DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL MARCH 2016 Volume 2 • Issue 5
The Mission of Dunedin High School is to Prepare Students for Postsecondary Opportunities While Assisting Students to Develop Integrity, Respect, and Social Responsibility. School Board Linda S. Lerner Chairperson
Peggy L. O’Shea Vice Chairperson
Carol J. Cook Janet R. Clark Rene Flowers Terry Krassner Ken Peluso Superintendent Dr. Michael A. Grego Principal Kyle Johnson Assistant Principals Larry Balduff Valencia Gore Tanya King Matthew Warner ‘Falcon Forum’ March 2016 Published Four Times A Year Pinellas County School Board 525 Pennsylvania Ave. Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Issue #5
From the Principal Dear Falcon Families, It is difficult to believe that the 2015-2016 school year will be ending shortly. We still have a great deal to accomplish. We are entering the testing season. Please help you child pay close attention to testing dates. Attendance is crucial! Please make sure your child is present and wellrested. Students will take the FSA test over the next month. We highly encourage you to have your student review the materials, paper-based and/ or computer-based practice tests and answer keys are available at: http://www.fsassessments.org/students-and-families/practice-tests/ • We continue to have higher expectations for our students: We continue to see growth in our reading, writing, math and science test data. Our testing is going well, and we are anticipating more students than ever to take and pass their Advanced Placement tests this spring. • Campus climate: DHS has a great campus. It is a fantastic learning environment, but even outstanding schools have room for improvement. I have been having regular meetings with student representatives in order to find more ways to improve school spirit and the overall campus climate. We have some activities planned for the spring and then for next year to take Falcon Pride to a whole new level. • Graduation and the end of the year: Spring is an exciting time of year for high school student, especially seniors, with Prom, Grad-Bash, Senior Breakfast and, finally, Graduation. All of these activities will be done before the seniors know it, and then it is off to the scary “real world”. No matter if it is off to college or right out into the business world, I am confident our students will be successful. Graduation will be June 8 at 9:00 a.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Sincerely, Kyle R. Johnson Principal
News Briefs
All-County Boys Basketball Chedonio Martin, senior, was the only DHS player named to the first all-county boys basketball team. The 6’ 5” point guard/combo guard holds DHS’s record for the most points scored in a game: 49 against Lakewood this season. He also holds the record for the fifth highest points per game in the state. In the all-star game, he played shooting guard and made the second round. He hopes to play in college next year.
Academy Career Panel Ms. Angela Wright-Nash, Ms. Amy Canavan and Ms. Rebekah Kershaw organized the inaugural “Academy Career Panel”. The panel of four people from the community came in for a question and answer session with students in the Academy of Business Arts and Technology. These panelists gave career ideas to students and shared their personal experiences. Mr. Steven Plummer, a former DHS assistant principal and current county-level employee, was one of the panelists.
Take Stock in Children Scholarship! Congratulations to the following students for being awarded the Take Stock in Children Scholarship! 9th Grade: Rich Bun, Suzette De La Cruz, Matthew Gastineau, Virdiana Lopez 10 Grade: Shontae Anderson, De’Hante Townsend
Dedicated Ladies
Senior Wins Black History Essay Contest Michaela Polmann, senior, won the Rick and Ann Scott essay contest celebrating Black History Month. She is an SPC Early College student and plans to attend the University of Florida. For this accomplishment, Polmann will receive a four-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
The Dedicated Ladies of Dunedin High wrote a love letter to DHS to let the administrators, secretaries, clerks and others know they are appreciated. The messages were from the girls, and they each had to bring quotes back from their friends as well. It was a Happy Day gesture.
Volunteers! Thank you for your continued support. Currently, our volunteers have logged over 6,000 volunteer hours. Awesome Job Falcon Families!!!! DHS would like to send a special THANK YOU to volunteers Jenna Gray and Eric Houghton for being nominated as Dunedin High School’s 2015/2016 Outstanding School Volunteers. As a THANK YOU to the volunteer of Dunedin High School, I will be sending out special invitations via email for our volunteers to attend the April 28, 2016, opening performance of Into the Woods performed by the DHS Drama students. Volunteers will receive (1) free ticket to the show. All other attendees will be subject to the entrance fee. More details to come in April. Please remember to continue to log your volunteer hours. If you need assistance with logging your volunteer hours, please contact my office. The last day to enter volunteer hours for the school year is May 20, 2016. SAC and PTSA meetings also count as volunteer hours. If you regularly attend these meetings and are currently not a registered volunteer, please visit the volunteer section of the DHS website to obtain a volunteer registration form or email me at cerdak@ pcsb.org and I will send you the form. Important Reminder: DHS appreciates all that our wonderful volunteers do for our students and staff on a daily basis. However, it is important to remember that in order to be a volunteer you MUST be registered prior to doing ANY volunteer work. This is a Pinellas County School Board Policy. NO Exceptions can or will be made. If you wish to contact me, please feel free to do so. I can be reached at 727-469-4100 Ext. 2006 or by email cerdak@pcsb.org. My office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm.
