May 2015 - The School District of Palm Beach County

Cobra Bites
Park Vista Community High School Newsletter
Visit our web site at: www.pvchs.com or
facebook.com/ParkVistaCommunityHighSchool
Volume 11
Issue 5
May, 2015
(561) 491-8400
Senior Class Information
Fast Facts
Final Exams
Monday, June 1 - Thursday, June 4, 2015 Tuesday, May 12
Senior Award/Recognition Night School Holidays
Last day of school: Thursday, June 4, 2015 Senior Award and Recognition Night in
Memorial Day
the auditorium at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, May 25, 2015 Wednesday, May 13
Mandatory Senior Checkout Year End Report Cards
Mandatory senior checkout is in the gym.
Summer Assignments & Readings
For Advanced Placement® (AP®), AICE,
and other summer assignments, please go
to PVCHS.com, select the Parents/Students
tab, and click on Summer Materials.
appointed time and bring a photo ID.
Seniors will have the opportunity to receive
their cap and gown, order final transcripts,
pay outstanding obligations, request extra
graduation tickets, and get final clearance
from their guidance counselor.
The 2015/2016
School Year
Starts on
Monday,
August 17, 2015
Mailed after June 18, 2015 All graduating seniors must attend at their
Summer Athletic Conditioning
Thursday, May 14
Please check the PVCHS website at PVCHS.
Senior Breakfast
com, and select Sports/Clubs for updated
Senior Breakfast in the cafeteria, 8:00
athletic information, including summer
- 9:30 a.m. Seniors must register in the
conditioning schedules (also, see page 5).
Cobra Crew
Orientation
activities office if they plan to attend.
Monday,
The cost is $5 and attendees must follow August 10, 2015,
Only seniors and juniors are eligible for school dress code.
in the PVCHS gym.
2015/2016 Parking Decals & Lockers
parking privileges only if they meet the
Friday, May 15
following requirements:
Seniors:
P20 community service hours completed and
forms submitted to Guidance;
PCumulative 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA);
PNo financial obligations;
POnline course requirement fulfilled.
Juniors:
Graduation Rehearsal Mandatory graduation rehearsal is at 3:30
p.m. in the PVCHS auditorium. Seniors
will receive their tickets for the graduation
ceremony at the end of the rehearsal.
Graduation
P20 community service hours completed
and forms submitted to Guidance;
PCumulative 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA);
PNo financial obligations.
Specific times for juniors and seniors to
buy parking permits will be published in
the August edition of this newsletter (which
will be mailed home and also posted on the
PVCHS.com website under Cobra Bites on the
main page).
Monday, May 18
Graduation
8:00 a.m. - Park Vista’s graduation
ceremony will be held at the Expo Center
at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The
doors close at 7:45 a.m.; so make sure you
and your guests plan for parking, heavy
traffic, or other delays.
All freshmen
should attend
Orientation
(students only)
1:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Freshmenology
(for parents)
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
The 411 on Cobras
(parents & students)
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
For more information,
contact Dr. Pierre at
pia.lawson@
palmbeachschools.org
Welcome to
Cobra Country
1
From the Principal
Dear Cobra Families:
al
digit
tes is
Cobra Bi
The remaining weeks of the school year are some of the most significant
at the high school level for all students. For your student’s grades to
remain in good standing throughout the duration of this semester, please
continue to impress upon your son or daughter the need to maintain
their academic focus, to complete all class assignments or projects, and
to take all tests seriously. Constant monitoring of your child’s academic
progress through Edline.net, and consistent communication with your
child’s teachers, is crucial as we approach the conclusion of this final
marking period.
Parents, it is very important that each graduating senior attends the
mandatory Senior Checkout Day on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in
the gymnasium and the Graduation Rehearsal on Friday, May 15,
2015, at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Park Vista. Each senior will be Mr. Reginald B. Myers, Principal
assigned a checkout time based on their Social Science teacher. Seniors must attend both the Senior
Checkout Day and the Graduation Rehearsal to receive their graduation tickets and to participate in
the Graduation Ceremony on Monday, May 18, 2015. The ceremony begins at 8:00 a.m. at the South
Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. Please be sure that your son and/or daughter attends both of these
required events the previous week so they can participate in the graduation cremony.
To our seniors, I commend you on a job well done. I am sure your parents, teachers, and friends are
extremely proud of your efforts and wish you the very best as you move forward in life. It is an honor
to have been principal for your high school experiences the past four years. Thanks for the good times,
the challenging times, and the memories we shared.
