The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 11/28/2018

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(Courtesy of Andrew Bridges/Saint Leo University)

Teacher of the Year visits Saint Leo
Joy Prescott, the 2019 Florida Teacher of the Year (center), recently spoke to the education Honor Society student members at Saint Leo University. Prescott, a fourth-grade teacher at a public charter school on the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation in Glades County, was inducted into the university chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, along with those attending the event.

Hillel Academy collects for hurricane victims
Hillel Academy staff, students and families collected school supplies for students attending Panama City’s Holy Nativity Episcopal School, which was devastated due to the impact of Hurricane Michael.

Among items collected are basic supplies, such as pencils, glue, highlighters and crayons; spiral notebooks; composition books; index cards and all kinds of paper; and art supplies and books for grades three to eight.

More unusual items included science, earth and space materials for middle school; individual white boards for students; bulletin boards, picnic tables; benches; projectors; shade tents; folding tables and chairs; and, carpet squares for students for sitting.

Hillel will send the supplies to Holy Nativity by the end of November.

Each month, Hillel Academy collects goods for a different charity or group in need as part of its Tzedakah (Charity) Project and Kindness of Culture philosophy.

Curriculum Night
Quail Hollow Elementary, 7050 Quail Hollow Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a Curriculum Night on Nov. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parents can learn about the content that is being taught to students, through curriculum presentations from the teachers.

For information, call (813) 794-1100.

Ribbon cutting
Wendell Krinn Technical High School, 7650 Orchid Lake Road in New Port Richey, will host a ribbon cutting Dec. 4 at 11:30 a.m., in the media center.

A light lunch will be provided, after a brief ceremony.

For information, call (727) 774-3900.

Musical & art show
Centennial Elementary School, 38501 Centennial Road in Dade City, will present a Holiday Musical & Art Show, “A Very Merry Grinchmas,” on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

The event will include a fourth and fifth grade musical, featuring the chorus and first-graders.

For information, call (352) 524-5000.

Donate an instrument
Pop music icon Barry Manilow will bring his Manilow Music Project to the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall by donating a Yamaha piano to launch a local music instrument drive.

Anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument will receive two complimentary tickets, valid for preselected seat locations on a first-come, first-served basis, for Manilow’s “A Very Barry Christmas” at Amalie Arena on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

The designated instrument drop is at the Amalie Arena Ticket Office during regular business hours.

Collected instruments will be distributed to local students and schools in need through the outreach efforts of the Hoffman School of the Arts.

The Manilow Music Project has conducted music instrument drives all over the country to assist local schools with their music programs.

For information regarding the project, visit ManilowMusicProject.org.

Scholarships for struggling readers
The state of Florida, in 2018, established Reading Scholarships Accounts to provide support for public school students in third grade to fifth grade who struggle with reading.

Students who received a Florida State Assessment score of Level 1 in English Language Arts automatically qualify for the scholarship.

The state program provides families with access to education savings accounts, worth $500, to pay for tuition and fees associated with part-time tutoring in reading, during the summer and after-school programs designed to improve reading and literacy skills through instructional materials and curriculum aligned to grade-level literacy standards.

Scholarships are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information, visit StepUpForStudents.org.

Students receive AP diplomas, certificates
Pasco County Schools has announced that 20 students have earned the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma, and 10 students have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2017-2018 school year.

AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills.

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

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

Pasco County Schools offers AP Capstone at Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, J.W. Mitchell and River Ridge high schools.

Great American Teach-in exposes students to careers

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An animal service worker and an attorney were among nearly two dozen guests who dropped into Wesley Chapel High School on Nov. 14 to talk about their careers as part in the Great American Teach-In.

The goal is to give students an idea of the broad array of career choices they have, and to allow people from the community a chance to share their knowledge about what students need to know to thrive in their line of work.

Clementine Conde, left, an attorney, and Sarah Sukhram, an associate at Pasco County Animal Services, took part in the Great American Teach-in at Wesley Chapel High School on Nov. 14. (Brian Fernandes)

Schools across Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties took part in the Great American Teach-In on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15.

