pc11-07_feature

foCUS Magazine Plant City july 2012 49

AshtonSparkman

Strawberry CrestHigh School10th Grade

EthanSparkmanTomlin Middle School7th Grade

BackSchoolto

Gettingready

for a

GREATYEAR

Getting

GREAT

Although summer is still in its prime, the beginning of a brand new school year is right around the corner. Our children face so many changes and challenges through the transitional phases of their education that it’s important for adults to offer solid support.

Feature by Deana Garrison and Cheryl JohnstonPhotography by Anthony Sassano

july 2012 focusplantcity.com50

CHERYL BODDIE

BRYAN ELEMENTARY

Advice- “� ink before you act.”Students- 714 Staff /Faculty- 104 Years as Principal- 5 years

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MARIE CARACCIOLA

DOVER ELEMENTARY AND

WILLIS PETERS EXCEPTIONAL

Advice- “Come to school ready to learn and show what you know!”Students- 700 Staff /Faculty- 175Years as Principal- 7th year

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CLETO CHAZARES

SIMMONSELEMENTARY

Advice- “Students need to focus on developing good studying habits for the challenging times.”Students- 310 Staff /Faculty- 74Years as Principal- Beginning 7th year

Meet The PrincipalsElementary

During the early elementary years, our children become accustomed to step-by-step instruction by a patient and guiding teacher. With each additional year and grade of school, the children assume a little more responsibility and adjust to even more challenging work.

� ese elementary school years establish the foundation for their fi rst big transition - the one to middle school and changing classrooms and multiple teachers. Many parents fear this giant step for their children.

Students immediately notice fewer limitations to their

freedom, while parents worry about the caliber of their child’s organizational skills. Both have concerns about the adjustment to “little frog in a big pond,” new friendships, and not being able to fi nd their way around school for classes.

� e tasks of maintaining a locker, time management and agenda organization all come into play and can seem overwhelming to young teens.

Drew KnottsTomlin Middle

School8th Grade

“The mind is not a vessel to be fi lled but a fi re to be ignited.”

- Plutarch

Continue to next page



CINDY GUY

NELSON ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Start each day with a smile and give your best eff ort everyday!”Students- 770 Staff /Faculty- 90Years as Principal- 5 years

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JANINE HALL

KNIGHTS ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Always try your best and reach for the stars. School is just the beginning of your life and we at Knights Elementary are happy to be a part of your journey.”Students- 600 Staff /Faculty- 110Years as Principal- 5th year

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MELODY MURPHY

CORK ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Students at Cork need to be prepared for an active year of learning.”Students- over 700Staff /Faculty- 87 Years as Principal- 5 years

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And then, there’s the dreaded “peer pressure.”

What can you as a parent do to help your child? Several parents who have been in this situation off ered some great advice.

Lisa Van Fossen, a parent of students in elementary and middle school, suggested this: “Encourage your child to take part in a club and surround themselves with children that carry common goals.” Students seem to thrive in the popular clubs that promote character values and good citizenship, such as Future Farmers of America, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Rachel’s Challenge / Chain Link Club. Many civic organizations have school clubs as well, for example, Key Club or Civinettes.

To encourage your child’s interest in music, art, agriculture and sports is an especially good

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”

- PlatoContinue to

next page


ANN RUSHING

SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Remember that hard work and good character will take you anywhere you want to go.”Students- 780 Staff /Faculty- 100Years as Principal- � is is my 5th year.

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SALLY STEPHENS

BURNEYELEMENTARY

Advice- “Practice reading every night, and bring your best attitude and eff ort to school with you every day.”Students- 260 Staff /Faculty- 65Years as Principal- � is begins my ninth year as principal of Burney.

