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The Official Source for Plant High School Information
| September 15, 2010
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 Plant PTSA Needs You!
We aren't done yet! The PTSA is waiting for you! Plant
High School PTSA is dedicated to supporting our students, teachers, and
families.
In order for us to continue to move forward with our planned programs, we need your help. PTSA dues cover only a small percentage of our operating budget, so we rely on your tax-deductible donations to make our programs happen. Please
give to the PTSA Annual Campaign - 100% of all contributions directly support our
school community.
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 Academic Foundation
We hold the key to success.
The teachers at Plant High School need your
help! With budgets being cut at the district level, it's up to us to support
the teachers who are with our students
every day. This month alone, almost $10,000 was granted by the Academic Foundation to support and improve the classroom experience in many departments. Textbooks, equipment and
science programs are just a few items purchased
with your donation dollars. For
a complete list of grants approved in
September, please visit our website.
Derek Thomas, a member of Plant's English Department, shares his thoughts regarding the impact the Academic Foundation has had in his classroom:
"The
Plant High School Academic Foundation has been integral to the success
of our AP English students. Through the Foundation we have been able
to purchase challenging, attention-grabbing literature that both
engages and inspires our students to think, learn, and excel. The
resources simply don't exist otherwise for us to go beyond what is just
considered 'effective'. And at Plant, effective is never good enough.
The Foundation allows us to be exemplary -- a standard we need to
strive to uphold."
Your generous contributions are our only source of funding. Please consider joining AF by making a donation today! Your participation will make a difference...to our school, to our teachers and to our students! Don't
forget, matching funds from your employer are a great way to give! Let us
know when you donate if your company participates in a matching gift program. Thank you so much for your support.
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 Team Up With the Athletic Foundation
The fall sports season is
in full swing! Get your Booster
passes by joining the Athletic Foundation now!
Please click here to review our membership brochure and the
benefits associated with each level of membership.
Joining early allows you to
get the maximum benefit for your membership dollars.
The
Athletic Foundation thanks those friends and families who have already
joined. Your contributions create
opportunities for the coaches to purchase items that are necessary for their
programs or items that enrich the athletic experience for our students.
The Paw,
the official apparel store of the Plant Athletic Foundation is open online. This site will be updated regularly
with new designs and merchandise. Look for The Paw at home football games and during
lunch hours in the cafeteria. Show
your school spirit with a new t-shirt or sweatshirt from The Paw!
Your
support of the Athletic Foundation and all of Plant's sports teams is greatly
appreciated! See you at the game!
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Plant's Capital Campaign
The Panthers christened the new synthetic turf field with a win over Hillsborough Friday night. A special celebration dedicating the new field preceded the game. These much-needed field improvements were made possible by Plant's Capital Campaign. The Campaign continues and we need your help to reach our goal of $1.1 million. Last year, the Campaign raised $600,000. The balance of the monies are
needed to complete the synthetic turf project, to install lighting and
correct the drainage on the practice field, and to make improvements to the track. If you
have any questions about the Capital Campaign, please email Kathy McCurdy or call her at 310-7231. Photo Courtesy of Brian Supple Productions  | |
 Panther Bowl
Friday, October 29th
Get together a group of friends and bowl the night away at Panther Bowl, on October 29th from 6:30 til 10:30 pm at Splitsville in Channelside! This fun-filled evening is the first ever Plant benefit party to
support the Athletic Fields Renovation Project.
Invitations for the Panther Bowl will go out on "Evites" and
through regular mail beginning September 29th. You may also pre-purchase
tickets at each Plant home football game - just look for the Panther
Bowl table at Dad's Stadium! All ticket prices include food and drink
for this adult evening of fun and festivities. Please click here to see
the different options for tickets and sponsor packages.
Individual tickets are $75 per person in advance or $100 at the door. Come be a part of the fun and games to support Plant High School!
The Panther Bowl. You're
On OUR Turf Now!
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 Calendar Revisions
The Hillsborough County School Board made further revisions to the school calendar at their recent meeting. May 25th and June 8th, originally early release days, have been made full days of school. The last day of school will be a half day on June 10th. Click here to download the updated school calendar.
