Search Results for: Sanders Elementary School

Land O’ Lakes’ Hall of Fame adds members

June 14, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation inducted five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame during a dinner ceremony May 25.

The inductees for the 2017 class were: Allen Claggett Jr., a longtime varsity football and track coach; Desiree Croteau, a varsity softball pitcher in the late ’90s; Michael Keough, a standout three-sport athlete in the mid ’70s; Doug Hutchinson, a longtime athletics volunteer; and, Stephen Querns, the starting quarterback for Land O’ Lakes High’s first district football championship in 1978.

The ceremony marked the school’s fifth Hall of Fame induction class, which began in 2013 after the Gators Athletics Foundation was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

William Floyd, a former NFL fullback and current color radio analyst for Florida State University football, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

The foundation’s purpose is to “raise funds through donations and fundraising events for the direct benefit of the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes High School.”

Funds raised through the booster club are currently being allocated to build an athletic field house at the school, perhaps within the next five years.

Hall of Fame bios

Allen Claggett Jr. (Coach/Administrator)
Claggett moved to Land O’ Lakes in 1971 when Sanders Elementary experienced a hiring spree. There, he taught language arts and coached football for sixth-graders through eighth-graders. He joined Land O’ Lakes High in 1975, when it opened. He taught language arts and coached football and track until he retired in 2009. During his tenure, the Gators football program won 13 district titles, six conference titles, and made 17 playoff appearances. As head track coach, his teams won four district and four conference, and two county championships.

Desiree Croteau (Female Athlete)
Croteau (Class of ’97) excelled on the softball field as a pitcher, playing for former longtime Land O’ Lakes coach Jerry English. Croteau was named area player of the year in 1995 and 1997, and was a 1997 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star. She later played softball at Saint Leo University and earned induction into the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame. Croteau is now a corporal with the Tampa Police Department’s K-9 unit.

Michael Keough (Male Athlete)
Keough (Class of ’76) came to Land O’ Lakes High from St. Petersburg shortly after the school opened in 1975 after his father, Judge Lawrence Keough, was appointed to the Sixth Judicial Circuit in west Pasco County. Keough played football, basketball and track, earning All-Area honors in both football and basketball, including being named to the Tampa Tribune’s Class 2A, Section 2 All-Star Football Team as a first-team quarterback. He then earned an athletic scholarship to play football at Tennessee Technological University — the first student to do so from Land O’ Lakes High. He graduated from Tennessee Tech and earned a law degree from Stetson University. Today, he has his own law practice in New Port Richey.

Doug Hutchinson (Lifetime Service Award)
Hutchinson received the Lifetime Service Award for his volunteer efforts in supporting Land O’ Lakes High School athletic programs over the past 35 years. Over the years, Hutchinson has assisted the Land O’ Lakes Little League, Police Athletic League and the Land O’ Lakes Athletic Booster Club. He’s also acted as chairman for the local SwampFest event, sponsored by the LOLHS Boosters. While volunteering, Hutchinson was also a paramedic for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, earning recognition as Paramedic of the Year in 2009.

Stephen Querns (Posthumously Lifetime Achievement Award)
Querns was a standout both on and off the field. At Land O’ Lakes High, Querns played football and baseball, earning recognition on local All-Area teams for both sports. Querns also was starting quarterback for the school’s first district championship football team in 1978. Upon graduation, Querns stayed close to home to attend the University of Tampa on a baseball scholarship, later transferring to the University of South Florida where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Querns eventually worked for Johnson & Johnson, where his medical design work led to 13 U.S. patents and several European patents. Querns died at age 37 from cancer. His research and design work in the medical field, however, continues to help others.

Managing challenges faced by teens

February 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

From social media to social pressures, the challenges of a teen are unlikely to go away anytime soon.

The stresses aren’t going away for parents, either.

To help navigate those issues, the Steinbrenner High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) hosted its fifth annual “World of a Teen” program on Feb. 7, inside the school’s auditorium.

An estimated crowd of more than 250 people attended, according to Laura Lopresti, vice president of programs for Steinbrenner High PTSA.

Those attending came from numerous areas public high schools, middle schools, as well as a public elementary, a private school and a public charter school.

The fifth annual ‘World of a Teen’ program took place Feb. 7 at Steinbrenner High School. More than 250 parents and children attended. In 2016, the program received the ‘Department of Education Family and Community Involvement Exemplary Program Award’ from Hillsborough County Schools.
(Kevin Weiss)

The award-winning program featured a panel of eight experts, who discussed topics ranging from drug usage and social media habits, to picking the right college.