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JENNIFER WEST

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Be ready to challenge yourself to learn through Inquiry.”Students- 420Staff /Faculty- 60Years as Principal- 2 at Riverview- new to Lincoln

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strategy for helping them adjust to their expanding and more diverse world. Additionally, skills learned in these fi elds of interest can follow them on through secondary school, through college and into their own eventual family life. To help a student discover their special talents, gifts and passions is perhaps the greatest service any of us can do for the betterment of our community. Just like adults, children need to be valued and appreciated - they need to feel like their life matters and that someone cares and notices enough to encourage.

Van Fossen also recommends another tool as well. “� e Edline system is a good resource for parents. It allows them to stay in frequent communication with their child’s teachers and to watch their academic progress.” For those unfamiliar yet, Edline is a password-protected online assessment and monitoring tool used by teachers to keep both the students and their parents apprised of homework, upcoming assignments, special instructions, and grades. Parents

“Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.”

- Abraham Lincoln

Chelsea Baker

Durant High School

10th Grade




DINA WYATT

WALDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY

Advice- “Be Ready to experience a magical year of learning.”Students- 875 Staff /Faculty- 101Years as Principal- 7th year

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AMY ZILBARBAILEY

ELEMENTARY

Advice- In order for our Bailey Bulls to begin a successful 2012-2013 school year and be prepared to “Become Leaders, One child at a time,” our advice for our students is to “be in their seat by eight so they are not late,” and our fabulous faculty and staff will take it from there as they engage our students daily in learning. As long as students do not miss school, they won’t miss out on one Bailey Learning Day!”Students- 725Staff /Faculty- 89 Years as Principal- 8 years

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who consistently check into Edline or the school’s specifi c tool can determine where their student might need a little more help, suggest tutoring, inquire about specifi c assignments that might be due soon, download worksheets or handouts, and communicate with the teacher via e-mail through the system. Research has proven that students whose parents remain informed about their child’s progress generally strive to live up to the higher expectations.

It’s important that parents understand how each school’s system works and become familiar with the individual teacher preferences for reporting, in order to benefi t most from this great tool.

Be sure to attend the school’s orientation with your student and discuss their schedule and plans for organizing themselves and their work.

One parent mentioned how her “straight-A student” lost interest in keeping up with the studying process

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his infl uence stops.”

- Henry B Adams

“A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who fi nd learning hard.”

- Eliphas Levi

Cole RogersPlant City High

School10th Grade



DENNIS MAYO

TURKEY CREEK MIDDLESCHOOL

Advice- “Work hard everyday to be a better stu-dent. Your family, your teachers, everyone wants you to be successful!”Students- 961 Staff /Faculty- 114Years as Principal- 7th year

SUSAN SULLIVAN

TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Advice- “Come to school prepared to learn, make new friends, and get involved in one of the many extra curricular activities and/or clubs that help to make Tomlin a great school.” Students- 1,575 Staff /Faculty- 150Years as Principal- Beginning my 5th year

Meet The PrincipalsMiddle School

and watched his grades slip as he entered middle school. Together, mom and dad devised a plan. � ey asked another student (one who studied

to keep grades up) to have a scheduled study time with their son at a quiet place away from home after school several days a week. � ey decided Panera Bread would work well. After a few study sessions, their son’s grades started to improve. A solution can be as simple as partnering with a peer at a special place, and in this case, it did the trick.

A common suggestion from parents who can spare the time is to “volunteer at your child’s school.” Schools are always in need of volunteers and they appreciate them,

too. But perhaps as important is the connection or “ear to the ground” so to speak that parents have when they are at the school more regularly. Involved parents tend to have great relationships with the school’s administrators and teachers, which in turn can benefi t the student. And once again, students seem to try more to please those parents who care enough to make education a priority. If you can volunteer,

do it. � e more you are a part of your child’s

education the better.

