Pasco Post

We have reached the end of the 2022-2023 school year, and we are so proud of all that our students have accomplished, with the support of teachers, staff and leaders, as well as their families. The upcoming summer offers fun opportunities for family and community connections that are so important for our students. It can also be an important time to catch up or keep up on all the learning from this school year. In this newsletter, you will find many ways that students can receive needed support and engage in enrichment experiences all summer long!

Our seniors, however, are ready to start a new journey in their lives, and we will celebrate with them in our upcoming graduation ceremonies. We are so excited to honor the commitment of these students to learn and grow over the past thirteen years. You can find these important dates below.

Thank you to all of our business and community partners for supporting our district. We appreciate the many ways our partners assist to benefit our students and schools.

This will be our last monthly newsletter for this year, and we will resume in July as we gear up for the 2023-2024 school year. Together, we can ensure that our district and our communities are World Class!

If you have a student who has never attended a Pasco County School, online enrollment is available to you. You may watch this video (Spanish) for instructions to assist you with the process. If you have additional questions, please use Let's Talk to submit your question.

We anticipate that an online option for returning students to Pasco County Schools will be available by mid-May. Please check this link for the most recent information for new and returning student updates.

If you are currently attending a Pasco County School, no other actions are needed! We can’t wait to see your child in the 23-24 school year!

Families,

As we bring an amazing school year to an end, we want to make sure you have resources to share with students to promote summer learning, so we limit Summer Slide. Below you will find access to the District’s Read-at-Home Plan that will provide quick, engaging activities for our pre-K to grade 3 families, along with grade specific resources from Lexia Core 5.

Pasco County Schools Read-at-Home Plan includes parent guides about grade level standards, activities listed by the five pillars of reading (Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension), videos of some of those interactive activities completed with actual families, links to HMH Into Reading Alphafriends videos, and additional digital resources.

Kindergarten

• Lexia K Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia K Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

First

• Lexia Grade 1 Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia Grade 1 Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

Second

• Lexia Grade 2 Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia Grade 2 Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

Third

• Lexia Grade 3 Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia Grade 3 Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

Fourth

• Lexia Grade 4 Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia Grade 4 Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

Fifth

• Lexia Grade 5 Literacy Building Activities

• Lexia Grade 5 Summer Reading Bingo Challenge

All 3rd grade students take the statewide, standardized English Language Arts FAST PM3 assessment in May. To be promoted to 4th grade, students must score a Level 2, 3, 4, or 5 on FAST ELA PM3. If a student scores a Level 1, according to Section 1008.25(5) Florida Statute, the student is at-risk for mandatory retention and may need to repeat third grade. However, a student scoring Level 1 may be exempt from mandatory retention if he/she meets one of the six good cause exemptions. Or for the 22-23 school year only, a student may demonstrate an acceptable level of performance through means reasonably calculated by the school district to provide reliable evidence of the student’s performance, per Senate Bill (SB) 1048.

You should have received a letter at the end of March updating you on your child’s status at the end of quarter 3 and will be notified of your child’s FAST ELA PM3 results and promotion status prior to the end of the school year. If your child scores a Level 1, he/she will be invited to participate in our Summer Reading Camp program. Please encourage your child to read and write during the summer to continue to strengthen literacy skills.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or school administrator.

During each school choice window, you can explore and apply for the CTE programs available throughout Pasco County Schools. Every high school offers at least two programs, many of which are registered career academies. All programs offer industry certification or state licensure opportunities and many CTE students graduate with at least one certification! We encourage students to complete the Career Interest survey in Naviance, on their myPascoConnect dashboard, to discover their potential career pathway and explore the possibility of attending a CTE program that allows them to build the foundation for success beyond high school.

Extended School Year Starts June 5th!

Invitations are now being sent out by your child’s school with details regarding Extended School Year. Check to see if your child has received an invitation!

Please complete the form and return it to school to ensure your child’s participation this summer as soon as possible! Extended School Year provides great benefits across all grade levels. Elementary schools are hosting reading camps, and math supports. Middle and High School students will have the opportunity to participate in Credit Recovery Programs (CRP) allowing them to recover core courses ensuring they are prepared for the next level or getting them on track to graduate on time.

If your child is invited, we strongly encourage you to send your child to Extended School Year, so they do not miss out on the great opportunities being offered this summer! We look forward to receiving your correspondence and we look forward to working with your child in the Extended School Year Program. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or school administrator.

