Education

Chalk Talk 09/18/2019

September 18, 2019 By Mary Rathman

Airman Apprentice Destiny Gonzalez (Courtesy of Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Local graduate serves at Weather Command
Airman apprentice Destiny Gonzalez, a 2011 Wiregrass Ranch High School graduate, serves with the Navy’s Weather Command Headquarters at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at Stennis advises Navy leaders about the impact of ocean and atmospheric conditions on future operations.

As an aerographer’s mate, Gonzalez helps platoons take sonar pictures of the ocean floor and then analyzes the photos to inspect what is found on the ocean floor.

Her responsibilities provide timely, comprehensive and tactically relevant information for ships, submarines, aircraft and other commands operating throughout the globe.

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most-relied upon assets, Gonzalez and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“I think serving in the Navy means a bit of sacrifice,” said Gonzalez in a release. “Serving here I found a lot of camaraderie and everyone is very welcoming in help with training and more. Being here I’m learning something that not too many people get to learn.”

Support for Bahamian students
Although Hurricane Dorian did not strike Saint Leo University, its impact on the Bahamas was strongly felt by the university community — nearly 150 Bahamian students attend Saint Leo.

The school’s community had a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Tapia College of Business, with prayer, music and remarks from several speakers.

In addition to the vigil, Saint Leo had a prayer service at the Saint Leo Abbey Church, prior to the student Mass.

Group and individual counseling has been offered and there are daily check-ins with the school’s Bahamian students.

A relief drive for supplies began Sept. 6, and collection bins are placed throughout the Saint Leo campus.

For information, email .

Free math hotline
Hillsborough County Public Schools offers a free math homework hotline, available on select Thursdays, for math help on any topic.

Certified math teachers will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Sept. 19, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.

There also is a ‘live’ show on Spectrum Chanel 635 and Frontier Channel 32, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., or live stream at MHH.mysdhc.org, and students can win prizes and/or answer the challenge question.

For information, contact Maggie Mixon at (813) 272-4927 or .

Career college open house
Altierus Career College-Tampa, 3319 W. Hillsborough Ave., will host an open house focusing on health care careers on Sept. 19 from noon to 2 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Participants can get a tour of the nursing and surgical technology labs, and learn about the Altierus programs, such as scholarships.

For information, visit Altierus Career College on Facebook.

Homecoming boutique
A Cinderella Project Homecoming Boutique will be set up at Cypress Creek High School, 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Free homecoming attire, shoes and accessories will be available for any high school student.

For information, call Cypress Creek at (813) 346-4400.

Other boutiques also will be at Gulf High School in New Port Richey on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26; and, Fivay High School in Hudson on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Faculty recital
As part of its Roaring Twenties Decades Project, Saint Leo University will host a Fall Music Faculty Recital on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., in Selby Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

The presentation will feature music of the 1920s.

Admission is free.

For information, email , or leave a message at (352) 588-8401.

Arts education website
The Arts Council of Hillsborough County has launched a new arts education website to help provide education and experiences for students.

The website has information on field trips from cultural organizations throughout the area; opportunities to engage students with art in the classroom; experienced educators from across Tampa Bay; and, student guides and links to Florida State Education Standards.

Check it out at ArtsTampaBay.com/artsed/.

Hispanic Heritage contests
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to design a bookmark, and students in grades six to 12 can design a poster, for the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative’s Hispanic Heritage Contest.

First- and second-place winners will be chosen in groups: kindergarten through second grade; third grade through fifth grade; sixth grade through eighth grade; and ninth grade through 12th grade.

Prizes include museum tickets, gift cards, history center tickets, sketchbooks, and professionally printed bookmarks.

The contest runs through Sept. 30. Entries can be submitted to any Hillsborough County public library.

For information and to see some of last year’s winners, visit HCPLC.org/events/hispanic-heritage.

Saint Leo partners with Bucs
Saint Leo University and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers commemorated Saint Leo becoming the exclusive educational partner of the Bucs at a kickoff party in August.

The partnership was marked by a mingling of Saint Leo’s green and gold, and the Buccaneers’ red and pewter on the school’s campus in St. Leo.

Team mascots Fritz (Saint Leo Lions) and the Bucs’ Captain Fear, as well as cheerleaders from both organizations, led the celebration.

The event featured food, music, games and giveaways.

With the partnership, Saint Leo University will be featured in online, television, radio and in-stadium promotional advertisements.