As we plan for the next school year, please mark the following dates on your calendar. The first day
of school for the 2015-2016 academic year is Monday, August 17, 2015. The Freshmen Orientation,
now called the the Cobra Crew Orientation, is scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2015, beginning at
1:30 p.m. for incoming 9th graders. An important Freshmenology presentation for the parents of our
freshmen students will be held in the auditorium from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Then, starting at 6:00
p.m. in the cafeteria, all freshmen and their parents can get the 411 on sports, clubs, and other activities
sponsored at Park Vista.
More information regarding the Cobra Crew Orientation will be included in the back-to-school edition
of the August Cobra Bites. The newsletter will be mailed to all homes at the beginning of August and
will also be posted on the school’s website at PVCHS.com and Edline.net.
Visit
Educationally Yours,
PVCHS.com
for past
editions of
Cobra Bites
Reginald B. Myers, Principal
Class of 2015 Graduation
2
8:00 a.m., Monday, May 18, 2015
Expo Center,
South Florida Fairgrounds
Don’t be late - doors
close promptly at 7:45 a.m.
Graduation Dress Code
Make sure you will be able to participate in graduation
by remembering the dress code below.
Good grooming is expected and desired
(no chewing gum and wear conservative jewelry).
Ladies Gentlemen
PDresses must be shorter than PBlack, dark brown or navy blue
the hem of graduation gown
slacks (no khakis, jeans, shorts
or cargo pants)
POnly black shoes are allowed PNeck ties are required (no string
or bow ties, loud colors or designs)
Pno casual sandals
PBlack dress shoes with black socks
Closed-toe shoes are best
PWhite, buttoned-down, longbut dressy sandals are okay
sleeved shirts (no polo/golf shirts)
Cobra Excellence
Class of 2015
American Legion Boys’ State Program
Class of 2015, your hard work and dedication has paid
off. We congratulate our seniors on a great year full
of fun, memories, and success. See you at graduation.
Anthony D’Achille, Andrew Mausser, and Neeraj
Patel were selected by members of the American Legion
to be the Boys’ State Delegates from Park Vista for 2015 in
Tallahassee this summer. Casey Williams was chosen as
the alternate. Congratulations to these outstanding young men.
By Ms. K. Lamb
Senior Class: 688
Class Motto: The future belongs to those who believe in
the beauty of their dreams
Eleanor Roosevelt
Class Colors: Black and White
President:
Britt Nestor
Secretary:
Rachel Steiner
Treasurer:
Emily Matos
Historian:
Taylor Knight
Cobra Weightlifter Places 2nd in State
By Mrs. P. Romero
Congratulations to Dustin Richter who recently took
second place in the Florida High School Athletic
Association (F.H.S.A.A.) State Boys’ Weightlifting
2A Competition. The finals were held at the
Kissimmee Civic Center on Friday, April 17, 2015.
Richter, who was competing in the 199-pound weight
class, bench pressed 430 pounds, the top bench press
in his class. Then he clean and jerked a personal best
275 pounds, for a total of 705 pounds.
“It’s very exciting,” Richter said. “I’ve been working
very hard in the gym, constantly practicing. … I got
good numbers, so I was pretty happy about it. I’m
going out with a bang as a senior.”
Below: Senior Dustin Ritcher with his medal from the FHSAA
weightlifting championship
By Mrs. M. Turner
The Boys’ State Program is organized by the American
Legion. This non-partisan program is designed for high
school boys who have completed their junior year. The
program provides a learning experience in practical
democracy. Delegates will develop a working knowledge
of the structure of government and the importance and
responsibilities of good citizenship.
American Legion Auxiliary Girls’ State
Jamie Smith and Christy Yancy were chosen as delegates
to represent Park Vista for the 2015 Girls’ State Program.
Semmie Joseph was chosen as an alternate. The delegates
will attend the event in Tallahassee this summer and
will learn about government, leadership and democracy.
Congratulations to these outstanding young ladies.
The Girls’ State program, sponsored by the American Legion
Auxiliary, provides young women with an opportunity to
learn about government and the duties and responsibilities
of citizenship. Each year, members of the local auxiliary
unity select young women who have completed their junior
year to participate.
Scholastic Achievement Honorees
Each year the Scholastic Achievement Foundation sponsors
an elegant dinner at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach to
recognize students who excel academically and have made
substantial contributions to their high school and community.
The dinner was held on April 7, 2015. The following seniors
represented Park Vista:
Miis Akel
Hui Chen
Thuyet Dao
Kyle Logan
Kevin Milbert
Jose Sanchez
Zain Talukdar
Niyati Upadyay
Admission Nugget
A competitive college
is one that rejects
qualified applicants,
Andrew Allen,
College Admissions
Trade Secrets
A special recognition goes to Thuyet Dao who earned
$1,000 from the Scholastic Achievement Foundation.3
Congratulations to all our honorees.
