Volume 22 | December 21, 2017
10550 Ray Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32082                           904-547-8300 - Main Office

Office Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4:45p.m.
Teacher Work Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4p.m.
Message from Mrs. Kunze & Announcements
A huge THANK YOU to the PTSO for hosting their Annual Holiday Luncheon. The food and fellowship were much appreciated. We would also like to thank everyone who donated a salad, dessert or gift card.

The faculty and staff at Nease would like to wish everyone a safe and fun-filled winter break. School will resume on Monday, January 8th. Students who were absent this week, will take make-up exams on Monday, January 8th and Wednesday, January 10th in the media center.

Grades from distrct-created semester exams are not expected to be graded and loaded until January 12th. The report card screen will be available on HAC at 8:30am on January 19th.

Teachers have been busy making course recommendations this week for the 18-19 school year. We will start the registration process when we return in January with assemblies for students on Tuesday, January 9th, a parent meeting at 5:30pm in the auditorium for all current 9th,10th & 11th grade students not in IB on Thursday, January 11th, and then counselors going into classrooms the following week. Please mark your calendar for the meeting on the 11th as we lots of information to share about course options.

There will be a college presentation on Thursday, January 11th at 6:30pm in the auditorium for 9th and 10th grade student titled "Creating your brand and drafting a high school resume. Please mark your calendar for this important presentation.

NHS Tutoring
National Honor Society tutoring will not resume until Wednesday, Jan. 17 th . Due to lack of attendance, tutoring on Thursdays has been cancelled.

Happenstance Calendars
2018 Happenstance Calendars are now on sale! The Calendars feature the art and literary work of Nease students. Calendars are $10 each and can be purchased in B108 or from a Happenstance club member.

Yearbooks
Last chance to purchase the 2018 Yearbook for the $85. price! It goes up to $95. January 1 st . Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter order #15476 to get the perfect stocking stuffer!
 
Senior parents we have a few spots left for Senior Ads! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter order #15476 to create and buy your senior an Ad! First come, first serve!
 
Contact Holly Farson at Holly.Farson@stjohns.k12.fl.us the Yearbook Advisor with any questions. 


Policy Reminder:
Students are not checked out after 3:20pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays OR after 2:20pm on Wednesdays. If you need to check-out your child early, PLEASE submit the Early Dismissal Form and your child will be waiting for you upon arrival.
If your child will be missing school for any planned reason and you would like to see if the days could be excused, you must submit a Pre-Excused Absence Request Form
Good News!!
ROTC is in the news again! Way to go!


Coaches or Team Moms of sports/clubs can email Mrs. Kunze at Lisa.Kunze@stjohns.k12.fl.us by 4pm on Thursdays with any good news for their sport/club. Please use Arial font size 12. Thank you!
Mark your calendar - Important Dates

Make-up exams - Monday, January 8th & Wednesday, January 10th in the Media Center
Report card available on HAC at 8:30am on January 19th.
SAC News
SAC Chair - Christina Talbot

School Advisory Council dates for 17-18.
As always, this is a public meeting, and all are welcome to attend.

NEW MEETING DATES & TIME
Meetings will be from 8-9am on the following dates.
NO January meeting
February 8th
March 8th
April 12th
May 10th

PTSO News
PTSO Meeting Dates
Meetings start at 2:30pm in Panther Hall


January 9th
February 13th

Interested in writing a birthday or congratulation message to your child on the marquee? Complete the form and submit to main office for PTSO ONE week PRIOR to the message appearing on the marquee.

Testing
Testing Coordinator - Cynthia Messenger Email - Cynthia.Messenger@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Make-up exams are Monday, January 8th and Wednesday, January 10th in the media center.

Attached is the AP/IB testing calendar for May. The dates and times of these exams are set by outside agencies and we cannot change them. PLEASE do not schedule appointments or vacations during this time.

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College Visits
  • There are currently no college visits schedule for the week of January 7th.