During the 90-minute event, parents and guardians filled out questions on notecards, which then were read anonymously to the panel.

The answers were forthright, and panelists had plenty of advice.

“I think that a lot of people left here with a lot of questions answered — parents and children— and I think it gave them a lot of content to talk about at home,” said Edgar Guzman, a Tampa-based attorney, one of the panelists.

Drug usage, especially marijuana, was a frequently broached topic.

The panelists’ message to the audience: Stay away.

Lynn Posyton, community relations specialist for Drug-Free World, said she’s noticed the substance being abused “more and more.”

It’s also becoming more hazardous, she said.

Posyton noted the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have increased over the past several decades. That’s the chemical that’s responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.

Bob LeVine, former chairman of the Harvard Schools Committee for the West Coast of Florida, was one of the panelists during the ‘World of a Teen’ program. He is the founder of Selective College Consulting, which assists families in the college admissions process.

“It’s not the weed of the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s,” she said. “THC in 1981 was 2 percent. Now, it’s 17 percent.”

That sharp level, she said, affects individuals differently.

“It’s getting crazier and crazier, and harder for a child to understand what’s right and what’s wrong in terms of drugs,” Posyton said. “The most important thing is education of what drugs are. If you’re going to do something, you should find out about it before you’re going to do it.

She added: “Don’t listen to the people that say it’s not affecting them; do you look inside and see what’s happening to your liver?”

Guzman, meanwhile, said he’s seen marijuana’s harsh effects from a legal standpoint.

“It’s very dangerous,” he said. “It’s not worth experimenting; it’s really for nothing.”

Deputy Bill Sanders, a school resource officer at Martinez Middle School, warned parents about vaporizers and e-cigarettes, where cannabis oil can be added and sometimes go unnoticed.

“There’s a lot of sneaky stuff out there, and unfortunately a lot of our kids know how to get them,” Sanders said.

He also has noticed that kids are trying things at younger ages.

“Our kids are experimenting and doing things every year at a younger and younger age,” Sanders said. “Things we might’ve done when we were younger—but not as young — they are doing at a younger age.”

The proliferation of smart devices and popular apps — Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram — doesn’t help.

Social media makes youth more vulnerable than ever, panelists agreed.

Michelle Gonzalez, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said her office is seeing a rise in online sexual exploitation and cyber bullying amongst teens.

Those matters are becoming tougher to monitor, as new apps and devices come online, she said.

Teens ought to think twice before sending an inappropriate photo, Gonzalez advised.

“It can get away from you,” she said. “Once you take a picture and send it, it’s out there.”

To combat problems, Gonzalez said parents must better supervise their children’s app usage and Internet activity.

That includes access to all passwords and encrypted information.

“There should be no privacy—they’re not adults,” she said.

Students, meanwhile, must be cautious with whom they’re interacting with online.

“There’s nothing to monitor how old the kids are, and there’s nothing to monitor how old people are that they’re talking to,” Gonzalez explained. “Don’t give out personal details.

“If you haven’t met them in real life, you don’t know who they’re talking to,” she said.

Deputy Sanders’ rule of thumb for teens: Only converse online with somebody you’ve met face-to-face, and have had a daily conversation with for a school year’s length of time.

“You really need to know who you’re talking to,” Sanders said. “Really know who you’re dealing with online.”

On a softer note, post-secondary education was another point of discussion, during the event.

Several questions were posed about the admissions process, along with the transition to higher learning.

Bob LeVine, former chairman of the Harvard Schools Committee for the West Coast of Florida, said it’s an important to find an environment where each student can flourish.

He pointed out students learn in different ways, from auditory and visual learning, to interactive learning.

Finding available offerings at targeted institutions is paramount, LeVine said.

“It’s not about getting into a school; it’s about succeeding when you get there,” he said.

LeVine later instructed parents to stop worrying about what schools want, and focus instead on what “inspires and develops” children in the “best possible way.”

Additionally, overstressing about grade point average or exclusively taking advanced courses can be counterproductive, he said.

“The academics is important, but they will also weight things differently—sports, volunteering, family activities,” LeVine said. “Colleges want to see students undertake challenges, but not all the challenges.”

Panelist agreed it’s essential for parents and teens to maintain open lines of communication.

“Hiding, being quiet, or walking way isn’t the answer,” Guzman said.