Calendar of Events
Get the latest information on our Striking Cobra teams at
HighSchoolSports.net
(enter Park Vista, select monthly view)
or the PVCHS web site at www.pvchs.com
Athletic News
Spring Sports Round Up
by Mrs. P. Romero, Athletic Director
Our spring sports programs are wrapping up their seasons
with successful results. We have competed at very
high levels and are certainly pleased with our athletes’
performances. Park Vista continues to prove that we are
a premier athletic program in Palm Beach County.
The boys on the Baseball diamond are always the team
to beat. The Cobras have the right combination of offense
and defense right now and are proving it by dominating
their opponents. They have proven themselves among
the elite not only in the State of Florida but in the entire
nation. Coach Greenstein and the Boys recently
captured the Conference title and are looking to bring
home a state title.
Our Boys’ and Girls’ Track Teams are simply amazing.
They made their presence felt in Palm Beach County
by demonstrating their strength in numbers at every
event they entered. Both teams have captured several
invitational meets. Congratulations to Coach Barry,
Coach Reen, Coach Robinson, and Coach Rush for an
outstanding season. The coaches are looking forward to
the regional meet and the opportunity to send several
of our Park Vista track members to represent us at the
regional and state competitions.
The Girls’ Flag Football Team is in the driver’s seat for
the upcoming district tournament. They have secured the
number one seed and have set their sights on a district
championship. Coach Smith likes the Cobra’s chances.
Our Girls’ Lacrosse Team captured another district
title moving the hardware back in to Cobra territory.
Congratulations to the girls and former Park Vista player
and first year coach, Coach McKague.
4
Our Boys and Girls Tennis Teams have added
another trophy to the athletic display case by winning
the Conference title for the tenth year. Coach Dulin
and Coach Williams had these athletes working
hard on the court every day and have proved that
hard work breeds success.
Coach Pokabla and Coach Dodds have built a
premier Weightlifting program. They have our boys
strong, flexible and ready to show their strength. The
Cobra “mat men” have taken over as conference
champions and district champions in Palm Beach
County for seven consecutive years.
Our Boys’ Volleyball team is well positioned for
the the upcoming district championship. They have
secured the number one seed and are coming off
some very impressive wins and are peaking as a
team at the right time. Coach Hubschman likes the
Cobra’s chances.
Although Boys’ Lacrosse experienced an early
exit in the playoffs this year, these athletes worked
extremely hard and left everything on the field. They
are looking forward to building off of the successes
from this season and setting goals for the future.
Student–Athlete/ NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse
Since 1994, the NCAA Initial Eligibility
Clearinghouse has evaluated the academic
credentials of high school student athletes interested
in participating in athletics at an NCAA Division
I or II member institution. Students who want
to participate in college sports during their first
year of enrollment in college MUST register with
the NCAA to be eligible to participate in college
athletics at a Division I or II college. Go to www.
ncaaclearinghouse.net to register and see your
guidance counselor for further information.
Cobra Athletics
Athletics and Academics
Cobra Football Players Give Back
Congratulations to more of Park Vista’s finest student
athletes who signed National Letters of Intent.
Ten Cobra football players spent a recent Friday
evening planting a balloon memorial for The Children's
Healing Institute. There were 127 large plastic balloons,
representing a child in the State of Florida that was
killed last year as a result of abuse. The Children's
Healing Institute is a local organization that helps over
400 families in our community each year.
Chris Albritton
John Luc Havan
Jaahyr James
Nicholas Casadei
Ellison Young
Tracy Peyton
Summer Stevens
Kamil Williams Football
Catawba College
Football
Westminster College
Football
Alderson Broaddus Uni.
Football
Westminster College
Football
Adrian College
Golf
Palm Beach Atlantic
Lacrosse
Basketball
Notre Dame, Maryland
Savannah State Uni.
The boys who worked hard to give back to their
community are: Lazaro Gil, Oscar Morales, Joey
Dalessandro, Dante Myers, Brandon Sullivan, Sam
Sullivan, Bryce Basso, Jonathan Agosto, Marshall
Morakis and Julian Polo. We have some great kids
This class of athletes has continued the Park Vista tradition of
hard work, perseverance, and dedication in the classroom and
on the playing field. Their success is due to their demonstrated
discipline, commitment and integrity. Congratulations.
representing our football program. A big thanks to the
moms who drove the boys and took pictures, and to
Coach Morakis for keeping the boys working.
Swim Team Summer Conditioning
Cross Country 2015
Pre-season conditioning begins this summer for the Cobra swim
team. Potential student-athletes wishing to be a part of the 2015 2016 fall Cobra swim and dive team will have the opportunity to
train with the Lake Lytal Lightning Swim Team in West Palm Beach.