Saint Leo also will present Bucs Trivia Tuesday on Instagram, Game Day Trivia in Raymond James Stadium on game days, and the Military Hero at each home game.

Pasco to open K-8 school in fall 2021

September 11, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The groundbreaking last week for Starkey Ranch K-8 School was celebrated in grand fashion — at a gathering that included a high school jazz band and color guard, preschoolers, a private developer partner, elected leaders and government officials.

The school is the second phase of a partnership between Pasco County Schools, Pasco County government and Wheelock Communities, the private developers of Starkey Ranch, a community off State Road 54 in Trinity.

Members of the Pasco County School Board join top district staff in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Starkey Ranch K-8 School. (B.C. Manion)

One part of the project is the Starkey District Park, which opened its first phase in November 2017. Two additional phases are planned for the park.

Starkey Ranch K-8 School, located near the district park, is the public school district’s first school specifically designed for elementary and middle school students.

It is expected to open in August 2021, with about 1,000 elementary school students and 600 middle school students.

The school campus includes a gymnasium, athletic fields, a running track and sports courts that will be available during non-school hours to residents, through a shared-use agreement.

Additionally, there’s a third part of the partnership that involves construction of what’s been dubbed TLC, which stands for theater, library and cultural center.

Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch, talked about the collaborative attitude the partners have shared.

“It began as an idea to work together to create something great,” Call said.

The approach that’s been used, he said, “is something that we sometimes feel is missing in society today — just the idea of putting aside our own differences and our own desires, and really coming together and working to do something.”

His enthusiasm for the partnership was shared by Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning.

“We have looked forward to this day for a very, very long time,” Browning told the crowd.

The joint efforts will yield a community asset, he said.

“These amenities add, not only to Starkey Ranch, but also to Pasco County as a whole,” Browning said.

This is what the Starkey Ranch K-8 School campus will look like. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

And, because the facilities will be shared — instead of being duplicated, Browning said, “the taxpayers are winners on this project.”

The superintendent added: “We want it to be a community place. We want it to be a place where people come and gather, and socialize and learn.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells noted that “from the county standpoint, the last time we built a library, my father was a county commissioner. That was in 1982.

“This is a very, very exciting day. The TLC is the first of its kind in Pasco County.”

The center will accommodate public library patrons and students. It also will have a 250-seat theater and three maker spaces.

Like the other speakers, Wells praised the cooperative arrangement to pursue these facilities.

“It’s not very often that we all come together to do things,” Wells said, noting that government agencies have a tendency to operate in silos.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, a former school board member, said she hopes that Starkey Ranch K-8 School is so successful that the school district will build more in the future.

“I’m so excited for the residents that live here and for all of those lucky kids who are going to be able to experience this kind of school,” Starkey said.

She also talked about the TLC.

“We have worked really hard to make this facility different than the normal facility. We’re going to have outdoor space, where you can have cocktail parties,” she said.

She expressed gratitude that both the school board and the Pasco County Commission put in some extra money to make the TLC “exactly what we wanted.”

School board chairwoman Alison Crumbley said the project is exciting because of what the school will offer for students. She’s also pleased by the presence of the theater and cultural center because she’s a proponent of the arts.

Browning said the K-8 model will provide “opportunities for middle-schoolers to mentor elementary school kids, which is a great, great thing for us.”

No decision has been made yet on the boundaries for the new school, said Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district.

Beyond assigning students from Starkey Ranch to the school, various options are being discussed, including the possibility of a magnet school to fill the remaining spots, he said.

The school construction budget is $44.4 million.

Published September 11, 2019

Chalk Talk 09/11/2019

September 11, 2019 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Betty Burke, Rotary Club of San Antonio)

Back-to-School Party
Fifty boys and girls received bags of school supplies at the 12th annual Back-to-School Party sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio and Farmworkers Self Help. The children also listened to Senior Forest Ranger Chris Farley and Ranger Ali discuss entry-level jobs with the Florida Forest Service, and they got to sit in the Forest Service bulldozer. Several children talked about becoming forest rangers and helping to fight forest fires. The event also provided hot dogs served by Rotary Club President Jim Tremmel.

First- and second-place winners will be chosen in groups: kindergarten through second grade; third grade through fifth grade; sixth grade through eighth grade; and ninth grade through 12th grade.

Prizes include museum tickets, gift cards, history center tickets, sketchbooks, and professionally printed bookmarks.

