A lesson in being ‘upstanding’
Fifteen schools in Hernando County were among nearly 300 schools throughout Florida that participated in the 2023-2024 Holocaust Learning Experience (HLE), “a program designed to educate students about the importance of being ‘upstanders’ instead of bystanders when confronted with hate, bigotry and prejudice from others,” according to a news release.
“This program is more than just a history lesson about the Holocaust,” said HLE Executive Director Leigh Routman, in the release. “It’s a multi-sensory documentary that lets students watch historical footage and hear directly from Holocaust survivors who experienced the horrific consequences of unchecked hate and intolerance,” said Routman.
Since 1994, Florida has required public school districts to include Holocaust lessons to help students understand the consequences of racism, prejudice and stereotyping, as well as develop respectful and responsible behaviors accordingly.
To date, at least 35 Florida school districts have enrolled in the 2024-2025 Holocaust Learning Experience and hundreds of teachers have already received access to the instructional program, the release says.
For more information, visit HolocaustLearningExperience.org.
Meal eligibility provision
The District School Board of Pasco County has announced the district will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2024-2025 school year, providing meals, regardless of eligibility category, at no charge for all students at all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, according to a news release.
CEP serves breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminates the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price and paid student meals, the release says.
This new approach reduces the burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals.
For questions regarding the Community Eligibility Provision or the school food program, call 813-794-2480, or email .
Recycling art contest
Hillsborough County’s second annual Recycling and Waste Reduction Art Contest is now open. Students are asked to submit creative pieces that connect the art world with the recycling world.
The theme of the contest is “What Can We Do to Help the Community Reduce Waste, Reuse What We Have, and Recycle More?”
Using the theme as a framework, students can submit a drawing using drawing tools, including programs such as Photoshop. They also can submit a collage using drawings, photographs, or other material. Other types of submissions will not be judged. Students cannot use artificial intelligence (AI) programs to create the art.
To enter, students must work alone, create original art, live in Hillsborough County, and be entering fourth through 12th grade by the start of the 2024 school year.
Winners in grade categories will receive countywide recognition and sustainable-themed prizes.
Once artwork is finished, students must submit a Recycling & Waste Reduction Art Contest form found online at https://hcflgov.formstack.com/forms/hillsborough_county_recycling_waste_reduction_art_contest.
Artwork can be submitted until Aug. 31. For questions, email .
New board leadership
The Pasco-Hernando State College Board of Trustees (DBOT) recently elected new board leaders. Trustees Marilyn Pearson-Adams and Rebecca Schulkowski were elected to respectively serve as chair and vice chair of the board for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to a news release.
Pearson-Adams, owner and CEO of Century 21 Alliance Realty-Hernando County, was appointed to the DBOT in 2014, marking 10 years served. During this tenure, she has served as board chair in 2020-2021 and vice chair in 2022-2023. She succeeds previous board chair Lee Maggard.
Schulkowski, first president of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, was appointed to the DBOT in 2021. She has served as director of operations and director of surgical services at BayCare Health Systems, director for surgical services at Riverside Health System in New Port News, Maryland, and director of pharmacy at Cardinal Health in Baltimore, Maryland.
The board also reelected Gilberto Mattei-Fernandez as the executive statewide president for the Florida College System Student Government Association, to serve a second term as the DBOT student representative, the release says.
Science education option
Discovery Education has announced the Science Techbook for Florida has been added to the Florida Department of Education’s initial list of adopted instructional materials for science, according to a news release.
Among the courses now available for use in classrooms statewide are Science for grades K-5; Earth/Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Comprehensive Science 1,2 and 3 for grades six to eight.
Accessible through Discovery Education’s digital platform, Science Techbook empowers Florida school systems to integrate an innovative digital-print-kit blended curriculum into instruction to create unique, student-centered learning experiences. Included in the core curriculum are engaging digital resources, print student and teacher editions, hands-on activity kits, and virtual investigations.
The Science Techbook for Florida curriculum includes ready-to-use, phenomena-driven lessons that motivate students with powerful technology tools — such as toggle-on authentic Spanish translation — that personalize the student experience, and labor-saving teacher tools that streamline preparation and grading.
Studies show that regular use of Science Techbook in the classroom has many positive academic results for educators and students across a variety of districts and populations in the United States, the release says.
All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network.
To learn more, visit DiscoveryEducation.com.
University of Tampa recognitions:
Dean’s List: Rowdie Maloney, Lutz; Makenzie Hershey, Odessa; Tristan Hilson, Lutz; Samantha Parker, Odessa; Ashley Mantei, Odessa; Alexander Ruhe, Lutz; Michelle Loefstrand, Odessa; Robert Cooper, Lutz; Charles Pals, Odessa; Alyssa De La Sala, Lutz; Madison McElhone, Odessa; Hope Lelekacs, Odessa; Zoe Papageorgiou, Odessa; Jenna Delgado, Lutz; Echo Prescott, Lutz; Tanner Dishman, Lutz; Gabrielle Reim, Odessa; Margret Gudmundsson, Lutz; Ntalia Katsaros, Odessa; Jack Federman, Lutz; Kaitlin Price, Odessa; Makenzie Reynolds, Lutz; and Dominick Rappa, Odessa.
Graduates: Angelina Santana, Lutz; Becca Turner, Lutz; Bhavya Priya Akula, Lutz; Cole Benjamin, Odessa; Hope Lelekacs, Odessa; Isabella Zabaneh, Lutz; Jacey Fennell, Odessa; Jessica Valente, Lutz; Kranthi Kumar Manda, Lutz; Kristina Roberts, Odessa; Lindsay Castro, Lutz; Livia Bezerra Costa, Lutz; Madison McElhone, Odessa; Makenzie Hershey, Odessa; McKenzie Grimshaw, Odessa; Molly Schmidt, Lutz; Sarah Jones, Lutz; Tristan Hilson, Lutz; and Vanessa Sanchez, Odessa.