Speakers talked about what they do for a living, what inspired them to pursue that line of work, and what skills and knowledge they need to be successful.

The event gives students a chance to hear directly from professionals. It also can introduce them to career choices they may not know about, and can be a source of inspiration to pursue additional education.

Teach-In speakers at Wesley Chapel High ranged from nurses and marketing administrators to radio personalities and aviation technicians.

When one student mentioned she’d heard that law is a boring major, criminal defense attorney Clementine Conde responded: “It depends on the type of law that you do. Once you get out there and practice, it’s a lot more interesting.”

Conde told students that studying law can be daunting, but the reward outweighs the work.

Since receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, then a law degree from Western New England University, she has been practicing legal work for 26 years.

During her class visit, she broke down the difference between the federal and state court system, and she emphasized how a police record can hinder someone’s effort to land a particular job, or get into the school of one’s choice.

She said it’s important that students know their Miranda rights, to avoid self-incrimination.

“A lot of them [students] don’t know they have the right to remain silent if an officer is asking them questions,” said Conde. “It’s important for them to know.”

As she left the class, she offered a piece of advice that she gives her own 16-year-old son. She told them to set a long-term goal, a vision which is obtainable.

Kymone Hinds, another guest speaker, said he hopes to help others to “see past the limits that others have put on them and the limits they’ve placed on themselves.”

Hinds shared his experiences as an author, podcaster, and the owner of a business called Ideas to Life.

His business revolves around coaching and consulting inspiring entrepreneurs, while collaborating with other companies for projects and events.

A native of Tennessee, Hinds is a recent Wesley Chapel transplant and has been using his podcast for the past two years to promote his business.

Like Conde, Hinds, who has a daughter at Wesley Chapel High, wanted students to take away the message that it is important to have some agenda set in place, even if things don’t pan out the way they were intended.

“I wanted them to understand that it’s important to have a vision for your life,” he explained. “A vision is something that carries us beyond our present circumstance. When we face obstacles, our vision is what keeps us motivated,” he said.

Sarah Sukhram, an animal service worker, told students that no matter what skills they possess, they may find themselves in a field they never imagined.

With an education in corporate risk analysis, Sukhram had no idea that she would one day find herself dealing with the issue of stray animals. But since January, she has worked for the Pasco County Animal Services in Land O’ Lakes as a volunteer and foster care coordinator.

Although she has always had a love for animals, she never thought her skills in corporate risk analysis would be transferrable into caring for animals.

She encouraged students who were at least 16 to consider becoming volunteers.

She also asked how many of the students own pets, followed by a question regarding how many of the pets wear tags or have been micro-chipped. More hands went up for the first question than for the second.

Many pets, she said, end up in shelters because of a lack of identification.

Besides working directly with animals, other opportunities exist at Animal Services, including social media work, graphic design and customer service, she said.

Sukhram said that students shouldn’t have to feel boxed in to higher education, but instead should focus on what they are passionate about doing.

“I think that education is always important, but I do think there are a lot of opportunities out there for those that may not want to go the college route, and that’s OK,” she said.

Published November 21, 2018

Chalk Talk 11/21/2018

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2018 Homecoming King and Queen Montre Hall and Nadia Crawford (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo alumni celebrate homecoming
Hundreds of Saint Leo University alumni and their families gathered for the school’s 2018 homecoming weekend.

Alumni came from more than 20 states, Canada, and even as far as Nigeria, representing nearly 50 different graduating classes, dating as far back as 1947.

The three-day weekend was packed with activities, including the Hall of Fame dinner, award recognitions, a tailgate party with live music and fireworks, and a men’s basketball game.

Montre Hall, Class of 20189, and Nadia Crawford, Class of 2020, were crowned the 2018 Homecoming King and Queen.

Members of Saint Leo University’s Class of 1968 celebrate their 50th reunion. The class ‘passed the baton’ to members of the Class of 1969, who will mark their anniversary next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National School Psychology week
Schools throughout the country recognized National School Psychology Awareness Week (Nov. 12 to Nov. 16) to highlight the work school psychologists and other educators do to help students thrive.

