Education

Chalk Talk 05/17/2017

May 17, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Fifth-graders take steps to being healthy
Barbie Monty’s fifth-grade class at Carrollwood Day School organized a half-hour health walk, inspired by the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good program, to encourage small lifestyle changes that can add up to a big difference. The class invited experts to talk about nutrition, exercise and making good choices to avoid health problems. Students also used a website and phone app called Fooducate, which rates various foods for nutritional value and healthier alternatives. With a banner supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are, front row from left: Charlie Woeste, Madison Bouie, Sonia Gohil, Aayush Patel, Logan Watson, Max Rabenstein, Ranai Gosine, Vasili Sotiropoulos. Back row from left: Hilani Blume, Bhuvi Raxwal, Payton Nipps, Bailey Scott, Ryan Hakam, Demir Dikmen, Ayedean Sharabyani.

Learning center open house
The Lutz Learning Center, 621 Sunset Lane in Lutz, will host an open house May 20, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Guests can tour the campus and see how the classrooms “with no walls offer education, with no ceiling.”

For information and to RSVP, visit LutzLearning.com/OpenHouse.

Graduates receive academic honors
Two graduates from the class of 2017 from Saint Leo University received special academic honors from their home college at the university, the Donald R. Tapia School of Business.

Jessica Dean, of Wesley Chapel, majored in accounting and economics, and was given the business school’s Excellence in Academic Leadership Award.

The award honors a student who created a positive impact on the academic lives of others, in addition to achieving a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or above.

Dean was a tutor and president of two student organizations, and graduated cum laude.

Kara Ennis, of San Antonio, studied health care management with a minor in accounting, and was given the business school’s Excellence in Experiential Learning Award.

The award recognizes initiative, professionalism and integrity; and application of classroom learning; and, a grade point average of 3.25 or above.

Ennis took part in a summer internship at Oak Hill Hospital and shadowed in various department, communicating with nurses, department managers and top executives. She also graduated cum laude.

Teacher of the Year awards
U.S. Rep Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) announced the nine teachers from Pasco and Pinellas schools that have been nominated for the Teacher of the Year award.

The annual award recognizes educators who have made a special impact on their students, their schools and their community.

From Pasco County: Maria Imler, McKitrick Elementary; Joshua Aguiar, Sunlake High School; Jennifer O’ Connor, Land O’ Lakes High; David Berger, Land O’ Lakes High; Jeffrey Beson Jr., Wesley Chapel High; Diane Butler, Connerton Elementary; and, Tina Stavrou-Klem, Pasco County Office of Teaching and Learning.

From Pinellas County: Despina Garos, Leila G. Davis Elementary; and, Helen Fatolitis, Tarpon Springs Elementary.

Each teacher will receive a certificate of recognition and a congressional coin.

Scholarship honors Don Vierling
Pasco-Hernando State College hosted spring commencements May 3, conferred 450 degrees and certificates witnessed by record-setting audiences in attendance at two separate ceremonies. An estimated 913 spring graduates were eligible to participate.

Dr. Rao Musunuru, PHSC trustee and renowned cardiologist, presented a $10,000 scholarship in honor of Dr. Donald Vierling, a prominent member of the community, family physician and member of the PHSC Foundation executive committee – having served on numerous committees and chairman of the board twice during his more than 30-year tenure.

The scholarship funds will support PHSC nursing students.

Musunuru plans to continue establishing $10,000 scholarships in the names of employees, friends and benefactors of PHSC.

Pharmacy program gets accreditation
The Pasco-Hernando State College Pharmacy Technician Certificate program received a full three-year accreditation from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

The college’s program is designed to prepare students to work as pharmacy technicians in retail and hospital settings under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

The limited access program provides students an opportunity to earn a certificate in less than a year, when attending full-time.

For information about the program application and admission process, visit PHSC.edu.

Top schools for online health program
GradSource.com analyzed online public health master’s programs across the country, graded on five key criteria: affordability, flexibility, program prominence, student success and related degrees.

The top 10 schools ranked by GradSource.com are:

East Carolina University
Concord University
University of South Florida – Main Campus
Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
The University of West Florida
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Idaho State University
University of Illinois at Springfield
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

For more information on rankings and methodology, visit GradSource.com.

10-Year milestone

May 17, 2017 By Diane Kortus

This marks the 10th consecutive year that The Laker/Lutz News has published the names of every high school graduate in our local communities.

The Class of 2017 amounts to more than 3,500 graduates in the eight high schools our community newspapers cover.

In Pasco County, these graduates are from Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Zephyrhills high schools. And, in Hillsborough County, our graduates are from Steinbrenner and Freedom.

