SCHOOL SHOUT
Shouting Loud & Proud about Hillsborough Schools!
In our May Edition...
Therapy dogs at Stowers Elementary—For when reading gets RUFF
4 FREE programs available to students this summer
What is a peer jury—and does it work? A look at Restorative Practices in HCPS
SCHOLARSHIPS! SCHOLARSHIPS! SCHOLARSHIPS!
Expert Advice On Finding & Applying for Scholarships
The money is out there. You just have to go after it.
You don’t necessarily need to have the highest GPA, or be in every organization at your school to be awarded a scholarship—but you do have to be willing to LOOK for, and FIND the money.
How do you do that?
We asked Megan Griner, College and Career Counselor at Durant High School in Plant City. She says there are several steps every high school student can take to increase their chances of getting a scholarship:
- Be present in your guidance office. Make sure your School Counselor knows your name.
Griner says hundreds of scholarships pass across her desk. Many of them she puts up on Durant’s Edsby account especially for scholarships. (Check with your school. Many high schools will have a social media account especially for scholarships.) However, if she sees one that’s more specific, and she knows of a student who fits in that category, she will make sure to seek that student out. Additionally, many local companies will offer scholarships JUST for a specific school. These are valuable opportunities that your school counselor will know about first.
- Write your essay early and make it great.
Most scholarships ask applicants to write an essay describing themselves, what makes them special, or a challenge they’ve overcome. Griner says write an amazing essay the summer between your junior or senior year, or the first few weeks of your senior year. Then, ask your English teacher to proofread it and help you make it dynamic. That way, the hardest part of the scholarship application process is over and that will entice you to apply for more.
More scholarship advice & tips HERE
Scholarships to know about NOW!
SUMMER IS HERE & THERE'S A LOT TO DO!
- City of Tampa Rec Cards—Your teen can have fun and stay active at select Tampa rec centers for FREE this summer as part of the Stay & Play program. They must sign up in person at a rec center.
- Planet Fitness Summer Challenge—Starting May 15 and running through September 1, teens ages 15-18 can exercise at Planet Fitness for FREE!
- AMC Summer Movie Camp—Every Wednesday, AMC Classic Theatres are offering select kid-friendly movies, including a snack, for just $4. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult.
- Summer VPK—FREE quality prekindergarten program for 4 year olds. 19 locations in Hillsborough County are available. Find locations HERE.
- Get your art in Amalie Arena contest—Your masterpiece could hang in Amalie Arena & you could take home $250 by winning this art contest.
BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"I am confident in myself because of this class"
The young girl with long, black hair walked into the small room at Bloomingdale High School. Already in the room were eight of her peers—students sitting around the rectangular table, waiting for her to arrive.
The girl slid her backpack off her shoulders and took a seat, looking down at her hands folded in front of her on the table.
She took a deep breath and finally looked up.
Even though she requested to be there—she didn’t want to be there. She was there for skipping class, and getting kicked out of class by a teacher.
She was there to speak her truth.
Her eight peers were there to listen, hand down a resolution, and then ultimately, to help.
This is a peer jury.
It’s part of Hillsborough County Public Schools Restorative Practices approach to building strong school culture that is growing at several district schools.
Read more about Restorative Practices HERE
SO MUCH HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS!
Why is there a DOG inside this Stowers Elementary School classroom? He brings COMFORT during reading time.
Graduation is right around the corner! What's next? Welding, Automotive & Medical Assisting are just a few of the programs offered at our Technical Colleges. Check out these HIGH DEMAND careers!
A book vending machine? What a great idea! Find out how this one works at Lithia Springs Elementary!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR—IMPORTANT DATES
- May 27—Memorial Day (non-student day)
- May 31—Last day of school
- June 11—School Board meeting at Temple Terrace City Hall, 11250 North 56th Street. Public comment at 3:30 p.m., business portion of meeting at 4 p.m.
Final Report Cards
- May 31—Elementary school report cards will be sent home with students on the last day of school
- Mid-June—Middle & high school report cards will be available online at THIS link two to three weeks after the last day of school
REFERENDUM RESULTS—TIME FOR THE BIG PROJECTS TO GET UNDERWAY!
Right now, 93 projects are underway in our schools thanks to passage of the half-penny sales tax. 15 projects have already been completed!
Here’s a list of what’s already been done:
- Bloomingdale High—security system improvements
- DeSoto Elementary—parking lot repaved
- Durant High—generator project
- Greco Middle—athletic track repaved
- Greco Middle—new security system
- Jennings Middle—gym floor replaced
- Jackson Elementary—athletic court replaced
- West Shore Elementary—repaved parking lot
- MacFarlane Park—parking lot repaved
- Marshall Middle—gym floor replaced
- Middleton High—track repaved
- Ruskin Elementary—parking lot repaved
- Seminole Heights Elementary—outdoor court replaced
- Shore Elementary Magnet—parking lot repaved
- Mango Elementary—new fencing installed
These “smaller” projects are already making a huge difference in our schools. Take Greco’s track for example. Imagine being an athlete, trying to compete on a crumbling, cracked track. The new track, with its smooth pavement and clear lines will certainly help our students perform at their best.
