News from the Nest
Family Newsletter - January 10 through January 26
From the Principal's Desk
Happy 2024 to all of our RedHawk families!
We hope you had a wonderful Winter Break filled with family, fun, and relaxing. Semester 2 has begun and we are excited to continue learning with your children in the new year. Third quarter is one of the most important times of the year for instruction as students are halfway through their learning and can really begin to show what they've learned and apply what they know.
We have news and events to share about below so be sure to read for new information and reminders as we get back into the groove of school.
Ready, set, SOAR!
Mrs. Frantz
Principal
Grade Level Newsletters
Sixth Grade Page 1
Sixth Grade Page 2
Seventh Grade Page 1
Seventh Grade Page 2
Eighth Grade Page 1
Schoolwide K-8 Information
Lunch Times
Not Receiving Text Messages from Us?
Giving Heart: Helping Redhawk Families in Need
SRK8 can assist families with specific items on a limited basis. We can help with school supplies, connecting to community resources, and holiday assistance. If you need assistance, please use the link below to provide information. Shared information is confidential and one of our school counselors will reach out to you shortly.
Special Olympics Update
Special Olympics Social Inclusion Club is participating in the Light the Torch Fundraiser at the Starkey Ranch Publix, Saturday, January 13th from 10am-4pm. This fundraiser helps provide equipment and uniforms for the Florida Special Olympics programs. Please help support our school!
Additionally, Huey Magoos (13372 Pine Gap Spur Odessa) is hosting a spirit night for Club, January 24th from 4-8pm. We appreciate your support of our Special Olympics Social Inclusion Club!
Health Updates from our School Nurse - Is my child too sick for school?
Local Urgent Care Doctors are reporting an increase in Flu B and Strep in our area. Please stay vigilant when sending students to school with illness symptoms, and reconsider.
Students who have a fever with temperature greater than 100.4 degrees (orally), and/or have been vomiting, or have diarrhea, MUST stay home for 24 hours AFTER the symptoms are gone without using over-the-counter medications to stop or treat the symptoms.
Consider a medical evaluation for:
· Fever that lasts 3 or more days
· Drainage from the ear
· Cough that continues for several days or worsens
· Repeated episodes of diarrhea or vomiting
· Rash with unknown cause or with fever.
· Itchy eyes with clear or cloudy drainage, clumpy eyelashes upon waking.
· Sore throat, with or without fever, child states it hurts to eat/swallow.
· “Cold” symptoms that last greater than one week.
· If a student is prescribed antibiotics, the student can return per medical advice, which is typically 24 hours after treatment is started.
Please see the COVID-19 protocols on the district website: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/coronavirus/protocols
If your child will be absent, please fill out the Absent Form on the Starkey Ranch K-8 website. ALL absences must be reported this way. If your child is positive for the Flu, Strep, COVID-19, or other communicable diseases, please report this in the MACH form, not just to your teacher, for this information to reach your school nurse. Please also attach any Doctor’s notes you gather in the MACH form, for excusing excessive absences due to illness.
Children of all ages need 8-10 hours of sleep at night and good nutrition including adequate fluids (milk, juice, water). A child who is sick needs rest, plenty of fluids, and “tender loving care.”
“Students must be Healthy to be educated and educated to be Healthy.”
Mollie Kyler RN
Opportunity to Review Social Studies Textbooks
In the months of January and February, we invite stakeholders to participate in the review of textbooks that are being considered for adoption for a number of social studies courses. Digital access to resources is provided for families and community members who would like to review the options. Please access the textbook adoption website for resource access and information on how to submit your input for consideration.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks are available for preorders online via Rycor for $50. All preordered books will be delivered to students in May. We did sell out of yearbooks last year, so preordering is recommended. If you have any yearbook-related questions, please contact our yearbook adviser, Mrs. Hanratty, at shanratt@pasco.k12.fl.us.
Elementary School Information
Save the Date! Kindergarten-2nd Grade Families
Our Kindergarten-2nd Grade students are allowed to invite one special grown-up to accompany them to our primary dance for our littlest RedHawks. We are having a Sock Hop! More information to come, the dance will take place from 5:00-6:30 on Wednesday, February 7th.
Lunch Visitors
Please come to the front office 5-10 minutes prior to your child's lunch time. You will be allowed to eat outside at the picnic tables with your child. Availability is first come first serve. After lunch, you must go back through the front office to sign out for the day. Please do not exit through the gates without checking out from the front office.
We also ask that you avoid checking your child out for early dismissal during their lunch time.
**Families may not come to eat lunch with their students on Early Release days.
Birthday Celebrations
Please note that birthday treats are for K-5 Elementary ONLY.
If you would like to provide a treat to celebrate your child's birthday, please follow these two steps.
1. Complete this form 10 school days prior to the celebration: http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/fns/mform/view.php?id=289896&mf_page=2
2. Email your child's teacher with the birthday celebration date and what you ordered.
Once your order is submitted you will receive a confirmation email. Your account on mySchool Bucks will be charged the day of the celebration. You can pay through that app digitally or send in cash/check to the cafeteria.
Middle School Information
Middle School Field Trips This Week
This week our 6th and 7th grade students will be going on their grade level field trips to Disney. 6th grade will be attending Animal Kingdom on Thursday, January 11th and 7th grade will be attending Epcot on Friday, January 12th. Students attending the field trip on those days will need to report to the cafeteria at 7:00 AM wearing their field trip shirts. Students that plan on riding their bikes/walking home after the trip MUST park their bikes/scooters in the front bike rack by the car line. The back rack will NOT be accessible at that time. Students may bring a small bag with them, which they will be responsible for the entirety of the trip. Students who have an annual pass need to make sure they have that with them or available on their phones. Chaperones will have all other admission tickets and meal tickets with them for safe keeping throughout the day. Parents, IF you are picking your child up after the trip you must do so in the car line ONLY. Students will call/text you when we are back on SR 54. Plan to pick up between 6:30-7:30 PM. If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Campbell, alcampbe@pasco.k12.fl.us.
