SENIOR INFORMATION

Congratulations Class of 2023 and Parents as you have made it to the 4th quarter of senior year!! There is a lot of information below with several hard deadlines, so please read carefully.

Prom

Nease High School Junior/Senior Prom 2023, “Ritz & Glitz”

Thursday, April 6, 2023 – 7:00-10:30pm – World Golf Village Convention Center

• Tickets will be on sale Monday March 20 – Monday April 3
• Tickets are $65 and are limited, so purchase early.
• Juniors & Seniors at Nease will purchase tickets via SchoolPay.
• Paper tickets will not be issued. The payment receipt will be required to enter prom.
• Students may bring 1 guest to prom that is not a Nease student (no guest under the age of 14 or over the age of 20).
• Tickets for non-Nease students or underclassmen must be purchased from Mrs. Case in D-27. Guest forms are available now and must be completed before buying the ticket. Forms can be accessed from the Nease Prom website below under the “Guest Info” tab. Forms are also available in the front office or in Mrs. Case’s room (D-27).
• Guest tickets will be on sale before school (8:45-9:10am), after school for 30 minutes, and during Excel.
• Guest tickets are $70 each and must be purchased with exact cash or check (made payable to Nease High School).
• Since we are using SchoolPay, each Nease student must purchase their own ticket. So, If one person was going to pay for both tickets, then transferring money needs to be arranged by the students.
• Please visit the Prom Website for all related information - Nease Prom Info 2022
• Email Coach Case with questions – amy.case@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Prom Court: Nominations

Prom Court nominations will run from Monday March 20 – Friday March 24. Any senior student may be nominated. All nominations will be conducted online, using a Microsoft Form. All students nominated will appear on the ballot, so please do not nominate a student more than once. Incomplete forms or partial names will not appear on the ballot. Voting for court will be the following week and voting for King and Queen will be at Prom.

Nomination form: Prom Court Nominations

Debit List

Seniors on the school-wide debt list will not be allowed to purchase a prom ticket and/or will not be allowed to pick up their cap & gown. If the debt remains uncleared, seniors are not eligible to receive graduation tickets, to walk at graduation, or pick-up their diploma until the debt is cleared. Debt lists will be posted on the C-pod windows and by front student gate the first week of April and again the week before senior exams. Please check to ensure all debts are cleared.

A list of student numbers who have not paid senior dues, ordered cap and gown, or paid final GradBash payment on the Senior Schoology page. Please check for your student number. If you see your number and you recently paid, simply bring Mrs. Bourquin (D7) or Mrs. Jordan (C-pod) a copy of your receipt and they will mark paid.

Senior Dues - $65

In order to participate in graduation, you must pay senior dues. The dues pay for everything related to graduation - rental of UNF, parking at UNF, security, programs, diplomas, diploma covers, flowers, sound, video board, streaming.

Pay dues here: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Class-of-2023-Senior-Class-Dues-/ScBfZbi

Career & Technical Fair - Wednesday, April 26th

For those seniors who have not finalized plans for life after May 20th, we will host a Career & Technical fair in the gym from 9am to 3pm. Seniors will attend through their English classes or during EXCEL to meet representatives from different trade schools and employers that are looking to hire.

Senior Awards Day – Tuesday, April 25^th

Awards are scheduled by appointment throughout the school day. Parents and students will be notified via email if student is receiving an award or scholarship.

Senior Week: April 24th - 28th

Daily dress-up days and fun games during lunches with prizes provided by PTSO. More info on dress-up days and games soon. Follow NeaseSpirit on Instagram to stay informed.

GradBash - Friday, April 28th

For those seniors attending, charter buses will depart Nease at 1pm and will return @4am on Saturday. Seniors must follow Universal's dress code in order to attend. The second payment is due 3/31/23. In early April, Mrs. Bourquin will create a Schoology group for Gradbash and email all GradBash attendees a Remind code. These two GradBash channels are how the links for permission slips, dress code, and bus signups will be shared. This is also how we will communicate on the field trip. You will only be added to the Schoology group or shared the Remind code if you have paid for the trip in full.

GradBash is sold out, but we do offer a waiting list if spaces open 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 on the waiting list. Please note that adding your name more than once does not increase your chances as duplicates are regularly deleted. To Join the Waiting List:  https://forms.office.com/r/iY61hj8VwS

Lights Out 2023 Event - Thursday, May 11th at 7pm

Senior celebration on football field to signify this is it! There will be games, food, and a movie. Group picture before the movie starts. Bring blankets to watch movie with your friends. The event is free!

Senior Slideshow for Lights Out 2023 and Graduation

Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate your senior with a slide in the senior slideshow that will be played during Lights Out 2023 and at graduation while guests are entering the arena.