Names of graduates are listed by school, in alphabetical order, in our Graduation Section beginning on page 5. You will find graduate names from the two high schools closest to where you live, and also the names of valedictorians and salutatorians from these schools.

In addition to graduates from our public schools, you also will find the names of graduates from three private schools in our community — Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School and Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

You don’t have to be a graduate, or relative of a graduate, to enjoy looking though our Grad Section. It can be fun, even rewarding, to find names of kids you know from your neighborhood, friends and acquaintances, church, community groups, sports teams and recreational activities.

And, when you find a graduate you know, honor them by sending a congratulatory text, or better yet, give them a personal call. Congratulate your graduate for accomplishing an important goal in his or her life — one that is an essential stepping stone, as they go on to achieve many more.

Graduates of the Class of 2017 have worked for years to fulfill the requirements to qualify for graduation.

And, they are why today’s paper is important.

Graduating from high school is a monumental accomplishment that will set these students on a path to success.

We applaud the Class of 2017.

Published May 17, 2017

Chalk Talk 05/10/2017

May 10, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Chamber recognizes student citizens
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce honored nine Student Citizens of the Month for April, during a ceremony at The Church at Chancey Road. The students are chosen by teachers and administration of their schools for exemplary effort, achievement, and contribution to their school, family and community. From left: Ashley Ayers, Heritage Academy; Carolyn Sentelik, president, chamber board of directors; Kaylee Weirich, Woodland Elementary; Melonie Monson, chamber executive director; Laila Woolfolk, Taylor Elementary; Zechariah Mitchell, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; Hailey Turner, Stewart Middle; Roxxy Geisenheimer, chamber marketing and events coordinator; Hope Holloway, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Katy Boyd, chamber ambassador chairperson; and, Jodi Baldwin, The Broach School. Also recognized, but not present, were Christian Redmond, Hope Ranch Learning Academy; and, Kaylan Turlich, West Zephyrhills Elementary.

Sunlake Academy names new principal
The governing board members for Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, and the executive management team from Charter School Associates, has announced the appointment of Suzanne Elder as principal of the academy, effective July 1.

Elder comes from Channelside Academy of Math and Science, a K-8 charter school operated by Charter School Associates in Tampa’s Channelside District, where she served as principal since 2014.

Elder has a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications from the University of Florida and a master’s in educational administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Sunlake Academy will open to 650 students, kindergarten through seventh grade, in August, at 18711 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

For information, visit SunlakeAcademy.org, or call (813) 616-5099.

Dade City chamber honors students
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recognized its April Citizens of the Month with a breakfast.

The students that were honored were Miles Carter, Academy at the Farm; Bobby Rivera, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Jaylen Matos, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Haylee Wall, Centennial Elementary; Kimberly Aburto, Lacoochee Elementary; Cruz Alvarez Diaz, Pasco Elementary; Eduardo Alvarez, Cox Elementary; Dalton Duncan, San Antonio Elementary; Courtney Thomas, Centennial Middle; Jada Formby, Pasco Middle; Lamour Lowe, James Irvin Education Center; and, Blake Swonger, Pasco High.

The chamber also will host a Chamber Scholarship Presentation May 16 at 7 a.m., to award three $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors from Pasco High. The scholarship winners are Courtney Graham, Kasey Szwast and Sydni Sinka.

ESE talent show
Pasco County Schools will celebrate the talents of its exceptional education students with a show May 17 at 11 a.m., at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.

The students will perform in various disciplines, including dancing, singing/duets, lip syncing, unique talents (recalling facts, dates, etc.), comedy/telling jokes, puppet shows and more.

Admission is free, and open to the families and friends of the performers, as well as district staff and other county schools’ students to watch.

For information, call Heather Farnsworth at (813) 794-8802.

Teacher art show
Pasco County Schools’ inaugural “MyArt” teacher art show will take place through May 20, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.

Pasco Schools teacher-artists from kindergarten through 12th grade will exhibit a diverse array of 2-D and 3-D artwork, with the aim to inspire students-artists to be passionate about their own work.

Students and the community also will have an opportunity to interact with the teacher-artists during a closing reception May 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For information, email Tom Viking at .

Student artwork exhibit
Pasco-Hernando State College’s Rao Musunuru MD Art Gallery will exhibit “Artistic Articulation: A Student Showcase” through May 31.

The annual exhibition showcases diverse talent achieved without the influence from staff or faculty. Gallery visitors can experience completed works of photography, drawing and mixed media, from past and present art students.

Summer gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Art exhibits are free.

For information, call (727) 816-3231.

Hillel Academy
Hillel Academy Tampa, a private Jewish community day school, has appointed Wendy Leigh to the position of director of development and community relations. Leigh will be responsible for raising awareness, increasing enrollment and spreading the word about the historic school.

