Making up for ‘lost’ time
Pasco County Schools, after consulting with the state, has confirmed that the district will have to make up some of the lost student instructional time experienced due to Hurricane Ian, according to its Facebook page.
In an effort to preserve both the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, the district intends to make up the needed instructional time during Semester Two, so there are no changes to the calendar in Semester One, and the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks will be preserved.
The make-up time will occur as follows:
- Jan. 3 will be a regular school day for students and staff. That means students will return on Tuesday, a day early from the two-week Winter Break.
- Feb. 20 will be a regular school day for students and teachers. Currently, it is on the calendar as a non-school day for both, and is Presidents’ Day.
- All early release days in Semester Two will be full school days. That includes Jan. 11, Feb. 1, March 8 and April 12. By shifting those days to full school days, the district is able to make up the equivalent of two school days. Early release days in Semester One will remain unchanged.
Student achievement
Phebe Albert, of Odessa, earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, with a concentration in Joint Clinical/Neuropsychology from Georgia State University, Atlanta.
Homecoming/Family Weekend
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host its Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 21 to Oct. 23.
There will be a variety of activities, including a Class of 1972 50th reunion; Spirit of Saint Leo Golf Tournament; Brews & Bites; Student Talent Show; Open Swim; Baseball/Softball/Basketball Alumni Games; Mass and Midday Prayer; Lions Rally and Family Fest; Farewell Brunch; and more.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit SaintLeo.edu, and click on the Events Calendar.
Saint Leo rankings
Saint Leo University was ranked among the best universities in the nation in the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, according to a news release.
The university also ranked 46th in the nation in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category, and among the top universities nationally for the most international students and campus ethnic diversity.
This news is a change for Saint Leo, which was ranked among the best regional universities last year.
The school received a new classification status for 2023, which elevated it to a new rankings category among other national institutions.
For information on the Best Colleges, visit USNews.com/best-colleges.
With a long history of educating the country’s military personnel, veterans and their families, Saint Leo also claimed top honors from the 2022 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges, a news release said.
Saint Leo earned rankings of No. 24 among all schools in the United States; No. 3 among online schools; No. 5 among private schools; and No. 7 among schools in the Southeast.
More than one-quarter of Saint Leo’s population is affiliated with the military, including members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, National Guard members, retired military officers and enlisted veterans, military spouses, dependents and others.
For information about rankings, visit Colleges.militarytimes.com/.
Zephyrhills High reunion
The Zephyrhills High School Class of 1972 will host its 50th reunion, including:
- Homecoming Game on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
- “A Night to Remember” dinner/dance on Oct. 29 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Scotland Yards Clubhouse, 9429 U.S. 301 in Dade City — $45 per person
- Sunday Brunch, on Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a “Memory Lane Stroll” down iconic Fifth Avenue
For more information, call the school at 813-794-6100.
Culinary Arts bake sale
The Land O’ Lakes Academy of Culinary Arts is offering its 11th annual Fall Bake Sale.
Items up for grabs include: Apple Crumble Coffee Cake, $10; French Silk Pie, $12; Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll, $10; Kentucky Pecan Pie, $15; Vegan + GF Apple Cranberry Crisp, $14; and Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies, $10.
Order deadline is Nov. 4. Pickup is Nov. 16, Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 in the Lakeview Café.
For information and questions, email Chef Blythe at or Chef Cooper at .
College essays
Some colleges require high school seniors to submit an essay as part of the admissions process, and that essay also may help when it comes to paying for college, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).
The quality and thoughtfulness of a college admissions essay can play an important part in a student’s acceptance to their preferred school.
Students should take the extra time to proofread and revise their essay several times, if necessary, and have a teacher, school counselor or parent review the essay before they submit it.
Essays help schools learn more about students by giving them a chance to set themselves apart from other applicants. The more exclusive the college, the more important the essay may be in an admissions decision.
Some schools let students submit nontraditional essays such as poems, song lyrics or videos, which allow students to display their creativity. Students should confirm with the school that nontraditional essays are accepted, before submitting one.
KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to help improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.
For more about its services, visit KHEAA.com
50th Anniversary
Pasco-Hernando State College will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a free community West Campus Anniversary Celebration. Activities will include games and prizes, music, refreshments, and tours of the campus (fees for new student applications will be waived during the event.) To learn more, visit PHSC.edu/history.
Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, has announced the 25th Anniversary Fish Art Contest.
The contest is designed to inspire creativity, while developing the next generation of anglers and conservationists.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in this free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes.
One first-place winner and one runner-up will be selected for each grade bracket (kindergarten through third grade; fourth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade; and 10th through 12th grade). There will be an award for illustrating the best freshwater fish species and one for the best saltwater fish species.
All first-place winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes, such as Best of Show.
The deadline to enter is Feb. 28, 2023.
To enter, students from Florida should submit their entry at WildlifeForever.org.