• Log into SchoolPay to pay the $20 fee
• After purchase, send an email to NeaseSenior2023@gmail.com and inlcude

Senior Name

ONE photo file (single photo or collage, but ONE file)

Message

School Pay Order Number or screen shot of receipt

Yearbooks

Senior yearbook distribution is scheduled for May 10-11th, pending delivery of books. Yearbooks will be distributed during lunches and Excel in front of C-pod. There will be a limited number of yearbooks for sale if one was not pre-ordered. Cost is $100. Please email yearbook sponsor leisha.cowart@stjohns.k12.fl.us with questions.

Textbook Return

Seniors need to return all textbooks to the Media Center by Monday, May 8th. If a textbook is needed later than this date, please speak to Mrs. Milian to make arrangements. Seniors who have not returned all textbooks and paid all fines will not receive their cap & gown on May 12th.

Last day for seniors, if all graduation requirements have been met –

Friday, May 12^th.

GUIDANCE INFO

Seniors interested in going to St. John’s River State College after graduation: Representatives from SJR will be at Nease on March 21^st for Free App Day! They are waiving the $30 application fee for all Nease High School seniors who apply for SJR’s fall 2022 enrollment with them on March 21^st. They will also be able to answer any questions you might have regarding certificate/degree programs, financial aid, student life and more!  To sign up click link SJRSC free application day signup. You will receive a pass to attend.

Taking an online course?

APEX (grade recovery): Everything must be completed by May 1st to walk at graduation.

SJVS or FLVS: ALL coursework must be completed by May 1st, so DBA and/or final exam can be scheduled for the first week of May. We receive final grade reports every Monday from FLVS. We need final grades to be sent on Monday, May 8th, so we have time to add to transcript. If a senior does not plan on walking at graduation, they have until Thursday, May 25^th to finish virtual courses.

Senior Exit Survey

ALL Seniors must complete the Senior Survey in Naviance. Students will not receive their cap & gown until survey is completed. For seniors who plan on attending a university or college after graduation, you must select the post-secondary institution on the survey for a final transcript to be sent. This Survey will be available on April 1^st. If you need help, stop by counselor's corner during your lunch.

Bright Futures

Seniors must apply for Bright Futures to be considered. The application to apply for Bright Futures is https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPHome/SAPHome?url=home. Seniors must submit their Community Service hours and reflection no later than Friday, May 12^th to their Counselor.

AP/IB Exams & District Finals

AP & IB exams

Only seniors have the privilege of arriving to school late or leaving after an AP or IB exam. Be responsible and don't miss a class where work is due or where you are preparing for another exam. These absences will be excused.

Students taking an AP course are required to take the exam. Students who do not show or who sleep during the exam will be charged the $92 exam fee.

AP & IB Testing Calendar - May 2023

Senior Exams - May 8^th – 12^th

AP and IB courses do NOT have a District final exam. The number of district final exams per student will vary depending on courses being taken. If a senior does not have an exam during a specific day/time, then they do not need to be on campus. Picture of senior exam schedule is below.

Senior Final Exam Schedule

 GRADUATION

Graduation date:

Saturday, May 20th at 9am at University of North Florida.  Graduates will receive 6 tickets.

If student plans on walking at graduation and cap & gown has not been ordered, Herff Jones MUST be contacted to order by Saturday, April 1st.

Herff Jones Contact information:

Order Website: https://highschool.herffjones.com/secom/home

Email: info@hjjax.com

Phone: 904-363-1905

Cap & Gown Pick-up - Friday, May 12th at Nease Stadium

Students must sign-up for an appointment time to pick-up cap & gown. We have slots for 40 students every 15mins from 9:30am to 1pm.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0444ADA722AAF58-srcap

Honor cords

Cords & tickets will be given to seniors when they pick-up their cap and gown on Friday, May 12th, if all debts are cleared. Please remember that honor cords for GPA (magna cum laude, summa cum laude, and cum laude) are based on the cumulative GPA calculated after 7 semesters (1st semester of senior year). This current semester is NOT calculated into the GPA for honor cords.

Do you need extra tickets for graduation?

We will distribute extra tickets at the end of MANDATORY REHEARSAL on Monday, May 15th at UNF. Every senior that needs extra tickets must stay after the mandatory rehearsal. Every senior that stays will be given one ticket. Those that only need one ticket will leave. We will give everyone remaining another ticket. Those that only need two tickets will leave. We will continue in this manner until all remaining tickets are distributed.

Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal – Monday, May 15^th – 1pm to 3pm at UNF Arena

ALL seniors planning on participating in graduation ceremony are required to attend as there are no AP or IB exams at this time. Missing for employment is not allowed as you have ample time to request off.

