MacDill Happenings

School starts the 24th of August! It is already around the corner, especially if you need to arrange for immunizations, back to school physicals or sports physicals. If you new to the area or just getting ready to enrolled your child in Kindergarten, then the best source of information is the Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) website. One thing you will need if you are new to the area, is a copy of your student’s transcripts from their last school. Another possible time consuming requirement will be immunizations and back to school physicals. If your child is entering a Florida school, then they will need a back to school physical. You will also need a copy of your child’s shot record.  Your neighbor school should have the day listed in a sign in front of the school when you can start registering up your child for school. If there is not, then the school office will be open and you can stop in and ask. Parents and students always want to have all their school supplies before the first day of school. School supplies vary from teacher to teacher. Some local stores have lists located at their stores or parents may need to contact the individual schools. Some schools may list a supply list on their websites also.

The University of South Florida Botanical Gardens hosts their 21st annual Spring Plant Festival today and and Sunday. It’s that time of year to start working on your garden.  Hours today are 10 am to 4 pm and on Sunday the Festival runs from 10 am to 3 pm.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12 years old.   There will be a basic bonsai care talk at 11am and bonsai experts will be on hand throughout the event to answer questions.  There will be a Carnivorous Plant Care talk Saturday at noon.   There will be experts on hand to answer questions.  There will be over 70 vendors selling plants and plant-related items. Vendors at this event include local plant clubs and societies, as well as, commercial growers from throughout the state. Plants offered through clubs and societies include: crotons, African violets, orchids, bromeliads, cactus and succulents, bamboo, bonsai, bougainvillea, native plants, camellias, tropical fruit trees, palms, carnivorous plants, gesneriads and more. Vistors will be able to see Gardens’ natural areas and explore collections and displays that include: orchids, begonias, mallows, bromeliads, gingers, ferns, aroids, fruit trees, palms, cycads, carnivorous plants, butterfly garden, herb and scent gardens, and much more. The Gardens maintain a living collection of over 3,000 taxa of plants and natural habitats that emphasize the rich botanical diversity of our area. On Sunday, there will be workshops from noon to 2pm. The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in fiscal year 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.

Get ready to sign up for the Tampa Theatre Film Camp 2010! Students will create live action and stop motion animation movies on Mac computers using programs like I-Movie and Garage Band and footage they shoot with digital cameras. Each student will premiere his or her film on Tampa Theatre’s big screen and receive a copy on DVD. Initial Early Bird Registration is now available for Tampa Theatre members through March 31. Pending availability, open registration for non-members will be available beginning April 1. All experience levels welcome at all sessions. The campers will be broken down into groups based on their experience levels. Each group will have its own dedicated camp counselor to guide the filmmaking process. Each filmmaker will participate in the film making process as part of a production team – from creating storyboards and scripts to shooting. All campers will particpate in post production work. All materials will be provided. Each team will end the week with a completed 3-5 minute film. The cost is $165. Dates are: June 21-25 from 9 am-noon for 3-5 grades and 1-4 pm for 6-8 grades; July 12-16 from 9 am-noon for 3-5 grades and 1-4 pm for 6-8 grades; July 19-23 from 9 am-noon for 3-6 grades and 1-4 pm for 7-12 grades. There are optional pre-camp orientations, and you can also stay for the Tampa Theatre public tour from 11:30 to 1:00. Pre-camp orientations are Saturday, June 12, 10:45 – 11:30 and Saturday, July 10, 10:45 – 11:30.

On Tuesday, Hillsborough County Public Schools is starting FCAT testing!  Students have to pass their FCAT to be able to move to the next grade.  It’s very important that your child gets a good  night of sleep and a good breakfast.  One of the best things about the Tampa school system is that the Hillsborough County Public Schools offer a free breakfast every morning regardless of income level! The schedule for FCAT testing is FCAT Reading and Science on Tuesday March 9th, FCAT Math on Wednesday March 10th, and FCAT Makeup on Thursday and Friday March 11th-12th. Grades 3 – 10 will have to do Reading and Math.  Grades 5, 8 and 11 will have to Science.  Grade 11 students who are new to the state or re-takes will do Reading & Mathematics.  MacDonald’s is trying to help during FCAT week by offering a complimentary Egg McMuffin, Apple Dippers and a milk or orange juice.  This offer is available from 6am-9am for students in grades 3 to 11.   Check your local MacDonald’s to make sure that they are participating.

Tonight the USF Bulls basketball team takes on the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Sun Dome at 7pm.  The Bulls have been playing great basketball this season with wins over No.7 Georgetown and No. 17 Pittsburgh.  The last game at Cincinnati resulted in a loss, but the Bulls always play tough at home.  Hot shooting junior guard Dominique Jones has been shredding the nets all season. Teams are focusing on Jones, but he still getting his shots, rebounds and assists!  Ticket prices start at $8. There is a special for an all-you-can-eat ticket for $20! Make sure you bring an appetite! The University of South Florida is offering free tickets to all students, high school age and younger, to every men’s and women’s basketball games during the 2009-10 season. The tickets, located in all sections, must be purchased on game day at Gate 3 of the Sun Dome Ticket Office. The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in fiscal year 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.

