Education

Wesley Chapel schools earn national PTA distinction

September 19, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

Wesley Chapel’s Double Branch Elementary School and Dr. John Long Middle School each have been named a 2018-2020 National PTA School of Excellence.

The National PTA organization has a program with specific criteria, allowing schools around the country to be acknowledged for their service to students.

The year-long process includes choosing one of three areas of focus: education, health and safety, or arts. Once that is selected, a PTA can choose a more specific topic to work on.

Dr. John Long Middle School is one of two Wesley Chapel schools to be recognized with the 2018-2020 National PTA School of Excellence award. (Brian Fernandes)

Local officials were gratified by the recognition for programs and actions taken on their campuses last school year.

“We have a great school,” said Jennifer Kanyok, PTSA member at John Long Middle School. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for what our PTA does. It’s a great honor.”

“It really is about the community coming together to support the needs of the students,” said Vaughnette Chandler, principal of Double Branch Elementary School.

As a middle school, John Long offers a Parent-Teacher-Student Association(PTSA) program.

The association gives students the opportunity to act as liaisons on behalf of the school, by attending PTSA meetings and offering their input. Each grade level has four to five student representatives.

“That’s really the purpose behind PTSA, to bring students’ voice[s] to the forefront,” said John Long’s principal Christine Wolff.

Various speakers have been brought to John Long Middle, as well, to address issues such as bullying, and cyber safety when using the internet and cellphones.

Double Branch Elementary chose to focus on health and safety — zeroing in on the issue of bullying.

The school would set out for the next year identifying what bullying is, addressing it and helping to eliminate it.

As part of its program, Double Branch implemented a “kindness initiative,” which involved different departments, including the student council, said Double Branch’s PTA president Courtney Wine.

The school selected a ‘Rancher of the Quarter’ to acknowledge students who exemplified kindness.

The title was bestowed for exceptional acts in class, in the cafeteria and on the bus.

Over the summer, Double Branch also hosted the Fifth-Grade Leadership Academy, designed to help the older students develop into responsible leaders for the younger ones.

“The message there is, kind acts lead to kinder acts,” Chandler said.

The school used its television show, called The News Show, to recognize student acts of generosity.

Double Branch’s agenda for kindness is not exclusive to just parents, students and administration.

“We welcome community partners to come in,” said Wine, who has witnessed an outpouring of support from outside the school. “The more people we have together, the stronger our voice is for what our kids need.”

Kid-friendly businesses have partnered with the PTA in its efforts. Local dentists and tutoring services, including Mathnasium and Life Skills in Action, have taken part.

The John Long PTSA has also partnered with the community, offering a number of fundraisers throughout the academic year.

In addition to working with Toys for Tots, it had a jeans drive, as well as collecting personal hygiene items to contribute to another community school.

“Those are all positive messages that kids learn,” Wolff said. “If you have the opportunity to give to somebody else, you should do that as well.”

Working with the school’s English department has also been important for the PTSA.

Together, they have hosted a summer reading program to better engage children in literature. Upon completion, students are rewarded with an ice cream party.

Both schools also engage their students in the National PTA Reflections Art Program, which offers singing, dance choreography and literature to name a few options.

Kanyok, a six-year PTSA member, has a daughter with a love for drawing. She motivates her to use Reflections as a way of presenting her art to the public.

Leaders at both schools agree that parents do not need to join the PTA to be effective advocates for their children — they just need to lend their voices to issues that matter to them.

The school encourages not only parents, but other family members and members of the community to volunteer.

“We encourage grandparents, aunts and uncles,” said Kanyok. “The more parent involvement we have, the better we run, the better our school runs.”

While being grateful for the recognition, leaders at both schools said the focus remains on serving students.

“The purpose wasn’t to get the award,” said Wolff. “The purpose was to do what was behind the purpose of the award, which was to make sure there were good processes in place for kids.”

Published September 19, 2018

Chalk Talk 09/19/2018

September 19, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Peace Week celebration
Pasco-Hernando State College will host speakers, guest lecturers, exhibits, presentations, interactive workshops, and peace festivals for its 11th annual Peace Week, Sept. 24 to Sept. 28.

