The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Country Jam benefits fine arts and other programs

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The second annual Dade City (DC) Country Jam promises to be bigger and better than last year’s.

The shindig, set for Oct. 8 from noon to midnight at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, will feature a bevy of musical performances, including the likes of Nashville-based country singer Dawn Beyer; Johnny Shelton, of America’s Got Talent fame; and country-duo Jesse & Noah Bellamy.

In all, there will be 14 bands in a quest aimed to help future musicians.

The Pasco Middle School band, which has about 110 members, needs new and refurbished instruments. (Photos courtesy of Kenny Mathis)
The Pasco Middle School band, which has about 110 members, needs new and refurbished instruments.
(Photos courtesy of Kenny Mathis)

The concert, organized by Pasco Middle School band director Kenny Mathis, seeks to raise funds for the school’s fine arts programs, plus other school organizations in need.

Last year’s musical bash was an instant success. About 1,000 people attended and $14,000 was raised.

“It has really taken off,” said Mathis, who’s been Pasco Middle’s band director since 2007. “We’ve got a great group of musicians coming down that are ready to help my kids.”

The goal for this year, Mathis said, is to raise at least $25,000.

The funds, he said, will go toward purchasing new band instruments and refurbishing older ones for both the middle school and Pasco High School.

“I’ve got instruments from the ‘50s and ‘60s that are still floating around in there,” the band director explained. “I’ve tried to go back and repair a lot of the instruments that needed repair, and I bought new mouthpieces. …We used some of the money last year…to try to get them up to par.”

With about 110 middle school band students, Mathis estimates he loans out upwards of 80 instruments.

Considering a new tuba may cost $5,000, and a new euphonium runs about $3,000, the costs add up rapidly.

Pasco Middle School band teacher Kenny Mathis started the DC Country Jam in 2015 to raise money for the school’s fine arts programs.
Pasco Middle School band teacher Kenny Mathis started the DC Country Jam in 2015 to raise money for the school’s fine arts programs.

“I’ve done many, many fundraisers— cheesecakes, magazines, candy — and you can’t get enough in one chunk in those types of sales to buy what you need,” explained Mathis.

“You can’t make enough from a cheesecake fundraiser to even buy a tuba,” he said.

Mathis noted the school district is sometimes able to provide enough funding for two or three instruments per school year.

But, that isn’t enough.

“If you’re only getting two or three instruments a year, but you’re gaining sometimes 10 to 15 students every year — you’re behind,” Mathis said.

The dearth of instruments, he said, has forced the middle school to share instruments with Pasco High School.

“We are constantly shifting instruments back and forth between the middle school and the high school,” said Mathis. “If (PHS band teacher Steve Herring) needs a tuba or a euphonium, he’ll come borrow from me. And, if I need a saxophone or a clarinet, I’ll borrow from him.”

Mathis said the concert will not only benefit the middle and high school bands, but several other school programs, too.

For instance, various Pasco High sports teams — girls soccer team, girls weightlifting, and Pasco Middle student organizations—FFA (Future Farmers of America), angler club—receive 50 percent of the revenue off every ticket they sell.

“We don’t charge them for booths, and they can sell their items and try to make money for their organizations,” said Mathis. “We didn’t want to feel narrow-minded just raising money for one organization.”

He added: “We have a lot of clubs and organizations that need money.”

Next year, Mathis hopes to turn the concert into a “full-fledged outdoor festival” that draws somewhere between 3,000 to 5,000 attendees.

“This thing’s definitely here to stay,” Mathis said. “Our goal next year is to have one major headliner, and then keep all the bands before it local.”

Tickets are $10. For more information, email Mathis at .

Published September 28, 2016

Catholic schools take part in week of caring

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Catholic schools around the Diocese of St. Petersburg partnered with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay for Carefest 2016.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School students share their love of music by donating 15 violins to St. Joseph Catholic School. From left, Mother Teresa students Brady Roell, Allie Monsour, W. Benjamin Jorgensen, Lillian Parrado, Autumn Wingfield, Jay Anastasia and Cody Flach. (Courtesy of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School)
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School students share their love of music by donating 15 violins to St. Joseph Catholic School. From left, Mother Teresa students Brady Roell, Allie Monsour, W. Benjamin Jorgensen, Lillian Parrado, Autumn Wingfield, Jay Anastasia and Cody Flach.
(Courtesy of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School)

Students joined thousands of volunteers across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties to take part in the week devoted to service, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 24.