Juniors and seniors, sign up using Naviance for college visits. Print out the confirmation page to use as your pass. You must get permission to be out of class BEFORE you go to the visit. 
IB News
January
  • A big, heartfelt THANK YOU, to the families that contributed to our holiday gift card collection for our IB teachers. The teachers were very excited about their gifts. 
  • IB Booster Club meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:30 in the media center classroom.
  • Mrs. Kennedy will be visiting the English classrooms in late January/early February to work on scheduling with students for the 2018-2019 school year. Information regarding classes will be sent home prior so family discussions can take place. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Kennedy. 
  • A presentation of Creating your “brand” and drafting your resume will be held in the PAC on Thursday, January 11th from 6:30-7:30 by Kim Raybuck. This is an information meeting on how to create and present yourself as you prepare for the college admissions process.

Seniors
  • Mark your calendars for our New York meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 5:30 in the PAC for students attending the New York Trip and their parents. The itinerary and important information will be distributed. 
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines:
·          See link above with directions as to how to submit your request for nomination.
-       Rayonier Advanced Materials (no nomination needed)- Due by Jan. 8 th
-       USF -Freshman Scholarships-(no nomination needed)- Due by Jan. 15 th
-       University of Michigan Engineering - (no nomination needed)- Due by Jan. 17 th
-       Florida State University Service Scholar -(no nomination needed)-Due by Jan 18 th
-       NROTC Scholarships (no nomination needed)- Due by Jan. 31 st
-       James Day Track & Field Scholarship (no nomination needed)- Due by Feb. 1 st
-       Army ROTC Scholarships (no nomination needed)- Due by Feb. 4 th

Juniors
  • If you have not reviewed your transcript that was given to you at the beginning of the year, please do so as soon as possible. If you have questions or concerns after review, please stop by and see Mrs. Kennedy.

Sophomores and Freshmen
  • Mark your calendars for an informational meeting (current 9th & 10th grade) on course registration and the IB Diploma requirements for Tuesday, January 16th 6:00-7:00 in the PAC. Students and parents are encouraged to attend.
Academy News
Get the latest Nease Academy news in our December Newsletter.


If your student is a current 9 th grader interested in joining an Academy at any St. Johns County High School for the 2018-19 school year, here are the important dates: 

St. Johns County High School Showcase – Jan 18 th , 3:30-7 pm, World Golf Convention Center

Academy Open Houses: Nease: Jan 30 th / Bartram Trail: Jan 22 nd / St. Johns Tech & St. Augustine: Jan 23 rd / Pedro Menendez: Feb 1 st / Creekside: Feb 2 nd / Ponte Vedra: Feb 6 th

Students who would like to join an Academy for the 2018-19 school year must apply via Home Access Center using their student username and password. The application window runs from January 18 th -February 8 th at 5 p.m.

See this link for information on all Programs of Choice & Career Academies in the district, and for instructions on applying: http://academies.stjohns.k12.fl.us/
 
If you have any questions or concerns about Nease’s Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, Communications Academy, or the Stellar Academy of Engineering, please contact Jaime Combs, Academy Coordinator, at Jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us
Guidance News
Guidance Distribution:
A through De Mrs. Vartanian - Cynthia.Vartanian@stjohns.K12.fl.us
Di through J Mrs. Gibss - DErica.Gibbs@stjohns.k12.fl.us
K through M Ms. Mayor - Vanessa.Mayor@stjohns.k12.fl.us
N through Se Mrs. Gledhill - Michel.Gledhill@stjohns.k12.fl.us
Sh through Z Mrs. Harden - Daphne.Harden@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Please contact your child's counselor if you need to schedule a parent/teacher conference with all of your child's teachers. If you just need to meet with one teacher, please contact the teacher directly.


Completion of Virtual School Courses for Semester 1:
All virtual school courses must be completed by December 21, 2017 in order for the grades to be reflected on the first semester transcript. All virtual school courses completed after this date will not be reflected with the first semester grades.


College Checklist
  • If you are thinking about going to college after high school, but aren’t quite sure where to begin, we have a college checklist that will help you map out important steps to help you prepare.
  • College Checklist


Do you need help in your courses? Are you tired of the overpriced private tutors that charge $50 an hour? Not only that, but they also probably haven't seen a high school curriculum in years. At Top Tier Learning we have a qualified team of students, including 2 National Merit Semifinalists. We are 100% student run and tutors have excelled in the classes they teach. If you don't want to dive headfirst into a lesson package, no worries! We also offer $10 trial lessons. You decide where you meet and how often you want tutoring. 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at:
For more information on our branch managers and tutors, you can visit our branch website at:
Media Center
Media Specialist: Carolyn Milian
Media Para: Lorna Patterson

Our Holiday Bingo is going on right now! Students have the opportunity to read books they choose and earn some great prizes. Click on our media center webpage here for more information. All Bingo boards and reading logs are due by Friday, January 12, 2018. Please see or email Mrs. Milian in the media center for more information . 


