The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 03/08/2017

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Local student recognitions
These area students were recognized by their respective schools for the fall semester:

  • Alexia Faith Acebo, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
  • Calee Ash, Lutz, Dean’s List at Harding University in Arkansas
  • Cami Ash, Lutz, Dean’s List at Harding University
  • Courtney F. Bobo, Lutz, Dean’s List at Samford University in Alabama
  • Alexis Burnette, Wesley Chapel, Dean’s List at Furman University in South Carolina
  • Rachel Carlson, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Maine
  • Mackenzie Morgan Cuffe, Odessa, President’s List at Clemson University in South Carolina
  • Samantha Nicole Cuffe, Odessa, Dean’s List at Clemson University
  • Stephanie Leeanne Erickson, Odessa, President’s List at Clemson University
  • Dominique Eule, Lutz, Dean’s Honor Roll at Southwestern College in Kansas
  • Brycie Gauthier, Lutz, Dean’s Honor Roll at Oklahoma City University
  • Jessica Howell, Lutz, Dean’s List at Furman University
  • Grace Korta, Lutz, Dean’s List at Mercer University Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics
  • Ashley Kubel, Odessa, Dean’s List at Georgia Southern University
  • Garren Lewis, Lutz, Dean’s List at Seton Hall University in New Jersey
  • Ayson Grace Logrono, Land O’ Lakes, Dean’s List at the College of William & Mary in Virginia
  • Nathan Mansour, Odessa, Dean’s List at University of Dayton in Ohio
  • Gabriel Montenegro Slowing, Lutz, President’s List at University of Southern Mississippi
  • Ebonee A. Nicholes, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
  • Tyler W. Scarboro, Lutz, Dean’s List at Samford University
  • Andrew Jacob Schwitzgebel, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
  • Taylor Avery Trumbetti, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama

Bishop McLaughlin open house
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill, will host an admissions open house March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 857-2600, ext. 244.

Scholarship fundraiser
The Medical Center of Trinity volunteers will host a jewelry sale fundraiser March 9 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and March 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the hospital’s lobby at 9330 State Road 54. The Masquerade Jewelry and Fashions sale will include jewelry, watches, scarves, rings, umbrellas and more.

The scholarships will benefit local students studying in any area of the medical field.

Music fest needs helpers
The Land O’ Lakes Music Festival is looking for volunteers, for a variety of jobs, to help with its second annual event, scheduled for March 11.

Students can help the community and earn some community service hours at the same time.

For information, call Linda Christle, volunteer coordinator, at (727) 809-3938, or email her at .

 Bus drivers needed
Pasco County Schools is looking for experienced bus drivers or anyone interested in becoming a bus driver.

There will be an information meeting March 15 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive, Building 1, Room 01-036, in New Port Richey.

Guests should bring a driver’s license, social security card or permanent resident card. Those who have worked in a CDL-required (commercial driver’s license) position in the last two years should provide employer’s name, address and fax number.

Prospective drivers must attend an information meeting before being approved for a certification class.

For information, call Pasco County Schools’ Transporation Department at (813) 794-1862.

Lunch & learn, job fair
Pasco-Hernando State College will host a Lunch and Learn March 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at its West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

Employers can participate in a panel discussion and learn the benefits of hiring an individual with a disability.

Following the lunch, there will be an “open to all” job fair from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those attending can meet with representatives from for profit, government and nonprofit organizations. Participants should dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.

To register for lunch and learn, visit InclusionWorksLunchAndLearn.eventbrite.com, or call Jackie Eden at (727) 816-3334.

For information about the job fair, email Jackie Eden at or Ana Segovia at .

Scholarship applications
Hillsborough County Social Services and the Community Action Board offer scholarships up to $5,000 to eligible students who want to continue education at an institution of higher learning.

Scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 school year will be accepted through March 31.

Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the the start of the fall semester.

Applications can be downloaded at tinyurl.com/zxvwatv.

Students may submit completed applications online, via email, or hand deliver to any County Community Resource Center.

Pasco child care provider recognized
Kids ‘R’ Kids of Wesley Chapel owner, Bimal Bhojani, was named first runner-up for WEDU’s “Be More Positive” Award, for his donation to the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando’s waitlist for subsidized child care.

Last spring, 10 children from Pasco County were given an early learning opportunity — a year of free services from Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Wesley Chapel. Bhojani’s donation came at a time when the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc.’s waitlist had more than 1,200 children.

Every year, ABC Action News and WEDU receive dozens of nominations from community members who have encountered everyday heroes throughout the year.

Bhojani joined numerous nonprofit organizations and individuals at the 2017 awards luncheon at the Glazer Family Jewish Community Center in Tampa.

Pepin Academies Pasco wins Samsung contest
Pepin Academies Pasco was named a state winner in the “2017 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow” contest, and will represent Florida in the national competition.

Pepin Academies is a kindergarten through 12th-grade school for boys and girls with learning capabilities.

The school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) teacher, Carrie Donahue, submitted the entry that was “chosen for its innovative approach to advancing interest in STEAM among its students, as well as making an impact in the local community,” according to Samsung Electronics America officials in a statement.