This year’s theme was “Unlock Potential. Find Your Password!”

A password is a personal key for unlocking any number of areas of potential in our lives. The goal is to connect with how modern youth and adults unlock things (such as gaming levels, phones, devices, codes) and to highlight how thinking about specific skills, assets or characteristics as “passwords” can lead to positive growth.

School psychologists are skilled at helping students and staff in unlocking resources, proactive and preventive skills, and positive connections that are necessary to opening up one’s potential.

The psychologists are trained to provide academic, mental health, and behavioral supports to children and adolescents, and can provide both direct and indirect services to students and schools.

Bulldogs Expo
Zephyrhills High School, 6335 12th St., will host a Bulldog Expo for incoming ninth-graders on Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m., in the Commons Area.

Participants can see what the school has to offer in career technical education courses, such as business, agriculture, criminal justice, health academy, building and construction, JROTC, and aviation; as well as clubs, including FFA, and, FBLA, National Honor Society, Special Olympics, Student Council and more.

For information, call (813) 794-6100.

Pasco Pathways Expo
The Pasco Pathways Expo will give participants a chance to learn about the new school choice application process and innovative programs available for students in Pasco County.

There are two dates and locations to choose from:

Curriculum Night
Quail Hollow Elementary, 7050 Quail Hollow Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a Curriculum Night on Nov. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parents can learn about the content that is being taught to students, through curriculum presentations from the teachers.

For information, call (813) 794-1100.

Conference center dedicated
Pasco-Hernando State College honored District Board of Trustees member Dr. Rao Musunuru with the naming of the Rao Musunuru, M.D. Conference Center at an open house and dedication ceremony at its Spring Hill campus.

Community members, faculty, staff and students helped to recognize Dr. Musunuru’s service as a PHSC trustee since 1999, including four terms of service as board chair, as well as his contributions to the PHSC Foundation.

Tours of the Spring Hill campus, at 450 Beverly Court, were made available after the dedication ceremony.

Student studying abroad
Emily M. Gerber, of Odessa, is participating in a St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) off-campus study abroad program at the University of Otago, New Zealand, during the fall semester.

Gerber is a member of the Class of 2020 and is majoring in conservation biology. She attended Cocalico High School.

School choice programs
Pasco County Schools has adopted a new approach for its school choice programs.

The district offers a variety of programs aimed at providing a variety of choices based on student interests and needs.

Such choices include magnet schools, and programs like STEM, STEAM, Cambridge, and International Baccalaureate.

It also offers educational options and programs such as AVID, AP Capstone, arts, career pathways, technical education, eSchool and more, according to a school district news release.

Those interested in applying for school choice now have new timelines for submitting all applications.

The application window for middle school and high school choice programs opens Dec. 3 and closes Dec. 14. Acceptances will be announced between Feb. 5 and Feb. 15.

Applications for elementary choice programs will be available from Jan. 8 through Jan. 19, with notifications between Feb. 20 and March 1.

Once the application windows open, parents and students will use a district software program called myStudent to complete the school choice applications.

To access or set up a myStudent account, parents must use tinyurl.com/ybe2cygj.

College and university rankings
The personal finance website, WalletHub, has released its 2019 Best College & University Rankings.

To help college-bound seniors make the most informed school choices, WalletHub compared nearly 1,000 higher-education institutions in the United States, based on 30 key measures grouped into seven categories, such as Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing, and Career Outcomes.

The data set ranges from student-faculty ratio to graduation rate to post-attendance median salary.

The Top 10 colleges and universities in Florida ranked as follows:

  1. University of Florida
  2. Florida State University
  3. University of South Florida
  4. University of Miami
  5. University of Central Florida
  6. Ave Maria University
  7. Florida International University
  8. Florida Southern College
  9. University of North Florida
  10. Florida Institute of Technology

Chalk Talk 11/14/2018

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First-place winner from Wesley Chapel Elementary: Laila Paragon-Singh, fourth grade (Courtesy of WaterContest.org)

Poster contest winners
The 2018 Water Awareness Poster Contest winners have been announced.