At the same time, the diocese celebrated “The Week of Caring in the Year of Mercy.”

During Carefest, schools throughout the diocese engaged in various efforts to extend themselves beyond the Catholic community, said Mark Majeski, associate superintendent of schools for the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Students at Mother Teresa of Calcutta School in Lutz donated 15 violins to be used by students at St. Joseph Catholic School, and held a school supply drive to help other schools in the diocese.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill had a first responders’ week and donated canned goods and baby items, collecting enough to fill more than four large containers, to benefit Catholic Charities.

Students at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio took part in a number of activities.

From left, Jacob Alcantara, Cassian O' Neill, Jaqueline Kowalewski, Elizabeth Kaplan, Noah Brooks and Peter Rygiel stand near the canned goods and baby items collected by Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School during Carefest 2016. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic School)
From left, Jacob Alcantara, Cassian O’ Neill, Jaqueline Kowalewski, Elizabeth Kaplan, Noah Brooks and Peter Rygiel stand near the canned goods and baby items collected by Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School during Carefest 2016.
(Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic School)

Children made thank you cards and banners, and sang for first responders.

“We thanked them for the sacrifices that they are making for our safety. We are totally grateful for their service, because it is truly a call of faith and courage. They do a lot of selfless work for us, for our safety,” said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal.

The children also made “survival kits” for the first responders.

They gave 105 survival kits to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and 19 to the local firefighters.

Each kit contained:

  • A prayer card for first responders. For police officers, a holy card of their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel; for firefighters, a holy card of their patron saint, St. Florian

Each kit also contained a variety of candies, along with an explanation for first responders. Those were:

  • Life Savers: To remind you of the many times you have been one
  • Starburst: For the burst of energy you need
  • PayDay: Because you’re not doing it for the money
  • Paper clip: To hold it all together
  • Hershey Kisses: Because you deserve them from all
  • Gum: To help your unit stick together
  • Tootsie Roll: To help you roll with the punches
  • Peppermint Patty: To help you keep your cool
  • Snickers: To remind you to have a sense of humor
  • Mounds: For the mounds of courage you need
Saint Anthony Catholic School children hold a banner expressing their gratitude for the area’s firefighters, during Carefest 2016, a week set aside for service. (Courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)
Saint Anthony Catholic School children hold a banner expressing their gratitude for the area’s firefighters, during Carefest 2016, a week set aside for service.
(Courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)

Other good works performed by Saint Anthony School students included donating personal grooming supplies for the migrant community, donating supplies for a baby pantry, and donating kits for children at Sunrise Center.

“This is the Year of Mercy, so we wanted to do something special — caring for the poor, as well as caring for people who do good things for us,” Ottapurackal said.

When the police officers and firefighters visited the school, it offered a chance for children to learn more about the services that first responders provide to the community, she said.

And, the children were able to express their gratitude.

“So we are giving and receiving,” the principal said. “Children are learning how community works. A lot of good things are happening in this world.”

Published September 28, 2016

Chalk Talk 09/28/2016

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(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

New chief information officer
Saint Leo University has named Vijay Sonty as its new chief information officer, responsible for the leadership and management of the University Technology Services operations. Sonty previously served as executive director of applications and operations at Kaplan Inc., chief information officer for Broward County Public Schools, and senior vice president and chief technology officer for Foote Cone and Belding.

 

 

 

 

Denham Oaks seeking partners
Denham Oaks Elementary School, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., has been in the Lutz area for more than 20 years and is looking for businesses to support the school.

Sponsorship opportunities start at $25, and allow the business to build its brand among local residents while supporting education.

There also are opportunities to join the School Advisory Council or serve as a judge for the student arts contest.

For information, visit DOES.my-pta.org, or email .

Chamberlain High 50th
The Chamberlain High School Class of 1966 is planning a 50-year class reunion on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. The committee needs help locating the Class of 1966 graduates.

If you graduated in 1966 and would like to have your name included for future updates and information, send your name (including maiden name), email, current address, home and/or cellphone number, and spouse’s name to

If you know anyone else in the class who has not yet been contacted, email their name and contact information to the same email address.

Job and internship fair
Pasco-Hernando State College will host the CareerSource Pasco Hernando Job & Internship Fair on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon, at PHSC East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City.