Pepin Academies Pasco is the only school in Florida, and just one of 50 schools in the United States, to win the state prize.

The school will receive $25,000 in technology, including a video kit for students to create videos to showcase their project development.

Pasco will now go on to Samsung’s national competition with a short video that brings its STEAM “Activity Plan” to life.

Home-schooling ministry
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers a Home-schooling Ministry, with weekly co-op at the church, social events and more.

For information, email Linda Holt at .

Middle school essay contest
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office is accepting entries to Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s Constitutional Officers Essay Contest. The contest runs through March 31.

Middle school students in Pasco County, grades six to eight, in public/charter, private, non-public and home-schools can participate.

In 500 words or less, students must answer the question: “How do you, as a middle school student, benefit from taxes your family, friends and neighbors pay?”

Each entry must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information.

Entries will be judged by a panel of directors from the tax collector’s office, and will be reviewed on how well the student communicates a response to the question, as well as overall essay structure, appearance and readability.

Students in public/charter schools should submit essays to the school’s principal, who will forward the essay to the tax collector’s office.

Students in private, nonpublic or home-schools should send essays to Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120, New Port Richey, FL 34654, or by email to .

The deadline is 5 p.m., March 31.

The winning entry will be notified by telephone by April 17.

For information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates 90 years

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A lot of notable things happened during 1926.

Queen Elizabeth was born. A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh, and Tampa Theatre opened Tampa’s first air-conditioned building, in downtown Tampa.

Calvin Coolidge was in the White House at the time, and people could buy a dozen of eggs for 56 cents, a dozen oranges for 34 cents, or a porterhouse steak for 29 cents a pound.

It’s also the year that Dade City Grammar School opened.

The structure, built in the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, was later renamed to honor Superintendent R.B. Cox, a former principal, who lost his battle with cancer in 1973.

With its Collegiate Gothic architectural style, R.B. Cox Elementary has offered a dignified presence in Dade City for nine decades.
(B.C. Manion)

The school, at 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Dade City, is hosting a 90th birthday celebration on March 5.

The event features a dinner of baked ziti, salad and dessert, with tickets selling for $7 each.

Besides the meal, there will be music by the Pasco County High School jazz band, and a video of interviews of students and teachers, with connections to the elementary school, said Principal Claudia Steinacker.

Visitors also will be able to walk down memory lane, perusing historic photographs and reading “Did you know?” factoids, gathered from people associated with the school through the years.

The event will serve as a fundraiser to help pay for some projects at the school, which serves 465 children from Early Head Start through fifth grade.

For instance, the school would like to makeover a space between the main building and the media center — converting it into a courtyard where students and families can gather, Steinacker said. Other ideas include purchasing picnic tables, to give visiting parents a place to eat lunch, and buddy benches out near the playground.

The school also would like to turn a space near the primary classrooms into a play area for the children.

“We’ll prioritize what we want to start with, based upon the funds, and then we’ll just continue moving forward as we try to raise those funds,” the principal said.

Besides the dinner, the school will be raising money through a baked goods auction, and it has sold vendor spaces to vendors who will be selling items at the event.

“We chose to do it on a Sunday, so we could make it a little bit special,” Steinacker said, noting she didn’t want people to feel rushed.

The idea is to give people a chance to gather, to reminisce and to recognize the school’s special role in the community — where it has been the focus of education for generations of children, she said.

“Even if they don’t want to come necessarily to eat, even if they just want to come to be able to walk, and see and visit — we just really want everyone to have the opportunity to see our amazing school and learn about the history that this school has,” Steinacker said.

“It’s a great opportunity to say, ‘Come celebrate.’

“If you have time and you want to support us, you want to volunteer, the door is open. We need that.”

“This is a special place. We want people to be able to celebrate what a special place it is,” Steinacker said.

Dade City’s motto is “Proud Heritage, Promising Future,” the principal said.  “We definitely are striving to give our kids that promising future,” she added.

This will be the school’s second celebration to mark its ninth decade of operation. It had a celebration in the beginning of the school year, and it plans to have another one at the end of the school year, when it plans to bury a time capsule.

R.B. Cox Elementary 90th birthday party
Where: 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dade City
When: March 5, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $7 per plate for lunch of baked ziti, salad and dessert (To-go containers will be available)
Details: R.B. Cox Elementary is hosting a party to celebrate the school’s rich heritage in Dade City. The event includes a luncheon, music, a baked goods auction and a chance to see historic photographs,
More information: Call (352) 524-5100, or visit the school’s website, RBCES.Pasco.k12.Fl.us.

Published March 1, 2017

 

Principal provides an overview for high school students, parents

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As future high school parents and students arrived at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, they were greeted by upbeat music and a slideshow featuring progress made so far on Cypress Creek Middle High School.

Parents and students had plenty of questions, and Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles, who hosted the evening session on Feb. 15, was ready.

Before fielding the questions, though, Hetzler-Nettles took the audience on a pre-recorded virtual tour of the school, now under construction off Old Pasco Road.

Wearing a white construction hat, Nettles stepped through the school, offering details about the physical plant and future plans.

After the tour, she provided additional information through a power-point presentation, covering everything from what time school is expected to start, to what types of academic and athletic programs will be offered.

