New leadership
The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) Foundation has elected new leaders for the Board of Directors for 2020.
Officers serve a voluntary two-year term, while new members are appointed to annual terms.
Ronald May, of Trinity, was nominated chair, and R. Seth Mann, of Dade City, was elected as vice chair.
The PHSC Foundation Board also welcomed two new directors, including Morris Porton, of Spring Hill, and Ashley Policastri, of Tampa.
Tips for learning disabled students
With schools now shuttering for extended periods due to the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic, public and private schools are using distance learning as “Plan B” for educating kindergarten through 12th grade students.
For the students receiving special education services for specific learning disabilities, the change can prove particularly jarring, according to a news release from Beacon College in Leesburg.
“Learning how to learn in a new way is often more difficult for them than the material they are trying to master,” said Dr. Nicki Nance, a licensed mental health counselor and associate professor of human services and psychology at Beacon College.
Nance, along with Dr. Oksana Hagerty, an educational and developmental psychologist at Beacon’s Center for Student Success, developed a list of 10 tips to help students adjust to this new reality.
- Maintain a healthy balance between consistency and flexibility. Establish times for schoolwork, but give the child some freedom regarding what, in what order, or how to do the work.
- Be specific. Avoid directives, such as “Start on Page 5 and finish in the evening,” which can add anxiety. Draft a straightforward to-do list and ask the child to check or cross off each completed item.
- Press replay. Be prepared to repeat information, as well as skills, several times if necessary.
- Expect evaporation. Be prepared to see information or skills fade after a few days. Just remember to press replay.
- Take time for adventures. Stage a waste basket 3-point shootout, play a game of “Name That Tune,” or plan a treasure hunt, and then provide a special treat.
- Establish rewards at short intervals. Parents can give praise, offer a treat or a break, or take a selfie when a certain task has been completed.
- Provide reassurance. Assure the child that most, or all, of the struggles are less related to the learning difference and more related to the fast change everyone is facing.
- Be transparent about your own struggles. If you are working from home, tell the student about your struggles. Children learn from watching you.
- Listen. Ask your student for ideas about what might make the work easier.
- Take breaks. A child needs breaks in order to focus, and you will need breaks in order to be there and be present for the child.
Cambridge cancels exams
Cambridge International has announced that the May/June examinations for Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International AS & A Level, Cambridge AICE Diploma and Cambridge Pre-U will not take place this year due to the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic.
Cambridge will be working with schools to assess students’ achievements using the best available evidence.
Students will receive a grade and a certificate from Cambridge International, given the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their programs of study. This will ensure students do not face disadvantage as a result of these extraordinary circumstances.
Also, Cambridge will provide guidance to schools on how students will receive the grades. It is talking to universities worldwide and is factoring these unprecedented circumstances into admission decisions, so students can continue with their education journeys as soon as possible.
Pasco leadership and Cambridge teachers are in communication with Cambridge, regarding specific details on Florida Bright Futures and college credit.
Private school honor
Academy at the Lakes, an independent and nondenominational private school in Land O’ Lakes, was voted the Most Loved Private School in the Wesley Chapel-Lutz area for 2020 by Hulafrog, a local website for parents.
“We are excited to be voted the ‘Most Loved Private School’ by Hulafrog,” said Mark Heller, the head of school, in a release.
“Our parents’ support is everything to us and we want to thank everyone who voted for us. We always strive to give our kids the best,” Heller added.
The goal of Academy at the Lakes’ curriculum is to help students develop their skills in six key areas that are necessary for success in academics, the workplace and the global market. These areas are: citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and character.
Hulafrog is a nationwide network of local websites for parents and covers the best local events and kid-friendly activities for parents and students.
To learn more, visit Hulafrog.com.
Veterans breakfast hosted
Saint Leo University recently hosted the Empowering Pasco’s Veterans breakfast and fundraiser.
The school serves close to 5,000 student-veterans and military affiliated students, said Dr. Jen Shaw, vice president of Student Affairs, in a news release.
More than 50 veterans, as well as multiple Pasco County leaders and businesspeople attended the event.
Saint Leo was ranked No. 1 in the United States for educating veterans in Military Rimes Best for Vets: Colleges 2020.
Superintendent honored
Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins received the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA’s 2020 Community Impact Award, for his dedication and positive impact on Tampa Bay residents.
Previous recipients included U.S. Rep Kathy Castor, Jeff and Penny Vinik, Doretha Edgecomb, Richard Gonzmart, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandra Murman, former Florida CFO Alex Sink, former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and former Hillsborough County Superintendent MaryEllen Ella.
