MAY, 2016
PRIDE THE NEWSLETTER OF AVON PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Avon Park, Florida
May, 2016 Preparing Students for the Future! Volume 1, Issue 9
Tealy Williams, Principal
ADVICE TO UNDERCLASSMEN
By: Jesse Mosley
There are several things I wish I would have done
differently throughout high school. I’ve made many,
many mistakes. However, I applaud myself for the
things that I’ve accomplished, which is something I
believe everyone should do. Give yourself a pat on
the back for the good things and don’t always beat
yourself up for the mistakes. So on to things that
should have been done differently.
Not everyone is going to like you. You can’t
make them like you. You can only be yourself.
You’re not going to finish high school with the
same people you started it with, and that’s okay.
Get involved. Now I’m not saying do every
single thing, club or event that is available. But
get out there, meet some new people and help
our community.
Now to actual academics - grades are
IMPORTANT. School isn’t a place to just
socialize. Don’t wait until the last 9 weeks to
start changing your grades.
And lastly, don’t wait until March to apply for
colleges. Take the SAT/ACT and apply for any
scholarships.
COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION
MAY
12 Pool Party with Pizza
All Library books must be turned in
13 Senior Sick Day
14 District Scholarship Night at SHS
17 APHS Scholarship Night 6 p.m.
19 Baccalaureate Practice 4 p.m. First Baptist AP
20 Exams
22 BACCALAUREATE 7 p.m. First Baptist AP
Line up at 6 p.m.
23 Exams
24 Exams
27 GRADUATION DAY
Lunch 11:30 a.m. APHS
MANDATORY Practice 1 p.m. SFSC
Graduation 7 p.m. SFSC Auditorium
Line up at 6 p.m.
PROJECT GRAD
Senior Ticket $25; Guest $35
Out of school date forms due by May 19
Purchase Tickets May 10, 11 or 19 only
CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR GRADUATING SENIORS!
We applaud all of your hard work and
achievements! Best wishes as you move forward
with your lives. We are AP PROUD!
YEARBOOKS
HAVE ARRIVED!
If you don’t have yours,
buy one today! Cost is
$85. First come, first
serve. See Mr. Scofield.
Don’t miss out!
MAY, 2016
KEY CLUB: Upcoming fundraisers: *May 12 from 4
to 8 p.m. Panera Bread. Flyer must be presented.
*May 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. SweetFrog. Come out and
enjoy games and fun for National Frog Jumping Day!
Mention APHS Key Club when purchasing your frozen
yogurt. Part of each of these fundraiser proceeds will
go to the American Cancer Society. *Also, you can
still purchase the purple feet to benefit the American
Cancer Society; cost is $1. *Selling lollipops to KISS
THE SENIORS GOODBYE, May 9 to 20.
PENNY WARS HAS ENDED! The competition was
fierce, but the winners are: 2nd place, Mrs. Lee with
$147.08; 1st place, Mr. Derenzis with $192.52. Total
raised for Penny Wars this year to fight cancer was
$711.54. Thanks to all who participated.
SGA: The Supervisor of Elections Office was on the
APHS campus April 5 to register junior and seniors to
vote. A total of 59 students were either registered or
pre-registered in the effort. SGA sponsored the event
and hopes to make it an annual event to encourage
citizenship among all our Red Devil family.
CITIZENSHIP AWARDS Congratulations to these students who were selected
for the 2nd quarter by faculty for leading the way with
excellent citizenship. Pictured left to right: Principal
Williams; Iesha Nelson; Britanya Graham;
Monica Vargas; Dominic Mikel; Jennifer Ealy;
Liliana Fuentes; Diana Eugenio; and Nicolas
Davis. Not pictured: Heather Reschke.
MUSIC NOTES
Congratulations to APHS
Choir for advancing to STATE Music Performance
Assessment. Both the Women’s and Concert
Choirs earned Superior ratings at their recent
District Festival, earning them the right to sing for
State level adjudication on April 27 in Lakeland.
Although the Women’s Choir is used to compet-
ing at this level, this is the first time the Concert
Choir has been to State since 2009. Both the
Women’s Choir and Concert Choir earned Excel-
lent ratings, and received a twenty minute clinic
with a college professor. Great job musicians!
CHORUS SPRING CONCERT May 12, First
Baptist Church Avon Park at 7 p.m.
AVID FAMILY POTLUCK
The theme for the annual family potluck this year
is Luau. It will be held Monday, May 9 at 6:30
p.m. in the Auditorium. AVID students are
invited to bring their immediate family and a side
dish to share. There will be a photo booth and a
talent show.
“Don’t Let
Cheers
Turn into Tears”
During Prom week, SGA
partnered with School
Resource Officer Mulligan
to discourage drinking
and driving. The Sheriff’s Department towed a
wrecked car to APHS and placed it on display.
COLLEGE BOUND MALES (CBM)
CBM will be hosting boys from Avon and Park
Elementary schools and young men from Avon
Park Middle school on May 16. There will be a
guest speaker, breakout sessions, and lunch.
MAY, 2016
NEED GUIDANCE?
See your Counselor
CAFETERIA
As of Monday, May 16, no one will be allowed
to charge anything in the cafeteria. If you wish
to purchase lunch or any ala carte items as of
this date, please make sure that you have money
in your account or in hand as you get to the
cashier. All negative balances must be paid in
full by May 27. Cashiers will be reminding you
daily if you owe money. Please contact Miss
Kennedy, Manager, at 452-4312 with questions.
