Souled Out gala and fundraiser was sold out

We noted with interest and delight the article in The Weekly Challenger about the Souled Out -- Motown at Isla event held recently at Isla del Sol Yacht and Country Club. It was the Spirit of Tampa Bay Community Choir gala and fundraiser for Melrose Elementary. According to the report, the event was, indeed, sold out, and money was raised to help finance incentives and uniforms for Melrose students. Glad to see it.

The youngsters of the Fourth Estate are gathering and disseminating all the news

It warms the heart to see youngsters reading a newspaper. We couldn't help but notice the article in The Weekly Challenger by Demorris Lee, formerly of the Tampa Bay Times but now communications coordinator with the Pinellas County School Board. The paper in question was the Manatee Messenger, the student-produced newspaper at Melrose Elementary. Students in the third through fifth grades serve as reporters and photographers. The 16-page tabloid newspaper was printed in full color, which kind of cancels out the old riddle: What's black and white and read all over? Answer: a newspaper. Time was when newspapers were people's primary source of news, and although that is changing, the important role that journalists play in our democracy is just as vital as ever. Melrose is a journalism magnet school, along with John Hopkins Middle School, and Lakewood High School. Glad to see these youngsters learning these important skills in critical thinking. We say bravo!

Time to hit the books again, students! The time for summer frivolity is over!

It's time for academics to kick into gear again! One big tipoff – if you actually needed one – is that this weekend is the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, our state legislature's tip of the hat to families needing to outifit their young Einsteins for the school year ahead. As you might expect, the tools of learning – notebooks, pencils and pens, highlighters, crayons, and so forth are among the exempt items, as well as school clothes and backpacks. There's an article in The Weekly Challenger with a whole list of the items covered.

 The school year begins on a hopeful note. Melrose Elementary School has a new principal who is determined to all her students with  quality education. She says communications with parents is a top priority.  Meanwhile, there's a new principal at Campbell Park Elementary as well. Christine Hoffman was formerly vice principal. Her theme is family engagement as well, and she is seeking to get parents and family members involved.

If the recent Childs Park YMCA Achieving Great Things Community Spelling Bee is any indication, there are plenty of high achieving youngsters in our community who took no break from learning over the summer. some 54 preschoolers through fifth graders participated, and they have the trophies to show for it.