2023-24 Parent Guide

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HELLO

TAMPA PREP PARENTS!

On behalf of the entire TPPA (Tampa Prep Parents Alliance), as well as the Tampa Prep Faculty and Staff, I’m excited to welcome you to the 2023-24 school year!

As parents, you are an incredibly impo ant pa of the Tampa Prep experience, which is why every family has a TPPA membership the minute your child becomes a Tampa Prep student. Through the TPPA, parents pa ner with the school to provide volunteer suppo for activities, events, programs and so much more. The pa nership between Tampa Prep and our families is vital for student success, and we welcome your active pa icipation.

We hope that this Tampa Prep At-A-Glance parent guide will provide useful information, at your finge ips, and we encourage you to engage in commi ees and special interest groups outlined on the following pages. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your gradelevel or division representatives if you have any questions or need guidance this year - we are all here to help!

To stay current on events, parents are welcome to a end monthly TPPA meetings, which are available in the weekly Tampa Prep Newsle er, on the school calendar, and in the TPPA section of the parent po al on the Tampa Prep website at: h ps://tampaprep.org/parent-po al/tampa-prep-parents-alliance/

I look forward to meeting everyone, and I’m excited for another fantastic school year at Florida’s Most Innovative School. Go Red! Go Gold!

Sincerely,

Allison Mook, TPPA President

TPPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT

Allison Mook

tppapresident@tampaprep.org

813-810-8059

RECORDING SECRETARY

Cindi Herrera

jacindafl@gmail.com

813-992-5108

UPPER SCHOOL COORDINATOR

Tien Tien

tienshein@gmail.com

813-833-2497

TREASURER

Allison Burden

tppatreasurer@tampaprep.org

813-786-9943

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Susan Cimino

susanciminotech@gmail.com

813-678-7049

MIDDLE SCHOOL COORDINATOR

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Christiana Thompson

christiana.thompson@gmail.com

678-662-5939

INVOLVEMENT

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

HOSPITALITY

FACULTY

PARENT EDUCATION COMMITTEE (PEC)

The PEC is responsible for bringing in outside guest speakers to educate parents on current topics relating to education, college guidance, parenting, and more.

ALL SCHOOL BBQ

All School BBQ is a celebration for students, staff & faculty at the end of the school year that coincides with Yearbook Day and Seniors coming back to campus. This is a student/staff/faculty event. If parents would like to a end, the TPPA is always looking for parent volunteers to help!

SENIOR

PEOPLE

YOU SHOULD KNOW

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kevin Plummer

kplummer@tampaprep.org

ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Susie Cooner scooner@tampaprep.org

HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Robe Franz ranz@tampaprep.org

ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Andrea Cafaro

acafaro@tampaprep.org

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL & HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Joe Fenlon

jfenlon@tampaprep.org

ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Kim Souza

ksouza@tampaprep.org

HEALTH COORDINATOR

Kate Mesa health@tampaprep.org

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Chris Lavoie clavoie@tampaprep.org

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Stefanie Corlew scorlew@tampaprep.org

ACADEMIC DEAN OF STUDENTS 9TH GRADE DEAN

Christine Jisha cjisha@tampaprep.org

FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST

Michelle Ayres mayres@tampaprep.org

DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

Mike Wagstaff mwagstaff@tampaprep.org

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Ki Perry kperry@tampaprep.org

UPPER SCHOOL DEAN OF STUDENTS 10TH GRADE DEAN

Lisa Harman lharman@tampaprep.org

11TH GRADE DEAN

Daniel Keller dkeller@tampaprep.org

12TH GRADE DEAN

Chelsea Wieloszynski cwieloszynski@tampaprep.org

*A complete list of faculty can be found at h ps://tampaprep.org/faculty-and-staff/

INVOLVEMENT PARENT

SPECIAL

INTEREST GROUPS BOOK CLUB

Tampa Prep Book Club meets monthly. We like to read a wide variety of books and are open to new and exciting suggestions. Our discussions are always animated, pa icularly when we disagree about the merits of a book! People are welcome to come even if they haven’t read the book as long as you don’t mind spoilers. See the Tampa Prep calendar for times and locations.

