Good afternoon! Enjoy the 3-day holiday weekend!

Due to the holiday on Monday, Wednesday, Jan 18th, will be a special Green Day Schedule. I will text the bell schedule to students Wednesday morning.

Please join me in welcoming our new Athletic Director, Chris Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher has 20yrs of AD experience in Florida and Michigan. We are excited to have him at Nease.

With the new calendar year, I know many of you are scheduling family trips. PLEASE consider the dates below while planning.

2nd semester of 22-23 school year

• Last day of 3rd quarter - March 9th
• Students have off for spring break - Friday, March 10th through Friday, March 17th.
• 4-day weekend in April - April 7th through 10th
• Last day of school - Thursday, May 25th (There will be exams the last week, so it is very important that students are present.)

23-24 school year Dates

• 1st day - Thursday, August 10th
• Thanksgiving Break - Wed thru Fri, Nov 22nd - 24th
• Last day of 1st semester - Thursday, Dec 21st (Students will have exams, so it is very important that they are present this week.)
• 1st day of 2nd semester - Monday, January 8th

Vacancies we are actively trying to fill... (Jobs in red are still available)

English 2 & AP Lit - applicant submitted to HR to hire

School Counselor - currently being re-advertised

If you know someone interested, please have them email Lisa.Kunze@stjohns.k12.fl.us

9^th Graders Are Eligible to Apply to Career Academies/Programs of Choice for 2023-24

If a 9^th grader is interested in joining a Career Academy/Program of Choice for 2023-24, they are eligible to apply when the application window opens on January 5^th. Students can choose to drop a current Academy for 2023-24 and join a new program, or they can apply to add a second Academy/Program of Choice to their schedule for 2023-24.  The application process and guidelines work in the same way as they did when the students were 8^th graders applying to Academies. Students can apply to programs at their current school, or at another St. Johns County High School, as long as their zoned school does not offer the same program (at Nease, ROTC and IB are the only programs that qualify for this rule). Students will apply to Career Academies/Programs of Choice via HAC. The applications will be available from January 5^th – January 31^st at 5 pm. Step by step directions will be posted on www.neaseacademies.com when the application window opens on January 5^th.

SENIOR INFORMATION

Mark your calendar!! Lights Out 2023 for seniors only will be Thursday, May 11th at the stadium.

The first transmission of information to the State for FL Bright Futures is in February. Please ensure volunteer hours or work hours have been submitted to your counselor. Please do not procrastinate.

Elks Lodge Educational Trust Fund Scholarships

Each year the St. Augustine Elks Lodge offers $1,000 scholarships to seniors in St Johns County. Last year four $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Evan Graff, Abigail Hamby, Brianna Streeter and Katie Vaughn from NHS.

This year there will be ten $1,000.00 scholarships available to qualifying seniors in St. Johns County. Applicants must attend or have attended a high school within St. Johns County, be a resident of St. Johns County, and have at least one parent that is a St. Johns County resident. Applications are due back no later than April 10, 2023.

Applicants are selected based on the overall excellence of the student, and include community service, extracurricular activities and financial need, as well as academic achievement. 

Elks Scholarship application

Important GradBash Updates:

GradBash is a special ticketed event for seniors at Universal Studios. Seniors cannot use an annual pass for access to this event or drive themselves. Seniors will depart Nease at 1:30pm on 4/28/23 and return at approximately 5am on 4/29/23. All 300 GradBash spots are reserved. Spots were reserved with a non-refundable deposit of $100 on SchoolPay. A second, non-refundable payment, will be due in late February/early March of $105. It is possible (based on increased costs, especially fuel costs) that a 3^rd payment may be necessary. Our hope is to keep the total cost at $205, which includes the special event ticket (access to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure from 4pm to 2am), charter bus transportation, and a $20 voucher that can be used at park restaurants or shops.

GradBash is sold out, but we do offer a waiting list if spaces open up or a student who planned to go would like to sell their ticket. If we reach you on the waiting list, a senior sponsor will contact you with information on making a deposit, paying in full, or completing a transfer with another senior. You will have a limited amount of time to respond before we remove you from the waiting list and go to the next person on the list. You MUST have paid your senior dues to keep your spot in line on the waiting list.

