Jewish-Christian Relations seminar
Saint Leo University’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies (CCJS) will present “Beyond Tolerance: How to Build Understanding and Respect in Jewish-Christian Relations.”
This free, three-session discussion will help participants who want to understand other religions and want to build on relationships with those of other faiths. Sessions will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and March 11, at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, 3303 W. Swann Ave., in Tampa.
The guest facilitators will be Dr. Matthew Tapie, director of Saint Leo’s CCJS and associate professor of religion and theology, and Rabbi David Maayan, Maureen and Douglas Cohn visiting chair in Jewish Thought and assistant director of CCJS.
The series will address:
How do Jews and Christians relate today?
How have they related in the past?
What are the challenges facing Jewish-Christian relations?
An RSVP is required for the event. Register online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/gK6pVI1.
For information, contact Laurie Gens, CCJS administrator of programs and events, at 352-588-7711 or .
Literacy Week 2024
The Believe In Your “Shelf”! The Just Read, Florida! Office and the Florida Department of Education, in partnership with school districts, are highlighting Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Pasco County Schools will host events and festivities scheduled for the week of Jan. 22 to Jan. 26, to celebrate literacy. Be on the lookout on your school’s website for more information. The goal of the campaign is to promote resiliency through literacy and excellent reading habits for students.
Dayspring information night
Dayspring Academy, 8337 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Dayspring Academy Lottery Information Night for pre-K through fifth grade on Jan. 25 — General Session No. 1 is at 5:30 p.m.; General Session No. 2 is at 6:30 p.m. These sessions are for the new Dayspring Angeline campus expected to open in 2024. The lottery opens on Feb. 1.
Dayspring is a tuition-free public charter school. For information, visit Dayspring.academy online.
Social Studies update
Pasco County Schools is engaging in a K-12 Social Studies adoption process for instructional materials to be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year, according to its website.
The resources have been narrowed and schools will spend the month of January and February trying the resources within the classroom and voting on the resource they recommend to move forward for School Board approval.
Parent input is being sought and those who are interested are asked to visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/oll_documents/current-adoption to find the narrowed resources and digital access login information. Click on the input form at the bottom of the page to provide feedback by Feb. 20.
There also will be a Social Studies Vendor Night on Feb. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To RSVP, visit https://ryu.pasco.k12.fl.us/oll-mform/view.php?id=257079.
Electric buses grant awarded
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced a $7.9 million federal grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 20 new electric buses for Hillsborough County Public Schools, in a news release.
The project, “Schools Are Too Cool for Fuel,” is part of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, which awarded nearly $1 billion to 280 schools nationwide for electric and clean school buses — delivering cleaner air for kids on the bus and communities, the release says.
“This is a win-win-win for our communities: We are taking polluting school buses off the street, saving our public schools money and ensuring our children breathe clean air, keeping them healthy, safe and our public health strong,” said Castor in the release.
Student achievements
- Jillian Abarca, of Odessa: Dean’s List, Valdosta State University
- Landon Carter, of Lutz: Dean’s List, Valdosta State University
- Colin Dempsey, of Lutz: Dean’s List, Lincoln Memorial University
- Hannah Drielick, graduate of Sunlake High School: Dean’s List, Northern Illinois University
- Maneesh Gorantala, of Lutz: Master of Science in Business Analytics, Trine University
- Charles King, of Odessa: President’s List, Georgia Southern University
- Gennaro Scarfogliero, of Odessa: Dean’s List, Valdosta State University
- Josh Steele, of Odessa: President’s List, Plymouth State University
Victory High enrollment
Victory High School in Pasco County is now enrolling for the 2024-2025 year. The nonprofit, private school is for teens in recovery from substance-use disorders or co-occurring disorders.
Students can earn their diploma away from the pressures and temptations of traditional high school. Academics are delivered in a safe, healing-centered environment, and all staff and volunteers are trained in trauma responsive services and mental health first aid, according to Victory’s website.
Scholarships are accepted at the school. To refer a student, visit www.refertovictory.com.
For information, visit https://www.floridarecoveryschoolsoftampabay.com/schools/, call 813-444-7766, or email .
Science Festival
The 2024 St. Petersburg Science Festival is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, 140 Seventh Ave., S., and Poynter Park, along the waterfront. Families can explore the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
The event is held in conjunction with MarineQuest, the open house of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Guests can walk from one event to the other.
Admission is free to both the festival and MarineQuest.
Spectrum Scholars applications
Charter Communications Inc., has opened applications for Spectrum Scholars, the company’s annual scholarship program for underrepresented college students with financial need.
Each of the rising college juniors selected for the 2024-2025 program will receive a $20,000 scholarship, a Charter mentor and the opportunity for a paid internship with the company.
In its fourth year, Charter has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships through Spectrum Scholars, but the benefits for students of participating in the program extend far beyond financial assistance.
The selected students for the new class of scholars will have the opportunity to complete the two-year professional development program, designed to introduce them to new career paths and expand their networks, with the potential for full-time employment with Charter post-graduation.
Students also get unique access to networking and professional development opportunities including the Scholars Summit, a three-day event hosted at Charter’s corporate headquarters in Stamford.
Fifteen students will be selected for the 2024-2025 Spectrum Scholars class.
For more information on how to apply, as well as program eligibility and selection criteria, visit https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/SpectrumScholarsApp2024.
The deadline for applications is March 1. Winners will be announced in May and scholarships will be awarded in August.
Scholarship applications
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is now accepting applications for the Florida Supervisor of Elections (FSE) Scholarship.
The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science, public administration, business administration or journalism/mass communication major and be at least a junior in college.
Students must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida and have at least a C average or above for the previous year. Additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information can be found at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2024 FSE Scholarship Application under the Noteworthy tab on the homepage.
Applicants will be personally interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration. Applications are due by March 8.