If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at carolyn.milian@stjohns.k12.fl.us or
call 547-8367. Have a great weekend and don’t forget to READ-READ-READ!! 
Seniors Only
2017-18 NHS Scholarship Application Procedures
The application process for the NHS Scholarship Program is administered online by
International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS.) The deadline to complete and submit
the student portion of the application form is January 30, 2018. The deadline to submit
recommendations and certifications is February 5, 2018.
Advisers: Please distribute these procedures to each applicant and the school principal.
Students:
  • Create an account on the ISTS website at https://aim.applyists.net/NHS. If prompted,
enter program key `NHS.’
  • Complete the student portion of the application. You can make changes to your
application until January 30, 2018. The student portion of the form will be read-only
after January 30.
  • You must have three recommendations to complete the application process. On the
recommendations tab, enter the name and e-mail address of your NHS adviser, school
principal, and a third faculty member for the corresponding recommendation requests.
The third recommendation must be submitted by another faculty members (i.e. guidance
counselor, coach, assistant principal, etc.)
  • ISTS will send an automated e-mail to each individual with instructions and a code to
complete their verifications. Please be sure you’ve entered the correct email addresses,
and verify receipt with each individual.
  • Prior to February 5, confirm that all three individuals have completed their
recommendations. You can log into your account at any time to check the status of your
application. Applicants are responsible for verifying completion of their application by
the established deadlines. Applications missing recommendations are considered
incomplete.
  • Troubleshooting: Applicants also have the option to print a hardcopy of the recommendation
request and provide to recommenders if there are any issues receiving the email from ISTS.
For assistance: If you experience any problems with the online process, please refer to the
FAQs section of your application, or contact ISTS at 855-670-4787 or
ContactUs@applyISTS.com. ALL technical issues must be forwarded to ISTS.


ATTENTION SENIORS!!!!!!!!
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program has helped more than 725,000 Florida students attend a postsecondary institution. The application process opens on October 1, 2017.

Step 1 : Go to www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf to find out how to qualify for Bright Futures.

Step 2: Go to www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org and submit a completed error free Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) during your last year of high school.

The 2017-2018 Bright Futures Student Handbook: Initial Eligibility Requirements can be found at the following link:


There is a community service requirement for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards. If you have community service hours that you have not turn in to your School Counselor, please turn them in so they can be entered into the system. There is a community service form available on the Nease website under the Guidance department link.


SENIOR DUES
Each senior is charged $55 in dues to pay for the cost to cover senior activities and graduation. Each high school is responsible for paying the UNF rental fee, security fees, jumbo tron fees, stage decoration fees, printing of programs & tickets, etc.

The $55 fee can be paid by credit card online on the Senior page of Nease website or by cash or check made payable to Nease High School. Cash & checks need to be delivered to room 234 in Panther Hall before school starting the week of September 11th. The link to pay dues online is now working on the senior page of the Nease website.


CAP and GOWN
LAST DAY to pay for senior orders - Thursday, February 22nd.
Senior delivery date - Thursday, March 8th for last names A-L
Friday, March 9th for last names M-Z


Graduation Rehearsal (REQUIRED) - Thursday, May 17th from 10am to 12pm at UNF Arena
Graduation - Monday, May 21st at 7pm at UNF Arena
Happenings at Nease this week

Monday, January 8th
  • Make-up exams in the media center
  • 6:30pm - YMCA Youth in Government in B-103

Tuesday, January 9th
  • Expectation and Scheduling Assemblies
  • 1st & 2nd periods - 9th graders
  • 3rd period - 11th graders
  • 4th period - 12th graders
  • 5th & 6th periods - 10th graders
  • 1pm - SOUPer Bowl Committee Mtg - C-127
  • 2:30pm - PTSO meeting
  • HOME: 6pm - JV/V Girls Basketball vs St Augustine HS

