July 2025 Family and Community Newsletter

Pasco County Schools is excited to announce the return of its annual Citizens’ Academy - an engaging program that offers community members a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of one of Florida’s largest and most dynamic school districts.

Participants will take part in monthly sessions throughout the school year, where they will connect with district leaders, visit schools across the county, and gain insight into key areas such as curriculum, student services, budgeting, safety initiatives, and more.

The Citizens’ Academy includes interactive tours and presentations, providing a valuable opportunity to meet with school board members, principals, and department directors. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, share feedback, and explore how the district delivers a world-class education to more than 80,000 students.

Applicants must commit to attending all eight sessions, which are held during school hours. All participants will be required to complete a volunteer background screening.

This unique experience is open to parents, community partners, and anyone interested in learning more about public education in Pasco County.

To apply, please complete our online application.

To learn more, visit our Citizens Academy web page.

Students NEW to dual enrollment wishing to take courses on their high school campus (including Pasco eSchool), PHSC campuses, or through distance education (online) must submit the online application with a priority deadline of July 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted no later than August 1, 2025.

Please contact the summer counselor at your high school or email dual_enrollment@k12-lets-talk.com with any questions. Additional information for dual enrollment can be found on our district website. 

Dear Families,

We are excited to share that Pasco County Schools will be participating in the Great American Teach-In on November 18^th.  This is a special event where members of our community visit classrooms to speak with students about their careers. This event provides students with a wonderful opportunity to learn about a wide variety of professions while seeing the connection between what they are learning in school and the world around them.

If you prefer that your child, not take part in the Great American Teach-In, please notify your child’s school so that alternate arrangements can be made.

Thank you for your continued support in creating meaningful learning opportunities for our students.

Community members and families are invited to donate new, in-package blankets and functional, non-broken wheelchairs to those in need as we enter storm season. 

Donations will be accepted from September 3 to September 17 at the following locations: 

• Sunlake High School 
• J.W. Mitchell High School 
• Wiregrass Ranch High School 
• Starkey Ranch K-8 

Your contributions will make a real difference. Let’s come together to bring comfort and mobility to our neighbors in need. Drop off your donations and help us spread warmth and hope today. 

The Tampa Tarpons are hosting a back-to-school outing at Steinbrenner Field on Friday, August 30, at 6:30 p.m., coinciding with Fan Appreciation Night!

Schools across the county are invited to attend a fun-filled evening of baseball, giveaways, games, and fireworks—all while giving back to the school district.

Ticket Options:

• $19.09 Ticket Package: Includes reserved game ticket + Tarpons hat
• $31.44 Ticket Package: Includes reserved game ticket + Tarpons hat + Meal Deal (hot dog or hamburger with chips and choice of a soda or water)

Event Highlights:

• Entry giveaway for the first 1,000 fans
• Prizes given away every inning
• Interactive games on the concourse for kids
• Post-game fireworks show

Each ticket purchased will contribute $5 back to our school district!

To buy tickets, please visit https://www.gofevo.com/event/PascoBacktoSchool2025

The Pasco Education Foundation is excited to be featured in Target Circle™. Vote for the Foundation in the Target app to direct Target funds to support our work of providing essential classroom supplies to Pasco County teachers and students. 

You can vote directly in the Target app or in your account on Target.com. Find the Pasco Education Foundation in the My Target, Explore Benefits, or See Your Deals sections on your Target Circle™ account.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Our recruitment team is excited to attend several upcoming career fairs this fall, and we’d love to meet you there! Join us at the USF Tampa Part-Time Job Fair on September 3, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Florida Atlantic University Career Fair on September 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Saint Leo University Career Fair on September 24, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These events are a great opportunity to explore our available positions, connect with our team and learn more about the rewarding career opportunities within Pasco County Schools.

But that is not all, join us at our Transportation Hiring Event on Tuesday September 9, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pasco County School District. We’re hiring Bus Drivers, Transportation Assistants, Vehicle Technicians, and more. Enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and paid CDL training support. We look forward to seeing you there!

Learn more and register! 

Drive your career forward with Pasco County Schools! Join us at our Transportation Hiring Event on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Raymond B. Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills. We’re hiring Bus Drivers, Transportation Assistants, Vehicle Technicians, and more. Enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and paid CDL training support.

Register by visiting https://ryu.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq-mform/view.php?id=205434 

Pasco County Schools is proud to participate in Florida’s Heroes in the Classroom Bonus Program, a state initiative designed to address the national teacher shortage by welcoming a new generation of educators—retired first responders and military veterans.