The contest runs through Sept. 30. Entries can be submitted to any Hillsborough County public library.

For information and to see some of last year’s winners, visit HCPLC.org/events/hispanic-heritage.

Fee adjustments
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted student-related fees at a Sept. 17 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill campus, 450 Beverly Court.

The fee adjustment proposal was reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by the PHSC President’s Administrative Leadership Team, a committee of college administrators.

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.

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

Faculty-authors to read
Five Saint Leo University faculty-authors will read from their own creative works Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, in Selby Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

The event, “Wild Gifts: A Reading by Creative Writing Faculty,” will include readings by poets, a short story writer, a memoirist, and a novelist.

For information, email .

Homecoming boutique
A Cinderella Project Homecoming Boutique will be set up at Cypress Creek High School, 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Free homecoming attire, shoes and accessories will be available for any high school student.

For information, call Cypress Creek at (813) 346-4400.

Other boutiques also will be at Gulf High School in New Port Richey on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26; and, Fivay High School in Hudson on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Ambassador sworn in
Philanthropist Donald R. Tapia, Saint Leo University alumnus and former Board of Trustees chair, was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica by Vice President Mike Pence on Aug. 20, in Washington D.C.

Tapia will represent the president in an official capacity, and work on efforts to protect and promote national interests and maintain diplomacy.

Tapia competed his undergraduate degree in business administration from Saint Leo’s Center for Online Learning in 2005, joined the board of trustees in 2006, earned a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo (online) in 2007, and was named chair of Saint Leo’s Board of Trustees in 2011.

He was the chairman and CEO of Essco Group Management, which grew to become the largest Hispanic-owned business in Arizona. In 2010, he retired from the company to devote his time to philanthropy.

Tapia’s gift of $4 million to Saint Leo was announced in 2010, and was used to construct the Tapia College of Business building.

In 2014, the university awarded Tapia the degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, for his dedication to Saint Leo.

Belle of the Ball
The Belle of the Ball Project again will provide free homecoming dresses and accessories to in-need high school girls on Sept. 21, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its boutique at 1210 Holt Ave., in Clearwater.

Dresses will be available to all in-need high school girls for their high school prom, homecoming or military ball.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A $1 to $5 donation is requested, but not required.

Donations of dresses and accessories also can be made at the site. Large size dresses (size 18 to 26) are the biggest need.

For information, visit BelleOfTheBallProject.com.

Chalk Talk 09/04/2019

September 4, 2019 By Mary Rathman

International students parade in with their country’s flag during ‘Welcome to the Pride.’ (Courtesy of Renee Gerstein, Saint Leo University)

Record-setting class moves in
Saint Leo University welcomed its largest class of incoming students for the 2019-2020 school year.

Despite the sticky, hot, rainy weather, students and their parents moved their belongings into their residence halls. Faculty, staff, alumni and students helped pull items out of vehicles and haul them into the students’ rooms.

New Student Orientation included a “Welcome to the Pride” event to cheer on more than 1,000 members of the Class of 2023.

More than 800 new freshmen and 180 transfer students moved into the Saint Leo campus in Pasco County.

This represented a 45% increase over last year’s new student enrollment.

New students received Saint Leo lapel pins to symbolize their membership in the scholarly community.

Five-year-old Maite Tenorio wears a photo of her sister, Megan Rowe, on her shirt, as she helps Rowe move into Saint Leo University.

Michelle and Rob Rosales get some help from their son, Blake, as they move their new-student son, Savion, into Marmion-Snyder Hall.

Belle of the Ball
The Belle of the Ball Project again will provide free homecoming dresses and accessories to in-need high school girls on Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its boutique at 1210 Holt Ave., in Clearwater.

The event also will take place on Sept. 21, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, during the same hours.

Dresses will be available to all in-need high school girls for their high school prom, homecoming or military ball.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A $1 to $5 donation is requested, but not required.

Donations of dresses and accessories also can be made at the site. Large size dresses (size 18 to 26) are the biggest need.

For information, visit BelleOfTheBallProject.com.

Early release days begin
This school year, Pasco County Schools will implement 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 first early release day is coming up on Sept. 11.

Additional scheduled days are Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 11 and April 8.

The fee adjustment proposal was reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by the PHSC President’s Administrative Leadership Team, a committee of college administrators.

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.

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

Student loan tip
If you are having trouble repaying federal student loans, you may be able to apply for a deferment, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

A deferment allows you to postpone paying loans, if you meet certain guidelines.

