The club is a 501© nonprofit organization, and time spent volunteering will count toward the necessary Bright Futures scholarship hours.

For information, text the word ‘volunteer’ to (813) 461-3131.

Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.

The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.

This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.

Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.

Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.

Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

For information, call (727) 844-7759.

Education month
The District School Board of Pasco County, along with the Florida Department of Education, recognizes November as Florida Family Engagement in Education month, to highlight the role parents and families have in student education.

Parents, grandparents, guardians and extended families are encouraged to be involved throughout the year.

Parent-teacher conferences are one of the ways to be involved and stay engaged in your student’s education.

For engagement ideas, visit PTAOurChildren.org.

Band yard sale
The Zephyrhills High School Band will host an indoor yard sale on Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Zephyrhills First Nazarene, 6155 12th St., to help fund a trip to Washington D.C., to march in the 2020 National Memorial Day parade.

For information, call Meggan Nichols, the ZHS Band sponsor fundraiser coordinator, at (813) 403-0700.

Barbeque benefit
The Great American BBQ, benefiting Hudson Elementary School, will take place Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at SunWest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway in Hudson.

There will be eating competitions, live music, volleyball and cornhole, and a contest for the best sauce. Admission is $5.

For information, call (727) 674-1464.

School choice expos
Pasco County Schools will host expo-style events, one on each side of the county, to inform Pasco County families about the upcoming school choice application windows and innovative program options.

  • Nov. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at River Ridge High School, 11646 Towne Center Road in New Port Richey
  • Nov. 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road

The expos will feature informational sessions that cover the general application process.

In addition, many Pasco County schools will showcase unique educational options, such as STEM and STEAM magnet schools, the Cambridge International Education Programme, International Baccalaureate, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Career Pathways, Pasco eSchool, and more.

The school application choice window will run from Dec. 3 to Dec. 13 for middle and high schools, and from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 for elementary schools.

For information or to register, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Pasco Pathways link.

Fee adjustment review
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at a Nov. 19 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing.

Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.

All fees charged by vendors are negotiated by the college, with additional fee increases and decreases expected in the coming academic year.

For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on the Policies and Procedures link.