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Financial aid seminars set for December

By Times Staff
Published November 30, 2005

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The financial aid office of Pinellas County Schools will hold several postsecondary financial aid seminars at area high schools in December. The seminars will cover the Florida Bright Futures scholarship program, organizing a financial aid search, types of financial aid, government grants and loans, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, understanding the Student Aid Report, college financial aid packaging and award letters, the Pinellas Education Foundation Scholarship Catalog, scholarship essays and searches and scams.

The seminars are scheduled for:

--Thursday, Dixie Hollins High, 4940 62nd St. N, St. Petersburg.

--Tuesday, Dunedin High, 1651 Pinehurst Road.

--Dec. 8, East Lake High, 1300 Silver Eagle Drive, Tarpon Springs.

To attend a seminar, contact the school for the location. Seminars will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. Plan to arrive early to pick up handouts used during the seminar.

Students are encouraged to ask their guidance counselor about "Opportunities," a monthly scholarship listing from the district financial aid office. In addition, the Pinellas Education Foundation's online scholarship catalog is available at pinellaseducation.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Scholarships.Catalog.

For information, contact the financial aid office at 588-6013.

Applications sought for youth service awards

Student volunteers in grades 9-12 can apply for a Bright House Networks Volunteer Youth Service Award until April 7, 2006. The award honors Tampa Bay area youth who exhibit leadership and a commitment to the community. Other criteria include volunteer hours and the magnitude of people affected.

Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5, at least 50 volunteer hours and be no older than 18 at the time of the project, which must take place between April 2005 and March 2006. The project must take place in the Bright House Networks service area. Three award winners will receive a $500 savings bond and a laptop computer; two award winners will receive a $250 savings bond.

Applications can be printed from www.tampabay.mybrighthouse.com click on About Us, Community Involvement, then Youth Service Award.

Writing contest open to young authors in K-8

Scholastic Book Fairs has announced the 2006 Kids Are Authors competition - a national book writing contest open to student writers in grades K-8. Teams of three or more students must develop, write and illustrate an original book with the guidance of a teacher or educator who serves as a project coordinator.

Entries are judged on originality, content, overall appeal to children, quality of artwork, and compatibility of text and illustrations. One grand prize winner will be selected in both the fiction and nonfiction categories, along with 25 honorable mention awards. Winning entries will be published and distributed by Scholastic Book Fairs.

The deadline for submissions is March 15. For information and entry forms, visit the Web site at www.scholastic.com/kidsareauthors

Honor Thy Teacher seeking donations

The Pinellas Education Foundation is sponsoring the Honor Thy Teacher program, which gives members of the community an opportunity to honor a specific Pinellas County teacher through a charitable gift to the foundation. Teachers will be notified that a donation, for an undisclosed amount, has been made in their honor. Donations will fund classroom grants for county teachers.

For information, call the foundation at 588-4816 or fill out a donation form at www.pinellaseducation.org/index.cfm/

fuseaction/Donate.Honor_Thy_Teacher. Apply for scholarships through Dec. 16

The Pinellas Education Foundation is accepting applications for student scholarships through Dec. 16. The foundation provides more than 100 different college scholarships to more than 250 high school seniors in Pinellas County. The scholarships are as varied as the sponsors who fund them, ranging in focus from music and drama to science, math and sports. Some are designed for specific areas of study such as nursing or dentistry, and others reward academic performance and community service, and many are based on financial need. Scholarships may be either one-time awards or renewable scholarships for students who continue to meet the scholarship qualifications throughout college. Applications may be made online until 5 p.m. Dec. 16, at www.pinellaseducation.org/index.cfm/f

useaction/Scholarships.Instructions. Locations set to register for school choice 2006

Parents of incoming kindergarteners and new students who will be entering Pinellas County Schools for the first time in August 2006 must register their child to participate in the school choice application periods that begin in February and March 2006. Parents are urged to register for a student identification number as soon as possible. During December, parents may register their child between 4 and 8 p.m. at one of the convenient satellite locations listed below:

--Palm Harbor Elementary, 415 15th St. Call 669-1156.

--High Point Elementary, 6033 150th Ave. N, Clearwater. Call 538-7440.

--Blanton Elementary, 6400 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call 547-7820.

--Eisenhower Elementary, 2800 Drew St., Clearwater. Call 725-7978.

--Starkey Elementary, 9300 86th Ave. N, Seminole. Call 547-7841.

--Bay Point Elementary, 5800 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. Call 552-1449.

--Palm Harbor Elementary, 415 15th St. Call 669-1156.

--High Point Elementary, 6033 150th Ave. N, Clearwater. Call 538-7440.

--Blanton Elementary, 6400 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call 547-7820.

--Palm Harbor Elementary, 415 15th St. Call 669-1156.

--High Point Elementary, 6033 150th Ave. N, Clearwater. Call 538-7440.

--Blanton Elementary, 6400 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call 547-7820.

--Eisenhower Elementary, 2800 Drew St., Clearwater. Call 725-7978.

--Walsingham Elementary, 9099 Walsingham Road, Largo. Call 588-3519.

--Bay Point Elementary, 5800 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. Call 552-1449.

--Palm Harbor Elementary, 415 15th St. Call 669-1156.

--High Point Elementary, 6033 150th Ave. N, Clearwater. Call 538-7440.

--Blanton Elementary, 6400 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call 547-7820.

Parents should bring the following information: an original or certified copy of the child's state-issued birth certificate (children must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 to start kindergarten in August.); proof of residency (a recent utility bill for power, water, cable, sewer or noncellular phone or lease agreement with the parent/guardian's name and service address on it); the child's Social Security card (optional); a recent report card for students entering grades 1-12 (if available).

To see a complete list of registration documents that can be accepted, visit www.pinellaschoice.org Parents also may register at a Family Education and Information Center any weekday in Clearwater, 727 298-2858, or St. Petersburg, (727) 552-1595.

[Last modified November 30, 2005, 05:11:29]