NOVEMBER, 2015

THE NEWSLETTER OF AVON PARK HIGH SCHOOL Avon Park, Florida

November, 2015 Preparing Students for the Future! Volume 1, Issue 3

Tealy Williams, Principal

Sophomore Bryce Lang-

ston, pictured with

Principal Williams, was

chosen in October as

the Principal of the Day.

Langston said he felt

“very privileged and honored to be selected.”

His day as principal began with a lesson on school grades and

teacher evaluations, after which he was able to evaluate a few

teachers with Mr. Williams, and listen in on a meeting.

Asked what he learned about being principal, he said “that it is

a very challenging job, yet it can be made easier with a reliable

and trustworthy staff.” The qualities that he sees Mr. Williams

bring to the job are that he is “a leader that tends to see both

sides of a situation before coming to a conclusion. His unbi-

ased outlook is extremely appropriate in the job of a princi-

pal.” Bryce would not like to be a principal because he feels

that “his opinion would get in the way.” If he was in charge at

APHS he would like to see “more enthusiasm and participation

in advisement activities.” He would also like to end homework.

His advice to new freshmen at APHS is that your “freshman

year is not a time to slack. It should be one of your most

invigorating years. Take the classes you need to and do all

your work as soon possible. Better to be stressed now than in

your senior year, trying to make up a course.”

Langston hopes to finish his AA degree before leaving high

school. He plans on going to college in Nashville and intends

to achieve a master’s degree in music business and in worship

ministries. As a career, he hopes to be a worship leader in a

church. In his spare time, he plays guitar and drums, and sings

songs that he writes.

The favorite part of his day as principal was lunch with Mr.

Williams, “because of the food and good conversation.” Bryce

notes, “I thoroughly enjoyed my day.”

PRINCIPAL OF THE DAY

For being selected from APHS

Sabrina Williams

FDOE Macy’s 2017 Teacher of Year

Quintana Neely

FL School Related Employee of Year

OCTOBER CANCER

AWARENESS AT APHS Students and staff had an opportunity to

join in the effort to fight cancer. AVID

sold cards in memory of someone who

lost their fight with the disease, or to hon-

or those still fighting. AVID students hung

these cards on the tree in front of the

school. Students were encouraged to

wear purple or pink Oct. 29 and to donate

“change for a change.” Those who partici-

pated received a sucker as we “sucker

punched” cancer. A total of $641.54 was

collected through these efforts, with AVID

raising about $260 of the total. All monies

were donated to Lindsey’s Wish, an

initiative that is part of the Champion For

Children Foundation.

The objective is to

“help children in

Highlands County

who are battling can-

cer, extending hope

to families who are

wishing for a better

tomorrow”. Thanks

to all who gave.

NOVEMBER, 2015

SGA meets every Monday at 8 a.m. in Room 202.

KEY CLUB Thursdays at 8 a.m. in Room 211-10.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD sends boxes to

children in poverty stricken countries so that they might

receive gifts for Christmas. Mrs. Negron’s advisement

class, Room 216, is accepting donations or giving boxes

to be filled. NHS is also joining in this effort. Boxes

are due Nov. 16 to 23.

AVID will host SFSC professors for Wicor

walkthroughs Nov. 13. The AVID family will be having

lunch together on Nov. 19. Students will pick up their

lunch in the cafeteria, and come to the auditorium to

eat together and have Thanksgiving pie. We are thank-

ful for our students and all that they have accomplished.

alma mater (ahl-muh mah-ter), noun

1. A school’s anthem or song.

If you ask your parents or teachers, many will

undoubtedly be able to sing for you the official

school anthem from their high school or college.

You will hear our alma mater at pep rallies and

find the words proudly displayed on the wall of

the gym. An alma mater is typically slow, light in

instrumentation and with lyrics that wax nostalgic

about the school’s setting and affirm the singer’s

devotion to and fondness for the school.

The Official Avon Park High School Alma Mater

Our dear old alma mater

With greatest love to you we sing

Of days happily spent

Underneath thy helping wing.

May God in care divine

Forever bless thy spirit’s flame

And may the ones who from thee go

Forever praise thee.

Praise the name of Avon Park High.

Roberta Flowers (Class of 1951), who has an

affiliation with the Avon Park Depot Museum, was

in the high school band when the alma mater,

now 67 years old, was written. The music was

composed by then band director Gene Gorman.

The words to the alma mater and pep song were

written by band student Ted Ward (Class of

1948). The pep song is the same music, just played

faster with the “rah, rah, rah” in the middle.

According to Flowers, Ted Ward was very

musical, playing flute and oboe. He was student

conductor of the band. She believes he went to

Wheaton College in Illinois and became a music

professor. He was the son of Ted Ward Sr., who

was a realtor and owner of Ward’s Dept. Store.

Gene Gorman Ted Ward

VETERAN’S DAY

The Show Choir performed for

the Highland’s Ridge Veteran’s

Day Program and at the Sebring

Courthouse on Veteran’s Day.

BARBERSHOP HARMONY

APHS/SHS/LPHS chorus students are coming together

for a day of barbershop harmony at SHS Smith Center on

Friday, Nov. 13. They will form a men’s and a women’s

choir and culminate the day with a barbershop concert.

WINTER CONCERT

Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., First Baptist Church Avon

Park. Admission is free.

DISNEY CHRISTMAS

The entire choir will be singing at Disney on Dec. 23 as

part of the annual Christmas Candlelight Procession.

CARNEGIE HALL TRIP FUNDRAISING

There are 21 students who will be traveling to New York

City this spring as part of a National Youth Choir. They

are selling flower cards — $20 for a coupon that gets

you one free bouquet every month for a year. The choir

will also host a Parent’s Night Out on Friday, Dec. 21 at

First Baptist Church Avon Park. Children will be watched

while parents go shopping, out to dinner or a movie, or

just enjoy peace and quiet for a few hours.