� e transition to high school is huge for a teen – and for

parents. Your family’s dream of having the children earn their diploma and launch into college or career is only four short years away once they enter ninth grade. Your interest and concern is probably needed more than ever in this phase of their education. Keep those communication lines open, with your students and with staff , by continuing to use the Edline system. Stay on top of their grades and encourage them to be active participants in extra curricular activities. Talk to your student, ask where they struggle, praise their successes, and fi nd

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

- B.B. King

and watched his grades slip as he entered middle school. Together, mom and dad devised a plan. � ey asked another student (one who studied

to keep grades up) to have a scheduled study time with their son at a quiet place away from home after school several days a week. � ey decided Panera Bread would work well. After a few study sessions, their son’s grades started to improve. A solution can be as simple as partnering with a peer at a special place, and in this case, it did the trick.

A common suggestion from parents who can spare the time is to “volunteer at your child’s school.” Schools are always in need of volunteers and they appreciate them,

too. But perhaps as important is the connection or “ear to the ground” so to speak that parents have when they are at the school more regularly. Involved parents tend to have great relationships with the school’s administrators and teachers, which in turn can benefi t the student. And once again, students seem to try more to please those parents who care enough to make education a priority. If you can volunteer,

do it. � e more you are a part of your child’s

education the better.

� e transition to high school is huge for a teen – and for

parents. Your family’s dream of having the children earn their diploma and launch into college or career is only four short years away once they enter ninth grade. Your interest and concern is probably needed more than ever in this phase of their education. Keep those communication lines open, with your students and with staff , by continuing to use the Edline system. Stay on top of their grades and encourage them to be active participants in extra curricular activities. Talk to your student, ask where they struggle, praise their successes, and fi nd

Jaida DavisLincoln Magnet

Elementary1st Grade



PAM BOWDEN

DURANT HIGH SCHOOL

Advice- “Attend school everyday, plan to work hard, prepare for challenges, and commit to pur-suing your dreams.”Students- 2,348 Staff /Faculty- 200 Years as Principal- 9 years

DAVID BROWN

STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH

SCHOOL

Advice- “Education is a gift that not everyone in the world receives…make the most out of this “gift” and reach your greatest potential!”Students- 2,300Staff /Faculty- 143 Years as Principal- 3 years at Leto- 4 years at Strawberry Crest

COLLEEN RICHARDSON

PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Advice- ”In order for students to have a successful and rewarding high school experience, they should select challenging courses, participate in extracurricular activities, develop great organizational skills, and appre-ciate those who assist them in achieving their goals.”Students- 2,100 Staff /Faculty- 200Years as Principal- 6 years

Meet The PrincipalsHigh School

out how you can help them to be even more successful.

As your child makes ready for the new school term, make sure you are readying yourself for big transitional changes. Converse with other parents and keep up with the school’s monthly newsletters, most of which are posted online at the school’s website.

Most importantly, allow your child opportunities to grow and assume more responsibility for school and social life on their own. � is phase is simply called “growing up.” Stay in tune, share whenever possible, give them room to breathe (and even learn from their own mistakes) and then …… relax. With so many caring adults involved, they are bound to do just fi ne.

Advice-hard, prepare for challenges, and commit to pur-suing your dreams.”Students-Staff /Faculty-Years as Principal-

Advice-in the world receives…make the most out of this “gift” and reach your greatest potential!”Students-Staff /Faculty-Years as Principal-Strawberry Crest

Advice-and rewarding high school experience, they should select challenging courses, participate in extracurricular activities, develop great organizational skills, and appre-ciate those who assist them in achieving their goals.”Students-Staff /Faculty-Years as Principal-

Meet The Principalsout how you can help them to be even more

As your child makes ready for the new school term, make sure you are readying yourself for big transitional changes. Converse with other parents and keep up with the school’s monthly newsletters, most of which are posted online at

Most importantly, allow your child opportunities to grow and assume more responsibility for school and social life on their own. � is phase is simply called “growing up.” Stay in tune, share whenever possible, give them room to breathe (and even learn from their own mistakes) and then …… relax. With so many caring adults involved, they

Jackson KnottsWalden Lake

Elementary4th Grade

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfi lled, can be translated into benefi t for everyone and greater strength of the nation.”

- John F. Kennedy

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