Cabana Spas Has So Many Ways To Help You Relax, Refresh & Renew!

Jenny, Sasha, Astrid & Gina enjoy a day at Cabana Spas on S.R. 56, receiving just some of the offerings available to the spa’s clientele to help them “Relax, Refresh & Renew!”

When chaos and stress are running up the score in the game of life, Cabana Spas offers a place to call a personal time out.

Located in the Seven Oaks Plaza on S.R. 56, Cabana Spas promotes itself as a place to, “Relax, Refresh & Renew.”

“Every one of our services fulfills at least one of those categories,” says Glen Harrod, who co-owns Cabana Spas with his wife, Jill.

Services available at Cabana Spas include hydro massage, oxygen therapy, facial LED therapy, an infrared sauna for multiple people, teeth whitening and more.

The rejuvenation begins as soon as a customer steps through the door, leaving the hustle and bustle of 21st century Wesley Chapel far behind. Within, it’s a “New Age” atmosphere at Cabana Spas, according to MacKenzie Carr, area manager of Glill (“It’s a combination of our names, Glen and Jill,” says Glen), Inc., parent company of the business “The energy of the store is relaxing,” Carr says. “You’re not really walking into a business; you’re walking into our home.”

At Cabana Spas, the concierge service is more like hospitable pampering.

“We want to make sure our clients are taken care of and we give them the royal treatment” says Carr, who explains that first-time customers begin their Cabana Spa experience with a conversation about what they want to achieve.

“We’re going to sit down with a client and have a consultation with them and ask them, ‘Do you want to relax, do you want to refresh, or do you want to renew?’”

A Unique Menu Of Services

Options are selected from Cabana Spa’s menu of services and treatments based on desired outcomes, such as relieving muscle tension or improving skin conditions.

“We’re big on making our customers feel good about themselves internally and externally,” says Carr. “We have a lot of services that take care of the skin and the hydro massage that makes you feel good on the inside.”

Services are provided in a self-directed manner, meaning clients generally apply treatments such as teeth whitening and facial masks themselves after receiving instruction from a Cabana Spas team member. Likewise with services such as the hydro massage, a deep-tissue stimulation delivered via a table with a mattress-like top that transmits energy from pulsating jets of water to a client’s body.

MacKenzie Carr and Tiarra Irish-Phillips will make sure you have all of the information you need before you try any of the relaxing and refreshing therapies at Cabana Spas, including (right), the FitBomb Infrared Sauna, where 2-3 people can relax or even enjoy an workout together.

One service not available at Cabana Spas is indoor tanning (although that is available nearby, at Glen and Jill’s South Beach Tanning Company location on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Plaza; see below), Cabana Spas does harness the reputed cosmetic power of light in the forms of facial LED therapy, which uses intense illumination from different colored lights as treatment.

According to Wesley Chapel store manager Tiarra Irish-Phillips, each of four different colors used in the LED light therapy at Cabana Spas has specific benefits.

“Blue light is going to kill bacteria, so it’s really good for acne-prone skin,’’ she says. “Red light is going to help with scarring and fine lines or wrinkles and the green light is really good for oily or sensitive skin and blackheads. The yellow light has a relaxing effect and it’s really good for sunburn on the face.”

The hydration station is another popular service with Cabana Spas’ clients. It’s an open-ended capsule that mists the body with steam, which can include ingredients such as an aloe-based moisturizer.

“It’s like a steam bath from the neck down and is really good for hydrating the skin,” says Irish-Phillips.

Getting the benefits of a dry sauna has typically meant enduring not only heat, but the tedium of inactivity during a sweat session. That is not the case at Cabana Spas, which features an infrared-heated space called the FitBomb. It is cozy in size, with a capacity for 2-3 people, but is configured so customers can use their session to exercise, including resistance training with built-in D-ring fixtures, or relaxing by watching videos on a monitor inside the FitBomb.

The Oxygen Bar — It’s A Social Thing

A session at Cabana Spas can be breathtaking, and for clients who want to top off their lungs with some flavored oxygen, the members-only Cabana Room features an oxygen bar.

Customers partake of the life-giving gas through disposable “nose-hose” masks, that allow for drinking beverages such as coffee or water and having conversations. Carr says the atmosphere often becomes festive and has generated the idea of a Cabana Bash, whereby customers can rent out the facility to have a private oxygen party for a few hours after 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

It is popular with customers who gather in the Cabana Room to inhale the fragrant gas and often bond over the experience, perhaps comparing the merits of berry over mint and otherwise getting acquainted. It is a popular feature at “high-end Las Vegas casinos” according to Carr.

