Dear Families,
I hope you’re enjoying your summer vacation and staying safe and healthy.
I want you to know your district staff is working diligently on school reopening plans for the fall. We are listening to the recommendations by the CDC and the Florida Department of Health to make the best decision for our staff and our students.
We are also taking into account the School Reopening Survey that so many of our families took the time to fill out. Thank you. You will find the results of that survey below. We are also planning to send out another survey in a few weeks to further gauge how our families feel about returning to the classroom.
At this time, we are continuing with plans to hold our graduations in July. Some of our students signed up to serve our country and will be leaving before those graduations take place. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the privilege to watch these graduates receive their diplomas at special ceremonies at their schools. I want to thank the schools for holding these ceremonies, and I look forward to watching the rest of our seniors walk across the stage in July.
Finally, I’d like to remind our families about our Summer Fuel Up meal distribution going on at 78 school sites across the district. These breakfasts and hot lunches are available Monday through Thursday to all our students between 10:30am and 12:30pm. More information about the schools distributing summer meals can be found at HillsboroughSchools.org/summermeals.
I will continue to be in communication with you, our families, throughout the summer in order to provide the most up to date information about our school reopening plans and the steps we are taking to ensure your students’ health and safety.
Respectfully,
Addison Davis
Superintendent of Schools
Here are some of the results from that survey:
Q) If school campuses reopen in the fall and the district resumes a normal campus-based schedule, what is your comfort-level in sending your child to school?
Not Comfortable - 23%
Somewhat uncomfortable - 21%
Comfortable - 13%
Somewhat comfortable - 15%
Very comfortable - 25%
Q) If school campuses reopen in the fall and the district resumes a normal campus-based schedule, would you prefer your child to continue with virtual learning?
Yes - 21%
Maybe - 29%
No - 48%
We are excited to announce Summer VPK will be offered for our youngest learners from June 22 through July 23, Monday through Thursday. Student hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. There is no cost for Summer VPK. The program will be offered at the following elementary school sites:
Boyette Springs Elementary - 10141 Sedgebrook Dr., Riverview
Bryan Elementary - 2006 West Oak Ave., Plant City
Chiles Elementary - 16541 Tampa Palms Blvd., Tampa
Clair Mel Elementary - 1025 South 78th St., Tampa
Crestwood Elementary - 7824 North Manhattan Ave., Tampa
Doby Elementary - 6720 Covington Garden Dr., Apollo Beach
Mango Elementary - 4220 County Road 579, Seffner
Mitchell Elementary - 205 S. Bungalow Park Ave., Tampa
Mort Elementary - 1806 E. Bearss Ave., Tampa
Oak Grove Elementary - 6315 North Armenia Ave., Tampa
Reddick Elementary - 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma
Schwarzkopf Elementary - 18333 Calusa Trace Blvd., Lutz
Sheehy Elementary - 6402 North 40th St., Tampa
Thompson Elementary - 2020 E. Shell Point Rd., Ruskin
Registration for Summer VPK Programs is available here.
Our programs will follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for COVID-19. There will be no field trips and no water activities offered and no visitors will be allowed on campus during the summer programs.
Congratulations to the five Bloomingdale graduates who will be joining military academies prior to graduation. Devin Dyer-U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Maurice Frost-U.S. Naval Academy Prep School, Caleb Hancock-U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, John Vuong-U.S. Naval Academy and Daphny Wilches-U.S. Air Force Academy.
Congratulations to the Plant City High graduates who have joined the military and will be leaving for basic training. Nehemiah Cofield-USMC, Braden Majors-U.S. Army, Ariana Velez-USMC and Ricardo Francisco-USMC.
Many schools didn't have these covered courts, which made physical education and recess nearly impossible in the Florida sun.
Board Member Steve Cona was especially appreciative of the district's determination to get this done. He said two P.E. teachers had already reached out to him expressing their gratitude. "This will make a huge impact to our students and our teachers," Cona said.
The coverings will be 80 x 100 feet wide and provide enough shade to let several classes play outside.
Our School Board approved the appointments of 34 principals during Tuesday's board meeting.
Francine Lazarus - Seminole Elementary
Delilah Rabeiro - Clark Elementary
Anna Brown - Robles Elementary
Cynthia Crim - Dunbar Elementary
Jason Pepe - Nelson Elementary
LaTiecea Hailey-Brown - Mort Elementary
Regina Gordon - Forest Hills Elementary
Rita Ann Irving - Witter Elementary
Kristin Tonelli - Egypt Lake Elementary
Kelly McCluney - Palm River Elementary
Angela Ventura - Cannella Elementary
Emily Tirelli - DeSoto Elementary
Nicole Bennett - James Elementary
Ashlee McManamey - Ippolito Elementary
Tiatasha Brown - Giunta Middle
Gregory Basham - Rodgers Middle
Odalys Pritchard - Coleman Middle
Henrissa Berry - Young Middle
Dennis Mayo - Marshall Middle
Dina Langston - Armwood High
Brandon Glenn - McLane Middle
Marcos Rodriguez - Bloomingdale High
Kelly King - Hillsborough High
Katie Rocha - Newsome High
Mickey Boddie - Middleton High
Tiffany Ewell - Steinbrenner High
Earnest Wood - DJJ
Michelle Fitzgerald - DW Waters
Shonda Flores - N. Epic
Joseph Hilbush - Carver
Ivin Gunder - Riverview High
Matthew Hoff - Hillsborough Virtual
Kimberlee Hayward - Foster Elementary
Congratulations to the 10 seniors who had perfect attendance from kindergarten through their senior year! That's 2,340 days! They received laptops and a $500 scholarship from our community partners!
Congratulations to Alex Dyer, a senior at Newsome High, for being named a 2020 Presidential Scholar. The honor goes to just 161 high school seniors across the country. The scholars typically go to the White House to receive their medal, but because of Covid-19, Alex just received his in the mail!
Congratulations to Kevin Liotta-DeVivo from Roland Park K-8, Lindsey Jones from Hunter's Green Elementary and Principal Ellen Oberschall From Bryant Elementary for winning Elementary Music's top awards! They were surprised with the honor on a zoom call!
Superintendent Davis will update us on the Covid-19 response in our schools and our experts will address physical and preventative health & provide resources for help.
If you have a question you'd like our district experts to answer, email them to PhysicalForum@hcps.net - and tune in to Facebook.com/HillsboroughSch Thursday, June 18th at 6pm for the answer.
A healthy student is always a better learner!
Are you a rising 9th or 10th grader?
Read and chat with local author Lakema Massey about her book Lailani's Choice. Each participant will receive a complimentary copy of the book!
To learn more about the author click here!
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Email: newsletter@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Website: HillsboroughSchools.org
Location: 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL, USA
Phone: 813-272-4000
Facebook: Facebook.com/HillsboroughSch
Twitter: @HillsboroughSch