During the upcoming school year, there will be students in grades six through 11 on campus.

Projections show an estimated 840 middle school students in the coming school year, and 650 high school students, the principal said.

There are two large two-story classroom buildings on the campus, and an administration building with classroom space on the second floor, Hetzler-Nettles said.

The current plan is to house the middle schoolers in one of the large classroom buildings, with the overflow being on the second floor of the administration building, Hetzler-Nettles said.

The high school students will be housed in the other large, two-story classroom building, which is closer to the student parking lot.

A full array of academic and elective courses will be offered to high school students, and there will be three high school academy programs: Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Engineering and Robotics. Students in the academies will have the opportunity to earn certifications, too, the principal noted.

Courses offered will be dictated by student demand. If a course isn’t listed on a course card, students should write it in, the principal advised. If there’s enough demand, it will be added.

The high school athletics program will include the slate of sports available at other district high schools.

And, according to an update on the school’s website, it also will be offering lacrosse — for high school girls and boys. It will be a pay-for-play program, Nettles said.

The school will have four separate locker rooms. There will be one for high school girls and one for middle school girls. There will be one for high school boys and one for middle school boys.

The locker rooms will be separated by a coach’s office, the principal said.

The gym also will have a screen that can be pulled down to divide it so that high school and middle school physical education programs and practices can be held separately, she said.

The school also plans to have separate band programs for the high school and the middle school.

And, it plans to have a competitive marching band — an issue of apparent concern to some parents. They urged Hetzler-Nettles to hire a teacher who will not be afraid to seek out difficult competitions merely because the school will be in its first year of operation.

The principal said she got their message, loud and clear.

High school and middle school students will ride the bus together — something that already occurs at a number of district schools, the principal said. Middle school students will ride in the first 10 rows of the bus and high schoolers will ride in the back.

The school day will start and end at the same time for both middle and high school students, she said. Right now, it’s looking like school will start at 7:25 a.m. or 7:30 a.m., and will end at 1:50 p.m. or 1:55 p.m., but that is subject to change.

That concerns some parents who anticipate a traffic nightmare, as so many people arrive and depart from the campus at the same time.

The road has been widened near the school entrance, but Hetzler-Nettles said she’s not aware of any plan to widen Old Pasco Road beyond that point.

The principal also told the crowd that high school and middle school students also will eat in the same cafeteria and will use the same media center, but at different times, the principal said.

The principal has advertised half of the positions she expects to be able to fill, but can’t advertise the rest until she has firmer numbers — which likely won’t happen until at least sometime in April, she said.

While acknowledging that making the transition to high school can be difficult and that it can be tough to adjust to a new high school, too, Hetzler-Nettles told the audience that she’s excited about the new possibilities that Cypress Creek Middle High will offer. She also invited parents and students to get involved to help make the school all that it can be.

“Parents if you’re interested in volunteering, we’re going to need a lot of help. I would love it if you would reach out to me.

“Just let me know what you’re interested in helping with, or if you have no idea what you’re willing to help with, you’re just willing to help. I’m going create a list, I’m going to keep all that information, and then we’re going to be calling you up when we need help.”

She urged students to share their ideas with her.

She wants the school to be a place they enjoy and where they can thrive.

Students will help determine the school’s traditions, she said.

“The most important thing at a school is the student voice. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. School is what you make it, just as life is what you make it. I want to hear your thoughts and your opinions. You can tell me the things you want to see at your school and the things you’d really like to have,” the principal said.

Cypress Creek Middle High School
Mascot: The Coyotes
School colors: Green and yellow
For information: Visit CCMHS.pascok12.fl.us
If you have questions, suggestions or want to volunteer, call Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles at (813) 346-4401 or email her at .

Published March 1, 2017

Chalk Talk 03/01/2017

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Woodland remodeling discussion
Woodland Elementary School, 38203 Henry Drive in Zephyrhills, hosted a remodeling project discussion for parents Feb. 28.

The school plans to increase its student capacity from 652 students to 900 students and upgrade its facilities.

There will be an additional building on campus, a conversion of the old cafeteria into classrooms and a STEM lab, a remodel of the restrooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a remodel of the administration office, installation of new school entrance signage, and a redesign of the parking lot and bus loop.

The project will be completed in two phases, which will run from this summer to August, 2018.

For information, call (813) 794-6400.

Middle school essay contest
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office is accepting entries to Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s Constitutional Officers Essay Contest. The contest runs March 1 through March 31.

Middle school students in Pasco County, grades six to eight, in public/charter, private, non-public and home-schools can participate.

In 500 words or less, students must answer the question: “How do you, as a middle school student, benefit from taxes your family, friends and neighbors pay?”

Each entry must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information.

Entries will be judged by a panel of directors from the tax collector’s office, and will be reviewed on how well the student communicates a response to the question, as well as overall essay structure, appearance and readability.

Students in public/charter schools should submit essays to the school’s principal, who will forward the essay to the tax collector’s office.

Students in private, nonpublic or home-schools should send essays to Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120, New Port Richey, FL 34654, or by email to .

The deadline is 5 p.m., March 31.

The winning entry will be notified by telephone by April 17.