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 Leadership Plant
September 29th, 1-3 pm
The PTSA and Student Executive Board are excited to be sponsoring
a new pilot program called Leadership Plant. This program is geared toward the leaders of Plant's student
groups, organizations and service clubs, but is open to anyone who is
interested in becoming a leader. Some of the workshop's objectives include learning the basic
principles and tools needed to be an effective leader, and how to influence and
empower people to get involved.
The workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 29th, an early
release day, from 1 to 3 pm in the cafeteria. Please
encourage the student leaders in your family to join us! If you have any questions regarding Leadership Plant, please email Pamela Jackson-Haney or Kim Harcrow. |
 BETA Honor Club News
Any
transfer students who were BETA Club members at another high school may
bring proof of membership to Louan Tolbert in Guidance to be added
to Plant's Beta Club roster.
BETA
Tutoring will resume on September 21st. Tutoring will be available in
the guidance office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 pm. Please visit the Guidance webpage for complete information and
to download a Tutoring Center Referral form.
Information regarding dues for returning members and applications for potential new members will be included in a future issue of Panther Press.
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 NHS Application Guidelines
Students
interested in applying to the National Honor Society have until 3 pm on Tuesday, September 21st to submit service hours to the Guidance office. Any hours submitted after this date will not
count towards admittance for this year.
Students who meet the GPA and service hour requirements will receive an invitation to apply to NHS. Receipt of an invitation
letter and application does not guarantee admittance to NHS. The application must be completed, all
signatures must be obtained, and the application must be submitted on time
before a student will be considered for admittance.
Applications are due to Mr. Thomas (Room
13) or Mrs. Moroney (Room 601) by 3 pm on Tuesday, October 12th.
Questions or
concerns should be emailed to Mr. Thomas or Mrs. Moroney. Further information regarding the NHS application process is available on Plant's homepage.
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 College Night
September 28th at 6 pm
On September 28th, college admission representatives will be at Plant
to provide information about their schools and to answer questions about campus life, admission procedures, and more. Students
and parents will have an opportunity to talk to representatives from over 100 different colleges from Florida and
across the country. Seniors will also have a chance to ask specific questions
about application requirements, housing, scholarships, etc. All students are encouraged to attend with their parents. Out of state schools will have representatives in the gymnasium, and most Florida schools will be set up in the cafeteria. University of Florida will host presentations in the media center, and Florida State University will meet with students in the auditorium. Hope to see you there!
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 Help Make College Night a Success
The PTSA is still in need of volunteers who can volunteer at school during College Night. Parents of freshmen and sophomores are invited to help during the evening, by staffing either the hospitality area or the information table. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Carol LoCicero Kline or Ginny Wilkinson.
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 College Resource Report
All
students and parents should be logged on to Family Connections. Family
Connections is Plant's online college planning website. All students can use the program to create their resume, request transcripts,
research college requirements, and much more. Juniors and Seniors can sign up for college visits on Family Connections, and Seniors can also request transcripts. Each family should have a
student and parent account. If you need an account or don't remember
your password, please email Erin Grady.
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 Conference Night
October 7th, 3-5 pm and 6-9 pm
Conference Night will be held on Thursday, October 7th. There
are two conference periods; the first from 3-5 pm and the second
from 6-9 pm. Parents may come at any time during these sessions to meet with their student's teachers. Simply join the line at
the classroom door of teachers you are interested in meeting with.
Parents will be seen in turn. Please be mindful of others waiting in
line when you are meeting with the teacher. You may visit as many of
your student's teachers as you wish. Please note that teachers will not
be available from 5-6 pm so that they may enjoy the PTSA Fall
Faculty Dinner.
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 Connect With Students at Plant
Orientation Meeting September 29th at 1 pm
Want to make a huge difference in a Plant student's life? Join Connect and become
a mentor. Mentoring helps students succeed and achieve. Any
responsible adult who is willing and able to share time with a student
on a consistent basis can be a mentor. All you need is one to two
hours every other week. An orientation meeting for potential mentors will be held at 1pm on September 29th in the College Resource Center, Room 101. For more information, please email Teresa Wilkins or Sally Cahill. |
 A Special Request
There are several students in Photography and Guitar classes at Plant who are unable to afford the equipment they require. If you have a 35 mm camera or acoustic guitar, still in good condition, that you would like to donate for student use please contact the Guidance Department.