“It’s a really good place for members to get to know other members,” says Irish-Phillips. “They’ll just start talking and build up a friendship.”

Cabana Spas has been open for about eight months, with its official Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting occurring in January.

The Harrods often partner with other Wesley Chapel businesses to promote their shopping center oasis, and that’s how Astrid Jean-Paul discovered it.

She’s a busy executive who runs the J&M Consulting Firm in New Tampa, and the complimentary certificate she received from Mercedes Benz of Wesley Chapel for being a loyal customer has also now made her a loyal customer of Cabana Spas.

“I made an appointment not knowing what to expect, thinking deep tissue massage, hot rocks, etc
,” says Jean-Paul. “I was in another world of innovation, technology, deep muscle detoxification, and so many more surprises. I now continuously invite my dear friends and family to experience this phenomenon of alternative health and beauty.”

Cabana Spas’ services are available as individual sessions or as part of a monthly membership. Jill says they want to offer flexible access to meet the lifestyle needs of as many people as possible, whether they have 30 minutes or three hours available to indulge themselves.

“We’re affordable to your budget and also convenient because some people just want to run in on their lunch hour for one service or enjoy the oxygen bar,” she says.

The Harrods are true lifestyle entrepreneurs, as they also operate three South Beach Tanning Company franchises (including the aforementioned one in Wesley Chapel), a LaVida Massage franchise in Carrollwood, and expect to open their second Cabana Spas location in the Van Dyke Commons shopping center on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz around the time this issue reaches your mailbox.

While they take pride in serving the unique needs of each of their businesses’ customers, Cabana Spas occupies a special place in the Harrods’ entrepreneurial hearts.

“With Cabana Spas, there’s nobody else doing this,” says Glen. “It’s building a brand based upon personal services at a great value. Our membership costs less than you would typically spend on one service at a resort-style spa.”

Jill sums it all up by saying, “Cabana Spas is truly our own unique brand.”

Cabana Spas in Wesley Chapel is located at 27607 SR 56. It is open  Mon.-Thur., 8 a.m.-9 p.m., 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Fri. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. For more information, call 991-4433 or visit CabanaSpas.com. You also can get timely updates about special offers and events by searching “Cabana Spas-Wesley Chapel” on Facebook.

Janelle Wells New Tampa YMCA Volunteer of the Year

The New Tampa Family YMCA on Compton Dr., just south of Tampa Palms Blvd., offers plenty of ways to not only get a good cardio physical workout but also to grow the heart through volunteering.

Janelle Wells will attest to that. Wells was recognized February 16 as the New Tampa Family YMCA’s “Volunteer of the Year” during the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA’s annual Community Impact Dinner that highlights the work of numerous volunteers from all 15 Tampa-area YMCAs.

“Not many people know that the YMCA is a nonprofit, four-star charity (as rated by Charity Navigator), focusing on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility,” says Wells, who has been volunteering at the New Tampa YMCA for three years. “They are committed to uniting all walks of life to create positive social change.”

There’s certainly plenty of choices in New Tampa for people who want to exercise, ranging from 24-hour corporate chain fitness centers to private trainers who deliver the tough love of a boot camp drill sergeant. Wells says the YMCA offers something none of those other options can offer:

“Even with the trend of privatized youth sports and boutique for-profit health fitness clubs, the Y has stayed true to its mission of serving the community, and that speaks volumes to me,” says Wells.

Wells serves on the New Tampa Family YMCA’s advisory board and is its current chair. She coaches teams and assists with community events such as the Fall Festival and Healthy Kids Day. Wells also helps with YMCA programs in communities outside of New Tampa as a member of the Tampa Metro YMCA Oversight Committee.

Volunteering at the YMCA also gives Wells — who has a Ph.D. degree in Health and Human performance from the University of Florida in Gainesville — a chance to combine her love of sports and healthy living with her professional expertise. She currently also teaches in the Sport & Entertainment Management program at the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business.

“I developed service-learning projects for my Sport & Entertainment Management M.B.A. and M.S. students, where each individual is encouraged and expected to volunteer 20 hours,” says Wells.

Some of the YMCA’s activities Wells and her students have been involved with are drowning prevention and the Y’s Teen Achievers and Teen Leadership development programs, as well as its Veggie Van, that sells low-price vegetables in neighborhoods lacking a nearby supermarket.

