SPHS Volunteer Opportunities

We have several events coming up in December that could use your help! Please contact Kris Kelly-Whitewood if you are interested in helping out!

December 5th – Drama Club “Holiday Happenings” Cabaret Performance – The SPHS Drama Club will be presenting their own unique cabaret style Holiday Performance on Friday, December 5th at 7:00 pm.  We currently need the following for this event:

·        2-3 Volunteers to help set-up coffee and pastries
·        Donations of pastries and desserts
·        Bottled water donations

Even if you are not able to help volunteer for the event, please be sure to attend! How often do you get to see dancing penguins and Biker’s singing! Not to mention a dance performance of “The Nutcracker” like you haven’t seen before.  There is no charge for the evening, but there will be an opportunity for you to make a donation if you wish to cover the cost of the performance.

December 9th – We are in need of a couple more volunteers to help with the poinsettia sales on December 9th.  This will involve sorting and distributing the plant orders.

December 12th – The Winter Dance. To help make this a fun, festive, and safe event for the students, we are in need of the following:

Volunteers for:

• After-school set-up and decorating (approximately 2:30pm to 6:00 pm)
• Ticket takers/check-in (3-4 people needed, approximately 6:15 to 8:15 pm)
• Chaperones to guard doors (4 people needed, approximately 6:15 to 10:00)
• Helpers to assist with the food and drink tables (4 people needed, approximately 6:15 to 9:00)
• Clean-up help afterwards (4-6 people needed, approximately 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm)

We also need:

• Food:
• Gift cards or monetary donations to order pizza & Chick-Fil-A platters
• Vegetable or fruit platters
• Other finger foods
• Cookies or other small desserts
• Monetary donations to help cover the costs for the DJ, security personnel and items not donated

• Drinks:
• Liter bottles of drinks
• Water bottles (5-6 cases)

Poinsettia Sales - Orders Due This Week!

Remember to place your poinsettia orders by this Tuesday, December 2nd.

This year we are also able to offer a unique style of Poinsettia called the Winter Rose. This poinsettia has beautifully curled leaves which give it a more delicate look.  It is available in all sizes at the same price as the "regular" poinsettia, but does only come in red. Samples of the winter rose poinsettias and sizes are on display in the front office.

Orders can be picked up Tuesday, December 9th. Large orders of 20 or more plants will qualify for free delivery!

Parents - want to channel your inner elf and get some volunteer time? Tuesday, December 9th we will need help sorting plants and arranging orders in the morning and then handing them out or delivering them. Email Kris Kelly-Whitewood and let her know if you want to join in on the fun! 

Please encourage your students to sell! The plants are beautiful and it really is an easy thing to do.  This fundraiser helps us in providing the activities the students want and need throughout the year.

GET YOUR ORDER FORMS HERE!

Individual Orders - for orders from families, friends, individual businesses, churches, doctor's offices; anyone you think might like a little holiday cheer and to help out SPHS at the same time. 
Click to Download Form

Students - For students to ask their friends, family, neighbors, businesses to keep their orders on a tally type form.
Click to Download Form

Holiday Baskets

UPDATE: We'll put the baskets together on Tuesday, December 16th - starting at around 7:30 a.m. until completion.
  
VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED - Contact Patty to let her know if you can help on the 16th.
 
A message from Patty Hill-Ferraro, coordinator of Holiday Baskets:

It’s that time again - time to show our appreciation to the teachers and staff that work hard throughout the year to provide our children a wonderful education here at SPHS and STC.  Each year this program gets bigger and better - this year we have over 60 staff members! Our largest by far, but with your help we can make this another excellent year for the staff members.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Donate and/or volunteer.

WHAT WE DO:  Gather all the cash, gifts, and goodies to create beautiful, personalized gift baskets for each and every staff member involved in the running of the school.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:  Volunteer Hours & Warm Fuzzies -  Lots and Lots of Warm Fuzzies!

We will accept donations of medium to large baskets, gifts, gift cards, cash, and anything else you wish to give. In mid December, volunteers will meet to fill the baskets and the student council will distribute them to the staff.

TOP 10 LIFE HACKS FOR HOLIDAY BASKETS 2014:

1) We LOVE to reuse, re-purpose, and...yes...re-gift! But it must be NEW & CLEAN.

2) We NEED Baskets. Lots of Baskets! Medium to Large only, and in Good to Great condition please. Also, tissue paper/filling/clear wrap.

3) Talk to your employers. Most companies will gladly donate an item, a gift card, a service. If they say no, perhaps use your employee discount to buy it and then donate it.

4) Feel free to give us your “freebies” from Black Friday or other deals that you get along the way while you do other holiday shopping.

5) We take ca$h, actually we prefer it. I am an excellent negotiator, and last year talked three different restaurant managers into matching some of our funds, but I need ca$h to do it with!