For information, contact Nathan Stevens at (352) 585-5117 or .

Sisters help kickoff school year
The Benedictine Sisters of Florida helped kickoff Saint Leo University’s new academic year with a Welcome Reception attended by more than 600 new students and their families.

The Sisters set up a booth highlighting the university’s Benedictine tradition, and students were invited to the Holy Name Monastery for prayer, Mass and volunteer opportunities.

The Sisters also introduced their aquaponics program.

Academy students receive first class honors
All 16 students from the New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy who took the Royal Conservatory of Music practical examinations received the highest mark classification — First Class Honors with Distinction. Each student received an A+ grade.

The exams highlight the students’ understanding of piano study, as well as the faculty’s dedication and hard work.

Artistic vision is the differentiating factor between an A and an A+. Both grades comprise a nearly flawless execution of the performance pieces and a proficiency in musicianship aspects (such as sight reading); however, an A+ requires a student to present a truly felt expression of the repertoire, not a robotic performance.

Sponsors needed for Student of the Month program
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has promoted the Student of the Month program for more than 20 years. Chamber businesses partner with local schools to encourage youth.

In most cases, the schools choose one student each month from September to May to be the winner of a trophy and T-shirt recognizing their achievement.

The business name is listed on the T-shirt, and the schools typically provide the business with the opportunity to visit the school each month and present the award.

The cost of a company to be a sponsor is $250 for the year.

Those interested in sponsoring a school or continuing a sponsorship from the previous year, can email the chamber office at , or fax to (813) 909-0827.

Early childhood program
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers an Early Childhood Center through the state funded VPK program.

This is a faith-based structured preschool learning environment. The program starts at age 2, and focuses on phonetic awareness, letter recognition, writing skills, reading strategies and problem solving activities.

There are two sessions: a morning preschool program and an afternoon program. Extended hours are offered, if needed.

For information, contact Corrine Ertl, center director, at (813) 948-5999 or .

Donate shoes and socks for students
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office is participating in the new shoes and socks collection campaign to assist local students and families in need. A collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, the “Two Good Soles” campaign, is seeking to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.

All five tax collector’s offices will be collection sites for donations until Oct. 25, and will have a labeled collection box near the door.

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

 

School boundary committee meetings underway

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Pasco County Schools will be opening a new high school and middle school on the same campus next year, and will open a new elementary school, too.

As a result, existing school boundaries will need to be redrawn to assign students to the new schools.

It’s a process that tends to be controversial.

The boundary committee for High School GGG had its first meeting on Sept. 16.

Although initially planned as a high school only, High School GGG being built at 8701 Old Pasco Road will operate for sixth- through 11th-graders the first year. After that, it will serve sixth- through 12th-graders until the school district has the funds to build a middle school. (Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
Although initially planned as a high school only, High School GGG being built at 8701 Old Pasco Road will operate for sixth- through 11th-graders the first year. After that, it will serve sixth- through 12th-graders until the school district has the funds to build a middle school.
(Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Its first goal was to develop a draft boundary for the combination high school and middle school campus, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

During the committee meeting, two additional meetings were added to its schedule.

One gives the committee more time to work on its recommendations before they are presented at a community meeting for parents. The other meeting gives the committee an opportunity to recommend any potential changes after the parents’ meeting, but before the Pasco County School Board considers the boundary recommendations.

The role of a school boundary committee is to develop and recommend school attendance boundaries that best meet established guidelines, to provide advice and direction to the technical assistance subcommittee, to review and critique the work of the technical assistance subcommittee, and to represent students, parents, communities, schools and the district.

Boundary committee meetings are open to the public, but members of the public may attend only as observers.

High School GGG, being built at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, will open as a sixth- through 12th-grade school next August, but will only have grades six through 11 its initial year.

The district needs to relieve crowding at Wiregrass Ranch High and John Long Middle School, and cannot afford to build a middle school at this time.

Elementary School B, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., is under construction in Bexley Ranch. It will help reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools when it opens in the 2017-2018 school year.
Elementary School B, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., is under construction in Bexley Ranch. It will help reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools when it opens in the 2017-2018 school year.

Another school boundary committee, for Elementary School B, being built at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., will begin meeting on Sept. 26. The new elementary school, set to open next fall, will reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary school.

Both school boundary committees are expected to complete their work by Feb. 1, and the Pasco County School Board will make the final decisions relating to boundaries for the new school.

