Elementary student garners recognition
Florida’s Hometown USA Program Inc., is a nonprofit educational youth organization for students in Florida that helps to educate the young on the values of volunteer work, and to inspire them to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. The focus of the volunteer work is with children, youth and the elderly.
Five students, elementary through college, are selected each year to represent their hometown throughout the state. Aubriella Chiarell was selected as the program’s elementary school representative for 2021. She attends Veterans Elementary School, and is the daughter of Sarah and Vince Chiarell.
Students are being recognized for their volunteer and community service work, and will visit and entertain at nursing homes, children’s hospitals, veterans hospitals, charity events, and other scheduled activities. The program is partnered with 27 facilities throughout Florida.
Florida’s Hometown USA Program has received Disney’s Helping Kids Shine Award, Disney’s VoluntEAR of the Year, the Governor’s Points of Light from former Gov. Jeb Bush, and the national President’s Daily Points of Light Award from former President George W. Bush for volunteer work with youth.
St. Anthony open house
St. Anthony Catholic School, 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio, is scheduled to open a new VPK program in August. Enrollment for new families will begin on Feb. 23.
St. Anthony is a private K-8 school founded in 1884 and dedicated to providing students with quality and Christ-centered education that addresses a child’s needs spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and physically.
For information and to learn more about the school’s VPK program, K-8 openings, or to schedule a tour, call 352-588-3041, or visit StAnthonySchoolFl.org.
College/Career Fair
Pasco County Schools will host a virtual College and Career Fair on Feb. 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., to share information with families across the district as plans are made for college entry and/or careers after high school.
To learn more and to register, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/oll/page/college-and-career-fair.
Student achievements
James Cook, of Lutz, has been named to the Dean’s List at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. Cook is majoring in history.
These area students were named to the Dean’s List at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa: Kaylynn Butts, Odessa; Austin Cambas, Lutz; Jennifer Clifford, Lutz; Jack Houser, Odessa; and Emily Ymiolek, Lutz.
Kelly McDermott, of Lutz, was recognized to the President’s List at the University of Alabama.
Leia Randall, of Land O’ Lakes, was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Black History contest
All Hillsborough County students and teachers are invited to enter HART’s Black History Month Contest with a video, essay or drawing entry. The theme is the representation, diversity and identity of “The Black Family.”
Participants must first visit YouTube.com/HARTtransit and watch the “HART Celebrates the Black Family” video.
Then, students can create a video, write a short story, or draw an illustration that covers these three topics:
- One thing you learned about the Black family from the HART video
- Describe your own family
- How your family uses HART (or take a trip on HART together and share your experience)
For entry forms, visit GoHART.org, email , or visit one of HART’s transit centers in Tampa.
The deadline to enter is Feb. 28. All entries will be entered into a raffle to win a 31-day HART Pass. Four winners will be chosen.
Academy at the Farm
Academy at the Farm, 9500 Alex Lange Way in Dade City, is open for enrollment through Feb. 28.
The charter school is “designed to meet the needs of all students by promoting academic excellence, developing productive citizens through character building, and incorporating the advancement of technology in the curriculum,” according to its website.
The academy serves preschool through eighth grade.
For more information and to apply, visit AcademyAtTheFarm.com.
Essay contest
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano is accepting entries for an essay contest, open to high school students.
Students of Pasco’s public/charter, private, parochial, nonpublic and home-schools are asked to answer the question, “When unexpected events occur, such as COVID-19 or a devastating storm, people are often negatively impacted. Some may lose their jobs, their homes or experience other setbacks in their lives. Keeping in mind that funds expended by government (local, state or federal) must come from somewhere, what do you think government should do to assist people to get through these challenges?”
Entries will be judged by a panel of directors from the tax collector’s office, and will be reviewed on how well the student communicates his or her response to the question, as well as overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
Students in public/charter schools should submit their essays to their principal.
For entries from private, parochial, nonpublic or home-schools, essays should be sent directly to Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526.
Entries also can be dropped off at the New Port Richey office, 4720 U.S. 19, or sent by email to .
For information and questions, call 727-847-8179.
The deadline to enter is 5 p.m., March 12.
Online security
Students should be aware of the financial risks that accompany social media activity, according to the Kentucky High Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).
Each new social media platform — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others — present criminals with the opportunity to steal from unsuspecting people. Students should be cautious of any unsolicited messages asking them to open a file or click on a link.
Criminals exploit vulnerabilities in social media software in the hope that users won’t realize they are being phished. One of the most common ways is to send a link to what appears to be a legitimate website.
Students should not click on a link without first ensuring it is real by checking with the company that is the supposed sender.
The KHEAA also advises social media users to be wary of any kind of online survey that asks them to fill out a long list of information, such as their favorite car or where they were born. The answers can give scam artists what they need to steal someone’s identity.
SAT School Day
The District School Board of Pasco County will provide the SAT School Day free of charge to all juniors on March 24, according to the Pasco County Schools Facebook page.
The district will register all juniors for the test; it is not necessary for students to register on the College Board website.
For more information, students should contact their respective school counselor.