What is the Program?
This Florida law offers a one-time sign-on bonus of $4,000 to eligible individuals who become full-time classroom teachers. An additional $1,000 bonus is available for those who teach in high-demand subject areas.

Who is Eligible?
To qualify, applicants must:

• Be an honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder
• Provide documentation of their honorable discharge or retirement
• Show proof of no disciplinary action during the last five years of service
• Be a new teacher hired by Pasco County Schools on or after July 1, 2025

Make a Difference. Be a Hero.
If you’ve served your country or community, now’s your chance to serve in a new way—by shaping the future in the classroom.

Do we have accurate information in myStudent?

Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, it’s essential to ensure your child's school has accurate contact information, updated health and medical information.

Why accurate and up-to-date emergency cards are Important:

Custodial/Non-custodial Contacts: In the event of a health crisis or other unforeseen event at the school, accurate contact information is critical for the school to alert you. This also ensures appropriate friends/family members are designated as emergency contacts and/or pick-up for your child.

Address: Inaccurate residential or mailing addresses could delay important school information.

Health/Medical Information: In the event of a health crisis, your child's medical information is necessary. It also ensures the school is aware of specific health information related to your child.

Court Orders related to your child: Providing updated custody and/or parenting plan documents is helpful to schools when navigating difficult issues.

Completing the Parent Bill of Rights Consent form: ensures your child has access to or opts out of certain school events, curriculum, student surveys, college testing, military recruiting, and more. You can review the Parent Bill of Rights information here before completing the form in the Parent Portal.

If you don’t have an account yet, now is the perfect time to create one! You can create a Parent Portal here.

For any questions regarding the Parent Portal, emergency cards, or the Parent Bill of Rights Consent Form, please visit the Pasco County Schools webpage and check out the parent resources section. 

Out-of-School Time (OST) programs provide structured enrichment opportunities to young students while school is not in session. There is a wide variety of OST programming available through the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (USF-CARD), including swim lessons and summer camps for students with autism and related disabilities.

Check out the community calendar and summer camps to get involved and find activities near you, tailored to your needs. 

Join us at USF Tampa for our summer career camp covering self advocacy and counseling on enrollment topics. Participants will explore educational options in their career pathway, whether it be college, trade school, or straight into the workforce. Students learn to effectively communicate their strengths, abilities, interests and needs through self-advocacy training when interviewing with potential employers or applying to trade schools, colleges, or universities.

Camp Requirements:

• Age 16-21
• Enrolled in high school or a postsecondary program
• Has an IEP or 504 plan
• Diagnosis of a lifelong or acquired disability
• Utilizes a functional communication system
• Clear desire to participate in the training
• Regulate his/her behavior with minimal directions

Please visit the LAUNCH website for more details.

School Choice notifications for the June 2025 open enrollment window will be sent via email on July 21, 2025. Parents will then need to accept or decline any choices they were offered by July 25, 2025 in their Parent Portal.

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

We encourage each student and school community to participate in a district-wide spirit week in honor of Celebrate Freedom Week, observed from September 22–26.

This year’s celebration aligns with America 250, a nationwide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. As part of this milestone, we invite schools to reflect on the enduring values of liberty and democracy and to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy today. Find out more about the district-wide spirit week by visiting our website.

Give your student a head start with Career Dual Enrollment! Career Dual Enrollment equips students with the academic knowledge and technical skills needed for a successful future and career. 

Benefits: 

• College, Career, and Life Prep: Rigorous coursework to prepare for the future. 
• Save Money: Free tuition and textbooks. 
• Save Time: Accelerate educational opportunities and reduce time for additional training. 
• Students stay enrolled at their current schools while accessing career certificate programs at Fred K. Marchman Technical College (FKMTC), Pinellas Technical College (PTC), or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 

For more information regarding Career Dual Enrollment, please reach out to your school counselor. 

Pasco County Schools is proud to offer students a head start in their future careers through Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways! These pathways are more than just classes—they are a series of structured, hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare students for real-world success. 

Through CTE pathways, Pasco County students can explore their passions and build valuable skills across 14 of the 17 nationally recognized career clusters, from health science and information technology to agriculture, business, and beyond. Each program is carefully aligned with current labor market demands, ensuring students are gaining relevant, in-demand skills. 

What makes these pathways even more powerful? Students have the chance to earn industry-recognized certifications and participate in robust work-based learning experiences that boost their employability and confidence. 

