Category: Education

By Matt Wiley

In a room full of “suits,” business men and women sit and listen as the group’s president addresses them, before a check for thousands of dollars is donated to a specific fund. It sounds like the scene inside a Wall Street boardroom, but it’s actually two student clubs meeting inside the media center at Liberty Middle School, located off of Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms.Continue reading

By Matt Wiley & Gary Nager

Some serious waves have been made in the pool by both New Tampa high schools this season, including some good results by both Freedom and Paul R. Wharton high schools at the recent State Swimming & Diving Championships.

The top finishes by either New Tampa high school at the State meet (held in Orlando Nov. 9) were by Wharton’s Dee Sopapong, who was an impressive 3rd in the girls’ 200 individual medley and 4th in the 100-yard breastroke, to give the Wharton girls 31 points and a 22nd place team finish.

The only scoring from Freedom at States was provided by the boys 200-yard freestyle relay team of Marc Berson, Aron Corneau, Brennan Noll and Max Wei, which finished 15th and scored Freedom’s only 4 points at the State meet.

Prior to States, however, the Freedom girls swimming team brought home the school’s first-ever team title in swimming, at the Western Conference Championship meet held October 10 at the Temple Terrace Rec Center.

“It’s a huge meet,” said Alex Richardson, Freedom’s boys and girls swimming coach, of the Conference Championships.

Freedom’s girls walked away with the Western Conference trophy with a total of 383 points, beating out Wharton, which finished second (351). On the boys side, Wharton finished 3rd in the Conference (343 points) and Freedom was 4th (329).

Freedom’s top girl swimmers at the Conference meet were Morgan Harkness, who was 2nd in the 500 free (5:46.92) and 3rd in the 200 IM (2:33.65), and also teamed with Alexis Weingberg, Caitlin Slater and Mary Cate Espinosa to win the 400-yard freestyle relay (4:15.28). Harkness also anchored Freedom’s third place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with Caitlyn Slater, Mary Cate Espinosa and Moira Espinosa. Slater also finished 3rd in the individual 100 free (1:01.71) and Mary Cate Espinosa was 2nd in the 50 free (28.51).

Richardson says that Harkness was the girls’ most valuable swimmer this season, after shattering a nine-year-old school record earlier in the season for the 500-yard free. He adds that, overall, it’s been a pretty successful season, as the girls team finished 8-1.

“I’ve only been the coach (at Freedom) for two years now, but it’s probably been the best season in five or six years here,” he says. “And, we won a championship.”

“There’s been a lot of interest in the swim team this year,” says Richardson. “We’re going to continue to pick up new swimmers and train the ones we have. There are only better things in store for next year.”

The top Freedom boy swimmers at the Conference meet were Marc Berson (1st in the 200 free, 1:52.26; and 2nd in the 100 fly, 55.79); Max Wei (1st in the 100 free, 52.16); Aron Comeau (2nd in 50 free (23.95); and Jordan Schollenberger (2nd in the 100 breast, 1:06.64, 3rd in the 200 IM, 2:12.82). The four also combined to win the 400 free relay for the ‘Cats (3:33.07).

Sopapong was Wharton’s top girls swimmer at the Conference meet as well, winning both the 200 free (1:59.84) and the 100 breast (1:09.91). Allyson Bell also had a big meet, winning the 50 free (27.29) and finishing 2nd in the 100 free (1:01.23). The other top finish for the Wildcats girls was Katie Scott’s 2nd in the 200 IM (2:24.35).

Wharton’s top boy swimmer at the Conference meet was Ryan Heckel, who won the 50 free (23.81), finished 3rd in the 100 free (53.20) and was part of Wharton’s 1st place 400 free relay team. Also on that winning relay was Jeffrey Stump, who also was 3rd in the 50 free (24.13), and 4th in the 100 free (53:25). Brennan Noll finished 3rd in the 500 free (5:29.74).

Every year, hundreds of children return to Independent Day School’s “Camp IDS” summer camps because of the program’s extensive selection, highly trained teacher-counselors, safe and nurturing environment — and because everyone has a great time!

Whether you’re a parent looking for something for your adventurous middle school student to do this summer, or you’re searching for a safe and nurturing environment for your three-year-old, the Independent Day School-Corbett Campus (IDS-CC)’s Camp IDS, located at IDS-CC (less than 25 minutes from most of New Tampa on Orange Grove Dr. in the North Tampa/South Carrollwood area), has more than 70 different options from which to choose for kids ages 3-18.

Preparing your three- or four-year-old for pre-kindergarten? How about “Bookworms in the Garden” or “Fun with Numbers?” Have a budding scientist? There’s “Junior Astronomy,” “Junior Scientists” and “CSI IDS” camps. Is there a future Broadway star in your family? Check out “That’s Entertainment!” And, when it comes to sports, Camp IDS offers everything from basketball to matball.

Divided into seven weekly sessions from June 11-July 27, Camp IDS offers full- and half-day camps in a broad array of fields – academics, communications and technology, performing & visual arts, recreation, sports and travel. “Camp IDS has been providing something for everyone from pre-kindergarten through high school for many years,” says IDS-CC’s Marie Massara, who co-directs the camp with Assistant Head of School Nick Rodriguez and middle school teacher Stephen Shoe.

While many campers participate in traditional sports camps such as soccer, volleyball and archery, children looking for something new can choose from camps in disc golf, filmography, Chinese kids’ games or earth-friendly art, just to name a few.

Fine arts camps in musical theatre, drama, band, dance, photography and painting complement other creative endeavors in cooking, newspaper reporting, broadcasting and computers.

A Wilderness Extreme camp for 5th-8th graders, for example, includes hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, canoeing and inline skating. And an Adventure Camp for grades 3-5 takes children to a variety of attractions around the Tampa Bay area.

“Campers can strengthen reading, writing or math skills in the morning and then dance on stage or shoot hoops in the afternoon,” Rodriguez says. “They can paint, perform in a Broadway musical, build and launch model rockets, learn archery, cook, bake and so much more. We offer something for everyone.”

Shoe adds, “What’s been great about Camp IDS is that the children can choose what they really want to do. The wide selection of camps exposes children to new things that they might not normally know much about, and offers them an opportunity to expand their interests in a positive and supportive environment.”

For example, middle school thrill seekers can join IDS middle school teacher Tom Bronson on the roller coaster connoisseur’s dream trip, Adrenaline Camp.

Last year, participants rode roller coasters in five parks in five days, and this year, Bronson hopes to top that record. He also is conducting a SCUBA camp, so middle schoolers can earn their NAUI certification and then head to the Florida Keys for diving.

“The majority of children who come to Camp IDS have been here before,” says Massara. “They keep coming back because they feel safe, welcome, and they have a great time.”

“Our highly trained teachers and experienced camp counselors love what they do,” adds Shoe. “And that fun and positive attitude permeates the entire camp.”

Founded in 1968, IDS-CC is a fully accredited, nonsectarian private school with more than 500 students from PreK3 through the 8th grade. At IDS-CC, all children experience the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme in a highly academic and nurturing environment focused on excellence and excitement in learning. IDS-CC has become recognized as an exemplary school with more than 6,500 visitors observing and learning from IDS-CC teachers.

For more information about IDS-CC (12015 Orange Grove Dr.) or its summer camps, visit IDSYes.com or call 961-3087 for a brochure or to take a personal tour.