CELEBRATE FAMILY HISTORY

Celebrate

FAMILY HISTORY MONTH

by Allison Brazis, MLIS, photos provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

In 2001, Congress declared October as Family History Month. This annual observance is a time for us to explore our past and preserve our history for future generations. Here are some ideas on how to get your family involved and excited for Family History Month!

A good place to start is by having children INTERVIEW GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. Work with your child to prepare a list of questions and try to avoid those that elicit simple yes or no responses. Think of these questions as conversation starters. There are no right or wrong answers, and if the conversation goes off topic, that’s OK. Be sure to have paper and a pen available to write down responses—or record the responses to make an oral history.

Here are a few questions to get you started: ● When and where were you born? ● What were your parents’ names? ● What is your happiest memory of your father? Your mother? ● What is the most important lesson your parents taught you? ● Where did you grow up? What was it like there? ● What did you do for fun as a child? ● How did you like school? ● What jobs have you had? ● What would be your recipe for happiness?

CREATING A MEMORY ALBUM is another great way to preserve your family’s legacy. You can include photos, letters, post cards and other memorabilia. Journaling helps personalize each page and creates context for entries. Taking this one step further, you can digitize your photographs and albums allowing you to easily share them with family who live far away.

FOOD is another great way to connect with others. So, dust off those old recipe cards that have been passed down for generations and try your hand at creating a dish that one of your family members is known for. During the meal, talk with your children about the dish and why it’s part of your family’s history. If you don’t have a favorite family dish, get together with your family and create one. Talk with your children about why this new dish best encompasses your family.

RESEARCHING YOUR FAMILY TREE can be exciting, but also frustrating. Luckily the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library is here to help! The public library’s Genealogy & History webpage, available at HCPLC. org/Genealogy, has a wide variety of online research tools to help you get started including local history resources and user guides. There’s even a free ancestral chart you can download to start recording your family tree. Ancestry Library Edition is a very popular genealogy resource, and it offers access to billions of records in census data, vital records, military records, directories, photos and family trees. Fold3 is another popular public library resource that focuses on military records of those who served and their families.

Discovering family roots, sharing traditions or even creating new ones are all ways to celebrate Family History Month together. For a list of children’s books exploring family trees and family history from the public library, visit https://bit.ly/HCPLCKidsFamily.

DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET (MEDICAL SCIENCE)

1730 Union St., Tampa 33607 813-276-5677; dunbar.mysdhc.org

We partner with AdventHealth, the Patel Conservatory and USF Health's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine to create the doctors and nurses of tomorrow. Students participate in show choir, drums and Little Kids Rock band. Student-led inquiry and goal setting help students truly engage in their learning. National Elementary Honor Society, 3-D printing and Genius Hour are other elements that create a great learning experience.

EDUCATED MINDS ACADEMY 10025 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa 33615 813-243-0310; educatedminds.net

We give each child the skills for success in school and in the future. We encourage their young minds through play and hands-on, creative activities as well as encourage the development of physical, social and emotional skills.

FERRELL GIRLS PREPARATORY ACADEMY

(CAMBRIDGE CANDIDATE)

4302 24th St., Tampa 33610 813-276-5608; hillsboroughschools.org/ferrell

As a Cambridge International Magnet School and the only girls-only school in the district, we are dedicated to developing confident, dynamic, educated young women. Our technology-rich, interactive learning campus—including our 1:1 technology program—infuses 21st century tech skills into every student’s learning. Mentoring opportunities and community engagement create well-rounded learners.

FOCUS ACADEMY 304 Druid Hills Road, Temple Terrace 33617 813-443-5558; focusacademytampa.org

Serving ESE students ages 14-22 since 2013, Focus Academy helps special needs students succeed in a safe, caring environment. Our strong academic program is tailored to individual student needs, offering outstanding therapeutic support. We have received the highest academic rating for an ESE center from the State of Florida.

FRANKLIN BOYS PREPARATORY ACADEMY (CAMBRIDGE CANDIDATE)

3915 21st Ave., Tampa 33605 813-744-8108; hillsboroughschools.org/franklin

As a Cambridge International Magnet School and the only boys-only school in the district, we are molding young men of distinction who will achieve greatness. We promote academic achievement, professionalism and self-confidence. Our young men prepare for college in a technology-rich environment with a robotics makerspace and Smart Boards and iPads available for every student. Free after-school Enrichment Academies include debate, golf and Model UN.

