Gifting some holiday cheer
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club have been busy delivering Christmas bags filled with gifts to Lutz, Denham Oaks and Miles elementary schools, as well as two additional schools, to provide extra cheer to selected families who are in need at this time of the year. The woman’s club also creates holiday projects and makes deliveries to local senior centers, Meals on Wheels, and assisted living facilities, among others. Sabrina Scott and Ellen Brayton are shown as they deliver gift bags to Lutz K-8. For more information on this volunteer organization, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.
Useful holiday break tips
Saint Leo University professor of pyschology Dr. Tammy Lowery Zacchilli is offering parents these useful “Holiday Break 101” tips, according to a news release:
- Keep the kids busy. Kids get bored when they are home all day. There are many opportunities for winter break camps related to arts and crafts, music, dance, sports, and more. Local aquariums, zoos, and amusement parks also may offer camps. Visit Fun4TampaKids.com/camps/winter-break-camps/.
- Start a family tradition. Holiday traditions are important to families, so start one such as baking cookies, volunteering, riding a Christmas train, or starting Elf on a Shelf.
- Emphasize gratitude. Parents need to start teaching children gratitude at an early age. It can be difficult, but gentle reminders before a party to say “thank you” can be helpful regardless of the child’s age. Parents also can consider donating gifts through a Giving Tree or preparing boxes for Samaritan’s Purse to help children learn the true meaning of the holidays.
- Prepare relatives for your visit. Children have different personalities and respond to situations in different ways, such as being uncomfortable with hugs. You know your child’s personality and behaviors, so it can be useful to have a conversation with relatives before you arrive.
Second student graduates
Victory High School, the first Recovery High School in the Tampa Bay area, celebrated the graduation of its second student, on Dec. 7.
The student started with Victory High in November 2021 and has graduated with honors at the age of 16.
The graduate had a 96% attendance rate and a GPA of 3.93.
Crisis negotiations course
Saint Leo University’s Center for Alternative Pathway Programs (CAPP) and F1RST, Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics, will offer a Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Course beginning on Jan. 5.
Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Level I is the first in three successive courses that addresses the fundamental tasks of a successful crisis negotiator, to prepare participants to work as part of a coordinated negotiating team, and to handle situations including those involving hostage takers, barricaded subjects, and potential suicide victims.
The course is designed for sworn law enforcement and corrections employees, non-law enforcement members of negotiations teams, and mental health, social work and clergy members who support law enforcement in crisis situations.
It is approved as a full credit basic course toward a 120-hour CSM Certificate of Proficiency.
Crisis Systems Management LLC will present the course on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Jan. 5 through Feb. 2.
For more information, email , or call 877-815-4996.
Free STEM boot camp
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host a free STEM Boot Camp for Young Women workshop on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for graduating high school students.
The camp will introduce the participants to science, technology, engineering, math, data analysis, potential careers, and the university.
The special guest at the workshop will be Russell Goodman, sports analytics expert and a professor of mathematics at Central College in Pella, Iowa.
Participants in the boot camp also will explore the university’s anatomage table, cybersecurity lab, and robotics lab, among other activities.
For more information or to RSVP, email Dr. Jacci White at .
School choice opening soon
The Pasco County Schools school choice application window will open on Jan. 9 at 8 a.m., and close on Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.
At that time, the Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice application will be available for parents via the myStudent parent portal.
The application window will be for all school choice options, including STEM and STEAM magnet schools, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Angeline Academy of Innovation, International Baccalaureate (IB), and the Cambridge Programme.
Mark your calendar with these important dates:
- Pasco Pathways Application Window – Jan. 9 to Jan. 20
- Notification and Acceptance Window – Feb. 27 to March 8
To learn more about Pasco Pathways and school choice, visit PascoSchools.org/schoolchoice.
Scholarship applications
There are more than 100 scholarships available for university, college and trade school programs, through the Pasco Education Foundation.
The application window is now open for 2023 high school seniors and will close on Jan. 31.
Interested students should apply at PascoEducationFoundation.org.