The contributions of time and energy that Wells and other volunteers make are appreciated, says Tampa Metro YMCA communications director Lalita Llerena.

“The Tampa Y is committed to strengthening the community, but we couldn’t do this without the help, support and guidance of our volunteers,” she says.

Wells cites, “compassion, courage, commitment, and service,” as principles guiding her volunteer efforts and daily living. Describing herself as “a working mother of three,” Wells says volunteering and serving others is its own reward and considers the opportunities to do so with the YMCA as another way the organization benefits her family.

“The Y has shaped my life through (its) spirit of service and connection,” says Wells. “It’s a haven that allows me the opportunity to live healthy, engage with my family and serve the community.”

Since opening in 2001, The New Tampa Family YMCA has become a go-to place in New Tampa for residents wanting to engage in not only fitness routines, but in other activities as well. Members can swim in the City of Tampa’s only 50-meter full-Olympic-size pool, get a workout in the indoor wellness facility that’s equipped with everything from weight machines to treadmills, or find a group activity such as aerobics, basketball and so much more.

There’s even a rock wall available for indoor mountaineering. Youth sports such as basketball and a variety of camps are available for children, as well as classes providing instruction in swimming, martial arts and more.

For more info about recreational activities and volunteer opportunities at the New Tampa Family YMCA, located at 16221 Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms, visit online at TampaYMCA.org or call 866-9622.                         

Dr. Teena Hughes Has Been Treating New Tampa’s Kids For 20+ Years!

Dr. Teena Hughes (second from left, seated) and her happy, professional staff can help keep your kids healthy at Dr. Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A. Pediatrics off E. Fletcher Ave.

While growing up in Orlando, pediatrician Teena Hughes, M.D., decided early in life that she wanted to be a physician and heal young people.

“I always wanted to be a pediatrician,” she says. “That was my ultimate goal since the ninth grade.”

She achieved that goal, becoming a Board-certified pediatrician after earning her M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, followed by a three-year residency at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Since then, Hughes has been helping New Tampa families raise healthy children for more than 20 years.

Her experience includes practicing as part of a healthcare group for seven years and now, from her own solo practice in the University Medical Park at E. Fletcher Ave. and N. 46th St., about five minutes south of Tampa Palms Blvd.

Families visiting Dr. Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A., Pediatrics will find plenty of space. The lobby and well-child areas were enlarged, while new bathrooms and exam rooms were added in a recent expansion.

“In pediatrics you don’t get just one person coming to see the doctor,” Dr. Hughes says. “It’s usually (two or more) people in a group, with strollers.”

Services provided to patients start even before a child is born, with free prenatal get-acquainted visits and consultations available for moms-to-be.

Routine exams for school and sports are conducted and Dr. Hughes carries a complete line of vaccines as she recommends that parents follow immunization schedules set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control or as required by their school district.

When it comes to treating childhood afflictions, Dr. Hughes and her team are prepared to treat everything from allergies to whooping cough.

She also is on the staff of the pediatrics department at the nearby Florida Hospital Tampa off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

The staff also is ready to take care of patients quickly, so the journey back to good health can begin.

“We always offer same-day appointments and try to get everybody in that needs to get in,” Dr. Hughes says. “Otherwise, they’ll just go to a walk-in clinic, but it’s much better to see your regular doctor.”

Receptionist and medical assistant Katie Klovski concurs. “We’re not going to turn them away,” says Klovski. “I want to make sure they’re taken care of and their medical needs are addressed.”

Klovski adds that one thing families can do to ensure things go smoothly during a medical appointment is to bring in your updated insurance cards whenever there are coverage changes.

Treating patients well is just as important a part of the care provided by Hughes Pediatrics as treating them quickly, according to nurse practitioner Brandy Higson, DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). “It’s important to build a rapport so they feel like they’re getting the proper attention and you can have a trusting relationship.”

Trust is indeed an important part of any healing relationship, says Michelle Blackmon, LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). “When they trust me, they’re comfortable asking for what they need.”

Blackmon has been with the practice for 14 years and speaks with confidence regarding the staff’s ability to take care of these young patients.

“We can handle anything that comes up,” she says.

Whatever maladies patients bring in the door, receptionist Jessica Archiquette says a caring attitude can help the office’s patients feel better.

“It’s important to show respect and empathy while taking care of their needs,” Archiquette says.