In addition to drawing new boundaries, the Pasco County School Board will be naming the new schools. They are soliciting suggestions from the public. Anyone who wishes to submit a name can send a suggestion and a brief explanation for each school name by Oct. 1. Type Elementary B or High School GGG in the subject line, and email to .

Also, to keep abreast of information being considered by school boundary committees, visit PascoSchools.org and click on the Rezoning link on the right-hand side.

Boundary meeting schedule, High School GGG

  • Committee meeting, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Committee meeting, Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Parent meeting, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Committee meeting, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All meetings will be at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel

Boundary meeting schedule, Elementary B

  • Committee meeting, Sept. 26, 10:30 a.m.
  • Committee meeting, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m.
  • Parent meeting, Nov. 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

All meetings are at Oakstead Elementary, 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes. The committee meetings will be in the media center, and the parent meeting will be in the cafeteria.

Published September 21, 2016

Local students in running for national scholarships

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Normally, a summons by the principal doesn’t involve cake and flowers — but that’s exactly what Lauren Payne and her parents encountered at Wiregrass Ranch High School on Sept. 14.

From left, Janet Payne, Lauren Payne and Greg Payne, stand in a conference room at Wiregrass Ranch High School, after Lauren found out she had been named a semifinalist in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
From left, Janet Payne, Lauren Payne and Greg Payne, stand in a conference room at Wiregrass Ranch High School, after Lauren found out she had been named a semifinalist in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Principal Robyn White and Assistant Principal Cindy M. Jack wanted to share good news with the student and her parents because the high school senior is on the list of semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

She’s one of 16,000 scholars across the country that are semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Semifinalists have an opportunity to compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships which are worth about $33 million.

Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain a finalist standing, and about half of the finalists are expected to win a National Merit Scholarship.

Payne’s parents, Janet and Greg, were pleased by the school’s gesture.

“It’s a very nice surprise. It’s very exciting. It’s really nice that they put this together,” Janet Payne said.

“It’s exciting,” Lauren agreed.

Her dad is proud of her accomplishments. “It is a lot of hard work that she’s putting into it and hopefully, it will turn out well for her.”

Here’s a list of other local National Merit semifinalists:

Land O’ Lakes

  • Anmol Warman, Academy at the Lakes
  • Nathaniel W. Edgar, homeschool
  • Carter J. Bright, Land O’ Lakes High
  • Michael Gendreau, Land O’ Lakes High
  • Navya Jampani, Land O’ Lakes High
  • Nicholas R. Riley, Land O’ Lakes High
  • Maxwell Keenan, Land O’ Lakes High
  • Karina N. Armas, Sunlake High

Lutz

  • Elle D. Hazlett, homeschool
  • Joaquin Borggio, Steinbrenner High
  • Bailey M. Zinckgraf, Steinbrenner High

Tampa

  • Riley L. Troyer, Carrollwood Day School
  • Kaley A. Raabe, Gaither High School
  • Jordyn E. Bizzell, Sickles High
  • Henry M. Noell, Sickles High
  • Samuel L. Unger, Sickles High
  • April E. Olson, Wharton High

Published September 21, 2016

Chalk Talk 09/21/2016

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(Courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Brooksville Ridge)
(Courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Brooksville Ridge)

Taking stock in our children
The Kiwanis Club of Brooksville Ridge presented members of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Take Stock in Children program with a $1,000 donation as part of the club’s Year of Giving Campaign. From left, Imani Asukile, director of Global Multicultural Awareness and special assistant to the president; Ronteryl Black, pre-collegiate coordinator; and, Donna Burdzinski, PHSC provost, North Campus.

 

Early childhood program
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers an Early Childhood Center through the state funded VPK program.

This is a faith-based structured preschool learning environment. The program starts at age 2, and focuses on phonetic awareness, letter recognition, writing skills, reading strategies and problem solving activities.

There are two sessions: a morning preschool program and an afternoon program. Extended hours are offered, if needed.

For information, contact Corrine Ertl, center director, at (813) 948-5999 or .

Practice ACT test
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will offer The Princeton Review Practice ACT Test on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. To 3:30 p.m., for high school students throughout the area. The cost is $25.

For information, email Lynette Mills at .