For information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

Cox Elementary’s 90th
Rodney B. Cox Elementary, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City, will host a 90th anniversary celebration fundraiser, March 5 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There will be live entertainment, a memory walk, a silent auction, and vendors.

Tickets are $7 and include lunch, beverage and dessert, and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

For information, call (352) 524-5100.

Bishop McLaughlin open house
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill, will host an admissions open house March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 857-2600, ext. 244.

Scholarship fundraiser
The Medical Center of Trinity volunteers will host a jewelry sale fundraiser March 9 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and March 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the hospital’s lobby at 9330 State Road 54. The Masquerade Jewelry and Fashions sale will include jewelry, watches, scarves, rings, umbrellas and more.

The scholarships will benefit local students studying in any area of the medical field.

Scholarship applications
Hillsborough County Social Services and the Community Action Board offer scholarships up to $5,000 to eligible students who want to continue education at an institution of higher learning.

Scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 school year will be accepted through March 31.

Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the the start of the fall semester.

Applications can be downloaded at tinyurl.com/zxvwatv.

Students may submit completed applications online, via email, or hand deliver to any County Community Resource Center.

Knights of Columbus donations
Knights of Columbus Council 8104 of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes, has donated to a number of area schools through the support of the church’s parishioners.

The Council has donated $5,000 to Bishop McLaughlin High School’s Scholarship Fund.

It also has donated a total of $7,000, through a Tootsie Roll Drive, to be used for disabled students at Denham Oaks Elementary School, Land O’ Lakes High School, Connerton Elementary School and Pine View Middle School.

Principal offers overview for middle school parents, students

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The vibe was upbeat as music played and a slideshow offered images of Cypress Creek Middle High, a new school under construction off Old Pasco Road.

This aerial shows the progress being made on construction of Cypress Creek Middle High, which is scheduled to open this fall for students in grades six through 11. A senior class will be added the second year of operation.
(Courtesy of Carin Hetzler-Nettles)

Parents and students filed into the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High School, filling much of the auditorium.

They were there to find out what to expect for middle schoolers at the new school, and Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles was ready.

The principal held back-to-back information sessions on the evening of Feb. 15. One was tailored to middle school students and their parents; the other, for high school students and their parents.

Both sessions were well-attended.

Some of the information was the same for both, but some was tailored to the specific age group.

In both presentations, members of the audience were taken on a pre-recorded virtual tour of the new school, with Nettles leading the way.

Wearing a white construction hat during the video, Nettles stepped through the school, offering details about the physical plant and future plans.

During the virtual tour and in her live presentation, Hetzler-Nettles provided a detailed account of how many students are expected, where they will be housed, and what types of academic and athletic programs will be offered.

During the upcoming school year, there will be students in grades six through 11 on campus.

Projections show an estimated 840 middle school students in the coming school year, and 650 high school students, she said.

There are two large two-story classroom buildings on the campus, and an administration building with classroom space on the second floor, Hetzler-Nettles said.

The current plan is to house the middle schoolers in one of the large classroom buildings, with the overflow being on the second floor of the administration building, Hetzler-Nettles said.

The high school students are expected to be housed in the other large, two-story classroom building, which is closer to the student parking lot, she said.

On the academic side for middle schoolers, there will be a full array of academic and elective courses. There also will three Middle School Academy Programs: Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Engineering and Robotics.

Courses offered will be dictated by student demand, she said. So, if a course isn’t listed on a course card, students should write it in.

Students entering the new Cypress Creek Middle High School, being built off Old Pasco Road, have chosen The Coyotes, as their mascot.
(Courtesy of Carin Hetzler-Nettles)

If there’s enough demand, it will be added, she said.

Regarding athletics, the middle school will offer the same athletics as offered by other middle schools, she said.

The school will have four separate locker rooms. There will be one for high school girls and one for middle school girls. There will be one for high school boys and one for middle school boys.

The locker rooms will be separated by a coach’s office, she said.

The gym also will have a screen that can be pulled down to divide it so that high school and middle school physical education programs, and practices, can be held separately, she said.

The school also plans to have separate band programs for the high school and the middle school.

From a logistics point of view, the high school and middle school students will ride the bus together, which is something that already occurs at a number of district schools, the principal said. Middle school students will ride in the first 10 rows of the bus and high schoolers will ride in the back, she said.

The school day will start and end at the same time for both middle and high school students, she said. Right now, it’s looking like school will start at 7:25 a.m. or 7:30 a.m., and will end at 1:50 p.m. or 1:55 p.m., but that is subject to change.

High school and middle school students also will eat in the same cafeteria and use the same media center, but at different times, the principal said.

The principal said she’s not sure how many positions she will be able to fill because she won’t have that information until around April. For now, she has advertised half of the position she expects to be able to fill.

The principal also fielded numerous questions from the audience, ranging from why the school will not offer self-contained gifted classes, to whether there will be uniforms, to whether the school will have agri-science classes.

The school will not have self-contained classes for gifted students, but instead will have an inclusion model, Hetzler-Nettles said.

As a high school principal, she said she’s seen students in self-contained gifted classes have trouble making the transition to high school, where there are no self-contained gifted classes.