Connie Mitchell avanoah2009@gmail.com

Laurie Sweeney laurr55@aol.com

INTERNATIONAL PARENTS AND FRIENDS

813-464-4450

813-362-7930

All parents are welcome to join this group, typically an informal gathering held at a Prep family home or restaurant to get acquainted, share experiences, and socialize with other Prep Parents. International Parent events are open to all families as a way to share and celebrate all cultures within our Tampa Prep community.

Nurdan Johnsingh nozzky@gmail.com

Aned Richter anedrichter@gmail.com

TERRAPIN DADS

813-944-8165

813-451-4974

It’s great to be a Tampa Prep Terrapin Dad! Here’s your oppo unity to meet other Prep dads as well as other special guests from the school administration for socializing in casual, informal monthly gatherings.

Tom Loosbrock thomasloosbrock@gmail.com

Alex Steppacher ast5410@gmail.com

OUTINGS GROUP

813-391-3818

813-957-3028

Explore the cultural riches and natural beauty of the Tampa Bay area while making new friends. Outing destinations will vary and may include visiting a local museum, biking, kayaking, or exploring the Tampa RiverWalk. Suggestions for activities are always welcome.

Sandi Santos sandi@sandisantos.com

Shannon Dann shannon.dann@yahoo.com

813-777-1033

813-494-7171

GRADE-LEVEL EVENTS COURTESY OF TPPA

Grade-Level Parent Socials and Coffees

(Various Dates - Check School Calendar)

Parent social gatherings for each grade level are planned throughout the year. Typically, a endees gather off-campus for an evening of light hors d’oeuvres and conversation. Additionally, the TPPA hosts coffee meeings for each grade. This year, due to construction, grade-level coffees will be held off campus.

Grade-Level Student Lunches

(Various Dates - Check School Calendar)

TPPA provides a special lunch and/or treat once per semester during the regular lunch hour for each grade level.

For more information, keep an eye on the Thursday newsle er and check the TPPA

Upcoming Events page in the Parent Po al.

