SEPTEMBER 2024
Dear Sailor Families,
As we wrap up our first month of school, I’m filled with a sense of gratitude and pride for our vibrant community. This campus is filled with rich tradition and built on a strong foundation by alumni and supporters with over a century of passion and love for the Sailors. Our current students, staff, and families continue to come together to create a truly special environment to work and learn in every day. As I reflect, a few key points stick out in this first month that fill my bucket and I wanted to share.
Building Stronger Together
One of the most remarkable aspects of this month has been the way our community has rallied around our school. From parent volunteers to community partnerships, your support has been invaluable. Together, we’ve created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where every child feels valued and supported.
Celebrating Our Achievements
Our students have already made significant strides in their academic journey.
They’ve embraced new challenges, demonstrated their creativity, and shown a passion for learning. We’re excited to see what they’ll accomplish in the months ahead as we strive to exceed our goals this year and beyond!
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
As we move forward, we remain committed to providing a high-quality education for every child. We’ll continue to focus on fostering a love of learning, developing essential skills, and preparing our students for success in the 21st century.
Thankful
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We could not do what we do without you. Together, We Are Sarasota, and I’m confident that our SHS will remain the staple for educational excellence in this community!
Go Sailors!
Ryan Chase, Principal
Principal
Ryan Chase ryan.chase@sarasotacountyschools.net
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
Lindsay Gallof lindsay.gallof@sarasotacountyschools.net
Assistant Principal - Administration
Robin Livingston robin.livingston@sarasotacountyschools.net
Assistant Principal - ESE
Alana Pietranton
alana.pietranton@sarasotacountyschools.net
Assistant Principals
Holly Hultgren A-F
holly.hultgren@sarasotacountyschools.net
Brooke Teal G-M
brooke.teal@sarasotacountyschools.net
Jason Jackson N-Z
jason.jackson@sarasotacountyschools.net
WE ARE SARASOTA
Sarasota High School first opened its doors in 1913 and at that time it was just an old yellow schoolhouse with four classrooms, four teachers and a mule outside. Since that time over 100 years ago, academic excellence and storied traditions have been passed on from graduating class to graduating class. In September of 1927, classes began in the newly constructed, beautiful brick building on U.S. 41. Projected enrollment for that school year was 210. As of this newsletter, Sailor enrollment is 2,370.
Over the summer, I had the privilege of talking with an alumna from the class of 1969. She had recently retired from a career in education and was in Sarasota for a few days of vacation. After all these years, she wanted to stop by and see her alma mater. As she reflected on her time in the hallowed halls of the old brick building, this alumna said Sarasota High School was a wonderful place to go to high school. I shared a few highlights about our campus today, including Morning March and the Mighty Sailor Band. As she reminisced more and I listened to her memories, she told me that when she was in school, the Sailors were known as the Mighty, Mighty Sailors.
MISSION STATEMENT
Sarasota High School collaboratively engages students and staff in a culture of learning to ensure high achievement for all students.
VISION
Sarasota High School will be a high-functioning professional learning community that will graduate all students career and college ready, prepared to contribute to their community.
Our conversation caused me to reflect on the special place Sarasota High School and the Sailor family is today. A campus rich in history where we lay claim to being Sarasota’s First and Finest and we carry our city’s name. A campus which spans 83 acres and houses the Edward F. Howell Gymnasium, an award-winning Art Gallery, a research lab, a greenhouse and land lab for Agri-Science, and Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field. What are some of the things that set the Sailors apart? With more and more Sailor graduates returning to campus as support staff, teachers and administrators, one thing for sure is that the Sailors are coming home. This year we have 24 alumni in various roles on campus and 26 of our staff have one or more students enrolled at Sarasota High. That is Sailor special.
Our three magnet programs—MaST (Math and Science Technology), Cambridge AICE and most recently Circus Arts, set our campus apart. Two of these magnet programs are led by the stellar husband and wife team of Mr. Andy Harshman (MaST) and Mrs. Kristina Harshman (AICE). Mr. and Mrs. Harshman are both alumni and returned as Sailor faculty to teach and later, each would step into a role of leading one of our incomparable, magnet programs at Sarasota High. Sailor tradition goes even deeper with Mr. Harshman as he co-directs the MaST Research Institute, a program his father spearheaded at Sarasota High.
The elder Mr. Harshman started the program in 1995 with a group of science teachers and oversaw it until he retired in 2003. The young Mr. Harshman and fellow science teacher, Mr. Stevenson, took leadership of the program in 2007 and have seen incredible growth. In the initial years of the program, there were approximately 50 students in the program. Most work was done outside of the school day so many students had trouble finding the time to complete research. By implementing MaST as part of the school day for all grade levels when it started, the program has been able to consistently grow with over 150 students currently in the program. Sarasota High School is one of very few around the country where a program like MaST continues and with such a high success rate. This legacy of educational excellence and commitment to research is worth celebrating and honoring. The Sailor baton was passed from one generation to the next and Sarasota High School is all the more blessed because of it. This year, another Harshman generation became a Sailor and he’s marching in the Mighty Sailor Band like his dad did when he was a student on campus. And tradition continues.