To Join the Waiting List:  https://forms.office.com/r/iY61hj8VwS

Graduation date:

Saturday, May 20th at 9am at University of North Florida.  As of right now, graduates should plan on receiving 6 tickets.

Monday, January 16^th – Martin Luther King Holiday - no school!

Tuesday, January 17^th – Gold Day – periods 2, 4, 6, & 7

• HOME: 7:20pm - V Boys Soccer vs Fernandina Beach
• HOME: 5:30pm/7:30pm - JV/V Boys Basketball vs Providence
• AWAY: 7:30pm - V Girls Basketball at Pedro

Wednesday, January 18^th – Special GREEN Day Schedule - periods 1, 3, 5 & 7

• All day - Dual Enrollment Meetings in MC 146
• HOME: 5:30pm - Girls Weightlifting vs Beachside
• AWAY: 6pm - Boys/Girls Wrestling at Fletcher
• HOME: 7pm - V Girls Soccer vs Providence

Thursday, January 19^th – Green Day – periods 1, 3, 5, & 7

• 8am - SAC meeting in Panther Hall conf room 104
• 10am - NJROTC Booster meeting in portable 40 or online
• 5:30pm - Academy Open House (tours at 5:30pm - presentation at 6pm in auditorium)
• HOME: 6pm/7pm - JV/V Girls Basketball vs Providence/Columbia

Friday, January 20^th – Gold Day – periods 2, 4, 6, & 7

• 9am-11am - Dual Enrollment mtg in MC room 146
• HOME: 6pm - V Girls Soccer vs St Johns Country Day
• AWAY: 7:20pm - V Boys Soccer at PK Yonge
• AWAY: 6pm/7:30pm - JV/V Boys Basketball at Creekside
• HOME: 6pm/7:30pm - JV/V Girls Basketball vs Hilliard

Saturday, January 21st

• AWAY: 9:30am - Girls Wrestling at Creekside

Student Life

New gear is hitting the Nease Spirit Box Vending Machine. Nease Pajama Pants are available for $30 and Nease T-Shirts are $15. Sizes Small-XXL, while supplies last! 

Time: 7pm to 10pm

Cost: $25 (tickets will go on sale Feb 1st starting with seniors first on SchoolPay)

Athletic King and Queen will be announced.

Dear High School Sophomores and Their Parents/Guardians,

The St. Johns County School District is forwarding this email to you from Youth Leadership St. Johns (YLSJ), a community-led youth leadership development program of Flagler Health +. 

The program will be held monthly during the student's junior year from Sept. 2023 - April, 2024. The program will share techniques for becoming an effective leader. It will also have monthly visits to various businesses in our county to teach the participants about how communities work and where they may wish to lend their skills in the future as an employee or volunteer. Each month's program will have a different focus such as Law & Government, Business, Arts and Leisure, Social Services, Education & Health Care and Environmental Issues. Twenty-two sophomore students will be selected county-wide this spring for this program. The program will be held during the junior year.

If this type of program is of interest to you, please do the following:

1.    Read the Information Sheet: YLSJ 2023-2024 Information for more details about the program.

2.     Click on this link :  Link to YLSJ Application for 2023-2024 to go to the Online Application and complete it by Feb. 14, 2023.

3.      Print the Agreement Form:  YLSJ Agreement Form and obtain signatures. Scan and email it to YouthLeadershipStJohns@gmail.com  by Feb. 14, 2023.

* Application reviews and interviews using Zoom will take place in March 2023.

* An Orientation for the twenty-two students selected and their parents/guardians will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 7 - 8 pm at the Emergency Communications and Training Center, 911 Law Enforcement Way, near SR 16 and I-95. 

Dates for next year's programs are in the Information Sheet, along with the eligibility requirements sophomores must have to be considered.

We look forward to hearing from those sophomores for whom this program holds interest.



Best regards,

Youth Leadership St. Johns

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Cast Announced

Congratulations to the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Following auditions on January 10^th and 11^th, Mr. Robinson announced the cast of Nease Theatre’s latest thespian endeavor.