Are you interested in being part of a fun and successful
athletic team at Park Vista? We are looking for
motivated, hardworking, and dedicated athletes for
the cross country team. No previous team or running
experience is required.
Sessions will be held beginning Tuesday, June 9, 2015, and lasts
eight weeks from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Many other local high schools
take this opportunity to get a head start for the fall season.
More detailed information will be given at the spring team
meeting May 20, 2015 in Coach Andrews’ room, portable 7,
immediately after school. For more information, contact head coach,
Gordon Andrews at gordon.andrews@palmbeachschools.
org for eligibilty requirements and questions.
Volleyball Summer Conditioning & Tryouts
Any girls interested in trying out for Park Vista Girls’ Volleyball
team next year, should attend summer conditioning/open gym
starting Monday, June 8 through Thursday, July 30, 2015, in the
Park Vista gymnasium. Mandatory tryouts begin daily starting
Monday, August 3, 2015, at times to be scheduled.
The summer schedule is as follows:
Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays 6:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Please print and complete an athletic packet from the Park Vista
website, www.pvchs.com, to turn in during conditioning.
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Erica Green
at erica.green@palmbeachschools.org as soon as possible.
Hope to see you over the summer.
All interested student-athletes must complete the athletic
eligibility packet and requirements prior to the first day
of conditioning on Monday, June 15, 2015, from 7:00
a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Please meet at Park Vista track.
The first day of practice is Monday, August 3rd. If you
have questions or need additional information please
email the coaches at daniel.barry@palmbeachschools.
org or jennifer.popp@palmbeachschools.org.
Want to Play a Fall Sport at PVCHS?
Summer conditioning and athletic information
will be posted on our website, PVCHS.com,
during the month of May. The eligibility packet
will be revised and available as soon as it is
received from the Florida High School Athletic
Association. You must have a completed
eligibility packet turned into the appropriate
coach and/or the athletic office prior to
participation in Park Vista sports.
5
Park Vista Academies
FBLA Does Well At
State Competition
By Ms. K. Fisher
Mr. Macsuga, Future Business Leaders
of America (FBLA) adviser, and 26 Park Vista students spent part
of their Spring Break attending the 2015 Florida state conference
in Orlando. The Cobras engaged in high level competitions against
students from across Florida. Our winners were:
Niyati Upadhyay - 4th Place Healthcare Administration
Neeraj Patel
- 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking
Brandon Carrara, Ismael Hussein and Matthew Murria
- 2nd Place Digital Design & Promotion
6
Above: Park Vista’s FBLA Team at the State Competition
HOSA Students Win at States
Park Vista’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
attended the 2014-2015 State Leadership Conference in late
March, 2015. Students who placed in first through third place
will have the opportunity to attend the National Leadership
Conference in Anaheim, California, in June this summer.
PThuyet Dao – Nutrition
These students qualify to compete at the FBLA National PJordan Block – Extemporaneous Writing
PTa-Mayka Williams, Sonali Anand, and Pooja Patel
Conference to be held in Chicago this summer.
– Public Health Education
PJasmine Abdin, Alexis Francois, Tadas Orentas, Andeline
National Technical Honor Society
The Park Vista NTS inducted 37 juniors and seniors this year who Noel, and Kendyl Traylor – Public Service Announcement
PNiyati Upadhyay – Medical Terminology
met the following requirements:
PJanelle Gant – Trans-Cultural Healthcare
PCurrent membership in either FBLA or HOSA
PBrandon Leventhal, Nicole Simoes, and Abeera Choudhry
PIn the 3rd or 4th year of a Career & Technical Education (CTE)program
– Biomedical Debate
PMaintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their CTE courses and
PMaxwell Ackerman – Epidemiology
PMaintained an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
PMihir Patel, Sierra Raines, Michael Pennell and
PDisplayed good character
Sebastian Pankiewicz – Medical Innovation
Congratulations to the following inductees
Industry Certification Exams
for the 2015/2016 School Year:
Students in the Park Vista Career Academies have the unique opportunity
Megan Anderson
Jenine Marquez
to train for and take professional exams at no cost. These exams are not
Alexa Bianco
McKenzie Moskowitz only good resume material but can open the door to many occupations. The
Gabriella Bisecco
Megan Muir
school district pays for the students to have this opportunity and the exams
Sharmaine Bowen
Matthew Murria
are the same ones taken by adults around the world to demonstrate their
Kristine Campbell
Sailyn Olivares
skills in their respective fields. Some of the exams that our students are
Denise Cao
Mihir Patel
Brakes
currently taking include:
Kimberly Caufield
Electrical/Electronic Systems
Medical
Sabrina Pohlig
Engine Performance
Blake Collier
Certified Nursing Assistant
Sierra Raines
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Engine Repair
Thuyet Dao
Sarah Rodriguez
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Certified EKG Technical Exam
Austin Davis
Marcella Simioni
Manual Drive Train and Axles
Certified
Patient
Care
Technician
Ivanna Duong
Taylor Simon
Maintenance and Light Repair
International
Emergency
Medical
Responder
Danielle D'Urso
Katherine Slominski
Automobile Service Technology
Certified Phlebotomy Technician
Jessica Finkel
Rachel Steiner
Automotive Collision and Refinishing Multimedia Communications Academy
Errica Fusco
Marissa Sunshine
ASE Student Certification in these areas: Microsoft (MS) Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Beth Grabasch
Zain Talukdar
Adobe Photoshop
Painting and Refinishing
Jillian Hersh
Niyati Upadhyay
Non-Structural Analysis & Damage Repair Adobe Illustrator
Ismael Hussein
Adobe Dreamweaver
Ta-Mayka Williams Automotive Service Technology
MS Tech. Assistant Windows Operating Sys.
