February 2025 Family and Community Newsletter

Pasco County Schools is excited to share that the district has achieved an outstanding 95.5% graduation rate for the 2023-2024 school year, marking a record-breaking achievement that places it as the top-performing school district in the Tampa Bay Area and well above the state average.

This achievement highlights Pasco County Schools’ focus on graduation, targeted interventions, and student support initiatives that address the needs of every learner.

The district’s steady progress over recent years reflects its commitment to student achievement:

• 2019-2020: 89.9%
• 2020-2021: 91.0%
• 2021-2022: 90.2%
• 2022-2023: 91.1%
• 2023-2024: 95.5%

As the district prepares for the 2024-2025 school year, the focus remains on ensuring a world-class education for every student.

To view statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education website.

Each year, the District School Board of Pasco County hosts the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase. This science fair event is a deeply enriching experience for every student, regardless of prior experience. Through the scientific research process, students take ownership of their interests, explore pressing issues and problems that our world faces every day, and stretch their creativity in an attempt to design and implement powerful solutions. Several of these young men and women advance to state and national competitions and many ultimately pursue careers in specialized scientific and engineering fields. This year's theme for the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase will continue to highlight the amazing work of our own Pasco County students. Our students are tackling real world challenges every day.

The 2024-2025 Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase event will be held on February 8, 2025 (note the date change) at Angeline Academy of Innovation. Both elementary and secondary fairs will occur on the same day. The invite-only awards ceremony will be at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge High School on Friday evening, February 21, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (note the date and location change).

More info can be found by visiting the webpage.

Pasco County Schools is engaging in a K-12 science adoption process for science instructional materials to be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year. The resources have been narrowed and schools will spend the month of January and February trying the resources within 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 our current adoption page to find the narrowed resources and digital access login information. Additionally, you will find an input form to provide your feedback by February 19, 2025.  

We also invite you to attend our virtual adoption event. The virtual Science Vendor Night will take place on February 4, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., where you'll get vendor overviews of their resources. Please RSVP to attend.

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, allowing us the opportunity to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of our programs, faculty, and our students. 

Career and Technical Education instruction directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. In Pasco County, our CTE faculty and staff support collaborative, innovative learning environments that prepare students for meaningful careers in a diverse and changing world. Students can engage in courses centered around 14 of the 17 national career clusters with opportunities in 42 different programs. For more information regarding Pasco County’s CTE program offerings, please visit the Pasco Pathways Course Catalog.

Career and Technical Education also includes Career Dual Enrollment, which allows secondary students to earn industry certifications through a post-secondary institution. These count as credits toward their high school diploma. Instruction is often provided by a qualified CTE instructor on the students' respective school campus. This program prepares students for college, career, and life, by offering rigorous college-level coursework, free tuition, and textbooks, thereby saving both money and time on adult programs that require additional training. For more information regarding Pasco County’s Career Dual Enrollment offerings, please visit the Career Dual Enrollment page. 

Pasco County Schools’ Career, Technical, and Adult Education (CTAE) department is proud to announce our 4th annual BEYOND Career and Tech Expos on April 15, 2025, at Cypress Creek High School, and April 17, 2025, at Hudson High School. This event aims to empower our graduating seniors with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to thrive in their transition to their next phase of life. The BEYOND Career and Tech Expos offer numerous advantages for students and the community. These events provide students with the opportunity to explore various career paths and technical fields, helping them make informed decisions about their future. By interacting with industry professionals and participating in hands-on activities, students gain valuable insights and practical experience. Additionally, these expos foster connections between schools, local businesses, and higher education institutions, creating a supportive network that can lead to internships, mentorships, and job opportunities. Ultimately, our BEYIOND Career and Tech Expos inspire students to pursue their passions and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today's dynamic job market. 

For more information regarding this year’s BEYOND Career and Tech Expos, please reach out to the Career Specialist/School Counselor at your student’s school.

Commemorate Black History Month at the CFA! "Finding North" brings to life the powerful stories of the strivings, sacrifices, and dreams of John P. Parker, a former enslaved man who dedicated his life to helping other enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad. Written by David Gonzalez, performed by Daniel Carlton.

• Finding North: A Celebration of Black History 
• Friday February 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. 
• Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel (on the campus of Wesley Chapel High School) 
• 30651 Wells Road Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

Reserve Choose-Your-Price Tickets now!

For more information, visit www.centerfortheartswesleychapel.com

Join us for an exciting open house at Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.! Explore our beautiful campus with guided tours of our playground spaces and classrooms by the Principal, Jomary Schulz. Enjoy a fun craft make-and-take activity and treat yourself to cookies and lemonade. Kona Ice will also be available for purchase. 

This event is a great opportunity to register onsite for the current school year or the 2025-2026 school year, with assistance available for filling out VPK vouchers. Spanish-speaking translation services will be provided if needed. We look forward to welcoming you and your family! 

Sign up now for this great event!

The Outstanding School Volunteer Awards are presented annually to three school volunteers who have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to quality education in Pasco County schools. Award winners are selected by the schools they volunteer at based on character, type of breadth of volunteer service, and impact of volunteer contribution. Our volunteer award winners will be recognized at our School Board meeting on February 18. We would like to thank Fazoli's Italian Dining, Andy's Frozen Custard, and Woodies' Wash Shack for contributing gifts to all of our award recipients.  

This year's winners:

Grace Carlton, Youth Outstanding School Volunteer – Grace is a 6th grade Gulf Middle School student who serves as a volunteer at Richey Elementary School. Grace supports Richey Elementary by preparing information that goes home to the schools families helping to make sure families are well informed with events happening on and off campus. Grace also assists with tasks in the front office and assists students to and from class safely. 