Leigh has degrees in both education and theater, and taught for seven years in the Hillsborough County school district.

The academy also recently hosted its Gift of Gold Gala and broke a fundraising record by raising more than $100,000, through sponsorships, donations and silent auction proceeds.

Proceeds from the gala will help fund scholarships, financial aid, teacher education and campus improvements.

For information on Hillel, call (813) 963-2242, or visit HillelAcademyTampa.com.

Wesley Chapel team ready to take on the world

May 3, 2017 By B.C. Manion

They’re just in elementary school, but these children are already learning about the trade-offs in life.

They’re also getting a firsthand experience regarding the importance of preparation, and they’re finding out that even the smallest of details can alter the outcome in a competition.

These seven children are members of Wesley Chapel Elementary School’s “Catch Us If You Can” team, and they’ll be competing at Michigan State University May 23 to May 28, at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.

Members of the ‘Catch Us If You Can’ team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School are, from left, Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta. They’ll be competing at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May.
(B.C. Manion)

The team is made up of Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta — who are coached by Veronica Acosta and Janet Heyman. The coaches have children on the team and teach at Wesley Chapel Elementary.

Naturally, the kids and their coaches are excited.

“I still have to pinch myself,” said coach Veronica Acosta.

Some of the team members have been working together for three years, which has its advantages.

“They can finish each other’s sentences,” said coach Janet Heyman, noting that familiarity between team members lends itself to excellent collaboration on solving problems.

The team has also learned from victory and from defeat, coach Acosta said. “They know what it means to lose, and they’ve learned how it feels to win.”

Even though they’re elementary school students, some team members take a big-picture view on competing at Worlds.

“It doesn’t really matter if you win or lose. Just the experience — just going to Worlds — is a huge deal,” said team member Rowan Heyman.

Team member Isabell Barrios said she’s glad she decided to get involved in Odyssey of the Mind and thinks others should check it out. “Life is just trying new things. It can lead you to what you’d like to do in the future.”

Three of the team members, who are fifth-graders, will be missing their graduation ceremony, in order to compete at Worlds. They think it’s a trade-off worth making. Besides getting to travel out-of-state, they’ll be meeting kids from all over the word, testing their skills in a big arena and getting a chance to trade pins, they said.

Justin Acosta said Odyssey offers lasting value.

“While you’re doing it, you’re getting experience towards life, problems you need to solve every day,” he said.

They know that the competition will be challenging, but they’re looking forward to it.

“I think it’s really exciting, especially for me, because I’ve never been out of the state before,” said Sam Cappelluti, 10. “It’s really exciting to go to a different place with all of your friends.”

The fourth- and fifth-graders already have demonstrated that they’re contenders.

They won first place at the Gulf Coast Regional competition, and wowed the judges so much that they won the “Ranatra Fusca Award” for their exceptional creativity.

They also won first place at the state tournament at the University of Central Florida on April 8.

Odyssey of the Mind is a competition that encourages students to use creative approaches to solving problems. The program emphasizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

In Odyssey of the Mind, teams come up with their own ideas, engineer technical features, make costumes and props, and present their interpretation of the answer to a highly complex problem.

More than 825 teams from around the world are expected to compete in the 38th Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. The teams represent nearly every state in the United States and approximately 20 other countries.

It takes a lot of work, said 10-year-old Mina Melaika. The team meets every day, “adding small details” and re-reading the problem “to be sure that we’re getting everything right,” the fourth-grader said.

Ten-year-old Jason Sherman is excited about the competition, but he has another agenda, too.

“When I get up there, I want to try making a lot of friends,” he said.

Published May 3, 2017

Students vie in entrepreneurial competition

May 3, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Timothy Hernandez noticed a problem, and he set about to solve it.

Not too long ago, the 17-year-old Zephyrhills High School senior was undergoing safety training as a YMCA pool lifeguard.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) masks kept falling off during tutorials.

“It was a real inconvenience,” he said.

Timothy Hernandez, center, won first place and $2,500 in Pasco’s Young Entrepreneur Finals. His business concept is CPRGo, a mask with an automatic seal, via suction cup features. Also pictured: Kelly Castro, youth coordinator for the Pasco Hernando Workforce Board, and Stacey Capogrosso, executive director of the Pasco Education Foundation.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Strap-based CPR masks didn’t fare much better, said Hernandez, who currently works at the East Pasco YMCA and the New Tampa YMCA.

His solution: CPRGo, a mask with an automatic seal, via suction cup features.