You may qualify for a deferment if you are:

enrolled in college at least half time
in a rehabilitation training program
unemployed or can’t find a full-time job
having economic hardship
on active duty service in the military

However, according to KHEAA, if you have defaulted on your federal loans, you may not be able to get a deferment.

If you qualify for a deferment, you must submit an application, but continue to make your monthly payments until such time as you are told your loans are in deferment.

The public, nonprofit agency KHEAA provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.

The organization also helps colleges manage their student loan default rates and verify information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To learn more about services, visit KHEAA.com.

Chalk Talk 08/28/2019

August 28, 2019 By Mary Rathman

From left: Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Ronak Agarwal, Foundation Board Chairman Mark Van Trees, Emmerson Parks, Logan Beatty, Manok Kambara, Ben Mellin, School Board Chairman Alison Crumbley and Foundation Executive Director Paula Mekley. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Medals of honor
The Pasco County School Board and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation recognized students who created National History Day projects on Medal of Honor recipients.

The Medal of Honor Convention will be hosted in Tampa, in October.

Student winners and their projects are:

Manok Kambara and Logan Beatty, Land O’ Lakes High School: Group Website, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Mary Edwards Walker
Ben Mellin and Ronak Argawal, Land O’ Lakes High School: Group Website, The Hardship & Conquest of Robert Patterson, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
Emmerson Parks, Pasco High School: Individual Documentary, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch

Student goes to space camp
Bryce Holeman, of Lutz, attended Space Camp Robotics Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and decision-making.

The program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for programming and engineering.

Using the Office of Naval Research’s SeaPerch undersea robotics, Holeman, along with teammates, could strengthen teamwork and leadership skills, while learning engineering, programming and wireless control concepts. Using Lego Mindstorms EV3 technology, students tested payloads on unmanned aerial vehicles, and created and piloted underwater robots.

More than 900,000 trainees have graduated from a Space Camp program since its inception in 1982.

To learn more, visit SpaceCamp.com/robotics.

New chair to serve two-year term
Tampa Bay real estate professional D. Dewey Mitchell has become chair of the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees for a two-year term.

Mitchell is co-owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group in Trinity, and markets commercial, industrial and mixed-use properties in Tampa and Central Florida.

Mitchell also has been active in Realtor groups, various regional business development organizations, and nonprofit boards.

He received his bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration/marketing from the University of Alabama.

He first became a trustee of Saint Leo in 2012. Immediately prior to assuming the role of board chair, Mitchell served as vice chair for two years. His new duties began on July 1.

The event also will take place on Sept. 21, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, during the same hours.

Dresses will be available to all in-need high school girls for their high school prom, homecoming or military ball.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A $1 to $5 donation is requested, but not required.

Donations of dresses and accessories also can be made at the site. Large size dresses (size 18 to 26) are the biggest need.

For information, visit BelleOfTheBallProject.com.

Business leaders needed
Nearly 180 Tampa Bay CEOs on Oct. 18 will volunteer an entire day at Hillsborough County public elementary schools as part of a new educational initiative, CEOs in Schools.

A Vistra Communications initiative, in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, CEOs in Schools serves to connect business leaders with the workforce of the future.

The CEOs will see, hear and do the things that our public school educators and students experience, and gain a new perspective on the role of schools in preparing students for success in the future workforce.

As an initiative under Vistra’s 1 Day of Change program, CEOs in Schools is a catalyst for big advances that are possible from just one day of change.

Any CEOs or most senior executives interested in participating can learn more at 1DayOfChange.com, and sign up under the Get Involved tab.

Once a school selection is made, participants will receive an email with program information and the next steps.

For questions about CEOs in Schools, contact Jamie Needham at (813) 961-4700, ext. 201 or .

Avalon Park West Brings The Arts To East Pasco

August 28, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Avalon Park West and the Pasco Fine Arts Council are bringing art and cultural events, exhibits and workshops to East Pasco County through a new public-private partnership.

Celebrating their new partnership with the Pasco Fine Arts Council are (left to right) Stephanie Lerret, marketing and community relations for Avalon Park Group; Jo Baughman, director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council; and, Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group.

This partnership kicks off in September with a series of art exhibits at the Welcome Center at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel, at 33613 State Road 54. The first event will showcase Suzanne Natzke, an accomplished watercolor artist and Pasco County resident.