We know many of you are wondering about the bigger projects. In just a few short weeks, when students are on summer break, construction on these larger projects will get underway. Crews will be busy at work on 21 school air conditioners and replacing aging roofs on 13 schools.
Visit hillsboroughschools.org/citizenoversight to stay up to date on the latest projects happening in our schools as we deliver on our Half Penny Promise.
OUR OUTSTANDING GRADUATES!
Each high school has chosen an extraordinary graduate to meet with Superintendent Eakins and School Board members before graduation. Their stories are inspiring. Here are just a few...
Tim Cui: Hillsborough High School
In September, as he was beginning his senior year, he was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Despite countless doctor appointments, chemotherapy and surgeries, Tim has maintained all A's and is Hillsborough High's IB salutatorian!
Tim will be attending Dartmouth in the fall!
Alexandra Gardner: Lennard High School
Alex has a GPA of 5.88 and has already starting earning college credit through the Dual Enrollment program offered by HCC.
She comes from a proud military family and her father has been deployed overseas for the past four years. However, he WILL be here to see her walk across that graduation stage.
Alex will attending USF in the fall!
Christopher Hopkins: Leto High School
His outlook changed when he was assigned to be a teacher's assistant to Leto's Data Processor, Ms. Hammond. She took him under her wing and became his Graduation Champion.
This year, he has had no discipline referrals and is making straight A's.
READ MORE BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HILLSBOROUGHSCH
A Message From Our Superintendent
It’s hard to believe another school year is nearly behind us.
As you know, this is an exciting summer in Hillsborough County due to the passing of the half-penny sales tax. While we wish we could do absolutely everything right now, replacing more than 200 air conditioners may take up to ten years. This is because we can only spend sales tax money as we receive it over time and because the contractors available to take on these types of projects are limited.
With that being said, big improvements ARE on their way now.
We are excited to move forward in the replacement of 21 air conditioning units, improvements on school security systems, 25 playgrounds, resurfacing parking lots and the reconditioning of several athletic areas.
I would also like to take this time to congratulate our soon-to-be-graduates! More than 14,000 high school seniors are set to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. This is an incredible accomplishment and I can’t wait to shake the hand of each and every one of them!
Our families, along with our dedicated teachers and staff, have given so much to prepare our graduates for life—and I believe they are ready!
I hope you have a relaxing and safe summer, and I’ll see you back here for the first day of school!
Twitter: @jeff_eakins
A message from School Board Member Steve Cona
Dozens of new options for your student are coming to Hillsborough County Public Schools next year. Innovative STEM programs, more ways to prepare for the workforce and college, computer skills for every student and schools that connect even more strongly with their communities are all on the way.
You’re asking for more options, and your School Board and district staff are listening.
Here are some of the new and expanded programs arriving across Hillsborough County in the next few months:
- STEM Expansion at Twin Lakes ES, Egypt Lake ES and Just ES
- New Community Schools at Greco MS, Foster ES, Potter ES and Gibsonton ES
- New Collegiate Academy at Spoto HS
- IB Candidate School Applicants at Greco MS and Alonso HS
- NFTE Entrepreneurship teaching business skills at Achievement Schools middle schools
- New NAF Academies for modern workforce skills at five schools per year
- Junior Achievement 3DE connecting schools with the business world at Chamberlain HS and Hillsborough HS (planning year)
- Digital Literacy & Coding Skills with new middle school courses, expanding to all elementary schools
The strength and variety of our programs make our district a state and national leader. As just one example, MacFarlane Park Elementary Magnet School, an IB World School in West Tampa, was just named the #1 Elementary Magnet School in America! Two of our schools, Alonso High School and Greco Middle School, are applying this year to become IB Candidate Schools and—if approved—add more locations to our world-class IB offerings.
We offer more than 50 school options, all tuition-free, in fields ranging from art and architecture to welding and veterinary science. You can find out more at our Choice Options website. Many innovative programs are available in your neighborhood school, and others are in dedicated Magnet schools.
We are committed to adding even more outstanding offerings. One of your School Board’s priorities is working with Superintendent Eakins, teachers and support staff to bring more great options our district.
Wherever your unique student is headed—a career in the workforce, technical training, enrolling in college or military service—we’re all working to make sure Hillsborough County Public Schools continues to deliver the ideal option to prepare your student for life.
What programs would you like to see in a school near you? Please email us and share your thoughts.
Twitter: @SteveCona
Congratulations to King High's Dr. Dakeyan Graham—a finalist for STATE Teacher of the Year!
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