In the role of the mischievous Puck is Troy Leatherman, accompanied Rome Curtiss and Kayla Cashen as the magical feuding husband and wife Oberon and Titania. At the romantic core of the show are Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius, to be played by Grace Polito, Ellie Mirgeaux, Sam Myers, and Ethan Diachun, respectively. In the comedic role of the obnoxious Bottom who is turned into a donkey is Micah Vosburg. Rounding out the cast are: Hanna Cline, Chloe Dresback, Harmony Anderson,Jacob Santana, and Andrew Hajdini as a Greek chorus of singing fairies, Gabby Saunders, Gabby Catlin, Sarah Roney, Natalie Kinkead, Lily Downie, Gabriela Poore, Lucy Harry, Amanda Ferrand, Mackenzie Cole, Kaylie Burnett, Adriana Hendrix, Elisia Quinones, and Faith Leatherman. Parker Black will portray the Duke Theseus, with Gabriel Szymanski as his regal intended Hippolyta. Making up the Duke’s entourage will be Jacob Santana as Philostrate, Kennedy Fulk as Egeus, as well as Amanda Ferrand, Kianna Lucken, Kaylie Burnett, Adriana Hendrix, Elisia Quinones, Faith Leatherman and Mackenzie Cole as the press. In the comedic roles of the Mechanicals are Luke Porter as Peter Quince/Prologue, Robbyn Dykeman as Snout/The Wall, Mackenzie Bradt as Starveling/Moonshine, Ethan Nash as Flute/Thisbe, and Mia Kasper as Snug/Lion.

Lily Downie will assistant direct and Ava Everly will be the stage manager. The technical crew will include Ethan Murphy, Robin Hickey, Maggie Yang, Jenn Roccia, Olivia Hill, and Tiffany Snow.

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a farcical comedy and a lighthearted fantasy. It follows a group of human beings who are wandering the forest and who become the playthings of a band of mischievous fairies. Traditionally, the story is set in Ancient Greece, but we will be putting our own spin on the show. Instead, our humans will be lost on the streets of New York City in and around Central Park during the 1980s. We will keep Shakespeare’s language, but we will comment on the action with songs and dances from the 1980s.

Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are set for March 30, 31 and April 1. Mark your calendars!

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING

After school tutoring has resumed and takes place EVERY Tuesday & Thursday after school in the media center. No appt or reservations are needed. Please remind your student that this is an EXCELLENT opportunity and time to kick off the new semester with the help and support they need to maintain their grades, get help with difficult concepts they find themselves struggling with, and learn some great study skills. Also – if these times do not work for your student, they can come see me to schedule a tutor for mornings or lunchtime.  Don’t wait until interims to get the help you need! 

AP Testing Information:

Self-Study or FLVS students beginning an AP course for the SPRING SEMESTER ONLY needing a test can visit the NHS website to request an AP Join Code. The link is under "Testing Information" and then click on "AP Testing" to complete the form for Self-Study and FLVS students only. Any questions regarding AP testing can be emailed to the AP Testing Coordinator at hollyhsmith@stjohns.k12.fl.us. 

New Course Addition for 10-12: Great Books Honors (1 credit elective)

What is a “Great Books” course? The Great Books seminar courses have their roots at the University of Chicago in the 1940s where they began, eventually spreading throughout the country. At the heart of any Great Books course is the use of Socratic seminars, conversations, and student-led learning to explore classical and modern texts that have shaped western thought.

Who can register for the course? The course is open to all 10^th-12^th grade students. Students should be currently enrolled in an honors or higher level English course with a grade of B or higher. 

What kind of credit can I get? The Great Books course is a full year, one credit elective honors English course. It does NOT take the place of your regular English class.

What are the expectations for students? Students enrolled in the course will be expected to read texts (novels, plays, essays, lectures) from many different time periods and contribute to regular classroom seminars. This is not a lecture-based class but one in which students unpack and discuss the texts together to reach an understanding of various topics. Most of the reading will be done outside of class. Students must be respectful to one another and have an open mind as most of our classwork will be devoted to discussing big issues and ideas.

