Author: Laura Cross

Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Race 4 Education winners
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Run, or Walk… For Education!

The Hillsborough Co. Public Schools Race 4 Education is coming up on April 12! Sign Up now to help support students’ physical education.

Teacher of the Year
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Hillsborough County Public Schools Names Top Educators!

Did your child’s teacher make the list? See who’s been nominated for Teacher of the Year in Hillsborough County for 2024!

Ought to be a Law

HCPS Students are Laying Down the Law!

Learn how Hillsborough Co. students are inspiring change at the state legislative level in Tallahassee during the annual “Ought to be a Law” event.

turning schools into hurricane shelters
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Turning Schools into Shelters – It’s a Team Effort

The Cafeteria Manager at Shields Middle School in Ruskin is sharing her experience turning schools into hurricane shelters this past October.

Car Line

Avoiding Car Line Chaos!

It’s your average Tuesday morning. You’re running late for work. Maybe it’s starting to rain. And car line is taking FOREVER. Parents are not adhering to the zipper method, kids aren’t prepared to get out of the car, and… Oh my gosh, NO! Did you just see a mom get out of the car, walk…

Attendance Awareness at school matters every day

Attendance Awareness Month – Show up & Be a Success!

My son is a senior in high school. There’s no doubt he will pass all his classes and graduate. I want him to enjoy his senior year. It’s okay if he misses a few days of school here and there, right? My daughter is in seventh grade. She’s brilliant! She makes straight As without even…

advice for 6th graders from kids
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Advice for Incoming 6th Graders – From Those Who Have Been There!

Hillsborough Co. Public Schools rising seventh and eighth graders are sharing practical (and adorable!) advice they have for incoming sixth graders.

Paige the Literacy Bus! Hillsborough County public schools
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Turning the Paige on Literacy in Hillsborough County Public Schools

Meet Paige. She’s fun, she’s engaging and she’s filled with books! She is Hillsborough County Public Schools’ newest literacy resource—Paige the Literacy Bus! Paige’s mission is to provide early access to resources and promote literacy beyond the classroom. She is geared toward our younger learners up to age 5. When children step onto the bus,…

Steinbrenner High students and Humane Society of Tampa Bay
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Running for a Purpose! Steinbrenner High runners help adoptable dogs

Get to know the Steinbrenner High Boss Cross runners who take dogs from the Humane Society on runs in order to help them get adopted!

teacher appreciation week

Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6-10th, 2024

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week by showing gratitude to those shaping our children’s futures. Discover heartfelt ways to thank educators beyond the classroom essentials, from personal notes to thoughtful gifts, and make their week truly special.

UFLI

The “Magic” of Teaching a Child to Read! Hillsborough County Public Schools’ New Literacy Curriculum, UFLI

Discover the transformative power of UFLI, Hillsborough County Public School’s new game-changing literacy curriculum. With heartwarming success stories and practical tips for parents, learn how this approach is making reading magical for kids.

Hillsborough County Magnet School Dunbar white coat ceremony

Lab Coats and Moon Soil: A Peek at Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet Programs

While Dunbar Elementary Magnet is creating future doctors, Stewart Middle Magnet is shaping future scientists!

Ready for Kindergarten

They’re Ready… But Are You? (It’s time to sign up for kindergarten!)

Alright mamas, hold onto your heartstrings … especially if you have a preschooler! It’s time… To register them… For KINDERGARTEN! (And the sobs were heard round the bay.) Don’t worry; Hillsborough County Public Schools makes getting ready for kindergarten easy for you and fun for them! Schools across the district will hold Kindergarten Ready Open…

Education Rock Stars

Hillsborough County Public Schools Celebrates its Education Rock Stars

Have you seen the commercial where employees keep calling each other rock stars, and then actual rock stars show up and shut them down?! Well, we challenge Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol or Joan Jett to step in one of our schools and shut US down – because our employees are as close to rock stars as you…

Rendering of Adum K-8 in Tampa.
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All About Adum K-8: The Hype Surrounding Hillsborough County Schools’ Newest K-8 School

There’s always a lot of excitement when a new school opens. However, the hype surrounding the new Kenneth E. Adum K-8 surpasses all expectations!

