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Pasco County Schools Teach Community

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: January 21, 2009

If there is one thing many parents wonder about, it is what their children are learning in school and what they can do to help.

To help parents get a better handle of what happens in class, the District School Board of Pasco County will host Pasco County Schools' Community Night Jan. 29. During the multi-site event, parents can learn more about curriculum presented in the district's schools.

In previous years, the community night would only be at one school, but this year the district decided to do something different. Eleven schools will hold a two-hour seminar on the same night. Some of the topics will include reading, writing, cyberbullying, higher order thinking, science and technology as well as math proficiency.

"Before we would just have one for the whole county and everyone couldn't come," said Maureen Moore, director of communications for the Pasco County School District. "This year we are doing it differently so the community can learn about relevant topics to the schools in their sector. The one thing each session will have in common will be the superintendent's podcast to kick off the event."

Schools' business partners and organizations like the PTSA are invited along with parents. Moore said the night should give the community a better idea about what is happening in area schools.

"We are hoping that by making the community more aware of what is happening in the schools, we can make our students more successful," Moore said. "We are also making this easily accessible for the Spanish speaking population by having Spanish translators at every school."

Principal Angie Stone of Sunlake High School said she thinks the event will be successful. "We will have teachers from each grade level teaching about functional writing, writing on demand and the writing process," Stone said. "The benefit of having this meeting will be to give parents a look at what is happening in all grades. This will help parents to understand the expectations of their students as well as help them to meet those expectations"

For information, visit pasco.k12.fl.us.

The Pasco County Schools Community Night will be Jan. 29 at the following locations and times:

• Writing for Success - 6 to 8 p.m. - Land O' Lakes High School -20325 Gator Lane, Land O' Lakes. Call (813) 794-9400 for details.

• Higher Order Thinking - 6 to 8 p.m. - Pasco Middle School, 13925 14th Street, Dade City. Call (352) 524-8400 for more details.

• Preparing Students for a Global Society - 6 to 8 p.m. - Seven Springs Middle School, 2441 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call (727) 774-6700 for more details.

• Writing/Summarization - 6 to 8 p.m. - Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O' Lakes. Call (813) 346-1000 for more details.

• Reading/Differentiated Instruction - 6 to 8 p.m. - Thomas E. Weightman Middle School, 30649 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel. Call (813) 794-0200 for more details.

• Science and Technology for the Next Generation - 6 to 8 p.m. - Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel. Call (813) 346-6000 for more details.

• Math Proficiency - 6 to 8 p.m. - Zephyrhills High School, 6335 12th St., Zephyrhills. Call (813) 794-6100 for more details.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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