Kindergarten: Alivia O’ Connor, Trinity Oaks Elementary, first place; Jakob Attard, Trinity Oaks, second place; and Mayson Way, Schrader Elementary, third place

First Grade: Nila Rodriguez, Cypress Elementary, first place; Collin Stafford, Cypress Elementary, second place; and John DeLuca, Cypress Elementary, third place

Second Grade: Hailey Benavides, Richey Elementary, first place; Marcella Wyman, Richey Elementary, second place; and Drew Delaney, Trinity Oaks Elementary, third place

Third Grade: Ariana Marquez, Trinity Oaks Elementary, first place; Sasheika Sequi-Vasquez, Deer Park Elementary, second place; and Sarah Avila, Deer Park Elementary, third place

Fourth Grade: Laila Paragon-Singh, Wesley Chapel Elementary, first place; Mathias Vidal, Wesley Chapel Elementary, second place; and Valerie Noriega, Wesley Chapel Elementary, third place

Third-place winner from Lake Myrtle Elementary: Arol Abel, fifth grade

Fifth Grade: Terry Pixler, Longleaf Elementary, first place; Sienna Fletcher, Trinity Oaks Elementary, second place; and Arol Abel, Lake Myrtle Elementary, third place

Honorable Mention: Joseph Glennon, Trinity Oaks Elementary, Winter’s Choice; Olivia Rueb, Cypress Elementary, Tango’s Choice; and Riley Payne, Trinity Oaks Elementary, Andy’s Choice

To view all winning posters and educational materials, visit WaterContest.org.

Zephyrhills economic summit puts focus on education

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Fostering educational opportunities in Pasco County was the primary focus of the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit.

Doing that begins with beefing up the Pasco County school district’s career and technical education programs, said Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

“We need to put our career academies on steroids,” said Browning, one of several guest speakers at the Oct. 24 summit, at the new Zephyrhills City Hall, that brought together local education, business and government stakeholders.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was one of several guest speakers at the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit. The event focused on local educational and career opportunities in Pasco County. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Based on the region’s business profile, Browning said there needs to be greater emphasis on teaching trade skills — such as roofing and carpentry, plumbing, HVAC technicians, electricians and more.

“One of the things that we keep hearing a lot about is the trades. I’m continually amazed of the number of people that stop us and say, ‘I just need young men that can get up there and lay roof,’” Browning said.

To meet those demands, he called for increased state funding and greater collaboration with the Florida Department of Education to create industrial certifications for those fields. The district also needs to ensure opportunities for students, not destined for college, to have a chance to learn trade skills that can translate to high-wage job right out of high school.

Browning put it this way: “What we need to do is have training programs that meet the needs of all of our students, so if you’re going to be a plumber, you be the best plumber you can be.”

Browning also said the school district needs more input from local business leaders on the types of labor needed for the present and future.

“We need to do a better job of communicating, and we need to create a better relationship with our chambers, because the chambers are the ones that are really connecting, letting businesses know what we do and creating dialogues to help build that need,” the superintendent said.

Preparing tomorrow’s workforce
Browning was upbeat about some of the career and technical academies the district presently offers.

Pasco County School’s Career and Technical Education programs were discussed extensively at the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit. (Courtesy of Pasco Schools)

He pointed to Zephyrhills High’s aviation academy and Wesley Chapel High’s automotive technology academy, along with academies at other schools ranging from health and finance, to cybersecurity and culinary arts.

“I think we’re on the right path,” Browning said. “We’re working tirelessly trying to make sure our programs are relevant to meet the employment needs of our employers in Pasco County. We’re not perfect, and we’re not where we need to be. We’re still trying to figure out how to address the trades issue.”

Browning also mentioned the district is designing a technical high school in east Pasco that would likely open by 2022.

The district’s only two technical offerings — Marchman Technical College and Wendell Krinn Technical High School (which replaced Ridgewood High this school year) — are located in New Port Richey.

Plans call for the new school to be built on a 125-acre, district-owned tract of land along Fairview Heights and Handcart Road in the Dade City area.

It will help relieve overcrowding at Pasco, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, Browning said.