Gaither High garage sale
Gaither High School will host its first Band Garage Sale on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, in the school parking lot at 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

There will be vendors and businesses introducing their products and/or services. Food trucks also will be on site.

The cost is $20 for two parking spaces, and must be prepaid with signed vendor contract.

Proceeds will help send the Gaither High School Band to Carnegie Hall.

For information, contact Melissa Seaman at or (786) 514-0128.

PHSC Foundation fundraiser
The annual Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation Golf Tournament will take place on Oct. 3 at the Black Diamond Ranch Quarry Course, 2600 W. Black Diamond Circle in Lecanto.

Awards will be given to first place teams, and winners of the longest drive, closest to the pin and putting contests.

Players receive a breakfast buffet, lunch, beverages, awards banquet seat, official tournament apparel and goodie bags.

Registration is available at PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

Middle school students explore STEM
Students from Centennial Middle School in Dade City took part in STEM Day on Sept. 9 to engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities.

Students participated in a rotational program, visiting several stations to explore STEM issues. Some of the stations involved invention kits, unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), catapults, robots and water rockets.

For information, call Bobbi Starling at (352) 524-9700.

Mobile dental unit visits schools
Chasco Elementary School in New Port Richey was the first of many Title I Pasco County schools to receive a visit from the Smile Care A Van.

Pasco County Schools and the Florida Department of Health in Pasco have partnered to support the dental health of students across the district.

The mobile dental unit provides students with free dental services, including assessments, cleanings, fluoride treatment, sealants, brushing and flossing instructions, and general oral care education.

For upcoming scheduled school stops, call Lisa Kern at (727) 774-2360.

Head Start program applications
Head Start provides early childhood development and education, medical, dental and mental health services, and family support services to qualifying low-income families with children ages 0-5.

All Hillsborough County’s Head Start classes use the same voluntary prekindergarten curriculum in addition to the Head Start Early Childhood Framework.

The program can accommodate students residing throughout Hillsborough County, including those in the vicinity of Nye Park, 630 Sunset Lane in Lutz.

All services are free to those who qualify.

For information on registering your child, call (813) 272-5140, or visit HillsboroughCounty.org/HeadStart.

Best community colleges
The personal finance website WalletHub conducted an analysis to identify the states with the best and worst community college systems.

WalletHub’s analysts compared 821 schools across 12 key metrics, with data set ranges from the cost of in-state tuition and fees, to student-faculty ratios to graduation rates.

The top five states with the best community college systems were South Dakota, Alaska, North Dakota, Florida and Montana.

McKitrick Elementary goes digital
McKitrick Elementary School in Lutz has been selected to receive a computer/laptop for each student in two of its fifth-grade classes, as part of the Hillsborough County Public School program for Project Innovate computers and digital classroom allocation.

The students will be using and toting the computer/laptop to all their classes.

Steinbrenner marching band director has ambitious plans

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Steinbrenner High School’s new marching band director has ambitious plans for the program.

Jason Allgair, who spent the past nine years teaching at Wharton High School, is striving to increase band participation.

He’s also looking to collaborate with the school’s other fine arts programs — orchestra and theater.

The Steinbrenner marching band is looking to raise upwards of $55,000 for a trip to New York City in January. Approximately 120 students are in the band. (Photos courtesy of Ingrid Babajanof)
The Steinbrenner marching band is looking to raise upwards of $55,000 for a trip to New York City in January. Approximately 120 students are in the band.
(Photos courtesy of Ingrid Babajanof)

“I believe that all the arts should be together in regards to doing concerts and performances, and supporting each other,” Allgair said. “I love doing full orchestra, I love the collaboration with theatre, and doing the musicals.

“I’m all about the community environment and the community feel.”

Steinbrenner’s musical faculty, including Allgair, is entirely new. Other first-year Steinbrenner teachers are Grace Jeon, orchestra director, and Corey Poole, choir director.

“All of us are just bonding together, and we want the students to feel like everyone is important, and everyone is involved with each other’s performances,” Allgair said.

At least one band member, James Wall, relishes the idea of more alliances and partnerships with other fine arts departments.

“I think it’s cool that we’re kind of expanding our horizons,” the high school senior said. “Doing more things, using other departments, working together — we didn’t do it that much in the past.”

That philosophy spreads to Friday nights throughout the fall, where the band and Steinbrenner’s cheer squad will no longer be separate entities during home football games. Instead, they’ll be performing jointly — in the name of school spirit.

