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Dedications Mark First Years

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

WESTCHASE - Two elementary schools will celebrate their first years in their new buildings with dedications this weekend.

Hammond Elementary's dedication will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the school, 8008 N. Mobley Road. Deer Park will hold its dedication at 4 p.m. Sunday at its building, 11605 Citrus Park Drive.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia will attend each ceremony and officially dedicate the schools. The event also will feature student performances, patriotic songs and videos spotlighting the school year. Receptions will follow at both schools.

"We've been so busy that we haven't really had the chance to reflect that we were the first teachers to walk the halls," said third-grade teacher Ashley Rogale, who has spearheaded the dedication plans at Hammond. "We're just going to be blown away."

Hammond's choir will debut the school song for families, staff and special guest James Hammond. The elementary's namesake, Hammond, now retired, has been an advocate for children and education. Children interviewed him for a video that will be shown at the ceremony, Rogale said.

Classes also wrote about Hammond's life, and those projects will be on display as well.

Deer Park's celebration will showcase its unconventional history.

The school district established Deer Park to ease crowding at Bryant Elementary and opened the school in August 2006. Students spent the first year in portables behind Citrus Park Elementary, now the site of a new middle school opening this fall.

In August, Deer Park children moved into their completed building near Westchase.

"It still feels like the new school," said Principal Lou Cerreta.

The dedication will give families and staff a chance to look back at Deer Park's start.

"Everyone's extremely excited about it," Cerreta said.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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