National Junior Honor Society
Our NJHS application window is coming up in the next couple of weeks. If your middle school is interested in National Junior Honor Society membership, be on the lookout for more information to come.
If your middle school child is already a member of National Junior Honor Society, please be sure that they attend all scheduled meetings. Our meeting Semester 2 meeting dates are pending approval and will be posted soon. All meetings will be held in the Starkey Ranch TLC (Theatre), and will begin promptly at 7:30. All NJHS members should have also joined the NJHS myLearning course. If your child still needs help with this, please email Mrs. Hanratty at shanratt@pasco.k12.fl.us.
Athletics
https://www.facebook.com/starkeyredhawks
Because we are a shared use facility, athletic events that occur on our campus or at the district park have an additional $1 surcharge added, for a total of $6 ticket cost.
Contact our athletics director, Matt Vandaele at mvandael@pasco.k12.fl.us with any questions.
Athletic Paperwork
If your student is interested in participating in athletics for the 2022-23 school year, please fill out this Mach form (https://forms.office.com/r/K8856N2RWb).
All tryout and paperwork due dates can be found on the school’s athletic website. (https://srk8.pasco.k12.fl.us/athletics/)
All paperwork must be uploaded to the athletic clearance portal (www.athleticclearance.com). As of right now, Starkey is not an option on the dropdown menu. We made district aware and they are working on getting us added. We recommend downloading and completing the paperwork now and uploading it when we are added.
General Information/Community Events
2nd Annual "Not So" Midnight Madness
Join us for an evening of family fun on January 19th starting at 5pm in our gym! We will have staff vs. students and students vs. families basketball games, along with other fun activities! Below is some additional information:
- Ticket costs Adults $10.00, Kids 6+ $5.00, 5 under free
- Contests, prizes, drawings and 50/50 raffles (cash needed to participate)
- Cash will be needed to purchase tickets for drawings, raffles and donations
- Performances by our music department, theatre dept. and our cheerleading team
- Food Trucks will be Buzzy's on the go and Softee the King ice cream truck
- Purchase Pre-sale tickets on Rycor or pay at the door with cash
- Food Trucks, Music, Prizes and Raffles
- All proceeds go directly to our Starkey Basketball program and participating Magnet programs
PTO Updates
Visit our Facebook page @Starkey Ranch K-8 PTO for information and upcoming events!
PTO General Session save the date!
THURSDAY JANUARY 18TH
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Join Virtual via Microsoft Teams app
Here is link to click and join
Please see unapproved General Session Meeting mins from Sept 14th to review for approval at the next Jan 18th meeting. https://srk8.pasco.k12.fl.us/starkey-ranch-pto/
SRK8 Bricks Campaign - On Sale now!
🧱Our 2023-2024 Starkey K-8 Bricks Campaign is now open for orders! They make the perfect holiday gift! 🧱
ORDER ONLINE HERE:
The Ranch Athletic Club
Looking to get involved? The Ranch Athletic Club is a group of parents, coaches, school administrators and community residents committed to supporting Starkey Ranch athletic programs in order to build and foster an environment that inspires athletes, students, coaches, parents, and the community. Learn more about membership at https://theranchathleticsclub.com
To become a member please complete this membership form: https://forms.office.com/r/hSwy0xSAAR
All athletic links can be found at https://linktr.ee/srk8_athletics
If you have any questions please email Matt Van Daele at mvandael@pasco.k12.fl.us
Volunteers
Safety Drills
Need to Schedule a Parent/Teacher Conference?
Your child's teachers are happy to discuss questions and concerns with you. You may use this link to request a conference at any time throughout the year.
Upcoming Dates/Events
1/11 - 6th Grade Field Trip
1/12 - 7th Grade Field Trip
1/15 - No School - Dr. Martin Luther King Day
1/19 - Not So Midnight Madness 5-8PM
1/25- SAC Meeting (in Mrs. Stoneking's Art Room) 7:30am
Important Contact Information
Clinic:
Clinic Assistants Lynn Ancona and Nicole Robles 727-246-2105
School Nurse, Mollie Kyler-Basden mbasden@pasco.k12.fl.us
Administrative Assistant to the Principal:
Amy Grosseibl agrossei@pasco.k12.fl.us or 727.246.2102
Administrative Team:
Principal Mrs. Frantz jfrantz@pasco.k12.fl.us
K-2 Assistant Principal Mrs. Bermudez jbermude@pasco.k12.fl.us
3-4 Assistant Principal Mrs. Niles jatkinso@pasco.k12.fl.us
5-6 Assistant Principal Ms. Ennis cennis@pasco.k12.fl.us
7-8 Assistant Principal Mrs. Campbell alcampbe@pasco.k12.fl.us
Counseling Department:
K-2 Counselor Mrs. Celata kcelata@pasco.k12.fl.us
3-4 Counselor Mrs. Milner jmilner@pasco.k12.fl.us
5-6 Counselor Mrs. Guifoil mwynn@pasco.k12.fl.us
7-8 Counselor Mrs. Billiris vbilliri@pasco.k12.fl.us
School Resource Officer Corporal Bors bbors@pascosheriff.org
Magnet/Specials/Electives questions:
Magnet Coordinator Mrs. Flood blevelfl@pasco.k12.fl.us
Athletics:
Athletic Director Matt VanDaele mvandael@pasco.k12.fl.us
Need to contact a teacher? All teacher emails can be found on our website. Just click Contact Us on the tab at the top.