Pilot Club honors ‘top dogs’
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills recognized the Second Quarter Top Dog winners from Stewart Middle School with a Hungry Howie’s luncheon. The club honors students for academics and leadership roles in the school. The students receiving a certificate and gold dog tag are Anthony Agosto, Emma McKelvey, Emily Gillett, Tamya Simms, Noah McCarty, Naman Holmes, Taija McCullough, Jenny Delcastillo and Joshua Fain.
Prep school open house
Classical Preparatory School, 16500 Lyceum Way in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house Feb. 2, for those interested in learning more about a liberal arts education, for kindergarten through 11th grade.
Guests are invited to attend at 5 p.m., or 6:15 p.m., to meet Headmaster Ben Davis.
The school also has open enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year through Feb. 24. Applications are being accepted online at ClassicalPrepEnrollment.org.
For information, call (813) 803-7903.
Preschool open house
Mary’s House, at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Guests can visit the classrooms while they are in session, and see first-hand the happenings at the preschool.
Open registration for parishioners begins Feb. 8.
For information, visit LadyRosary.org, or call (813) 948-5999.
The World of a Teen
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will again host “The World of a Teen” program on Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the school auditorium.
A panel will discuss the challenges facing today’s teens, including drugs, alcohol, stress, social media, relationships, college and more.
Participants can email questions in advance to .
For information, call (813) 792-5131.
Pasco schools’ graduation rates
The Pasco County Schools graduation rate increased half a percentage point in 2016, rising from 78.6 percent in 2015 to 79.1 percent.
The district’s virtual school, Pasco eSchool, recorded a 100 percent graduation rate, up from 97.8 percent in 2015.
The graduation rate for at-risk students increased by more than 10 percentage points, from 50.2 percent in 2015 to 60.6 percent in 2016.
The rate for students with disabilities improved from 56.8 percent in 2015 to 60.60 percent in 2016, and the rate for English language learners rose from 57.1 percent to 59.4 percent.
The graduation rates for these local area schools fell: Land O’ Lakes High School, from 90.7 percent in 2015 down to 87.3 percent in 2016; Pasco High, from 77.6 percent to 73.6 percent; Sunlake High, 87.1 percent to 85.9 percent; Wesley Chapel High, 84.7 percent to 82.8 percent; and, Wiregrass Ranch, from 91.7 percent to 90.5 percent.
Zephyrhills High’s graduation rate increased slightly from 78.6 percent in 2015 to 79.1 percent in 2016.
Nursing accreditation review
Pasco-Hernando State College will host a site review for the continuing accreditation of its associate degree nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
The review visit will take place Feb. 8 at 2 p.m., on the West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.
The public is invited to meet the site visit team in person and share comments about the program.
Written comments also are welcome and can be submitted to Public Notice of Upcoming ACEN Accreditation Review Visit, Dr. Marsal Stoll, chief executive officer, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3343 Peachtree Road N.E., Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.
Comments can also be emailed to .
The deadline for comments is Feb. 3.
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 .
