Thursday, April 4, 2013
The new academic year begins Aug. 20 for Lutz students.
Lutz parents hoping to get a jump on planning activities around next year's Hillsborough County school calendar are in luck. The school district has released its list of important dates for the 2013-14 school year. As a bonus, it’s also released a tentative academic calendar dates for 2014-15. This school year (2012-13) ends Friday, June 7, 2013 with a release time that’s 2 ½ hours earlier than normal. Students only have one more day off before the year ends. That's Monday, May 27 in honor of Memorial Day, according to the district's website. Here’s the calendar for 2013-14: For more information about the 2013-14 academic calendar or to get a sneak peek at the dates for 2014-15, visit the school district's website.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Lutz students who opt to take the test in 2014 rather than finish high school by attending classes will soon be able to leave their pencils at home. We’d like to hear your thoughts about online testing in general.
The days of bubbling in the answers to complete a GED test are all but over. Starting in 2014, Lutz students who opt to test out for their high school diplomas will find themselves taking the exam online, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The new computerized test format is part of a national overhaul of the GED that’s set to go into place next year. In Florida, that overhaul also means harder test questions and a near doubling of the $70 fee to sit for the exam. While many students are applauding the move to computer-based testing, some are concerned it could be daunting for those who are less computer savvy. “There are people out there to this day that aren't comfortable with electronics and computers,” 27-year-old Samantha Vivlemore …
Friday, March 29, 2013
The senior not only hits the books hard, she’s also a member of Tampa Roller Derby.
Just because Ana Cheng is at the top of her Steinbrenner High School class and aced the SATs doesn’t mean she can’t mix it up with the best of them at the roller derby rink. When the valedictorian isn’t hitting the books, she’s taking hits—and giving them—as a member of the Tampa Roller Derby's Junior League, according to an article in The Tampa Tribune. Known as Apolona Ana at the rink, Cheng started playing at 15. “It’s like football on skates,” Cheng told The Tribune. “It isn’t as violent as it used to be, but I have gotten banged up.” Right now Cheng plays on the junior league, but will soon move up to the women’s division. She was recently announced as one of two Steinbrenner students to score a perfect 1600 on the SATs. Cheng was one…
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Safe Havens International advises the Hillsborough County School Board to put armed guards in all elementary schools.
A consultant hired to review school safety policies is telling the Hillsborough County School Board to put armed guards in every elementary school. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Michael Dorn of Safe Havens International (see Safe Havens' video with this article) was hired in January to review school safety policies and come up with a list of improvements. The decision to bring in Safe Havens followed the Sandy Hook school shootings in Connecticut. Safe Havens' plan for Hillsborough schools is to place trained, armed security guards in every elementary school. The firm said that the officers need to be screen and supervised as well. Superintendent MaryEllen Elia has estimated the cost for 130 security officers to be $700,000 for the…
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Free homework help is available for patrons of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative.
Having trouble with a math problem? Not sure where to start on a big report that’s due soon? There’s free help available if you happen to be a patron of the Lutz Library. The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative offers online homework assistance for students in all grades – even adults. The help is available online through Tutor.com. That website offers resources for test prep, study and job resources around the clock. It also provides one-on-one assistance without the need for an appointment. Resources on Tutor.com are available around the clock, but live help is only available from 2 p.m. to midnight daily. All students need to gain assistance with math, science, English or social studies homework is have a library card and …
Friday, March 22, 2013
The expo will be held on Saturday at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
The 3rd Annual Tampa Children’s Expo will be held on Saturday, March 23 at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Tampa Children’s Expo is part of the non-profit organization, Karing About Kids, Inc. Our mission is to educate families about the health and safety of children, help other local children’s charities in the cities of our Expos and always provide free events for the families in the community. The goal of each Expo is to produce a great event in a safe, family-friendly environment that will leave children happy and parents educated about products and resources that are available to them. Our audience consists of a pregnant mom through families with children in elementary school. We …
Monday, March 18, 2013
A bill under consideration in the Florida House would enable school principals to arm select teachers.
Imagine sending your children to school knowing they're protected from bad guys not by an armed deputy or security officer, but a fifth-grade English teacher with a Glock. That’s what the future may hold for school security if Florida Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton, gets his way. Steube has drafted a bill that would give Florida principals the power to choose teachers who would have the right to carry weapons on campus, according to The Tampa Tribune. These teachers would have to obtain a concealed weapons permit and undergo training. Principals, by the way, would also be able to determine just how many teachers are allowed to carry, making the number vary from school to school. "It would be a good deterrent," The Tribune quoted Steube as …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Spring break’s officially over, but that doesn’t mean kids have to hit the books for too long Monday, March 18.
Spring break 2013 has officially come and gone, but Lutz kids won’t have to report for class long on Monday, March 18. According to Hillsborough County School District’s website, Monday is an early release day. Regular full days resume on Tuesday, March 19. Students won’t have to get out of the vacation mode for long though. Friday, March 29 is a day off for them, but not teachers. The third grading period ends March 28, so teachers need that Friday to tally up grades. For more information about upcoming important dates in Hillsborough County schools, visit the district’s website.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Hillsborough County kids are out of school March 11-15.
Lutz kids can unplug those alarm clocks and get some extra shut eye. Spring break for Hillsborough County Public Schools starts Monday, March 11 and runs through the week. Students won’t have to dust off their books again until Monday, March 18, according to the district’s calendar. A number of other important dates are also right around the corner for Hillsborough students. The third grading period officially ends March 28, but there’s a reward for making it though. School is closed Friday, March 29 for a non-student day. Teachers, however, don’t get that day off. What’s your favorite thing to do in or near the community when the kids are out of school? Share your ideas in the comments section.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The all-state chorus from eight area schools opened the March 5 Hillsborough County School Board meeting by singing the National Anthem.
Each year the Hillsborough County School Board proclaims the importance of music in public schools at its March meeting in honor of the National Association for Music Education's Music in Our Schools Month. And this year was no exception. To celebrate, the all-state chorus composed of students from eight area schools opened the Tuesday, March 5 Hillsborough County School Board meeting by singing the National Anthem. Among those performing were students Kaylee Price, Rana Scherer and music teacher Alicia Hunter from McKitrick Elementary School. For more details, click here. Do you know students who are doing something noteworthy? Post mention of it for free on Lutz Patch. Lutz Patch is an interactive community site, and we want you to get …
