Free admission to MOSI
The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, is offering free admission to kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties through Jan. 6.
Students who present a report card, or any other identification that proves residence in one of the named counties will get free admission to MOSI, with a paid adult admission.
The offer does not include any additional experiences at the museum and cannot be combined with any other discount offer.
For information, visit MOSI.org.
New coffeehouse at Saint Leo
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will celebrate the opening of its new Benedict’s Coffeehouse on Jan. 13 starting at 10 a.m.
Visitors are invited to check out the newly designed space at the east end of the Kirk Hall lawn (near the recreation basketball court).
The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, music, giveaways and a reception.
Guests who are one of the first 250 customers will receive a free Benedict’s Coffeehouse travel mug, with purchase.
Benedict’s will feature Starbucks coffees, specialty drinks and teas, and a variety of breakfast sandwiches and lunch items, including salads and snacks.
The coffeehouse name was selected to reflect the school’s Benedictine history and tradition.
The university was found in 1889 by sisters, monks, and priests of the Order of St. Benedict, and the university’s core values are based on the Rule of St. Benedict.
Following the grand opening, the coffeehouse will be open 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, providing students with a place to meet for a class project, take a break with friends, or study with a snack.
There will be indoor and outdoor patio seating, and Wi-Fi.
To learn more, visit SaintLeo.edu/benedicts-coffeehouse.
Music lessons
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, is extending an invitation to community residents near University Campus to register for private music instruction during the 2020 spring semester.
Instructors are available to teach voice, piano, strings, guitar and ukulele.
Residents can register for a single credit of instruction, and lessons will be 30 minutes weekly.
Classes start the week of Jan. 13.
For information, cost and registration, email Dr. Chantelle MacPhee at , and put ‘private music lessons’ in the subject line.
Early release day
Pasco County Schools has implemented a monthly, two-hour-early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.
Early release days will take place on the second Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January and May.
The next early release day is Jan. 15.
Schools make AP Honor Roll
Pasco County Schools is one of 250 school districts in the United States and Canada that earned a spot on the 10th annual AP District Honor Roll. The district also was on the fifth annual Honor Roll in 2015, when 547 districts earned the recognition.
The Honor Roll recognizes the district’s commitment to expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, while also improving student performance since 2017.
Last school year, 4,484 students were enrolled in AP courses and those students took 8,247 exams, with more than half earning a passing score of 3 or higher.
That is an 8.3% participation increase and a 13.4% performance increase over 2017-2018.
For inclusion on the Honor Roll, the Pasco County school district met the following criteria:
- Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4%
- Increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students taking exams, and increase or maintain the percentage of these students scoring 3+ on at least one AP exam
- Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2019 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2017 percentage, unless the district has already attained a higher performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students earn a 3 or higher
Military academies nominations
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) has announced that 20 high school students have received nominations for admission into our nation’s military academies: Air Force (USAF), Navy (USNA), Army (USMA) and Merchant Marine (USMMA).
Receiving a nomination to one of the nation’s military academies is a step toward receiving an appointment to the academies.
Nominations are earned based on each student’s interview with Rep. Castor’s Nomination Committee, the student’s academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities.
Based upon the process established by law, all U.S. military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, require a nomination from their member of Congress, U.S. senator or the vice president of the United States.
Parents and students interested in the nomination process can work with their school guidance counselors and visit Castor.house.gov/constituentservices, and click on the Service Academy Nominations link.
The following students from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area have received nominations:
- Cooper Palasti, Gaither High School (USNA, USMA)
- Josef Stooks, Steinbrenner High School (USNA)
- Justin Hileman, Steinbrenner High (USNA, USAFA)
Rep. Castor will announce official appointments at a later date, after being notified of the appointments by the academies.
Foundation is recipient of grant
The South Central Chapter of Joy in Childhood Foundation has approved a grant of $10,000 for The Thomas Promise Foundation.
Joy in Childhood is an independent 501©3 organization powered by Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins Brands, as well as the generosity of their partners, franchisees, employees and guests.
The grant will provide more than 20,000 meals for the foundation, whose mission is to supply weekend meals to food-insecure students in local schools.
Currently, Thomas Promise is in 28 schools in Pasco and Hillsborough counties, serving more than 1,500 bags filled with six meals each weekend to students who may not have certain access to meals when the school breakfast and lunch programs are not in operation.