“It’s going to be uniquely situated in the right place, right spot, offering technical career education students are clamoring for,” he said.

The technical school is also something the manufacturing industry is pushing for, according to Tom Mudano, AmSkills executive director, another guest speaker at the summit.

Mudano said a tech school based in east Pasco could help lure more manufacturing business to the region, to follow in the footsteps of companies such as Mettler Toledo and TouchPoint Medical, which he said have already brought a combined 700 jobs to the county.

“We truly believe that we need a facility on this side of Pasco County,” Mudano said. “If you’re looking at bringing jobs here, having a workforce is important.”

Mudano pointed out Tampa Bay has the most number of manufacturers in the state. And, he said that many of those companies have expressed a great need for additional skilled and semi-skilled workers.

“A lot of people don’t even realize that there’s a lot of (manufacturing) opportunities out there,” he said.

Mudano also assured that those types of trade jobs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

He cited information from the National Association of Manufacturers that projects there will be about 3.4 million jobs over the next 10 years, yet only 1.1 million of them will get filled.

The summit also featured a lengthy presentation from state Sen. Tom Lee, a Republican from Thonotosassa. Much of his talk centered on the state’s education system and the strides made during the last several years.

He pointed to the advent of charter schools and various opportunity scholarship programs as key reasons for boosting the state’s public education system on the whole.

“Everybody is more on their game today than they were 20 years ago. We have a rising graduation rate, better testing scores,” said Lee, who represents parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties in District 20.

He added: “We have created some competition for the public education system, and the public education system has responded well.”

Meanwhile, Lee suggested that going forward, the state legislature should “back off some of the micromanagement” of county school districts. He said school boards should instead have more control over district budgets and educational programs to “best meet the needs of the individual student populations of the schools.”

Lee also advocated for creating “fair competition” and “leveling the playing field” between public schools and alternative charter schools.

One way to do that, he said, includes loosening up some of strict building requirements of new public schools, called State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF), that cost school districts exponentially more than their charter school counterparts. He asked: “Why is it costing public education system 20 percent more to build a public school than it is a charter school?”

Other speakers at the summit included Dr. Keiva Wiley, Pasco County Schools director of Career and Technical Education; Angie Stone, Zephyrhills High School principal; Dr. Stanley Giannet, of Pasco-Hernando State College; Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley; Maria Reza, Career Source Pasco/Hernando business services consultant; Seta Ruiz, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills director of clinical services; and, Dr. Randy Stovall, Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president.

The Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition presented the summit, in partnership with the City of Zephyrhills and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Published November 7, 2018

Pasco County Schools helping Hurricane Michael victims

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Pasco County Schools has given 20 school buses to Bay District Schools and is loaning 20 maintenance employees to that district to help it recover from Hurricane Michael.

David Fussell, of Bay District Schools, was among the bus drivers arriving in Pasco County last week to pick up buses that Pasco County is providing to assist the Bay school district, which is in the midst of recovering from Hurricane Michael. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Bay County school bus drivers traveled to New Port Richey on Nov. 1, where they picked up the Pasco school district’s buses to drive them back to Bay County, according to a news release from Pasco County Schools.

When the visiting bus drivers arrived at Fred K. Marchman Technical College, they were served lunch by the school’s culinary students. After lunch, they were escorted to the bus barn at Pinehill Road and Congress Street, to pick up the buses to drive back to Bay County. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office escorted the buses to Interstate 75, according to Linda Cobbe, public information officer for Pasco County Schools.

Bus drivers from Bay County District Schools traveled to Pasco County to pick up some buses to take back to their district, which is recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael.

The schedule called for laborers and experts in site development, tree trimming, heavy equipment, electricity, HVAC, carpentry and mechanics to travel from Pasco County, to help Bay County schools to prepare for students in that district to return to school on Nov. 12, the release said.

The Pasco school district crew was scheduled to depart on Nov. 3 at 6:30 a.m., from the Maintenance Department, 11835 Tree Breeze Drive in New Port Richey.

In the news release, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said, “I can’t imagine what our colleagues are going through in the Panhandle, and we just wanted to give them the same kind of support I know they would give to us if we were in the same situation.”

