Pasco County Schools has expanded its list of educational choices for elementary school children living east of U.S. 41 by adding the Cambridge Programme at San Antonio Elementary School.
The program is an advanced academics program, which means it has a more rigorous curriculum and is taught at a faster pace.
(B.C. Manion)
The district is adding this program, which will help prepare students who are entering the Cambridge Secondary 1 Programme, already offered at Pasco Middle School, and the Cambridge Secondary 2 and Cambridge Advanced programs, already offered at Pasco High School.
The University of Cambridge began the Cambridge Programme more than 150 years ago, with 370 candidates in seven English cities.
Since then, the program has expanded to include more than 8 million candidates in 160 countries.
The program seeks to develop learners who are reflective, confident, engaged, responsible and innovative, according to a PowerPoint presentation shown to interested parents at a meeting on Feb. 23 at Wesley Chapel Elementary School.
Applications for the programs at Pasco Middle and Pasco High are already closed for this year, but the elementary program is accepting applications, said Kimberly Anderson, principal of San Antonio Elementary School.
Anyone interested must complete the application by March 16. A timed writing test will be given at the elementary school on March 17. The times for the test will vary, based on the student’s age.
The program has made provisions to ensure that academically gifted students will work with academically gifted teachers. Gifted certified teachers will work with Cambridge teachers, and gifted teachers will meet monthly with students to monitor their progress toward their goals.
Pasco County Schools will provide transportation to children who will be transferring to San Antonio Elementary, through the use of satellite bus stops. Stop locations haven’t been determined yet.
Cambridge’s mission statement, in part, reads: “We prepare students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. Our programs and qualifications set the global standard for international education.”
A brochure distributed by Pasco County Schools says the Cambridge approach supports schools to develop learners who are:
- Confident in working with information and ideas – their own and others
- Responsible for themselves, responsible to and respectful of others
- Innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
- Engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference
By adding the program at San Antonio Elementary, students on the east side of U.S. 41 will now have an opportunity to pursue the Cambridge Programme at elementary, middle and high school levels.
Cambridge advanced level courses are considered to be equivalent to the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate program classes, and Cambridge students can earn up to 45 hours of college credits.
Students receiving an AICE diploma through Cambridge and completing 100 hours of community service qualify for the maximum Florida Academic Scholar tuition scholarship.
Students who do not attend a Pasco County public school or charter school are asked to have the main office at their school send a grade history (transcript) and standardized assessment score history to:
Ms. Kimberly Anderson, principal of San Antonio Elementary School, 32416 Darby Road Dade City, Florida 33525.
The school will send out acceptance notifications in April.
If there are too many qualified candidates, a lottery system will be used.
Deadline for applying is March 16. Applications are available on San Antonio Elementary School’s website, SAES.pasco.k12.fl.us.
Applicants also must complete a timed writing sample on March 17 in the media center at San Antonio Elementary, 32416 Darby Road in Dade City.
The timed writing samples will be done for incoming first-graders at 9:30 a.m., and incoming second- through fifth-graders at 12:30 p.m. The writing sample is not something that requires study or preparation by students.
Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration, and alternate writing dates are available by contacting Principal Kimberly Anderson at (352) 524-5300.
While students are completing their writing sample, parents are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments in the school’s cafeteria.
Published March 8, 2017