Why is this a good course to take? Colleges, universities, and even the Florida Department of Education recognizes the importance of a well-rounded, classical education. In fact, the new B.E.S.T. standards emphasize classical literature like Sophocles and Plato so students will understand the scope of human experience. UF requires a similar course for freshmen called “The Good Life,” and Mercer University even offers an entire path to a bachelors exclusively through Great Books courses.

What kinds of books are considered “Great Books”? While there is no “official” list, representative works could include essays, poetry by Homer, Plato, Thomas Aquinas, Shakespeare, Toni Morrison, and George Orwell, among many others. Texts are often chosen for their impact on the fields of science, math, art, government, ethics, and philosophy. Our course will include a wide variety of writers from different backgrounds and fields.

Whom do I contact with questions? Please contact Cheryl Goodman at Cheryl.goodman@stjohns.k12.fl.us

The Vertical

Nease’s student newspaper is currently taking applications for newspaper staff for next year. Newspaper is an honors level Journalism class for students interested in journalism, publishing, and media. If you are interested, the best first step is to join our Media Club Schoology Group and complete an application. The access code is: DWXPP-359QQ. If you have any questions, please see Ms. Bourquin in D7 or email her at holly.bourquin@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Auditions for Nease High School Theatre’s Presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Nease High School, Theatre will have open auditions for the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream on January 10 (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM) and January 11 (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM). If you are interested in auditioning, you should see Mr. Robinson in the PAC (Room 206) for an audition packet before the auditions. 

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a farcical comedy and a lighthearted fantasy. It follows a group of human beings who are wandering the forest and who become the playthings of a band of mischievous fairies. Traditionally, the story is set in Ancient Greece, but we will be putting our own spin on the show. Instead, our humans will be lost on the streets of New York City in and around Central Park during the 1980s. We will keep Shakespeare’s language, but we will comment on the action with songs and dances from the 1980s. 

Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are set for March 30, 31 and April 1. Mark your calendars!

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY NEWS! 

Advisers/Sponsors: Carolyn Milian, School Librarian Media Specialist & Ms. Morrison, English teacher

RISING JUNIOR & SENIOR STUDENTS & PARENTS!

Is your student interested in being invited to join National Honor Society next school year? Well, here are some important details to keep in mind, so your child can start working on his/her “resume”.  These are the requirements for students to be considered as candidates for the Nease chapter of National Honor Society:

• Eligibility for National Honor Society:
• NHS is open only to Juniors and Seniors
• 3.80 SHARP WEIGHTED GPA (not rounded)
• Rising Juniors (Sophomores now) – minimum of 40 documented service hours IN eSCHOOL (HAC) documented by the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL at the start of your Junior year. 
• Rising Seniors (Juniors now) – minimum of 50 documented hours IN eSCHOOL (HAC) by the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL at the start of your senior year.
• Enrolled in at least 2 Honors, AP, or DE courses (or a combo of any of these) for the school year 2023-24.
• IMPORTANT!! STUDENTS! PLEASE be sure to get your service hours submitted to your counselors as soon as you complete them! REMEMBER! Your counselors ARE NOT on campus during the summer so DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AUGUST TO SUBMIT HOURS.

• Eligible Juniors and Seniors who have the required GPA and required service hours at the start of the school year, will receive an invitation for an “Informational Meeting” in September to discuss the requirements and expectations of all members in National Honor Society. At that point they will receive a “Selection/Resume” packet that must be completed and submitted by deadline date.

• Eligibility does not guarantee admission. Other factors that will determine candidacy are leadership, school involvement in clubs, events, and activities, outside leadership and club involvement (ie: Scouts, church, community groups, work, etc.). The Faculty Council (8 anonymous faculty members) review all the resumes and make the final decisions regarding invitation to become a member or does not meet needed requirements. Juniors that did not meet requirements have the opportunity to become eligible at the start of Senior year. All confirmed candidates will be inducted into the club in a ceremony that will take place sometime in October. Confirmation letters will be sent out during the last week of September.

NOTE – students and parents – please understand that commitment to our chapter of National Honor Society requires a substantial dedication of time and service to our school, our students, and our community. Members WILL BE REQUIRED to complete 25 National Honor Society sponsored community service hours each year of membership to remain in good standing with the club and receive their stole for graduation. The philosophy and commitment of this chapter is to maintain a high level of service and commitment to our students, faculty, and community and this involves volunteering outside of school at community events and supporting our feeder elementary/middle schools. These expectations directly align to our chapter mission statement & purpose:

“The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Allen D. Nease High School.”

