School Lunch Hero Day
The District School Board of Pasco County recognizes May 6 as School Lunch Hero Day.
Its proclamation reads:
“Whereas, nutritious meals at school are an essential part of the school day; and
“Whereas, school nutrition professionals prepare healthy meals for our students, adhere to strict nutrition standards, navigate student food allergies, and offer service with a smile; and
“Whereas, the School Lunch Hero Day is a chance to showcase the difference school nutrition professionals make for every child who comes through the cafeteria; and
“Whereas, Friday, May 6, 2022, is School Lunch Hero Day.”
The proclamation was duly signed at a regular public meeting on April 19, according to a Pasco County Schools’ website post published on April 25.
Teacher signing day
Pasco County Schools hosted a signing day on April 27, for high school students declaring their intent to return after college, to teach in Pasco schools. The 17 students are graduating from Pasco’s New Teacher Academy (NTA), where they have had the opportunity to explore their chosen profession.
Along with the graduating seniors, the signing day also featured an NTA graduate who completed college and has been hired as a teacher at Fox Hollow Elementary School.
“This is a day of celebration for these students and for Pasco County Schools,’’ said Beth Hess, lead of the New Teacher Academy, in a news release.
“To have our own students returning as teachers is a win for everyone. We are succeeding in our goal, which is to inspire the desire to teach,” Hess said.
The NTA was established at River Ridge High School in 2016 for students considering a career in teaching to learn more about the profession. It has expanded to include River Ridge Middle School.
The NTA also provides students with hands-on experience at elementary schools in Pasco County.
Student news
Constance Emilia Sargent, of Lutz, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, at the University of Idaho.
Writers Retreat
The Sandhill Writers Retreat (SWR), based at Saint Leo University, will host the SWR Reading Series on May 9 to May 12 and May 16 to May 19, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., via Zoom.
The series will offer an opportunity to come together as a literary community.
During the eight evening sessions, the reading series will showcase established and acclaimed poets, writers and publishers.
Seven guest faculty will give a brief talk or lesson and a reading, and one evening of the series will be open mic.
Faculty guests include: Denise Duhamel, poet; Amina Gautier, short fiction writer; Rick Campbell, poet and former Anhinga Press director; Gregory Byrd, poet and fiction writer; Kimberly Davis, publisher and editor; Julia Koets, poet, writer and memoirist; and Geoffrey Philip, poet and writer.
The retreat is open to the public.
Registration is $20 and covers all eight nights of poetry, literature and more.
For details, visit SaintLeo.edu/sandhill-writers-retreat.
Virtual Parent Night
Pasco County Schools will host Florida’s B.E.S.T Standards for Mathematics Virtual Parent Night on May 10 at 6 p.m.
To RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/yckeb7d4.
Nominate a student
Hillsborough County is accepting nominations for the Youth Excellence and Achievement Awards (YEA! Awards), until 5 p.m., on May 13.
The YEA! Awards were created in 2010, to recognize Hillsborough County students for making a difference in their community.
Students honored show initiative, innovation, and a commitment to themselves and others, while pursuing excellence in a leadership capacity. This can be demonstrated in academics, community service, athletics, performing arts, conservation, or other areas.
Nominations can be submitted for both middle and high school students, in each of these categories:
- Leadership — demonstrating positive impact on others in an ongoing endeavor, such as sports, academics or the arts
- Success Despite Difficult Odds — overcoming tremendous personal difficulty to attain success and to make a positive impact on others
- Volunteer or Community Service — allocating discretionary time to help others to complete a project that has improved the community
Nominations will be reviewed by the Commission on the Status of Women.
The awards will be presented in June by the Board of County Commissioners.
Forms are available for online submissions at HCFLGov.net/YEA.
For more information, call Hillsborough County Communications & Digital Media at 813-272-5194.
Fifth-grade exhibition
Pine View Elementary, an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, will host the Pine View Elementary International Baccalaureate Magnet School PYP Exhibition on May 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 5333 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.
Fifth-grade students will showcase their culminating, collaborative experience of their final year of the IB primary Years Program. The exhibition is a “demonstration of student agency, as learners exercise voice, choice and ownership by inquiring into local or global issues that are significant to them,” an email to The Laker said.
The opening ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by student presentations.
