Students receive citizen honors
Students from across the community were honored by The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month program. Each honoree was chosen by teachers and administration for their exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Those recognized in April were: Nicholas Dester, The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Jordan Parrmore, The Broach School; Christian Clement, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School; Hayden Anderton, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Sabrina Mraz, Heritage Academy; Gabriel Thomas, Raymond B. Stewart Middle; Natasha Wallinger, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Sam Levenson, Woodland Elementary; and Madison Shipley, Zephyrhills High.
School safety meeting
A School Safety Town Hall meeting will take place May 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Participants will include Pasco County Schools, Pasco County Council of PTAs/PTSAs, local law enforcement, mental health providers, parents, students and local elected officials.
A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. The community is encouraged to attend to give input.
School honors couple for devotion to the environment
Deer Park Elementary School administration, teachers and students celebrated 28 years of school beautification projects, recognizing Nancy and George Pratt for their devotion to the school and teaching students environmental stewardship.
The event included a parade of student council members wearing 29 years of Earth Day buttons, songs by the chorus, a presentation/reflection, and a butterfly release.
The Pratts created a garden in the center of the school for outdoor lessons and for families to have lunch with their children. Nancy also created a character, “Mother Earth,” to teach students to do their part in keeping the earth clean.
Other programs started were a recycling committee called “Earth Patrol” and an art competition to design an Earth Day button, which the school sells for fundraisers.
Students began fundraising last August to create a special student outdoor area to be known as Pratt’s Place. There is a shade tree with a circular wooden bench, known as the buddy bench; and four additional trees have been added to the children’s play area in the Pratts’ honor. There also is a stone dedication plaque.
Leadership seminar
Registration is open until May 31 for the 2018 Florida Student-Athlete Leadership Seminar, which is slated for Aug. 1 at West Port High School in Ocala.
The event will include keynote addresses, breakout sessions, a student-athlete panel, and presentations in competition, leadership, social media and other topics.
The first session will begin at 8 a.m., and the seminar will last until 2:45 p.m.
All registrations take place through GoFan, FHSAA’s digital ticketing provider.
The cost is $30 per student, and includes a shirt, lunch and a commemorative gift.
The seminar is open to the first 100 student applicants.
Schools may register students at tinyurl.com/y82b42yr.
For information, visit tinyurl.com/yc4tgrvx.
Musicians Association winners
The Florida Orchestra Musicians Association announced the winners of the annual Justine LeBaron Young Artist Competition, named in memory of the former principal horn of the orchestra, Justine LeBaron.
Local winners were Alexey Heroux (age 10), of Lutz, third place Junior Instrumental, violin, Seitz’ Violin Concerto No. 5, third movement; and Jithen Shriyen (age 12), of Land O’ Lakes, third place Junior Piano, Chopin’s Grand Waltz No. 4 and Biotti, “The Firefly.”
Local student achievements
- Brendan Gonzalez, of Lutz, was inducted into the Western Kentucky University chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. The induction confers a lifetime membership.
- Em Ovalle, of Lutz, has been named to the fall Dean’s List at Centre College, Danville Kentucky. Ovalle is a graduate of Freedom High School.
- Genna Aspres, of Odessa, was inducted into Phi Eta Sigma at Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina.
- Loredana Di Cosola, of Odessa, has been initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Tampa.
- Kristen Barry and Harrison Weeks, both of Odessa, and Alanah Cranwell, of Lutz, were inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Florida State University.
- Benjamin Brown, Aldo Colon and Taylor Masters, all of Odessa, and Sean Flynn and Jiain Xie, both of Lutz, were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Florida.
Looking for alumni, photos
Independent Day School/Corbett Prep is turning 50 and is looking for alumni who attended the Independent Day School in Tampa, for an anniversary celebration that will take place Aug. 18.
The school is asking for stories and photos from former students who were enrolled anytime between the school’s founding in 1968 to present day.
To share your memories, help with planning or attend the event, email Lisa Herscovici at , or join the Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/IDS50.
Independent Day School changed its name to Corbett Prep in 2012, and is located at 12015 Orange Grove Drive in Carrollwood.
For information, call (813) 961-3087.
Hillel now offers preschool
Hillel Academy, Tampa’s only accredited Jewish day school, and the Tampa JCCs and Federation have announced that Tampa JCC Preschool will be offered at Hillel Academy starting this fall.
This will be the first time preschool will be offered at Hillel, which was founded in 1970 for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Hillel Academy location, in Carrollwood, will be the third for Tampa JCC Preschool, with others located in Citrus Park and South Tampa.
The new preschool is for children ages 3 and 4, who have turned age 3 by Sept. 1, 2017.
The program will run August through May, from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., weekdays.