Gabrielle Kaufman
ASE Student Certifications in:
Matthew Yoss
MS Technology Assistant: Networking
Suspension and Steering
Renee Lowers
tition
Cobra Community
Special Olympics Competitions
SECME Competition Winners
Help support Park Vista’s Special Olympians by becoming
an athlete or volunteer. Our members participate in two
sporting events during the year: bowling in the fall and
unified volleyball in spring.
Park Vista’s team was awarded trophies in three competitions
at the School District’s March 28, 2015, SECME Olympiad.
The school fielded a team of 10 students to compete against
other schools in the district in the annual engineering
competition whose motto is Diversity in STEM Education
(Science, Technolgy, Engineering and Mathematics).
By Ms. Stephanie Gilbert
We begin the season for 2015-2016 on Monday, August
31, 2015, at Greenacres Bowl at 3:30 p.m. All athletes/
volunteers must complete the required paperwork prior to
participating.
Please contact Ms. Ladner at jeanne.ladner@
palmbeachschools.org or Mrs. S. Gilbert at stephanie.
gilbert@palmbeachschools.org if you are interested
in joining the Park Vista Special Olympics Club. Also,
be sure to listen to the morning announcements for
further information regarding the times and place for
our Special Olympics Club meetings. We hope to see
you in August.
Below: Park Vista’s Special Olympics volleyball athletes, volunteers
and sponsors at the county competition
By Ms. N. Dunbar
Marc Nelson, Mason Mellone, and Anthony Seanor won
first place for designing and building a balsa wood bridge that
withstood more than 1200 psi. Thuyet Dao’s essay on his
personal journey to find his niche in science and technology,
took second place in the district.
The team of Jared Foeppel, Hannah Nelson, and Matthew
Whitman took third place in the district for building and
designing a working water-powered generator. The generator
competition is scored by a team from FPL, and is based on
creativity, knowledge of physics as it pertains to electricity,
and an interview to test the team’s knowledge of their design.
All engineering designs included technical drawings and a
technical report.
Crystal Chen, Mai Tran, and Therese Tran displayed a
wonderful banner to represent the school in the parade of banners
and our brain bowl team represented the school admirably and
is on display on the second floor of the science hallway.
SECME is a national organization that encourages and
supports students who are considering further education
in STEM fields. If you’d like to work collaboratively with
team members to design and build a mousetrap car, water
rockets, a bridge, or a generator for next year’s Olympiad, or
if you have writing and/or artistic skills to contribute, come
to one of our meetings and see what SECME is all about or
contact SECME sponsor, Ms. Dunbar at nancy.dunbar.2@
National Honor Society Officers
Please congratulate the newly elected 2015-2016
National Honor Society (NHS) officers. There was an
average of seven students running for each office and we
had a considerable voter turnout. They are:
President
Neeraj Patel
Senior Vice President Alyssa Golia
Junior Vice President Max Ackerman
Secretary
Semmie Joseph
Treasurer
Nicole Chamberlain
Historian
Selena Ponton
Sergeant-At-Arms
Iris Ko
Parliamentarian
Santiago Ospina
palmbeachschools.org.
Below: Park Vista’s SECME team displays their trophies
7
Cobra Community
Rho Kappa History Fair Winners
Student Government
Rho Kappa, the Social Studies Honor Society,
had two finalists in the Palm Beach County
National History Day Fair. Thuyet Dao earned
a second place finish with his essay, Leadership
and Legacies in the Vietnam War and Robert
Matyskiel received honorable mention for his
individual exhibit, The Iron Lady - Britain's
Savior or Witch.