Published February 15, 2017

Chalk Talk 01/18/2017

January 18, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Setting a course for future teachers
Representatives from Saint Leo University traveled to Washington D.C., to participate in a briefing at the White House for college educators specializing in teacher preparation. The school’s Education Department was recognized for its success in preparing future teachers to use educational technology effectively in kindergarten to 12th-grade classrooms. From left are Holly Atkins; Vanessa Hilton, Pasco County Schools’ administration team and adjunct at Saint Leo; Candace Roberts; and, Stacie Dunmire, Saint Leo graduate from Land O’ Lakes and new teacher in Hernando County.

Countryside Montessori open house
Countryside Montessori Charter School, 5852 Ehren Cut-Off in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house for the 2017-2018 school year on Jan. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., for first to eighth grade. Guests can tour the campus, and meet the teachers and staff.

For information, call (813) 996-0991.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

All properly completed applications will be entered into a lottery. Families will be notified of acceptance status by mid-February, so those who are not accepted have time to complete the traditional school choice open enrollment application between Feb. 1 and March 1.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

Gaither band fundraiser
The Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival II will be on Jan. 28 from noon to 5 p.m., at Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Northdale, to raise money to send the band students to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, in April.

Admission is free. Parking is $5.

For vendor information, email . For general information, call (813) 562-9599.

Cox Elementary celebrates 90
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, has rescheduled its second celebration for its 90th anniversary. It now is scheduled for March 5, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a dinner fundraiser and a Memory Walk featuring photographs through the eras of the school’s history.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

Conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish classes will be offered on Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., at Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills, from Feb. 1 to March 8. The cost is $10 per lesson.

There is a $60 fee per student that includes class materials. There will be an optional field trip on March 9 to a local restaurant.

Learn to exchange brief greetings, communicate with home or yard helpers, and order at restaurants.

Participants also will learn basic knowledge of Cuban and Mexican foods, and learn more than 200 common words.

For information, call (813) 703-5684, or email .

Seeking scholarship applications
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts is now accepting applications for the 2017 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarship Program, open to high school juniors and seniors in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The program provides financial support to Tampa Bay students to help them pursue higher education in the arts.

Each year, TBBCA awards $15,000 to six Tampa Bay area students based on merit and artistic ability, in the fields of instrumental music, vocal music, theater, dance, visual arts and literary arts. The scholarship can be used for tuition at the college, university or professional arts training program of the student’s choice.

Applications can be downloaded at TBBCA.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships. For an email copy of application, contact Susana Weymouth at .

There is no fee to apply.

The deadline for the completed application packet is Feb. 20. Winners will be announced in April.

Marchman offers ASE testing
Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will now offer ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification testing, available for automotive service technology, automotive collision and repair students; and, automotive professionals in Pasco, Hillsborough, Citrus and Pinellas counties.

Prior to scheduling an exam at Marchman’s assessment center, candidates must create a MyASE account at ASE.com. After registering and paying for exams, the exam can be scheduled at www.FKMTC.edu. A state-issued ID and an ASE eligibility ID must be presented on the day of the exam.

The current registration window ends on Feb. 24.

For information, contact Michael Andujar at (727) 774-1861 or .

Chalk Talk 01/11/2017

January 11, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Centennial STEM info nights
Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School in Dade City will host these upcoming parent information nights at 6 p.m.:

Jan. 12 at Centennial STEM Middle Magnet, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
Jan. 17 at John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Jan. 19 at Chester Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills

For information, contact Rick Saylor at (813) 794-9700 or .

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses:
Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school.

To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

Diocesan STEM Fair
The Diocese of St. Petersburg will host its first Diocesan STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Fair on Jan. 14 at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill.

More than 100 students from across the diocese will participate in the fair.

Public viewing of the projects will be from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 3 p.m.

For information, call Ross Bubolz at (727) 347-8622.

For information, call (813) 996-0991.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

Cox Elementary celebrates 90
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, will host a second celebration for its 90th anniversary on Jan. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a dinner fundraiser and a Memory Walk featuring photographs through the eras of the school’s history.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

The current registration window ends on Feb. 24.

For information, contact Michael Andujar at (727) 774-1861 or .

There is a $60 fee per student that includes class materials. There will be an optional field trip on March 9 to a local restaurant.

Learn to exchange brief greetings, communicate with home or yard helpers, and order at restaurants.

Participants also will learn basic knowledge of Cuban and Mexican foods, and learn more than 200 common words.

For information, call (813) 703-5684, or email .