As far as requiring uniforms for students, Nettles had this answer: “No way!” — prompting laughter from the audience.

The answer to the agri-science question was less clear. The school doesn’t plan to start out with it, but if enough students want it, it could add it, the principal said.

The principal also emphasized that although middle school and high school students will share the same campus, they will be in separate buildings and will be using common facilities at different times.

Hetzler-Nettles also assured the crowd that she understands that making the transition from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school, is challenging.

Fifth-graders who are anxious about coming to middle school don’t need to worry, she said.

“We’re going to help you out. It’s going to be fine. You’re going to love it,” she said.

She also noted that making the transition to a new school can be difficult, too, and she and her staff are committed to making it a positive transition for students and their parents.

She told the audience that she’s excited about the new possibilities that Cypress Creek Middle High will offer, and she encouraged parents and students to get involved to help make the school all that it can be.

“Parents, if you’re interested in volunteering, we’re going to need a lot of help. I would love it if you would reach out to me. I’m it, right now.

“Just let me know what you’re interested in helping with, or if you have no idea what you’re willing to help with, you’re just willing to help. I’m going create a list, I’m going to keep all that information, and then we’re going to be calling you up when we need help,” she said.

She also urged students to share their ideas with her.

She wants the school to be a place they enjoy and where they can thrive.

“The most important thing at a school is the student voice. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. School is what you make it, just as life is what you make it. I want to hear your thoughts and your opinions. You can tell me the things you want to see at your school and the things you’d really like to have,” the principal said.

Cypress Creek Middle High School

Mascot: The Coyotes

School colors: Green and yellow

For information: Visit CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us

If you have questions, suggestions, or want to volunteer, call Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles at (813) 346-4401, or email her at .

Next week, we’ll present the principal’s session for high school parents and students.

Published February 22, 2017

 

Remembering the legacy of Odell Mickens

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Odell Kingston Mickens’ legacy as a Dade City educator and civil rights activist endures more than three decades after his death in 1980.

When racism and Jim Crow laws denied blacks access to public education during the 1930s, Mickens expanded the outreach of education to black students in Pasco County.

When white school boards eventually included black schools into a separate, but underfunded system, Mickens continued to expand opportunities for black students, including the right in 1940 to receive high school diplomas.

Mickens championed the economic and civil rights of the black community until he died in 1980.

He was the first black elected to public office in Pasco County, winning two terms on the City Commission of Dade City.

“I find Odell Mickens to be just a giant,” said Imani Asukile, director of global and multicultural awareness, and special assistant to the president of Pasco-Hernando State College.

Asukile was guest speaker on Feb. 16 at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City.

The museum is sponsoring a series of lectures in conjunction with its Smithsonian exhibit, “The Way We Worked.”

Asukile also is author of “Black Americans of Hernando County, Florida.”

Asukile said he is not formally trained as a historian, but has a deep interest in history.

“Somewhere I just caught the bug,” he said. “One of my goals is to unearth stories about local African-Americans.”

Mickens is a particular favorite.

In his research, Asukile learned that Mickens was mentored by Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the Bethune-Cookman University.

Bethune was internationally recognized as an educator, human rights activist and advisor to several United States presidents.

“She found him to be an outstanding student,” Asukile said.

Mickens was the descendent of Colbert and Nancy Mickens, former slaves from South Carolina.

Mickens’ paternal grandparents were later sold and sent to Marion County, where they raised seven children in the small hamlet of Flemington that Asukile described as “way back in the woods.”

Odell Mickens was born in 1904, the only child of Isaac Mickens and his wife, Anna. At a time when there were no public schools for blacks, they sent him to privately operated black academies.

“His parents invested in him to get an education,” Asukile said.

In 1933, at age 29, as a graduate of then Bethune-Cookman Junior College, Mickens became principal of Moore Academy, the first permanent school open to blacks in Pasco County. It was named for the Rev. Junias D. Moore, who served as its first principal.

Mickens’ wife, Christine, taught at Moore Academy and also coached the Panthers’ basketball team.

“This really turned out to be a wonderful and beautiful partnership,” said Asukile of the Mickens’ marriage.

Mickens oversaw the expansion of Moore Academy. Over the years the campus, in various locations, became Moore Elementary School and Mickens High School.

In 1940, Lillian Arnold, Mozell Thompson and Lila Thompson became the first blacks in Pasco to graduate and receive diplomas.

The school became Moore-Mickens Middle School in the early 1980s, and was later repurposed as an education center in 1987.

The Pasco County School Board closed the education center in 2015. A group of community activists are seeking to reopen the center, but have yet to finalize a plan with the school district.

But, Mickens’ contributions to the county extended beyond education.

He served on the building committee for the Dade City Civic Center which opened in 1963.

He also was a founder of the Negro Civic Association.

Association members lobbied city officials to open up land formerly used as a prisoner-of-war camp in World War II. The city platted the land and, over time, black residents bought lots and built homes in the Moore-Harper subdivision.

Mickens served on the board of the Pasco County Housing Authority; as assistant trustee for the Bethune-Cookman University; and, as president of the Bethune-Cookman National Alumni Association.