Pasco County Schools Early Childhood Programs is now accepting applications for Summer VPK and fall enrollment at select elementary schools. Summer VPK students must be 5 years old prior to September 1, 2023. Students that used their VPK Certificate of Eligibility during the academic year are not eligible for the summer program. For fall 2023 applicants, children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2023. For more information on early learning opportunities with Pasco County Schools, please visit the Early Childhood Programs website at www.pascoschools.org/ecp.

Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy, Pasco County’s newest school for its youngest learners! Please visit our website for more information or to submit an application for the upcoming school year.

The Office for After School Enrichment Programs is happy to announce a partnership with The Office for Leading and Learning and The Office for Career, Technical, and Adult Education to offer several Summer Specialty Camps FREE for Pasco Students in grades 3-8 this summer. These camps are limited to 30 students per session and will be offered in various locations across the district. Registration will open soon at https://myasep.com/summer-specialty-camps/ and will include the following:

• Control, Alt Compete (Computer and Coding Camp)
• Sock ‘Em, Rock Em’ Robots (Robotics, Engineering, and Coding Camp)
• Bot Building 101 (Robotics and Coding Camp)
• Chop It Like It’s Hot (Culinary Camp)

We are looking forward to having an amazing summer with our Pasco students!

On April 26th, we had the opportunity to celebrate 33 amazing students from the New Teacher Academy at River Ridge High School and Pasco eSchool. The New Teacher Academy students that are going to college to be teachers, signed a Condition of Employment with Pasco Schools guaranteeing them a job when they finish their 4-year college degree. Our former student Raynee Meek was part of this amazing program years ago and now she is coming back as a new teacher at Bexley Elementary School.

Pasco County Schools has two upcoming employment opportunity events to share with everyone in the community:

You may contact our Recruitment Team anytime at:

Kaley Aguilera kaguiler@pasco.k12.fl.us

Kelly Smith kelsmith@pasco.k12.fl.us

Leslie Collazo lcollazo@pasco.k12.fl.us

George Papaemanuel gpapaema@pasco.k12.fl.us

Summer Reading Opportunities with Pasco County Libraries

Thirty five Pasco Historians traveled to Tallahassee to compete at the Florida History Day Competition for the theme: “Frontiers in History: People, Places, and Ideas.”

We are so proud of all our Pasco Historians, below are the accolades received at the state award ceremony.

• Lily Hagan of Charles S. Rushe Middle School earned 2nd place in the junior division paper category and is moving onto National History Day at the University of Maryland in June.
  
• Liz Marth of Chasco Middle School earned the Outstanding County Award.
  
• Marielle Thomas of Charles S. Rushe Middle School earned the National Maritime Historical Scholarship.
  
• Sunaina Patel & Emily Sumner of Land O’ Lakes High School earned the Economic Freedom Award
  
• Rohil Agarwal, Arman Kumarasway & Leif Frazier of Land O’ Lakes High School earned the American History Innovation Award.
  
• Mrs. Tina Fields of Charles S. Rushe Middle School was honored as the Florida History Day Teacher of Merit Award.
  

Do you let your children watch their electronic devices until bedtime? How are they in the morning; tired, sleepy, irritated? If so, you may want to consider a digital curfew.

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between poor sleep, shorter sleep time, increased BMI, and behavior changes in children that are allowed to watch their devices up to bedtime. The Sleep Foundation recommends at least 30 minutes to one hour of screen-free time before bed. The symptoms are more acute in younger children and adolescents as opposed to older teens.

To help adjust their bedtime routines, studies suggest using other interactive tools for use prior to bedtime including board games, reading, and taking a bath. No matter which technique you choose, decreased screen time promotes better sleep and overall health for your child.

Below are some articles if you wish to find more information about this topic.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25643702/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5669315/

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11640-9

The Pasco County School District is committed to protecting the health and safety of our students and staff. In cases of threatening weather, the district maintains close contact with the National Weather Service to help make decisions about dismissal of students or school closings. Officials want to make the safest possible arrangements for students and may delay the dismissal of students during exceptionally hazardous weather conditions, such as lightning. The district’s Weather Delayed Dismissal procedures require that the nationally recognized “30-30 Rule” be enacted by schools if thunder is heard within 30 seconds of lightning strike. Students will not be dismissed until 30 minutes have passed from the last sound of thunder.

Lightning

The National Weather Service routinely issues watches and warnings for thunderstorms that produce tornadoes and other severe weather. It does not, however, issue warnings based solely upon lightning. Moreover, a storm need not be severe to produce copious lightning strikes.