Kerri Bethel,  Adult Outstanding School Volunteer – Kerri serves as a volunteer at Shady Hills Elementary School. Ms. Bethel holds the position of PTO Vice President and is often found helping with school events, supporting school fundraising initiatives and supporting the front office. She helps to organize and distribute Christmas gifts for the school's Tree of Angels every year!  

Victor Kodish, Senior Outstanding School Volunteer – Victor serves as a volunteer at Pine View Middle School. Mr. Kodish dedicated more than 40 years of teaching at Pine View Middle School and returned as a volunteer after his retirement. Mr. Kodish uses his past classroom experience to support the school in preparing resources for different academic subject areas, assisting the front office, and preparing testing materials for students and teachers. Mr. Kodish is an inspiration to many of the staff--as a former colleague, teacher and in some instances both!  

Pasco County Schools is excited to announce several career opportunities and recruitment events! Join us on February 10, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Land O' Lakes for a non-instructional hiring event featuring full-time and part-time positions, including School Bus Drivers and Transportation Assistants. No CDL? No problem—we’ll guide you through the process to obtain one! Don’t miss out—get more details and register today.

We’re also hitting the road for our Spring 2025 recruitment events! Our team will be at the following:

• University of Tampa on February 13, 2025 for the Spring Internship Fair.
• University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus on February 20, 2025 for the Job and Internship Fair. 
• February 26, 2025 we’ll attend the Career Expos at both the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida Tampa campus.  

These events are a great opportunity to learn about the amazing benefits of working at Pasco County Schools. We hope to see you there!

Whether you’re looking to kickstart your career or discover how you can make a meaningful impact to Pasco County Students. We are here to help! Don’t miss your chance to learn more about how you can join our dynamic team and contribute to the success of our students and community. Email us today for more information at work@pasco.k12.fl.us!  

Stay updated - follow Human Resources at Pasco County Schools on social media. Let’s drive to success together!

The following services are offered on the Mobile Dental Van: 

• Cleanings 
• Fluoride treatments 
• Sealants 

The dental health services are provided to KG through 5th-grade students. 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. The mobile dental van schedule is located on our dental information web page.

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.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. Resources from the ADA include free promotional materials, such as flyers, posters and activity sheets for kids available in English and Spanish that can be downloaded or ordered.

February is American Heart Month. The annual celebration began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Many celebrate American Hearth Month by helping to raise awareness in their communities about heart disease. It’s also a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health. Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and living heart healthy lives. Don’t forget National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025!

Pasco County Schools is thrilled to announce the launch of our Health and Wellness Collaboratives website! This fantastic resource is here to help Pasco County families and communities find the support and services they may need. Community members can explore a wealth of information regarding medical, dental, and mental health services, as well as resources for clothing, food, and community connections. Dive in and discover all the amazing support available by visiting the website!

Do you want to help your community by volunteering? The Hudson Community Health & Resource Center at the Hudson school complex is looking for dedicated individuals to join us in our mission to make a positive impact in our community. You could assist with our food pantry (stocking & assisting shoppers), clothing closet (processing donations & organizing), and special events (event setup & registration).

Are you interested in a day full of fun for the whole family? Please join us on Saturday February 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hudson High School track and football field for our Spring Festival. We will have many activities such as dental screenings, games, music, face painting, bike helmets, food vendors, and many community organizations providing resources and giveaways.

If interested in either of these opportunities, please reach out to Lisa DeMello at LJDeMello@hcnetwork.org

Pasco County Schools will host the 5th annual Virtual College and Career Fair on March 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The purpose of this event is to ensure helpful information is shared with middle and high school families across the district as they plan for college entrance and/or careers after high school. Each session will be hosted live by experts, with recorded versions being shared after the event. More details about how you can register and schedule your sessions will be coming soon.

School Choice notifications for the January 2025 open enrollment window will be sent via email on March 3, 2025. Parents will then need to accept/decline any choices they were offered by March 12, 2025 in their Parent Portal.

The next open enrollment windows for the 2025-2026 school year are listed below.

• April 7, 2025  - April 11, 2025
• June 16, 2025 – June 20, 2025

Additional information around school choice can be found on our website. For questions, please email pascopathways@k12-lets-talk.com.

Xello is our district’s online college and career readiness platform. It offers tools designed to engage our students in career exploration and planning for success after high school graduation. The number of students engaging with the Xello platform is growing, and we want to encourage this positive momentum by providing an extra incentive for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

The challenge will run from February 18 to March 24. Students that complete the assigned lessons for their grade level by March 24 will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Parents, do not miss this resource! Please encourage your student to try out the app, accessible through your child’s MyPascoConnect portal, today. They can access it through their MyPascoConnect portal at school or home. If you have any questions, please contact your school counselor for more details.

Children of all ages are vulnerable to being trafficked. Know the warning signs. 

Pay attention if your child:

• Is missing a lot of school without your permission/is truant 
• Has unexplained large amounts of cash/pre-paid cards/hotel keys 
• Is suddenly in possession of expensive items that you are a parent did not purchase/child cannot afford 
• Runs away or reports to you they are staying with friends 
• Childs online profile is sexually explicit 
• Suddenly changes peer groups or has new friends with a different lifestyle 
• Has a much older boyfriend or girlfriend

Behaviors to be concerned about: 

• Extreme/unexplained anger 
• Self-destructive behavior/self-harm 
• Mood swings/anxiety 
• Recurring nightmares 
• Promiscuous/seductive behavior 
• Reports things happening to "a friend" 
• Fear of a certain person or of being left alone 

For more information, visit www.missingkids.org