Buddhist monks work on a sand mandala creation during last year’s PHSC Peace Week. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

The theme of “Unity” will run through the college’s East Campus in Dade City, North Campus in Brooksville, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, the Spring Hill Campus, and the West Campus in New Port Richey.

There will be presentations and lectures entitled “Stand Together,” “Coffee with a Cop,” “Wellness Techniques and Chair Yoga,” and more.

Unity festivals, with drum circles, exhibits and displays, will take place on each campus. Crafts, such as tie-dye T-shirts, also will be available.

At the Spring Hill Campus, Buddhist monks will create a sand mandala, which will be displayed for a short period of time before a dissolution ceremony takes place.

For information, visit PHSC.edu.

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its Sept. 25 meeting, at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court.

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.

For details, visit Policies.PHSC.edu/policies-and-procedures/public-disclosure.

Questions and concerns can be directed to the appropriate dean listed on the webpage.

Saint Leo open house
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host an open house Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for students of all ages, and their families and friends.

Guests can get acquainted with the academic programs by talking to the faculty, through resource fairs, and a variety of academic presentations and demonstrations.

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

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Admission is free.

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

For help with registration, or for questions, contact the Office of Admissions at or (352) 588-8283.

Performing Arts College Fair
Students interested in pursuing a college degree in dance, theater or music are encouraged to attend the Straz Center’s inaugural Performing Arts College Fair on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1010 N. MacInnes Place in Tampa.

There will be morning workshop rotations that include master classes and audition prep taught by Patel Conservatory faculty.

In the afternoon, guests can meet with representatives from schools known for their performing arts programs, including: Carnegie Mellon School of Music; The American Musical Dramatic Academy; Boston Conservatory; Flagler College; Greensboro College; Stetson University; Florida College; Butler University; University of North Florida; Lynn Conservatory of Music; Florida State University College of Music; Valdosta State University; University of South Florida; Florida Southern College; Savannah College of Art & Design; Manhattan School of Music; The New School; and, the University of Florida.

Admission is free. Lunch will be available for purchase.

Reservations are required at PatelConservatory.asapconnected.com/#EventDetail=177547.

For information, call the Patel Conservatory Student Affairs office at (813) 222-1029.

Free homecoming dresses and accessories
The Belle of the Ball Project will once again provide free homecoming dresses and accessories, to in-need high school girls, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its boutique at 1210 Holt Ave., in Clearwater. Upcoming dates include Oct. 6 and Oct. 20.

Dresses will be available for prom, homecoming and military balls.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A small donation of $1 to $5 can be made, but is not required.

The project also will accept donations of dresses and accessories.

For information, call (877) 772-3553.

Chalk Talk 09/12/2018

September 12, 2018 By Mary Rathman

This team cares about students
David Weekley Homes hosted its annual companywide CA⁺RE School Supplies Drive in 17 cities across the country. Locally, supplies were collected for the Hillsborough Education Foundation, which is dedicated to more than 200,000 students in Hillsborough County Public Schools by providing educational resources and financial assistance. Approximately $900 in supplies came from homeowners and business partners, providing more than 1,100 pieces needed for the school year. In addition, the Weekley Family Foundation donated $5,000 to use toward classroom technology. David Weekley team members are shown with bags of supplies for the Foundation.

Looking for sponsors
Bexley Elementary’s PTO (parent-teacher organization) is planning to host a Movie Night on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m., for all students and their families, and is looking for a local business to help sponsor the event.

A donation of $500 will cover the cost of the blow-up screen and projector.

The movie will be free, including popcorn, and will be in the school’s cafeteria.

Families who would like to eat dinner, can buy pizza, a cookie and soda for $3.

Bexley also is open to ideas on sponsorship benefits. Some of these ideas include: the business/logo mentioned as a sponsor in all promotions leading up to movie night; a Thank You message with logo displayed on the screen prior to the movie; a table on-site with information about the business; and, the business could provide branded popcorn bags or could provide stickers to put on the bags.

For information, email Kathy Hrach at ">.

SAT/ACT boot camp
More than 50 local students can now get help with free SAT/ACT prep.

Scholarships are available to students from low-income families.

Andrea Catsicas, of Mindworks Prep, is offering the scholarships for eligible students to attend one of her Tampa area boot camps.

