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PRINCIPAL KLEIN PROUD OF FIRST FOUR YEARS AT BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL
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Jeremy Klein at Florida State FairBrandon High School grounds, and then in May said goodbye finish his speech with to his first class of sethe words he so often niors, who entered as uttered at Brandon freshmen the same High every school day: year he first became “Rock it out.” a school principal, That Klein has had and the same year a great influence on the coronavirus Brandon High is apforced at-home and parent not only in his hybrid instruction. actions with students It was a new dawn but also in his drive to for both Klein and Brandon High School Principal Jeremy Klein oversee the beautifihis freshmen, who (right) with School Superintendent Van Ayres. cation of the school, on the first day of school in August received which traces its roots to the first and only an ‘infinity’ bracelet from their principal. It school in Brandon. The Brandon school, for welcomed them to the final leg of their re- students in grades one through 12, opened spective four-year journeys. in 1914 where McLane Middle School “You are a senior!” read the card that ac- stands today. Brandon High at 1101 Victoria companied the bracelet, sent on behalf of St. opened in 1972. the school’s faculty and staff. “As you get That school, in Klein’s time, has fresh ready to embark upon this exciting new paint, new landscaping and turf, new paving, adventure, remember to dream big, work new bathrooms, new cafeteria tables (some hard, surround yourself with amazing peo- sporting the Brandon High eagle mascot) ple, and make some magical new memo- and new window and door wrappings aimed ries.” Most important, the incoming seniors to instill school spirit. Coming this summer were asked to “never forget to rise above and winter, respectively, will be a new footthe limits you think you know, and release ball field and track as well as a remodeled the infinity within to experience the possi- media center. bilities of your future.” As for the academics, Klein said his seFlash forward to the final days of their nior class started the school year with 79 senior year, as Klein said he invited his “kid- and 67 students still needing to meet their dos” to meet with him in small groups over math and reading benchmarks, respectively. the course of many days, for a final round of Historically, Klein said, those numbers could “Klein time.” The seniors were asked to re- be in the triple digits. In the days leading up flect on their high school days, the good and to graduation, he added, those numbers had not so good, and to offer what they would fallen to seven and six, respectively. change if they could as principal for a day. “I think I’m most proud of that because Also, to select one word to describe their they started their freshman year in a panhigh school experience. demic,” Klein said. ‘’I heard everything from words like ‘exThe year that opened with a bracelet and citing’ and ‘eventful’ and ‘perseverance’ to a card asking students to “soar to greatwords like ‘stressful’ and ‘chaotic,’” Klein ness” ended with the seniors receiving a said. “What I appreciated is that they were copy of the school’s alma mater and an eagle speaking their truth and how they felt.” pin they were asked to wear at graduation. The principal intends to use those words From pandemic to diploma, Klein said, in his speech to graduates at their gradu- the class of 2024 has given us “a lot of ation ceremony on Friday, May 24, at the food for thought.”
Amiya Stone, a student in Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Hospital Homebound and Homebased Program, recently connected in person with students at Boyette Springs Elementary over a novel study of Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper.
On a spring day in April, a merging of fiction and real life played out at Boyette Springs Elementary School. Amiya Stone, a fourth grader in Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Hospital Homebound and Home-based Program, visited a classroom of students at Boyette Springs. The visit was more than a field trip; it was the beginning of friendships. The newly found friendships are a result of a beautiful turn of events. Amiya and her teacher, Tara Horn, were reading Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. Horn’s friend, Amanda Allen, an ESE (exceptional student education) specialist at Boyette Springs, recognized an opportunity of connection. The students within Boyette Springs’ Center for Gifted Studies were doing a novel study on Out of My Mind — the same book Amiya was reading. Boyette’s Center for Gifted Studies, led by teachers Velena Hartwell and Christine Schreck, focuses on skills students can use in the long-term, including valuing the strengths of others. Amiya is a brilliant fourth grader. Her visit to Boyette Springs was her first time in a school setting. Amiya has spinal muscular atrophy. She uses a wheelchair for mobility and communicates using a speech-generating device that is activated by signals she sends with her eyes. The eye gaze technology of Tobii Dynavox gives her the ability to interact with others. Amiya loves science. She likes pink and purple. She loves getting her nails done but she does not like country music. On April 26, she talked with kids at school about her likes and dislikes. “Amiya got to broaden her experiences but so did those students,” Horn said.
Amiya’s mom, Kristina Arvidson, was thrilled with the warm welcome Amiya had at Boyette Springs. “I love talking about Amiya and educating others and anything that pertains to normalizing her lifestyle. She wanted to see the science labs. After we saw everybody, they took us on a tour of some of the science classrooms. I was so excited for her.” Arvidson said. Hartwell said it was an incredibly powerful experience for her students. “They were amazed that technology allowed Amiya to communicate using her eyes and she was able to ask questions of them also. They developed such a strong sense of friendship in that short visit that they wanted to include her in our weekly activities,” Hartwell said. Draper emailed her delight hearing about Amiya’s visit to school. “This is absolutely wonderful. Real life and fiction meeting and merging. I’m so glad that Out of My Mind had a positive impact,” Draper said. To learn more about Hillsborough County Public Schools’s Hospital Homebound and Home-based Program, visit www. hillsboroughschools.org/hhb. To read a summary of Out of My Mind or buy it, visit www.sharondraper.com/library/out-ofmy-mind.
IN THIS ISSUE: GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP .................PG 3 EXCHANGE STUDENTS ....................PG 5 HARVEST AWARDS ..........................PG 6 BRANDON BAGELS ..........................PG 11 BUSINESS.................................PGS 34-35
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This year’s Fourth of July celebration will be Brandon’s largest ever, as two groups are joining together to present two fun events for the enjoyment of the entire Greater Brandon community. Read the full article on page 18.
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