December 2024 Family and Community Newsletter

Check out the wonderful "Share Your Joy" stories submitted to us this holiday season! Submissions are now closed for this year.  We'd like to send big THANK YOU to all who contributed!

Pasco County Schools is engaging in a K-12 science adoption process for science instructional materials to be implemented in the '25-'26 school year. The resources have been narrowed and schools will spend the month of January and February trying the resources in the classroom and voting on the resource they recommend to move forward for school board approval. We are seeking parent and community input on the resources narrowed. Please visit oiur current adoption page where you will find the narrowed resources and digital access login information. Additionally, you will find an input form to provide your feedback by February 19.  

We also invite you to attend two virtual adoption events. The virtual "Train the Trainer" night will take place on December 11, from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. for secondary science, and 6:30 p.m. -7:45 p.m. for elementary science, where you'll get an overview of the school-based consensus building process. The virtual Science Vendor Night will take place on February 4, from 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. where you'll get vendor overviews of their resources. RSVP to attend either.

Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! The theme is Building Literacy: Constructing the Foundation for Success.

With this theme in mind, we are encouraging schools to participate in reading books related to workforce education (e.g., architecture, construction, engineering) in an effort to connect Governor DeSantis’ "Get There" workforce education initiative. Be on the lookout for how your child's school will celebrate the week with some fun activities and accompanying Beanstack challenges!

Please be sure to celebrate Winter Break with a great read! Share the love of reading by encouraging your children to read during Winter Break and tag us so we can share in the excitement of reading alongside you. 

Be sure to tag us at: @PascoLiteracy #PascoWinterBreakReads2024

December is a great time to reflect on our favorite books of the past year and get excited about the new ones we will read in 2025! Please encourage your children to read for pleasure every day and log their minutes in Beanstack. The Beanstack Reading Wrap-up challenge will be available on their MyPascoConnect dashboards December 1 - 31. Enjoying a good book is a great way to relax during Winter Break!

PSAT 8/9 and PSAT NMSQT scores were released in October and November and are currently available to students.

Students can view their scores by signing into their College Board account. If your student has not set up an account, they can create one by using the same link.

PSAT 8/9 - Parents and students can access the following video to help explain their results and next steps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4br6xV6YNeg

PSAT NMQST - Parents and students can access the following video to help explain their results and next steps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJEeKZxLjpA

Fazoli's Fast, Fresh, Italian restaurant and Woodie's Wash Shack have joined our Pasco County Schools Community. Franchisee of Fazoli's, Carlos Saenz, and Director of Business Development, Doug Hulburt, are passionate about supporting schools, students, teachers and their community. Woodie's Wash Shack and Fazoli's will be sponsoring our Pasco County Schools Volunteer of the Year recognition and supporting schools with family dine-out nights and fundraising efforts throughout the year. For more information you can connect with Fazoli's at CarlosSaen@MFHBrands.com and Woodie's Wash Shack at doughulburt@woodieswash.com.

Pasco County Schools would like to thank Premier Community HealthCare, the Hernando Hispanic Heritage Network, Lowe's, The Outpost Network, and Bingham Realty for sponsoring Pasco County Schools first community Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Rodney B. Cox Elementary School. The event was a huge success with a day full of family fun, learning, and an assortment of community resources provided for all of our Pasco County Schools families. We look forward to continuing this event in the coming year!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young students? Gulf Middle School is seeking dedicated mentors to join our community and help guide our students towards a brighter future. As a mentor, you'll have the opportunity to provide support, share your experiences, and inspire students to achieve their full potential. Whether you can offer academic assistance, career advice, or just a listening ear, your involvement can make a significant impact. Join us in fostering a positive and encouraging environment for our students. Together, we can help them succeed! 

For more information on how to become a mentor, please contact Liz Kuhns at ekuhns@pasco.k12.fl.us or Matthew Testoni at mtestoni@pasco.k12.fl.us

We are thrilled to announce that AmSkills, a dedicated supporter of our Advanced Manufacturing Program at Anclote High School, is hosting a Community Block Party on December 14, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This exciting event is open to the public and will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including robotic dog demonstrations, laser cutting, tours of the training center, 3-D printing, and career exploration opportunities.

Join us at 4606 Darlington Road, Holiday, FL. 34690 for a day of fun and learning. For more information, contact AmSkills at 727-301-1282 or visit www.AmSkills.org. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The following services are offered on the Mobile Dental Van: 

• Cleanings 
• Fluoride treatments 
• Sealants 

The dental health services are provided to all students K - 5. If you would like your student to be seen, please complete the Premier Dental Mach Form. Upon completion of the Mach form, Premier will send you a consent form for dental services which will enable your student to be seen on the dental bus. Complete the Mach form and the electronic consent as soon as possible so your student can be scheduled for this important health service. Students must have a completed consent form to be seen on the Premier Dental Van. Paper consent will be available in your student's school clinic if needed. View the mobile dental van schedule.

All students may be seen regardless of insurance status and in accordance with their insurance plans. For more information call Mobile Manager at 352-518-2000 ext. 9753.

Pasco County Schools Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE) department prides itself on the Work-Based Learning options available to all students. Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an interaction with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings, or simulated environments at an educational institution that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required of a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction.

In far fewer words: Firsthand work that develops relationships with industry professionals and is classroom integrated.

WBL programs can be supported in the school and at the work site. The three key components of a comprehensive WBL program are: 

• Aligning classroom and workplace learning 
• Applying academic, technical, and employability skills in a work setting 
• Having support from classroom or workplace mentors  

Research shows that students who start WBL at an early age have better outcomes for postsecondary success and career readiness. Employers also benefit from WBL by helping to shape their future workforce.  

Work-Based Learning is broken down into three separate areas: Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Work-Based Learning.  

• Career Awareness begins as early as elementary school. Elementary students are exposed to career exploration through Guest Speakers, Great American Teach In, and Career Fairs. 
• Career Exploration begins in middle school where students are given the opportunity to attend various events such as Business and Industry Tours and Field Trips. 
• Work-Based Learning is implemented through a more hands-on approach. Students in Secondary and Post-Secondary programs may participate in Internships, On the Job Training (OJT), Simulated Learning, and more. 

For more information regarding Work-Based Learning, see the following resources: 

• Future of Work Florida 
• Florida Department of Education Work Based Learning portal
• Reach out to Angel Hernandez at ahernand@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Navigate the Pasco parent page for information and resources to support student academics, student support services, important parent information, and community partner resources.

Within the "Navigating High School" and "Navigating Middle School" pages you will have access to informational videos by grade level to support in planning for each student's transition into that grade level. Check out the videos directly at the links below.   

Navigating Middle School

Navigating High School

The holiday season is here, and Pasco County Schools’ Safety Department wants everyone to stay safe from home fires as they decorate their homes for the upcoming festivities.

Decorations like trees, lights and candles increase the risk of home fires during the holidays—with Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day being the top three days for home candle fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Here are 10 simple safety tips, as you put up lights and ornaments, that may help prevent a fire in your home:

1. Check all holiday light cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together—no more than three per extension cord.

2. If you are buying an artificial tree, look for the fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators, and other sources of heat.

3. If you are getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and water it to keep it fresh. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.

4. If using older decorations, check their labels. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.

5. When decorating outside, make sure decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.

6. If using a ladder, be extra careful. Make sure to have good, stable placement and wear shoes that allow for good traction.

7. Don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.

8. Don’t forget to turn off all holiday lights and extinguish all candles when going to bed or leaving the house.

9. Keep children, pets, and decorations away from candles.

10. If hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel, don’t light the fireplace.

Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday season.