“It makes CPR a simple and more efficient process,” Hernandez said. “It also ensures the victim is getting a sufficient amount of air. “

In short, “Saving lives has never been so easy.”

For the concept — yet to be prototyped and patented — Hernandez won first place and $2,500 in Pasco’s Young Entrepreneur Finals, held April 25 at the Land O’ Lakes High School Culinary Arts.

The inaugural competition showcased seven students from Pasco County Schools’ business and entrepreneurship principles program.

It gave contestants an opportunity to present their unique business idea in a traditional slideshow format to a live audience and panel of judges — startup experts representing Pasco County and the Tampa Bay region.

Hannah White, a Pasco High School senior, earned second place and $1,000 for Organized Design, which refers to planners that can be customized entirely.

Jackson Rossi, a senior at Mitchell High School, received third place and $500 for Brij, an app for social media marketing.

Other finalists were Justin Hall and Katelyn Ortiz, of Sunlake High; Taylor Townsend, of River Ridge High; and, Alex Violini, of Ridgewood High; each were winners at school-level competitions, held April 3 through April 10.

Those attending the competition included representatives from Pasco County Schools, CareerSource Pasco/Hernando, the Pasco Education Foundation, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the USF Stavros Center, and Pasco SCORE. The name SCORE is based on an acronym for Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Loosely based off ABC’s hit TV show “Shark Tank,” each student had 10 minutes to present his or her startup.

Judges then lobbed critiques, criticisms and suggestions, for all the audience to hear.

The finalists later were evaluated on a 10-point scale on 10 factors, including professionalism, the viability of their enterprise, and their ability to back it with research on startup costs, revenue, distribution, customer base, competitors and the business and/or social impact of their venture.

Hernandez received high marks for his revenue and cost projections model, and his ability to identify a target market — lifeguards and other emergency responders.

For the judges, choosing just three winners wasn’t easy.

“The kids that did this — great job,” said Steven Hickman, president/CEO of First National Bank of Pasco. “I’m just thrilled to see the quality and the poise.”

Fellow judge Mike Lewis, chairman of SCORE Chapter 439, was likewise impressed with each presentation, praising students’ thought process, concepts and business plans.

“They are absolutely to be commended,” he said.

About 200 Pasco County high school students participated in the entrepreneurship curriculum during the 2016-2017 school year, said Terry Aunchman, director of career and technical education for Pasco County.

That figure, along with the Young Entrepreneurs event, is expected to grow, as the program will be introduced in five more high schools next school year — Cypress Creek, Gulf, Fivay, Land O’ Lakes and Wiregrass Ranch.

“The competition is going to be amped up just a little bit,” Aunchman said. “We built so much excitement around this that the other schools are like, ‘We want to get in on the action.’”

Aunchman also plans to introduce the program to several middle and elementary schools in the district, hoping to “get kids engaged, thinking outside of the box and solving problems.”

Meanwhile, Hernandez — like other finalists — appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

He plans to attend Saint Leo University this fall, majoring in criminal justice.

His minor? Business.

Published May 3, 2017

Chalk Talk 05/03/2017

May 3, 2017 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

Students shine in national competition
High school students at Land O’ Lakes Christian School competed in the 40th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Approximately 1,800 students, representing 200 Christian high schools, competed in 76 categories in the five basic areas of the Bible, music, speech, art and academics. The national fine arts competition winners from Land O’ Lakes Christian were, from left: Austin Slade, second place expository preaching; Sherry Jiang, first place calligraphy; Wilson Wang, second place garment construction; Ellie Becker, second place physical science fair; Paul Wei, second place advanced math; and, Ruth Zhang, first place algebra/geometry and third place watercolor.

CORRECTION: Charity volleyball match
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office school resource officers and high school student-athletes will compete in a Charity Volleyball Challenge May 4 at 7 p.m., at Charles S. Rushe Middle School, 18654 Mentmore Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The event is designed to let students and law enforcement interact in a casual, fun competition to promote trust between the two groups.

The challenge will benefit the 2017 Together We Stand Youth & Community Summit. Funds will be generated through the admission price, corporate and community sponsors, and advance ticket sales. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the school, and a corresponding student club that is represented by the largest number of audience members.

For information, call Sunlake High at (813) 346-1000.

Gulf Middle spruces up park
Gulf Middle School science teachers, students and staff took part in an Earth Day beautification project April 22 at Frances Park in New Port Richey.

The project aimed to increase the natural beauty of the park, and raise awareness for the environment and community.

Students and staff did landscaping and planted flowers at the park’s entrance along Louisiana Avenue.

Teacher art show
Pasco County Schools’ inaugural “MyArt” teacher art show will take place May 4 through May 20, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.