Make sure you mark down 16 March on your calender.  On 16 March, the Howard W. Blake Friends of the Arts Foundation presents Tapestry! – an annual showcase that weaves together creativity, talent and skill from Blake students, alumni and faculty – at the Tampa Theater in downtown Tampa.  Howard W. Blake High School is the magnet performing and visual arts high school for Hillsborough County Public Schools.  If you want to see what great things can be done with the arts, you should attend this event.  This inaugural event will showcase the best of Tampa’s school for the fine arts by featuring a wide range of styles and moods in music, writing, film, dance, and theatre. Students, faculty members, and alumni will participate in the production, which includes several collaborative works and a few surprises. All funds raised from the event will go to supporting the Howard W. Blake Friends of the Arts Endowment Fund. The foundation’s endowment provides support for the school, its students and its teachers through scholarships for needs students attending summer arts institutes and workshops. It also provides for guest artists and general assistance for critical areas of the school throughout the year. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Patrons’ Reception will start at 6:00 pm and the Performance will start at 7:30 pm. TicketMaster has the tickets for sale. Don’t wait till the last minute to get your tickets!  Parking is available at public lots near the the Theatre or on the street. There is a self-serve parking lot at the southeast corner of N. Ashley and E. Cass that charges $3 to $5 for parking.

The Hillsborough Choice Options application period for magnet programs, School Choice, and Career & Technical Education programs for the 2010-2011 school year is open from January 12, 2010, through January 25, 2010. Learn about the magnet program on 21 January at Tampa Bay Tech High School at parent information meetings. The meetings will take place from 5pm to 7:30pm. For elementary magnet, middle magnet and School Choice information the meeting will be in the Tampa Bay Tech cafeteria. For high school magnet program sessions, individual room numbers will be posted on boards near the cafeteria. Under Hillsborough Choice Options, students can apply for a magnet school, a Career & Technical Education program, or another public school with available space within Hillsborough County. Students who wish to remain at their current magnet or choice school, or prefer to attend their attendance area school, do not need to complete an application. Normally, students attend a school based on their home address. However, HCPS has more options available for students who wish to attend other schools. The Magnet School program allows students to attend schools that are in line with their academic interests. The School Choice program allows students to chose up to 3 other schools not in their normal school assignment area but acceptance is dependent on space availability. The Career and Technical program allows students to attend specialized technical schools. Applications can be completed on line by current students. New students need to complete a paper application.

On 20 January, the Minaret New Music Concert will present new music by the faculty of the University of Tampa.   New acoustic and electronic music by Tampa composers including UT faculty David Clark Isele, Bradford Blackburn, Haig Mardirosian (dean of the College of Arts and Letters) and featured visiting guest composer Zack Browning (UIUC). Performers include UT faculty Hein Jung and Grigorios Zamparas along with guest Corey Holt Merenda and Kim McCormick. The free concert will take place at Reeves Theater on the University campus from 4pm to 5pm. The University of Tampa is a medium size private university with about 5,600 students on 100 acres on a prime Tampa location on the western bank of the Hillsborough River. The University offers more than 100 areas of study and pre-professional programs through a strong core curriculum rooted in the liberal arts. An Evening College presents degree programs to adults who want to study part-time at night. Graduate programs are offered for Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Marketing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Technology and Innovation Management and Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Innovation. The MBA program is one of the largest in Florida and is one of the elite private schools in the Southeast to have AACSB accreditation. So stop by and learn how to grow and take care of your plants and check out the University of Tampa at the same time.

Come out the the Bay Palms Golf Complex at MacDill AFB for Golf Demo Day on 12 December at the driving range.  The event runs from 10am to 2pm. It is perfect time for this event will Christmas just around the corner.  Try out the latest equipment from Ping, Wilson, Adams, Nike and Cleveland golf companies.  Try out the special for 3 guests and 1 ID holder to play 18 holes with a cart for $135! You also get a hot dog lunch which is available after 11am. From 20-24 Dec, the pro shop is selling all golf balls at 10% off. Of course you don’t pay tax so you save even more than you would out in town! The Pro Shop is stocked with all the latest clubs, bags, ball, gloves, shoes and clothing. The Bay Palms Golf Complex was named ‘Best Golf Program in the Air Force’ for 2002. There are two 18-hole, par 72 courses. The challenging South Course runs along the bay. The North Course offers a prefect opportunity to work on your game. The complex has a lighted practice putting green, a 24-hour-a-day lighted driving range where a bucket of balls is only $1, a practice chipping green and sand trap areas. The clubhouse has an excellant pro shop with a great friendly staff ready to help you. The snack bar serves a great variety of food and has an especially nice breakfast menu!

On Saturday 24 October, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus will host the 17th Annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading. From 10am to 5pm, more than 50 authors including some Pulitzer Prize winners will present and sign their books. Admission is free. Meeting and listen to a diverse number of authors from Philip Caputo to US Senator Bob Graham. Books will be available for sale from the authors as well as a wide range of other books. USF St. Petersburg is a premier graduate urban institution, recognized for its vibrant community of scholars who engage and improve its community and the world. USF. St. Petersburg offers its students a one-of-a-kind university experience. The university is ideally suited to students who seek a small college atmosphere but also desire an extraordinary academic experience. Students wanting a close-knit community that fosters superior learning and personal growth look to USF St. Petersburg. Professors in USF St. Petersburg’s community of scholars conduct wide-ranging, collaborative research to meet society’s needs and engage students in service projects and partnerships to enhance the university and community’s social, economic and intellectual life. Diverse co-curricular activities promote individual development and life-long friendships. Students living on campus can have the best of both worlds– a world-class education and a fulfilling social life. Intramural sports, student organizations, clubs and water activities on the harbor are popular activities. USF St. Petersburg’s beautiful waterfront campus is located just blocks from downtown St. Petersburg featuring parks, shops, restaurants, art galleries, museums and sports venues, including Tropicana Field, home to American League Champions the Tampa Bay Rays.