The commitment made by Dr. Hughes and her staff is such that many of their patients continue with the practice through their college years.

“A lot of them still need vaccines for college, so we’ll still see them if they want to come in,” she says.

Having treated an entire generation of children, Dr. Hughes is learning how much some of those patients appreciate her work.

“Some of my original (patients) are now bringing in their own kids,” she says. “It makes you feel like maybe you did a good job.”

Kendra Green is one of those former patients with children who are now patients of Dr. Hughes. She gives the practice five stars in her online Google review.

“It was only right that I trust her with the care of my children as well,” Green wrote. “Any time that I have contacted the after-hours service, I am responded to within the hour. Anyone I know with children, I always recommend this office.”

Also giving Hughes high approval in a Google review is Carly Reed, who writes, “Best caring and friendliest doctor. Teena is the best and she loves the kids and always makes sure to find out what’s ailing them.”

Two of the trends that Dr. Hughes says she finds noteworthy among her patients are growing problems with childhood obesity and diabetes. She says it’s not only important to eat the right foods, but to eat them the right way…as a family.

“It’s important to eat together,” says the longtime New Tampa resident. “You learn more about your children if you eat dinner together.”

Hughes also recommends limiting video games and electronic device usage and increasing exercise with things like walking, bike riding and sports to promote good childhood health.

Having previously worked in a group practice, Dr. Hughes says she finds that she actually likes the business side of what she does. Staying on top of things makes all of the difference as far as having the resources to attract good staff members and treat all of her patients’ needs appropriately.

“I think a lot of doctors just want to be doctors, but you can’t do that when you have your own practice,” Dr. Hughes says. “You have to make sure everything is completed and properly billed. It’s a lot easier to do that now with everything online.”

Most insurance plans are accepted at Dr. Hughes Pediatrics, which also participates in the Florida Healthy Kids program and in Medicaid.

Dr. Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A., Pediatrics is located at 4444 E. Fletcher Ave. For appointments and more information, call 903-0060 or visit TeenaHughesPediatrics.com (where you’ll find useful parenting and health links, as well as downloadable patient registration and history forms).

Wesley Chapel Office Of Pasco Cardiology Associates Expands Its Open Hours

The staff at Pasco Cardiology Associates in Wesley Chapel include (l.-r.) med. asst. Annette Vandenburgh, Dr. Binu Jacob, MD, FACC, practice manager Natalie Parsons & receptionist Joseph Hart.

As the population of Wesley Chapel grows, so does the need for its residents to have access to high-quality medical care.

For those who need the services of a cardiologist, Dr. Binu Jacob, M.D., FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), and Dr. Ramanath Rao, M.D., FACC, are adding Tuesday morning hours to the schedule at their Pasco Cardiology Associates office located directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Windfair Professional Center.

As of Mar. 1, Pasco Cardiology Associates is now open on Tuesday mornings, 9 a.m.-noon, in addition to the regular office hours on Thursdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We just see the population of Wesley Chapel growing tremendously and our patients are asking more and more (for us) to be more present in this community,” says Dr. Jacob, who received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Miami (Florida) Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and his Board certification in Cardiology & Heart Failure from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.

He returned to the University of Miami in Florida to become Board-certified in Electrophysiology.

Dr. Jacob joined Dr. Rao in 2010 at the Pasco Cardiology Associates office in Zephyrhills and they opened the Wesley Chapel office together in 2012. Dr. Rao earned his M.D. degree from the University of Mysore Medical College in Mysore, India, and completed his Cardiology Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, NY.

Both doctors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle a range of heart and vascular issues, but as Dr. Jacob explains, they have adopted an approach whereby each of the physicians focus on one particular “system” of a patient’s cardiovascular infrastructure.

“Dr. Rao and I always joke that he’s the ‘plumber’ and I’m the ‘electrician,’” says Dr. Jacob. “He deals with anything heart attack — and heart disease — related, venous disease and vascular disease, so he focuses on your ‘plumbing.’ I focus on the electrical aspects of the heart, electrical pacemakers, defibrillators, or if somebody needs an ablation, where we go into the heart and fix an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). That’s the aspect that I deal with.”

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) website, catheter ablation is a procedure that destroys small areas of heart tissue that are causing irregular heartbeats.

Some of the conditions treated at Pasco Cardiology Associates are: cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle), peripheral artery disease (obstruction of large arteries), congenital heart disease (defect at birth), stroke, and angina pectoris (chest pain).

