May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued. All month long, we’ll share simple ways to support emotional well‑being for students, families, and staff.
Check our social channels each week for:
✨ Motivating Mondays – Encouragement to start the week strong
🌿 Wellness Wednesdays – Tips and resources for mental wellness
Explore additional resources anytime at https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/mentalhealth
Check our social channels each week for:
✨ Motivating Mondays – Encouragement to start the week strong
🌿 Wellness Wednesdays – Tips and resources for mental wellness
Explore additional resources anytime at https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/mentalhealth
Episode 12: Family and Community Engagement
For this episode, we’re talking about something that makes a powerful difference in a child’s education — family and community engagement. We know that student success doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes strong schools, supportive families, and a connected community all working together. When those pieces align, students are more engaged, more confident, and more likely to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Joining the discussion is Dr. Felita Lewis, Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement.
Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
This week, we proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements from across our district! 🎉
During the School Board Recognition Meeting on Tuesday, we honored students, staff, schools, and community partners for their remarkable accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
Below are the different groups that were acknowledged:
👏 Healthy Schools Quarterly Champions
👏 Girl Scouts USA's National Lifesaving Awards
👏 The Girl Scouts of the USA Silver Awards
👏 Middle and High School Athletic Champions
👏 Black History Brain Bowl Student Champions
👏 District Social Studies Teachers of the Year
👏 Purple Star Schools of Distinction
👏 Principals in Practice: Excellence in Leadership
👏 Outstanding School Volunteer Awards
👏 Guiding Parents Success
👏 Fathers and Families Initiative
👏 Blossoming Mothers - Parent Empowerment Program
👏 Green Team Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Badge Winners
👏 Energy Star Certified Buildings
During the School Board Recognition Meeting on Tuesday, we honored students, staff, schools, and community partners for their remarkable accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
Below are the different groups that were acknowledged:
👏 Healthy Schools Quarterly Champions
👏 Girl Scouts USA's National Lifesaving Awards
👏 The Girl Scouts of the USA Silver Awards
👏 Middle and High School Athletic Champions
👏 Black History Brain Bowl Student Champions
👏 District Social Studies Teachers of the Year
👏 Purple Star Schools of Distinction
👏 Principals in Practice: Excellence in Leadership
👏 Outstanding School Volunteer Awards
👏 Guiding Parents Success
👏 Fathers and Families Initiative
👏 Blossoming Mothers - Parent Empowerment Program
👏 Green Team Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Badge Winners
👏 Energy Star Certified Buildings
👟❤️ Volunteers from Nordstrom and Operation Warm visited West Tampa Elementary School to help more than 300 students step into confidence, sizing and donating a brand-new pair of shoes and two new pairs of socks to each student. Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference for our students and families!
🎨🖌️ Students at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School recently showcased their creativity at the school’s annual art show!
Art teacher Mrs. Lemonidis transformed the multipurpose room into a vibrant gallery, where every student had two pieces of artwork on display. Families also enjoyed hands-on activities and the chance to create art together, making it a memorable celebration of creativity and community. 💛✨
Art teacher Mrs. Lemonidis transformed the multipurpose room into a vibrant gallery, where every student had two pieces of artwork on display. Families also enjoyed hands-on activities and the chance to create art together, making it a memorable celebration of creativity and community. 💛✨
Episode 11: Leading with Heart, Principal Latonya Anderson Rhodes
The role of a principal is complex. It requires vision, resilience, decision-making, and accountability. But the very best school leaders bring something more — they lead with heart. Joining the podcast for this episode is Latonya Anderson Rhodes, principal of Jennings Middle School. She’s here to share what it means to lead with compassion, high expectations, and an unwavering belief in students.
Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
Muller Elementary Magnet School celebrated its annual Recycled Fashion Show this week! ♻️
Teachers, students, and families participate by designing outfits made from recycled materials and then wearing their amazing creations on the runway!
The event combines the school's magnet themes of environmental science and the arts, powerfully uniting creativity, sustainability, and community spirit.
Teachers, students, and families participate by designing outfits made from recycled materials and then wearing their amazing creations on the runway!
The event combines the school's magnet themes of environmental science and the arts, powerfully uniting creativity, sustainability, and community spirit.
As the school year winds down, we’re celebrating the incredible accomplishments of our students, and one group truly stands out: our collegiate academy seniors. 🎓
These graduates aren’t just earning their high school diplomas; they’re also walking away with their Associate of Arts degrees through Hillsborough College. An amazing achievement and a powerful head start on their future!
Pictured: Spoto High School Collegiate Academy's Class of 2026 at their graduate recognition ceremony.
A big thank you to Hillsborough College for helping our students to reach new heights!
These graduates aren’t just earning their high school diplomas; they’re also walking away with their Associate of Arts degrees through Hillsborough College. An amazing achievement and a powerful head start on their future!
Pictured: Spoto High School Collegiate Academy's Class of 2026 at their graduate recognition ceremony.
A big thank you to Hillsborough College for helping our students to reach new heights!
FREE Summer VPK!
HCPS is offering a 30-day VPK program at select school campuses for children entering kindergarten in Fall 2026. June 3–July 23 | Mon–Thurs | 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Spots are limited—register now: https://bit.ly/HCPSSummerVPK
Bright mornings, safe rides, and kind smiles — our school bus drivers make every school day possible. 🚍✨
Today is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Help us celebrate the people who guide our kids to learning with care and patience. Thank you for going the extra mile!
Today is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Help us celebrate the people who guide our kids to learning with care and patience. Thank you for going the extra mile!
