Pinellas education news: Discovery Nights, gadgets for needy kids and more

Ten schools to host Discovery Nights

The Pinellas County school system continues its schedule of Discovery Nights over the next week, offering families a chance to get a close-up look at choice programs. Most of the events start at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and typically last one to two hours. Applications will be accepted online Jan. 8–17. Discovery Nights for more programs are scheduled into mid-December. For a full list and more information about school choice options, visit pcsb.org/choice or call the school district’s Student Assignment office at (727) 588–6210. Also consult the Times’ annual School Search guide at tampabay.com/news/education.

Friday

Center for Gifted Studies and Literacy Innovation - Elisa Nelson Elementary (5:30 p.m.)

Tuesday

Center for Communications, Journalism & Multimedia Studies - Melrose Elementary

IB Primary Years Programme - Mildred Helms Elementary IB World School

Richard O. Jacobson Technical High (all programs)

Wednesday

Center for Advancement of the Sciences and Technology - Bay Point Elementary

Center for Gifted Studies - Morgan Fitzgerald Middle

Criminal Justice Academy - Pinellas Park High

Thursday

Center for Digital Learning and STEAM - Kings Highway Elementary

Center for the Arts and International Studies - Perkins Elementary

Center for Wellness and Medical Professions - Palm Harbor University High

International Baccalaureate program - Palm Harbor University High

SPC drive seeks laptops and more for kids who need technology

St. Petersburg College is collaborating with eSmart Recycling this month to collect gadgets for local children who don’t have access to technology. The program is seeking donations of old laptops, computers, tablets, keyboards, printers, stereos, fax machines and more, regardless of their condition. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit esmartrecycling.com/materials-accepted. Contributors who would like to receive a Certificate of Data Destruction from eSmart Recycling should write their email address on a sticker and place it on the donated item. Donations will be accepted at two locations: The SPC Seminole Campus, UP 192, at 9200 113th St. N, from Nov. 4-22 (9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday), and the SPC Bay Pines STEM Center, 4723 Bay Pines Terrace, from Nov. 20-22 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday). Anyone with question about personal data destruction may call (813) 501-7768. For additional information, call Chad Mairn at (727) 394-6917 or Erica Moulton at (727) 344-8043.

Eckerd College exhibit highlights plastic waste

Eckerd College will host a one-evening exhibition of art created from single-use plastic waste from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday in Wrenn Hall at the James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences. All submissions to the “Used Once, Lasts Forever” art competition will be on display. Contest winners in a variety of categories, including People’s Choice, will be announced during the event. This community-wide event aims to increase awareness of the environmental impacts of abundant and unnecessary single-use plastic consumption while offering a creative way to repurpose discarded items. Sponsored by the Reduce Single-Use Project and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

Honors and awards

The Dunedin Fine Art Center will display artwork by 72 students through Dec. 13 as part of its Creative Start exhibit. Awards went to five of the students: Greta Welfring, a kindergarten student at Safety Harbor Elementary; Anna Shell, a first-grader at Perkins Elementary; Molly Moraniec, a second-grader at Northwest Elementary; Athena Axley, a third-grader at Southern Oak Elementary; and Olivia Szymanska, a fifth-grader at Ozona Elementary. ...

Amber Robinson, a teacher at Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary, was named the 2019 Outstanding Elementary School Educator by the Florida Association of Science Teachers. Her contributions include developing STEM integrated curriculum that uses engineering as the link among the science, mathematics, and language arts components. ... Laura Spence, a STEM supervisor with the Pinellas County school system, was chosen to showcase the district’s STEM programs to an international contingent of women STEM leaders visiting the district as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The group visited the district earlier this month.

Elementary school lunches

Monday: Cheeseburger or hamburger, cheese sticks and toasted ravioli boat, fruit and yogurt plate, deli meat and cheese sandwich, marinara cup, Tater Tots, fresh veggie dippers with yellow squash.

Tuesday: Beef or pork tacos, cheese pizza crunchers, chicken caesar salad, Jamwich Kit, refried Beans, romaine side salad.

Wednesday: Mandarin Orange Chicken Bowl, macaroni and cheese, yogurt and fruit parfait, ham and cheese croissant, steamed broccoli, sliced cucumbers.

Thursday: Student Choice Menu - students choose the hot entrees and vegetable options. Entrée salad: Apple-a-Day Salad. Sandwich: chicken caesar wrap. Mixed side salad.

Friday: Pizza variety, chicken and waffle, chef salad, turkey and cheese hoagie or sandwich, mixed vegetables, fresh veggie dippers with yellow squash.