INVOLVEMENT

2023-2024 MS GRADE LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES

6TH GRADE

Christy Shivel: 813-610-9559 cfshivel@gmail.com

Sarah Snecinski: 773-991-1218 sarahfishervo@yahoo.com

Kate Caldarelli 813-285-6850 kcaldarelli@me.com

7TH GRADE

Jessica Boksen: 727-482-3657 jessicaboksen@gmail.com

Natassja Prose: 813-300-3868 natassjaprose@gmail.com

Leslie Turner: 813-766-6409 leslieturner.passmore@gmail.com

8TH GRADE

Shilow Sack: 734-355-0958 shilowblea@gmail.com

Amy Prakash: 813-494-2797 Prakash.amy@gmail.com

Nicola Day: 813-748-7347 nicoladay@bell.net

2023-2024 US GRADE LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES

9TH GRADE

Allison Clebe : 813-471-8845 allisonclebe @yahoo.com

Rachel Magee: 813-335-6371 rachel.magee@hotmail.com

Shazia Sparkman: 813-846-9396 snsparkman@sparkmanlawfirm.com

10TH GRADE

Deb Dille: 813-727-0674 Deborah.dille@gmail.com

Christina Burden: 813-992-2122 christina.m.burden@gmail.com

Mackenzie Glowicki: 847-567-3638 mlglowicki@gmail.com

11TH GRADE

Gina Bailey: 813-382-7367 gmbailey@verizon.net

Dinny Lechman: 813-494-5650 dinnylechman@hotmail.com

Dee Dee Bland: 813-732-2889 deedee.bland@gmail.com

12TH GRADE

Melissa Renninger: 404-317-2510 melrenny@tampabay.rr.com

Janice Wagner: 618-581-1530 jhwagner00@gmail.com

Brooke Henning: 904-607-5767 brookeshenning@gmail.com

YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW

Advising

Each student is assigned to an advisor (a teacher or administrator) who provides a reliable, communicative link between the student, their family, and the student’s teachers. In addition, the advisor functions as the student’s advocate, monitoring and promoting the student’s academic and personal growth. Students change advisors each year as they move up through the School. An open, communicative relationship between parents and advisors is impo ant. Early in the school year, parents meet their student’s advisor. When needed, parents may also request to schedule an individual 30-minute conference with their student and the student’s advisor.

ALE

The concept behind an Active Learning Environment (ALE) is to provide students with a technologically advanced atmosphere conducive to collaboration, student engagement, and creativity. Custom components including light, sound, comfo , and technology are incorporated to ensure optimal learning within each classroom. The physical changes combine with

innovative teaching methods to enhance the student’s acquisition of vital 21st century skills such as teamwork, curiosity, problem solving, and resilience.

Declamations

Declamations are a unique Tampa Prep tradition that help students build confidence through public speaking. All students, grades 6-12, are required to prepare and deliver an oral presentation. Students advance through rounds pe orming for their class and their grade, and finalists pe orm in a school-wide assembly.

First Week

Tampa Prep prides itself on the sense of unity within each class and throughout the School. This focus is strengthened through several programs, including day or overnight retreats, at the sta of each school year during the first days of school before academic classes sta Students in all grades pa icipate in games, activities, and challenges appropriate to their age, always with the goal of ge ing to know each other, transitioning to the beginning of school, and of welcoming new students.

Harkness

The Harkness table, Harkness method, or Harkness discussion involves a teaching and learning method where students are seated in a large, oval configuration to discuss ideas in an encouraging, open-minded environment with only occasional or minimal teacher intervention. Most classrooms are set up to suppo the Harkness method, and teachers employ it regularly.

Freshmen Transitions

Following the trend of freshmen transition courses at colleges and universities across the country, we have engineered a one-of-a-kind Freshmen Transitions curriculum built into our class schedule. Subjects such as time management, ethics and integrity, social relationships, global perspective, executive functioning, exam prep, healthy living (sleep, diet, mindfulness, addiction, technology use), financial literacy, digital citizenship, and more are discussed.

TERRAPIN GEAR

Terrapin gear can be worn every day and is available through the Spirit Store in the main lobby:

• The Spirit Store in the main lobby. Spirit Store items may also be viewed (but not purchased) on our online storefront on our website. Some items (not found in the Spirit Store) may be purchased via: h ps://sideline. bsnspo s.com/schools/florida/ tampa/tampa-preparatory-school

SUPPORT TAMPA PREP

Each year, generous donations from our school community help us maintain our outstanding educational experience. There are multiple opporunities to suppor Tampa Prep, and we are grateful that many of our families contribute in more than one way.

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is the School’s primary fundraising endeavor and directly invests in every program, department, student, and faculty member at Prep. It is our hope that as a member of the Tampa Prep community, you will participate in this fundraising effort at whatever level is meaningful for your family.

Gala

The highly anticipated Gala is a wonderful annual celebration benefiting Tampa Prep! This year, the Tampa Prep Gala will be held on March 2, 2024 at the JW Marriott Water Street. Information regarding tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and auction needs will be provided as the event draws near. If you would like to help with Gala or have any questions, please reach out to Amanda Fontana , Associate Director of Community Engagement at afontana@tampaprep.org or via phone 813-251-8481 x4098.

Building Bold Capital Campaign

The Building Bold Capital Campaign has raised nearly $15M (as of August 2023) toward its $20M goal to fund the Genshaft & Greenbaum Building of Learning and Discovery (BOLD building). Naming opportunities are available for gifts of $50,000 to $5M and commitments may be paid over 3-5 years. To learn more, go to https://tampaprep.org/capital-campaign/ or contact Ki Perry , Director of Development, at kperry@tampaprep.org or 813-251-8481 x4023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is the Annual Fund necessary?