Published November 7, 2018

Chalk Talk 11/07/2018

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Carly Bowling

Constitution essay winners
Among a record of 103 entrants in Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neil’s fifth annual Constitution Essay Contest, Carly Bowling, a fifth-grader at Woodland Elementary School, came out on top with her deep research, a keen grasp of history and the intent of the Constitution, as well as clear writing skills.

Bowling will receive a tour of the Pasco County courthouse of her choice and lunch with O’ Neil.

Lake Myrtle Elementary’s Priscilla Savill and Oakstead Elementary’s Philip Fleming both had strong essays with personal touches, that produced second and third places, respectively.

Priscilla Savill

Savill’s essay wrote about the role her generation will play in “passing freedoms on to my children and future generations.”

Fleming’s submission was well-organized and packed with relevant background information that “flowed nicely into information about the Constitution,” wrote one judge.

All three winners will be presented to Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and the district staff of Paula O’ Neil at the school board meeting on Dec. 18, where they will receive trophies and memorabilia from Saint Leo University.

Philip Fleming

Honorable mentions were awarded to Ben Roorda, Oakstead Elementary; Megan Levy, First Christian Academy; William Vaughn, Woodland Elementary; Emma Hatzistefanou, Trinity Elementary; Ethan Florer, Woodland Elementary; Bella Whiffen, Oakstead Elementary; Della Krook, Oakstead Elementary; and Genevieve Tucker, Longleaf Elementary.

The three winning compositions are posted online at Facebook. Com/PascoClerk/.

 

 

Fall job fair
Pasco County Schools will host a Fall Instructional Job Fair on Nov. 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

All education interns, teachers, student services employees, and those who have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming certified educators are invited to attend.

Candidates are being sought for these positions: math, science, elementary education, school nurse, behavioral analyst, guest teachers, exceptional student education (ESE), and emotional and behavioral disorders/autism spectrum disorders (EBD/ASD).

Applicants can meet with administrators and hiring managers for on-the-spot interviews.

Register by visiting PascoFallJobFair2018.eventbrite.com.

Registered applicants can win door prizes and giveaways.

Certification information sessions will take place at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.

For information and to submit an application, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/, or email .

Merit scholarship semifinalist
Hannah Holliday, a senior at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill, has been named a 2018-2019 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

More than 1.6 million junior students entered the competition by taking the 2017 PSAT, from which the top 1 percent became semifinalists.

Moore-Mickens social
The Moore-Mickens Alumni Association (Classes of 1940-1972) will host a “Blue & Gold Social” Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Moore-Mickens Educations & Vocational Center, 38301 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

There will be games, prizes, food and dancing. The cost is $15.

For information, call The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Saint Leo open house
Saint Leo University, 3370 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host an open house Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for students of all ages.

Check-in and breakfast will be available from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., in the Student Community Center.

Check-in and late registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., by the clock tower at the Student Activities Building.

There will be a presentation by Saint Leo’s Office of Admissions at 8:30 a.m.

Guests can learn about the school’s academic programs through faculty visits, resource fairs, and academic presentations and demonstrations.

Visitors also can tour the campus, talk to current students, learn about clubs and organizations, meet with financial aid representatives, talk with admissions counselors and more.

Lunch also will be provided.

Admission is free.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/open-house.

For information about the event, call (352) 588-8283, or visit .

Mathematics contest
Saint Leo University is looking for middle schoolers to participate in the American Mathematics Competition 8, on Nov. 13. The contest was developed by the Mathematical Association of America, and is free.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to develop positive attitudes about mathematics and analytical thinking by having them apply classroom learning to a 25-question, multiple-choice exam.

Students have 40 minutes to complete the questions. Learn more about the subject matter at MAA.org/math-competitions/amc-8.

Saint Leo will accommodate 30 students and mathematics faculty will monitor the contest.

Students are asked to arrive by 5:45 p.m., and go directly to Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall. The test starts promptly at 6 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Parents should email Dr. Kevin Murphy at to reserve a spot, and include the phrase “AMC 8” in the subject line. Or, parents also can call (8352) 588-7192.