An artist reception for Natzke will take place Friday, Sept. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., along with live music by Jared Violin. The public is invited to meet the artist and enjoy the music at this free community affair, and enjoy complimentary wine and refreshments.

Natzke’s paintings will be displayed through the end of October in Avalon’s Welcome Center, and after her show closes, a new artist will be featured. A total of six artist exhibits are planned during the first year of the new partnership with Pasco Fine Arts Council and Avalon Park West, all hosted at the Welcome Center for East Pasco residents.

“This partnership brings great opportunities to expand the arts to not only our community, but the entire east side of the county,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. “It is our vision to build Downtown Avalon Park West as the cultural and event center of East Pasco County.”

Paintings by watercolor artist Suzanne Natzke will be the first of six art exhibits hosted by the Pasco Arts Council at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel. This one is entitled, Purple Coneflower.

The first phase of Downtown Avalon Park West is currently under construction, and is projected to open next summer. Included in the plans for Downtown is a dedicated Arts Gallery, that will be the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

“We’re very excited about expanding the presence of the Fine Arts Council to East Pasco County,” says Jo Baughman, director of the Council. “It will be thrilling to feature local artists and discover new artists through these events and educational opportunities, made possible through the partnership with Avalon Park West.”

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for 22 years, and director for the past four, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This has been a long time coming, and will be a tremendous help to the artist community and our patrons,” said Baughman. “It’s been really hard to service the entire county without a location in East Pasco, and when Avalon Park contacted us last February and asked if they could partner with us, it was completely unexpected, and we were completely overjoyed!”

The vision the leaders at Avalon Park West have for the arts in their master-planned community meshes perfectly with that of the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

“We want to have art classes and workshops for our community, and a place to share artwork created by students and adults,” said Lerret. “As it turns out, the Fine Arts Council has been providing these types of programs for years, and all they needed was a place in East Pasco to bring their programs and exhibits to our residents in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and Dade City.”

One of the first youth programs the Fine Arts Council will be moving to its Avalon Park West location is the Middle School Photography competition it hosts annually in conjunction with Pasco County Schools.

“This is part of our Kids In Arts program, and is a photography competition where students earn first, second and third place recognition in each grade level,” said Baughman. “We are so excited to now have exhibit space to share these photos with the public.”

For more information on the artist schedule and upcoming events, please visit AvalonParkWest.com or PascoArts.org.

About Avalon Park West
Nestled in serene natural surroundings, Avalon Park West is a master-planned community planned for 4,800 residential homes and over a half million square feet of commercial and civic uses where residents will be in walking and bike riding distance to schools, shops, restaurants, workplaces and recreational amenities. Avalon Park West is a traditional community of small-town life where you can Live, Learn, Work and Play. For more on Avalon Park West, visit AvalonParkWest.com, or call Stephanie Lerret at (407) 427-6073.

About Pasco Fine Arts Council
The Pasco Fine Arts Council Inc., is a public entity created by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 1, 1978 as a nonprofit organization with the County to encourage community involvement in the arts, provide art education to the community, and to be a leader in stimulating art and cultural entities throughout Pasco County. For more on the Pasco Fine Arts Council, visit PascoArts.org, or contact Jo Baughman at (727) 845-7322 or .

Published August 28, 2019 in Homes

Pasco school year gets off to a smooth start

August 21, 2019 By B.C. Manion

Five-year-old Joshua Cortes was eager to begin his first day of kindergarten at Pine View Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.

Five-year-old Joshua Cortes is excited to begin his first day of kindergarten at Pine View Elementary School. (B.C. Manion)

The youngster was beaming as his parents took his picture near a welcome sign at the school — the perfect prop for a photo op.

A little while later, as buses rolled into the bus loop, Pine View staff greeted students as they exited the bus.

They saw many familiar faces, and they offered kind remarks, welcoming students and commenting on such things as a new haircut or new pair of shoes.

Meanwhile, across campus, teachers were ready for another year.

Art teacher Kimber White is enthusiastic about teaching at Pine View Elementary, which has been officially authorized as Pasco County’s first International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. (B.C. Manion)

Art teacher Kimber White expressed enthusiasm about teaching at Pasco County’s first officially authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

The IB PYP highly regards the arts, encouraging creativity and innovation, across the disciplines.

Third-grade teacher Monica Woods aimed to set a positive tone for the children entering in her class. The room was cheerful, with warm touches, including this greeting: “Welcome to third grade, you’re going to love it here.”