Tampa Prep is a nonprofit organization that operates without financial support from local or federal taxes. The School relies on tuition, annual giving, endowment, and auxiliary income (from summer camps and facility rentals) to operate and continually improve. These additional funds allow us to be not just a good school but an exceptional place where students are able to “think, create, be themselves, aspire to excellence, go beyond, and prepare for a life with a higher purpose than self.”

Q. Will my gift really make a difference?

Absolutely! Every gift plays a part in Tampa Prep’s success and allows us to achieve high levels of parent participation. Whether you are able to contribute $5 or $50,000, each gift is an endorsement of the mission and educational experience Tampa Prep provides. While tuition pays for the essential elements - such as teacher salaries - needed for a top-tier learning environment, philanthropy allows us to provide the extras that make our school great such as technology, professional development for faculty, financial aid, library, athletics, arts and other extracurricular needs. Every gift, regardless of size, profoundly and immediately impacts the Tampa Prep experience and is truly appreciated.

Q. How can I make a gift to Tampa Prep?

There are many ways to make a gi to the school including credit card, check, appreciated securities, Apple Pay, Venmo, crypto, matching gi s, and more. Please visit: h ps://www.tampaprep.org/give to learn more and determine the gi that is most advantageous to you.

Q. Is my gift tax deductible?

Tampa Prep is a 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the IRS, and all gi s qualify for a charitable deduction as allowable by law.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT: Ki Perry, Director of Development | 813-2518481 x4023

or Maggie Thomas, Director of Donor Engagement | 813-251-8481 x4005

or Shamus Warren, Director of Annual & Leadership Giving | 813-251-8481 x4036

You may also visit the Suppo section of our website to learn more about how you can make an impact at Tampa Prep.

Fall

Opening Convocation

(Aug. 21) On the first day of classes, students and faculty gather for Opening Convocation. The community hears from several speakers including the Head of School and the Student Body President. This event will be live streamed for parents to enjoy.

New Parent Shindig

(Aug. 23) This social event allows parents with students new to the school to meet each other and several key members of the school community. It is held in the Smith Black Box Theater.

Parents’ Night

(Sept. 7) On Parents’ Night, parents follow their child’s schedule to meet their advisor and each teacher. You can also meet TPPA members, hear about ways to get involved, and learn about clubs and activities available to your students.

Homecoming

(October 21) Homecoming week includes a multitude of activities on campus culminating in the off campus Homecoming Dance held for Upper School Students.

Arts Performances

Several conce s, plays, musicals, and other a s pe ormances occur throughout the year. Check the calendar for specific dates!

Grandparents’ Day

On one year hiatus due to construction

Family/Advisor Conference Day

(Oct. 19) Parents are invited to sit in on a self-guided academic assessment between student and advisor. Students are encouraged to speak and advocate for themselves, and come up with a plan of action if one is needed.

Thanksgiving Convocation

(Nov. 16) Thanksgiving Convocation celebrates the a s in preparation for the holiday season. The conce features pe ormances by our Terrapin bands and choruses, as well as spoken word tributes from students and faculty. This event will be live streamed for parents to enjoy.

Winter

MS Holiday Dance Party

(Dec. 1) Winter dance for students in grades 7 and 8.

Stress Less Week

(Dec. 11-15) During exam time, faculty members plan daily activities to help with stress related to exam studying and project prep.

Middle School Games

(Jan. 11-12) Multi-dimensional, cross-curricular project that encourages 21st-century learning skills and cultivates leadership. This is a 2-day competition amongst grade level teams.

Terrapin Days

(TBD) While Tampa Prep students “go beyond” on a regular basis, Terrapin Days of service exemplifies the school’s mission of “a higher purpose than self.” Students look beyond our campus to volunteer throughout the community at different non-profit organizations.