Graduation Information from UNF

Please take a few minutes to read expectations from UNF regarding arrival, parking, security & bag policy, tickets, seating, photographs and appropriate conduct.

https://www.unf.edu/recwell/facilityandfieldrentals/hs-graduation.html

Graduation Attire

Graduation is a special ceremony where we have an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the enormous amounts of hard work our students and families have invested into the completion of the K-12 educational journey. To preserve the dignity and decorum that traditionally accompanies graduation ceremonies, we will be requiring students to adhere to the following expectations:

Expectations for Graduation Attire.

Students will only be permitted to walk if they are within the guidelines below.

Girls

• Dress or dress pants
• Shoes - sandals, flats, or heels

Boys

• Slacks (khakis are acceptable)
• Collared shirt (dress shirt or 3-button)
• Shoes - loafers such as Sperry's and Hey Dude's are acceptable

Items that are not permitted

• Shorts or Jeans
• Athletic Shoes, Combat Boots, or Flip-flops

Things To Consider

• Belts should accompany dress pants
• Footwear should be comfortable for standing and walking. Example: If a student is not accustomed to functional movement in heels, they should be avoided.
• Gown must be zipped the entire ceremony.

Graduation Caps

• Students are welcome to decorate their cap with the name of the college/university or military branch they will be pursuing after graduation
• No other quotes, messages, symbols, or organizations may be represented on the cap. No exceptions will be made.
• All designs must be 2-Dimensional (no pompoms, beads, flowers, figurines, etc.)

A blank cap will be provided for students who fail to follow the guidelines above.

Nease Track & Field will be selling graduation yard signs for $35. Forms will be at the front office and Coach DeVos’ room (P50). Please return all order forms and checks to the front office or Coach DeVos no later than April 22^nd.  Please make the $35 check made out to “GPBC Track and Field”. All orders will receive email verification. Deliveries will arrive in the middle of May and can be picked up at the front office. Thank you for your support! Please send questions to debbie.schroeder@stjohns.k12.fl.us

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Rotary Club of Palm Valley every year offers a $2,000 scholarship to a Nease student who best exemplifies Service Above Self. The scholarship is in memorial of Jeff Hart - a beloved member of the community who did an enormous amount for the community youth - especially in the area of Rotary Youth Exchange.  The application will close March 31st and we’ll notify all applicants of the results no later than April 30th. 

https://forms.gle/h9ahUdaiCE4f931e6

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

I am Regent of the Ponte Vedra Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A $500 scholarship will be awarded at our meeting on May 3, 2023, to a deserving college-bound senior graduating from a St. Johns County high school in the spring of 2023. Students meeting the eligibility criteria are invited to apply.

Eligibility criteria consist of the following:

• Student is enrolled in one of the following high schools in St. Johns County, Florida: Bartram Trail High School, Creekside High School, Nease High School, or Ponte Vedra High School.
• Student exhibits good academic achievement and character.
• Student has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better (where A is equal to 4.0) during the entire high school enrollment period.
• Student is a citizen of the United States.

Please note that our scholarship committee must receive the student’s application packet no later than March 31, 2023.

The Gator Club of Historic St Augustine cordially invites your Seniors who have been accepted to the University of Florida to apply for our 2023 Scholarships. Last year our club awarded five $2,000 scholarships to deserving students in St Johns County. Applications are available on-line by visiting the Scholarship page at  http://staugustinegatorclub.com.  Here are the scholarship criteria:

Online Application active February 19, 2023

Application Deadline: March 31, 2023

Resident of St Johns County

Accepted to The University of Florida and have a UF ID #

Plan on entering UF Fall Semester 2023

Brian Bourke Scholarship for Nease Students:

Last year's recipients:

Griffin Moody Scholarship

Griffin Moody was a former student at Nease, who tragically died in a car accident. His parents give one or two seniors a $2,500 scholarships each year. They are looking for a senior with good morale character, who has good grades, and who has participated in extra-curricular activities. The deadline to submit the 400-500 work essay is April 6th.

The Ponte Vedra Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will award a $500 scholarship at our meeting on May 3, 2023, to a deserving college-bound senior graduating from a St. Johns County high school in the spring of 2023. Students meeting the eligibility criteria are invited to apply.

Eligibility criteria consist of the following:

• Student is enrolled in one of the following high schools in St. Johns County, Florida: Bartram Trail High School, Creekside High School, Nease High School, or Ponte Vedra High School.
• Student exhibits good academic achievement and character.
• Student has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better (where A is equal to 4.0)       during the entire high school enrollment period.
• Student is a citizen of the United States.

Please note that our scholarship committee must receive the student’s application packet no later than March 31, 2023.