Parents can contact Mrs. Milian or Ms. Morrison for further information or check club webpage

 https://www-nhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/nhs/

First Coast Technical College will be at Nease on Wednesday, Feb 1st, during EXCEL in the PAC. This program is for students interested in pursuing a workforce skill such as Welding, Automotive, Cosmotolegy, Culinary, etc… Review website for more information about the program: https://fctc.edu/students/highschool/programs/

St Johns River State College for students who want to take Dual Enrollment college classes through SJRSC for next year, the initial registration for School Year 23-24 is open and closes January 16^th. Student’s must first get linked into the Dual Enrollment Prospective Schoology site: QQ65-FS9N-65GTM and read the instructions posted. The mandatory form that needs to be fill out is called the “The Initial Dual Enrollment Application”. The mandatory meetings will be January 18^th and 20^th during all periods. The students will be able to select the time to attend with a sign-up genius link that will be provided to students by email after they have filled out the “Initial Dual Enrollment Application” and Ms. Jordan has reviewed each student’s eligibility criteria. 

Girls Weightlifting - Olympic Category

Wednesday, January 11th

Nease – 46

Menendez – 41

Izzy Knight, Mikayla Bowman, Miranda Orta, Haven Boyer and Asarla Latorre won their weight categories.

Saman Khatri, Juliana Mannino, Abby Thibodeau, Kamryn Jewell, Mackenzie Chapman, Mackie Cherry, Hannah Develder, Mina Dryden, Julianna Fiorello, Payton Plandel and Emma Tolly also earned podium spots in their categories.

Nease earned second place in the Traditional Category.

Help the Nease Panther Pride Marching Band Get to the Daytona 500!

The Nease Band Program has received and invitation to perform at the upcoming Daytona 500 race event. This was an unplanned invitation and has many additional costs for the performance. We need your help to get us there! The Nease Band Boosters have setup a GoFundMe to help raise funds for this trip. Every little bit helps and will go toward putting our band at a national level! You can go the GoFundMe page by clicking here!

Band also have a fundraiser through NASCAR for those of you who wish to attend the race! If you purchase tickets through our referral link here, $25 of each ticket sold goes to the marching band! These tickets are at a significantly reduced price to the Daytona 500 and are available until the event sells out. Get your tickets to hear the band perform and watch the biggest race of the year!

Follow Nease Athletics on Instagram #NeaseAthletics and Twitter @NeaseAthletics

NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete 2022-2023

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Student_Resources/CBSA.pdf?j=84970295&jb=12006&l=7822357_HTML&mid=10892399&sfmc_sub=1302201880&u=741606448

Purchase Nease Athletic Apparel:

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/florida/pontevedra/nease-high-school

Athletic Clearance

Prior to participating with a Nease High School athletic team, all students are required to complete the athletic clearance process.

Please keep in mind that the FHSAA requires all student athletes to view free NFHS video courses on concussions, heat illness, and sudden cardiac arrest (see instructions below). Signatures on the EL3 form indicate that your athlete has completed these three video courses. The FHSAA also requires that all student athletes have at least a 2.0 unweighted GPA to be eligible for participation.

For step-by-step athletic clearance instructions please visit: https://neaseathletics.com/athletic_clearance/

Athletic Fee

The purpose of the Nease Athletic Fee is to help address the costs associated with operating a high school athletic department. Currently the St. Johns County School Board pays each coach’s coaching supplement, and all remaining costs are the responsibility of the athletic department and teams. The athletic fee helps cover the following expenses:

·        Game officials

·        Indoor and Outdoor Athletic Facility maintenance

·        Sports Medicine

·        Security

·        Ambulance service

·        Athletic Leadership Council activities

·        Student-Athlete Letters and Awards

·        FHSAA membership dues and other fees

The 2022-23 fee will be as follows: $75 Per Sport Played

The $75 Athletic Fee can be paid via School Pay by clicking

https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Athletic-Fee-/SUeFDu

This fee must be paid prior to the student-athlete participating in his/her first contest. Nease Athletics appreciates your attention and compliance regarding payment of this fee. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Nease Athletic Department.