Senior News Senior T-Shirts There are a few size small and medium senior shirts still available. The cost is $15. See Ms. Schuck in 6-1 to purchase the shirts.
Senior Grad Bash Reminders Seniors who have paid to attend Grad Bash at Universal Studios on April 8 are reminded to check the dress code and prescription medication rules. Universal strictly enforces both, and students not complying with their dress code will not be allowed on the bus. All attendees should meet in the bus loop no later than 3:15 on April 8. Parents should plan on picking students up at 4 a.m. on April 9. Please make sure the early morning transportation arrangements are in place before the trip Attendees who have not yet signed up for a bus must see Ms. Schuck immediately in 6-1.
Old Yearbooks for Sale Yearbooks from 2013 (the freshmen year of current seniors) are available for $10 in room 6-1. Older yearbooks may also be available for sale. Contact Ms. Schuck at schuckga@pcsb.org for information about other old yearbooks for sale.
Class of 2017 Senior Picture Information Current juniors must have their senior yearbook pictures taken this summer. All pictures for yearbook and IDs must be taken by Leonard’s Studios. There will be three days for students to take pictures on campus, June 9 and August 8 and 9. Students who do not have pictures taken on campus on one of those three days will have to go to the studio in Tampa for pictures. Look for more information in the mail in May. The cost is $10 for the at school yearbook only picture. The final deadline for senior pictures is Sept. 10. Students who do not sit for pictures by that day will not have a picture in their senior yearbook.
Thespian Troupe 2177 and the Dunedin Historical Society Dunedin High School’s Drama Department has been so fortunate as to have caught the attention of the Dunedin Historical Society. Vinnie Luisi, the director of the Society, contacted Ms. Cindy Scullion-Fuller in November and asked if some of her theatre students would be interested in assisting with some of the events that he was sponsoring. So, naturally, all of her students were eager to take part in these opportunities. On Dec. 2, a handful of the Troupe 2177 Thespians headed over to the Francis Wilson Playhouse dressed in Victorian garb [provided to them by the Dunedin Historical Society] for a benefit performance of the beloved musical classic, The Secret Garden—where they greeted theatregoers and patrons at the door as British aristocrats. The troupe has also participated in a Victorian Tour, in which they dressed in similar garb, and assisted in tours throughout Downtown Dunedin. They were in the same British aristocrat character. These two events were incredible opportunities for some of the thespians to put their acting skills to the test in a new setting. It enabled them to practice speaking with a British accent, using aristocratic mannerisms and body language, etc. More recently, on Fer. 26, four thespians (Nicole Law, Brianna Fallahee, Tai Lyttle, and Zach Bowman) were fitted for costumes and were given books of information about the lives of real people that lived in our community, and they then gave speeches and answered questions in character Downtown. One student portrayed Jefferson Davis Poston, Jr.; one of the first superintendents of the Pinellas County School System; and another a teacher--and even encountered one of “her” old students. In doing this, they were able to fully immerse themselves into the life of an actual human being of the past, and even test their improvisation skills in answering questions with the background they were given. Our Theatre Department continues to grow, and with opportunities like these, Dunedin High School continues to contribute to our community and continues to show others the kind of talented and hard-working students we have at our school. -By Anissa Perona, senior
Skills USA Students Win Regionals, Move on to States Congratulations to the following students for their successes in the 2016 Region 4 Skills USA Leadership and Skills contests, held in Clearwater and St. Pete PTEC’s, on Friday, Feb. 12. All competitors did an outstanding job. The following students received medals, and will advance to the State contests held the end of April in Lakeland.
Chorus
Adriana Altaffer – 3rd place Cosmetology Hair Weave Hailey Breece – 2nd place Cosmetology Men’s haircutting Julia Estep & Karina Dovale – 1st place Cosmetology Esthetics Stella Gibson, Kayleigh Gooding, Jade Guthiel, Yessy Pena, Tatum Thompson – 4th place Cosmetology Quiz Bowl
Falconaires and Madrigals participated in the annual Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment held at Gibbs High School on Feb. 19. Performances included solos, small ensembles, and the Falconaires and Madrigals groups. DHS Madrigals and Falconaires both received Superior ratings!