6) Ask family members for donations/gift ideas. Your kids know their teachers and the other staff members. They can give you insight into their likes/dislikes. If you have something specifically for a teacher, please wrap it and label it CLEARLY so we can add it to the correct basket.

7) Bake some goodies. Some of the teachers have requested cookies and brownies. We will take yours, your mom's, or some from the local bakery. However, please make sure they are delivered on the day the baskets will be filled and distributed, are sealed and packaged well, and that they are yummy. That’s all we ask.

8) Make something. EVERYONE loves personal gifts. We would LOVE to have you make things to add to the baskets! Do you can foods? Send some in. Do you bead? Jewelry is always good. Do you knit? Send us some knitted stuff. Do you weave? I mentioned we need baskets. Do you paint? My house needs a touch up…just kidding. You get the point though.

9) Ca$h is king, not to belabor the point, but ca$h gives me buying power too. I can take advantage of promotions that give us extra gift cards for FREE with the purchase of 4 or 5, which I need ca$h to do. Checks are good too!

10) Contact me, Patty, for other ideas. I have more, and I’m not afraid to use them…

Patty Hill-Ferraro
pjs-inc@live.com
941-525-0026

A Holiday Happening - Coming Soon!

A HOLIDAY HAPPENING - An invitation from Dr. Burns:
                                                                                                
The event will be held in the Conference Center at Suncoast Technical College on Friday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m.  It will be a cabaret style evening with coffee and desserts while the drama club puts its best foot forward (literally and figuratively).  There will be dancing penguins, some Bikers singing, a dance performance to a version of “The Nutcracker” like you’ve never heard. There will be living Christmas Trees, as well as Snowmen, some gingerbread men, some really “gutsy” dancing, and some solos and duets all in the best spirit of the holidays - even a visit from a strange old lady. We are celebrating the holiday season with songs and dances to remind you of what you most miss…snow!  Please plan to join us.

No tickets are needed but there will be an opportunity for you to make a donation if you wish to help us cover the costs.

Legal Aspects of Business Students

From Ms. Kuhns, Legal Aspects of Business Instructor: As an extension of the curriculum, Ms. Kuhns and her Legal Aspects class visited the courthouse and witnessed an actual trial!  The students were introduced to the lawyers for the plaintiff and the defense, and were given a brief overview of the trial. During a recess we got to hear from the clerk of court and the court reporter regarding their roles in the courtroom. After lunch in the courthouse garden we returned to school and debriefed from the trial. It was a very enlightening experience for all!

VEX Robotics Competition

SPHS hosted the VEX Robotics Competition over two Saturdays in November. The event was planned and orchestrated by SPHS teacher, Drew Wormington and brought in over 20 middle school and high school teams for a robotics competition.

Evening of Excellence Finalists

Congratulations to the two finalists for the Evening of Excellence invitation designed by SPHS/STC digital design students, Patrick Walsh & Kelly Pardoe.

All design students were involved in designing an invitation for the 2015 Evening of Excellence competition for the Education Foundation, with one being chosen as the final printed invitation to the event.

Flu Vaccine Clinic

Sarasota County Schools & the FL Department of Health in Sarasota County have contracted with Healthy Schools, LLC to provide flu vaccine to students in our schools at no cost to families. The date for the clinic at SPHS is Wed, Dec 10 from 7:45 am to 9:30 am.  Parent permission slips have been given to the students and should be returned to the clinic.

November Students of the Month

12th Grade ~ Bao Nguyen

Bao was nominated by Mr. Finger.
When asked why he nominated Bao, Mr. Finger said:
"Bao Nguyen is a wonderful student. He continually strives to deeply understand the material and asks pointed, well thought out questions. He completes all of his work in a timely manner and will even work out extra problems if he thinks he needs extra practice. He is always an active participant in class, works to help other students learn, and is always respectful of his peers and teachers. I'm proud to honor Bao's hard work, effort, and tenacity by presenting him as the senior student of the month."

11th Grade ~ Jared White

Jared was nominated by Mrs. Ferris.
When asked why she nominated Jared, Mrs. Ferris said:
“Jared White is a dedicated, reliable, curious student who quietly and consistently goes above and beyond what is required to demonstrate excellence in the classroom. He is always prepared, respectful, and actively participating in classroom learning activities and discussions. Whenever a peer or staff member needs assistance, Jared is eager to share his knowledge or a helping hand.  It is for these reasons that he has been chosen as the student of the month for the junior class in the month of November.”