Local students currently on free or reduced lunch can apply.

There will be a one-day boot camp at the University of South Florida Alumni Center on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information and to apply, visit MindworksPrep.com.

Early learning enrichment
Tinkergarten, an early learning enrichment program that focuses on nature and community, will host a free trial class Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe III Community Clubhouse, 1500 Meadow Pointe Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Tinkergarten’s mission is to elevate childhood and bring families together in a natural place in the community for classes, where kids learn through play.

Each class will have expert-designed, outdoor play-based activities, and will include capabilities such as empathy, collaboration, creativity, persistence and problem-solving.

The classes are for ages 18 months to 8 years.

For information, email Charity Henesy-Brooks at .

Dresses will be available for prom, homecoming and military balls.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A small donation of $1 to $5 can be made, but is not required.

The project also will accept donations of dresses and accessories.

For information, call (877) 772-3553.

Civic literacy requirement
Pasco-Hernando State College has implemented the new Civic Literacy requirement for students seeking an Associate in Arts or bachelor degree.

First-time-in-college students must satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement prior to submitting an Intent to Graduate form in the term they plan to graduate.

The new requirement, Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in 2017.

The requirement can be met by successfully completing one of the following courses or tests:

POS 2041: a college-level survey course on American government
AMH 2020: U.S. American History (II), since 1865, or
Successfully pass Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government & Politics test, with a passing score of 3; the AP U.S. History test, with a passing score of 4; or the College-Level Examination Program American Government test, with a passing score of 50.

To learn more about PHSC graduation requirements, students must contact a PHSC advisor.

For information on PHSC programs and services, visit PHSC.edu.

Best & Worst School Systems
WalletHub, a personal-finance website, released its report on 2018’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems, as well as videos.

In order to determine the best school systems in the United States, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key measures of quality and safety.

The date set ranges from pupil-teacher ratio to dropout rate to median standardized test scores.

The quality and safety of schools in Florida were ranked this way (1=Best, 25=Average):

3rd: Bullying Incidence Rate
9th: Reading Test Scores
17th: Math Test Scores
30th: Pupil-Teacher Scores
37th: Dropout Rate
39th: Percentage of threatened/injured high school students
39th: Median ACT Score
46th: Media SAT Score
49th: Percentage of licensed/certified public K-12 teachers

Massachusetts is listed as the top-ranked state overall for its school systems. Florida ranked 26th and New Mexico is listed in 51st place.

For a full report, visit Wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335.

Chalk Talk 09/05/2018

September 5, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Staff members from the Wesley Chapel office of the Pasco County Tax Collector delivered backpacks, along with a check for teachers, to Chester Taylor Elementary School in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of the Pasco County Tax Collector)

Staff provides for students in need
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices accepted donations from the public to purchase backpacks and school supplies for students in need.

A majority of the funds, $20,395.65 in total, was used to purchase back-to-school supplies. A smaller portion was used to assist in buying classroom supplies for teachers.

Each school received 75 completely filled backpacks and a check for $1,750 for the teachers to purchase supplies.

Pasco County Tax Collector’s Dade City staff members delivered backpacks and a check to Rodney Cox Elementary School in Dade City.

And, each school determined which students would benefit from the donated items.

Staff members from each office delivered the backpacks and school supplies to the principals and teachers at Rodney Cox Elementary, Chester Taylor Elementary, Pine View Elementary, Richey Elementary and Hudson Elementary schools.

Pine View Elementary School, in Land O’ Lakes, received backpacks and a check from staff members at the Land O’ Lakes office of the Pasco County Tax Collector.

This is the second year the tax collector’s offices have had its own charitable promotion for the sole purpose of assisting students who live and go to school near each office.

For information about the charitable programs, visit PascoTaxes.com, or call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179.

Free homecoming dresses
The Belle of the Ball Project will once again provide free homecoming dresses and accessories, to in-need high school girls, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its boutique at 1210 Holt Ave., in Clearwater. Upcoming dates include Sept. 22, Oct. 6 and Oct. 20.

Dresses will be available for prom, homecoming and military balls.

No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.

A small donation of $1 to $5 can be made, but is not required.

The project also will accept donations of dresses and accessories.

For information, call (877) 772-3553.

