Osprey Observer » Elementary

Newland Communities Renames Lake Hutto To Circa FishHawk

Marie Gilmore — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:16:16 +0000

By Michelle Caceres
It’s not a part of FishHawk Ranch, but the 700-acre site formerly known as Lake Hutto has been renamed Circa FishHawk to reflect its close proximity to the master-planned behemoth.
FishHawk and Circa developer Newland Communities and its advertising agency worked closely to settle on the new name.
“We felt that it was important to position this community as its own special place while still acknowledging the strong FishHawk Ranch brand that has come to define the ‘FishHawk’ area,” said Newland Communities Regional Marketing Director Pam Parisi.
Located south of FishHawk Blvd., between Boyette Rd. and FishHawk Ranch, the steady pace of construction in Circa is currently underway. Roadways to two new schools, Stowers Elementary and Barrington Middle, are being laid with the schools slated to open in August. Attendance boundary lines for the schools are in the process of being drawn and approved. A public meeting to discuss boundaries has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-media room at Randall Middle School.
Parisi expects the community to attract families for the same reasons they’re attracted to FishHawk Ranch. The community will feature onsite schools, a convenient town center and a variety of amenities all connected by a trail system.
In addition to families, Circa is also expected to attract singles, pre-family couples, empty nesters and retirees with its variety of housing options, including many maintenance-free options that appeal to these buyer groups.
While the land plan is still being designed, product offerings will include apartments as well as a variety of single-family and multi-family options.
Circa is the continuation and evolution of the FishHawk area, bringing a vibrant Village Center and fresh, new lifestyle choices-both residential and commercial-to the area, said Parisi.
Newland officials say the community is still in the envisioning process, as they are attempting to nail down the land plan and product offerings. Builders are showing interest in the community but specific discussions with builders have not occurred.
“It’s still way too soon,” said Parisi.
For more information about Circa FishHawk, visit www.newlandcommunities.com.

MiraBay’s Recipe for Community

Elizabeth Wilhelm — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:01:58 +0000

Several MiraBay residents started with an idea for a cookbook, and by the end of their hard work, they had raised $6,000 for the Apollo Beach Elementary PTA with the help of MiraBay Village’s Sweetbay supermarket.
Susan Schleif came up with the idea for a cookbook several years ago, but last September, she contacted several neighbors who then met and began their work on the cookbook. Nine months of collecting, tasting and perfecting recipes, and the Taste of MiraBay was complete. It sold out in less than four months with the help of the newly opened Sweetbay supermarket whose manager Steve Katic decided to buy the last 54 books to help support the group and Apollo Beach Elementary.
It was again Schleif’s idea to give any money made from the cookbook back to the community. Several Apollo Beach Elementary PTA members live in MiraBay, including Schleif’s neighbor. Giving it back to the children seemed like the perfect idea, so Schleif brought it to the cookbook committee and they all agreed.
The PTA members couldn’t be more excited to be receiving $6,000 from a group that had done all the work for the money themselves. Although a substantial amount, it’s only a drop in the bucket of the funds the PTA is looking to collect. Its goal is $165,000 in order to pay for a covered pavilion for the Apollo Beach Elementary basketball court. The pavilion would be a great addition for the school, giving the children shelter from the sun and heat while they rest.
For two years, the PTA has been collecting money from a silent auction and casino night, which it will hold yet again this year on December 5 at the SouthShore Falls Clubhouse. It also has other smaller fundraisers throughout the year, including selling business memberships for the PTA. It is also the only public school to participate in Brandon Westfield mall’s Cash for Class which allows anyone to turn in receipts from the mall to the concierge until September 30, in turn, giving money back to the schools which is configured by the receipts received. The PTA encourages those who can’t make it to the concierge to drop their receipts off at the school.
To pick up a cookbook, visit the new Sweetbay in MiraBay Villages located on U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach.
For more information about helping about Apollo Beach Elementary’s PTA, email aise@Tampabay.rr.com.

Westfield Brandon Cash 4 Class Begins

Marie Gilmore — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:13:55 +0000

In the midst of reduced spending on education, Westfield Brandon will present more than $17,500 to schools in the greater Brandon area.

Cash 4 Class at Westfield Brandon, in its third year, is a program that encourages local families and friends to show their school spirit by shopping at the mall over a two-month period to earn “points” and, ultimately, cash for the school of their choice. Schools must be state-accredited schools teaching first – 12th grade students. Between August 1 and September 30, customers can turn in their receipts at the Westfield Concierge.

Each dollar spent equals one point. Shop on Mondays to receive double points at every store, and also receive double points with any Westfield gift card purchase, anytime. Double points are also offered for shopping any day of the week at any store in Westfield Brandon’s new wing.

Points are added to the school of the shopper’s choice. A tally board will keep a total of each school’s points. Rankings will be based on a point-per-student ratio to ensure an even playing field for all schools. The highest point-per-student ratio will determine the winning school.

The top three schools will win cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. Fourth and fifth place schools will also win prizes.

Last year’s winners included first place Nativity Catholic School, second place Immanuel Lutheran School and third place Apollo Beach Elementary.

Immanuel Lutheran administrative assistant Lisa Talbott says it sent out email blasts and encouraged parents and church members to show their support by shopping at the mall.

The school used the $5,000 prize to purchase an accelerated reader enterprise. “It gave us Internet access and helped us improve our AR program,” said Talbott.

Westfield Brandon marketing director Dawn Richter says that towards the end of the program the competition becomes extremely aggressive. “Last year schools actually brought people to the mall by the busload.” Approximately 10 schools were in an extremely close race.

“As popular as this program was last year, I expect it to be even more important this year,” said Richter. “The schools need the money.”

For more information about Class 4 Cash, visit www.westfield.com/brandon or contact Richter at 661-5100.

F.I.S.H., A Factor In School’s Success

Kelly Legg — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:36:50 +0000

Summerfield Crossings Elementary celebrated the end of its inaugural school year with a celebratory dedication of its $11 million, 78,860-square foot building. The school, designed to house up to 960 students, is named for the Riverview community where it’s located: Summerfield Crossings.

Summerfield is considered a “prototype” school – one of the first new schools in Hillsborough County designed and constructed as an “environmentally friendly” complex. The school uses “smart” control technologies that detect humans’ presence and movements in each room, and then regulates air-conditioning, heating and light accordingly.

During the dedication ceremonies, Hillsborough County School Area Director Sherrie Sikes praised the faculty and staff at Summerfield Crossings, saying, “They are dedicated, visionary leaders who believe students come first.”

Brandie Jackson and Megan Wink – Summerfield PTA board members – were proud of the successful launch of the new school and pleased with the first year’s successes. “We expected some minor difficulties during the first year of a new school,” Jackson said, “but everything, this year, went very well.”

Students, parents, teachers and community dignitaries listened attentively as Principal Dr. Eric Cantrell explained that the school’s motto – “Whatever It Takes” – became a guiding light and professional mantra for Summerfield’s faculty and staff. And although the school opened a year later than originally planned, Cantrell considered the 2007-08 school year a success on every level.

Cantrell went on to explain that a large part of the school’s success is attributable to the F.I.S.H. philosophy (Fun In School Happens), which is derived from the book with the same name. Schools across the nation are using the F.I.S.H. philosophy as pilot programs to promote a positive school atmosphere.

“Some say the opening of a school is a labor of love, where sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry,” said Cantrell. “And we mostly had laughter.”

For more information, call 672-5621 or visit the school’s Website at summerfieldcrossings.mysdhc.org.