A Little Change – A Lot of Heart. Maui fire relief fundraiser

A Little Change – A Lot of Heart at Roland Park K-8

One of the beautiful things about the International Baccalaureate Program, especially in the younger grades, are the pillars of compassion and empathy. So, when the students at Roland Park K-8 heard about the wildfires in Maui, their first thoughts were, ‘How can we help?’ From there, an idea was born. “At Roland Park, we are…

Keeping cool in school

Keeping Cool in School

Hot, humid and muggy! Those are just a few of the words to describe the intense heat the Tampa Bay area has been experiencing this summer. It’s probably tough for the air conditioning in your house to keep up! Now imagine how hard it is on the air conditioning in our schools. Hillsborough County Public…

advocating for your child

Advocating for your Child: Tips from Hillsborough County Public Schools

As parents, we are the number one advocate for our children when it comes to their educational journey. Ensuring that your child has all the resources and support they need to be successful is our top priority as well in Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS).

Hillsborough County Public Schools Summer Projects

“Dear Community… Thank you. Sincerely, Hillsborough County Public Schools”

Thank you.  Sometimes, you just need to say thank you.  Especially when you receive $653,000,000.  That is how much money our school district has received, so far, from you, taxpayers, through the Education Referendum, which voters approved in November, 2018.  The money is earmarked specifically for improvements to our schools such as air conditioning renovations…

The Academy of Finance Program
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Distinguished Programs Equal Huge Opportunities in Hillsborough County Public Schools

The Academy of Finance Program: Sounds like some fancy course at the college level, right? Did you know five of our high schools in Hillsborough County offer The Academy of Finance Program? And, even better, there are big scholarship opportunities available to students who complete this prestigious program.   “The Academy of Finance is one…

Volunteering in middle school

Involved Yet Invisible – Volunteering in Middle School

When your child is in elementary school, volunteering is easy. When your child gets to middle school, it can be a different story.

locally grown produce in school lunches

Locally Grown – and Straight-to-Our-School Menu!

“We are basically the biggest restaurant chain in town!” Meet Arianne Corbett. If your child eats breakfast or lunch at a Hillsborough County Public School, she’s the one planning their menu. She’s a school nutritionist in a post-pandemic world. “The pandemic shifted the whole model of school feeding,” she said. “When the world shut down,…

Black History Brain Bowl

Black History Takes Center Stage in Hillsborough Schools

Teams from each Hillsborough Co. public school are buffing up on their trivia to compete in the Black History Brain Bowl on Feb. 11th.

How to get your kids to communicate

Expert tips on how to get your kids to communicate in 2023

Hillsborough Co. Public Schools Teacher of the Year Finalists offer questions for parents to ask their kids to encourage opening up.

schools as shelters
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Stronger than the Storm: Hillsborough County Public Schools

Transforming schools into Hurricane Ian evacuation shelters is no easy task, but one that staff and community partners took in stride.

Montessori Academy at Essrig Elementary

“Young Children are Capable of so much More” – The Montessori Academy at Essrig Elementary

The Montessori Academy at Essrig is a new magnet program for Hillsborough County Public Schools that seeks to develop natural interests.

How the proposed millage on August primary ballot will strengthen Hillsborough County Schools
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How the proposed millage on August primary ballot will strengthen Hillsborough County Schools

A Hillsborough Public Schools referendum would increase teacher salaries and expand programs such as art, music and workforce development.

music class in Hillsborough Co. Public Schools
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“Finding Their Genius” – Music Education in Hillsborough County Public Schools

Music class facilitates social-emotional learning and community while helping kids find their voice and place in the world.

Hillsborough County education referendum
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No Rest for the Referendum in Hillsborough County: See your dollars at work!

Our Hillsborough County education referendum cash is hard at work this summer making major improvements to our schools.

International Baccalaureate in Elementary School

Growing the Head and the Heart: International Baccalaureate in Elementary School

Did you know, Hillsborough County Public Schools offers the International Baccalaureate Program in several elementary and middle schools?

hillsborough county public shcools

Hillsborough County Public Schools announces two new high schools

In Hillsborough County Public Schools, our motto is Preparing Students for Life. For many students, that does not always mean college.

Join the Club! The Importance of Finding your Niche in Middle School!
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Join the Club! The Importance of Finding your Niche in Middle School!

Middle school students are trying to find that place to fit in, so meeting different people and trying new things is important.

Mindsets Mural

Where Mindsets Matter

Students at Heritage Elementary School paint a mural based on the 7 mindsets, promoting relationship skills and responsible decision-making.