In 1980, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Published February 22, 2017

 

 

 

Chalk Talk 02/22/2017

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Saint Leo held veterans info meeting
Saint Leo University hosted a Veterans Community Information Meeting, bringing together various organizations that serve veterans in Pasco County and surrounding counties. Coordination of services is key so that veterans’ needs do not fall through the cracks. Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., university president, spoke at the meeting. Capt. Tait Sanborn of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and student-veteran John Morgan were present, too.

Instructional job fair
Pasco County Schools will host a Spring Instructional Job Fair Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

The job fair is for teachers and student services employees.

Positions are available at the elementary, middle and high school levels, including: reading, math, science, emotional and behavioral disorders/autism spectrum disorder, school nurse, and behavioral analyst.

Applicants can get on-the-spot interviews and prizes for participating.

For information, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Job Fair banner at the top of the page.

Those interested also can call Lori Perreault at (813) 794-2845.

Recycled artwork on display
Pasco County Recycling is hosting its annual Art of Recycling contest, back for its 21st year.

Pasco County high school students have created art from trash, and the recycled artwork will be on display in the lobby of the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey, through Feb. 24.

Creations are judged in 15 categories, including Best Use of Aluminum, Best Use of Plastic, Most Innovative and Best Environmental Concept.

The contest and exhibit help raise awareness of the arts and encourage the practice of recycling.

For information, visit bit.ly/2kdGsIk.

Wesley Chapel High car show

The second annual Wesley Chapel High Car Show will be Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel, with imports, domestics, trucks and student cars.

There also will be food trucks, a disc jockey and kid’s activities.

The show will feature three classes, and handmade trophies will be awarded.

All proceeds will go to the high school’s auto academy.

The show entry fee is $20. Spectator admission is free.

For information, email or .

College night

Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road, will host its annual College Night Feb. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for all area high school students (particularly 11th-graders) and parents.

Students can get information about majors, sports, special programs, admission requirements, tuition, financial aid, scholarship availability, future career opportunities and more.

Representatives from state universities; Pasco-Hernando State College; other public and private colleges and universities from Florida and other states; and, the U.S. Military, including Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy, will be available to assist potential applicants.

For information, contact Timothy Durling, WCHS career specialist, at (813) 794-8733 or .

Foundation scholarship
Tampa and St. Petersburg-area Simon properties are seeking applicants for $1 million in scholarships. The Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, is looking for qualified applicants who live near Tampa Premium Outlets, Ellenton Premium Outlets, Tyrone Square and the surrounding communities.

Any student who will graduate in 2017 and lives in the community surrounding a Simon property is eligible. Applicants can check eligibility by entering their zip code at SYF.org/scholarships.

Recipients can receive up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.

The application period ends March 1.

Home-schooling ministry
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers a Home-schooling Ministry, with weekly co-op at the church, social events and more.

For information, email Linda Holt at .

 

Managing challenges faced by teens

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From social media to social pressures, the challenges of a teen are unlikely to go away anytime soon.

The stresses aren’t going away for parents, either.

To help navigate those issues, the Steinbrenner High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) hosted its fifth annual “World of a Teen” program on Feb. 7, inside the school’s auditorium.

An estimated crowd of more than 250 people attended, according to Laura Lopresti, vice president of programs for Steinbrenner High PTSA.

Those attending came from numerous areas public high schools, middle schools, as well as a public elementary, a private school and a public charter school.

The fifth annual ‘World of a Teen’ program took place Feb. 7 at Steinbrenner High School. More than 250 parents and children attended. In 2016, the program received the ‘Department of Education Family and Community Involvement Exemplary Program Award’ from Hillsborough County Schools.
(Kevin Weiss)

The award-winning program featured a panel of eight experts, who discussed topics ranging from drug usage and social media habits, to picking the right college.

During the 90-minute event, parents and guardians filled out questions on notecards, which then were read anonymously to the panel.

The answers were forthright, and panelists had plenty of advice.

“I think that a lot of people left here with a lot of questions answered — parents and children— and I think it gave them a lot of content to talk about at home,” said Edgar Guzman, a Tampa-based attorney, one of the panelists.

Drug usage, especially marijuana, was a frequently broached topic.

The panelists’ message to the audience: Stay away.

Lynn Posyton, community relations specialist for Drug-Free World, said she’s noticed the substance being abused “more and more.”

It’s also becoming more hazardous, she said.

Posyton noted the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have increased over the past several decades. That’s the chemical that’s responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.

Bob LeVine, former chairman of the Harvard Schools Committee for the West Coast of Florida, was one of the panelists during the ‘World of a Teen’ program. He is the founder of Selective College Consulting, which assists families in the college admissions process.

“It’s not the weed of the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s,” she said. “THC in 1981 was 2 percent. Now, it’s 17 percent.”

That sharp level, she said, affects individuals differently.

“It’s getting crazier and crazier, and harder for a child to understand what’s right and what’s wrong in terms of drugs,” Posyton said. “The most important thing is education of what drugs are. If you’re going to do something, you should find out about it before you’re going to do it.

She added: “Don’t listen to the people that say it’s not affecting them; do you look inside and see what’s happening to your liver?”

Guzman, meanwhile, said he’s seen marijuana’s harsh effects from a legal standpoint.