As the city was preparing for the opening of the brick building on U.S. 41 many decades ago, the following is taken directly from the May 4, 1927, edition of The Gazette, Sarasota’s daily newspaper at that time. “Time will only tell those next decades in which students will learn to grow in excellence and academic advancement. Memories will be made, traditions will be carried, our society will develop within Sarasota High School. Those walls will house the future.”
After 113 years, the Sailors are still going strong. Academic advancement is being made with excellence, determination, and resiliency. Students’ lives are being impacted. Memories are being made. Sailor traditions reach far and run deep. Let’s pick up the baton of Sailor traditions and pass them on to those Sailors who come behind us. May those who come after us find that the deep and rich foundation of Sarasota’s First and Finest is still strong and unshakable. We are the Sailors, the Mighty, Mighty Sailors! We’re growing stronger, we’re soaring higher, we’re achieving more than ever before!
We Are Sarasota!
Maggie Seres, Administrative Assistant to the Principal
Sept. 13 Homecoming Sept. 14 Homecoming Dance
Oct. 9
Underclassmen Make-up Pictures
Oct. 17 End of 1st Grading Period
Oct. 18............ Professional Day—No School
Nov. 15 FINAL Senior Make-up Pictures
Nov. 25-29 Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 20 ........... End of 2nd Grading Period
Dec. 23-31 Winter Break
Jan. 1-3 Winter Break
Jan. 6 Professional Day
Jan. 20 ............ Martin Luther King Jr. Day— No School
Feb. 17 ........... Presidents Day— No School
Mar. 13 End of 3rd Grading Period
Mar. 14 Professional Day—No School
Mar. 17-21 ..... Spring Break
Apr. 11 Grad Bash
Apr. 18 ........... Mini Break
Apr. 26 Prom
May 26 Memorial Day— No School
May 28 Last Day of School
SAILORS WELCOME NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
In July, Sarasota High School welcomed new assistant principal, Mrs. Brooke Teal, to the Sailor family. Mrs. Teal is honored to serve in the community where she was raised and still lives, a community which holds a special place in her heart.
Mrs. Teal is a proud product of Sarasota County Schools, having graduated from Sarasota High School in 2009. During her time as a student here at SHS, she was actively involved in Student Government, held a leadership role in Key Club, served as the student representative on the School Advisory Council (SAC), and participated on the Girls Weightlifting Team. She also had the honor of serving as captain of the Lady Sailor Softball Team.
A pivotal moment in her high school journey came during her senior year. With the encouragement and support of Mr. David Jones, her assistant principal at the time, she enrolled in the student internship program at Alta Vista. While in this program, she discovered a passion for student learning—a discovery that set her on the path to a career in education.
Mrs. Teal spent seven rewarding years teaching U.S. History and Civics at Sarasota Middle School, where she was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in 2020. To broaden her impact as an educator beyond the classroom and grow as an educational leader, she worked with Sarasota County’s most at-promise students at Triad Alternative School. She also contributed to dropout prevention efforts while working in the school district’s Office of Academic Intervention Programs. These diverse experiences prepared her to return to her alma mater and serve the Sailor community in a leadership role.
Beyond her professional life, Mrs. Teal is a proud mother of three beautiful children. She is married to her college sweetheart, who shares her passion for supporting students and the Sarasota community. Mrs. Teal is honored to be back at Sarasota High School and serve as an Assistant Principal. Once a Sailor, always a Sailor!
Welcome aboard Mrs. Teal!
OUT OF FIELD DESIGNATIONS 2024-2025
Florida’s State Department of Education requires that school districts notify parents and guardians when their student is being instructed by a teacher who is out-of-field. Out-of-Field is a term used for teachers whose assigned teaching duties currently include a subject matter that is outside the field in which they are certified. Two teachers are teaching out-of-field this year. Kathryn Ciano is teaching out-of-field for English 6-12 and Tami Brode is teaching out-of-field for Social Science. Should you have any questions regarding the 2024-2025 Out-of-Field Designations, please contact Lindsay Gallof, Assistant Principal of Curriculum, at (941) 955-0181.
NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY
By Alana Ball, NAHS Secretary
National Art Honor Society is planning another fun filled year of activities. This talented group of student artists has already sponsored painting parking spots for Sarasota High seniors and will continue helping paint more spots with fabulous designs on October 18th from 8 AM – 2 PM. Seniors who wish to participate need to see Mrs. Markley in 5-204 for the forms. In addition, NAHS will be hosting a show featuring the art of Class of 2017 alumni, Charlotte Jordan. The show will be on October 3rd from 6 PM to 8 PM in the Art Gallery.
