New School Boundaries Set In Motion

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Pasco School District officials will not name High School GGG off Old Pasco Rd. in Wesley Chapel until after the school’s boundaries are set.

Two days after a heated rezoning meeting took place on the west side of Pasco County, the first stage of east side of Pasco rezoning that will affect many students in Wesley Chapel kicked off Sept. 16 in the media center at Wesley Chapel High.

With a new grades 6-12 high school — currently referred to as GGG High — on the way, District officials are hoping the new school can alleviate the overcrowding at all of Wesley Chapel’s middle and high schools.

Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) currently is at 153 percent of its capacity, the most in the county by far. Built for 1,633 students, WRH today has 2,495 students enrolled. It is currently operating on a 10-period school day, adopted for the 2015-16 school year, to ease overcrowding.

WRH’s  primary feeder school, Dr. John Long Middle School, was built for 1,327 students but currently enrolls 1,870, or 147 percent of its capacity.

Wesley Chapel High (WCH) was built for 1,506 students, but has 1,669 enrolled, or at 111 percent of capacity, while Thomas E. Weightman Middle School has 1,186 students, or 122 percent of its 975-student capacity.

gggwebPasco’s School Boundary Committee (SBC), with administrative representatives from every school, as well as two parents from each school, met to begin the process of drawing the boundaries for GGG, which will open in time for the 2017-18 school year on Old Pasco Rd., just south of Overpass Rd.

Chris Williams, the director of planning for the Pasco School District,  is hoping things don’t become as contentious as they have in the Trinity area, where dozens of parents have railed against the School Board over plans to redraw J.W. Mitchell High’s attendance zone.

“At least here (in Wesley Chapel), (parents) may be concerned but they seem to be willing to wait to see how the process evolves and see what the committee does and evaluate then,” Williams says.

Both the high school committee and middle school committee came to the one preliminary opinion –— it makes sense to start filling in the boundary with students located in Quail Hollow West, Lexington Oaks, Grand Oaks, The Oaks, Cypress Estates, Stage Coach Enclave, Cypress Creek Town Center and Veteran’s East (the area located south of Veterans Elementary School encompassing Tampa Downs Heights, Saddlebrook Village West (Westbrook Estates), Willow Lake and Quail Hollow Village).

That would account for roughly 1,000 of the 1,200 high school students that would attend GGG next year, pulling 650 students from Wesley Chapel and 380 from Wiregrass Ranch, while also taking enough middle schoolers to relieve both John Long and Weightman.

That’s just for starters, though. The committee still has to consider socio-economic balance, maintaining feeder patterns, future growth in certain areas (especially in Wiregrass Ranch), transportation and subdivision integrity.

The committee came up with 3-4 other options, as it also has been tasked with helping to relieve crowding at Sunlake High and Charles S. Rushe Middle School in nearby Land O’Lakes.

GGG is being built at a cost of $65-million on 100 acres of land bought by the county 10-11 years ago., Williams said.

“We receive impact fees for new houses, so for every new regular single family house, that brought the district just under $5,000 (per home),’’ Williams says. “On average, that’s $9.5-million per year, so you can see to get to $65 million takes a few years.”

The School District generally looks for 60-70 acres of land for new schools, so Williams says there is plenty of additional space to build a middle school (and maybe even an elementary school) on the site in the future, although there currently is no timetable for building those schools.

The SBC will hold its next meeting on Thursday, September 29, at WCH’s media center from 10:30-1 p.m., and a third meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 20.

A meeting for parents to debate the SBC’s recommendations will be held at WCH on Tuesday, November 29, with the SBC meeting on Friday, December 2, to discuss feedback from the parent’s meeting

The SBC will determine if any changes are needed before forwarding the proposed GGG boundaries to the School Board for a January vote.

New Wiregrass Elementary Hits The Ground Running On Opening Day

WCElem3It was a countdown worthy of a trip to the stars:

“…three, two, one! Open the door!”

That was the cry from dozens of students and parents gathered outside Wiregrass Elementary off Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel on its opening day.

Principal Steve Williams obliged the crowd by pushing open the heavy gate and quickly stepping aside, as the surge of youthful humanity streamed in, bringing what had been simply a new school building to life. The scene was captured by a Pasco County School District photographer who posted the video, entitled “Wiregrass Elementary School — First Day,” on the school district’s official YouTube channel.

The significance of a new school’s grand opening was central to the message Williams relayed to the world via the same YouTube video.

“You know, when you build a school, there’s only one chance to have a Day One, and today has been fantastic,” Williams said. “I love to see a brand new school and today has been worth all the hard work that we’ve put into making Wiregrass Elementary.”

Pasco County School District superintendent of schools Kurt Browning was on hand for the big event and likewise went in front of the camera to express satisfaction about the new school’s opening, as well as optimism about its role in the community.

“We’re excited about Wiregrass Elementary School,” Browning said. “It got off to a great start this morning and we’re happy for this community to be able to provide this school.”

WCElemThe school is located about a mile south of S.R. 56, and opened with just over 500 students enrolled.