The band practices Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall, in advance of Friday night football games. The band’s first major competition is the 20th annual Lion’s Pride Marching Band Festival on Oct. 15 at King High School. The district MPA (Music Performance Assessment) is set for Nov. 5.
The band practices Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall, in advance of Friday night football games. The band’s first major competition is the 20th annual Lion’s Pride Marching Band Festival on Oct. 15 at King High School. The district MPA (Music Performance Assessment) is set for Nov. 5.

“I believe in the hometown feel,” said Allgair, “where the cheerleaders and the band and that whole atmosphere…is there for the spirit of the school.

“It’s all about the support of the football team and the whole feel of what’s happening on Friday nights at Steinbrenner,” he said.

Doubling the size of the marching band — which has approximately 120 members— is another objective, albeit more long-term, for the new director.

“My goal in the next four or five years is to build this program into a band of 220 to 250,” said Allgair, who’s also the district chair for the Florida Bandmasters Association, overseeing 70 high school and middle school directors. “When I was at Wharton, I started the program with about 49 or 50 kids, and I doubled the program to 110 by the time I left.”

He added: “I’m just excited to take what’s already been laid here as a foundation and build upon that. I have a really good relationship with the feeder middle school and all the surrounding feeder middle schools, and we’re going to try to get the numbers up.”

Allgair, too, has bold plans in store for the band’s ensembles — concert and jazz —over the next few years.

“I’d love for the kids to arrange their own jazz standards, and I can bring in guest artists to work with the ensemble,” explained Allgair. “With the concert ensembles, I’d like to commission new works, I’d like to have composers come in and join us, and actually be a part of the audience as we’re working on their pieces. I have a commission that I’m getting ready…for a composer to actually write a piece — dedicated for the Steinbrenner program — but, I don’t know if that’s going to happen this year or next year,” he added.

Also in the works for Steinbrenner’s band: a field trip to New York City.

Planned for the end of January, band members can expect to visit several of the city’s cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera House, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York Philharmonic, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

They’ll also check out Broadway shows, and may get a tour of Yankee Stadium.

“We’re all really excited about that,” Wall said about the looming trip to NYC. “It should be cool.”

The trip north will ultimately tie in with Allgair’s curriculum, and the band’s marching show.

“I’m going to be bringing things that we learned culturally from New York City and connecting it as we go through the rest of the school year,” the band director said. The band’s marching show is Frank Sinatra and its last song is “New York, New York,” he said.

As opposed to just taking a select few band members to New York, Allgair’s goal is to send the program’s 120-plus kids to the Big Apple.

Approximately $55,000 will need to be raised for the excursion, the band director said.

The cost is around $1,000 per student. Students will be paying for part of it, but the rest will come from fundraising efforts that are already underway, he said.

The band is currently having a mulch sale through the end of September.

Other fundraising opportunities will follow that.

“We’ve got a lot going on,” Allgair said.

The band’s first major competition is the 20th annual Lion’s Pride Marching Band Festival on Oct. 15 at King High School. The district MPA (Music Performance Assessment) is set for Nov. 5.

For more information on fundraising and the marching band program, visit SteinbrennerBand.com.

Gaither High Wind Ensemble fundraiser
Gaither High School’s Wind Ensemble is trying to raise funds to help pay travel expenses for a trip to Manhattan to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Where: Gaither High parking lot, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 33624
When: Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
How much: Vendor spaces are still available, at a cost of $20 for two parking spaces.
For more information: Contact Melissa Seaman at (786)-514-0128 or .
Want to help? Donations may be sent to Gaither High School, c/o Luis Alvarez, band director, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 33618.

Published September 14, 2016

Chalk Talk 09/14/2016

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(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Duke donates for education
Duke Energy presented at $50,000 grant to the Pasco Education Foundation and its mission to help advance student achievement. From left, Kurt Browning, superintendent of schools; Stacey Capogross, executive director Pasco Education Foundation; Jeff Baker, Government & Community Relations Duke Energy; and Joanne Hurley, school board chairman. Duke also presented a $103,280 energy efficient rebate check to Pasco County Schools.

myStudent replaces eSembler
Pasco County Schools has launched a new student information system called myStudent to replace eSembler.

Parents can establish an account and access myriad resources. Middle and high school parents can view district and school calendars, as well as student grades, class assignments, teachers, test history, attendance, referrals and more.

