Marching band is best in state
Wiregrass Ranch High School was recently honored as the best in the state in the 4A Class of the Florida Marching Band Championships.
The Wiregrass Ranch band program has more than 150 students, and includes the marching band, three concert bands, one jazz band, two competitive colorguards, and indoor percussion.
The band consistently earns superior ratings at Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessments for Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band, according to the program’s website.
The Marching Bulls have been Florida Marching Band Championship finalists four times (2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and in 2019 became the first band in Pasco County history to win a State Championship.
The colorguard and indoor percussion have had similar success and have medaled several times at FFCC Championships.
Academy hosts Santa
The East Pasco Education Academy, 35830 County Road 52 in Dade City, will host a “Cookies with Santa” fundraiser on Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free to visit with Santa and to decorate cookies, as well as play holiday games. Tickets can be purchased for the Polar Express, Snowball Fight and other Christmas surprises. There also will be opportunities for holiday photos. All proceeds will benefit the students of the academy.
Illustrative Contest
B&B Theatres in Wesley Chapel invites students to submit original artwork for its illustrative contest entitled, “Enjoy the Magic of the Movies.”
Artwork should feature one of the movie titles listed below, using any art medium, limited to 11-inch by 14-inch size.
Entries should be submitted with the student’s name, school and grade level, and delivered to the theater, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 14.
Works of art will be featured in the theater and the winners will receive a popcorn party in January for their class, as well as a movie pack for two.
Movie titles to select from are:
- “Disney’s Wish”
- “Wonka”
- “Migration”
- “Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom”
Student volunteers needed
The Concourse, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, is looking for student (and adult) volunteers for its 2023 Celebration of Lights that will run on select dates through Dec. 30. The drive-thru light display includes a holiday train and Pasco Safety Town features Santa Claus. For more information or to sign up, visit tinyurl.com/2bwppzpt.
Lifting spirits for Thanksgiving
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated enough Thanksgiving ingredients to provide a dinner to each of 15 families of students at Miles Elementary School in Tampa, for a brighter and bountiful Thanksgiving Day. From left: Linda Mitchell, Marcy Edmondson, school staffer, Pam Blumenthal and Melba Pineira. For more information on the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.
Student achievements
–Caitlyn Culpepper, of Odessa, was welcomed into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor societies for all academic disciplines. Culpepper is majoring in biochemistry at the University of Mississippi.
-Jace Druschel, of Lutz, was among more than 140 transfer students welcomed to the Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) campus who claimed more than $1.7 million in merit scholarships based on their previous college accomplishments. Druschel, a graduate of Steinbrenner High School majoring in exercise science, earned a $15,000 Transfer President’s Scholarship.
-Julie Rand, of Odessa, attends the University of South Florida and was named to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Certificate of Achievement
Donovan Garrido, an eighth-grader at Lutz Preparatory School, has received a Certificate of Achievement and a letter of congratulations from Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., in recognition of the perfect score he achieved on the Civics EOC Statewide Assessment. Donovan also is the president of the National Junior Honor Society, has a 4.0 GPA, has been named to the Principal’s Honor Roll 18 consecutive times, and is an accomplished baseball player. The student is currently applying for admission to Jesuit High School and the Aerospace Career Academy at Sunlake High School.
VPK program applications
Pasco County Schools’ Early Childhood Programs will begin accepting applications for the free Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) for the 2024-2025 academic year, beginning Jan. 8 during the School Choice open application window.
The VPK Program offers three free hours of instruction Monday through Friday, at select school sites. Extended hours are available for an additional fee. VPK extended hours will follow the school site’s regular bell schedule. Partial-day VPK will take place the first three hours of the school day.
To be eligible to participate in VPK, children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024. A Certificate of Eligibility/Voucher must be obtained from the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando prior to completing the Pasco County Schools VPK application.
The Pasco Schools’ sites for the 2024-2025 school year are:
VPK Inclusion Site (VPK & ESE Students) – Bexley Elementary, Centennial Elementary, Chester Taylor Elementary, Connerton Elementary, Denham Oaks Elementary, Double Branch Elementary, Gulf Highlands Elementary, Gulf Trace Elementary, Hudson Primary Academy, James Marlowe Elementary, Lake Myrtle Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Odessa Elementary, Quail Hollow Elementary, Seven Springs Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary, Schrader Elementary and Watergrass Elementary.
VPK Site (VPK students only) – Kirkland Ranch K-8, Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy, Trinity Elementary and Veterans Elementary.
For additional information, contact Mikesha Hayes, VPK coordinator, at 813-794-2730, or email .