With a capacity of 800 students, there’s room to accommodate future growth, as developers build more houses in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) nearby and families move into them. Like nearby Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), Wiregrass Elementary is named after the Porter family’s Wiregrass Ranch, which is helping drive a lot of residential growth in Wesley Chapel. Also like WRH, the new elementary school’s mascot is a bull.

Technology & More

Befitting a new school of the digital age, the classrooms at Wiregrass Elementary have been outfitted with some of the latest technology, such as 3-D computing stations, Apple TVs, iPads and MacBooks.

Williams kept his Wiregrass Bulls and their families updated during the school’s construction via the district’s YouTube channel. In his debut video, “Building Something Amazing,” Williams dons a hardhat and sports a fluorescent lime green safety vest over his collared shirt and tie to connect building a school with developing young minds.

“There’s a tremendous metaphor of building a school and building a learner,” Williams said.

WCElem2In the video, Williams extended the metaphor by explaining how families and the community form the foundation for learning and that using the right educational tools for each student is important. For example, doors can open up opportunities for growth and success, and stairs are for overcoming challenges and reaching the top.

“Our expectation is that this is going to be a very progressive and exciting school,” Williams said. “This is the kind of school where the community will want their kids to go because of the amazing outcomes that (will be) coming out of this school.”

You can see the videos mentioned in this story and other official Pasco County School District videos on the school district’s official YouTube channel. To learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, visit the school at 29732 Wiregrass School Rd. in Wesley Chapel, go online at WRES.Pasco.k12.fl.us, or call 346-0700.

Goddard School Hoping To Open Soon

GoddardThe Goddard School is extending its franchise into Wesley Chapel, with the early childhood education provider hoping to open a new location by the end of the year across Bruce B. Downs Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC).

According to local owner Dinesh Patel, the new school could soon be opened, weather permitting. He says the summer rains have slowed down construction of the 10,000-sq.-ft.- learning facility, but he is still pushing the company building it.

“We have broken ground, and it looks like we should be able to open by the end of this year in the last quarter,’’ says Patel, a businessman who lives in Punta Gorda but is planning to relocate his family to Wesley Chapel.

Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is a successful franchisor of The Goddard School, with more than 400 locations in 35 states. It was established in 1986 in Malvern, PA, by AAMCO Transmissions founder Anthony A. Martino. Using its proprietary F.L.EX (Fun Learning Experience) program, a play-based curriculum, the school focuses on early education, from the age of six weeks to six years old.

“One of our friends was involved in it, and we liked the concept,’’ Patel says. “”We did a little more looking into it and thought it was a really good idea.”

Patel feels modern day daycares have their place, but don’t work as well as they could. The Goddard School, he adds, takes the daycare model and adds a strong developmental education thrust to it, using the most current and academically-endorsed methods of teaching, while collaborating with parents.

“Nowadays, daycare doesn’t work,’’ he said. “It’s the 21st century. Young children’s brains are like sponges at that young of an age, and child development should be an important part of it.”

Goddard School, however, isn’t a dreary, regimented academic facility. It stresses learning in a fun environment, for best results, whether that is through physical activities like yoga or music and languages. “The children work at their own pace,’’ Patel says, adding that the curriculum is “very advanced.”

In site plans issued to Pasco County, the main learning center will be flanked by two playgrounds – one 7,950-sq.-ft. for toddlers, and another 5,068-sq.ft. playground for infants.

Patel says he expects to hire at least 25 teachers – who must hold degrees in early childhood education or related fields and also must complete an exclusive Goddard School training program — and will maintain a low student-to-teacher ration.

The Wesley Chapel location will be the fifth in the Tampa Bay market. Other locations are in Lakewood Ranch, Lithia (Fishhawk area), Temple Terrace and Westchase.

For more information, call Patel at 603-6100, or visit GoddardSchool.com/tampa/wesley-chapel-bruce-b-downs-boulevard-fl.

Wesley Chapel Resident Saloni Mehra Earns Top Honors At Land O’Lakes

Land O’Lakes High valedictorian & Wesley Chapel resident Saloni Mehra, with members of the New Tampa Family YMCA synchronized swim team.
Land O’Lakes High valedictorian & Wesley Chapel resident Saloni Mehra, with members of the New Tampa Family YMCA synchronized swim team.

Saloni Mehra went into her final year of high school in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Land O’Lakes High tied with eight other IB students in the academic battle to become Class of 2016 valedictorian.

That’s exactly how she finished, too.

“It’s crazy,’’ she says.

Mehra, a Wesley Chapel resident, finished her high school career with a 4.79 grade-point-average, becoming one of nine – that’s right, we said NINE – valedictorians at Land O’Lakes.

“It’s kind of a first,’’ Saloni said, chuckling. “They (school officials) just didn’t know how to settle it.”

Which Saloni says is fine with her and her co-valedictorians. She says all nine valedictorian Gators are friends, and none minded the fact the school couldn’t figure out a tiebreaker.