“It’s very dangerous,” he said. “It’s not worth experimenting; it’s really for nothing.”

Deputy Bill Sanders, a school resource officer at Martinez Middle School, warned parents about vaporizers and e-cigarettes, where cannabis oil can be added and sometimes go unnoticed.

“There’s a lot of sneaky stuff out there, and unfortunately a lot of our kids know how to get them,” Sanders said.

He also has noticed that kids are trying things at younger ages.

“Our kids are experimenting and doing things every year at a younger and younger age,” Sanders said. “Things we might’ve done when we were younger—but not as young — they are doing at a younger age.”

The proliferation of smart devices and popular apps — Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram — doesn’t help.

Social media makes youth more vulnerable than ever, panelists agreed.

Michelle Gonzalez, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said her office is seeing a rise in online sexual exploitation and cyber bullying amongst teens.

Those matters are becoming tougher to monitor, as new apps and devices come online, she said.

Teens ought to think twice before sending an inappropriate photo, Gonzalez advised.

“It can get away from you,” she said. “Once you take a picture and send it, it’s out there.”

To combat problems, Gonzalez said parents must better supervise their children’s app usage and Internet activity.

That includes access to all passwords and encrypted information.

“There should be no privacy—they’re not adults,” she said.

Students, meanwhile, must be cautious with whom they’re interacting with online.

“There’s nothing to monitor how old the kids are, and there’s nothing to monitor how old people are that they’re talking to,” Gonzalez explained. “Don’t give out personal details.

“If you haven’t met them in real life, you don’t know who they’re talking to,” she said.

Deputy Sanders’ rule of thumb for teens: Only converse online with somebody you’ve met face-to-face, and have had a daily conversation with for a school year’s length of time.

“You really need to know who you’re talking to,” Sanders said. “Really know who you’re dealing with online.”

On a softer note, post-secondary education was another point of discussion, during the event.

Several questions were posed about the admissions process, along with the transition to higher learning.

Bob LeVine, former chairman of the Harvard Schools Committee for the West Coast of Florida, said it’s an important to find an environment where each student can flourish.

He pointed out students learn in different ways, from auditory and visual learning, to interactive learning.

Finding available offerings at targeted institutions is paramount, LeVine said.

“It’s not about getting into a school; it’s about succeeding when you get there,” he said.

LeVine later instructed parents to stop worrying about what schools want, and focus instead on what “inspires and develops” children in the “best possible way.”

Additionally, overstressing about grade point average or exclusively taking advanced courses can be counterproductive, he said.

“The academics is important, but they will also weight things differently—sports, volunteering, family activities,” LeVine said. “Colleges want to see students undertake challenges, but not all the challenges.”

Panelist agreed it’s essential for parents and teens to maintain open lines of communication.

“Hiding, being quiet, or walking way isn’t the answer,” Guzman said.

Published February 15, 2017

Chalk Talk 02/15/2017

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(Courtesy of Melody Floyd)

Chambers honors citizens of the month
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce has recognized these students as January Citizens of the Month: Susanna Rom, Academy at the Farm; Kayla Rosales, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Sidney Deese, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Aubrey Prescott, Centennial Elementary; Ethan Dixon, Lacoochee Elementary; Madalyn Grace Irvin, Pasco Elementary; Daniela Alvarez, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Manuel Servindelamora, San Antonio Elementary; Yahir Torres, Centennial Middle; Teon Ifill, Pasco Middle; Brianna Moser, James Irvin Educaiotn Center; and, Paul Leon, Pasco High.

Elementary school opens clothes closet
Mittye P. Locke Elementary School in New Port Richey opened a Locke Closet and Resource Center Feb. 4, to provide no-cost clothing to families in need.

The school staff collected 3,000 new clothing items through a partnership with New Threads of Hope in Wisconsin. Clothing was available in all sizes for men, women, boys and girls.

Families received invitations and were asked to RSVP to shop for clothing.

Also offered were community resources for counseling, youth services, jobs, food, shelter and more.

Shady Hills hosts first track meet field trip
Shady Hills Elementary School hosted its first Track Meet Field Trip Feb. 10 at Crews Lake Middle School. The event was part of the after-school Shady Hills Harrier Running Club, which is in its second year.

Since its formation, the club has amassed a roster of 110 students who run every Tuesday and Thursday.

The students tally their accumulated miles to earn rewards and participation in Oak Hill Hospital’s Five Points of Life Kids Marathon, in April.

Students also receive tips on stretching, nutrition and running techniques.

Pine View’s week of service
Pine View Middle School’s inaugural Great Week of Service is Feb. 13 through Feb. 17, as part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, to encourage giving back to the community, and to learn from and reflect on the experiences.

As part of the week, students will host a car wash for first responders, and make tug toys and collect treats for animals at Pasco County Animal Services. The car wash is daily from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The toy making will take place throughout the week in art classes.

The students also will mentor at Cox Elementary School in Dade City on Feb. 16, and volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries in Holiday on Feb. 17.

The school will collect these donations: clean, old towels and T-shirts (for tug toys), Pup-Peroni and/or Milk-Bone dog treats, Tempations cat treats, carwash soap (not dish soap), sponges and scrub brushes.