Saint Leo receives military award
Saint Leo University has been named a Top 10 Gold-level Military Friendly School Award recipient for large, private institutions of 2017.

Saint Leo was ranked third in the nation in its category, and one of the “best of the best,” according to Victor Media.

More than 5,000 veterans attend classes at Saint Leo University at University Campus, at its more than 40 education centers and offices in seven states, and online.

Nearly 4,500 active-duty military members are enrolled around the world, said Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and Saint Leo University president, in a release.

For information, contact Pamela Martis, director of military affairs and services, at (352) 588-8234 or .

Chalk Talk 01/04/2017

January 4, 2017 By Mary Rathman

Centennial STEM info nights
Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School in Dade City will host these upcoming parent information nights at 6 p.m.:

Jan. 10 at Thomas Weightman Middle School, 30649 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel
Jan. 12 at Centennial STEM Middle Magnet, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
Jan. 17 at John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Jan. 19 at Chester Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills

For information, contact Rick Saylor at (813) 794-9700 or .

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses:

Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school.

To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

More than 100 students from across the diocese will participate in the fair.

Public viewing of the projects will be from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 3 p.m.

For information, call Ross Bubolz at (727) 347-8622.

Wiregrass students score superiors
Troupe 7142 from Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel recently took part in the district Thespians Festival. Troupe 7142 is an honor component of the school, and its purpose is to advance the standards of theater excellence. The troupe encourages students to attain a better mastery of theater arts and rewards those who achieve it with induction into the honor society.

The following troupe members received superior ratings at the festival:

Vanessa Converse, makeup and scene design
Vanessa Taylor, monologue
Willy Chrispin, solo musical
Emma Weiss, solo musical

In addition, the troupe also received six excellent ratings and three good ratings.

For information, call (813) 996-0991.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

Association of Florida Colleges recognizes PHSC
Pasco-Hernando State College received the Association of Florida Colleges’ Excellence in Technology Award, 2016 Best Practice Award of Merit, and Communications and Marketing Commission Awards of Excellence.

The AFC recognizes outstanding programs and services each year that are established to serve students at local colleges.

PHSC’s academic technology and student activities departments were awarded second place for the TechCon student event. TechCon allows students to experience various technologies and learn strategies to be successful in the classroom and beyond.

The day-long event took place at each of the schools’ five campuses, and focused on the use of technologies that encourage students to solve problems, think critically, conduct research, analyze data and communicate ideas.

The PHSC East Campus received the practice award for its STEM Night event, designed to facilitate local pre-collegiate and college students’ interest in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

And, the PHSC Marketing and Communications Office received its awards of excellence for internet advertising, annual report publication and the college’s biannual Perspective magazine.

Chalk Talk 12/28/2016

December 28, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Land O’ Lakes grad passes board examination
U.S. Navy Lt.j.g. Arthur Rano Mapugay, of Land O’ Lakes, passed the board examinations for professional mechanical engineers, taken in Chicago, Illinois. Mapugay is currently stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Mapugay is an alumnus of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2014 and a graduate of the IB Program at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Fire Academy recognizes graduates
Pasco-Hernando State College had a Fire Academy graduation ceremony recognizing 11 graduates with fire fighter certificates on Dec. 9 at the East Campus in Dade City. Launched in August 2016, the Fire Academy graduates included 11 cadets who completed two eight-week Fire Fighter courses and one cadet who completed a volunteer fire fighter certificate. Front row, from left: Austin Ruzycki (esprit de corps award), Thomas D’Ascanio (class leader), John Barranco, Anthony Schifini and Dalton Flowers (outstanding student). Back row, from left: Kyle Forchion, Kevin Fisher, Shawn Roper, Pantelis Krouskos and Phillip Burrill. Not pictured: Barry Lovett and Kobie Holmes (volunteer certificate).

Junior Scholars fundraiser
Shred360 will provide paper shredding services on Jan. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Muvico Starlight 20, 18002 Highwoods Preserve Parkway in Tampa, to support the Junior Scholars of America Chapter at John Long Middle School (the only middle school chapter in the United States).

The event will help raise money for the students to attend and compete in the Winter Congress in Washington D.C. All monetary donations during the event will support the JSA students.

Guests can bring up to three boxes or bags per vehicle. Binders, clips, rubber bands, wire folders, CDs and DVDs do not have to be separated or removed from documents.

For information, call (813) 944-2223, or visit Shred360.com/Tampa.

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses: Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school.

To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

For information, call (813) 996-0991.