Whether your student aspires to be a nurse, a graphic designer, a welder, or an entrepreneur, Pasco County Schools offers a pathway to help them achieve their goals. Learn more about the exciting programs available by visiting the Career Pathways page. 

Together, we are preparing today for tomorrow's workforce!

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. 

Beginning in the 2025-2026 School Year, students can now earn an elective credit by enrolling in a CTSO. To receive this credit, students must accumulate and document 135 participation hours between grades 6 and 12. 

Benefits of participating in a CTSO: 

• Soft Skill Development  
• Networking 
• College and Career Readiness 
• Community Involvement  
• Competitions and Recognition

Pasco County Schools currently offer the following CTSOs:

• Family, Career, and Community Leaders of Florida (FCCLA) 
• Florida Future Educators of America (FFEA) 
• Florida Public Service Association (FPSA) 
• Future Farmers Association (FFA) 
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) 
• Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) 
• SkillsUSA 

For more information about CTSOs offered at your school, please see your CTE teacher. 

Pasco County students have an exciting opportunity to get ahead through Career Dual Enrollment—a powerful program that blends high school and career training into one seamless experience. Students can earn technical skills and academic knowledge that prepare them for college, career, and life—all while still in high school! 

Through partnerships with Fred K. Marchman Technical College (FKMTC), Pinellas Technical College (PTC), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, students can explore career certificate programs in high-demand fields. Tuition and textbooks are completely free, saving families money while accelerating students’ paths to success. 

Career Dual Enrollment students stay enrolled at their home schools while gaining hands-on experience and earning credentials that give them a competitive edge in the workforce or in future college programs. 

For more information, please visit our Career Dual Enrollment page.

Pasco County Schools is proud to offer students a head start in their future careers through Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways! These pathways are more than just classes—they are a series of structured, hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare students for real-world success. 

Through CTE pathways, Pasco County students can explore their passions and build valuable skills across 14 of the 17 nationally recognized career clusters, from health science and information technology to agriculture, business, and beyond. Each program is carefully aligned with current labor market demands, ensuring students are gaining relevant, in-demand skills. 

What makes these pathways even more powerful? Students have the chance to earn industry-recognized certifications and participate in robust work-based learning experiences that boost their employability and confidence. 

Whether your student aspires to be a nurse, a graphic designer, a welder, or an entrepreneur, Pasco County Schools offers a pathway to help them achieve their goals. Learn more about the exciting programs available by visiting the Career Pathways page. 

Together, we are preparing today for tomorrow's workforce!

The Innovation Station is not your average school bus—it's a high-tech, mobile career exploration lab designed to ignite curiosity and inspire young minds! Aligned with Pasco County’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and Florida state standards, this traveling classroom brings hands-on, real-world learning experiences directly to elementary students.

From architecture and electricity to health sciences and criminal justice, each unit introduces students to exciting career paths through interactive, age-appropriate activities. It’s more than just fun—it’s foundational. By sparking early interest in diverse careers, the Innovation Station helps students connect classroom learning to future opportunities, building confidence, creativity, and a vision for what’s possible.

Because when kids can see it, touch it, and try it—they can dream it. And that is where the future begins. In Career and Technical Education, we are preparing today for tomorrow’s workforce.

From May 18 to August 2, Pasco County Library readers of all ages can sign up for this year's Summer Reading Quest through Beanstack. Log your reading minutes and complete fun activities throughout the summer. Visit the Pasco County Libraries website for more information.

Reading with the Rays returns again this season! From now through the end of summer, kids can slide into a great book, track their reading, and earn awesome prizes. This year, when you hit 24 hours of reading, you’ll get a Suncoast Minor Savings Account with a $24 deposit to celebrate your achievement. Get your Reading with the Rays game card.

From May 9 through September 12, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a free digital destination which offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers. By creating an account on Home Base, kids will be able to read books and stories, attend author events, interact with their favorite characters, play book-based games and activities, join dance parties, and more!

The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is popular with students in first through sixth grades and educators throughout America. Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books. Kids simply read a designated number of books – library books, books borrowed from friends or books bought at Barnes & Noble. Then, kids write about their favorite part in their Reading Journal, and bring a completed journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Visit the Barnes & Noble website for more information.

As children head back to school, ensuring their safety on the roads becomes a top priority. School zones are bustling areas during drop-off and pick-up times, and even a moment of distraction can lead to serious consequences. Traffic safety in these zones is not just a legal responsibility—it’s a moral one. Parents play a crucial role in creating a safe environment for all students.