For information, call Pine View at (813) 794-4800.

Parent information nights
San Antonio Elementary School will host three parent information nights to share information about the Cambridge Programme with east Pasco families. Each session begins at 6:30 p.m.:

  • Feb. 16, San Antonio Elementary, 32416 Darby Road in Dade City
  • Feb. 20, Centennial Elementary, 38501 Centennial Road in Dade City
  • Feb. 23, Wesley Chapel Elementary, 30243 Wells Road

The Cambridge Programme will be offered in the 2017-2018 school year. The program is a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning with an international curriculum model that provides students with a rigorous educational experience.

For information, call San Antonio Elementary at (352) 524-5300, or visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Schools link at the top.

Home-schooling ministry
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers a Home-schooling Ministry, with weekly co-op at the church, social events and more.

For information, email Linda Holt at .

Local students earn degrees
The following students have earned degrees from their respective schools:

  • Angel Ramos, of Wesley Chapel, Bachelor of Science in exercise science from Missouri Valley College
  • Colin Allan Pritchard, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Clemson University, South Carolina
  • Alissa Belasco, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in applied science from Youngstown State University, Ohio

Learning Gate looking for sponsors, auction items
Learning Gate Community School in Lutz will host its 13th annual Silent Auction Night on March 4 at the University Area Community Development Center. All the proceeds will benefit Learning Gate students.

The school is looking for auction items, sponsors, raffles prizes or gift certificates. All items received will be highlighted to advertise the company. Pickup is available for any donations provided. Donations are tax deductible.

For information, call Michele Northrup at (813) 948-4190, ext. 313, or visit LearningGate.org

Middle/high school offers new possibilities

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Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles sees countless possibilities for students who will be taught at Cypress Creek Middle/High School, now under construction off State Road 52.

Students aren’t the only ones who will have new opportunities, Hetzler-Nettles said. She believes the experience will be invigorating for her faculty and staff, too.

The school is slated to begin operation in the fall, beginning with students in grade six through 11, and adding a senior class the following year.

Carin Hetzler-Nettles, former principal at Wesley Chapel High, will lead Cypress Creek Middle/High School. She has experience at both the middle and high school levels.
(B.C. Manion)

Attendance boundaries for the school were adopted on Jan. 17 by the Pasco County School Board, but the boundaries are being challenged.

The Pasco County School Board and Superintendent Kurt Browning were scheduled to meet in a closed session with school board attorneys to discuss pending litigation regarding those boundaries. That meeting was set for the morning of Feb. 7, or as soon thereafter as possible.

Meanwhile, construction continues at Cypress Creek Middle/High School.

The physical setup keeps middle school and high school students in separate areas, Hetzler-Nettles said. There will be separate physical education classes, with separate locker rooms for the age levels and genders.

There’s also a screen in the gym that will descend, to separate middle school and high school physical education classes.

Students will ride the bus together, but there will be rules, Hetzler-Nettles said.

“Middle school students will sit in the front. High school students can sit in the last 10 rows,” she said.

That practice is already being used on buses carrying middle school and high school students to other district schools, she said.

Cypress Creek Middle/High will have a high school band and a middle school band, as well as a high school orchestra and middle school orchestra.

“There might be some performances together. That will be the beauty of that school,” Nettles said.

“There is going to be a lot of awesome possibilities in terms of student mentoring,” Hetzler-Nettles said. “I can easily see ninth-graders mentoring in sixth-grader classes.

“Collaboration amongst the teachers is going to be amazing,” she added.

The school is planning to have academies in Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering and Robotics.

There also will be opportunities for middle school students who have advanced skills to take academic courses at the high school level, Hetzler-Nettles said.

The principal said she has heard some concerns regarding the impact that the lack of a senior class could have on athletic programs.

She thinks it will serve as an advantage for some underclassmen.

“Your juniors will be your leaders. That’s definitely going to offer up some opportunities,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

The principal is looking forward to being able to give tours of the new school.

“The campus is just beautiful,” she said.

She also noted the quest to secure funding for a performing arts center on the campus.

“It’s a collaborative effort between Pasco County School Board and PHSC (Pasco-Hernando State College),” Hetzler-Nettles said.

The middle/high school will open with offerings in dance, theater, orchestra, band and chorus, she said.

“I think those programs will just explode, with the building of that performing arts center,” Nettles said. “PHSC is going to have classes there. It’s going to give our kids an opportunity for dual enrollment within the area of fine arts. That’s exciting.

“It’s going to be a community theater, maybe even renting it out for events,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

The principal began her teaching career as a middle school teacher at River Ridge. She has been at the helm of Wesley Chapel High School for several years.

She’s looking forward to working with both middle and high school students.

“I know that parents are worried about that combination of middle school and high schoolers, but I really see it as such a benefit,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

“Kids are kids. They’re awesome. They’re fun. I’m excited to translate what we do here at Wesley Chapel High School down into a middle school arena,” she said.

She also wants to alleviate worries that parents may have.

“I’m available for questions at any time. If they have concerns, they certainly can reach out to me,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

She can be reached at .

Published February 8, 2017