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 Backpack Drive
Did your student start off the school year with new clothes and a new backpack? Please donate your gently used backpacks and teen clothing to students in need at Plant and surrounding
schools. Email Leslie Farrell or call her at 287-1914 for more information on the drive or to arrange pick-up of your items. Thank you! |
 Keep in Touch with Panther Pages
Panther
Pages is Plant's student directory, and is a primary source of communication data for parents. Use Panther Pages to
obtain contact information for your student's friends and other parents, as
well as phone extensions and e-mail addresses for administration, faculty,
staff, coaches, and clubs.
The
deadline to submit your contact information for inclusion in this year's directory is Monday, September 20th. You can
submit your family's information, place your directory order,
or become a directory sponsor online. It's fast, easy
and accurate! Visit PTSA's website and click on "Buy a directory."
Each
directory costs $5. Sponsorship is $15, which funds the PTSA's Paw Print
scholarship program. Buy copies for your home, office, and car to stay
connected with fellow Panthers everywhere you go! |
 Fall Faculty Dinner
October 7th
Planning for the Fall Faculty Dinner is underway, and your help is needed. The Fall Faculty Dinner is held in conjunction with Conference Night, and is a well-deserved treat for the entire staff who must work a 14 hour shift that day. Donations of time, desserts
and/or door prizes are gratefully appreciated. These prizes can
be tickets to any local professional or collegiate athletic events, or gift cards from Target, Publix, Starbucks, or other retail establishments. In addition, we are seeking monetary donations to supplement the budget and enable us to make this dinner special for our teachers. All donations can be dropped off in the main office.
If you are available to help with set-up or clean-up please email Jan Bado or Ann Hampton. Thanks for any help or assistance you can give!
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 Join the Debate Team
Plant's Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team and Club always welcomes new and interested students. The ability to speak confidently in public will serve you well in any future career. Please visit our webpage for an application. Join us today!
Judges are in high demand for tournaments. Interested parents should email Donna Kroegel, Plant's Forensics Coach, for more information. Judging a tournament lets you witness the impressive talent of our students. |
 Get Paw'd!
The Danceros are continuing to share Panther pride in our
community with the "Get Paw'd" fundraiser. Surprise
your kids, friends, neighbors, coaches, or teachers with a
yard-full of Panther Paws and an I've Been Paw'd sign to
celebrate special achievements, birthdays, or important games. The Danceros
will secretly deliver the yard of Paws and sign, and leave a decorative door
hanger with your personalized message. To get more information, visit the Dancero website and download an order form. If you have questions,
contact Michelle Shimberg.
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 Chorus Fall Concert
October 6th at 7 pm in the Auditorium
Enjoy an evening out at the Chorus Fall Concert on Wednesday, October 6th at 7 pm in the
Plant Auditorium! A
variety of great music will be performed, from Classical and
Multi-Cultural to Jazz and Pop. Tickets
will go on sale September 22nd in the chorus room for the very low price
of $5. Tickets will also be
available at the door. Look
for more Chorus news, events, and information on their website.
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Eat, Drink, and Support the Marching Band
Thursday, September 16th at Beef O'Brady's
Join the Marching Panthers at Beef O'Brady's on MacDill tomorrow night beginning at 6 pm to enjoy some delicious food and drinks while watching the Panthers tackle the Abilene Eagles. A percentage of the evening's sales will benefit the Band; please let your server know you are a Plant Panther! While you are there, don't forget to pick up your chance drawing tickets. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, and prizes include a weekend getaway and an Xbox 360! Tickets are also available from any band member and are on sale at all home football games.
Photo Courtesy of Brian Supple Productions  |
Hungry for more? Watch for details about the Band's annual Homecoming barbecue dinner in the next issue of Panther Press. To keep up with all the Band's performances and events, please visit their website. |
Plant Volleyball Digs the Kills
Plant's Varsity Volleyball team competed at the Gator Town Classic Tournament in Gainesville on September 4th and 5th. Plant finished 6th in this invitational tournament comprised of 16 Varsity teams from around the state of Florida. Congratulations to Tina Catanach for being named to the All Tournament Team!