Declamations

(Feb.) All students, grades 6-12, deliver an oral presentation. Students advance through rounds pe orming for their class and their grade, and finalists pe orm in a school-wide assembly.

Spring

Gala

(March 2) Our annual Tampa Prep Gala will be held at JW Marrio Tampa Water Street. Sponsorship oppo unities will be available for those who are able to suppo the event while gaining visibility for your business or special recognition for your family.

Prep Fest

On one year haitus due to construction

International Food Truck Day (TBD) The World and Classical Language Depa ment invites food trucks with Spanish, French, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine to campus. Each truck sells half size po ions to encourage everyone to try different options.

Awards Day

(April 26 & May 16) Students in grades 6-12 receive depa mental awards honoring their academic and athletic achievements, as well as their character. Students in grades 9-12 also receive book awards.

Middle & Upper School Arts Showcase

(April-May) Students showcase what they have learned in Music, 2D and 3D A , Chorus, Dance, Theater, and Video Production classes during multiple events in the Smith Black Box Theater.

Prom

(April TBD) Prom is held for Juniors and Seniors at an off-campus location.

Senior/Yearbook Day

(May 17) The student body is encouraged to dress in college spirit a ire. Seniors dress in gear from their future college/ universities. Activities throughout the day celebrate the Senior class followed by an All-School BBQ. While parents do not a end the yearbook day, many parents choose to volunteer to cook and serve at the All-School BBQ.

*All Dates subject to change, please look at the Tampa Prep calendar to stay up-to-date with latest information

LUNCH OPTIONS

Middle School Lunch is from 11:50 - 12:30 p.m. Upper School Lunch is from 12:50 - 1:30 p.m. NOTE: Some days have “special schedules” so lunch times may change.

• Lunch brought from home is always an option and microwaves are available in the student center.

• You may purchase online from restaurants that deliver to Tampa Prep. For a full list of current approved vendors, please check our website at: h ps://tampaprep.org/parent-po al/general-information/#lunch-options

*Lunch options have been updated for the 2023-24 school year

• PLEASE NOTE: For security purposes, Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, Bite Squad or any independent delivery services are NOT permi ed on campus and will be turned away.

SENIOR YEAR PROJECTS & EVENTS

Six-Word Memoir

Each Senior writes a six-word memoir on the wall of the Student Center to be displayed throughout the school year.

Paint the Rock

Seniors leave their mark on Prep each fall by signing their names on the rock in the parking lot.

Senior Sunrise

To kick off the school year, the Senior class comes together to watch the sun rise over the Hillsborough river.

3lb Project

Three lbs. is the weight of the human brain. Seniors resolve to learn

something they’ve always wanted to try (playing an instrument, cooking a meal, building a car engine) and repo on it.

Cookie Company Project

In Honors Economics, seniors form companies to sell cookies. Students apply and execute what they are learning in class, and present a business plan to a group of expe s.

Senior Beach Day

In the spring, Seniors head to the beach for a day of fun in the sun.

Senior Moms’ Lunch

TPPA Senior Moms

Luncheon Commi ee

host a celebratory lunch for Senior moms.

Senior Internships

Completion of a 70hour internship is a graduation requirement (minus 10 hours for each AP class taken). Seniors update their resume, network, prepare for an interview and work, then create a presentation to share with their peers about the experience.

Graduation

Graduation is held at the Straz Center for the Pe orming A s. Please check tampaprep.org’s Parent Po al “Senior Year Info” link for updated details: h ps://tampaprep.org/ parent-po al/senioryear-info/

CLASS TRIPS BY GRADE

6th Grade

(Sept 13-15) Trip includes Disney’s Youth Education Series Program, Medieval Times, Kennedy Space Center, and more.

