Student Citizens of the Month
The East Pasco Chamber Foundation in partnership with the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized nine students as Citizens of the Month for October. Students are chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. This is the 25th year the Zephyrhills Chamber has honored students through the program. Receiving recognition are: Kamryn Morfey, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Rylee Bowman, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School; Eva Pena, Heritage Academy; John Blandford, Raymond B. Stewart Middle; Gov Ramirez and Esmerelda Soto, The Broach School; Dexter Balch, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Adriele Jerabek, Woodland Elementary; and Tessa Starnes, Zephyrhills High.
Centennial Fall Festival
Centennial Middle STEM Magnet School, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City, will host a Fall Festival on Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will include food, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, pumpkin bowling, a fall photo booth, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, STEM activities, haybale lassoing, scarecrow contest, bouncy house, music and more. For information, call 352-524-9700.
School Choice events
Mark your calendar with the following dates related to School Choice in Pasco County:
- Nov. 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Pasco Pathways Expo, at River Ridge High School
- Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Pasco Pathways Expo, at Wesley Chapel High School
- Jan. 9 to Jan. 20: Pasco Pathways Application Window
- Feb. 27 to March 8: Notification and Acceptance Window
For more information, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/schoolchoice.
Fee adjustments meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at a Nov. 15 meeting at 6 p.m., at the Instructional Performing Arts Center in Wesley Chapel.
Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs.
Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing.
Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.
For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, and then Public Disclosure.
School grants awarded
The Southwest Florida Water Management District awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 educators within the district, as part of the Splash! school grant program.
The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources, for kindergarten through 12th grade.
Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities, as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns.
The district awarded grants to these schools/teachers in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:
- East Pasco Education Academy: Dr. Jose Olmo
- Pine View Elementary School: Jaime Gauvin
Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation.
For more information, visit WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.
Investiture ceremony
Saint Leo University will host an investitute ceremony of the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory for Rabbi A. James Rudin on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m., according to a news release.
Rudin is one of the co-founders of the university’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies.
Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston will conduct the ceremony on behalf of Pope Francis.
This is the third time in history a pope is honoring an American rabbi with the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. This also marks the first time in his papacy Pope Francis is granting the honor to a Jewish person, the release said.
Student initiation
Marissa Rakauskas, of Odessa, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Rakauskas was welcomed into the society at Jackson University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Financial Aid tip
High school students who plan to play college sports must make sure they are eligible. Requirements differ for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or the National Junior College Athletic Association, according to the Kentucky High Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).
Athletes at an NCAA Division I or Division II school must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Home-schooled students must register at the Eligibility Center and meet the same requirements as other student-athletes.
NCAA Division III schools don’t give athletic scholarships. Students who want to play sports at a Division III school should contact the school to find out what its policies are.
Students who want to play sports at an NAIA college or university must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.
To play sports at an NJCAA school, students must have a high school diploma or a GED. Home-schooled students must meet different requirements.
KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college.
For more information and details on financial aid tips, visit KHEAA.com.
Afterschool Meals Program
Pasco County Schools has announced the approval of 51 schools for participation in the Afterschool Meals Program, a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program.
Afterschool Meals is designed to provide nutritious food to children participating in afterschool programs on campus. Approved schools hosting these activities (including PLACE) after school hours will have the ability to provide meals.
These schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area have been approved to participate in the program: • Elementary schools: Centennial, Chester Taylor, Lacoochee, New River, Pasco, Quail Hollow, R.B. Cox, San Antonio, West Zephyrhills, and Woodland
- Middle high schools: Centennial, East Pasco Education Academy, Pasco, R.B. Stewart
- High schools: East Pasco Education Academy, Pasco, Zephyrhills
Parents should contact the coordinator of the program their child is participating in, to determine if meals will be provided.