Pasco Schools teacher-artists from kindergarten through 12th grade will exhibit a diverse array of 2-D and 3-D artwork, with the aim to inspire students-artists to be passionate about their own work.

Students and the community also will have an opportunity to interact with the teacher-artists during a closing reception May 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For information, email Tom Viking at .

Spaghetti dinner fundraiser
Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus Council 12110 will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser May 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Peter Claver Catholic School, 1203 Nebraska Ave., in Tampa, in O’ Keefe Hall.

The cost is $10 and includes spaghetti with sauce, a house salad, Cuban bread, and a soda or water. No takeout will be available.

All proceeds from the dinner will benefit St. Peter Claver’s tuition scholarship program.

For information, call (813) 267-9981 or (813) 223-6726.

Kindergarten preregistration
Pasco County Schools kindergarten preregistration will be May 8, at all district elementary schools. Those interested should contact the school in their area for details about orientation activities and times.

Head Start/Early Head Start applications are only available at select elementary schools.

Kindergarten preregistration requirements include:

Child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2017
Child’s birth certificate or other proof of birth date
Health examination – HRS Form 3040
HRS Certificate of Immunization
Proof of Florida residency, such as a current utility bill or lease agreement

For information, call Danielle Varcardipone in the Office of Teaching and Learning at (727) 774-2404, (813) 794-2404 or (352) 524-2404.

Expectant mothers, and parents of infants, toddlers and children through age 5 may apply for Head Start or Early Head Start. Families must meet eligibility requirements.

For more information about the Head Start programs, visit PascoSchools.org, or call Alexis Russell in Early Childhood Programs at (727) 774-2730, (813) 794-2730 or (352) 524-2730.

Student artwork exhibit
Pasco-Hernando State College’s Rao Musunuru MD Art Gallery will exhibit “Artistic Articulation: A Student Showcase” through May 31.

Summer gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Art exhibits are free.

For information, call (727) 816-3231.

Future business leaders excel
Pasco-Hernando State College students participated in the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference.

North Campus student Shannon Phillips placed first in computer applications, and West Campus student John Vann placed first in future business executive, both qualifying for national competition. Phillips also placed fourth in business communications.

Second-place winners advancing to nationals are North Campus students Casey Cox in organizational behavior and leadership, and Sidney Onstad in hospitality management; West Campus students Michael Bradley II in public speaking and Leslie Barnwell in human resource management. Barnwell also placed fourth in forensic accounting, and Cox placed fifth in marketing concepts.

Other students who placed in the competition include:

Spring Hill campus students Marc Brooks, third in impromptu speaking; Manuel Cuzco, third in job interview; and, Giselle Perez, third in human resource management.

West Campus students Keith Stokes, third in both help desk and programming concept; and, Victor Miller, fifth place inn information management.

The PHSC team of North Campus students Jay Bowler, Emily Brock and Simona Rivera placed third in the small business management plan team competition.

Brock and Rivero also placed third in the desktop publishing team competition.

The annual Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda National Competition will take place in June, in Anaheim, California.

Free summer VPK program
Primrose School at Collier Parkway, 23021 Weeks Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will offer a Summer VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten) program for eligible families and their children.

The free program is for children who have not yet used their VPK voucher, and turned 4-years-old before September 2016.

Classes begin on June 6 and run through Aug. 3.

VPK hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch/rest time from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For information about the school and enrollment, contact Angella Hart, school director, at (813) 242-7800.

It’s prom time at the Spring Fling Buddy Ball

April 26, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Octavia Frost sat patiently through make-up and hair styling, as her Best Buddies’ student volunteer, Zyandria Vega, created just the right look for a special occasion – the Spring Fling Buddy Ball.

Volunteer Annie Williams spins 16-year-old Elena Capasso during the Spring Fling Buddy Ball. The prom is held annually for students, age 15 to 22, who are in ESE (exceptional student education) classes at Wesley Chapel High School.
(Fred Bellet)

She wore a dark blue gown of her choosing for the annual prom at Wesley Chapel High School.

And, when she walked into the school’s gymnasium, Frost, 18, was no wallflower. She and dozens of her classmates, who attend exceptional student education (ESE) classes, had a grand, joyful prom.

The fourth annual prom for “students with exceptionalities” actually was Frost’s second prom.

And, the second time around, she knew what to expect.

“Have more fun, play around and talk with my friends,” the Wesley Chapel junior said.

For three hours, nearly 80 ESE students celebrated a traditional right of passage for high school students.

They posed at the photo booth manned by Best Buddies students, Hannah Collin and Ethan Gelinas. The two journalism students took a break from their usual duties of taking annual yearbook photos to volunteer for prom duty.