Services provided include coumadin clinic (to determine if coumadin, an anticoagulant medication, should be prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots), exercise and nuclear stress tests (where a small amount of a radioactive substance is ingested by a patient to determine blood flow to the heart), electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (or Echo tests) and Holter monitoring (a Holter monitor is a device worn by a patient and continuously records the heart’s rhythms during normal activity) among others.

Insurance policies issued by most major carriers are accepted, as is Medicare.

An Ounce Of Prevention…

What Dr. Jacob prefers, however is that people take care of their cardiovascular systems before repairs are needed.

He emphasizes prevention and says that it’s important for people to manage their lifestyle and risk factors by controlling what they eat and making regular exercise, such as walking, a part of their routine. “I really try to teach my patients disease prevention,” says Dr. Jacob, who is a Wesley Chapel resident.

For Dr. Jacob, his journey to becoming a cardiologist was something he set out on at an early age, entering medical school at age 19 after applying himself and getting ahead in his secondary education by taking advanced placement courses at Ely High School in Pompano Beach, FL.

Dr. Jacob credits his mother, who worked as a nurse for more than three decades, as a major influence on him.

“She always said, ‘Treat your patients like family,’ so I refuse to see somebody for just a matter of minutes,’’ he says. “I have to take my time and understand where they’re coming from.”

Dr. Jacob adds that he takes a conservative approach to treating his patients, preferring lifestyle adjustments over treatment and, if treatment is needed, always  opting for the least invasive procedures possible first.

“Too many people nowadays do a knee-jerk reaction where they want the latest and greatest, but not necessarily what’s beneficial for them,” says Dr. Jacob. “I really advocate to try the conservative things first.”

Hjalma Johnson has been a patient of Pasco Cardiology Associates for four years. He says his heart is in good hands around the clock with Dr. Rao.

“Dr. Rao is a consummate professional,’’ says Johnson. “He does follow-ups and calls to let me know if we need to do anything else and I have his cell phone number and can call him 24/7.”

In addition to Dr. Jacob and Dr. Rao, there’s a team of support professionals at Pasco Cardiology Associates who interact with patients.

Annette Vandenburgh is a medical assistant who makes her professional priority quite clear. “Number one is patient care,” Vandenburgh says. “We’ll do anything for the patient to make sure that everything is taken care of.”

Practice manager Natalie Parsons says patients can help themselves by bringing in their proof of insurance and a picture ID for their first visit and also recommends that you bring in bottles of all of your prescriptions each time you come to the office.

“Then, we can see who is prescribing the medication and when it was last filled,’’ she says.

The “face of the office,” according to his colleagues, is receptionist Joseph Hart. He says making often-anxious patients and their families feel better begins when they come in the door.

“I want them to come in and feel comfortable and assured that they’re going to get the care they’re expecting.”

With the additional availability to Wesley Chapel patients, Dr. Jacob anticipates Pasco Cardiology Associates will become further established as a contributing member of the local medical community.

“As Wesley Chapel grows,” he says. “I want us to grow with it.”

Dr. Rao and Dr. Jacob are affiliated with Adventist Health System’s Florida Hospitals in Hillsborough and Pasco counties (including Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) and Dr. Jacob is affiliated with Bayfront Health Dade City.

The Wesley Chapel office of Pasco Cardiology Associates is located at 2649 Windguard Cir., Suite 102, in the Windfair Professional Center in Wesley Chapel. For more information or to make an appointment, call 788-0439.

Academy At The Lakes — An Independent Option For Students

Students at Academy at the Lakes on Collier Pkwy. in Land O’Lakes receive top-quality academics and have opportunities to participate in school sports, theatre and other programs.

Wesley Chapel families considering an independent school option for their children’s education will find everything they’re looking for at Academy at the Lakes (AATL) on Collier Pkwy., near S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes.

Consisting of two campuses on opposite sides of Collier Pkwy., AATL has a PreK 3-Grade 12 curriculum geared towards college preparation. Head of School Mark Heller says the day-to-day school experience at AATL develops more than academic knowledge.

“We have very strong academics, but so much more,” says Heller, who has been Head of School for 10 of AATL’s 25-years of existence. “We equip students with a set of skills that will last them for the rest of their lives.”

Heller adds that emphasizing things like good manners and even just mastering the basic handshake prepares students to interact easily and effectively with the world beyond AATL. He refers to this part of the school’s routine as its “hidden curriculum.”

