Engaging students in agriculture
Two Pine View Middle School FFA members recently attended the Florida FFA Chapter Presidents’ Conference. FFA (which includes agriculturalists and farmers) gives students the chance to learn about agriculture education, develop critical thinking skills and leadership skills. From left, Autumn Gaddie, Kelly Bonin (advisor) and Gianna Suarez.
Pasco Schools convenes Congress
Pasco County high schools have appointed two students each to a new Student Leadership Congress to give students a voice in implementing change in schools countywide.
The goal of the Congress is to promote innovative idea sharing and to challenge student leaders to create actionable steps to implement positive change in their schools in collaboration with their principals.
River Ridge High School’s principal has already implemented change by revamping student government, to put an emphasis on service projects and required services hours, increase the number of representatives, and have students commit to service hours in order to run for office.
Other ideas schools replicated centered around student engagement and recognition:
- Allowing seniors to paint their parking spaces for enhanced connectedness to the school
- Placing yard signs in the front yards of students to recognize them for high achievement on FSA and Advanced Placement exams
- Using a bull horn and confetti to recognize teachers and students.
A meeting scheduled for Sept. 13 at Rasmussen College in Land O’ Lakes will include topics such as:
- United Day overview/success at Zephyrhills High School
- Drug/alcohol/safety discussion surrounding homecoming activities
- Innovative ways to support Red Ribbon Week
- Feedback on the Safety Pledge implementation and ways to reinforce the message throughout the year
- Strategies to improve school attendance, student promotion, and graduation
*POSTPONED* – PHSC board meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its Sept. 19 board meeting at 6 p.m., at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, faculty and staff.
For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation dates, visit PHSC.edu/courses/proposed-new-fee-adjustments.
Day of Service
Academy at the Lakes, in Land O’ Lakes, will kickoff its 25th anniversary celebration with a school-wide Day of Service Sept. 20, the 25th day of the school year.
Faculty and students in grades five and six will visit a local nursing home; grades seven and eight will volunteer with area charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay, Crystal Springs Preserve and the Old Lutz School House.
The school also has adopted a section of Collier Parkway and will start cleanup efforts with faculty and students in grades nine to 12.
Students and faculty in Pre-K3 through fourth grade will plant “pollinators” such as sunflowers, throughout the Academy’s campus, as part of The Great Sunflower Project (GreatSunflower.org).
Academy at the Lakes first opened its doors in 1992 with an enrollment of 32 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Since then, the school has grown to become one of Tampa Bay’s best college preparatory schools.
The school employs more than 100 faculty and staff members, and partners with area businesses to be a resource for the broader community.
College planning workshop
Thrivent Financial will host a free College Planning Strategies Workshop Sept. 26 at North Pointe Church, 19862 Amanda Park Drive in Lutz, for parents and students in seventh grade and higher.
Participants can learn how academics, admissions and financial strategies can work together to help save money on college.
There will be tips about FAFSA; what COA, OOP and EFC are, and the importance of each; timelines for taking the SAT/ACT; and, strategies to select a college.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Space is limited.
To RSVP, call (813) 626-5489, email , or visit Thrivent.com/uplan and select “FL.”
Local student news
- Paige Leggio, of Odessa, graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Nathan Shane, of Lutz, was among 47 other cadets to be named to the President’s List for the spring semester at The Citadel South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The honor indicates excellence in academics and military duties.
Julia Ruddock joins Saint Leo University
Julia Ruddock has joined Saint Leo University as director of Employer Development & Experiential Learning. Ruddock brings 10 years of professional experience in the defense, banking and higher education industries to the new position.
Ruddock will develop and coordinate programs to enhance student learning and increase career placement; she also will work with Tampa Bay area businesses, organizations and community partners to secure internships and job placements.
Most recently, Ruddock served as manager of employer development for the University of Tampa.