Elisabeth Derby joins prestigious band
Elisabeth Derby, of Lutz, has become a member of the prestigious “Sound of the South” Marching Band at Troy University in Alabama.

The band is a precision collegiate ensemble that has developed a national reputation for its quality musicianship, and its exciting arrangements and innovative field productions.

“Sound of the South” is the largest student organization on campus, with more than 300 members each semester.

Band members have represented almost every organization on campus, maintaining leadership positions in the fields of academia, student government, athletics and other areas of campus life.

Local student news
Gianna N. Basulto, of Land O’ Lakes, has been named to the Dean’s List at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have earned a 3.5 GPA or higher, on a 4.0 scale, with 12 credit hours or more and no incomplete grades at the time the list is declared.

Sean Garvey, of Lutz, has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Lynn Keller, of Odessa, has been selected for Samford University’s chapter of Chi Omega. Keller graduated from J.W. Mitchell High School, and is a freshman finance major.

Saint Leo partners with It’s On Us
Saint Leo University has partnered with It’s On Us, a national campaign aimed at changing the culture surrounding campus sexual assault.

As a proud It’s On Us Campus Innovation Partner School, Saint Leo is committed to upholding and implementing the three pillars of the campaign: support for survivors of sexual violence, bystander intervention and consent education.

Through the program, the university will work with campaign staff and the school’s student leaders to create sustainable and institutionalized change on the campus.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

PHSC Foundation fundraiser
The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation will host its second annual Sporting Clays Tournament on Jan. 27 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes.

Participants will receive 50 targets, a team cart, lunch, beverages, an awards banquet dinner, official tournament apparel, ammunition and more.

Sponsors and teams will be recognized in promotional materials, including the PHSC website, publications and event program.

For tournament information and sponsorship opportunities, call (727) 816-3410, or visit PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

Chalk Talk 12/21/2016

December 21, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Karla Lopez, left, alongside Samantha Roja Gill, models the team’s winning entry at the Trashy Flashy Fashion Show, which promoted recycling, upcycling and repurposing waste materials.
(Courtesy of Michael Ruso)

From trashy to flashy
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful presented its fourth annual Trashy Flashy Fashion Show showcasing 53 designs, all made from at least 75 percent recycled materials. The fashion show allowed students to take what they have learned either in the classroom, or through the educational presentations of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and upcycle their waste into a wearable piece of art for the runway.

Four awards each were given to middle/high school designers and the other to college/adult designers of Best Use of Materials, Most Wearable, Avant Garde Fashion, and Top Design.

Wharton High School students Amaani Badet, Bayan Odeh, Michelle St. Paul, Karla Lopez and Samantha Roja Gill were winners in the Most Wearable Fashion category for middle/high school. The students used yarn, ribbon, water bottles, bottle caps, straw and newspaper to create their design.

Golf tournament raises more than $120,000
The Pasco Education Foundation’s 17th annual “Swing for the Kids” Fall Golf Classic raised more than $120,000 to support the foundation’s mission to advance student achievement in Pasco County’s public schools.

Since its inception in 2000, the Pasco Education Foundation’s golf classic continues to grow and is a significant fundraiser for the organization’s initiatives.

Future teachers teach seniors citizens
The River Ridge High School New Teacher Academy students took part in “Generational Learning Day” on Dec. 16, by teaching participating senior citizens technology skills, and providing them with resources for internet usage, social media access and identity theft protection.

Students also will teach the seniors how to take selfies, use mobile calendars and speech to text software, and other applications.

The learning day aims to promote inter-generational interaction and technology understanding.

For information, call Beth Hess at (727) 774-7200.

Carrollwood Day School open houses
Carrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host two open houses: Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m., for elementary school; and, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., for high school. To RSVP, visit budurl.com/CDSRSVP16.

Magnet application period
The Pasco County Schools magnet application period ends on Jan. 20.

Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of the specialized magnet programs, can find out more information and complete an application at PascoSchools.org/ed_choice/magnet.

Pasco County Schools’ magnet options include Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary Magnet School, Centennial STEM Middle Magnet School and Bayonet Point STEM Middle Magnet School.

Families who do not have computer access, can complete applications at their local school or public library.

Participants will receive 50 targets, a team cart, lunch, beverages, an awards banquet dinner, official tournament apparel, ammunition and more.

Sponsors and teams will be recognized in promotional materials, including the PHSC website, publications and event program.

For tournament information and sponsorship opportunities, call (727) 816-3410, or visit PHSC.edu/foundation/events.