Early learning enrichment
Tinkergarten, an early learning enrichment program that focuses on nature and community, will host a free trial class Sept. 9 and Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe III Community Clubhouse, 1500 Meadow Pointe Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Tinkergarten’s mission is to elevate childhood and bring families together in a natural place in the community for classes, where kids learn through play.

Each class will have expert-designed, outdoor play-based activities, and will include capabilities such as empathy, collaboration, creativity, persistence and problem-solving.

The classes are for ages 18 months to 8 years.

For information, email Charity Henesy-Brooks at .

College nights
Pasco-Hernando State College will host its annual College and Career Night on Sept. 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Dade City campus, 36727 Blanton Road; and on Sept. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road.

Representatives from PHSC, public and private colleges, universities, other educational institutions and the military will participate.

Prospective students can get information about admissions, financial aid and programs for post-secondary study.

Admission is free.

For information, visit PHSC.edu.

A donation of $500 will cover the cost of the blow-up screen and projector.

The movie will be free, including popcorn, and will be in the school’s cafeteria.

Families who would like to eat dinner, can buy pizza, a cookie and soda for $3.

For information, email Kathy Hrach at .

SAT/ACT boot camp
More than 50 local students can now get help with free SAT/ACT prep.

Scholarships are available to students from low-income families.

Andrea Catsicas, of Mindworks Prep, is offering the scholarships for eligible students to attend one of her Tampa area boot camps.

Local students currently on free or reduced lunch can apply.

There will be a one-day boot camp at the University of South Florida Alumni Center on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information and to apply, visit MindworksPrep.com.

First female pilot earns private license in PHSC program

August 29, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

The first time she steered a plane, Vanessa Baker was hooked.

It was that moment, on an introductory discovery flight, that she knew piloting was the career for her.

“The second you do it, you fall in love,” Baker said. “It was kind of like an addiction after, like you do it and once you’re like, ‘This is awesome! I want to do this again!’”

Baker, 24, is the first — and currently the only— female pilot student at Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license, through the school’s professional pilot technology program.

Vanessa Baker is the first, and currently the only, female piloting student from Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license through the school’s professional pilot technology program. She began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July. She has about another year-and-a-half in the associates of science aviation degree program. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Baker’s interest in flying piqued after her father showed her a magazine about the PHSC’s new aviation department at the East Campus in Dade City.

A self-proclaimed “wild child,” Baker figured she’d give it a shot. She’s had fun ever since.

“Literally, every day I’m there, I have the best time,” she said of learning to fly.

Baker began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July.

“I do feel a sense of accomplishment, like, ‘Hey, I was the first female to do this. If I can do it, you can definitely do it,’” she said.

Along with the designation at PHSC, Baker joins rare company nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports about 7 percent of all pilots are females, equating to about 42,000 total.

Even fewer are commercial pilots, which Baker wants to become someday.

Said Baker: “I definitely do think it’s interesting that it’s mostly a male-dominated field. I think that’s very weird. It doesn’t make any sense to me at all, and I think it would be really cool if that changed.”

Mark Aragon, PHSC professional pilot director, said other female students are enrolled in the PHSC aviation program, but have yet to get their private pilot’s license.

He also noted just 10 percent of all pilot students across each state college end up earning their wings, making Baker part of an “elite group.”

Aragon taught Baker her aviation ground school classes.

The instructor admits Baker struggled early on, but her effort and dedication has won out in a pilot technology program, which he said “is like drinking from a fire hose.”

“She’s going to be very successful,” Aragon said. “She has that stick-to-itiveness, that drive and desire that like, ‘This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be. I’m not going to let anything slow me down.’”

Private pilot license in hand, Baker is still seeking her instrument pilot rating, multi-engine pilot rating and commercial pilot license — all through the two-year professional pilot technology associates of science degree program.

She’s racked up more than 100 flying hours at the American Aviation Flight Academy at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. She needed about 40 hours to earn her private license.

At the academy, Baker trains in a Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft that cruises at 140 mph and reaches more than 180 mph.

She’s flown throughout Florida, passing over Naples, St. Augustine, Crystal River, Gainesville, Ocala and Crystal River, and even going as far north as Valdosta, Georgia.

The thrill of flying still hasn’t worn off, Baker said.