Park Vista’s Student Government Association (SGA) works to
foster our school spirit. We strive to make Cobra Country a
fun, creative place to be. As SGA, we plan pep rallies, create
homecoming, and much more. In addition, we also hold events
outside of school to give back to the community with the help of
our fellow students.
Save the Date:
August 15,
2015
Next year’s Homecoming theme will be announced soon. Ms.
Krystal Lamb will be the advisor for the 2015-2016 school year
and SGA is located in room 4-108.
Poetry Out Loud State Finalist
By Mr. R. Feldman
Gladymar Quiles,
Park Vista's Poetry
Out Loud district
champion, competed
at the State finals in
February 2015, with
50 other participants
Let’s make this a community event including
from across Florida.
The Cobra Country
5K will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2015,
and is happening in our neighborhood. The race
will start at Christa McAuliffe Middle School and
the course will go down Le Chalet to Haverhill
and back to the middle school.
students, parents, families, friends and local
businesses. If you are interested in participating
or sponsoring our Cobra Country 5K email
westboyntonroadrunners@gmail.com or go to
www.wbrrc.org.
Our thanks to the
Above: Gladymar Quiles at the State Competition
following teachers for
their help and support preparing Gladymar for the competition:
Robin Larrabee, Kevin Van Meter, Mary Monroe, Theresa
Huljack, Nancy Dunbar, Tasha Burke/Peart, & Scott Cotto.
From the Desk of Your
Health Care District School Nurse
by Ms. Tricia Marinella, RN, BSN, and
Ms. F. Prezioso, RN
We ask that parents/guardians become proactive in obtaining
physician authorizations and orders for medications and keep
the nurses informed of any medical and/or psychological
issues that affect your child’s academic performance prior to
or at the beginning of each school year. Thank you for your
cooperation and assistance in keeping your children healthy
and happy.
8
Chorus
Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
6:00 p.m. Park Vista auditorium
The concert is free and open to the public
End of Year Medication Pick up Policy
New Physician Authorization Required Each Year
If your child has an excess of daily or PRN medications
in the clinic, please make arrangements to pick them up
by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2015. Either yourself or
another responsible adult will need to come to the clinic to
sign that it was received. Any medication not picked up that
time will be destroyed .
Should your child continue taking the same medication
during the next school year, a new physician authorization
will be required. This form and the medication will need
to be brought into the school nurse prior to school starting
in August. You can reach the Park Vista clinic for any
questions at 561.491.8440 or 561.491.8442.
tition
From the Guidance Department
Schedule Changes
Students at Park Vista High School
have been afforded the opportunity to
attend registration assemblies, and to
review their course selections with their
current guidance counselor at the time
of course selection. Park Vista students
are registered for courses based on
teacher recommendations, demonstrated scholastic ability,
academic history, and their expressed interests, talents, and
goals.
Every effort has been made to assure that each student
has been scheduled in the most appropriate coursework to
meet his or her ability level, interests, and objectives. All
students have received prior recommendations for academic
course placement from their previous subject area teachers,
advisement from their guidance counselor, and consultation
from their parent or guardian.
Students were directed to select and rank their elective
course choices, and every available measure was taken to
accommodate these requests according to course availability
and scheduling factors.
Students who did not complete or submit a course selection
sheet were given a schedule designed by their guidance
counselor.
Students whose performance on FCAT, PERT, or EOC
exams is below proficiency levels, as mandated by the
State and district, are placed into the required remediation
or intensive coursework.
Schedule changes at Park Vista High School are only
permitted under the following circumstances:
1. Student is enrolled into a course for which they
have already earned credit, or for which they are
concurrently enrolled in and near conclusion in
for virtual school or credit lab. Rule exclusion
for repeatable courses (i.e. PE or intensive
coursework);
2. Student is in the wrong level or is unqualified for
the course. This rule excludes courses for which
a student applied, such as AP, AICE, or dual
enrollment;
3. Student previously failed the same course with the
same teacher, as permitted within CSR rules;
Reading List for Parents
Used with permission from inlikeme.com
This following reading list for parents can
help facilitate the transition from high school
to college:
PAlmost Grown: Launching Your Child from High
School to College
PBeen There Should’ve Done That: 505 Tips for
Making the Most of College
PDon’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money:
The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years
PLetting Go (Fifth Edition): A Parents’ Guide to
Understanding the College Years
PMillennials Rising: The Next Great Generation
PYou’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need
Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years
PThe Happiest Kid on Campus: A Parent’s
Guide to the Very Best College Experience (for
You and Your Child)
Admission Nugget
A “productive” summer
can help you gain
Admission Nugget
admission
to college –
Unable to visit every
summer
activities
are a
campus on your list?
great
source
for
college
Check YOUniversityTV.com,
application essays, an
CampusTours.com, &
opportunity to show
Unigo.com & see if a
your
personality, and
virtual tour is available.
give an impression
of you outside the
classroom.