Great American Teach-In
Wesley Chapel High School is looking for speakers for the Great American Teach-In that will take place Nov. 14.

Guests are to speak for a 30-minute session and give students a few minutes to ask questions.

Students would like to hear about different jobs, hobbies and/or interesting experiences adults have had in their lives.

For information, call Kelly Faysash, college and career specialist, at (813) 794-8717.

Grants for innovation
The Hunter Brooks Memorial Fund offers grants to young people, ages 16 to 25, who have demonstrated a passion and enthusiasm in developing new ideas, especially in the fields of music, the performing arts, computer technology and entrepreneurship.

These grants, up to $5,000 each, are direct financial support to help young people bring their ideas and projects to fruition.

There is not cost or obligation to apply.

Further information and the grant application can be found at HunterWatson.org/grants.

The deadline for the current grant cycle is Nov. 15.

Hillsborough to cast votes on road, school taxes

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Hillsborough County voters have the option of raising sales taxes to help pay for transportation, and for school air-conditioning and capital improvements.

The transportation improvements would be made by voting to amend the County Charter to enact a 1-cent sales surtax that would be levied for 30 years and deposited in an audited trust fund with an independent oversight.

That tax would be in addition to the current 7 percent sales tax and is estimated to raise $278 million annual, and $552 million in the first two revenue years. The revenues would be shared by the Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and using a population-based formula by the Hillsborough County Commission, the City of Tampa, and the City of Temple Terrace.

The money would be used for road and bridge improvements; expanded public transit options; to fix potholes; enhance bus services; relieve rush hour bottlenecks; improve intersections; and, make walking and biking safer.

Hillsborough voters also have the option of authorizing a ½-cent sales surtax for 10 years to fund air conditioning replacements and repairs, capital improvements and construction of other schools, building enhancements for school security and other maintenance needs.

The new ½-cent tax is in addition to the current 7 percent sales tax. It is estimated to raise $138 million annually. Expenditures will be governed by the Aug. 24, 2018 Hillsborough County School Board resolution.

Published October 31, 2018

Chalk Talk 10/31/2018

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(Courtesy of Joan Midgett)

Stewart Middle students are ‘top dogs’
Students from Stewart Middle School were honored as Top Dogs for their academics and leadership roles in school, through a program that was started more than 30 years ago. Each Top Dog received a certificate and a gold dog tag. The students that were recognized included Ava Tellis, Elizabeth Gettings, Aiden Thorne, Larrisa Sutton and Caitlyn Eudy. Also rewarded, but not pictured, were Andrea Chavez, Chara Antonucci and Connor Mercer.

 

 

 

 

Wiregrass hosts Literacy Night
Wiregrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel hosted a “Fall Into Literacy Night” that featured student-developed literacy projects, such as poems and stories; reading resources for parents, guest authors and story time sessions; an art show; and, a pair of musical concerts with performances by the school’s second and fifth-grade students.

Wiregrass Elementary was aiming to build on the success of its STEAM night last spring.

Moore-Mickens social
The Moore-Mickens Alumni Association (Classes of 1940-1972) will host a “Blue & Gold Social” Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Moore-Mickens Educations & Vocational Center, 38301 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

There will be games, prizes, food and dancing. The cost is $15.

For information, call The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Saint Leo open house
Saint Leo University, 3370 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host an open house Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for students of all ages.

Check-in and breakfast will be available from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., in the Student Community Center.

Check-in and late registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., by the clock tower at the Student Activities Building.

There will be a presentation by Saint Leo’s Office of Admissions at 8:30 a.m.

Guests can learn about the school’s academic programs through faculty visits, resource fairs, and academic presentations and demonstrations.

Visitors also can tour the campus, talk to current students, learn about clubs and organizations, meet with financial aid representatives, talk with admissions counselors and more.

Lunch also will be provided.

Admission is free.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/open-house.

For information about the event, call (352) 588-8283, or visit .