“You definitely feel alive,” she said. “I still look out the window when I’m flying, and I’m just like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to do this!’”

In between her busy class and flight schedule, Baker works as a phlebotomist at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, not leaving much room for free time.

“It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it,” Baker said. “I think this is probably the best decision I’ve ever made — definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”

The state college launched its aviation department last August.

It began offering two Associate of Science degrees in professional pilot technology and aviation administration. This fall, it began offering A.S. degrees in aviation maintenance administration and unmanned vehicles systems operations.

The two–year programs are designed for students interested in becoming private and commercial pilots or airport managers.

Other possible career opportunities include flight dispatchers, transportation security officers, various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) occupations, aviation safety and aircraft manufacturing.

Pilot students, who receive more than 200 flying hours during the entire degree program, also train on the FAA-approved Advanced Flight Simulator Laboratory, located at PHSC’s East Campus. The simulators can be reconfigured to emulate all types of aircraft in any environment or weather condition, providing a realistic experience.

Besides flight training, other classroom topics cover meteorology, flight safety and security, flight theory, and aviation regulations, among others.

Baker and other PHSC aviation students seem to be entering the aviation industry at an ideal time.

A 2017 report by Boeing estimates airlines in North America are going to need 117,000 new pilots and more than 200,000 aviation mechanics in the next 20 years, as passenger and cargo airlines worldwide are expected to buy 41,000 new airliners through 2036.

And, retirements at U.S. airlines will start to rise precipitously starting in 2021 as the current crop of pilots turn 65, the mandated age of retirement. More than 42 percent of active U.S. airline pilots at the biggest carriers will retire over the next 20 years, according to a 2017 report by Cowen & Company.

In Florida, meanwhile, employment as a professional pilot is expected to grow by about 13.5 percent between 2016 and 2024, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO).

Pilots in Pasco and Hernando counties typically earn entry level salaries of about $30,000 for a private pilot, and up to $104,000 for a commercial pilot, the FDEO says.

“The risk is worth the reward,” Baker said. “I think it’s a great thing to get into, and I don’t know why more people don’t do it.”

Published August 29, 2018

Educator’s vision helps expand children’s horizons

August 29, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Regla Sanchez has always been a fan of the performing arts.

And, on one occasion, while attending a show with her daughters, she thought to herself: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone in the theater could bring a less advantaged child to a future show?

The typical audience at a performing arts center is made up of people who have grown up going to the theater, Sanchez explained.

“Spending hundreds of dollars for one performance is nothing for some of these families,” the educator said.

Regla Sanchez is one of four educators across the nation to receive the 2018 League Educator Apple Award from the Broadway League. (B.C. Manion)

By contrast, many of the families she works with are struggling to get by.

So, Sanchez decided to try to expand the opportunities for the families she serves.

The result is a partnership she inspired between Pasco County Schools and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.

Since the partnership began two years ago, it has made it possible for 500 people — children and chaperones — to attend performances at the Straz. Shows they’ve seen include “Wicked,” “Cinderella” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The educator’s initiative also has yielded a national award for Sanchez, presented by the Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Only four educators nationwide received the distinction.

The partnership between the Straz and Pasco County Schools began shortly after Sanchez became the school district’s Parent Engagement Coach for Parents of English Language Learners.

Sanchez wanted the families she works with to have exposure to the theater because she believes the experience can help broaden one’s view of the world and expand one’s aspirations.

Many children her department serves come from families with parents who work as migrant laborers, so they don’t know any different kind of career, Sanchez said.

And, some of them have never left their community or had a chance to see downtown Tampa, she said.

Sanchez came up with a bold approach: She’d make a cold call at the Straz to pitch her idea.

“The security guard literally said, ‘Do you have an appointment?’

“I said, ‘I do not. I just need to speak to someone about my vision to see if they would partner with me and support my idea.’

“That’s how it all started,” she said.

Sanchez wound up talking to Alice Santana, community programs manager for Patel Conservatory at the Straz.

Santana described what happened, via email.

She said Sanchez explained the need, and the Straz decided to respond.

“Regla was so passionate about exposing her students to more that we quickly jumped at the opportunity to bring her vision to life,” Santana said.