During times when severe weather and/or lightning is in the immediate area, all efforts are made to help ensure the safety of students and adults. During these situations, schools will follow the state and district guidelines for severe weather, including the “30-30 Rule” to determine the threat of lightning. Weather apps that track lightning strikes such as “My Lightning Tracker" and "Spark” are also valuable resources that can be used by school administrators to assist with decision making.

The 30-30 Rule

The “30–30 Rule” should be used during thunder/lightning events to determine when to seek a safer location. The “30–30 Rule” states that when you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If the time is 30 seconds or less, go immediately to a safer place. Wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location. If you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder means lightning is likely within striking range, go to a safer place.

Dismissal Procedures during Thunderstorms

When severe weather, such as heavy downpours, flooding and/ or lightning occurs at dismissal time, parents can expect a delay in the dismissal process. The school administration shall make the decision to alter normal dismissal procedures when they feel the weather conditions are unsafe to safely release the students using the conventional protocols. In these cases, the administration will enact a Severe Weather Dismissal.

When such a dismissal is necessary, walkers/bikers/car riders will not be released from campus without an adult present and instead the following procedures are activated:

• In the event the normal dismissal schedule is altered due to bad weather, please ensure that students are relocated to inside safe areas.
• If possible, an automated parent message is sent via phone and email.
• Bus Riders and Aftercare will be dismissed, although their dismissal time may be delayed.

• Walkers and Bikers will be kept inside the building and not released without parents present to pick them up from school. We will attempt to call these parents from the classroom to notify them of the dismissal change.
• Authorized persons are permitted to sign out children during delayed dismissals if the process does not unduly place other staff or students in danger.

The principal will contact the Transportation Dept. to inform them of the delay in dismissal.

Parents of students who are delayed in school dismissal by inclement weather will be notified by the Communications Office or the affected school via a callout message as well as communication through websites and social media.

Weather Emergencies issued by the National Weather Service

In the event the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Tornado Watch schools shall continue with their daily routine but should still be utilizing the severe weather dismissal procedures. If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued staff shall follow the response protocols set forth in the Pasco Schools Site Threat Continuum: Weather Emergencies and move to the nearest interior hallway in a permanent building and take a protective position. During the warning all students and staff should be immediately moved inside a brick-and-mortar area. This includes moving staff and students out of a portable building into the school. Dismissal procedures shall cease until the severe weather emergency is lifted by the NWS. Once the warning is reduced and it is safe to do so, normal activities can be resumed.

Thank you for keeping our children safe!

Safety and Security Department

Online Registration for the 25th Anniversary Family Cafe is now open!

The Annual Family Cafe brings together thousands of people with disabilities and their family members for three days of education, training, and networking each year. The event features a great range of individual breakout sessions, a packed Exhibit Hall with dozens of vendors, and a series of special events including Keynote speakers and The Governor's Summit on Disabilities, The Annual Family Café offers families exposure to a range of public and private resources on a grand scale, opportunities to find support by networking with other families, and unprecedented access to policy-making officials.

The 25th Anniversary Family Cafe is scheduled for June 9-11, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. There is no cost to attend for individuals with disabilities and their families, and limited financial assistance to provide free accommodations at the Hyatt is available by lottery.

We can’t wait to see you as we come together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the largest statewide cross-disability event in the nation! Register today to join us in Orlando for three days of Collaboration, Advocacy, Friendship, and Empowerment! Additional information can be found at this link.

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Parent Survey

The Florida ESE Parent Survey is administered every year as a way for the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to get statewide input (through a state performance plan) on the "percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that school facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities." The survey is NOW OPEN to all parents of children with an individual educational plan (IEP) receiving ESE services from preschool age through grade 12 and is not intended for parents of students receiving only gifted services through an educational plan (EP). The survey can be accessed at the QR code above or this link, and is open now through June 30.

Your very important responses will help guide efforts to improve services and results for children and families within Pasco County Schools. Any parent/guardian completing the survey can ask questions or request assistance through their child's case manager at their school, as needed.

Students

Ready for college applications? Planning next steps? Check out K-12 Scholarship Opportunities here.

Graduation Requirements

Standard Diploma Requirements: What students and parents need to know.

Graduation Requirements for Florida’s Statewide Assessments

Families of English Language Learners

Newcomer Guide: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/esol/page/ell- newcomer-guide
Parent Resources: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/esol/page/parents

District News

Volunteer

Parent Resources

District Events

Email: engagement@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: www.pasco.k12.fl.us