TESTING DATE DEADLINES
June 4 SAT - registration deadline is May 5
June 11 ACT - registration deadline is May 6
APRIL STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
From left: Jeston Mason (9th); Allison Franza (10th);
Aneisha Camacho (11th); Tevion Chambers (12th).
D.A.R.E. CELEBRATION
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and Highlands
County Schools will be conducting their annual D.A.R.E.
Celebration May 12. The following APHS students were
selected as good role models to participate: Ernest
Brown; A’Darius Council; Jocelyn Jackson;
Jordan Jackson; Luis Martinez; John Mason; Jose
Pontinela; Moise Satine; Acuria Smith; and
Ahmaad Smith.
AP’S GOT TALENT
The AP Breakfast Rotary Club held a talent contest
called “Highlands County’s Got Talent.” There were
contestants from AP, Lake Placid, Sebring and Bartow.
APHS students swept the non-vocal category, taking all
three places: 3rd place ($100), tie between a Center-
stage Dance ensemble and Christopher Loomis, card
tricks; 2nd place ($250), Dovante Fugate, dance; and
1st place ($500), Jason Trenchfield, dance.
STUDENTS
ACCEPTED TO NHS
The National Honor Society
was established in 1921 to
recognize outstanding high
school students. NHS serves to recognize
those students who have demonstrated excel-
lence in the areas of scholarship, leadership,
service and character. The following students
were accepted into the APHS chapter for next
year. An induction ceremony was held May 3.
Congratulations to:
Janelle Alomar Priscila Capote
Destanie Carpenter Brittany Castillo
Amelyn Castro Luis Cervera
Kadie Crosson Kristen Farless
Allison Franza Joseph Franza
Payton Folkening Cole Jahna
Rosalinda Jaramillo Joshua Jantz
Christian Lashley Bryce Langston
Christopher Loomis Natalie Miller
Denise Limdimas Alysia Ramirez
Kaelyn Riffle Kelli Sullivan
Vijay Sharma Alexis Sboto
Madison Thomas Dalton Whitman
SCHLOSSER CROWNED
Freshman Amy Schlosser
competed in Daytona in April and
was crowned Miss Jr. Teen Florida
United States 2016. With this
title, Amy will attend events all
over the state for the coming year.
She will go on to compete in Las Vegas July 29 to August
4 in the Miss Jr. Teen United States. Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS Mrs. Neely
for being selected as the District
School Related Employee of the Year!
MAY, 2016
APHS Web Page calendar of upcoming events has
schedule information for Red Devil sports.
APHS:
WHERE EXCELLENCE
IS A TRADITION
MASON
RECEIVES
AWARD
Senior John Mason, a
6-foot 5 forward for
APHS, averaged 22
points and 9 rebounds
per game this year.
For his ability and leadership, he was selected as
the Highlands Today All-Highlands Boys Basket-
ball Player of the Year. Tevion Chambers,
Ahmaad Smith, Dameon Braswell and Jason
Duff received First Team Honors.
The boys varsity basketball team will be traveling
to Palm Beach Atlantic University on June 16 to
participate in a one day 3 game shootout with
teams from all over the state. They will then
travel to the University of Miami in Coral Gables
for a 3 day team camp, where they will stay
overnight and play up to 3 games each day. Boys
basketball open gym will begin this month. See
Coach O’Hora for details.
ANTONIO
WINS
AT STATE
Junior Ben Antonio,
pictured with Coach
Hickman, came home
with the fifth-place medal in the 129-pound class
at the Class 1A state weightlifting meet in Kis-
simmee. He had a combined total of 415 pounds.
During the meet Antonio set a personal best with
a successful clean-and-jerk lift at 190 pounds.
Highlands Today Photo
Courtesy Photo
TRACK STRONG AT DISTRICTS
The Red Devils had a strong showing at the Class 2A-
District 9 track and field meet in Frostproof, and
were well represented at the Class 2A-Region 3 track
and field regional meet at Berkeley Prep in Tampa
April 29. District results: Moise Satine, 3rd in 100
meters; Montrae Braswell, 4th in 100 meters;
Tajenay Vassel, 4th in 200; Earlnajah Collins,
2nd in 400; Keyaneesaha Fullerd, 4th in 400;
4-by-100 relay teams: (Girls) Temiko Spry, Vassel,
Collins and Fullerd, 3rd; (Boys) Satine, Warren
Buckner, Braswell and James Beck, 3rd;
4-by-800 boys relay team: Tristan Kiker, Sean
Christian, Antonio Grant and Aaron
Springsteen, 3rd; Dylan Branch, 2nd in 800, 2nd
in 1,600 and 2nd in 3,200; Desirae Hendricks, 2nd
in discus; and Jeira Colon, 4th in shot put.
RED DEVILS REPEAT AS
DISTRICT CHAMPS!
Fighting through a tough season with a lot of adversi-
ty, the Red Devils edged Hardee with score of 2-1 in
the district semifinal, moving on to play McKeel
Academy in the Class 5A-District 12 championship
game at Head Field. A dominating pitching
performance by Josh Rivera in that game helped AP
to cruise to a 5-0 victory over McKeel. The game
also marked the return of Moja the chicken, the
team’s unofficial mascot and lucky charm, who was
kept in a cage in the dugout. With the district title,
the Red Devils opened regional play at home against
Satellite High School April 27.
Highlands Today Photo
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