For information, call (727) 774-5100.

Best colleges in Florida
OnlineColleges.com, a website that provides information about top online colleges and degree programs by featuring school rankings, program guides and career outlooks, has ranked the top 10 schools in Florida for online programs or classes as follows:

Petersburg College
Saint Leo University
Daytona State College
Broward College
University of Florida
Seminole State College of Florida
Florida State College at Jacksonville
University of Central Florida
Eastern Florida State College
College of Central Florida

Students can view the schools with the highest overall score, can filter schools by tuition, school type, religious affiliation, military benefits and more.

Using technology to enrich learning

July 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

There was a quiet buzz around the room, as teachers conferred with their colleagues.

They were working in teams, planning projects they will use in the coming year that will infuse technology into their daily teaching.

The 20 teachers, from across Pasco County, were part of the Teacher Technology Summer Institute that recently wrapped up at the University of Saint Leo, near Dade City.

Kristen Fuqua and Alyse Buckalew, teachers at Pine View Middle School, both took part in the Teacher Technology Summer Institute at Saint Leo University. The institute aims to help teachers harness the power of technology in their classrooms. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Kristen Fuqua and Alyse Buckalew, teachers at Pine View Middle School, both took part in the Teacher Technology Summer Institute at Saint Leo University. The institute aims to help teachers harness the power of technology in their classrooms.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They were there on their own time — eager to learn how they can take advantage of technology to improve student learning.

In selecting teachers for the technology institute, the university wasn’t looking for evidence of “tech wizardry” in the applications, said Holly Atkins, associate professor of education at Saint Leo. Rather, it was seeking “teachers who are very student-centered, and really eager and open to learning more.”

Saint Leo fully understands the value of infusing technology in classrooms, Atkins said.

“We have a foundation of people who have the idea that the best use of technology is when it moves from the teacher’s hands to the students, so that they are engaged and they are creating,” she said.

“We not only encourage, we require, our student teachers to really become proficient at using the technology,” Atkins said.

But, the university has noticed it students often face a different scenario when they begin their student teacher experiences.

“Some of these students (student teachers) said, ‘My teacher doesn’t know how to use the tools. My teacher doesn’t let me use the tools,’” Atkins said.

The technology institute is part of the university’s service to the community, Atkins said.

“But, it also serves our education department and our own students, because the teachers that are in there (the institute) right now, almost all of them have received clinical instructor training. This enables them to host a student teacher,” Atkins said.

Teachers at the institute each could choose a technological tool to take back to their classroom. Their options were a class set of Virtual Reality headsets, a Microsoft Surface Pro, an iPad or a MimeoTeach, which is a toolbar that turns any whiteboard into an interactive whiteboard.

The institute addresses the four elements that teachers need to be successful at infusing technology into their teaching, Atkins said.

Teachers need the technological tool, they need training, they need time to practice using it and they need teams — so they can encourage and help each other enhance their skills.

“A teacher’s toolbox today should be broadening, rather than shrinking,” Atkins said. “So, it should be filled with chart paper and markers and all that good stuff, and also iPads and interactive whiteboards. It’s not an ‘either/or’ it’s an ‘and.’,” she said.

Like any other tool, technology needs to be used when it’s appropriate, Atkins said.

“So, just like any kind of skilled craftsman, the accomplished teacher looks at student learning needs, opens up his or her toolbox and says, ‘What’s the best tool to make this happen?’”

Atkins said.

This year’s crop of 20 teachers came from schools including Pine View Middle School, Pine View Elementary and Sanders Memorial S.T.E.A.M. Magnet Elementary in Land O’ Lakes and Quail Hollow Elementary in Wesley Chapel.

They were enthusiastic about the opportunity to build on their technological skills.

“Being at Sanders, we’re very fortunate. We already have a 1-to-1 ratio with devices,” said Megan Bender, a third-grade teacher.

But she was delighted to learn more about various apps and websites, and to hear the creative approaches used by other teachers.

“Getting all of these ideas is so exciting,” Bender said.

Mitzi Whitaker, another Sanders teacher, noted that both teachers and students came to the magnet school from across Pasco County.

So, they arrived there with various levels of technical knowledge, Whitaker said.

Even with a year of experience behind them, technology is constantly evolving, she said.

“We’re going to always be changing up our game,” Whitaker said.

This is the third year that Saint Leo has hosted the technology institute, which was paid for with grants the first two years and from the university’s budget this year.

The university also added a Teacher Technology Leadership Institute, also paid for through university funds.