Elementary school parents can view calendars, class schedules, attendance information and referrals.

The system also enables communication with teachers.

To learn more, visit PascoSchools.org.

Teen Advisory Board
The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a Teen Advisory Board meeting on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., for grades six to 12.

Students can get volunteer hours for scholarships and school clubs by attending the meetings. Board members help to plan and run the teen literary programs.

For information, call (813) 788-6375.

Practice ACT test
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will offer The Princeton Review Practice ACT Test on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. To 3:30 p.m., for high school students throughout the area. The cost is $25.

For information, email Lynette Mills at .

Gaither High garage sale
Gaither High School will host its first Band Garage Sale on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, in the school parking lot at 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

There will be vendors and businesses introducing their products and/or services. Food trucks also will be on site.

The cost is $20 for two parking spaces, and must be prepaid with signed vendor contract.

Proceeds will help send the Gaither High School Band to Carnegie Hall.

For information, contact Melissa Seaman at or (786) 514-0128.

PHSC Foundation fundraiser
The annual Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation Golf Tournament will take place on Oct. 3 at the Black Diamond Ranch Quarry Course, 2600 W. Black Diamond Circle in Lecanto.

Awards will be given to first place teams, and winners of the longest drive, closest to the pin and putting contests.

Players receive a breakfast buffet, lunch, beverages, awards banquet seat, official tournament apparel and goodie bags.

Registration is available at PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

Free math activities
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will once again offer its Math Circle — a free, community outreach program for children in fourth to eighth grade.

Participants work weekly with Saint Leo math and science faculty on hands-on activities to encourage an interest in math.

Meetings take place on Thursdays, through Dec. 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., in Lewis Hall, Room 305.

For information, contact Monika Kiss at (352) 588-8836 or .

Women of AT&T scholarships
Two Tampa area students were awarded scholarships from the Florida chapter of Women of AT&T, an Employee Resource Group at AT&T. The two recipients were:

–Kristen Barry, of Odessa, a graduate of Steinbrenner High School who plans to attend Florida State University to study pre-law.

–Andrew Moss, of Westchase, a graduate of Robinson High School’s International Baccalaureate program, who plans to attend Wake Forest University to major in mathematical business.

Libraries can help
With a Pasco County library card and an internet connection, there is 24/7 access to the Learning Express Library.

The LEL contains study guides and practice tests for college entrance exams, placement tests, high school equivalency tests and more. There also are study guides and practice tests for occupation exams in allied health, civil service, electrical, firefighting, Homeland Security, law enforcement, nursing, real estate and more.

The Learning Express Library database can be accessed for free at PascoLibraries.org.

Lutz student home from training
Members of a New York Army National Guard task force with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have completed a force-on-force training exercise.

The troops spent nearly a month at Fort Polk as part of the training rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center.

Specialist Andrew Scheerhorn, of Lutz, completed training as part of Company B, 1-87 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York, and redeployed home.

Bayonet Point remodeled
Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School, 11125 Little Road in New Port Richey, was closed all of last school year for a remodeling project, which was funded with more than $16 million generated from the voter-approved Penny for Pasco.

The school recently hosted a tour to highlight the cafeteria, media center, collaboration centers and classrooms, including a new art room.

The project also included additions of windows and walls; replaced wiring, plumbing, drywall, phone and intercom systems and technology; paint; and, safety features.

Local students make mark

  • Tori Anderson, of Odessa, was named to the summer Dean’s List at Berry College in Georgia.
  • Alexandra Moore, of Lutz, received a Bachelor of Science in Child, Adult and Family Services from Iowa State University.
  • Ryan Adams, of Lutz, received a Masters of Business Administration from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ideas sought for Pasco school names

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The Pasco County School Board is seeking suggestions from the public for names for two schools the district plans to open in the fall of 2017.

One school, now known as Elementary B, is being built in Bexley Ranch, north of State Road 54 and east of the Suncoast Parkway.

Construction activity is well underway on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
Construction activity is well underway on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school.
(Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The new elementary school is expected to help reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.

The other school needing a name is now known as High School GGG. It is currently under construction on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

The new high school is expected to affect the boundaries for Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and potentially Sunlake high schools.

The new middle school is expected to affect the boundaries for Weightman, John Long and potentially Rushe middle schools.

Before any decisions are reached on the boundaries for the new schools, boundary committees will meet, parent meetings will be held and the school board will make the final vote.

