THINKING CAP
In our November edition...
See the cool programs and initiatives going on in our schools—including how Dawson Elementary is using Mindful Movement to help students & staff
Amazing deals for our Hillsborough Schools staff—including a nice deal on a getaway to Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resorts
Enter to win 5 free meals courtesy of our friends from PDQ—just by entering your Lawson number
Congratulations to last month's winner, Kemba Shephard, who works in our Transportation Department!
LOST CEMETERY FOUND ON KING HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS—OUR DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO RESPECTING THE INDIVIDUALS BURIED THERE
"We will not put a dollar amount on respecting and memorializing the individuals buried there," said Superintendent Jeff Eakins.
Based on evidence from underground scans, leaders from Hillsborough County Public Schools announced they believe the historic Ridgewood Cemetery has been located on the campus of King High School in Tampa.
Last month, our district received information from a citizen who believed that a one-acre pauper's cemetery with primarily African American burials from the 1940s and 1950s was on the property.
Within days, our district hired a team of geophysical technicians from GeoView to begin mapping and scanning the campus.
The first area scanned was the southern edge of the King High campus. This is the area where technicians found clear evidence of burials. Ground-penetrating radar found approximately 145 coffins, buried 3 to 5 feet deep.
Our district is committed to respecting the individuals who are buried there, and their families.
This entire area has been fenced off since last month when the citizen first alerted us about the possible cemetery. In that area there are agricultural lab facilities and one building—an agricultural workshop built in the late 1970s. We are now making plans to remove that building.
Florida law outlines what happens next.
We have notified the county Medical Examiner and State Archaeologist. They will take the next 30 days to review the report.
We will also work with the local leaders and historians on our Historical Response Committee, who are pictured above with Superintendent Eakins and School Board Member Tamara Shamburger.
The committee will discuss ideas from our community around the proper way to memorialize these individuals, how best to care for the physical space and what learning opportunities exist for our students to learn about the history represented by these individuals.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES
OUR SCHOOL BOARD SELECTED NEW LEADERS DURING ITS NOVEMBER MEETING. MELISSA SNIVELY WAS ELECTED AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND STEVE CONA WAS ELECTED VICE CHAIR
THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS & STAFF TO APPLY FOR CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL ENRICHMENT GRANTS
OUR SECURITY DIVISION IS HOLDING ITS 2ND ANNUAL "PULLING FOR EDUCATION" CLAY SHOOT BENEFITING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM; VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED AS WELL AS PARTICIPANTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR "EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION" WINNERS AT EACH SCHOOL!
Now, it's almost time for the Surprise Patrol to make its rounds and announce the finalists for our district-wide winners! Stay tuned for that!
Our big Excellence in Education awards ceremony—always heartwarming and inspiring—is scheduled for January 23rd at the Straz Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $33 online; $40 at the door. Click here to register today!
WARM & WELCOMING—SANDRA MISCIASCI'S OFFICE MIRRORS HER OUTLOOK ON EDUCATION
When you walk into Sandra Misciasci’s office at Newsome High School in Lithia, you want to pull up a pillow, grab a handful of M&M’s, open a good book and stay there forever.
That’s the point.
Misciasci is the Reading Coach at Newsome… She’s also our district's reigning Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year—and she wants her office to be welcoming to everyone.
There are pillows on the floor, framed pictures of her family and students on the wall, jars of candy sitting on a shelf and even creams and lotions on her desk.
“I want it to be warm, I want it to be welcoming,” Misciasci explains. “I want it to be where teachers can have a safe space to say, ‘I’m having trouble’ and I also want to send a message to my students that you are welcome here.”
Read more about Mrs. Misciasci's Newsome family and how she felt winning the Ida S. Baker award
- Canvas Discount - Florida educators will receive 15% off all photo canvas prints when you use the code FLDOE15 at checkout.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort - Special offer for teachers and school support staff. Ask for "Teacher Rate" when booking to receive 5%-7% off rooms.
- Massage Envy - Florida educators receive $5 off per month when a 12 month membership is purchased. Just show your school ID badge at any Massage Envy location when purchasing a membership.
WHAT'S COOL IN OUR SCHOOLS
Wellness rooms at James Elementary provide students with a few stress-free moments
Life can sometimes be stressful for our students and that can have an impact on their success in school. This year, several of our Achievement Schools, including James Elementary and Memorial Middle, have created student wellness rooms—a comfortable and safe place where students can get emotional support and work through feelings that may be getting in their way of learning.