Spring Sports: Please begin working on your athletic clearance so you are ready for tryouts!

Click here to begin https://neaseathletics.com/athletic_clearance/

Softball

Arm care conditioning - January 12, 13, 16-20 at 4:30-6pm

Softball tryouts - January 23-27 at 4:30-6pm

Girls Lacrosse

Girls’ Lacrosse Tryouts – January 23 & 24 at 4:10pm – 6:00pm ROTC Field

**Must be cleared through https://athleticclearance.fhsaahome.org/ in order to tryout

See Coach Fifield, Coach Zellen, or Coach Booth if you have any questions

Boys Lacrosse

Please follow the directions below to register for tryouts

Tryouts will begin Monday, January 23^rd

Be prepared and register today!

https://neaseathletics.com/athletic_clearance/

Tennis

Tennis tryouts January 17th & 18th from 4pm to 5:15pm.

Players must have a completed physical and cleared in Athletic Clearance to participate!

Please go to the Nease Athletic Website to complete all paperwork.

Boys Volleyball

Please check the Nease Boys Volleyball website for all Preseason and Tryout updates

Hometown Fan APP

Nease High School has transitioned to Hometown Fan for athletic tickets to games.

Download the APP or click on https://neaseathletics.com/tickets/ to purchase tickets!

EXCEL Volunteers Wanted! We are looking for Volunteers during EXCEL time. EXCEL is each Wednesday for students to eat lunch, attend a club meeting, seek help from a teacher, or retake a summative exam. Volunteers are needed from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm. Volunteers will get training prior to their first shift and a volunteer T-shirt. Volunteers get a valuable peak into campus life at NHS! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aafab2ea0f9c70-excel2*All visitors on campus including PTSO meeting attendees, must be approved volunteers. To become an approved visitor, please visit https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/volunteer/. Visitors are required to check in at the front office and present identification.

We’ve Got Spirit! Yes, We Do! Check out the NHS PTSO Spirit Store! You may have items shipped to your home for a nominal fee or save the shipping cost and pick them up from the store! If you have any questions, please reach out to Katie Swindell at kswindell78@gmail.com. Purchase here: https://shop.crowleyprinting.com/Nease-High-School-Spiritwear_c93.htm

Amazon Teacher Wish Lists Have Been Updated! Good news! We have made it easier than ever to support the amazing teachers at NHS! The PTSO asked teachers to create Amazon Wish Lists for items that they would love to have to enhance learning in their classroom. Check out the Amazon Wish Lists that are posted to our website. We will be updating the page with additional teacher wish lists as they are submitted. Amazon Teacher Wish Lists

PTSO Gold Business Partner Spotlight:

THANK YOU to Miller Electric Company for being a PTSO Gold Business Partner! For almost 10 decades, Miller Electric Company has focused on providing quality electrical solutions for clients while building meaningful careers for their people in an environment that encourages inclusivity, development, and balance. Currently, in their 3rd generation of family-owned leadership, their company is committed to the continued stewardship of their communities and the industry as we look to build relationships that power the possibilities of a more connected future. https://www.mecojax.com/

Academy Juniors: Learn More About Summer Internship Opportunities

Students who are juniors in the Communications, Hospitality, and Engineering Academies are eligible to apply for summer internship opportunities. The process to apply for an internship begins this month. Mrs. Combs will host an informational meeting on Academy summer internships on Wednesday, January 25^th, during Excel A in Mrs. Soto’s Digital Design classroom, D-002. Applications for the internships can be submitted online, and find more information here.

Seniors: Time to Order Your Academy Graduation Cord

Academy graduation cord orders are available online, now through February 3^rd, via Sign Up Genius. Sign up to order your cord here: Academy Seniors: Academy Graduation Cords (signupgenius.com)

Then head here to pay $8 for your cord (link is also available in the Sign Up Genius: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/20222023-Nease-Academy-Graduation-Cords/Se1Auer

Please sign up with the student’s name under the Academy they have been enrolled in for at least 3 years, so that an Academy cord can be ordered for you. Cords cost 8 ollars. If you do not order your cord and pay before February 3^rd, you will not be able to get an Academy cord for graduation. Please make sure you only sign up for the Academy you have been enrolled in for at least 3 years. If you sign up under the wrong Academy, the wrong color cord could be ordered for you. Communications Academy students get blue cords, Engineering Academy students get red cords, and Hospitality Academy students get aqua cords.