Last week, more than 60 HCPS students showcased their skills at AgAbilities 🌱🐄
They competed across four tracks—Beef & Dairy, Food & Nutrition, Plant Identification, and even a tractor driving challenge—putting their agriculture knowledge to the test in hands-on, real-world scenarios 🚜👏 #CTE
They competed across four tracks—Beef & Dairy, Food & Nutrition, Plant Identification, and even a tractor driving challenge—putting their agriculture knowledge to the test in hands-on, real-world scenarios 🚜👏 #CTE
Results from the 2nd Choice, Magnet, and Hillsborough Virtual School Application Window for the 2026-2027 School Year are now available!
Families can visit community.sdhc.k12.fl.us to access their results.
The response window will close on Wednesday, May 6, at 11:59 p.m.
If you need any assistance, please contact our Choice Information Line at 813-272-4692.
Students from Plant City High School explored careers in the electrical field with visits to TECO and the IBEW Local 915 Training Center ⚡️
They learned about linemen, substations, and control panels, sat in on a wiring class, and worked alongside apprentices in a hands-on workshop. Students also connected with Plant City High grads who shared how classroom learning translates into real careers 👏
They learned about linemen, substations, and control panels, sat in on a wiring class, and worked alongside apprentices in a hands-on workshop. Students also connected with Plant City High grads who shared how classroom learning translates into real careers 👏
Altar'd State Tampa surprised Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School and West Tampa Elementary School on Friday with an incredibly generous gift! Each school received $20,000 in AdoptAClassroom.org funding.
Every teacher will receive an equal share to purchase the materials and resources they need to support their classrooms and students for the upcoming school year.
We are so grateful to Altar’d State and AdoptAClassroom.org for investing in our students, teachers, and school communities. It truly takes a village, and this is what that support looks like in action!
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON ⏳🎓 Class of 2026, there are just 26 days until graduation ceremonies begin!
In less than a month, our seniors will walk across the stage and turn the page to their next chapter. We can’t wait to celebrate you! 🎉
View the full schedule of this year’s commencement ceremonies at hillsboroughschools.org/graduation.
In less than a month, our seniors will walk across the stage and turn the page to their next chapter. We can’t wait to celebrate you! 🎉
View the full schedule of this year’s commencement ceremonies at hillsboroughschools.org/graduation.
Did you know Florida offers a free at-home literacy program to help young readers build confidence and strengthen their reading skills? 📖
New Worlds Reading supports students in VPK through 5th grade who may need additional reading support by sending 9 free books each school year and literacy resources directly to their homes.
To check your student's eligibility and apply, visit https://bit.ly/4tZ6EYy.
Let’s help every student grow into a confident reader!
New Worlds Reading supports students in VPK through 5th grade who may need additional reading support by sending 9 free books each school year and literacy resources directly to their homes.
To check your student's eligibility and apply, visit https://bit.ly/4tZ6EYy.
Let’s help every student grow into a confident reader!
With a 4.0 GPA and a College Board School Recognition Award, Charlie Nash from Plant High School has made his mark both in and out of the classroom—and was one of just 24 student-athletes statewide named to the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team. 🎓👏
He serves as Vice President of Communications for National Honor Society and National French Honor Society, and leads as President and team captain of Plant High’s Mock Trial Team.
From orchestra and academic clubs to cross country and track & field, Charlie stays involved—and gives back through volunteer work with Special Olympics, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the St. Pete Run Fest.
Next stop: the University of Florida, where he plans to study political science on a pre-law track! 🐊📚
He serves as Vice President of Communications for National Honor Society and National French Honor Society, and leads as President and team captain of Plant High’s Mock Trial Team.
From orchestra and academic clubs to cross country and track & field, Charlie stays involved—and gives back through volunteer work with Special Olympics, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the St. Pete Run Fest.
Next stop: the University of Florida, where he plans to study political science on a pre-law track! 🐊📚
More to the Story Podcast Episode 10: Shake Washington
This episode is all about history, not just what’s in textbooks, but what’s lived, remembered, and carried forward. We’re joined by Shake Washington, who brings a powerful, full-circle perspective shaped by decades in education as a student, educator, school leader, and now a School Board member. He shares his journey, reflects on pivotal moments in history, and explains how those experiences continue to shape his leadership today. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
It’s graduation season, and that also means scholarship season! 🎓
We’re taking a moment to thank the incredible community partners who continue to invest in our Class of 2026 graduates. Your support opens doors, creates opportunities, and makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students.
📸 Pictured: Dimarien Ramirez, a senior at Leto High School, who plans to attend St. Petersburg College and major in business administration. She is the recipient of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay BIG Futures Scholarship powered by the Deloitte Foundation.
Congratulations, Dimarien! We’re cheering you on every step of the way! 👏
We’re taking a moment to thank the incredible community partners who continue to invest in our Class of 2026 graduates. Your support opens doors, creates opportunities, and makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students.
📸 Pictured: Dimarien Ramirez, a senior at Leto High School, who plans to attend St. Petersburg College and major in business administration. She is the recipient of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay BIG Futures Scholarship powered by the Deloitte Foundation.
Congratulations, Dimarien! We’re cheering you on every step of the way! 👏
More to the Story Podcast Episode 9: Shannon Lesperance (ESE)
In this episode, we’re focusing on something at the heart of our mission: ensuring every student is seen, supported, and able to thrive. We’re highlighting Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and how our district supports students with diverse learning needs from early childhood through graduation and beyond. Joining the conversation is Shannon Lesperance, Director of Exceptional Student Education. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
