Setting a course for future teachers
Representatives from Saint Leo University traveled to Washington D.C., to participate in a briefing at the White House for college educators specializing in teacher preparation. The school’s Education Department was recognized for its success in preparing future teachers to use educational technology effectively in kindergarten to 12th-grade classrooms. From left are Holly Atkins; Vanessa Hilton, Pasco County Schools’ administration team and adjunct at Saint Leo; Candace Roberts; and, Stacie Dunmire, Saint Leo graduate from Land O’ Lakes and new teacher in Hernando County.
Countryside Montessori open house
Countryside Montessori Charter School, 5852 Ehren Cut-Off in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house for the 2017-2018 school year on Jan. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., for first to eighth grade. Guests can tour the campus, and meet the teachers and staff.
For information, call (813) 996-0991.
Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.
Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.
All properly completed applications will be entered into a lottery. Families will be notified of acceptance status by mid-February, so those who are not accepted have time to complete the traditional school choice open enrollment application between Feb. 1 and March 1.
Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.
Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.
Gaither band fundraiser
The Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival II will be on Jan. 28 from noon to 5 p.m., at Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Northdale, to raise money to send the band students to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, in April.
Admission is free. Parking is $5.
For vendor information, email . For general information, call (813) 562-9599.
Cox Elementary celebrates 90
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, has rescheduled its second celebration for its 90th anniversary. It now is scheduled for March 5, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a dinner fundraiser and a Memory Walk featuring photographs through the eras of the school’s history.
For information, call (727) 774-5100.
Conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish classes will be offered on Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., at Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills, from Feb. 1 to March 8. The cost is $10 per lesson.
There is a $60 fee per student that includes class materials. There will be an optional field trip on March 9 to a local restaurant.
Learn to exchange brief greetings, communicate with home or yard helpers, and order at restaurants.
Participants also will learn basic knowledge of Cuban and Mexican foods, and learn more than 200 common words.
For information, call (813) 703-5684, or email .
Seeking scholarship applications
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts is now accepting applications for the 2017 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarship Program, open to high school juniors and seniors in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
The program provides financial support to Tampa Bay students to help them pursue higher education in the arts.
Each year, TBBCA awards $15,000 to six Tampa Bay area students based on merit and artistic ability, in the fields of instrumental music, vocal music, theater, dance, visual arts and literary arts. The scholarship can be used for tuition at the college, university or professional arts training program of the student’s choice.
Applications can be downloaded at TBBCA.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships. For an email copy of application, contact Susana Weymouth at .
There is no fee to apply.
The deadline for the completed application packet is Feb. 20. Winners will be announced in April.
Marchman offers ASE testing
Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will now offer ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification testing, available for automotive service technology, automotive collision and repair students; and, automotive professionals in Pasco, Hillsborough, Citrus and Pinellas counties.
Prior to scheduling an exam at Marchman’s assessment center, candidates must create a MyASE account at ASE.com. After registering and paying for exams, the exam can be scheduled at www.FKMTC.edu. A state-issued ID and an ASE eligibility ID must be presented on the day of the exam.
The current registration window ends on Feb. 24.
For information, contact Michael Andujar at (727) 774-1861 or .