9^th Graders Are Eligible to Apply to Career Academies/Programs of Choice for 2023-24

If a 9^th grader is interested in joining a Career Academy/Program of Choice for 2023-24, they are eligible to apply when the application window opens on January 5^th. Students can choose to drop a current Academy for 2023-24 and join a new program at their current school or another school or they can apply to add a second Academy/Program of Choice to their schedule for 2023-24.  The application process and guidelines work in the same way as they did when the students were 8^th graders applying to Academies. 

Students can apply to programs at their current school, or at another St. Johns County High School, as long as their zoned school does not offer the same program (at Nease, ROTC and IB are the only programs that qualify for this rule). Students will apply to Career Academies/Programs of Choice via HAC. The applications will be available from January 5^th – January 31^st at 5 pm. Step by step directions are posted on www.neaseacademies.com. The application window is open in HAC from January 5^th through 5pm on January 31^st.

Academy Intent to Return Process

Before winter break, all Communications, Hospitality, and Engineering Academy students will be asked to indicate if they want to remain in their current Academy for the 2023-24 school year by signing an Intent to Return roster. If the student checked “Yes,” than that student will be automatically re-enrolled in the Academy for 2023-24. The student will also receive a recommendation to move on to the next level Academy course, as long as he/she is meeting Academy requirements. 

If an Academy student checks “No” on the roster to indicate that he/she does not want to continue in the Academy next year, a Program of Choice Drop Form will be sent home with those students in January. The drop form must be completed by the student and parent and returned to Mrs. Combs. If you have any questions about the Intent to Return process, please reach out to Jaime Combs at Jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

If you have any questions about the Communications Academy, Stellar Academy of Engineering, or Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, reach out to Academy Coordinator Jaime Combs, at Jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

IB Seniors

Midyear reports will soon be needed from certain requesting institutions. Please make sure you complete the log sheet and submit 2$ for each midyear report you need to be sent. There is at least a 2-week (14 working days) turnaround for the processing of the envelope. Please allow for this prior to submission.

IB Juniors

We will be completing our class service project through The Seamark Ranch Project. Save one of the following dates for the mandatory participation: February 11^th or March 11^th. More information will be sent directly to the student’s email listed in Naviance.

IB Sophomores & Freshman

This year, both our sophomore and freshman class will participate in our annual Beach Clean-Up. Our first meeting is scheduled for February 16^th in the PAC, during your lunch time. The Beach Clean-Up is scheduled for April 1^st. Please save the morning of this date.

All IB Students & Parents

IB Booster meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31^st, 2023 at 9:45am in the Media Center. 

Schedule for upcoming 2023-2024 registrations in English or TOK Classrooms:

IB Freshman- January 30^th- February 3^rd through English 1 PIB class

IB Sophomores- February 6^th – February 10^th through AP Language class

IB Juniors- February 13^th - February 17^th through TOK Class

All students will come home with a course request verification sheet and a IB planning worksheet the week prior, so you can write down questions to be discussed at the registration appointment.

For any questions related to testing please email our testing coordinator, Ms. Cynthia Messenger (Cynthia.Messenger@stjohns.k12.fl.us)

547-8281

For all upcoming test dates, please visit the NHS Testing Information  website.

The College Board Florida Partnership is hosting a student/parent webinar on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 6 p.m. EST. The session will focus on how PSAT scores and reports can provide insight into individual student performance, including a predicted SAT score and student progress toward meeting the college readiness benchmark. 