Next, Sanchez reached out to her supervisor, Katty Chois, to see if funding could be obtained to pay for buses.

That happened, too.

Under the partnership, the Straz provides tickets, which are distributed to different schools serving students learning English, Sanchez said. Typically, a group of students will go, accompanied by chaperones. Sometimes the performances are on the weekend, so parents take their children.

Sanchez is thrilled that the partnership came together and is continuing.

“I’ve loved this from (the) get-go. I love to see the children engage. Their faces glow in the theater when they look around,” she said.

The Straz has the opportunity to nominate an educator each year for a Broadway League’s Educator Apple Award.

“This year, across the department, it was a unanimous decision to submit Regla for this honor,” Santana said.

“Regla is a true advocate for her students and their families, and a champion for theater,” Santana explained. The educator was determined to find out-of-the box opportunities.

The structure of the partnership between Pasco schools and the Straz will serve as a template for replicating the program with other counties, Santana added.

For Sanchez, the national recognition is icing on the cake.

“I was already rewarded. This is like a dream come true. God had blessed me with this opportunity. I’ve had doors open,” Sanchez said.

Published August 29, 2018

Chalk Talk 08/29/2018

August 29, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Sixty years, and still going strong
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated enough school supplies to fill two SUVs. The supplies and teacher-needed items, collected over the summer by the club’s Education Committee, were delivered to Lutz Elementary and Shady Hills Elementary schools. The woman’s club has supported education through scholarships, and assisted local schools and libraries in the community for nearly six decades. Pat Wagner, left, and Marcy Edmonson with one of the filled SUVs.

New academic year
Saint Leo University’s main campus, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, was filled with students finding their classes and learning what was in store for the new academic year, as classes began Aug. 21.

More than 2,100 traditional undergraduates are studying at University Campus this fall, with more than 1,400 students living on campus.

First-year and transfer students moved in Aug. 16.

For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

A donation of $500 will cover the cost of the blow-up screen and projector.

The movie will be free, including popcorn, and will be in the school’s cafeteria.

Families who would like to eat dinner, can buy pizza, a cookie and soda for $3.

For information, email Kathy Hrach at .

Patel Conservatory classes
Registration is now open for 2018 fall classes that start Sept. 4, in dance, theater and music at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

More than 100 classes are offered in age-specific categories, ranging from prekindergarten to adult. Sequential curricula are designed to accommodate students of all skill levels, from novice to professional.

Patel offers master classes with performers, field trips to professional performances, and celebrity question-and-answer sessions, as well as other activities. Auditions are required for some classes.

Registration is available online, by calling (813) 222-1040, or in person at the Patel Conservatory.

For information, and a full list of classes, descriptions and schedules, visit PatelConservatory.org.

SAT/ACT boot camp
More than 50 local students can now get help with free SAT/ACT prep.

Scholarships are available to students from low-income families.

Andrea Catsicas, of Mindworks Prep, is offering the scholarships for eligible students to attend one of her Tampa area boot camps.

Local students currently on free or reduced lunch can apply.

There will be a one-day boot camp at the University of South Florida Alumni Center on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information and to apply, visit MindworksPrep.com.

Performance funding
Pasco-Hernando State College recently placed in the silver category for state college performance funding, as announced by the Chancellor’s Office, Division of Florida Colleges.

The college will receive Institutional Investment Funds of $799,073, as well as State Investment Funds of $799,073, to support college operations for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Performance funding is relative to the metrics of student retention, completion, job placement and starting salaries for graduates.

For information PHSC programs and services, visit PHSC.edu.

Recycle with Crayola
Crayola ColorCycle was launched as a way to help kids understand the importance of their role in protecting the environment.

Through the initiative, students in kindergarten through 12th grade in schools across the United States and parts of Canada can collect and repurpose used Crayola markers.

Teachers and students have the opportunity to explore eco-friendly practices through specially developed standards-based lesson plans to enrich instruction and promote lively class discussion.

There are four steps to becoming an Eco-Cool School.

Inform the school administrators or parent-teacher organization about participating in the ColorCycle program.
Set up a collection station in the school for used markers. Count up all the markers.
Pack markers in a cardboard box (with minimal outer markings). Print out a shipping label.
FedEx Ground will pick up the markers – Crayola pays all the shipping charges.