Assistant Principal Mary Reynolds, an educator for 30 years, said she never gets over the potential the beginning of a new school year represents. She gets so excited that she can never sleep the night before a first school day.

Principal Kay Moore has a tradition. She holds an assembly and rings in the new year with an old-fashioned bell. It’s a time-honored ritual, signifying the start of something important, she said.

Mary Reynolds, assistant principal at Pine View Elementary, said she can never sleep the night before the first day of school because she’s so eager to begin a new year. (B.C. Manion)

As Pine View settled in for the day, first day scenes were taking place across the district. Parents were busy dropping their kids off, big yellow buses were picking up kids in subdivisions and school staffs were busy getting the 2019-2020 school year started.

At Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel, students streamed on to campus, where they were greeted by staff members, who directed traffic and answered questions.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said he’d heard good reports across the district.

“It has been a good week. It has been an exceptionally good week,” he told members of The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, during a breakfast meeting.

As the sun rises on the first day of school, Cypress Creek Middle High School Assistant Principal Donna Gricoski, right, greets students exiting the buses. (Christine Holtzman)

“As I’ve traveled to schools, I’ve talked to teachers, I’ve talked to parents, I’ve talked to principals, I’ve talked to kids — and almost without exception they’ve said, ‘You know, it seems like one of the smoothest school starts we’ve had.

“There hasn’t been all of the hateful, mean Twitter, Facebook chatter out there — which people are so quick to get out on social media, and start trashing people without the facts,” Browning added.

He also noted that the school district continues to grow at a rapid pace.

The school year began with about 1,300 more students than on the same day last year, he said, noting that’s the equivalent of a large district middle school.

Published August 21, 2019

Note: First day of school student photos can be found in our e-edition!

All kids deserve same academic opportunities, Browning says

August 21, 2019 By B.C. Manion

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was addressing The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and he was on a roll.

“Every child needs to have those same academic opportunities as kids in affluent neighborhoods,” Browning said, during the chamber’s breakfast meeting last week.

“If we intend to educate our kids and really meet up with that whole idea of college, career and life readiness, we have got to look at every child in this district.”

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said setting high expectations is essential because students will rise to the occasion. (B.C. Manion)

It’s not an easy feat, the superintendent added.

“It takes a lot of effort, it takes a lot of resources, for the teachers in our district to really tailor education for every one of the students they touch,” he noted.

Things aren’t the way they were in the past, he continued.

“It used to be you had 25 kids in a classroom — either you got it or you didn’t get it.

“We’ve shifted from all of that. We are really looking at individual kids, cycling back in, picking those kids up, reteaching things that need to be retaught — because at the end of the day, it’s not just about completing seat time, it’s about making sure that after 180 days our kids can master those standards — that they are college, career and life ready.

“And, I mean life ready. This life will chew them up and spit them out if they’re not ready,” Browning said.

Students must be challenged — and high expectations lead to better performance by all kids, not just smart kids, Browning added.

“Let kids do the problem solving. Let them do the critical thinking. Let them own their learning,” Browning said.

“The research shows if you put grade-level assignments in front of kids, they will struggle — but guess what — they will learn it,” Browning said.

He talked about the district’s efforts to introduce the Cambridge curriculum into more of its schools. It’s academically challenging, but can yield 100 percent Bright Future scholarships from the state, for students passing seven assessments, Browning said.

He talks about encounters he’s had with parents when he has been out and about in the community.

“I’ll be in Publix, pushing my cart in the produce section, filling it up.

“They’ll say, ‘Are you Superintendent Browning?’

Browning: “I am.”

(Parents) ‘I want you to know we had our daughter in Cambridge. She’s not going to be in Cambridge when she comes back from Christmas break.’

Browning: “Why not? Cambridge is a great program.”

(Parents) ‘It’s just too hard.’

Browning: “I’m going, ‘Really. It’s too hard. Life’s hard.

“If everything is easy and simple, then where’s the learning? Where is the learning.

“You struggle in school. You’re supposed to struggle.

“It’s not supposed to be about proms and homecomings and football games on Friday night. “That’s part of the experience.

“What it’s about is making sure you are ready to get out in this very, very tough world and survive,” Browning said.

“If I have kids that can’t survive, then I have let you down. I’ve let this community down, and that is the message we’ve been preaching, over and over and over again.

“If anything is worth having, it’s worth working for,” the superintendent said.