This dynamic year with NAHS will be packed with fun, state-of-the-art activities including local markets, fundraisers, and art projects that are not taught in the usual Art classes. As a club, we are excited to work as a team to bring out our school’s colors and more.
SUMMER ART AWARDS
Over the summer, AICE Art & Design student Eva Brock entered an art contest sponsored by the Community Foundation and Venice Art Center. Eva won 2nd Place for the category of Best In Show as well as two weekly awards of Honorable Mention and 2nd Place.
Congratulations Eva!
By Cadet Second Lieutenant Mallory Altergott
Our Bulldogs have started another strong year. Cadets have started joining teams and have been getting involved in our battalion events. We have a lot of exciting events coming up this year.
If you are unfamiliar with our program and what we do, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Program is dedicated to inspiring and promoting leadership, character, and community service among its members. We do this by providing our students, or ‘cadets,’ with hands-on leadership experience through the implementation of our student-run program. Cadets are responsible for one another in various teams, classes, and many other activities. There is no obligation for cadets to join the military, and most of those enrolled in JROTC do not elect to serve after high school.
Our Battalion is led by senior Cameron Ehrlich. He is the Raiders captain. So far, under his direction, the Battalion staff have begun drafting several ideas for both the Continuous Improvement and Service-Learning Project. Each year the Bulldog Battalion decides on something in JROTC that we wish to improve. Past Continuous Improvement Projects have included better Physical Training, more promotions, and more consistent uniform wear. In addition, every year the Battalion completes a Service-Learning Project. As a program, we also work together to accomplish a volunteer event in our community. These events are planned months in advance and require the full attention of Battalion staff to complete.
Over the summer, cadets went to JCLC, the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge. JCLC is a 4-day summer camp available to our cadets and other Sarasota and Manatee County cadets where they learn about teamwork and activities like canoeing and rappelling. The Raider team is starting off strong with their first competition on September 21st at Braden River High School. The Rifle Team has their first match on September 28th. With Homecoming right around the corner, remember to come and support our JROTC Saber Guard on Friday, September 13th. Let's go Bulldogs!
Senior Dates for the Class of 2025
Senior Pictures
1st Payment for Senior Packages (No Refunds)
Senior Sunrise
Cap & Gown Assembly
Cap & Gown Orders
July 8th/July 25th
August 15th & 16th November 15th
By appointments ONLY! https://schedule.leonards.com
August 12th – October 11th School Hours
August 29th 6:30am
SHS Art Gallery/Gym Lobby (Must schedule appointment)
Main Office Mavrikas
Football Field Ms. Stelmashenko/Student Government
October 10, 2024 2nd period Auditorium
October 17, 2024
If you have a financial situation, please see your counselor ASAP. All Lunches Café
2025 Class Photo November 15th, 2024 7:30
Football Field Ms. Stelmashenko / Student Government Announcement Order Deadline
Final Payment for Senior Packages Due (No Refunds)
Grad Bash ’25
Ticket Reservations (Non-Refundable / Non- Transferable)
December 20, 2024 Anytime on their website Jostens.com
December 20, 2024
January 27th - January 31st School Hours (Limited tickets: may sell out before last day of sales)
Grad Bash Permission Slips Pick-up: February 3rd, 2025 Return: February 7th, 2025
School Hours
Mr. & Miss. Sarasota Mr. Sarasota - February 6th Miss. Sarasota - March 6th 7:00 pm
Grad Announcement Distribution March 2025
Senior Fee
$35.00
This fee is included in the SHS Senior Packages if you purchased one of those.
Cap & Gown Distribution
Graduation National Anthem Auditions
2025 Graduation Student Speaker Auditions
Grad Bash 2025
March 28th, 2025
If you have a financial situation, please see your counselor ASAP.
April 4, 2025
School Hours
School Hours
During Lunches
April 7, 2025 2:30
Applications Available: SHS
Website - Senior Tab Applications Deadline: April 4, 2025 Auditions: April 10, 2025
School Hours
April 11, 2025 2:30 pm - 4:00 am
Prom Ticket Sales April 7th – 17th, 2025 Seniors only can purchase 7th – 14th
Prom
Senior Awards Night
April 26, 2025
May 8, 2025
School Hours (Limited tickets: may sell out before last day of sales)
7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Invite Only Event
Senior Assembly May 12, 2025 2nd & 3rd Period
Mandatory Graduation Practice TBD May 14th or 15th 7:00 am - 11:00 am
* Graduation May 16, 2025 8:00 pm (Students arrive at 6:45)