“When I come here at first I feel sad and mad, but when I get relaxing and I leave—I feel happy,” said Tianna, a James third grade student.
Project PUP improves reading skills and confidence at Reddick Elementary
Reddick Elementary has come up with a sweet way of helping kids deal with some ruff stuff!
“School counselors have noticed an increase of students who need ways to deal with stress, anxiety and overall mental health,” explained Shelley Herda, School Counselor at Reddick Elementary. “We thought this would be a great way to bring some extra smiles and therapy to our students.”
Those smiles now come courtesy of “Project PUP” (Pets Uplifting People), the new Social/Emotional & Reading intervention Ms. Herda started at Reddick Elementary. The project’s goal is to increase reading skills and attention span and to create confidence while reducing stress.
Mindful Movement is making a difference at Dawson Elementary... For students AND staff
“Wiggle your eyebrows. Wiggle your nose. Blink your eyes. Open your mouth. Stick your tongue to the right, to the left. Great job! Is your face awake, boys and girls?”
Walking into Ms. Alers’ kindergarten class at Dawson Elementary School in Riverview may look a little odd as they make silly faces or practice “flower breathing” hand in hand with partners. In a first grade classroom, Mrs. Errity leads 6- and 7-year-olds as they shake out their hands and stand tall like trees with arms reaching overhead.
But the purpose behind these mindful movements is just that… Being mindful.
“Movement is good for the body and good for the brain,” said Ashley Wiese, Assistant Principal at Dawson. “We believe the key to academic progress is seeing that kids have the social and emotional tools they need so they can grow emotionally and academically.”
WE ASKED AND YOU ANSWERED...
Each month in Thinking Cap, we ask for nominations of extraordinary staff. Here are just a few of this month's responses
Laura is an amazing teacher and a great person. She is always looking out for our team and there for us when we need her. Whether it be providing us advice when we are down or offering snacks when we are hungry. She is also a "school mom" to many of our students. They always come to her when they are feeling down because they know she can make their day better.
Nominated by Kyle Johnson
Sara Huffman, RN - School Nurse
I nominated School Nurse, Sara Huffman. Even though she is a busy nurse for three schools, she always pitches in to help, whether medically or in administration. She is very kind and helpful to all... While still staying up with the demands of her job. She is a role model and a support to new faculty and nurses alike.
Nominated by Tamara Tournear, LPN
Jennifer Price - Reading Coach at Lanier Elementary
Mrs. Price has returned to the classroom after several years. She has gone above and beyond to create a room of trust and belonging for her students. Her physical environment filled with flexible seating choices shouts comfort, home and belonging. She exemplifies what every teacher should be and what every child needs. We are so lucky to have her at Lanier Elementary.
Nominated by Anonymous
Phil Cottone - Assistant Principal at Tampa Heights Elementary Magnet
Two years ago, our school suffered a fire, which destroyed our school building. Mr. Cottone became a go-to person who helped us move classrooms three times as well as found and set up technology we lost through donors. He also set up a well-being mentoring program through USF for our children and teachers. Mr. Cottone begins every day with a positive, keeps us all on the right track and centered on doing our best for kids.
Nominated by Anonymous
A MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CINDY STUART
As the newly crowned seventh-largest school district in the country, tens of thousands of Hillsborough County Public Schools students are on the road every morning and every afternoon to get to and from school.
It is our responsibility as a community to make sure they get where they’re going safely.
Because our school district only has authority on its own campuses—not on city streets—this safety effort requires a very close relationship between our schools, transportation agencies, planners and city and county governments.
I am a proud member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Chair of the MPO’s School Transportation Working Group.
The working group meets regularly to discuss safe routes to schools, traffic circulation, transportation legislation, school crossing guards and many other important issues.
But discussion is only one step of the process. It takes a community to put that discussion into action.
Recently, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Vision Zero—which is a traffic safety project—helped create Crosswalks to Classrooms! The very first in a series of new crosswalks was painted in front of Rampello K-8 in Downtown Tampa. It is a brightly colored work of art, making our city more beautiful while creating a safer path for our students.
The safety of our students is an issue that touches all our families in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Your School Board is committed to working with all our community partners to help students arrive safely at school each morning, ready to learn, and then come home safely to you each afternoon.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Email: newsletter@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Website: hillsboroughschools.org
Location: 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL, USA
Phone: 813-272-4000
Facebook: facebook.com/HillsboroughSch
Twitter: @HillsboroughSch