Virtual Student/Parent Webinar

Understanding College Board Student Score Reports-PSAT

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 6-7 p.m. EST

Understanding PSAT Student Score Reports

Connecting to the PSAT online score report allow students to: 

• Link their College Board account with their Khan Academy account. Khan Academy will use the PSAT score to design a practice plan and practice questions tailored to each student’s strengths. 
• Connect to valuable tools for college and career planning (BigFuture and BigFuture Careers)
• Take advantage of scholarship opportunities through Student Search Service. 
• Access admission and financial aid information from colleges. 
• Access AP Potential to see which AP courses are a good fit. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. All registrants will receive a recording of the session a few days after its completed.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://collegeboard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dDgn9jXHReyWkpAGwPCXcA

Carolyn Milian – School Librarian Media Specialist

Lorna Patterson – Media Clerk

Media Center phone number – 904-547-8367

Email – carolyn.milian@stjohns.k12.fl.us

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING UPDATE!

After school tutoring has resumed and takes place EVERY Tuesday & Thursday after school in the media center. No appt or reservations are needed. Please remind your student that this is an EXCELLENT opportunity and time to kick off the new semester with the help and support they need to maintain their grades, get help with difficult concepts they find themselves struggling with, and learn some great study skills. Also – if these times do not work for your student, they can come see me to schedule a tutor for mornings or lunchtime.  Don’t wait until interims to get the help you need!

COFFEE STATION DONATIONS!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all our families that have donated so many supplies to keep our student coffee station running! The students absolutely love this little FREE perk we offer in our media center, ESPECIALLY with more chilly days heading our way! We could still use some of the following items if you are willing and able to help donate so we can keep this going for our students.

·      10 oz. coffee cups

·      Hot chocolate packets

·      Tea bags (for our tea drinkers 😊 )

·      Creamer (individual packs or powdered. No refrigerated creamers please)

·      Sugar (individual small packets)

Thank you so much for anything you can help out with so we can continue this little “perk” for our students.

CELEBRATE LITERACY WEEK FLORIDA! – JAN. 23^rd – 27^th

This is a statewide event where schools across the state are invited to host and participate in events and activities focusing on literacy. Below is a small sample of some of the events we will be hosting during the last week of January throughout our school so start marking your calendars! More fun events will be added as the days go by. If you have any questions about them, please email me for more information! 

• Scholastic BOOK FAIR!! Mark your calendars! Yes, we are bringing back our Scholastic book fair! It will run from Jan. 23^rd through the 31^st  More info to come as the date draws near!
• Door Decorating contest – teachers will be invited to participate with their students to decorate their classroom door in the jacket or theme of their favorite book, author, or favorite reading quote/phrase. 1^st place prize is their choice of a Chick-Fil-A breakfast, class pizza party or ice-cream sundae party, 2^nd place will choose from the remaining 1^st period prizes, and 3^rd place will receive the remaining prize from 1^st and 2^nd place!  
• Reading Bingo! -Students will have another opportunity to win some great prizes by reading books of their choice on our very own Bingo Board! The board and details will be posted in Schoology next week! 
• Creative Short Story contest open to ALL students!
• Mystery Reader of the Day on Wired during the week of Jan. 23^rd. Students who guess who the mystery faculty reader is will win a prize!
• Reading in Unusual Places – students will be asked to create innovative and dynamic images of themselves reading in unusual places. Submission details will be provided in next week’s Panther Press and on my Media Center Schoology group page. Students and faculty members will vote for their favorites and the top 5 votes will receive gift cards to spend!

TEXTBOOKS AND MEDIA FINES –

I will be sending out overdue notices AND fines notices for outstanding balances sometime next week. If your student has any textbook or library fines on his/her media account. PLEASE take care of these as soon as possible, ESPECIALLY JUNIORS & SENIORS! Juniors and Seniors with any fines on their account will NOT be allowed to purchase prom tickets and Seniors will not receive graduation tickets until these fines are satisfied. If your student still has a book that has been charged to his/her account, as soon as they return it to the media center, these fines will be deleted from their account. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

JUNIORS & SENIORS!! Get your “Panther Café Senior Tile”! This is your chance to IMMORTALIZE yourself in our library!

ALL juniors & seniors have the opportunity to take home one of our café area ceiling tiles, paint and personalize it, then have it placed back into our ceiling for a donation of $25. The money raised from this fundraiser will be used to purchase new computers for our media center and at the same time have our seniors immortalized in our café as these will never be repainted! Please contact me in the media center for more information.