Veterans Elementary festival
Veterans Elementary School PTA will host an Owl at the Moon fall fundraising festival on the school campus, 26940 Progress Parkway in Wesley Chapel, on Oct. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include carnival games, inflatables, a dunk tank, photo book, pumpkin decorating contest, music, vendors, and concessions. Proceeds from the event will help the PTA provide essential programs and services to the school.
Air Force colonel to speak at Saint Leo
Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Sheri Andino Straka, a resident of Lake Jovita, will speak at Saint Leo University’s Teco Hall Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. Straka is the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. She currently is the Air Force JROTC instructor at Springstead High School in Spring Hill where she also serves as the senior aerospace science instructor. Her presentation is one of several special programs in celebration of Saint Leo University’s 40th anniversary of those who serve the nation. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call (352) 588-7233.
Weightman hosts All Pro Dads
Thomas Weightman Middle School hosted its first All Pro Dads Day breakfast in the school’s media center on Oct. 2. The event connected 75 dads and their middle school students. For an upcoming schedule of more All Pro Dads meetings, visit AllProDad/3830.
Robotic showcase at UT
Robocon Tampa Bay will be held Oct. 26-27 at the Bob Martinez Sports Center at the University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., in Tampa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Guests can watch a full-scale robotic competition with massive Frisbee shooting robots, participate in a college and career fair, and learn more about industrial and medical robotics, and tech careers in Tampa Bay. For information, visit RoboconTampaBay.com.
PHCC to host free workshop
Pasco-Hernando Community College will host a free information workshop “Knowing Your Options for High School and Beyond” on Oct. 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at its West Campus,10230 Ridge Road, in New Port Richey. Representatives from the Pasco County school district and PHCC will provide information on advanced placement, dual enrollment, International Baccalaureate programs, and more. Space is limited. For reservations, email .
Bridge building contest at Saint Leo
The Department of Mathematics and Science at Saint Leo University, State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host its annual Bridge-Building/Bridge-Breaking competition on Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Greenfelder-Delinger boardrooms of the Student Community Center. Students from kindergarten through high school can watch small-scale model bridges built by physics and engineering students be tested for weight. All bridges are destroyed at the end of the event. Those attending also will have a chance to speak to faculty members. For information, call Jo-Ann Johnston at (352) 588-8237.
Nicole Kandil joins orchestra
Nicole Kandil of Lutz has earned membership in the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra in Greenville, S.C. Membership in the top-tier orchestra is by audition only. Kandil is currently pursuing a degree in music education.
District launches new online tool
Hillsborough County parents now have the option to use the school district’s new grade book tool, Edsby, which provides classroom assignments and grades. To register, go to sdhc.edsby.com. Parents will need the name of the child’s school, the child’s student number, last four digits of the child’s Social Security number, and the child’s birthday. An Edsby registration video tutorial can be found at sdhc.k12.fl.us. For information, call Grace Posada at (813) 840-7064.
Local students make semifinalist list for National Merit
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has announced the names of approximately 16,000 seminfinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Hillsborough County Public Schools led the state in the number of National Merit semifinalists, with 60 students earning the honor. Local students include:
• Rachel Hargrove and Shahob Miltenberger, Land O’ Lakes High School
• Bridget Weber, Sunlake High School
• Stephen Hurley, Steinbrenner High School
• Rohith Ravi, Freedom High School
• Jorge Rodriguez, Sickles High School
• Kiana Outen, Wharton High School
• Chelsea Chitty, Wiregrass Ranch High School
Land O’ Lakes thespians excel
The Land O’ Lakes High School Thespians Troupe 4740, took part in a one-act play competition at Haines City High School over the Oct. 5 weekend. The group performed the play “Drop Dead, Juliet” and went on to receive a rating of Excellent. Cast member Carinne Julien also received the All-Star Cast award.
New charter school launches website
Classical Preparatory School, a new charter school planned for Land O’ Lakes opening in the fall of 2014, has launches its website at www.ClassicalPrep.org. The website serves as a resource for information about the school’s program, including frequently asked questions, and a letter of interest form for prospective students.
Heather Edwards elected to student government
Heather Edwards, a freshman at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., was elected to the school’s student government for freshman class student services for the 2013-14 school year. Edwards is a psychology major native from Lutz.
Zephyrhills schools support anti-bullying
Zephyrhills area schools are encouraging students, teachers and staff to wear black and yellow on the last Friday of each month as part of the “Bee Bully-Free Initiative.” In addition, the initiative plans to provide free stickers and coloring book pages to schools that request them, to spread the word by participating in the Great American Teach-In, and provide certificates and awards for students who transform from bullies into kinder versions of themselves. The initiative hopes to sponsor and provide assembly programs, BMX demonstrations, skydiving jump-ins, and team-building and confidence-building games and activities at no cost to schools throughout the school year. For details, visit facebook.com/beebullyfree. Upcoming “Black & Yellow Fridays” are: Oct. 25, Nov. 22, Dec. 20, Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25 and May 30.
