Calendar
• Winter break, Dec. 22-Jan. 2.
• Teacher planning day, Jan. 5. No school for students.
Theater/Music/Art
• Artwork by students at Gulf and Mitchell high schools will be on display through Dec. 27 at the Downtown New Port Richey Art Gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.
Library notes
• The New Port Richey Library celebrates 95 years of operation with a party starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the library, 5939 Main St. For information about other events at New Port Richey Public Library, go to nprlibrary.org. For information about events at all branches, go to pascolibraries.org.
Briefly
• Applications are being accepted for Pasco County's first STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) magnet school, which will open for the 2015-16 school year. Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet is a nonboundary school, so families throughout the district may apply. However, priority will be given to students who meet the following criteria: currently attend Connerton or Oakstead elementary schools (because of overcrowding at both schools); live within 1 mile of Sanders Memorial Elementary School; parent is employed within the feeder pattern of Sanders Memorial Elementary; sibling is enrolled at Sanders Memorial Elementary and space is available. The application period runs through Jan. 15. For more information, including a virtual tour of the school, go to pascoschools.org.
• Gulfside Elementary School in Holiday will be serving free lunches to children 18 and younger over the winter break (Dec. 22-Jan. 2). Westlake Christian School in Palm Harbor has donated food for the meals, which will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at Gulfside, and from noon to 12:30 p.m. at Westin Oaks Apartments on Alt. U.S. 19 in Holiday. The playground will also be open. Volunteers and funds to provide meals are still needed. To volunteer, go to doodle.com/78yhpaviiaa999d7 or call the school at (727) 774-6000. To donate, go to gofundme.com/cfo1cs.
Scholarships
• Tampa Bay Times Career Journalism Scholarships: For high school seniors in the Times' audience area who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing journalism as a major in college and as a career. The scholarship is worth $2,500 per year and may be renewed annually. Four winners are selected each year. Application deadline: Jan. 5, postmarked. Winners will be notified by mid March. To apply, go to tampabay.com/company/times-fund/scholarships.
• Pasco Education Foundation 2015 Scholarship Opportunities for Graduating Seniors: A variety of scholarships are offered. The application deadline is Feb. 1. Apply online at pascoeducationfoundation.org/p/14/scholarships-for-graduating-seniors. Recipients will be notified in March and recognized at the Pasco Education Foundation's Scholarship Awards Banquet on April 23 at Spartan Manor in New Port Richey.
• Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Educational Foundation: The foundation awards up to 100 scholarships worth $10,000 each at $1,250 a semester for undergraduate studies. Students must be a legal dependent of a cooperative member, have a minimum 2.0 grade point average, be a graduating high school senior, attend an in-state college, university or technical school and be a bona fide resident within the cooperative's service area. The application deadline is March 6. Pick up an application at any local cooperative office or high school guidance office, or visit the company's website at wrec.net.
Send your school news to Michele Miller at mmiller@tampabay.com or fax to (727) 869-6233.