Varsity and JV are both off to a great start this year! The next home game is on September 21st against Alonso, beginning at 6:15. Come cheer on our State Champions as they strive for five in a row!
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 Editor's Note
Did you know that even if Panther Press arrives in your inbox, you may be missing other announcements sent out by Plant High School organizations? Please confirm that we are an approved sender by following the directions for your email provider. This will help ensure you won't miss any important news or information. Thank you! |
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Administration
Robert Nelson, Principal
Gina Piloto, AP Curriculum
Laura Figueredo, AP Administration
Kimi Hellenberg, AP Student Affairs, A-G
Greg Basham, AP Student Affairs, H-O
Ron Thompson, AP Student Affairs, P-Z
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Submission Guidelines
Have an announcement you'd like posted in Panther Press? Click here to request a copy of our submission guidelines.
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Forward This Issue to a Friend
Share this newsletter with family, friends, and
neighbors! Simply click the tab below to forward this issue to as many
people as you'd like. Please encourage them to join our mailing list! |
School Board
MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
Susan L. Valdes, Chair
Dorothea W. Edgecomb, Vice Chair
Jennifer Faliero
April Griffin
Carol Kurdell
Jack R. Lamb, Ed. D
Candy Olson
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| Upcoming Events |
- September 15 Early Release Day, Dismissal at 1 pm
- September 16 Student Picture Day
- September 17 Final Day of Freshman Officer Elections on Edline
- September 28 College Night 6 pm, Gymnasium and Cafeteria
- September 29 Early Release Day, Dismissal at 1 pm
- September 29 Leadership Plant 1-3 pm, Cafeteria
- October 7 Conference Night 3-5 pm and 6-9 pm
- October 7 Fall Faculty Dinner 5-6 pm
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Club and Activities Calendar
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Chorus
- 9/16 Chorus Booster Meeting, 7 pm
- 10/6 Fall Concert Auditorium, 7 pm
Band
- 9/16 Fundraiser at Beef O'Brady's 6 pm
- 9/24 Middle School Night
Orchestra
- 10/11 Fall Concert Auditorium, 7 pm
Pantherettes
Click here to find out who made the 2010-11 Pantherettes squad!
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Athletic Calendar
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Below is a list of current Plant
athletic events. Click on any highlighted sport to visit that team's web page.
Go Panthers! Football
- 9/16 The Panthers head to Texas to take on the Abilene Eagles Abilene, Texas 8 pm ET ** Catch the action on ESPN! **
- 9/24 vs Riverview 7:30 pm
- 10/1 vs Armwood 7:30 pm
JV Football
- 9/15 vs Robinson 7 pm
- 9/23 at Blake 7 pm
- 9/30 vs Alonso 7 pm
Golf
The Boys are off to a great start, earning victories at their first three matches!
- 9/16 vs Berkeley and Jesuit 3 pm
- 9/21 vs Wharton 3 pm
- 9/23 vs Durant 3 pm
- 9/28 vs Steinbrenner 3 pm
- 9/30 vs Wharton 3 pm
Swimming and Diving
- 9/16 vs King 7 pm, Bobby Hicks Pool
- 9/21 at Berkeley Prep 7 pm
- 9/30 at Academy/Jesuit 7 pm
Volleyball
- 9/15 JV and Varsity at Durant 6:15 pm
- 9/21 JV and Varsity vs Alonso 6:15 pm
- 9/23 JV and Varsity vs Bloomingdale 6:15 pm
- 9/24 Berkeley Tournament Time TBA
- 9/28 JV and Varsity at Brandon 6:15 pm
- 9/30 JV and Varsity vs Riverview 6:15 pm
Cross Country
- 9/21 Cross Country Meet at Al Lopez Park 6 pm
- 9/30 Cross Country Meet at Al Lopez Park 6 pm
Hockey
Panther Ice Hockey continues to prepare for its season opener
on Friday, October 1st. It's
not too late for interested players to try out. For inquiries, please email the team.
Crew
- 9/18 Open House at Palm River Boathouse 9:30 am
- 9/29 Parent/Athlete Meeting 7 pm, Media Center
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Plant High School - Strength Through Unity
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