Clairesse Protani & Abby Crayton – 1st place Cosmetology Nail Care
Solos:
Sierra Shultz & Rachel Newman – 2nd place Cosmetology Nail Care
Erin McLarty- Superior Brianna Fallahee- Superior T.J. Howsare- Superior Megan Gilbert - Superior Emily Mason - Excellent
Wesley Finch – 1st place Architecture CAD Ewan McCutcheon – 2nd place Architecture CAD Avery Rivers – 4th place Residential Wiring Extemporaneous Speech
Small Ensemble: Much thanks goes out to Mr. Guillen, Mr. Awe and Mrs. White for their endless preparations for their students successes.
Erin McLarty, Anissa Perona, Brianna Fallahee, McKenley Anderson, Megan Gilbert, Emily Mason - Superior
Band Excels at Solo and Ensemble Please congratulate the members of the Scottish Highlander Band. This weekend of Feb. 13, they participated in the annual Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment held at Gibbs High School. Performances included solo, small ensembles, and large instrumental choirs. The level of literature performed ranged from Grade 3 (beginning high school level) through Grade 7 (advanced collegiate/professional level). The results are below, broken up by grade of music.
Harris, John Hughes, Jared Jones, Morgan Laughlin, Nick McIntosh, Justin Sokolowski, Jacob Sprague - Superior Wind Ensemble Woodwind Choir - Emma Brandmaier, Erika Brewer, Tristan Briller, Adrien Carrasquillo, Jenna Decesare, Tatiana Giron, James Gray, Avery Gumto, Julia Hodge, Rachel London, Kate Milligan, Trinity Pifer, Carlos Santiago, Brandon Schwab, Hannah Wyllie - Superior
Grade 3
Kiernan Adams - Tuba Solo: Excellent Kelcey Ross - Flute Solo: Excellent
Ian Currie - Snare Solo: Superior Jacob Fox - Tuba Solo: Superior Jacob Sprague - French Horn Solo: Superior Hunter Welch - Snare Solo: Superior Tristan Freyer, Avery Gumto, Joel Lopez-Espino, Brandon Schwab - Sax Quartet: Superior
Grade 5
Grade 7
Madison McCraney - Clarinet Solo: Excellent
Grade 4
Erika Brewer - Bass Clarinet Solo: Superior Avery Gumto - Alto Saxophone Solo: Superior Rachel London - Flute Solo: Superior Kate Milligan - Clarinet Solo: Superior Justin Sokolowski - Trumpet Solo: Superior Hannah Wyllie - Clarinet Solo: Superior Julia Hodge, Trinity Pifer - Flute Duet: Excellent Jacob Fox, Kyle Waters - Tuba Duet: Superior D.J. Street, Hunter Welch - Percussion Duet: Superior Dunedin Clarinet Choir - Erika Brewer, Tristan Briller, Tatiana Giron, James Gray, Billy Irle, Amy Kemerer, Tristin McInnes, Kate Milligan, Sharlee Norquest, Carlos Santiago, Hannah Wyllie: Superior Wind Ensemble Brass Choir - Kiernan Adams, Jerald Benz, Jacob Blackburn, Kristen Brewer, Taylor Craven, Jacob Fox, Justin Hall, Sam
Grade 6
Brandon Schwab - Alto Saxophone Solo: Superior
Auxiliary Anissa Radovanic - Flag Solo: Superior Ryan Fisher - Rifle Solo: Superior Faith Gabbard - Dance Solo: Superior Madison McCraney - Flag Solo: Superior Lily Ahern - Dance Solo: Superior Madelyn Gogola - Rifle Solo: Superior DHS Indoor Guard: Superior Highland Dancers: Superior The Jazz band earned Straight Superior ratings for their performance at their Jazz Music Performance Assessment on Feb. 19. They were one of only five high schools in our county to do so.
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DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL
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Pinellas County Schools Dunedin High School 1651 Pinehurst Road Dunedin, FL 34698
Dunedin High School
Mentors Needed DHS is in need of 6 mentors for students. Please help us to recruit mentors by passing this information along to grandparents, family members, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members, etc. What is a Mentor? A mentor is a caring adult who devotes time offering a student support, guidance and encouragement. If you can donate (1) hour, twice a month, you can change a life by helping a child build a solid foundation of values, establishing goals, improve their academic and life skills while developing their self-esteem and confidence. When and Where? Mentor sessions are approximately 30-45 minutes and occur at the school the student attends, during school hours. The days and times that a mentor and mentee meet can be arranged around the schedule of both the mentor and student. Please note, to become a mentor you MUST attend a 1 time, 2 hour mentor training course. The course is free of charge. Mentor training dates are listed below and are regularly updated on the PCSB website. Mentor Training Workshops below are conducted at the Pinellas Education, located at: 2090 Starkey Road in Largo, on a monthly basis. Wednesday, March 16, 2016 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Wednesday, April 20, 2016 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2016 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
To register for a mentor training course, please contact Michelle Roberge at 727-588-5050 or email at robergem@pcsb.org.