The Weekly Update #4

Dear Families,

There's nothing like a good book! Did you know, students who read just 20 minutes a day greatly improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and overall academic achievement? With the help of community partners, we have created some fun reading challenges on our literacy webpage. Check them out and #GetCaughtReading!

I had the opportunity to attend the Hillsborough Regional STEM Fair this month, and as always, I was very impressed. I love seeing the innovative experiments our students explore. The STEM Fair Grand Awards Ceremony is this evening, and I encourage you to watch and support your school. The Awards Ceremony will air online at HillsboroughSchools.tv or on Spectrum channels 635/636 and Frontier channels 32/34.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education and have a great rest of your week,

Superintendent Ayres

Mark your calendars for the exciting 4th Annual Race for Education 5K or 1-Mile Run/Walk on Saturday, April 12! We're thrilled to partner with the Hillsborough Education Foundation to enhance public school education in our community.

Enjoy a 15% discount when you register this month with code LOVEHCPS. Find all the details and sign up at bit.ly/RaceforEducation5K.

Registration includes a swag bag with a race-day bib, freebies from our partners in education and a shirt. All finishers receive a medal.

• Race shirt for all participants
• Post race food and drink
• Goodie bags for all participants
• Finisher medals to all participants 5K/1 Mile
• Awards to Overall 5k Male/Female
• 5k Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place (five-year age groups)

Hillsborough County Public Schools has a Healthy Schools Task Force, led by School Board Member Lynn Gray. The Task Force is comprised of experts from across our district and special guests from the community who have a shared goal in seeing our students and their families live healthy lives.

Thank you to Ashlee Cappucci, our Supervisor for K-12 Physical Education, Health, Dance, and Driver's Education, for putting together the following list of tips to help your family train for the 5k!

Is your senior sleeping in and missing first period? Are they begging to stay home almost every day? Are they missing homework assignments and forgetting about tests?

Sounds like your senior has a case of Senioritis!

That is a term used to describe a lack of motivation and performance that students experience as they near the end of high school.

Yes, Senioritis is real… And it is picking up steam right about now with the Class of 2025!

So, what can be done about this very common condition?

We went to a trusted, experienced high school principal to find out the dangers of Senioritis and how to prevent it.

Brittney Wilhelm is the former principal of Jefferson High School and she’s now preparing to open our newest high school, Morgan High in Wimauma. She has a senior in high school herself and was more than happy to answer our questions!

Q) In your experience as a high school principal, what is Senioritis and when does it start to happen?

Principal Wilhelm: Senioritis is the time when our seniors start to feel like school is over for them. This usually happens the second semester of senior year. For most students, they are down to one or two classes to finish, and they’ve passed all the required assessments. This is the time they start to see high school as less important because they are looking forward to college, military enlistment, or the workforce.

Q) Why should seniors fight Senioritis? How important are the last few months of high school?

Principal Wilhelm: There are requirements that are met during the last couple months of high school. Each class you are in is going to have an impact on your GPA and is reported on your final transcripts. There are also vital announcements that are made during the last few months of school, like where to check the name printed on your diploma, or when to arrive for graduation rehearsal.

Q) What is your advice to seniors who are slacking off this last semester?

Principal Wilhelm: I would challenge each senior to ask those who have graduated before them what they would have done differently their senior year. Most former graduates who come to visit us say they would have been more involved, spent more time at activities, or paid more attention to their senior year if they could do it again. Believe it or not, you will miss the school, the pep rallies, the lunchroom conversations, and even though it’s hard to admit, you will miss your teachers. Take the time to be a kid for the last few months of high school, you will have the rest of your life to be an adult.

Q) Any advice to parents to help their seniors stay focused?

Principal Wilhelm: Check in on them. I have a senior at home and it is very easy to think of them as adults who have this handled… But they still need us. We have the unique opportunity to help them with this last final push before they walk the stage at the Florida State Fairgrounds and we usher them off to their adult life. Until then, ask them how school was and check in on their grades. Hang their report card on the fridge for old time’s sake. If you have questions, call the school. We are here to help!

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9, Teachers Federal Credit Union is excited to announce its Annual Teacher Appreciation Week Contest. Nine deserving educators who have made outstanding academic contributions to their communities will be awarded classroom grants.

Nominate an educator you know, and they could be the recipient of a $2,500, $1,500, or $1,000 grant for their classroom as well as Teachers FCU swag for their students.

Nominations accepted March 4 - March 18.

On February 22, the teams that qualified for the Black History Brain Bowl Finals traveled to Middleton High School for the big competition.

Congratulations to all the teams who took part! It was a very close contest and we are so proud of how much our students learned about Black history in the process of practicing for this competition!

The winners are:

The Academy of Health Professions at Tampa Bay Tech High School is dedicated to preparing future healthcare professionals with hands-on experience, industry certifications, and a strong academic foundation. Students gain real-world skills in medical fields such as occupational and physical therapy, dentistry and radiology—setting them on the path to success in the ever-growing healthcare industry.

Students at Steinbrenner High School are diving into the exciting world of video game design! Under the guidance of Game Design Instructor Eric Nedow, they’re learning the fundamentals of design and coding while exploring the many career opportunities in the gaming industry. From creating characters to programming mechanics, this program helps students develop the skills needed to bring their gaming ideas to life.

Congratulations to the Bloomingdale and Steinbrenner High School Girls Basketball teams on advancing to the FHSAA Class 6A Final Four!

Game Schedule: March 6 at RP Funding Center, Lakeland:

Steinbrenner vs. Southridge - 9am

Bloomingdale vs. Tocoi Creek - 1pm

Get your tickets here!