Meanwhile, the school board has begun the naming process for the schools.

In its school naming policy, the board welcomes suggestions from the public, students and educators.

The board prefers to name schools after the general location, features of the area, or historical information about the school’s location. The suggested name must be brief and descriptive.

The board will consider naming schools after individuals, but those individuals should be of a person of prominence recognized for his or her outstanding civic or educational contribution. The board also will consider naming a school after an elected official or a school district employee, but only after that person has been deceased for two or more years, or has left public office or employment with the district two or more years ago.

Once the name is adopted, it is considered permanent, unless the facility or its use changes.

Those wishing to submit a suggestion should do so by Oct. 1. Suggestions can be emailed, along with a brief explanation supporting the proposed name. Submissions can be emailed to .

Please type “Elementary B” or “High School GGG” in the subject line.  Submissions also can be faxed to (813) 794-2716.

Suggestions also can be mailed to: Deborah Hebert, Pasco County Schools Communications & Government Relations Department, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, Florida, 34638.

Published September 7, 2016

Chalk Talk 09/07/2016

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Cox Elementary 90th
R.B. Cox Elementary School, in Dade City, will host a 90th year celebration for alumni, current students, current and former staff, families, and the Dade City community, and is asking for photos and memories. The school also will create a montage video, and are looking for alumni interested in being interviewed.

The “90th Year Celebration Kickoff” will be on Sept. 30. It will begin at 9 a.m., in front of the school, followed by light refreshments in the cafeteria.

If you would like to share photos, memories or be interviewed, email .

For information about the celebration, call Margaret “Megan” Fortunato at (727) 644-8561.

Health care career open house
Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Health Care Career Open House on Sept. 8 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Participants can learn about a career as a nurse, as well as a radiologic technologist and physical therapist assistant. Guests also can tour the campus and meet one-on-one with college faculty and staff.

For information, contact Carol Taylor at (813) 435-3604 or .

Free math activities
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will once again offer its Math Circle — a free, community outreach program for children in fourth to eighth grade.

Participants work weekly with Saint Leo math and science faculty on hands-on activities to encourage an interest in math.

Meetings take place on Thursdays, through Dec. 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., in Lewis Hall, Room 305.

For information, contact Monika Kiss at (352) 588-8836 or .

Veterans Elementary fundraiser
Veterans Elementary School of Wesley Chapel and Culver’s, 2303 Sun Vista Drive in Lutz, are partnering for a “Scoopie Night” on Sept. 14 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ten percent of all purchases made during that time will be donated back to Veterans Elementary.

Practice ACT test
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will offer The Princeton Review Practice ACT Test on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. To 3:30 p.m., for high school students throughout the area. The cost is $25.

For information, email Lynette Mills at

GTE Financial awards scholarships
GTE Financial has awarded 36 local high school and undergraduate students with scholarships as part of its annual initiative to invest in the education of the community’s future leaders.

More than 500 applicants were reviewed and evaluated, and the students were selected on their demonstrated dedication, perseverance and commitment to their education while also giving back to their communities.

Combined, these students completed hundreds of hours of volunteer work that has led to positive changes to the communities.

Each student received a $2,500 scholarship at an awards luncheon at TPepin’s Hospitality Center.

College Night at PHSC
Pasco-Hernando State College will host three College Nights for prospective students in the Pasco County area.

  • Sept. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Dade City campus, 36727 Blanton Road
  • Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road
  • Sept. 15 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville

Representatives from PHSC, and many public and private colleges, universities, other educational institutions, and the military will participate and provide residents in PHSC’s two-county area with a one-stop opportunity to get information on admissions, financial aid, and programs for post-secondary study.

High school students, parents and prospective students of all ages can attend.

Admission is free. For information, call (855) 669-7472.

Youth art contest
The Medical Center of Trinity will have its fifth annual “Expressions of Thanks” youth art contest.

Youth from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans, those who currently serve our nation and their families, by submitting artwork, poetry or an essay. The deadline is Sept. 30.

Participants and their families will be invited to a reception on Nov. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and all entries will be on display Nov. 6 through Nov. 27.

Each participant will receive a recognition certificate. First place winners in each grade level will receive a $25 gift card. The grand prize winner will receive their choice of either a bicycle or an iPod Nano.

For complete rules and submission requirements, call (727) 834-4868, or email .