The leadership institute involved 10 teachers who had completed the technology institute, Atkins said.

As part of their leadership development, those teachers will serve as mentors during the coming school year to the teachers who just finished the technology institute.

The teachers in the technology institute will be conducting a research project throughout the school year, measuring the success of a particular technology tool in connection with student learning.

They’ll convene at the the end of the school year to see how the research went.

Jennifer Ippolito and Desi Krell, teachers at Pine View Middle, welcomed the chance to work on teams for the research.

They said they already work together on projects, and the institute has helped them take that collaboration to the next level.

Julie Saez, a teacher at Watergrass Elementary School, was thrilled when she was selected to be part of the leadership institute.

She said she knew it would be worthwhile because of her positive experience at the technology institute.

“The collaboration with everybody was exactly what I needed,” she added, noting that she formed lasting friendships and established valuable professional relationships.

“We’re like-minded people — always looking for new, upcoming technology,” Saez said.

Published July 13, 2016

Brick roads preserve a sense of history

May 25, 2016 By Doug Sanders

When four people tripped and fell during Dade City’s Church Street Christmas celebration in 2000, the incident triggered an unexpected outcome.

The strollers were enjoying a holiday outing when they stumbled across holes in the street where asphalt paving had worn through to the brick street beneath.

This company logo is frequently found on the brick streets in Dade City. In 1933, the Southern Clay Manufacturing Company had contracts with Miami, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and St. Petersburg. At least 80,000 bricks were made daily for streets. The company also made fire and chemical bricks, clay sewer pipe, various construction bricks and telephone line conduit.
(Photos courtesy of Doug Sanders)

The city’s director of public works, Ron Ferguson, reported at a January 2001 City Commission meeting that no one was injured.

But, what to do about the holes in the street?

According to records obtained from Angie Guy, Dade City’s city clerk, a consensus was reached.
The city’s historic preservation advisory board recommended that city crews “strip asphalt from Church Avenue” and make repairs with salvaged brick and new brick, if necessary, “to significantly enhance historic preservation in Dade City.”

The City Commission agreed to the brick restoration “after considerable discussion and on recommendation of staff.”

Removing the asphalt without damaging the bricks would prove to be no easy task, according to a St. Petersburg Times report from some 16 years ago.

“With all the work that has to be done just on a daily basis, we did not think we could do it,” Ferguson told the newspaper.

On April 5, 2001, the city started a “pilot program” with five city employees, a Bobcat Skill loader, a Caterpillar backhoe, a 10-yard dump truck, and some improvised hand tools.

In his progress report to the City Commission, Ferguson indicated that a 2-inch layer of asphalt had been cleared on Church Avenue from Eighth Street to 17th Street.

Work was done “after 9:30 a.m., to allow school traffic time to leave the area,” Ferguson’s report said.

Stanley Burnside, born in 1920, and his father Archie Burnside, served a combined total of 17 terms as the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The younger Burnside graduated from Pasco High School in 1937.

Additional equipment was needed to clean “fine pieces of crushed asphalt and dirt” by using a tractor equipped with a water tank and the city’s street sweeper.

It cost a total of $4,133.78 to expose the layer of red bricks that had been laid more than 70 years ago.

Each one of the bricks was from the Southern Clay Manufacturing Company, in Robbins, Tennessee.

Ninety-six-year-old Stanley Burnside lives near Church Avenue, which is the only street in Pasco County designated a national historic site.

To him, the brick streets bring back memories of a different era when people were riding in Model-T Fords and Warren G. Harding was the 29th President of the United States.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Burnside agreed to walk the two blocks from his townhome in downtown Dade City to the corner of 12th Street and Meridian Avenue.

Standing at the same spot as he did in 1927, he is photographed with Rodney B. Cox Elementary School over his right shoulder.

“I was 7 years old, but I still remember them laying down the brick by hand,” Burnside recalled.

From Meridian Avenue heading north, the brickwork was laid without any mortar and was headed straight to what was then the Dade City Grammar School, at the far end of 12th Street.

Burnside often walks past this same corner on his daily walks, which sometimes gives him time to think about the brick streets in Dade City.

“You might say they last forever,” says Burnside, who celebrated his 96th birthday on May 23.

Over the years, maintaining the brick streets has posed its share of challenges.

City Manager Ben Bolan described some of them in a 1988 interview with The Tampa Tribune.