Schedule Changes, cont.
4. A grade 12 student needing a course
change to meet an outstanding
graduation requirement.
Schedule changes are not otherwise
permitted at Park Vista. Under no
circumstances will the following schedule
changes be permitted:
1. Teacher change except as noted in item
3 above,
2. Period or class hour changes,
3. Any elective course changes.
9
College Bound
Summer Activities to
Strengthen Your Application
Excerpt used with permission from Inlike me.com
College admissions officers will tell you that
a “productive summer” can enhance your
opportunities for admission. Interesting and
meaningful experiences are definitely among
the best ways to stand out from the crowd.
COLLEGE BOARD SAT EXAM
Changes to the
SAT
• ¼-point penalty for
wrong answers
Scoring
On many college applications, in addition to
Timing
an activity sheet, there is a space to either list
or briefly describe your summer activities.
College admissions counselors want to
know that you have spent your summers Administration
productively. You don’t have to travel or
spend a lot of money to have an impact.
You can show initiative by tutoring,
mentoring, starting a business, organizing
a club or community service initiative, or
learning a new skill. You can demonstrate
your intellectual side with an internship,
research project, advanced coursework,
or by writing for a periodical or a website
such as Teen Ink, or a journal such as the
Concord Review. You can even write your
own book or play. The following contain
a wealth of opportunuties to expand your
horizions and help create a more interesting
application letter:
EMPLOYMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INTERNSHIPS
SUMMER CAMP
COMMUNITY SERVICE
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
MATH / SCIENCE / ENGINEERING
PROGRAMS
TEEN TOURS AND TRAVEL
COLLEGE PREP
How you choose to spend your vacation can
have a definite impact on whether or not you
are admitted to the colleges of your choice.
Current SAT
(Class of 2014-2016)
Essay
• Score is based out of 1600 -- 800 for Math; 800
for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Optional
essay will receive a separate score
• 3 hours 45 minutes
• 3 hours; 3 hours 50 minutes with optional essay
• Only available in
• Available digitally and in print
• Test focused on
• Fewer questions with a greater focus on indepth analysis of content
• Essay is required
• Essay is optional
• Students have
25 minutes to write a
persuasive essay in
response to a prompt
• Students have 50-minutes to analyze document
and draft essay
out of 2400 -- 800 for
Math; 800 for Reading
Comprehension; and,
800 for Writing
print
broad range of nonessential topics and
content
• Focus on wide
array of topics
• More emphasis on
computational skills
• Calculators
permitted for all sections
• Writing score
combines writing
multiple-choice and
essay
Reading and
Writing
• No wrong-answer penalty
• Score is based
• Accuracy of
information not tested
Math
New SAT
(Class of 2017 and beyond – Current 9th graders will test
with the new SAT)
• Reading section
has two question types:
sentence completion
and passage-based
questions
• Essay requires students to analyze source
documents and explain how the author builds an
argument
• Facts matter
• Focus on 3 topics -- problem-solving and data
analysis, “the heart of algebra,” and “passport to
advanced math”
• Real-world problem solving including analyzing
data, charts, and graphs
• Calculators will be allowed for certain sections
only
• Reading and Writing sections combine into
“Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” section
• No Sentence Completions
• Focus on real-world vocabulary-in-context, as
well as revising and editing writing in passages
• Focus on analyzing Literature, Social Studies,
and Science passages
• One passage will be a Primary Source
document from American and/or World History,
including, but not limited to: Declaration of
Independence, Bill of Rights, The Constitution,
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech,
Federalist Papers (in recognition of addressing the
challenges of a just and free society – immersing
students in the work of the human spirit).
To read the full article, go to InLikeMe.com
Author: Lynn Radlauer Lubell,
Publisher of InLikeMe.com and
Founder of Admission By Design As a reminder - current juniors and seniors will not be affected by these changes. These graduating
Copyright InLikeMe.com and Phrazorp LLC.
All rights reserved.
10
classes should continue preparing for the current version of the SAT. However, current freshmen and
sophomores (the graduating class of 2017), will see the new version of the SAT in the spring of 2016
as juniors.
College Bound
Senior Financial Aid Reminders Do your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Your Final Decision:
Please remember that for most colleges the final decision is not
required until May 1, 2015. Until that time, try not to be too hasty
in making up your mind. It is suggested that you wait for all your
colleges to send you their financial aid award letter. Once you
receive all your letters from the various colleges, you can lay them
out and determine which college is giving you the best deal. Once
you decide you will have to send in your admissions deposit and
schedule an orientation at the college. Housing Deposits
If you are planning to live on campus, you will need to put down
a housing deposit. Some housing deposits are fully refundable
and some are partially refundable. Some colleges (most state
universities) have an on-campus housing. In a situation like this,
you may want to place your housing deposit down once you
are accepted to that school. If later you should decide to attend
another college you can request a refund on your deposit money.
