In the days since the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14, the Hillsborough County School District has been monitoring its schools and reviewing security procedures to ensure the safety of its students. 

Last week, each Hillsborough school performed a lockdown and evacuation drill, so students and school employees would know what to expect if there was an active, immediate threat on campus.  

On Friday, the district broadcast a school-security overview video at all schools. 

Meanwhile, local students have participated in gun-violence protests, walkouts and vigils - including one at Curtis Hixon Park on Feb. 19 - in support and honor of the 17 people killed in the shooting. One example: Plant High students conducted a "chalk protest" on the sidewalk outside of their school and created this tribute video. 

How to help: 

Our hearts go out to the Parkland community. Our partners at the Broward Education Foundation have established a Douglas High Victims' Fund to support the victims and families of the horrific massacre. Please consider making a donation if you can. 

There are two easy ways to give: 

1. Make a donation on the fundraiser's official  GoFundMe page.  

2. Text to Donate: to make a $10 donation, simply text the word "Parkland" to the phone number 20222.

 

Join us for a fun day of golf and help kids in our community at the same time! The Play Fore Education Golf Tournament presented by Batson-Cook is coming up on March 19 at the Avila Golf & Country Club . The format is a team scramble featuring on-course contests and prizes. 

Since 2004, proceeds from the annual tournament have gone to the Hillsborough Education Foundation to support scholarships, mentoring, free school supplies, classroom projects, recognition for educators and more.  

We are pleased to report that this spring, we will be able to award 185 high-school seniors in our community with college scholarships, thanks to our generous donors. The scholarship recipients will be notified by the end of March. 

Special thanks to our scholarship-application reviewers who reviewed more than 1,500 applications this year.

• Mondays: 2:30-5 p.m.

• Wednesdays/Thursdays: 3-6 p.m.

If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back, consider becoming a mentor to a HCPS middle- or high-school student. As a mentor, you will meet with your mentee at his or her school weekly throughout the academic year.  Click here  to learn more or to fill out an application.