Class notes
By Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2005
CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION WINS AWARD: The Central Florida Community College Foundation received a Red Baron Media Award at the 11th annual convention of the Florida Festivals and Events Association in Sarasota recently. The foundation's 2005 dinner theater program received a special judge's award in the category for event with budgets less than $99,000.
Approximately 40 special events held throughout Florida in 2004-2005 competed for awards in 19 categories. Awards were presented for promotional items, advertisements and marketing materials in each budget category.
The Florida Festivals and Events Association is a nonprofit group that provides support to 350 event organizations representing more than 750 events throughout the state of Florida. The dinner theater is an annual event that creates scholarships for CFCC students.
Tickets are now on sale for the January 2006 dinner theater production, "Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her." For dates, times and availability, call Barbara Griffin at (352) 854-2322, ext. 1416.
YOUNG SCIENTISTS HONORED: Citrus County students Heather Foster and Renee Fonseca are among the top 400 young scientists in the nation, selected from a pool of 75,000 students nationwide in the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. Ninth-grader Foster got a first place at the 50th Florida State Science and Engineering Fair for her project entitled, "How Do You Like Your Eggs? A Study of the Variation in Cholesterol Content of a Chicken's Eggs Following Controlled Dietary Alterations."
Seventh-grader Fonseca's project was "Can Bioretention Be Made Better?" Forty finalists will compete in Washington for more than $500,000 in scholarships and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" to be awarded by the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge.
THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES BARNES SCHOLARSHIP: The St. Petersburg Times is accepting applications for the Barnes Scholarship from high school seniors in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Four students will receive up to $15,000 annually for four years to attend nationally accredited colleges or universities. Applications are available at Times offices, school guidance counselors and at www.sptimes.com/scholarships Deadline is Oct. 14.
BAND CHICKEN DINNER: The Citrus High School Marching Canes will hold a chicken dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the cafeteria. Tickets are $6. For information, call band director Anthony Jackson at 726-1418.
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL SEMINAR: Florida Virtual School representative Jonathan Smith will conduct an introduction to Florida Virtual School seminar at 2 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Family Action Center, 2575 S Panther Pride Drive, Lecanto. The center can be found between the Lecanto Middle and High schools. The presentation is for home school families in Citrus County. Florida Virtual School provides free online classes and instruction to all public, private and homeschool students in Florida, offering more than 80 courses - everything from GED to honors to advanced placement courses. Call Angie Rushton at 860-0050.
CITRUS SPRINGS MIDDLE ENHANCEMENT COUNCIL MEETING: The Citrus Springs Middle School Advisory Enhancement Council meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center on days when school is in session. The next meeting is Sept. 29. All parents and the public are invited to attend. Call Citrus Springs Middle at 344-2244.
AMERICORPS SEEKS MEMBERS: Americorps tutors are needed for Homosassa Elementary, Hernando Elementary, Forest Ridge Elementary, Lecanto Middle and Inverness Middle schools. Americorps tutors receive intensive literacy training and work either one-on-one or in a small group setting with students. Tutors must commit to 1,700 hours of community service, which includes their time tutoring at the school site. During their time of service, Americorps members will receive a living allowance and earn an educational award total $4,725 toward college tuition, books or loans. Contact Helena Delgado, Americorps program director at delgadoh@citrus.k12.fl.us or 726-1931, ext. 2258.
SCHOOLS NEED VOLUNTEERS: Community members are encouraged to volunteer an hour or more a week in district schools. Opportunities can be found in the public and private schools. Call Shelby Weingarten, coordinator of the Citrus County Mentoring Partnership, at 527-5424. They will ask about your interests and skills and match you with a program or a special young person.
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS: Students in public schools and participating private schools eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch must apply each year to receive benefits. Household size and income criteria determine eligibility. Foster children may receive benefits based on the child's income alone. Applications were mailed to all public school families. Applications must be returned to Food Services at 1007 W Main St., Inverness. Those on file for the 2004-2005 school year will expire Sept. 22. Call food services at 726-1931, ext 2429. Students attending private schools can call the schools for application information.
CRYSTAL RIVER MIDDLE SAEC MEETING: Crystal River Middle School will hold its first School Advisory Enhancement Council meeting of the school year from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the upstairs administrative conference room. Officers will be elected. This year's meeting dates will be Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13 and May 11. The meetings are open to the public.
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM: The Withlacoochee Technical Institute will accept applications for the Practical Nursing Program from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays between Sept. 19 and Sept. 30. The class meets from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays for about 10 months to help prepare students for the state Board of Nursing Exam. Applicants must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED and pass the National League of Nursing Exam to qualify. Call student services at 726-2430.
CITRUS HIGH ATHLETIC TICKETS ON SALE: Athletic tickets are on sale in the front office for reserved seating for home varsity football games. They are $40. Yearly passes for all home athletic events are available for families for $120 for up to four in an immediate family, senior citizens (age 60 or older) for $15 and students for $35. Call Barbara Lewis at 726-2241. These passes will be admission for all home athletic events.
LANGUAGE LESSONS AVAILABLE: Spanish and French lessons are available beginning Sept. 12 for beginners and intermediates. Beginning Spanish will be 6 p.m. Mondays; intermediate Spanish will be 6 p.m. Tuesdays; beginning French will be 6 p.m. Thursdays and intermediate French will be 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Call Ann Marie Stone at 637-2646 for information and location.