August 2020
      
Virtual Mentoring is Back!

The official Mentor Kick-Off Day is August 31st!

The first day of school is Monday, August 24th. Please keep in mind that mentoring sessions will start 1 week after the 1st day of school. This policy is in place because the first week can be overwhelming for students, and they need some time to adjust.

Please be on the look-out for communication from your College Success Coach. They will provide you with a link to schedule your first virtual mentoring session with your mentee(s)!
 
CALL TO MENTORS: Interested in Leading Group Workshops?

The TSIC team is hosting 2-4 topic-based group webinars/workshops for students on a monthly basis during the upcoming school-year. We are looking for mentors interested in leading these group sessions. 

If you are interested, please email Anna Corman at:
Hillsborough County's Newest Development:

To meet the state's executive order, Hillsborough County Public Schools will now begin eLearning for all students on August 24 and transition to brick and mortar a week later, August 31, for those who choose to return to the classroom.

The first week of school while students are eLearning will be called "Smart Start Week." This will provide a jump-start for our learners to allow them to build a foundation for success while becoming accustomed to new health and safety procedures. Teachers will record daily attendance to prepare students for new safety protocols when returning to the classroom.
TSIC's "Shopping Week" was a Success!
 114 TSIC students and their families went to HEF and safely received supplies for the upcoming school year. Every student received a backpack filled with paper, pencils, pens, folders, binders and more! 
Workshops for Mentors
Back-to-School Workshop

If you were not able to join the TSIC team for our live Back-to-School Workshop, it is still not too late to get that information! The workshop reviews policies and procedures we have in place and provides updates on changes occurring this school year. Some of the changes discussed include: our mentoring options, virtual mentoring procedures, and the new TSIC App that is launching soon!

 Click green box below to view the recorded workshop!



Racial Inequality and Diversity Workshop
You can also watch a recorded workshop that was designed to help mentors navigate the topic of racial inequality and racism with their mentee. During the workshop, we provided a helpful framework when having these types of conversations, identified some key terms, and shared resources that you can use in your mentoring! Patsy Sanchez, the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at USF, also joined us and share some of her 25 years of experience on issues minority students commonly face in accessing education. She'll also discuss resources & opportunities available for minority students at USF. 

 Click green box below to view the recorded workshop!

  
MENTOR OF THE MONTH
Manuel Garcia
How did you become involved with mentoring through the Hillsborough Education
 Foundation? 
My Boss, Mr. Chris Farkas, mentioned the importance of mentoring during a meeting. He also explained why it was so beneficial for kids to have a mentor. That caught my attention and led me to mentor.

What has been the most rewarding part of mentoring?
Seeing my mentees' progress and hit the mark on the goals we have set.

What do you believe is the key to being a quality mentor?
Being a role model. Being enthusiastic and being ready to invest time and energy with your mentee. Having excellent communication skills and the ability to offer feedback and constructive criticism is also key. 

When you are not working with students, how do you prefer to spend your free
 time?
When I am not with my mentee, I always find ways to learn new things.  I enjoy
 reading articles, working out at the gym and practicing Martial Arts.

What do you hope your mentee(s) will learn from you?
That hard work and dedication always pays off with time. I hope they learn to never give up and keep going to achieve their goals and dreams.
Virtual Graduations
Senior Class of 2020

After HCPS consulted with school board members and the local health department, they decided that the traditional graduation ceremonies would be moved to a virtual platform. During the month of July, each school held a drive-thru diploma ceremony where students wore their cap and gowns, received their diploma, and safely took photos with their principal to mark the one-of-a-kind day.


To view the virtual graduation ceremonies, click here! 
Virtual Workshops

TSIC hosted several virtual workshops during the month of July. Some of the snapshots from the sessions are pictured below:

Workshop: Preparing for College

College Success Coach (CSC) Joanne Sandoval led this workshop for students in grades 6th through 12th. Students learned what they should do- according to their age and grade level- to prepare for College. 
Preparing for High School

This workshop was geared for incoming freshmen. CSC Elisabet Rivera provided students with tips and resources they could use to ensure their success in HS. Some TSIC Alumni (pictured on the right) also shared advice and helped answer student questions. 
Let's Talk About Racial Inequity & Diversity 

This workshop was lead by CSC Joe Addison and Elisabet Rivera. Students had the space  to discuss important topics like implicit bias, systemic racism and ways they can help create a just society. 
Virtual Interview Skills & Personal Branding 

This workshop was lead by the Human Resources department from Citi. They talked about virtual interview skills, resume writing skills, and personal branding.
Cyber Security

This workshop was led by professionals at Citi Bank who work in the field of Cyber Security. Students learn about this career path, how to get started, tips for college, and more!





How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions

"As stressful as it always is for students applying to college, this year it's all that - and then some - for the admissions officials trying to decide whether to admit them. Because of the pandemic, many students will be applying without standardized test scores and several other metrics admissions officers at selective schools have long relied on, leaving colleges scrambling to figure out what else they might consider instead."

 To read the full article, click here!
Source: NPR
The College Success Team 
 
 
 
Director of TSIC
(813) 463-4283
Click the name of your assigned College Success Coach to email them.


College Success Coach
(813)574-0272
College Success Coach
(813) 574-0271
College Success Coach
(813) 574-0264
College Success Coach
(813) 574-0269
Mark Your Calendar

Date
Event
Audience
Aug. 17th-19thTSIC: New Student InterviewsIncoming Freshmen
Aug. 24th
First day of school
in Hillsborough county
All Students
Aug. 31stOfficial Mentor Kick-Off Day
All Mentors
Sept. 7thLabor Day Holiday. 
Non-Student Day
HEF Office is Closed		All Students

For more detailed information about the events occurring in Hillsborough County Public Schools, click the link below:

For the 2019-2020 TSIC Calendar, click the link below: 
 
For more information, contact Anna Corman via email. 


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