10th Grade ~ Sydney White

Sydney was nominated by Mrs. Garrabrant.
When asked why she nominated Sydney, Mrs. Garrabrant said:
“She is an excellent student. She obtained one the highest scores in Spanish due to her good work habits and conscientious effort to learn in my class and the fact that she has earned A's in all of her classes. She completes all her work and turns it in on time and she is very thorough. She follows rules and procedures. She works always with a very positive attitude. She smiles very often as well! She is very respectful of self and others and a team player. It is a real pleasure and an honor to have Sydney in my class.”

9th Grade ~ Skylar Gross

Skylar was nominated by the 9th Grade Team.
When asked why they nominated Skylar, the 9th Grade Team said:
“Skylar Gross is the epitome of the 4 cornerstones of SPHS - Serve Others, Be an Active Participant, Respect All, and Act Responsibly. With an unwavering commitment to her academic success, she quietly conquers and exceeds the expectations of each task placed before her. She is always respectful of her teachers and peers. She is an asset in each of her classes. It is without reservation, the 9th grade team nominated her for Student of the Month for November.”

2015 Parent Workshops from Pupil Support Services

The 2015 Pupil Support Services Parent Workshops are now open for online PARENT REGISTRATION on the Sarasota County School Board Website.

There are several ways to locate the 2015 Parent Workshop information for the 8 workshops listed below.

Go to the Sarasota County Schools website to download the Parent Workshop flyers, register for a workshop session and even childcare. You can also leave information on what topics Parents would be interested in Pupil Support Services presenting next year!

Please go to  www.SarasotaCountySchools.net
Click on Students & Parents at the top of the home page or Parents at the bottom of the Home page or SEARCH Parent Workshops.

2015 Pupil Support Services Parent Workshops:

Monday, January 12, 2015
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973  AM
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973  PM
Click Here to Download Flyer

Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Parenting Skills How To…Pre-School through Middle/High School  AM
Parenting Skills How To…Pre-School through Middle/High School  PM
Click Here to Download Flyer

Monday, March 30, 2015
Instructional Resources for Students with Significant Cognitive and Instructional Delays  AM
Instructional Resources for Students with Significant Cognitive and Instructional Delays  PM
Click Here to Download Flyer

Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Transition Secondary Transition Planning: A Guide for Families  AM
Transition Secondary Transition Planning: A Guide for Families  PM
Click Here to Download Flyer

Veteran's Day Celebration

SPHS will host its Veteran's Day Celebration on Wednesday, November 5th.  This is a great opportunity for our students to honor those who have served in our military!  Veterans from our community come to SPHS and are greeted by the Student Council and are hosted with coffee, juice and pastries.  They are then escorted by the Student Council members to speak to the classes. The Veterans finish their visit with lunch in the SCTI Bistro where they are presented with a gift bag.  During student lunches, the SPHS students are also treated to red, white and blue patriotic cupcakes.

In conjunction with the Veteran's Day celebration, SPHS will also host it's annual “Armed Forces Week.”  Representatives from each of the service branches will be in attendance and accessible to students beginning on Monday, November 3rd and concluding on Friday, November 7th.

The Boosters are still in need of volunteers to help with the Veteran's Day Celebration on Wednesday.  We are currently in need of the following:

Donations:

• Monetary donations for purchase of coffee, juice, doughnut holes, pastries, items for gift bags for the veterans. (We need approximately $50 for the morning reception and $150 for the gift bags)
• We are looking for sponsors to purchase 15 $10 gift cards for Dunkin Donuts for the Veteran's gift bags. (If you can sponsor 1, 2 or even more that would be great! Remember monetary donations count towards volunteer hours!)
• Large red, white and blue cupcakes for all of the Veterans (we are expecting 10-15)
• Red, white and blue cupcakes for all of the students (approximately 600 or 50 dozen)

Volunteers:

• We need 4-6 volunteers between 9 am and approximately 11:30 am to help set-up, greet the Veterans, put together gift bags, decorate Bistro tables and hand out cupcakes to students.

If you are able to help, contact the Boosters Volunteer Coordinator, Kris Kelly-Whitewood.

Important Graduation Information for Seniors

Attention Parents of Seniors: A large number of students did not take advantage of the three separate photo shoot opportunities that were at SPHS for their senior portrait. Seniors wishing to appear in the yearbook must have their portrait taken by LifeTouch / Prestige Portraits. Please contact http://prestigeportraits.com/fa OR 1-800-361-8694 to schedule an appointment at their Tampa or Port Charlotte office.

Graduating seniors are required to wear a cap and gown in order to participate in commencement proceedings at the end of their senior year. Please refer to http://gradproinc.com for ordering. Herff Jones packets are located in the front office. Orders for your cap and gown go directly to Herff Jones, as the school office cannot accept an order. All orders must be placed no later than January 5th, 2015. For your convenience, order forms can be submitted in one of three ways:

• Hand the form and payment to the Herff Jones representative in the lunchroom this Wednesday, November 5th
• Mail your order form and payment to the address provided on the packet
• Place your order online