Sometimes it is better to take a risk like this than later deciding to
attend only to find out that there is no housing available for you.
Notifying Colleges You Decide Not To Attend
It is a matter of common courtesy to notify colleges if you should
decide not to go there. Notifying them that you will not be attending
may open up slots for other students who may be on a waiting list.
A simple letter like the one below is fine:
Dear…
This is to inform you that I have decided to pursue my college
studies elsewhere. I would like to thank you for the privilege
and honor of being considered for admission at your institution.
Regards,
Your signature
Summer Admissions Reminder
Please remember:
P You must be accepted to a college first before you can receive
financial aid;
P If your college has a financial aid priority deadline date of
March, it might be wise to do an estimated FAFSA
based on your and your parents’ 2013 Federal Income
Tax. Remember that when your parents complete their
2014 Federal Income Taxes, you must go back and update
your FAFSA with the new financial information.
Attending College
Use FAFSA Form
Use IRS Income
Tax Form
Beginning Summer 2015 2014– 2015 FAFSA 2013
Then Fall 2015 2015– 2016 FAFSA 2014 (2013 if doing estimate)
Beginning Fall 2015
2015– 2016 FAFSA 2014
Summer Enrichment Programs
by Mrs. E. Lyon
There are a wide array of summer educational
programs and opportunities available to Park Vista
students. Parents or students interested in exploring
these opportunities may visit our comprehensive
listing on the Park Vista website, at www.pvchs.com,
click on the Guidance menu at the top of the home
page, and then click the Summer Programs tab to
view the list.
These programs include summer college experiences,
educational enrichment opportunities, internships,
leadership, and study abroad programs. Each listing
contains the sponsoring agency, a brief program
description, and contact information or internet links
to the program’s website.
Community Service Opportunities
by Mrs. M. Turner
Attention students who are looking for community
service hours: it is now a graduation requirement for
all students to have a minimum of 20 hours community
service. Summer would be a great time to fulfill this
requirement. Do not wait until the last moment.
Students will be unable to purchase parking decals
if their 20 hour requirement is not fulfilled. If you
need volunteer hours, please stop by the guidance office
for information and flyers on upcoming events.
If you need volunteer hours, there is now a website that
can help; www.volunteens.com has many resources
including:
PSearch lists of organizations for community
service opportunities;
PRead what other teens say about their
volunteer experiences;
PJoin the mailing list and receive updates on
volunteer opportunities.
Visit the following web sites for
FAFSA and
College Board resources:
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
https://bigfuture.
collegeboard.org/
11
Park Vista Community High School
7900 Jog Road
Lake Worth, FL 33467
Non-Profit Org
U S Postage
PAID
West Palm Beach, FL
Permit # 296
Or current resident
Visit Park Vista’s web site at
PVCHS.com often
for an abundance
of helpful information on
college admissions, scholarships,
volunteer opportunities,
transcript requests,
testing dates & much more
about Cobra life.
Park Vista Summer Reading
List for 2015/2016 School Year
Incoming 9th Graders
Regular and AICE
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Incoming 10 Graders
th
Park Vista
Community
High School
Principal
Reginald B. Myers
Regular: Night by Elie Wiesel
AICE: A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Incoming 11th Graders
Regular: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
AICE: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Incoming 12th Graders
Assistant Principals Regular and Honors
LuAnne Daucanski
Marie DiFonte
Brent Higley
Reggie Lanier
Pia Lawson
Jill De Marzo
Ronn Peteck
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
by Agatha Christie
AP®: How to Read Literature Like a Professor
by Thomas Foster
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
All students taking an Advanced Placement® (AP) class in
the 2015/2016 school year should check with their AP
Cobra Bites Editor teacher or on the pvchs.com web site under Parents/
Linda Merkel
Students and select Summer Materials before school
ends for any summer assignments. These AP assignments
are often due the first week back at school in August.
12
Online Class Required
for Graduation
The 2011 Florida Legislature enacted
the “Digital Learning Now Act”,
mandating that high school students
successfully complete one Florida
Virtual School (FLVS) course as part of
the required 24 high school credits. This
requirement started with the 2014-15
graduation class.
Therefore, Park Vista is requiring:
P All incoming seniors (class of 2016)
must complete an online course by August
1, 2015, to be eligible for a parking decal
at Park Vista;
P All incoming juniors (class of 2017)
and incoming seniors (class of 2016)
are required to have 20 hours of
community service completed and
documentation submitted to Guidance to
get parking decal.