Mathematics contest
Saint Leo University is looking for middle schoolers to participate in the American Mathematics Competition 8, on Nov. 13. The contest was developed by the Mathematical Association of America, and is free.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to develop positive attitudes about mathematics and analytical thinking by having them apply classroom learning to a 25-question, multiple-choice exam.

Students have 40 minutes to complete the questions. Learn more about the subject matter at MAA.org/math-competitions/amc-8.

Saint Leo will accommodate 30 students and mathematics faculty will monitor the contest.

Students are asked to arrive by 5:45 p.m., and go directly to Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall. The test starts promptly at 6 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Parents should email Dr. Kevin Murphy at to reserve a spot, and include the phrase “AMC 8” in the subject line. Or, parents also can call (8352) 588-7192.

Pasco County Schools win gold
Pasco County Schools is a Florida Healthy School District Gold award level winner, for the first time.

The district will hold the Gold award designation through 2020.

Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning thanked the members of the district’s School Health Advisory Committee, which provides advocacy for school health, and identifies needs and opportunities to maximize community resources.

The committee advises the Pasco County School Board on health education and initiated the district’s no-smoking policy, among other initiatives.

The Pasco County district earned the Silver award in 2016, and has been recognized as a health school district consistently since 2012.

To earn the Gold award, Pasco County Schools demonstrated high scores in all areas, as follows:

  • 94 percent: Health School Environment
  • 93 percent: Employee Wellness
  • 90 percent: Health Services
  • 86 percent: District Infrastructure
  • 84 percent: Physical Education
  • 82 percent: Counseling Psychological and Social Services
  • 80 percent: Health Education

Chalk Talk 10/24/2018

By

(Courtesy of Melonie Monson)

Students of the Month recognized
Nine students were honored as the The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Students of the Month, for October. Students are chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Those receiving honors were: Joseph Nespoli, The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Austin Ward, The Broach School; Julian Ortiz, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School; Jasmine Genton, East Pasco Adventist Academy;  Johnathan Dowling, Heritage Academy; Rachel Diaz, Raymond B. Stewart Middle School; Callie Carter, West Zephyrhills Elementary School; Matheo Cisneros, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; and Bryce Sanders, Zephyrhills High School.

Fall festival
Pasco Elementary School will host a Fall Festival on Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be bounce houses, games, prizes, face painting, free books, free child ID kits, a selfie station and more. No costumes or masks will be allowed.

To preorder a wristband ($10) by Oct. 24, call (352) 524-5200. The cost at the gate will be $15. Adult admission is free. A dunk tank, a cake walk, and some food and drink will be available for an additional cost.

Trunk or Treat will take place in the parking lot from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students can wear costumes for this event. A trophy will be given to the best decorated vehicle. For information, contact Alicia VanDusen at or (352) 524-5208.

All proceeds will go to purchase student and staff incentives.

Poster and poem contest
Paralyzed Veterans of America has launched its 15th annual Veterans Day National Poster and Poem Contest, to showcase the artistic talents and patriotic pride of young students for disabled veterans in their communities.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Help Our Veterans Be UnstoppABLE in Your Community.”

Participants are asked to draw a poster or write a poem showing or telling how they can help make their community more accessible for veterans who use wheelchairs.

The poster contest is open to students in first grade to fourth grade. The poem contest is open to students in grades five to eight.

Entries must be received by 5 p.m., on Oct. 29.

For information, including guidelines and how to enter, visit PVA.org/posterpoem.

Mathematics contest
Saint Leo University is looking for middle schoolers to participate in the American Mathematics Competition 8, on Nov. 13. The contest was developed by the Mathematical Association of America, and is free.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to develop positive attitudes about mathematics and analytical thinking by having them apply classroom learning to a 25-question, multiple-choice exam.

Students have 40 minutes to complete the questions. Learn more about the subject matter at MAA.org/math-competitions/amc-8.

Saint Leo will accommodate 30 students and mathematics faculty will monitor the contest.

Students are asked to arrive by 5:45 p.m., and go directly to Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall. The test starts promptly at 6 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Parents should email Dr. Kevin Murphy at to reserve a spot, and include the phrase “AMC 8” in the subject line. Or, parents also can call (8352) 588-7192.