Children at Lighthouse Preschool of Wesley Chapel recently got a lesson on fire safety. The youngsters pose with some emergency responders from Pasco County Fire Rescue. (Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Preschool)
Fire safety lessons at Lighthouse Preschool
The class of 4-year-olds recently got a lesson on fire safety at Lighthouse Preschool of Wesley Chapel.
Several Pasco County firefighters offered tips to the children on what to do in case of a fire and when to call 911.
The children also had a chance to see a firefighter’s protective gear, along with demonstrations inside and outside of the fire engine.
Wiregrass Ranch High art contest
The Wiregrass Ranch High Parent Teacher Student Association and the National Parent Teacher Association are seeking art contest entries on the theme of The Magic of a Moment.
Entries are being accepted in a variety of media and art forms, including photography, visual arts, literature, film production, musical composition and dance choreography.
The deadline for entries is Nov. 2.
To download the rules and an entry form, visit wiregrassptsa.org/Reflections.html. For more information, email Jessica McNatt at .
IB family info nights
The Land O’ Lakes High International Baccalaureate Program is hosting three family information nights for prospective applicants seeking ninth grade admission in the 2013-2014 school year.
Parents of current eighth grade students are invited to attend one of these sessions:
–Nov. 1, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Land O’ Lakes High, 20325 Gator Lane, Land O’ Lakes
–Nov. 5, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Centennial Middle, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
–Nov. 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., John Long Middle, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Chuck Rushe golf classic raises funds for schools
The Chuck Rushe Fall Golf Classic Swing for the Kids raised more than $78,000 to support the Pasco Education Foundation.
The event was Oct. 1 at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club. Sponsors included Cutler Associates, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Foundation and Verizon. A special awards reception — sponsored by Ajax Building Corp. and CareHere in association with Crowne Group, Florida Blue and MedVision — followed the tournament to recognize our sponsors and event winners.
Emory graduate from Odessa
Kim Schippits has earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the graduate school of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Florida Prepaid college plans
Families have until Jan. 31 to purchase a Florida Prepaid plan, locking in today’s prices.
During the open enrollment season, families can select one of four prepaid
plans, which will cover tuition and most mandatory fees at Florida’s 12 state universities and 28 colleges. For more information, call (800) 552-4723 or visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com.
Hillsborough school employees get raises
The Hillsborough County School Board has approved pay increases for teachers, administrative support staff, nonrepresented employees and administrators.
Board members approved raises for instructional support employees in September. Eligible teachers, administrative support staff and administrators will advance one pay level, and all pay levels will increase by 1.5 percent. Eligible instructional support workers will advance two pay levels.
The negotiated settlement for teachers also includes $1,000 bonuses for National Board Certified teachers with 10 documented hours of mentoring or tutoring. Certain exceptional student education teachers also will be eligible for $500 bonuses.
Raising funds for the arts
Eric Darius and the Eric Darius Jazz Quartet will present a benefit concert for The Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the performing arts center, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel. Tickets are $10. Call the box office at (813) 794-8772 to order tickets or for more details.
Truer picture on school performance
If you want to know about the performance of public schools in Florida, information from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Education Consumers Foundation may be helpful.
The organization aims to improve education by making the facts of local school performance understandable to local parents and taxpayers.
The organization has used data from the Florida Department of Education to create charts to allow people to see how schools perform in comparison to others. To learn more, visit www.education-consumers.org.
Contest for architecture students
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects are sponsoring a public service video contest for architecture students throughout the state.
The contest provides cash prizes to the teams who produce the best videos about the unlicensed practice of architecture. It aims to engage the student community in an issue that impacts their profession while educating consumers on the dangers of doing business with unlicensed professionals.
The first-place team will win $500 and the two runners-up teams will receive $250 each.
To enter the contest, students in teams of up to six people must create a video 30 seconds or less about the unlicensed practice of architecture and the risk of using unlicensed architects in building design. The deadline for entries is midnight Nov. 12.
At least 50 percent of a team’s contestants must currently be pursuing education for professional licensure in architecture. Entries can be submitted through the contest website, www.myfloridalicense.com/studentPSAcontest.
Zephyrhills student citizens
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and numerous civic, business and community sponsors honored these students as being its October Student Citizens. The students are selected for the honor because they set an exceptional example for others.
October’s honorees are Shaina Cole of the Broach School; Jalisa Rhoden of Chester Taylor Elementary; Ian Vardiman of East Pasco Adventist Academy; Josie Jividen of Heritage Academy; Sadye Brown of Stewart Middle; Pranjel Patel of West Zephyrhills Elementary; Shelby McGowan of Woodland Elementary; Joel Rice of Zephyrhills Christian Academy; Noah Davis of Zephyrhills High.
