Citizens of the Month honored
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recognized these students as Citizens of the Month for September: Koral Shirbach, Academy at the Farm; Sarah Thompson, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Grace Quinn, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Emma Buchanan, Centennial Elementary; Jacob Gamez, Lacoochee Elementary; Breanna Nicole Myers, Pasco Elementary; Jancarlos Sequen, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Bellamy Buchholz, San Antonio Elementary; Jonathan Ponce, Centennial Middle School; Kellen Kender, Pasco Middle; Zoe Gaskins, James Irvin Education Center; and, Mariana Escudero, Pasco High School.
No hurricane makeup day for Pasco
The Pasco County Schools’ office for Information Technology Services reviewed the current bell schedules for each district school and determined that no instructional time will have to be made up relative to the hurricane day that occurred on Oct. 7.
Pasco County Schools officials canceled three days of school over concerns about severe weather associated with Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew. After cancelling school for two days because of Hermine, the district determined that there was enough instructional time built into school calendars to avoid makeup days.
Officials were unsure the third day could be absorbed, but determined that with some adjustments to schedules, all schools have a sufficient level of instructional seat time to meet statutory requirements, and students will not have to attend school during Thanksgiving break to make up for the Oct. 7 hurricane day.
However, if school is canceled another day prior to the break, a makeup day will be scheduled for Nov. 21.
Manufacturing Day tours
The Pasco County Schools Career and Technical Education Department partnered with the American Manufacturing Skills Initiative and Pasco-Hernando State College for middle and high school student manufacturing tours.
On Oct. 14, students from Sunlake High School visited Bay-Tech Industries and Pharma Works in Odessa.
On Oct. 28, students from Centennial Middle School will visit Nestle Waters in Zephyrhills.
Each group participates in a behind-the-scene tour, gains insight from managers, and interacts with shop workers on the floor.
Ninth-grader visits White House
Logan Beatty, a ninth-grade Land O’ Lakes High School International Baccalaureate student, visited The White House on Oct. 21, as one of President Barack Obama’s Kid Science Advisors.
The White House chose Beatty based on his Kid Science Advisor Initiative Essay Contest entry. He participated in a roundtable discussion about future STEM ideas with The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, senior administration officials, pioneers of scientific discovery, and other Kid Science Advisors.
Elementary STEAM night
Pasco-Hernando State College, along with the Pasco County School District, will host an “Elementary School STEAM Night” on Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City.
Students from Rodney B. Cox Elementary School and their families can participate in educational fun related to science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
The program, with hands-on activities, will include “Build a Body,” “Rocket Blast-Off,” “3-D Printer” and more.
National Merit Scholarship recognitions
The National Merit Scholarship Cooperation has recognized these local Pasco County high school students as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists or commended students.
Land O’ Lakes High School semifinalists: Carter Bright, Michael Gendreau, Navya Jampani, Maxwell Keenan and Nicholas Riley
Land O’ Lakes High commended: Isabella Brown, Evan Caine, Angela Fadil, Holly Galluppo, Simon Geller, Isabelle Langner, Lawrence Miller, Alyssa Nguyen, Ashley Rocks, Shivania Saini, Alexis Schuler and Jessica Twitmyer
Sunlake High: Karine Armas, National Hispanic Recognition Program
Wiregrass Ranch High semifinalist: Lauren Payne
Wiregrass Ranch High commended: Rachel Sawah
Zephyrhills High commended: Sarah First
Denham Oaks seeking partners
Denham Oaks Elementary School, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., has been in the Lutz area for more than 20 years and is looking for businesses to support the school.
Sponsorship opportunities start at $25, and allow the business to build its brand among local residents while supporting education.
There also are opportunities to join the School Advisory Council or serve as a judge for the student arts contest.
For information, visit DOES.my-pta.org, or email .
