Congratulating more 2022 graduates
Reading assessments
Fifty-three percent of Pasco County’s third graders passed the state’s reading test this year, a passing rate that matched the state average and was higher than all but one Tampa Bay area school district, according to a news release.
The statewide trend was a dip in scores this year, and Pasco was no exception.
Pasco’s overall passing rate last year was 56%.
State officials offered perspective on the overall decreases, pointing out that this year’s third-graders were first graders when the pandemic disrupted schooling.
“This group of third graders has had a lot to overcome,” said Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning, in the release.
“I’m proud of them for holding their own and outperforming so many of their peers. We still have a lot of work to do, and I know our students and teachers are up to the challenge,” said Browning.
Trinity Elementary School posted an 83% passing rate, up from 69% last year.
Sanders Memorial posted an 82% passing rate.
Starkey Ranch K-8, which opened this year, posted a 76% passing rate, and Connerton Elementary posted an improvement of a 75% passing rate, up from 54% last year.
School district results can be found online at the Florida Department of Education website, at FLDOE.org, and click on Accountability and then Assessments.
Woman’s club awards scholarships
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club announced its 2022 annual scholarships, awarded to nine students.
The Lutz Volunteer Fire Department Endowment Fund scholarships of $2,500 each were given to Luke Romesburg, Briana Macumber, Camilla Quiniero and Ian Beilfuss.
The woman’s club scholarships of $1,500 each were awarded to Cayman Nash Garcia, Emelina Brown, Dylan Mazard and Madison Stysly.
Little Women of Lutz member Ashlyn Turnage received the Club Special Achievement Award of $1,500.
Saint Leo fills Cohn chair
The Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies (CCJS) has appointed Rabbi David Maayan as its inaugural Maureen and Douglas Cohn Visiting Chair in Jewish Thought and assistant director of CCJS. Maayan will join Saint Leo in August, according to a news release.
The Cohn Chair is a two-year visiting appointment with the possibility of a third-year renewal as full-time faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The chair also represents the establishment of Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.
Maayan comes to Saint Leo from Boston College where he was a teaching fellow and instructor of Judaism and Christianity in Dialogue for the past academic year.
He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in religion with a focus in Jewish mysticism from Oberlin College in Ohio, earned his master’s in Jewish studies from Hebrew College, and is a doctoral degree candidate in comparative theology at Boston College.
“I have always firmly believed in the importance of community educational opportunities, including the art of teaching which fosters spaces in which people can meet, discuss, and exchange ideas in a spirit of creativity and mutual understanding,” said Maayan in the release.
Free English/Spanish classes
ReDefiners World Languages provides free English and Spanish classes for parents and caregivers in Hillsborough County. All classes take place at the seven Children’s Board Family Resource Centers.
The program offers these language courses to develop skills critical to today’s workforce, and to enhance opportunities to foster and develop social and cultural competencies within families and communities.
Classes are now enrolling.
Participants can expect an eight-week series with classes meeting one time per week, for one-hour class periods.
All curricular materials are aligned with World-Readiness Standards for Language Learning, and the adult English curriculum aligns with standards for workforce development.
The classes are free, with funding from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.
To enroll, visit Redefinerswl.org/learn-in-tampa-florida, or call 813-530-2313.