7th Grade

(May 7-10) Seventh grade students spend four days exploring wildlife in the Florida Keys. The Keys trip is a culmination of the Science 7 curriculum. Activities include swimming with dolphins at Dolphins Plus, kayaking through the mangroves at John Pennekamp State Park, visiting the Tu le Hospital on Marathon Key, snorkeling in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and taking an airboat ride through the Florida Everglades.

8th Grade

(Nov. 6-9) Students spend four days tracing the roots of the American Revolution by walking Boston’s historic Freedom Trail. They visit Lexington and Concord, the Salem Witch Museum, and reflect at Walden Pond. On the last day of the trip, they are transpo ed to the year 1627 and live the life of a pilgrim at Plymouth Plantation.

(May 10) In May, students celebrate their transition from Middle to Upper School on a StarShip lunch cruise.

9th Grade

(First Week) Freshmen will pa icipate in on and off-campus orientation activities to help new and returning students connect. Includes day trips to Cedarkirk Camp and Tampa Bay History Center.

10th Grade

(First Week) Sophomores will work together in small and large groupings to pa icipate in group bonding activities on and off-campus, including a day trip to DaySpring Retreat Center.

11th Grade

(Aug. 13-18) The Junior Class trip to the picturesque mountains of Pisgah National Forest in NC helps develop skills not necessarily formed or tested in the classroom, moving Juniors outside of their comfo zones to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Students work together to cook meals, put up tents, follow trails, build campfires, and rock climb. They begin the school year with new friends and a deeper bond from their shared experience.

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

MYTAMPAPREP

MyTampaPrep is our Student Information System. The graphic below shows how to access the most commonly used features, such as viewing your child’s schedule, grades, assignments, and updating your profile including your photo and contact info (address, phone, email, etc.). It is imperative that your contact information is updated and accurate in MyTampaPrep, as this is how we communicate impo ant school information with you. In addition, you can access a quick tutorial at any time by clicking on your name in the top right corner and going to “Ge ing Sta ed”. Need assistance with MyTampa Prep? Email mtpinfo@tampaprep.org

MAGNUS

Magnus is the school’s health form po al. It can be accessed via MyTampaPrep.

DIGITAL DIRECTORY

The information provided via your profile in MyTampaPrep will be used for the School’s digital directory, which is password-protected and accessible only to parents and faculty. You may change what other parents are able to view, by clicking on your name in the top right corner then clicking se ings and going to privacy setup. You may also search for other parents’ information via grade, town, or zip code in this directory which can be useful for carpools, bi hday pa ies, and other parent-to-parent communication.

Where to Find Information in MyTampaPrep

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Every Thursday, parents will receive a weekly newsle er delivered via email. This newsle er is full of impo ant updates and upcoming events. It is also where we celebrate student, athletic, faculty, and alumni successes.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

The School will call, email, and/or text to communicate emergency information. Your email and mobile phone information must be up to date in your MyTampaPrep profile to ensure you receive emergency notifications. You will also need to opt in to text messages by texting YES to 675-87.

PARENT PORTAL/CALENDAR

Tampa Prep’s Parent Po al (located at www.tampaprep.org) contains impo ant information and links that will be useful throughout the year. The po al includes information for back to school, class trips, athletic schedules, college counseling and more. If you can’t find the information you are looking for, please utilize the search bar at the top right of the page.

The School calendar in the Parent Po al contains Major Dates, TPPA events, and school events that happen throughout the year. This is the same calendar featured in My Tampa Prep. From this calendar, you can utilize the RSS feed to impo impo ant school dates into your own personal calendar

ATHLETICS

The primary source for Athletics schedules, rosters and other spo s information will continue to be located under Athletics within the Parent Po al or by going to tampaprepathletics.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA & NEWS

We hope that you will follow Tampa Prep on social media to keep up with daily happenings around campus as well as construction updates. The school has multiple accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twi er.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS?

PLEASE CONTACT:

Julia Freeman, Director of Marketing and Communications jfreeman@tampaprep.org

or Ally Twarog, Graphic Designer atwarog@tampaprep.org