As for who gives the traditional valedictorian speech, Saloni says the nine settled that by co-hosting graduation, kind of like presenters at an awards show.

Being co-class valedictorian is, “icing on the cake,’’ Saloni says. She has always been driven to succeed in the classroom, so getting good grades was just what she expected.

In high school, Mehra thrived in an IB program regarded for its tough schedule of projects and homework. She says that balancing her schedule became one of the more important survival skills she learned.

“It was pretty brutal,’’ Saloni says. “There were a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of work. But, it taught you how to manage your time. Sometimes, the work just piles up and you have to prioritize, so you meet your deadlines…lots of deadlines.”

How many all-nighters did Saloni pull in four years of high school?

“I lost count,’’ she says.

Her frenetic schedule did not keep Saloni from being involved in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at Land O’Lakes, competing in state competitions all four years with the club, nor did it stop her from swimming for the Gator varsity team, where she advanced to Regionals twice.

She says her greatest love, however, has been synchronized swimming, where Saloni was one of the first members of the New Tampa Family YMCA in Tampa Palms program as an 8-year-old when that program began a decade ago.

With a background in gymnastics and dance — which she did for 13 years, learning everything from Classical Indian to Bollywood to Jazz to Hip-Hop, with a little ballet thrown in — Saloni became an exceptional synchronized swimmer, the Summer Olympic sport which is often referred to as water dancing.

“My Mom came home from the YMCA one day and told me they were starting this team for this sport, and we had no idea what synchronized swimming was,’’ says Saloni. “I decided to try it out and I loved it.”

Saloni, who does solos, has advanced to Junior Olympics, where she will be competing nationally for one of the last times June 24-July 2 in East Meadow, NY. She also competed for a spot on the U.S. National team during tryouts in Arizona in April.

Although she says she once had Olympic dreams herself, next year, Saloni plans to swim with the Florida Gator synchro club team. Saloni picked the Gainesville school, which she will attend on a Presidential Scholarship, over 10 others, including the likes of Boston University, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Until then, she says she plans on putting all of those all-nighters and daily swimming practices on the back burner for a bit. The IB program definitely taught her a little bit about time management.

“I’m going to take some time off and enjoy the summer,’’ Saloni says.

‘T.D.’ & His Grandkids Share A Special Milestone

Dempseys graduatingWEBMasterson and Alexis Dempsey of Wesley Chapel graduated from Saint Leo University on April 30.

Alexis received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree during the morning commencement ceremony, and Masterson received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in International Tourism & Hospitality Management during the afternoon graduation exercise. Masterson, an Honors graduate, also got to deliver the farewell address to the Class of 2016.

Both are the grandchildren of Tom Dempsey, the founder, chairman and CEO of Saddlebrook Resort off S.R. 54. “T.D.” (as many in his family call him), who received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Saint Leo in 2008 and is a Trustee Emeritus — got to personally present his grandchildren with their degrees. He served on the Saint Leo Board of Trustees and was on the search committee for Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr., the former president of Saint Leo University.

Dempsey, who has the middle name Leo, said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow up. Alexis is a superstar and doing a fantastic job at the resort. Masterson already has over four years of experience at Saddlebrook and is pursuing his passion for music. I am extremely proud of them both, and presenting them with their degrees, was a special moment indeed.”

Both students currently work at Saddlebrook Resort. Alexis is the Catering & Conference Services manager, and Masterson is a DJ and entertainer as well as having experience as a guest activities specialist, corporate team building facilitator, athletic event referee and fitness instructor.

When asked about the significance of the upcoming milestone, the siblings, who are 16 months apart, responded in a similar fashion: “Saint Leo has been a part of our lives since we were young,” said Alexis. “The university’s values reflect our same family values – it’s the way were raised.”

Masterson added, “The same values are infused within the staff at Saddlebrook Resort. Our grandfather did everything for our family, and this attitude is reflected in his work – his leadership, service, and support to make the business successful. T.D. is a ‘big picture’ thinker. He believes in the importance of service leadership, and we had the privilege of witnessing it firsthand.”

Masterson was an actively engaged student who served as President of both the L.E.A.D. Scholars Organization and the International Tourism Club at St. Leo. He also is a Big Brother to the Gamma Upsilon Sorority and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. In addition, both he and Alexis served as peer ministers in Saint Leo Abbey’s Youth Ministry Program.

Alexis also stays busy with numerous community service activities. While earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, she was the recipient of a four-year merit award given to two students in each state based on exemplary community service and academic achievement. She logged more than 600 hours of community service with the Children’s Home Society of Central Florida. She is very active at her church, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, and the Junior League of Tampa Bay, where she serves as Metropolitan Ministries Food and Materials Coordinator. She recently joined the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club.

While Masterson described his sister as more “polished” and himself as more “raw,” he considers his sister his “co-warrior” through life.

“Now that we’re starting our professional careers in the family business, it’s an ‘open competition’ and we intend to push each other to be the best that we can be,” he said.

T.D. wouldn’t have it any other way.