Wesley Chapel High School journalism student Hannah Collin, 16, took photos of students who attended the Spring Fling Buddy Ball. Here, she gets help from Angel ‘Rocky’ Rivera, 22, who attended the prom for students with exceptionalities.

A musical selection from Peggy Roski – “DJ extraordinaire” – filled the high school’s gymnasium with the beats and rhythms that had everyone moving. There was the Chicken Dance, Silento’s “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” the glide, and fan favorite selections from the Village People and Taylor Swift.

Phoebe Enering, 15, showed off her knee-length cocktail-style dress.

“My grandmother helped me pick it out,” she said.

The prom began after parents lobbied to give their children the kind of memories that most students take for granted. Staff members at Wesley Chapel donated gowns and prom wear for boys. The fancy duds now can be found in the school’s ABC Closet.

This year, for the first time, the school’s Best Buddies Club partnered to provide volunteers who decorated the gymnasium in a flowers and butterfly theme. Scattered throughout the gym, students could pick up balloons, hula- hoops and beach balls.

The Spring Fling Buddy Ball, supported by the Best Buddies at Wesley Chapel High School, put everyone in a happy mood to dance, stroll and talk with friends.

And, Best Buddies also is aiding with fundraising efforts for the prom.

The Best Buddies club encourages students to forge friendships with students with disabilities. Club members also help with Special Olympics.

“It’s been getting better and better every year,” said Anna Simpson, a paraprofessional transitional assistant for the ESE program.

The prom was from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to make it easy for students and their parents to attend. Students from age 15 to 22 came to the prom.

Many students meet initially in kindergarten, and move onto middle and high school together, Simpson said. “A lot of the kids are like family,” she said. “The families of the students get together at special events. They’ve been doing this since kindergarten.

“It’s awesome.”

For information on donating prom wear to the ABC Closet, contact the school at (813) 794-8700.

Published April 26, 2017

Shelton McArthur, 18, shows his skills with the hula-hoop at the Spring Fling Buddy Ball at Wesley Chapel High School.

Ashley Mendez, 15, loves the balloon tiara created for her by Lauren Blanset, owner of Twister Events. Blanset is a former Wesley Chapel High School student who volunteered at the Spring Fling Buddy Ball.

Justin Cooper, 20, tries to catch a floating balloon during the Spring Fling Buddy Ball, in the Wesley Chapel High School gymnasium.

Chalk Talk 04/26/2017

April 26, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Pine View students recognized by Toshiba
Pine View Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes recognized a team of fourth and fifth graders as regional winners of the 25th annual Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision program, the world’s largest K-12 science competition. The team’s project was The Coral Reef MGS. The ‘monitored growth sanctuary’ can provide information about water temperature, acidity, and coral growth so scientists can respond to bleaching events. The Coral Reef MGS can help restore coral reefs around the world. From left: Anastasia Kelley, coach; Heather Tomasello, mentor; Caden Sessions, fifth grade; Brady Longmuir, fourth grade; Zachary Tomasello, fifth grade; and, Matthew Barnes, Toshiba Business Solutions.

Student artwork exhibit
Pasco-Hernando State College’s Rao Musunuru MD Art Gallery will exhibit “Artistic Articulation: A Student Showcase” April 26 through May 31.

Summer gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Art exhibits are free.

For information, call (727) 816-3231.

Sunray jumps for the heart
Sunray Elementary School, in Holiday, students and staff will celebrate the $4,200 in donations the school has raised for the American Heart Association through the collaborative Jump Rope for Heart event.

Representatives from the AHA will join the Sunray physical education classes on April 28 to hand out prizes to the students. There also will be snacks, and the top donors from each class will be recognized.

Lacoochee Color Run
Lacoochee Elementary School, 33815 Cummer Road in Dade City, will host its annual Lacoochee 5K School Color Run April 29 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funds raised will benefit the school by helping to provide field trips, update technology, purchase specific classroom materials and provide staff incentives.

For information and to register, visit LES.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Jazz’n at the Ritz
St. Peter Claver Catholic School will host “Jazz’n at the Ritz” April 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. Seventh St., in Tampa.

Tickets are $30. There will be live entertainment and a silent auction.

All proceeds will benefit the school’s hiring of a much-needed special education teacher, as well as the building of a digital infrastructure, and the daily operation of the school.

For information, call Marvin Knight at (813) 453-5690, Tom Forward at (813) 334-5705, or Joseph Capitano Sr. at (813) 267-3895.

Local students on Dean’s List
These students have been named to the Dean’s Lists at their respective schools for the 2016 fall semester:

Jonathan Schneider, of Land O’ Lakes, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Schneider is enrolled in the Olin Business School.
Lauren Dobles, of Lutz, Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Dobles is majoring in Theatre Studies: Acting.