Because of the difficulty in finding skilled labor to do the maintenance work, Bolan recommended that Fifth Street and 10th Street be repaved, due to sections of those brick streets being uneven, creating a potential hazard, if drivers didn’t slow down.

But, the consensus of the City Commission was the same then as it was for Church Avenue.

“(The Commission’s) general philosophy is that there will never be another brick street paved over in Dade City,” Bolan was quoted by the newspaper 28 years ago.

And, to this day, there hasn’t been.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at

Chalk Talk 01/27/2016

January 27, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Lacoochee students to learn street hockey
The East Pasco Family YMCA in Zephyrhills has partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and JP Morgan Chase for “Street Lightning Presented by Chase Bank” on Jan. 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., inside the Y’s gymnasium.

Up to 80 students from Lacoochee Elementary School will participate in the program that teaches the rules of hockey, team participation, teamwork and sportsmanship. Math and science also will be worked into the lessons.

Pasco Honor Choir Concert
The Pasco Honor Choir Concert will take place Jan. 30 at 2 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Performing Arts Center, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.
The concert will feature both the middle and high school Honor Choirs.

Land O’ Lakes Christian open house
Land O’ Lakes Christian School, 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house on Jan. 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For information, call Melissa Ackerson at (813) 995-9040.

Application deadline for STEM magnet schools is Jan. 31
The application period for Pasco County Schools’ two new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) middle magnet schools — Bayonet Point and Centennial — ends Jan. 31. The deadline for Sanders is the same day.

Applicants can access the application on the district website at PascoSchools.org, by clicking on the banner for the two STEM middle magnet schools. Families should complete a separate application for each child.

Student selection will be based on a randomized lottery. Those selected for acceptance into a magnet school will be notified on Feb. 12. The offer to accept a school invitation will be sent via email, and families will have six business days to respond. Invitations will be sent until all available magnet seats are filled.

Saint Leo mathematics contest
Saint Leo University will host the free American Mathematics Contest on Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m., for students in ninth and 10th grade. The contestants will be asked to solve problems using algebra and geometry concepts, within a 75-minute timeframe. The 25 questions will be presented in a multiple-choice format.

The competition is sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America to identify, encourage and reward interest in math.

To participate, email Monika Kiss at , with “AMC” in the subject line.

The test will take place in TECO Hall, in the Donald R. Tapia School of Business building, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

CDS to host TEDx event
Carrrollwood Day School, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, will host “TEDxCarrollwoodDaySchool” on Feb. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, in the CDS theater. The theme of the event is “Create, Engage, Innovate.”

TED (technology, entertainment, design) is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. The speakers will include inspiring adults and students.

All CDS middle and high school students will attend the event. A limited number of guest tickets are available to the community, on a first- come, first- served basis. Admission is free, but reservations are required.

For information and tickets, visit CarrollwoodDaySchool.org, and click on the “community” link.

Open house at St. Anthony’s
St. Anthony Catholic School, 32902 St. Anthony Way (formerly Massachusetts Avenue) in San Antonio, will host an open house Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For information, call (352) 588-3041.

Steinbrenner hosts teen panel
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, will host “The World of a Teen” on Feb. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium.

A panel of experts will touch on the challenges facing today’s teens, including dating, drugs, alcohol, stress, social media, peer pressure and more.

There also will be a general PTSA meeting at 5:30 p.m., preceding the program.

Free math circle program
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, is offering its free, weekly Math Circle program for area middle and high school students. The program includes hands-on activities that engage young people and help them sustain an enthusiasm for mathematics.

Sessions are on Thursdays, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., through May 12 in Lewis Hall, Room 207. There will be no class on March 17, due to Spring Break.

For information, contact Monika Kiss at (352) 588-8836 or .

Chamber honors students
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has supported more than 1,500 students for more than 15 years with the help of its business and school partners.

These students and programs were recognized in November and December.

Turn Around Student Program, Denham Oaks Elementary School; Gabriella Kokoszka, Lake Myrtle Elementary; Jeff Weight, Land O’ Lakes Christian; Hailey Stircker, Oakstead Elementary; Arjay Todd and Jayden Waynick, Odessa Elementary; Tabitha Vinson, Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School; Leroygotti Thomas, Shady Hills Elementary; Kayla Lamb, Charles S. Rushe Middle; Kyle Clark, Pepin Academy Pasco; Jarell Caballer, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High; Bethashley Cajuste, Land O’ Lakes High; Peer Mediator Program, Pine View Elementary; #IBStrong, Pine View Middle; and Connerton Elementary, Sunlake High and Odessa Christian.