GRECO MIDDLE MAGNET (IB CANDIDATE)

6925 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa 33617 813-987-6926; hillsboroughschools.org/greco

Our school-wide IB candidate program, guided by International Baccalaureate World School principles, works with community partners and the city of Temple Terrace to create a unique IB experience every day. Our school has exceptional programs on campus that allow students to explore their passion, all under the IB program umbrella.

HILLSBOROUGH VIRTUAL K-12 2704 N. Highland Ave., Tampa 33602 813-983-7278; hillsboroughschools.org/virtual

Hillsborough Virtual K-12 offers personalized learning in a structured, yet flexible environment. It is a school choice option in which students learn in a digital space using a web-based curriculum with highly-qualified teachers from Hillsborough County. Students can take part in athletics and extracurricular activities at their zoned school. Enrollment: 260 Grades: K-5 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 120 Class-Size: 10-15 Grades: Infants to grade 2 Tuition: $100-$225/ week, 3% off when paid by month

Enrollment: 583 Grades: 6-8 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 110 Class-Size: 8-16, 3:1 to 8:1 ratio Grades: 9-12 and post12th grade Transition Program (up to age 22) Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 530 Grades: 6-8 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 819 Grades: 6-8 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 3,400 Grades: K-12 Tuition: FREE

HILLSDALE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6201 Ehrlich Road, Tampa 33625 813-884-8250; hcatampa.org

Hillsdale provides a variety of activities and learning opportunities for our students. Our primary purpose is to help children grow spiritually, socially, physically, intellectually, and creatively in welcoming surroundings as a supplement to the home environment. Our staff will work hard to create a loving, Christian atmosphere for children's development.

HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL 3712 W. El Prado Blvd., Tampa 33629 813-839-0665; htlstampa.org

Holy Trinity Lutheran School is a co-educational school located in the heart of South Tampa. Founded in 1958, HTLS offers an enriching and rewarding academic education in a loving and safe Christian environment. Our mission is to provide Christ-centered academic excellence and care for the whole child that equips them for lifelong learning and service.

INDEPENDENCE ACADEMY 12902 E. U.S. Highway 92, Dover 33527 813-473-8600; iacademies.com

Independence Academy provides a tuition-free, well-rounded college preparatory education. The challenging and rigorous curriculum includes a special concentration on math and science, a technology-rich atmosphere, and a focus on character development preparing students for their secondary education and beyond. Offerings include the Cambridge program for Advanced Studies, Edvantage before and after school program, Tampa Bay’s Grasses in Classes Program and Cognia accreditation.

KEYSTONE PREP HIGH SCHOOL 18105 Gunn Highway, Odessa 33556 813-264-4500; keystoneprep.org

Get ready to experience a school unlike anything you have encountered! Keystone Prep High School is a non-profit private school located in Odessa, just outside Tampa, with small classes and individualized support. Our mission is to not only help students achieve their full potential, but also reach pinnacles of success they never thought possible.

LAND O’ LAKES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 5105 School Road, Land O’ Lakes 34638 813-995-9040; lolcs.org

A Christ-honoring atmosphere for preschool through high school, LOLCS trains students to develop and grow spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically. We offer a fully accredited, balanced program that emphasizes spiritual life, challenging academics for college preparation and opportunities for students to explore their interests and talents in fine arts and athletics.

LCC DAY SCHOOL 4400 Chancellor St. NE, St. Petersburg 33703 727-522-8331; lccdayschool.com

LCC Day School is a partnership of school, church and families, inspiring superior academic performance while instilling leadership, responsibility and values in a nurturing environment. Our mission is to meet the changing needs of our students as they develop their God-given potential from early childhood through adolescence.

LIFE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY 5209 Tampa Palms Blvd., Tampa 33647 813-443-3122; Lifeia.org

An exceptional multilingual program fostering students' global-mindedness celebrating Humanity, Diversity and Earth. The program is based on Montessori philosophy and naturalism education in a green environment. LIFE instills an ethical standard in students and encourages them to build a higher purpose than self. Life is more than a school; it’s a village. Enrollment: 170 Class-size: 15 Grades: PreK-grade 7 Tuition: $180/week (preschool) - $7,900

Enrollment: 200 Class-Size: 16 Grades: PreK-grade 5 Tuition: $6,240

Grades: K-8 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 60 Class-Size: 8-15 Grades: 9-12 Tuition: $18,500 - $25,000

Enrollment: 430 Class-Size: 10-20 Grades: PreK3-12 Tuition: $6,750-$7,250

Enrollment: 500 Class-Size: 8-17 Grades: PreK2-8 Tuition: $3,240-$12,880

Enrollment: Opening Fall 2021 Class-Size: 1:10 Grades: PreK-grade 8 Tuition: $8,000-$11,000