Hillel Academy appoints Wendy Leigh
Hillel Academy Tampa, a private Jewish community day school, has appointed Wendy Leigh to the position of director of development and community relations.

Leigh will be responsible for raising awareness, increasing enrollment, and spreading the word about the historic school.

Leigh has degrees in both education and theater, and has taught for seven years in the Hillsborough County School District, as well as three summers at Bennington College in Vermont.

She also served as vice president of education at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts for 10 years.

Law Enforcement Academy director named
Pasco-Hernando State College has named Pasco Sheriff Captain Sharon Foshey as director of the Law Enforcement and Corrections Academy, at the school’s East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City.

Foshey began her career with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy. In 2016, she was selected as captain of the School Resource Unit and Child Protective Investigations. She then transitioned to the role of Sheriff’s Office training unit supervisor.

Foshey also was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the West Pasco Bar Association, and received a Purple Heart from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

She earned a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Florida, and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Pasta dinner fundraiser
The third annual pasta dinner fundraiser for the Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation will be April 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, 33425 State Road 54.

There will be a special ceremony and announcement at 5 p.m.

The dinner will be prepared and donated by Carl and Jessica Myers, of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant and Catering.

The Magic of Scott Barhold will provide entertainment. Local vendors will be on site.

The cost is $10. Kids ages 4 and younger are free.

To-go boxes will be available.

To purchase tickets, contact Paul Bartell or Jamie Bartell via IM on Facebook, or email .

Chalk Talk 04/19/2017

April 19, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Saint Leo gives back in a big way
Students, faculty, staff and community organizations and businesses collected bottle caps for Caps of Love, a Florida-based nonprofit organization that recycles plastic tops. The proceeds from recycling the plastic are used to purchase new and refurbished wheelchairs for children with mobility disabilities. Saint Leo collected 12,000 pounds of plastic caps – enough to fill 21 pallets. The school hosted a celebration and send-off for the Caps of Love project featuring food, music and giveaways.

Nominate a teacher
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) is accepting nominations for his annual Teacher of the Year awards to honor outstanding educators in Florida’s 12th District.

Teachers and educators from all schools and all grades are eligible.

Nominations should be emailed to , and include the name, school and contact information of the nominee.

The deadline for nominations is April 21.

There will be an awards ceremony in May.

Common Ground club
Ridgewood High School’s Common Ground club will host an Autism Awareness Walk April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the school, at 7650 Orchid Lake Road in New Port Richey.

Club students meet every Wednesday to build bonds through conversation, games and other activities, and food.

Peer students from the general education curricula participate in community-based instruction, where they model good behavior and teach ESE students social and financial skills.

Students, including those from the Ridgewood Interact Club, will participate in the walk. There will be activities, disc jockeys and a snow cone truck.

The entry fee is $10.

To learn more, call Patty Hanley at (727) 774-3953.

Astronaut speaks to middle-schoolers
Pasco Middle School students participated in a Skype presentation and discussion with retired astronaut Don Thomas on April 7.

Thomas completed four space flights on the Columbia and Discovery space shuttles. His last assignment was at the International Space Station program overseeing NASA experiments.

He retired in 2007.

As part of the students’ Space Exploration unit, Thomas gave a PowerPoint presentation on living, working and conducting science experiments in space. A question-and-answer session followed the program.

The power of diversity
Lacoochee Elementary School students and staff, and the community, hosted a Unity in Diversity Day on April 8, a multicultural event to celebrate diversity in the community.

The school invited families and community partners to share elements of their culture and ethnicity through stories, food, dance, arts and more.

Students against tobacco
Gulf Middle School Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) club members and school staff took part in the Coastal Cleanup April 15 at Green Key Beach, Robert K. Reese Memorial Park in New Port Richey.

The event raises awareness for the environment and teaches students the value of taking care of both the local and collective environment.

Students properly disposed of litter and other debris throughout the park, making it a safer, cleaner place for visitors and natural inhabitants.

‘Top Dogs’ recognized
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills hosted a Hungry Howie’s lunch for its Top Dog winners from Stewart Middle School. The club started the program more than 30 years ago to honor students for academics and leadership in the school.

The third quarter Top Dogs who received a certificate and gold dog tag were: Ireland Sinclair, Joshua Pellegrino, Gabriel Glazebrook, Anna Rood, Caitlyn Regan, Jane Gillrie, Jessica Womack, Trent Peters and Angelique Braxton.

There will be a special ceremony and announcement at 5 p.m.

The dinner will be prepared and donated by Carl and Jessica Myers, of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant and Catering.

