Financial aid information nights
Hillsborough County Public Schools Guidance Services is hosting financial aid information nights for high school students and their families.
Financial aid representatives will explain the financial aid process, review how colleges and universities compile financial aid packages, and discuss available local, state and federal aid.
All meetings start at 6 p.m., in each school’s auditorium:
• Jan. 23, Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., in Tampa
• Jan. 28, Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road
• Jan. 30, Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave., in Tampa
Speaker series at Saint Leo
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host these upcoming free events:
• Jan. 28, 7 p.m., University Speaker Series with author Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” about the challenges facing women around the globe.
• Jan. 29, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., Literature for Lunch with poet Joseph Miller. Guests must bring their own lunch.
• Jan. 29, 2 p.m., lecture and book signing with Mary Christine Athans on the topic of “In Quest of the Jewish Mary.”
• Feb. 18, 7 p.m., University Speaker Series with scientist Robert Musil on contemporary sustainability, social responsibility and health issues.
• March 3, 7 p.m., Spring Choral Concert
• April 15, 7 p.m., Spring Sing
For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.
Home education information
Classical Conversations, a Christian home education support group that meets every Tuesday, will host an open house Jan. 28 for an in-depth look at classical conversations. The group engages students ages 4 to 18 in academics and fine arts, and equips parents to classically educate their children at home.
For information, call Michele Rearden at (813) 365-2843, or email .
John Long Middle wants your jeans
The John Long Middle School PTSA is hosting its annual Jeans for Teens drive. Jeans for Teens has collected more than 2.5 million pairs of jeans through Aeropostale, and with the help of drives in more than 12,000 schools, for the homeless youth in the country.
The school, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has a bin placed in the office for January to collect donations.
Everyone who donates a pair of jeans will receive an Aeropostale coupon.
For information, call the school at (813) 346-6200.
Common Core info meetings
Pasco County Public Schools has scheduled meetings to educate parents and the community about Florida’s new standards for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Meetings are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for parents whose children attend the high schools and the elementary and middle schools that feed into them.
Guests will hear a presentation by district experts, receive materials explaining what the Common Core state standards are, and participate in a question and answer period.
Upcoming meetings are:
• Feb. 6, Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane, mini theater, Room 500
• Feb. 25, Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, cafeteria
• March 4, Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel, business learning community area
Hillsborough recognized for early reading
Hillsborough County’s campaign to improve reading proficiency among its youngest students has earned recognition as a 2013 Community Pacesetter.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a nationwide movement to address readiness, attendance, summer learning, parent involvement and reading on grade level by third grade. The United Way and Hillsborough County Schools led the initiative.
More than 50 agencies in Hillsborough County were brought together to develop and implement a community action plan.
December Student Citizens named
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized Student Citizens for December, chosen for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. They include, from left, Jacob Smith of Woodland Elementary School, Savannah Woods of Heritage Academy, Laci Carter of East Pasco Adventist Academy, Amber Flanagan of Zephyrhills High School, Alena Chavez of West Zephyrhills Elementary School, Deserae Smith of The Broach School, and Ethan Poe of Florida Autism Center of Excellence. With the children are Santa Claus and Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess.
Pilot Club honors Stewart Top Dogs
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills recognized the Top Dog students for the second quarter from Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills at a recent luncheon. Students are chosen for serving as positive role models for their peers, based on citizenship, leadership and academics. Students awarded with a certificate and dog tag were Ryan Diaz, Ben Isaacs, Darion Lopez, Paige Zimmer, Logan Castro, Eleanor Wilkerson, Levi Smith, Aleksander Martin, Brooklyn Holmes and George Morris.
Encore Academy to host senior expo
Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Encore Academy will host a Winter Senior Expo on Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road.
The event is free and participants can learn about services available from area agencies and businesses, and attend mini-seminars on topics such as art and painting, beginning computer, digital photography, and more.
Seating is limited. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
For information, visit PHCC.edu/encore.
‘Bee Bully-Free’ in Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills area schools are encouraging students, teachers and staff to wear black and yellow on the last Friday of each month as part of the “Bee Bully-Free Initiative.” The initiative provides stickers and coloring book pages for schools that request them, participates in the Great American Teach-in, and provides certificates and awards for students who transform from bullies into kinder versions of themselves.
Upcoming black and yellow Fridays are Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25 and May 30.
For information on the initiative, visit Facebook.com/beebullyfree.
