Thursday, April 4, 2013
The new academic year begins Aug. 20 for Westchase students.
Westchase parents hoping to get a jump on planning activities around next year's Hillsborough County school calendar are in luck. The school district has released its list of important dates for the 2013-14 school year. As a bonus, it’s also released a tentative academic calendar dates for 2014-15. This school year (2012-13) ends Friday, June 7, 2013 with a release time that’s 2 ½ hours earlier than normal. Students only have one more day off before the year ends. That's Monday, May 27 in honor of Memorial Day, according to the district's website. Here’s the calendar for 2013-14: For more information about the 2013-14 academic calendar or to get a sneak peek at the dates for 2014-15, visit the school district's website.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Time is running out for students who want to obtain their GED using Florida’s old version of the test.
Westchase residents who want to get their GEDs might want to act soon before the state changes the test and its associated fees. The state’s current 2002 Series GED test runs its course at the end of 2013. Starting Jan. 2, 2014, students will have to take the new, more costly 2014 GED if they want to gain their high school credentials through this alternative means. Students who have taken the current version of the test but failed to pass all five parts need to sign up for retakes before 2013 ends, too. Those who don’t will find themselves having to take the entire 2014 test and pay the higher fees, according to a media release from Hillsborough County Public Schools. The cost to take the 2002 series test is $70. The new version will cost…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The hunt is on for professionals to fill several hundred open positions in time for the 2013-14 school year.
As nearby counties enact hiring freezes, Hillsborough County Schools are putting out help wanted signs. Superintendent MaryEllen Elia told Hillsborough School Board members Tuesday the district has activated its online registration for potential hires. “Hiring good teachers is a year round job,” Elia said. “We’re working very hard to have information available on our website so they (candidates) know what the process is.” The Hillsborough district plays host to a new teacher week annually and tries to have most of its new hires in place by then, she said. It also plays host to an annual job fair in June where multiple applicants can interview for open positions. According to the district's website, there are 150 instructional positions …
Monday, December 17, 2012
A stray bullet found on a Hillsborough County bus led to students at three schools being questioned this morning.
In the wake of Friday’s shootings in Newtown, Conn., Hillsborough County school and law enforcement officials announced they were taking no chances in regard to student safety. That’s why all Hillsborough County schools, including those in the Westchase area, are on modified lockdown this week. That’s also why a stray bullet found on a bus that serves children at Turner Elementary, Liberty Middle and Wharton High caused so much concern this morning. The school district notified the media this morning that a bullet had been found on a bus and an investigation was under way to determine how it got there. Students at all three New Tampa schools who rode that particular bus were questioned. Backpacks and lockers were also searched. Police …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
School officials want to increase the presence of security and have school psychologists on hand as a precaution, in the wake of the Connecticut elementary school shootings Friday.
Additional police officers and security guards will be assigned to Hillsborough County schools Monday, officials announced. Hillsborough County school officials are taking the measures in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings Friday that killed 20 young students and six adults inside the Sandy Hook elementary school. Hillsborough School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia is sending out an automated phone message today to notify parents of Monday’s plans. There have been no threats made against any Hillsborough County school. The goal is to increase the visibility and presence of security and school resource officers as a precaution. “Also, the head of psychological services has been sharing tips with principals and has made plans for…
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Seffner residents arrived at 2 p.m. to get a spot in the front of the line.
Three Hillsborough County School District employees arrived at Land O' Lakes High School at 2 p.m. Saturday to make sure they were among the first inside for Mitt Romney rally. "We know we need to get (President Barack) Obama out," Donna Posey said. "This country can't last another four years with him." Posey and her husband, Robert, of Seffner, said they wanted to avoid the lines and ensure they got a good spot once inside, she said. The Poseys were joined by friend and former colleague Kathy Giel of Seminole Heights, a retired Hillsborough school district employee. And while they were waiting patiently at the front of the line to enter John Benedetto Stadium, where gates opened at about 4:30 p.m., about a dozen members of the Pasco …
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Tropical Storm Debby won’t create a long weekend for students.
The Hillsborough County School District has announced that all summer school programs and HOST sites will be open tomorrow despite the heavy storms that have moved through the area over the weekend. According to a media release, the district intends to conduct business as usual on Monday, June 25. School buses are also expected to run their standard summer routes, as well. “Due to the heavy rains and flooding in some areas of the county during the weekend, the school district is asking that parents exercise their own judgment about whether to send their child to summer school, based on conditions in their area of the county,” the release said. Do you know of any closings? Let us know in the comments section.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Brice Stevenson from Citrus Park Elementary submitted "Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog Dessert" to win the Hillsborough County Public Schools Department of Student Nutrition Services/Radio Disney first student recipe challenge.
A Citrus Park Elementary first grader scored the winning dessert in a school district-wide competition, school officials announced. Brice Stevenson from Citrus Park Elementary submitted "Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog Dessert" to win the Hillsborough County Public Schools Department of Student Nutrition Services/Radio Disney first student recipe challenge. Brice was one of three to win out of 30 recipes submitted. His dessert was a nutritious snack using fresh fruits like kiwi, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, and angel food cake to resemble a hot dog and fries. The other winners were: All three winners receive the following: A "Winner" certificate, which is being sent to their principals today, Annual passes for a family of 4 to …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Do you know someone who works in the school system who deserves this award?
This week Hillsborough County Superintendent MaryEllen Elia announced that nominations are being accepted for the sixth annual We Deliver award. “The We Deliver award is my way of personally celebrating and thanking one employee who delivers miracles every day in Hillsborough County Public Schools,” Elia said. All Hillsborough County School employees are eligible for the award. Parents, students, employees, business partners, and others in the community are welcome to submit nominations. Anyone who knows a teacher, secretary, clerk, custodian, principal, aide, bus driver, maintenance worker, lunchroom worker, or other staff member who has gone above and beyond what is expected of every employee, is encouraged to submit a nomination. …
Eddie Morera (Ret. Detective)
9:35 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
We need Armed Security at our Elementary Schools. Let's not wait till it hits home (our County) and then regret the fact, it could have been prevented!!!!!!!! more ›