The Magic of Scott Barhold will provide entertainment. Local vendors will be on site.

The cost is $10. Kids ages 4 and younger are free.

To-go boxes will be available.

To purchase tickets, contact Paul Bartell or Jamie Bartell via IM on Facebook, or email .

The free program is for children who have not yet used their VPK voucher, and turned 4-years-old before September 2016.

Classes begin on June 6 and run through Aug. 3.

VPK hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch/rest time from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For information about the school and enrollment, contact Angella Hart, school director, at (813) 242-7800.

Saint Leo ranks fifth for military spouses
Saint Leo University has earned the 2017 Military Spouse Friendly School designation by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur and STEM Jobs resources.

The school ranked fifth in the nation among private institutions with 10,000 students or more.

The latest Military Friendly® Schools survey included questions that not only evaluated whether a school’s admissions, retention, career counseling and mentoring programs are better for veterans, but also whether they address concerns of military spouses and families.

Colleges earning the Military Spouse Friendly School® designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from Victory Media’s proprietary survey.

Saint Leo University is featured along with the entire list of 2017 Military Spouse Friendly Schools® in the April issue of Military Spouse Magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

Marchman Technical ranked second in state
BestColleges.com has ranked Marchman Technical College second on the list of Best Community Colleges in Florida for 2017.

The ranking demonstrates to the more than 100,000 weekly visitors to BestColleges.com that this program provides a quality education that students can afford in their home state.

For information about Marchman, visit MTEC.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Committee looking at ways to fund schools

April 12, 2017 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board is seeking to nearly double impact fees charged to new residential construction to help foot the bill for new schools, but a committee studying the issue wants to know about other possible sources of funding before making a recommendation.

There’s no doubt that Pasco County’s residential growth is generating increased enrollment, outpacing the school district’s ability to pay for new schools.

Bexley Elementary, which is scheduled to open in the fall, will alleviate crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.
(B.C. Manion)

But, the 10-member School Infrastructure Funding Committee wants more information before making its recommendation to the Pasco County Commission on the school board’s proposed impact fee hikes.

The county commission, not the school board, has the authority to impose impact fees.

The school board justifies the need for an increase by pointing to an impact fee study it commissioned that was completed by Maryland-based consulting firm, Tischler Bise.

The impact fee study calls for increasing school impact fees on new homes from $4,828 to $9,174 for single-family detached; from $1,740 to $3,693 for single-family attached; from $2,843 to $5,634 for mobile homes; and, from $1,855 to $5,382 for multifamily.

Impact fees are expected to pay for new growth, and are assessed against new residential construction, excluding 55 and older communities.

Increased revenues from impact fees could be used to build new schools, add capacity to existing schools, purchase buses, furniture and fixtures.

Before deciding what it wants to do, the Pasco County Commission appointed the infrastructure funding committee to study the issue and bring back a recommendation.

That committee has met twice already and expects to have at least two more sessions before taking a vote on its recommendation.

While Pasco County Schools plans to open Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle High School in the fall, residential growth continues to outpace the school district’s ability to pay for new schools.

At its most recent meeting, on April 5, the committee sought additional information on what schools the district expects to build next, how much land the district owns for schools and whether any of it could be sold to raise revenue now, and whether the district could pursue other sources of revenue, such as general obligation bonds or real estate transfer taxes.

Committee member Scott Sheridan asked if the school district could sell some of the land it has banked for future school sites, to help raise money to build schools now.

The school district isn’t opposed to selling some of its land, but even if it did, it would fall far short of addressing its funding needs, said Chris Williams, director of planning.

But, Williams also noted: “Most of these sites are in future developments. It might be 10 or 15 years in the future, but if I don’t secure my school sites up front, they’re not there for me later on.”

The school district doesn’t oppose using general obligation bonds to build schools, but that would require approval by voters and a referendum couldn’t be put on the ballot until 2018, said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

A real estate transfer tax is another potential source of revenue, but the idea has been broached twice with members of the local legislative delegation and rejected both times, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney.

Goldstein noted an impact fee increase could be adopted with the provision of reducing it, if revenue became available from a general obligation bond or another source.

Committee member Jennifer Motsinger said the committee needs to know what sources of revenue might be available beyond merely doubling impact fees.

“We’re trying to understand what the sources are, so we can help give you some ideas on recommendations on school funding or the capital plan,” she said.

Another committee member asked for a breakdown of how much a new residence must pay in impact fees.

That breakdown is among the items expected to be discussed at the group’s next meeting set for April 18, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The committee also has scheduled another meeting, April 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Both sessions are open to the public and will be at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., Rooms 102 and 103, in Land O’ Lakes.

Published April 12, 2017