NOVEMBER, 2015

OCTOBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

9th Grade - Brianna Nobles

10th Grade - Cambrie Landress

11th Grade - Gabriella Rossy

12th Grade - Brianna Adkins

IMPORTANT DATES

NOVEMBER

16 SAC Meeting 5:30 p.m.

18 EARLY RELEASE

20 Progress Reports

23-27 Thanksgiving Break

30 AP Christmas Parade

DECEMBER

11 Jingle Bell Run 6 p.m.

18 Early Release

21-Jan. 4 Christmas Break

NEED

GUIDANCE?

See your

Counselor

DUAL ENROLLMENT: South Florida

State College dual enrollment is a way of

accelerating your college education. For

information regarding eligibility, enrollment

procedures and more, visit the website:

http: / /www.southf lorida.edu/ future -

students/dual-enrollment. You will need

to see your guidance counselor and submit

an application to the college. To enroll in

any dual enrollment class during the 2015-

16 school year you must attend an orienta-

tion session at SFSC. Orientation is sched-

uled: Wed. Nov. 18 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Call 863-784-7330 to sign up for this session. Plan on arriving

15 to 30 minutes prior to the start of the session to check in.

TESTING DATES

ACT Dec. 12 - The late registration deadline is Nov. 20.

SAT Jan. 23 - Deadline to register is Dec. 28.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Check with your guidance counselor for the complete list of

November scholarships currently available.

BOYS STATE 2016

Junior Boys who are interested in applying for Boys State 2016

should see Mrs. Grice in Guidance for the essay information.

Deadline is Dec. 1.

VARSITY CHEER HEADED

TO ACC TITLE GAME

For the second year in a row, the APHS

varsity cheer squad is scheduled to per-

form at the ACC championship game.

They qualified for the honor to perform

after winning a competition at UCA

Cheer Camp during the summer break.

They are scheduled to participate at the

pre-game festivities at Bank of America

Stadium in Charlotte, NC on Dec. 5.

Junior and Senior AVID students (pictured above) traveled to

Florida Atlantic University in Boca for their first college trip of

the year. Freshmen and Sophomores visited Southeastern

University and Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

PITCHFORK GAMES

Thanks to everyone who participated.

1st place went to the Faculty, 2nd

place Seniors, 3rd place Sophomores,

4th place Juniors and 5th place Fresh-

men. Judges, faculty: Mr. Derenzis, Mr.

Farless, Mrs. Love, Mrs. Maloy, and Mrs.

Word; SGA: Roshni, Jamisse, Jamesha

and Nesha. Announcers: Coach Lee

and Mrs. Farless. Commentators: Gabby

and Jessie. Score keeper, Mrs. Wilson.

NOVEMBER, 2015

Check out the APHS Web Page calendar of

upcoming events to find dates, times and other

information for these winter sports:

BASKETBALL (Boys and Girls)

WRESTLING

SOCCER (Boys and Girls)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING

BOYS BASKETBALL The pre-season tournament

was held Nov. 9 and 10 at Avon Park. Regular

season play begins Nov. 19 at Haines City, with the

first home game scheduled Nov. 30 with Frostproof.

Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. for JV and 7 p.m. for varsity.

RED DEVIL FOOTBALL

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

The first playoff game will be

at home Nov. 13. AP will

host the War Eagles from

Astronaut High School in Titusville. The team ended

regular season with a fantastic 9-1 record. Their only

loss was a hard-fought rivalry game at Sebring in the

annual county match. Congratulations to our players

and coaches. We are proud of our athletes, who are

indeed champions. Go BIG RED!

APHS: WHERE EXCELLENCE

IS A TRADITION

APHS POOL NAMED

A dedication ceremony

was held Oct. 24 to cele-

brate the naming of the Teri Heiring Acquatic

Center. Mrs. Heiring was instrumental in the

effort to raise funds to build a pool at the high

school. After her death in February, the

community responded to honor her dedication

and determination by having the pool named after

her. Donations were used to install a bronze

plaque with her image at the pool.

REGIONAL COMPETITION : Fifteen athletes com-

peted at regionals Oct. 30 in Orlando, with three

advancing to state. Coach Lee said that many set

new personal bests. Three school records were

broken. Senior Logan Carroll qualified for state in

the 100 Yards Breaststroke, breaking his own

school record. Logan also broke the school rec-

ord in the 100 Yards Butterfly. In diving, Freshman

Cole Losa placed third and Senior Zack Hutchins

placed fifth, with both qualifying for state. A school

record was also broken in the Boys Medley Relay.

STATE COMPETITION was held Nov. 7 in

Stuart. Hutchins placed sixth

in diving and broke a school

record previously held by

his brother Domonnic.

Losa did not place. In 100

Yards Breaststroke, Carroll

advanced to the finals where

he placed 16th in the state. Pictured (from left),

Carroll, Losa, Hutchins and Mr. Williams.

CROSS-COUNTRY:

Congratulations Dylan Branch,

who won sixth place at the

regional meet, qualifying him

for the state championship in

Tallahassee. Freshman Branch

was the only Highlands Coun-

ty runner to earn a state berth

with a 5-kilometer personal

record of 16 min. and 44 sec. Courtesy Photo

ACURIA SMITH

RECEIVES AWARD

Acuria Smith, pictured with

Principal Williams, was cho-

sen as the 2015 Wendy’s

High School Heisman Female

Athlete Winner. Acuria, a

senior, received this honor

for her leadership skills, academic performance and

sports accomplishments. In addition to being select-

ed and recognized, she will be receiving a Wendy’s

High School Heisman letterman patch. Acuria is

involved with volleyball and cheer. Congratulations!