April 2025 Family and Community Newsletter

During Celebrate Literacy Week in January, students were encouraged to participate in a bookmark contest. Their challenge was to design a bookmark promoting books, reading, or their school Library Media Center. These winning designs were chosen from hundreds of wonderful submissions. Congratulations!

View ALL of the winning bookmarks from the contest

Elementary

Middle School

Each winning school also received 500 bookmarks featuring the student's design for their Library Media Center!

Get free books for your child sent right to your door!

Eligibility for New Worlds Reading is as follows:   

1. Students in VPK-Grade 2 scoring below the 40th percentile on FAST Star Early Literacy/Reading;  
2. Students in Grades 3-5 scoring below Level 3; and  
3. Students in Grades K-5 receiving Tier 2 or Tier 3 Reading Intervention Support (as reported by districts in Survey 2 and Survey 3).  

To see if your child qualifies, please reach out to their classroom teacher. 

To apply, visit the New Worlds Reading website.

This free virtual event will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Students can attend up to three sessions led by expert Pasco County Schools teachers. Students can view the course review offerings and register via Sched.  For questions, please reach out to Heather Rulison at hrulison@pasco.k12.fl.us.

We are so proud of all of our schools and students for participating in our annual Pasco Students Speak showcases that occurred throughout the county in January, February, and March. Students had the opportunity to determine a topic around this year's theme, Rights and Responsibilities, and research, write speeches, and present their speeches to their classmates and school.

"It is important to remember that with rights come responsibilities. In the present day, we frequently read and hear discussions about “my rights” or “our rights.” While we all have the right to freedoms such as free speech, we also have a responsibility to use these freedoms in a manner that respects the rights and well-being of others, with an understanding of how that responsibility is necessary for the greater good of all." (Gorn NHD 2025)

We are looking forward to seeing each school representative at our annual district showcase on Saturday, April 26 at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Center.

Schedule:

• High school - session 1 at 8:30 a.m. Watch the livestream
• Middle school - session 2 at 10:45 a.m. Watch the livestream
• Elementary school (group 1) - session 3 at 1:15 p.m. Watch the livestream
• Elementary school (group 2) - session 4 at 3:30 p.m. Watch the livestream

Early Childhood Programs is excited to host a community event at Mittye P. Locke on April 10.

This will be a free community event hosted by Early Childhood Programs for anyone to attend! The event will include dinner, community vendors, photobooth, face painting, games and activities, bounce house, child development/mental health/dental education, classroom tours, and door prizes. We hope to see you there!  

Where: Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy  When: Thursday,  April 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 5206 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL 34652.

Our non-instructional staff is the heart of our schools and hold a wide range of roles. As part of our retention efforts and career growth supports, HREQ has a program that is offered to those employees who are looking to become teachers! Through our SRP to Teacher program, you can get up to 18 credit hours of tuition reimbursed every fiscal year, plus we cover the costs of those hefty textbooks! 
 
But that’s not all – there are some practicums and internships that aren’t always friendly for those who need to work, but we’ve got your back. As someone who is a part of this program, you can keep your hourly wage and benefits while you complete your final internship and any other required practicums. The supports are there to make sure you have a stable journey towards your dream career.

What’s required? One full year of employment with Pasco Couty Schools, a completed application with a letter of recommendation from your building admin, and enroll in a College of Education program working towards a degree in the below critical needs areas.

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education 
• Exceptional Student Education 
• Middle Grades Math/Secondary Math 
• Middle Grades Science/Secondary Science 
• Middle Grades ELA/Secondary ELA 

Plus, the work our non-instructional staff does is incredibly impactful. Interested in transitioning your career and fulfilling your future goals?

See more information about the program or apply today for a role with Pasco Schools!

Questions? Reach out to work@pasco.k12.fl.us for more information! 

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. Check out the mobile dental van schedule for more information.  

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.

The Pasco Education Foundation is seeking adult volunteer mentors and qualifying students in 8th-11th grade to participate in our Take Stock in Children program. This is a statewide program with an innovative multi-year program model of mentorship, life skills, college success coaching, accountability, and scholarships to work toward our mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education.  

For more information, visit the Pasco Education Foundation's website. 

Students who earn industry certifications through their CTAE courses can receive FREE college or technical college credit hours. The College Cost Savings document, created in accordance with Section 1003.02(1)(j), F.S., lists these certifications that can be transferred to college credits, helping to reduce future college tuition costs. The document includes the name of the associate degree program each certification can be applied to, the number of college credits you can earn, and the cost savings for each certification.

Pasco County Schools is proud to highlight the incredible opportunities available to our Adult Education students. Whether you're looking to earn your GED, explore career pathways at our Beyond Expos, or enroll in ESOL classes, there's something for everyone! 

ESOL Classes

Our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes are designed to help non-native English speakers improve their language skills. These classes focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking, providing students with the confidence and ability to succeed in both personal and professional settings. We offer flexible class schedules to accommodate the needs of our students. 

Integrated Education and Training (IET)

Our IET programs combine adult education with workforce training, allowing students to simultaneously improve their basic skills and gain industry-specific knowledge. This integrated approach helps students quickly transition into the workforce with the skills needed for high-demand jobs. Flexible class schedules are available to ensure that students can balance their education with other responsibilities. 

We are committed to supporting our Adult Education students and helping them achieve their dreams. For more information on these opportunities, please visit our website or contact the Adult Education office.

Pasco County CTE Students have the opportunity to participate in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) at their schools. Career and Technical Student Organizations enhance student learning by integrating real-world applications, leadership, and personal development into the classroom. They build employability and career skills through hands-on experiences in Career and Technical Education programs. CTSOs guide students in developing career paths and provide opportunities to gain necessary skills through activities, programs, and competitions. Additionally, students can hold leadership positions and attend conferences to network with peers and industry professionals. 

Visit the Career and Technical Education (CTE) webpage for more information regarding current CTSO offerings in Pasco County Schools.

Teach your child to:

• NEVER use his/her full name when creating an account
• Only accept "friend requests" and to "follow" people they know personally
• NEVER post a nude or racy photo on ANY platform - it cannot be permanently deleted
• Never activate or allow location service functions inside gaming devices, apps, or on social media platforms

Sexting 101

• Sexting involves sending someone sexually explicit messages or photographs
• Sexting is also known as "sending nudes"
• Research shows that 1 in 5 teens admit to sexting
• Many parents are generally unaware that their teen is engaged in sexting
• It is essential that parents talk to their child about sexting so that the child feels comfortable approaching you about the topic

Tips for monitoring devices:

• Guard your kids at the location level - keep internet devices out of the bedroom
• Guard your router/network signal
• Guard the device. Predators can communicate with children through iPhones, iPads, laptops, and gaming stations- anything with a chat feature
• Understand how each of your child's social media platforms work and monitor your child's usage of each one