Community steps up for Pasco kids in need
Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore initiated a toy drive for Pasco County Schools children, ages 5 to 13, in need. Community members donated unwrapped toys at drop-off locations throughout the county. Toys were delivered to the district’s warehouse, and school social workers sorted through them to take back to their schools for the underprivileged students. Moore, right, stands with Superintendent Kurt Browning, center, and the social workers amid the donated toys.
Special presentation
Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield presented the R.B. Stewart Middle School football team with a proclamation on Dec. 15, in recognition of the team’s winning 41 consecutive football games and seven conference titles.
The Bulldogs were joined by other student athletes, cheerleaders, band members, school and district staff, for the presentation.
USA Football shows that only five high schools in the country have more consecutive wins, and one has the same number of wins as Stewart Middle School.
Gulf Trace holiday cheer
Santa Claus and Gulf Trace Elementary School volunteers shared holiday cheer and gifts with students Dec. 22.
Along with members of a women’s golf league, Santa and volunteer Shirley Bates delivered gifts to each Head Start prekindergarten class.
Bates has long-served as the school’s Secret Santa.
Frontier challenge winners
Frontier Communications honored the winners of the “Florida State Frontier Challenge” business case study competition during the school’s homecoming halftime show.
Senior David Walsh and junior Matthew Young received medals and prize money for placing first in the competition.
The annual competition provides students the chance to solve real-world challenges facing the telecommunications industry. This year, students were asked to help Frontier create new and original ways to engage millennial customers.
The process included written plans presented by students and in-person interviews in front of a panel of nine judges.
After presentations, teams had a chance to sit down with Frontier executives and discuss their ideas.
For information, visit FSU.edu.
Pine View joins Angus association
Pine View Middle FFA in Land O’ Lakes is a new member of the American Angus Association.
The national breed organization, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on more than 18 million registered Angus.
The association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members.
The programs and services of the association help members to advance the beef cattle business by selecting the best animals for their herds and marketing quality genetics for the beef cattle industry and quality beef for consumers.
Superheroes and science
The National Science Foundation and the National Nanotechnology Initiative are gearing up for this year’s Generation Nano: Superheroes Inspired by Science challenge.
Sixth-grade through 12th-grade students can compete for scholarship money and a trip to Washington D.C., to attend the 2018 USA Science and Engineering Festival.
There will be an honorarium for teachers involved with the winning teams.
Students may compete as individuals or as members of a two-person to three-person team, to create a superhero using science, or tell their story in a short comic or video.
The contest ends Jan. 8 at 11:59 p.m.
To learn more, visit NSF.gov and search “Gen Nano.”
Mentor training
Take Stock in Children, a program with the Pasco Education Foundation, offers Pasco County students scholarships, mentors and hope.
Female mentors are currently needed at Centennial Middle School, Hudson Middle, Mitchell High and Zephyrhills High. Male mentors are needed at Sunlake High.
Mentors meet at the student’s school two times to four times per month.
Upcoming mentor training dates are Jan. 17 at 1 p.m., and Jan. 22 at 11 a.m.
For information, contact Diane Jerome, mentor coordinator, at (813) 794-2134 or .
Open house
Countryside Montessori Charter School, 5852 Ehren Cut-Off in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house for the 2018-2019 school year Jan. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Prospective students, Grades 1 to 8, and families can tour the campus, and meet the teachers and staff.
For information, call (813) 996-0991, or visit CMCSmontessori.com.