For information and to get started, visit Crayola.com.

Serving in the Navy
Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Reina is a gas turbine systems technician aboard one of the four advanced warships forward-deployed to Rota, Spain.

He is participating in a NATO ballistic missile defense mission, while assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross.

A Navy gas turbine systems technician is responsible for the health of the engines and the propulsion of the ship.

Reina is a 2015 Sickles High School graduate and Tampa native.

Annual school photos capture moment in time

August 22, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Those annual photos that parents, grandparents and friends take on the First Day of School are a fun way to mark the beginning of a new year of learning.

They also offer a way to record changes in height, hair styles and fashions, over time.

Taking a First Day of School photo is a tradition for many families and, as the years roll by, they become miniature time capsules — offering a visual reminder of the children that were, and the young adults they’ve become.

Thanks, to our readers, who shared their First Day of School photos with us.

Julia O’ Connor on the first day of school. She is a first-grader at Sand Pine Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of George O’ Connor)

Baylor Frisco, wearing a gray shirt, on his first day of his senior year at Sunlake High School, along with his brother, Cannon, who is in his freshman year at the school, located in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of the Frisco family)

Nicholas Chapman heads to his first day of third grade at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Kimberly Chapman)

Kate Murdock has her photo taken near the sign at Learning Gate Community School, in Lutz, on the first day of the 2018-2019 school year. (Courtesy of Betsy Murdock)

Nathan Crowder and his little sister, Delanie Hadley, give each other encouragement as they head to fourth grade and kindergarten, respectively, at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Sarah Crowder)

Thirteen-year-old Colin Mendoza and 10-year-old Kayla Mendoza on the first day of school. Colin is in eighth grade at John Long Middle School and Kayla is in fifth grade at Seven Oaks Elementary School. Both schools are in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Rowena Mendoza)

Liam Perkins, of Zephyrhills, on his first day as a sixth-grader at Stewart Middle School. (Courtesy of Amanda Perkins)

Chalk Talk 08/22/2018

August 22, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Outstanding alumna
Ania McNamara, of Odessa, received the Outstanding Young Alumna Award from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, during the school’s Reunion Weekend.

Ania McNamara, far right, was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumna Award from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Other award winners, from left: Judy Mullins Lucas, Alumni Appreciation Award; Sarah Bellingham Laitinen, Lasallian Service Award; Ann Merchlewitz, Saint Mary’s interim president; Bobbie Smith Gostout, Distinguished Alumna Award. (Courtesy of Saint Mary’s University)

The award honors a young alum for outstanding accomplishments within the first 10 years of graduation whose professional accomplishments, service to the alma mater, or selfless and caring work to benefit society are distinctive.

McNamara has found success in her career and in her personal passion by providing gifts to orphans throughout Poland. A senior marketing professional, specializing in digital marketing, McNamara has broad perspective on the marketing needs of small companies, as well as the complex world of modern marketing and technology.

In 2016, she found McNamara Marketing, a flexible marketing resource firm providing full-service marketing to businesses worldwide.

In her spare time, McNamara organizes the CCF4Orphans Project, a 10-year initiative sending Christmas gifts overseas to children in Polish orphanages. The cause is particularly close to her heart as she and her sisters were adopted as young children from an orphanage in Poland.

For more information, visit CCF4Orphans Project on Facebook.

Recycle with Crayola
Crayola ColorCycle was launched as a way to help kids understand the importance of their role in protecting the environment.

Through the initiative, students in kindergarten through 12th grade in schools across the United States and parts of Canada can collect and repurpose used Crayola markers.

Teachers and students have the opportunity to explore eco-friendly practices through specially developed standards-based lesson plans to enrich instruction and promote lively class discussion.

There are four steps to becoming an Eco-Cool School.

Inform the school administrators or parent-teacher organization about participating in the ColorCycle program.
Set up a collection station in the school for used markers. Count up all the markers.
Pack markers in a cardboard box (with minimal outer markings). Print out a shipping label.
FedEx Ground will pick up the markers – Crayola pays all the shipping charges.

For information and to get started, visit Crayola.com.