Of course, Browning added, such high expectations requires teachers to think about the way that they’ve been delivering instruction in their classrooms, the superintendent added.

And, that begs the question: “Are our kids worth it, to ensure that they get the very best education?

“I’ll tell you what the answer to that question is, ‘Absolutely, yes, they are worth it,’” Browning said.

At the same time, excellence in teaching should be rewarded, Browning said.

“We’ve got some of the most talented teachers in the state and they work tirelessly. My goal is trying to find more money to pay them a higher salary, so we can keep the very best.

“I keep going to Tallahassee. I keep talking to the legislative delegation. We have got to pay teachers more, in order to keep great teachers here,” he said.

The superintendent updated the crowd regarding ongoing construction projects, plans to introduce more rigorous programs in some West Pasco Schools, efforts to expand mental health services and ongoing work regarding school security.

Published August 21, 2019

Chalk Talk 08/21/2019

August 21, 2019 By Mary Rathman

Alvaro Hernandez, newly elected chair (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Leaders elected to Board of Trustees
The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) elected a new chair and vice chair for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Trustee Alvaro Hernandez was elected to serve as chair, succeeding Robin Schneider, and Trustee Marilyn Pearson-Adams was elected to serve as vice chair, a post previously held by Alvaro Hernandez.

Marilyn Pearson Adams, newly elected vice chair

Hernandez, of Odessa, is market vice president of Humana, and received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. He has served on the PHSC DBOT since 2017.

Pearson-Adams, of Brooksville, is the president of Century 21 Alliance Realty, a director with The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, and previously served as a board member of the Pasco Hernando Workforce Board. She has served on the PHSC DBOT since 2014.

Every July, the board elects new leaders, and reviews meeting and event dates for the upcoming academic year.

College workshop
Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts will offer a free workshop, “College Bound: Figuring It Out, Part 2” on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., for students interested in musical theater, acting, music and dance programs at the college and university level.

Topics will include tools and knowledge to navigate the various performing arts programs, how to submit a solid application, and how to prepare for prescreen and entrance auditions.

For information, call (813) 222-1040, or visit PatelConservatory.org.

Bank delivers backpacks
First National Bank of Pasco (FNBP) since 2009 has delivered about 2,500 stocked backpacks to area schools for students in need, as identified by school administration.

This year, together with the Thomas Promise Foundation, Ryman Construction, Summit Salon Academy, and Dr. Timothy Muscaro, FNBP delivered 400 backpacks to seven area schools: Chester Taylor Elementary, West Zephyrhills Elementary, Lacoochee Elementary, Cox Elementary, Pasco Elementary, Pasco Middle and Zephyrhills High.

Telecommunicator course
Pasco-Hernando State College will offer a 911 Telecommunicator Operator course starting Aug. 28 at its West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

The 240-hour course is offered as a hybrid course, with on-campus (face-to-face) classes that will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and two Saturdays: Sept. 7 and Nov. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The balance of the course is taken online.

The program will cover all competencies required to perform the role of a telecommunication operator in Florida, and will prepare the student to take the Florida Department of Health 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Exam.

Students also will earn a CPR certification in the class.

For information on cost and credits, and to register, visit PHSC.edu.

5K for schools
The Hope 5K, “Hope for the Schools,” will take place Aug. 31 at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz.

Proceeds from the run will benefit Sunlake High School, Charles Rushe Middle School, Oakstead Elementary School, Chamberlain High School, Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School and Sligh Middle School.

The event includes a 5K run and a 1-mile Fun Run.

The Hope 5K will start at 8 a.m. Registration is $40.

The Fun Run will begin at 8:10 a.m., and costs $20.

There also will be an award ceremony and a pancake breakfast after the run.

For information, visit Idlewild.org/Hope5K.

Student debt rankings
WalletHub, the personal finance website, released its report on the 2019 States with the Most and Least Student Debt.

To determine the states that are friendliest toward student-loan debtors, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics, including average student debt, unemployment rate among the population ages 25 to 34, and the share of students with past-due loan balances.

Student debt in Florida ranked as follows (1=Most; 25=Average):

15th in availability of student jobs
26th in the unemployment rate of population ages 25 to 34
29th in student debt as percent of income (adjusted for cost of living)
34th in grant growth
40th in proportion of students with debt
43rd in average student debt
45th in percentage of student-loan borrowers ages 50 and older

For a full report, visit WalletHub.com.