“Our hidden curriculum helps build confidence and confidence builds success,” Heller says.

One way that schools, independent as well as public, measure student success is how many of their graduates who apply to college are accepted. According to information provided by AATL’s marketing office, that figure is 100 percent for the years 2014-16, with $7 million in scholarships offered for that same period.

Ryan O’Malley is a Class of 2017 AATL graduating senior with a mailbox full of college acceptance letters from Florida State, Central Florida and others. He says is waiting to hear from UCLA and Notre Dame before making a decision. O’Malley gives much of the credit to AATL‘s college counseling program that emphasizes applying to schools that match a student’s interests, talents and academic achievement.

“They helped me learn where I fit best when it comes to  deciding which college to go to,” says O’Malley.

As far as his educational experience at AATL, O’Malley cites the benefit of the school’s  smaller class sizes than he encountered while attending the public King High in the Hillsborough County School District.

“The teachers here really get to know you,” O’Malley says.

According to Heller, that’s the way it is supposed to work.

“Everyone has different gifts and a huge job of our school is to bring out those gifts,’’ he says. “It’s an awesome and wonderful task.”

Director of admissions & marketing Penny Rogers cites a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio (for elementary through high school grades; the ratio for PreK3-Kindergarten is only 8-to-1) as a factor in creating a nurturing learning environment.

“Your child will not get lost here,” says Rogers, who lives in Wesley Chapel and has two daughters attending AATL, which has 460 students in all of its grades. “We want (each of our) students to find (his/her) passion.”

It Starts With Academics

To help each student find his or her passion, AATL offers a rigorous curriculum with a wide assortment of honors classes and is a College Board-approved Advanced Placement Capstone school, a trademarked educational program. High school students can participate in Capstone to develop their skills and talents through exploration and research of academic and real-world issues.

Students interested in technology will find plenty of options with AATL’s Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics program (STEM), which begins with the youngest students in PreK3, who, if they haven’t encountered an iPad before, will as part of their Academy education. Other science and technology educational opportunities include a substantial robotics program, explorations of Lake Myrtle in the school’s recently purchased pontoon boat, a semester-long medical seminar, experiential trips to the Amazon rain forest and opportunities to compete in science and math competitions.

Artistic exploration and expression is promoted at all grade levels. In addition to classroom instruction in studio and performing arts, there are theatrical productions and musical concerts in which to gain on-stage experience. Literature is celebrated with events like Poetry Camp, where students gather before a video-recorded campfire, snack on s’mores and read aloud poetry ranging from the classics, such as the works of Rudyard Kipling, to student compositions written in observance of Black History Month.   

As an independent school, AATL’s teachers are able to focus on things other than standardized testing. Upper division English teacher Kim Vreeland, who also has taught in public schools in Pasco, Leon and Palm Beach counties, says teaching at an independent school allows her to tailor her instruction to accommodate the needs of her students.

“To be able to connect with each child is important,” says Vreeland, a Lexington Oaks resident. “To do that, I adjust how I deal with each student. We want to get the best out of every student and let them become the best version of themselves.”

That approach to education is appreciated by Sue Maxwell, whose 5th grade daughter has been a student at AATL for three years.

“We chose Academy at the Lakes because we felt that it was the best fit for our daughter,” says Maxwell. “It is a wonderful place for learning. The teachers are fair, supportive and most importantly, encouraging.”

Athletics & More!

AATL also has an active and successful athletics program. The school is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and has 40 middle school, junior varsity and varsity teams in 14 sports, including football, cheerleading, basketball and volleyball.

The school was the 2014-15 winner of the Carey E. McDonald award as Florida’s top Class 2A high school sports program and, this year, the AATL Wildcats began competing in the Class 3A division. There is a no-cut policy for all teams and more than 70 percent of AATL’s students in grades 5 through 12 participate in at least one school sport.

Community involvement is another feature of AATL student life. The school participates in food drives and other community outreach activities with organizations like Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa.

Heller says AATL fulfills its role as an educational resource for the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa communities by keeping in mind words at the heart of the school’s mission statement.

“We celebrate the love of learning and the joy in the journey,” he says.

AATL is accredited by the  Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS),  by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC).

Academy at the Lakes’ middle and upper schools are located at 2331 Collier Pkwy.; grades PreK3 through 12 are located at 2220 Collier Pkwy. For more information, or, to schedule a tour, visit AcademyAtTheLakes.org or email admissions@academyatthelakes.org. The phone number is 909-7919.