Wednesday, January 10th
  • Make-up exams in the media center
  • HOME: 6pm - JV/V Boys Basketball vs Bartram Trail HS
  • AWAY: 5:30pm - JV/V Girls Soccer vs Bartram Trail HS

Thursday, January 11th
  • DECA Fieldtrip
  • 5:30pm - Scheduling meeting for parents with students in grades 9, 10 or 11
  • 6:30pm - College presentation - Creating your own brand for 9th and 10th grade parents
  • 6:30pm - Relay for Life meeting in A-109
  • AWAY: 11am - Girls Weightlifting Districts
  • HOME: 6pm - JV/V Girls Basketball vs Englewood
  • AWAY: 5:30pm - JV/V Boys Basketball at Middleburg

Friday, January 12th
  • Academy FT to Valley Ridge for MS Blitz
  • AWAY: 5:30pm - JV/V Girls Soccer at PVHS
  • AWAY: 5:30pm - JV/V Girls Basketball vs Middleburg

Saturday, January 13th
  • ROTC Drill Meet at Nease in stadium
Student Life

Great Decisions, brought to us by World Affairs Council Jacksonville http://www.worldaffairscounciljax.org, is a non-partisan high school enrichment program on foreign affairs that fosters critical-thinking, conversation and decision-making skills. College professors and high school teachers co-facilitate the monthly sessions at school, and encourage students to drive the conversation, ask questions and share opinions. Additionally, interactive program components off campus provide students the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in peer discussions. For content information see http://www.fpa.org/great_decisions

If interested, please join the Schoology group, “Great Decisions Nease” access code 5VTWW-9SNBQ. All events and opportunities will be announced through that Schoology group.

Please note that Great Decisions, The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, and the Foreign Policy Association are not officially affiliated with Nease High School nor with the Saint Johns County School District. They offer these timely and relevant events to the community free of charge, and I believe they are valuable because they bear on the material taught in many of the courses here at Nease.

Contact me (Mr. Smith) at Nease for more information H.A.SMITH@STJOHNS.K12.FL.US
Nease Clubs
Attached is a list of clubs at Nease High School with Sponsor's name, meeting location, and meeting date/time. If you have any questions, please contact the Club Sponsor.

 
Nease Athletics
Nease has 24 sports teams for students to join. There are fees to participate in sports with a one-time athletic fee per year.

Fall Sports - Start date of July 31st 
Cross Country - Boys & Girls - Coach Ted DeVos
Football - Coach Tim Krause
Golf-Boys - Coach Michael Kypriss
Golf-Girls - Coach Bobbie Beattie
Swim - Coach Gustavo Calado
Volleyball - Coach Don Watson

Winter Sports 
Basketball - Girls - Coach Sherri Anthony - Start date of Oct 30th 
Basketball - Boys - Coach Josh Bailen - Start date of Nov 6th 
Competitive Cheerleading - Coach Melissa Fraum - Start date of Oct 9th - tryouts were April 25th 
Soccer - Boys - Coach Fred Hallett - Start date of Oct 23rd 
Soccer - Girls - Coach Jay Shepherd - Start date of Oct 16th 
Weightlifting - Girls - Coach Tim Dennis - Start date of Oct 9th
Wrestling - Coach Craig Muckle - Start date of Nov 6th 

Spring Sports
Baseball - Coach Jerimiah Klosterman - Start date of Jan 29th 
Lacrosse - Boys - Coach Max Gurowski - Start date of Jan 29th 
Lacrosse - Girls - Coach Tara Cushman - Start date of Jan 29th 
Softball - Open - Start date of Jan 22nd
Tennis - Boys/Girls - Coach Michael Kypriss - Start date of Jan 22nd
Track & Field - Coach Bernie Blue - Start date of Jan 22nd 
Weightlifting - Boys - Open - Start date of Jan 8th 

All of the FHSAA paperwork required for your student to participate in sports at Nease are located on the website under the "Forms" tab. Tryout information is listed on the Nease Athletic website. Paperwork MUST be turned in BEFORE a student can tryout for a team.
 
From the District


If you have an extenuating circumstance and need to request special bus transportation, please click on the link below to read procedures.

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