Chalk Talk 07/18/2018

Lighthouse Preschool coming soon
Lighthouse Preschool will open its doors in August, but families with 3- and 4-year-olds are invited to visit now to learn more about its early childhood programs. The school is at 7017 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel. For more information, call (813) 994-8678, or visit LighthousePreK.com or Facebook.com/lighthouseprek.

Hearing screenings
The Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida screened more than 17,000 students at more than 60 schools last year and is looking for volunteers to do the same this year when school begins in August.

No previous training is required. The screening process is simple and a brief demonstration is provided. The average screening time is two hours to three hours.

Volunteers are free to choose which schools they would prefer.

All volunteers must pass a background check.

Prospective volunteers can fill in an application at Pasco.k12.fl.us, and click on the Volunteer Application at the bottom of the page. Under ‘Preferences,’ choose Sertoma Speech & Hearing.

College workshop
The Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library, 1505 Nebraska Ave., in Tampa, will host a College Readiness Workshop for high school students July 21 at 10:15 a.m.

Assistance will be provided to help high school students understand resources for researching potential colleges, scholarships and other financial help, as well as how to prepare applications and get ready for the next chapter in life.

For information, call (813) 273-3652, or visit HCPLC.org.

Program applications
Pasco-Hernando State College is accepting applications for the Bachelor of Science in nursing online degree program that will start in August.

Those interested must complete an application and submit an essay no later than 7:30 p.m., July 24.

The BSN program prepares currently licensed RNs who have an Associate in Science in nursing, or diploma graduates of nursing programs, with additional skills in management, leadership, theory and research.

For information, visit PHSC.edu.

Hopefest
The Freedom Center will present Hopefest on July 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Elementary School, 30243 Wells Road.

There will be free backpacks, school supplies, music, food, carnival games and more.

In order to receive a free backpack, each child must present a ticket.

To register, visit FreedomIsHere.org.

For information, call (813) 414-1664.

Back to School Bash
The Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation will host a Back to School Bash, presented by the Standing Strong Outreach Ministry, on July 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Centro De La Restaurancion, 6541 Orchid Lake Road in New Port Richey.

There will be music, face painting, bounce houses, school supplies raffles and more.

For information, call (727) 505-0108.

School supply drive
Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes and the Kiwanis Club of Greater West Pasco are partnering for a Back to School Supply Drive through July 31.

Items needed include backpacks, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, folders, glue sticks, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil cases, pens, scissors and yellow pencils.

Donations will be distributed to students in need in Pasco County elementary schools at the start of the school year.

Shoppers who donate new school supplies will receive a voucher for 25 percent off a single item in the store.

For shop locations, visit GHPPC.org. For information about the drive, call Kirsty Churchill at (727) 845-5707.

Back to school haircuts
My Salon Suite of New Tampa, 20707 Center Oak Drive, will provide free haircuts, in exchange for school supplies, Aug. 5 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For every $5 to $10 of donated school supplies, a child will receive a free haircut. The donated supplies will be given to Quail Hollow Elementary and Metropolitan Ministries.

There also will be free food, face painting and more.

For information, call (813) 501-0600.

Donate new supplies
David Weekley Homes will host its fourth School Supplies Drive through Aug. 6.

Donations can be dropped off at the Design Center, 9006 Brittany Way in Tampa, or at any David Weekley model home in the Tampa area.

For a complete list of supplies needed, visit tinyurl.com/y7bhpk3w.

Pasco Schools Childcare Department Gets New Name
Pasco County Schools has renamed its Place Department to reflect expanded programming.

The new name is the Office for After School Enrichment Programs.

To learn about the variety of programs the department operates or for enrollment information, parents should contact the school their child attends.

Scholarship fund
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce presented a check for $1,500 to The Pasco County Parks Recreation and Natural Resources Residents Scholarship Fund.

The fund helps families to attend summer camp programs in the county, and were generated from the chamber’s annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

PHSC Foundation names new board member

The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation has added a new director to its board. Sharon Hayes, BSN, MBA, has been named to fill a vacant seat for a term that ends in 2019.

Hayes, of Tierra Verde, is the chief executive officer for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson.

The PHSC Foundation is governed by a volunteer board from Pasco and Hernando counties.

Eighth annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers
United Way of Pasco County is conducting its eighth annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers. The campaign is set for Aug. 3, Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Supplies that are collected will be distributed by Pasco County Schools.

A school bus will be stationed at Walmart shopping centers to collect donations at the following locations:

• Walmart-Port Richey, 8701 U.S. 19
• Walmart-New Port Richey, 8745 State Road 54
• Walmart-Lutz 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
• Walmart-Wesley Chapel 28500 State Road 54

Volunteers at all locations will hand out shopping lists and collect the donations.

On Aug. 6, volunteers will gather at the The Mike Fasano Hurricane Shelter, 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson, to sort and pack the supplies.

Volunteers are needed at the donation sites and at the packing sites.

For information, contact Melinda Velez at mvelez@unitedwaypasco.org or (727) 835-2028.

Day school turns 50
Independent Day School/Corbett Prep is turning 50 and looking for alumni who attended the Independent Day School in Tampa for an anniversary celebration scheduled for 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 the present day.

To share memories, help with planning or attend the event, email Lisa Herscovici at lherscovici@corbettprep.com, 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.

PHSC fall registration underway
Registration is underway for fall sessions at Pasco-Hernando State College. The course schedule is available online at Info.PHSC.EDU/Course-Schedule.

New students should apply online at PHSC.EDU/Admissions.

For information, visit PHSC.edu.