Technology partnership
Campus Management and Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) have formed a technology partnership to transform the institution with a modern, cloud-based student platform to help enable students to achieve academic and career success in today’s global society.

To elevate the higher education learning experience for students and faculty at PHSC’s five campuses, the school selected the Campus Management full suite of CampusNexus solutions.

The suite includes CampusNexus Engage, CampusNexus Student, CampusNexus Finance, HR & Payroll, and CampusNexus Occupation Insight, all implemented and deployed in the CampusNexus Cloud.

The solutions have a variety of benefits to students and faculty that enhance operational efficiency and academic delivery.

For instance, through the student portal, embedded analytics, financial aid automation and interactive web forms, the CampusNexus solutions will allow students to experience a more comprehensive view of their campus and the resources available to them.

Chalk Talk 08/14/2019

August 14, 2019 By Mary Rathman

Pitching in to stock classrooms
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s Education Committee had its annual ‘Back-to-School Supplies’ fundraiser luncheon and used the proceeds to shop for supplies for local schools. Members filled several SUVs with the supplies, which were delivered to several area schools that had the greatest need. The committee will continue to collect items to stock teachers’ cabinets with necessary items, as well. Gail Howard and Carol Montgomery stand beside an SUV filled with backpacks and supplies.

Shopping for school supplies were Marcy Edmondson, Carol Montgomery, Gail Howard, Devyn Espy and Pat Wagner.

PBS workshops
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a PBS representative for two workshops on free educational resources available through the PBS website.

Aug. 19 at 11 a.m.: For prekindergarten and kindergarten
Aug. 20 at 5 p.m.: grades one to five

Parents, teachers, families and home-schoolers can attend.

Registration is required by calling (813) 929-1214.

Topics will include tools and knowledge to navigate the various performing arts programs, how to submit a solid application, and how to prepare for prescreen and entrance auditions.

For information, call (813) 222-1040, or visit PatelConservatory.org.

5K for schools
The Hope 5K, “Hope for the Schools,” will take place Aug. 31 at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz.

Proceeds from the run will benefit Sunlake High School, Charles Rushe Middle School, Oakstead Elementary School, Chamberlain High School, Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School and Sligh Middle School.

The event includes a 5K run and a 1-mile Fun Run.

The Hope 5K will start at 8 a.m. Registration through Aug. 16 is $35; Aug. 16 to Aug. 31 is $40.

The Fun Run will begin at 8:10 a.m., and costs $20.

There also will be an award ceremony and a pancake breakfast after the run.

For information, visit Idlewild.org/Hope5K.

Student record
As the academic year kicks off, Saint Leo University is expecting 815 new freshmen and 186 transfer students when classes begin on Aug. 20.

University officials believe this is the largest incoming group of students (1,001) in the school’s 130-year history. Last year’s incoming class totaled 689.

Saint Leo also will see an increase in international students, from 86 last year to 181 this year.

Notable characteristic of the incoming Fall 2019 class include:

50 percent from Florida
31 percent from out of state
19 percent from international countries
24 percent first-generation students
SAT scores increased from 1070 to 1182
Unweighted average GPA is 3.26

Students began arriving on Aug. 9 and can move in until 1 p.m., on Aug. 15.

Parents and families can join students for the first two days of orientation, starting Aug. 15 with a Welcome to the Pride at 3 p.m.

Most of the new student orientation activities on Aug. 16 will center on academics.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit SaintLeo.edu, or call (855) 300-8566.

School grades increase
Pasco County Schools saw school grade improvements with increases in the number of A and B schools, and decreases in the number of schools under state review.

These improvements reflect the dedication of Pasco County students and teachers, as the district’s grade remains a B.

Fifteen schools improved by one letter grade: Bexley, Lake Myrtle and Wiregrass elementary schools improved from a B to an A; Deer Park, Gulf Trace, Marlowe, Pine View and San Antonio elementary schools improved from a C to a B; and, Anclote, Calusa, Chasco and Richey elementary schools improved from a D to a C.

Wendell Krinn Technical High School scored an A in its opening school year.

Best LPN program
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) was recently ranked first among Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Florida by NursingProcess.org, according to a press release.

There are more than 160 LPN programs in the state that are approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, of which NursingProcess.org ranked the top 15 programs, with PHSC coming in first.

Each program on the rankings list received a score based on several factors including NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates, graduation rate, academic quality, and affordability.

For information about the school’s LPN program, visit PHSC.edu.