Students shine for their schools
Ten students were recognized as The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Students of the Month for January. The honorees are chosen by teachers and administration of the individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. The students receiving the honor are: Darla Cant, The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Jaxon Lindsey-De’Ath, The Broach School; Austin Walters, Chester Taylor Elementary School; Richelle Barriffe, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Caleb Jackson, Heritage Academy; Savanna Best, Stewart Middle School; Bellamy Miricle, West Zephyrhills Elementary School; Audney Lapoint, Woodland Elementary School; Jocelyn Knowell, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; and, Woodson Stuckey, Zephyrhills High School.
Get K-ready
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a new series to ready preschool children to excel in kindergarten, on Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
The program uses creative play, cooperative learning and activities to stimulate the imagination.
Concepts and skills will be introduced that align with the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards.
The class is for ages 3 to 5.
For information, call (813) 929-1214.
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 Feb. 12.
On-foot field trip
The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will offer “On Foot Explorations” on Feb. 12 at 4 p.m., for grades four to seven.
This is a short walking field trip to a spot in Downtown Dade City.
A waiver is required and can be picked up at the library.
For information, call (352) 567-3576.
Sneak Peek Open House
Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will host a Sneak Peek Open House on Feb. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Prospective students can tour the campus and explore Marchman’s programs, such as cybersecurity, automotive service technology, commercial art, cosmetology, digital cinema production, early childhood education, electricity, welding and more.
Instructors will be on-site to answer questions, along with representatives from admissions, financial aid and career placement.
Students who are interested in applying for fall classes can begin the application process, too.
For information, call Kim Dunn at (727) 774-1703.
9/11 survivor to speak
Saint Leo University’s College of Arts and Sciences will host guest lecturer Michael Hingson on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., at 33701 State Road 52, Kirk Hall, Rooms 123 and 124, in St. Leo.
Hingson, a 9/11 survivor and accessibility advocate, will talk on “Speaking with Vision.”
Blind since birth, Hingson changed careers after surviving the destruction of World Trade Center Tower One, with the help of his guide dog.
His book, “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero” will be available for purchase and signing, after his talk, at 8:30 p.m.
Hingson also will speak to students during selected class sessions, lead workshops on campus, and meet with groups of faculty and staff, as Saint Leo’s Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow of 2020.
Admission is free. For information and special seating requests, contact Megan Case at (352) 588-8401 or .
Student achievements
- Madalyn Alston, Dade City: Dean’s List at Anderson University, Anderson, South Carolina
- Roland Anthony Chacon, Lutz: Dean’s List at Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, North Carolina
- Tommy Campbell, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts from Pensacola Christian College, Pensacola
- Sydney Fleeman, Odessa: Dean’s List at Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia
- Jacob Goetz, Odessa: President’s List at Tallahassee Community College
- Guido Guerra, Lutz: Dean’s List at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
- Ayaz Hemani, Odessa: Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
- Allie Hendron, Odessa: Dean’s List at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
- Madeleine Hendron, Odessa: President’s List at Northwest Mississippi Community College, Senatobia, Mississippi
- Jene Henry, Lutz: Dean’s List at the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Kentucky
- Mira Hermina, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan
- Julianna Mitten, Odessa: Dean’s Honor List at Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio
- Kevin Nguyen, Lutz: Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College
- Vishwa Shah, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
- Tyler Shaske, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Sport & Recreation Management from James Madison University at Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Amy Stanton, Odessa: President’s List at Georgia College, Milledgeville, Georgia
Middle school essay contest
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano is accepting entries in an essay contest. Entries will be accepted until 5 p.m., March 2.
Middle school students, grades six to eight, in Pasco’s public/charter, private, parochial, nonpublic and home-schools can participate.
In 300 words or less, students should answer the questions, “If you could spend tax dollars to fund any program, what would it be and why?”
Entries will be judged on how well the student communicates his or her response, overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
Students in public/charter schools should submit their essays to their principal, who will then forward it to the tax collector’s office.
Students in private, parochial, nonpublic or home-schools should send their entries directly to Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526.
Entries also may be emailed to .
All submissions must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information.
The winner will be announced no later than March 27.
For information and questions, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.
Cursive contest
According to the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, the annual Cursive is Cool® contests kicked off on National Handwriting Day, in honor of John Hancock’s birthday.
Campaign for Cursive® offers three contests: one in the United States and two in Canada (one for English writers and one for French writers).
Students in grades one to six have a chance to test their cursive skills and their creativity in answering one of the questions presented.
The deadline for the U.S. contest is March 15.
For information, visit CursiveIsCool.com or Facebook.com/CampaignForCursive/.
For questions, email Lauren Mooney Bear, contest organizer, at .
Great Outdoors contest
The TurfMutt Foundation announced The (Really) Great Outdoors Contest 2020, focused on encouraging kids to use their imaginations around the many uses and benefits of green space and the outdoors.
The contest is open to students in grades six to eight.
Created in partnership with Scholastic, the contest asks students to write about and/or draw a nature space their community could use.
Students are asked to include text to describe the space, discuss what elements are needed, and how the space will be used to benefit the community. Each entry can be no more than three pages.
The grand prize for a student is $2,500, with teachers and the school each receiving a $750 prize.
The first place student will receive $2,000, and teachers and the school will get $500 each.
Second place will garner the student $1,500, and teachers and the school will receive $250 each.
The third place student will get $750, and the teachers and the school will each get $125.
Teachers can download lesson plans and contest entry information at Scholastic.com/turfmutt.
Entries can be accepted online and uploaded by teachers, or mailed in by teachers and students alike.
The deadline for entries is March 16.