Why School Zone Safety Matters

School zones are designed to protect children, who may not always be aware of traffic dangers. Reduced speed limits, crossing guards, and signage are all in place to minimize risks. However, these measures only work when drivers follow the rules. Unsafe driving in school zones can lead to accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.

Safe Driving Tips for Parents in School Zones

Here are some essential tips for parents to follow when driving near schools:

1. Slow Down - Always adhere to posted speed limits in school zones. Slower speeds give drivers more time to react and reduce the severity of accidents.

2. Stay Alert - Avoid distractions like texting, eating, or adjusting the radio. Children can be unpredictable, and full attention is necessary.

3. Obey Crossing Guards - Crossing guards are there to protect children. Always follow their signals and instructions.

4. Yield to Pedestrians - Stop for children and adults at crosswalks. Never block a crosswalk when waiting to turn or at a stoplight.

5. Avoid Double Parking - Double parking can block visibility for other drivers and pedestrians. Use designated drop-off zones whenever possible.

6. Use Car Seats and Seat Belts Properly - Ensure children are buckled up correctly before moving the vehicle.

7. Be Patient - School zones can be congested. Allow extra time for drop-off and pick-up to avoid rushing.

8. Watch for Buses - Never pass a school bus when its stop sign is extended. Children may be crossing the street unexpectedly.

Final Thoughts

By driving safely and responsibly in school zones, parents help create a secure environment for all children. It’s a simple yet powerful way to show care and consideration for the community. Let’s make school zones safe—one careful drive at a time.

As students return to classrooms, communities experience a surge in both vehicle and foot traffic. With this seasonal shift comes a renewed responsibility for everyone—drivers, parents, students, and schools—to prioritize safety.

Take a moment to review the newly approved Board Policy on USE OF BICYCLES, SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS, GOLF CARTS, AND OTHER MOBILITY DEVICES.

 Increased Traffic Means Increased Responsibility

The start of the school year brings more cars on the road, more children walking and biking, and more buses making frequent stops. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school zones are high-risk areas for young pedestrians, especially during morning and afternoon hours.

 Safety Tips for Drivers

1. Slow Down in School Zones – Always follow posted speed limits and be prepared to stop at any moment.
2. Stay Alert – Watch for children crossing the street, especially near crosswalks and intersections.
3. Put Down the Phone – Avoid using electronic devices while driving, especially in school zones. Even a quick glance can lead to a serious accident.
4. Obey School Bus Laws – Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign.

 Tips for Parents Dropping Off Kids

1. Follow School Drop-Off Procedures – Each school has specific rules for drop-off and pick-up. Familiarize yourself with them and follow staff directions.
2. Use Designated Drop-Off Zones – Avoid double parking or letting children exit the car in undesignated areas.
3. Stay in Your Vehicle – If possible, remain in your car to keep the line moving smoothly and safely.
4. Be Patient and Courteous – Everyone is trying to get their children to school safely. A little patience goes a long way.
5. Avoid Distractions – Refrain from texting, checking emails, or using apps while in the school zone. Your full attention is needed to keep children safe.
6. Teach Kids Safe Habits – Remind children to look both ways before crossing and to use sidewalks and crosswalks.

Tips for Pedestrians and Students

1. Use Crosswalks and Sidewalks – Always cross at marked areas and walk on sidewalks when available.
2. Be Visible – Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in low-light conditions.
3. Avoid Distractions – No texting or headphones while crossing streets.
4. Walk in Groups – Younger children should walk with an adult or in groups for added safety.

 A Shared Responsibility

Safety is a community effort. Schools can support this by:

• Hosting safety awareness events.
• Ensuring signage and crosswalks are clearly marked.
• Working with local law enforcement for traffic control during peak hours.

Back-to-school season is a time of excitement and new beginnings. Let’s make it a safe one by staying alert, putting down our devices, and looking out for one another. Whether you're behind the wheel, on foot, or guiding your child through the school gates, your actions make a difference.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable summer, remember to prioritize hydration, sun protection, and be mindful of heat-related illnesses. Always wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Additionally, when participating in activities, especially those involving water or heights, wear appropriate protective gear and supervise children closely.

Here's a more detailed breakdown regarding heat safety:

• Hydration - Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Consider electrolyte-rich drinks if you're sweating heavily.
• Sun Protection - Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapply every two hours, and seek shade during peak sun hours (10 am to 4 pm). Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
• Clothing - Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothing to help your body regulate temperature.
• Limit Outdoor Activities - Schedule strenuous activities for cooler parts of the day and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces.
• Never Leave Anyone in a Car - Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even with the windows cracked.