Patel Conservatory classes
Registration is now open for 2018 fall classes that start Sept. 4, in dance, theater and music at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

Registration is available online, by calling (813) 222-1040, or in person at the Patel Conservatory.

Open houses for the school year will be Aug. 23 at 6 p.m., and Aug. 25 at 10 a.m.

For information, and a full list of classes, descriptions and schedules, visit PatelConservatory.org.

Wiregrass open house
Wiregrass Ranch High School will host an open house Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for all students.

Participants can learn about the academic and athletic programs available, as well as clubs and booster programs.

Teachers will be in their classrooms to meet with families and answer any questions.

For information, call (813) 346-6000.

AFIRE of Pasco
All Pasco County Tax Collector offices will be accepting donations for AFIRE of Pasco during the month of August.

AFIRE of Pasco is a day-training program for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It is geared specifically for people 22 years of age and older who have completed all school district programs for individuals with disabilities. AFIRE provides service five days per week to enrolled adults.

Services include basic academics, one-on-one computer instruction, training in daily living skills, and recreation and social outings/activities.

For information on donating, visit PascoTaxes.com, or call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179.

For information on the organization, visit AfirePasco.com, or call Denise Haystrand at (727) 849-8982.

Insurance company steps up
American Income Life, a provider of life, accident and supplemental health insurance, made a $25,000 contribution to Step Up For Students, helping lower-income children attend the kindergarten through 12th grade school that best fits their learning needs. The donation will fund three scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year.

This is the first time American Income has partnered with Step Up For Students, a nonprofit organization that helps manage the income-based Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

The tax credit program is for financially disadvantaged schoolchildren, and allows parents and schoolchildren to choose between a kindergarten through 12th grade scholarship that helps with private school tuition and fees, or one that assists with transportation costs to out-of-county public schools.

Student attends summer orientation
Zane Tarrance, of Odessa, attended Newberry College’s Wolf Pack Welcome, the college’s summer orientation.

The welcome is a one-day program designed to help first-year students transition smoothly from high school to Newberry College (South Carolina).

Activities included a team-building session, an academic session, a technology session, and an advisement session with an academic advisor.

Dean’s List honorees

Connor O’ Keefe, of Lutz, made the Dean’s List at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, for the spring semester.
Em Ovalle, of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Ovalle is a graduate of Freedom High School.
Jordan Wheeler, of Land O’ Lakes, made the Dean’s List at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Wheeler is enrolled in the university’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Woodland Elementary School gets new look

August 15, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Students and staff arriving this week at Woodland Elementary School for a new academic year found a campus that has undergone a substantial renovation.

The $12 million project included $9 million in construction costs and $3 million for other expenses, including furniture, architectural fees, materials testing, telecommunications, district staff and other costs, according to Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools.

An exterior view of a new building at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The renovation of the school at 38203 Henry Drive included the addition of more than 100 paved parking spaces, a new and expanded administration suite, 12 additional classrooms, a new art room, two new music rooms, an expanded student drop-off loop for parents, and a renovated kitchen and cafeteria, with a multipurpose room and stage, according to a school district news release.

Woodland Principal Shauntte Butcher recently gave a look at the upgraded facility to school district officials, including School Board member Allan Altman and schools Superintendent Kurt Browning. That tour was recorded on a video that’s available on YouTube.

During that video, Altman recalled visiting Woodland in 2007 to meet with the former principal Kim Poe, who showed him the school’s need for renovations.

Funding for the improvements came through the passage of the Penny for Pasco, which voters extended in 2012.

Cafeteria workers have a renovated kitchen at Woodland Elementary School.

“Today is just so exciting,” Altman said on the video, referring to the project’s completion.

He noted he was pleased “to see a beautiful school that’s going to serve the students and the families of the Zephyrhills area for years and years to come.”

As Butcher made her way around campus, she said the new cafeteria can serve twice as many students at once, allowing the school to trim down time needed to serve lunch each day.

The old cafeteria is now four classrooms, and the old kitchen is now a lab for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Other improvements include new furniture for the school’s existing classrooms, media center and teacher workroom, Butcher said.

Restrooms were updated, too.

When the school was built in 1976, it was designed for 652 students. As enrollment grew, more and more portable classrooms were moved onto campus to accommodate students.

The school’s new capacity is 900.

Published August 15, 2018