Ponte Vedra High School
Shark Bytes
Ponte Vedra High School

January 7, 2014

 

Important Dates
  • January 10 - Second Quarter Report Cards
  • January 14 - AP Forum, 6:30 pm.   
  • January 16 - Financial Aid Night, 6-7:30, PVHS Auditorium. 
  • January 21 - High School Showcase, 3 pm - 8 pm, World Golf Village. 
  • January 28 - SAC Meeting, 4:15, Media Center.
  • February 1 - Practice SAT/ACT.  
  • February 6 - PVHS Academy Night, 6 pm. 
  • February 18 - SAC Meeting, 4:15, Media Center.
  • February 18 - PVHS College Fair, 5 - 7 pm. 
  • March 25 - SAC Meeting, 4:15, Media Center.
  • May 3 - Relay for Life, 3 pm. 
School News and Announcements
2nd Quarter Report Cards will be given on Friday, January 10th.

Attention Dual Enrollment Students
:
  • Business Law will begin on
    WEDNESDAY, January  8 at 7:45 in room 815
  • Speech will begin TUESDAY, January 14 at 7:45 in room 570
Redirecting Children's Behavior Course 
The Exceptional Student Education department of the St. Johns County School District is offering a Redirecting Children's Behavior Course free of charge, open to both school district staff and to the public.  The course presents non-violent strategies that foster appropriate behavior in children.  Click here for more information.

Thespian District Results 
In December the Theatre Department attended our District Festival in Gainsville.

Out of 39 events we received:
18 Superiors
17 Excellents
and 4 Goods.

All of our Seniors achieved at least an Excellent on their events, with all but one Senior achieving a Superior.

Highlights include:
Junior Wendy Parkulo received perfect scores on her monologue and was named runner up for her event room.

Seniors Sydney Lee, Mary Stanton, Tom Nightingale, and Juniors Wendy Parkulo, and Jack Dunaway achieved Superiors on multiple events.

And my personal favorite, all of our playwrighting entries received a Superior. They will most likely represent the district at the state festival. (There was a mix-up and the judges didn't receive all the plays, so we have to wait until later this week to see which 5 plays out of the 20 some submitted will move forward)
Jason King received a perfect score on his One -Act play: Dog and Homework, and will most likely be the District's Critic's Choice Playwriting entry. (There was buzz from the judges about the play.)

So, now we can rest, and prepare for a busy state festival in March.

 

Academy Students 
If you plan to remain in one of our academies, you must complete an INTENT TO RETURN form. Additionally, if you do NOT live in Ponte Vedra High School official zone, you MUST fill out a new OUT OF ZONE WAIVER. If any part of your address has changed, you must notify the school immediately. Failure to complete any of these steps by the deadline will result in denial of re-acceptance into the academy next year. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Mari Ellen Asplen, Academy Coordinator, at the school.

Click here for the link for the application process. Please read the entire page carefully before completing the paperwork

Seniors 
Seniors, a scholarship program (the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange) administered by Nacel Open Door is requesting schools to nominate 3 graduating seniors to spend one year in Germany exploring their career interests.  All Florida nominees will be considered for the final decision as to how many students will receive this opportunity for the 2014-2015 year.  Speaking German is not a prerequisite. 
The application can be obtained at www.fldoe.org/workforce/programs/cp_bundestag.aspand should be turned in to Guidance by January 20th to be considered as a nominee from our school.  Direct questions to Patrick Wright of the FLDOE at [email protected]

Financial Aid Night 
The Guidance Department will host a financial aid night on Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the PVHS Auditorium. This workshop is for all seniors and parents of seniors. A financial aid representative from UNF will be on hand to explain completing the FAFSA and answer all financial aid questions regardless of your circumstances.

Bright Futures Scholarship 
The Bright Futures Scholarship application is now open. All seniors, regardless of their plans for after high school, should apply before May 30, 2014. The counseling department strongly recommends that students visit the Bright Futures website to become familiar with the program and to make sure they are on track to qualify. 
 
 
PTO Update
Support Our College-Bound Sharks:
College Fair PLUS Tuesday, February 18 5pm -7:00pm
The PTO and SEA (Seeking Excellence in Academics Committee) are working to bring over 70 colleges to PVHS for the College Fair PLUS.

Show your pride for our college-bound Sharks and support College Fair Plus! with a $25 listing in our program. Your name will appear on our "We Support Our College-Bound Sharks" page, and monies received will help defray the costs associated with the fair including showcasing our great campus.

To make a payment send a check made payable to PVHS-PTO, in the memo line write "College Fair-family sponsor" and add a note stating how you would like your family to be listed. Send to: Ponte Vedra High School PTO, Attention: College Fair- 460 Davis Park Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081.

Questions? Want to be a business sponsor? Email Lisa Crouch at [email protected] or Willow Logue at [email protected].

Shark Sports 
This Week at Home
  • Tuesday - Girls' Soccer v. Bolles, 5:30 pm.
  • Tuesday - Girls' Basketball v. Palatka, 6 pm.
  • Wednesday - Wrestling v. St. Augustine, 6 pm.
  • Thursday - Girls' Soccer v. Episcopal, 5:30 pm.
  • Friday - Girls' Basketball v. Bishop Snyder, 6 pm.    

Girls' Lacrosse

Interested in playing girls' lax this spring?

Tuesday, Jan 7 - immediately after school in the gym will be a meeting to discuss plans for the season.

Conditioning begins Jan 7 and will continue every day after school until tryouts on Jan 27. Bring running shoes, cleats and water. Meet behind gym. Hand all paperwork into AD Scott prior to tryouts.

Questions? Coach Kelly 708.9229 

 

Scorecard

Girls' Basketball:

The Ponte Vedra Lady Sharks opened last week's two-game road trip with a stunning 57-10 victory over Menendez on Tuesday, December 17.  The Lady Sharks jumped to a massive first quarter advantage with a oppressive defense and a sparkling offensive attack.  In the first quarter Mandi Koski collected 10-points while Megan Piggott hit for eight, leading their team to a 27-2 lead at the end of the first stanza.  In the second quarter Brenna Storm came alive as the Lady Shark's defense continued to stifle Matanzas.  Storm stole the ball four times in the quarter, three of which led to break-away layups for six points.  Both Koski and Piggott added five points while Rachel Aspinwall hit for two accounting for the team's 18 point second quarter.  The first half ended at 45-6.   As the game moved into a running clock in the second half Ponte Vedra scoring 12 points while Matanzas hit for four bringing the game ending total to 57-10.

Piggot led team scoring with 21 points as she collected four steals.  Another double-digit performance came from Koski who hit for 15 points and gained another double-double evening with 10 rebounds.  Storm finished the game with eight points, eight steals, and four assists.  Aspinwall gathered four points and six rebounds.  Erin Landis also hit for four points while she earned four rebounds.  Michaela Hulihan hit for two points and two rebounds with Christi Begeman adding two points as she fought for two steals and three rebounds.  

On Thursday, December 19, the Lady Sharks ventured across the St. Johns River to Green Cove Springs to take on Clay Country.  A slow start had Coach Jim Piggott initially concerned, but his team responded as the game progressed to deliver a solid 20-point victory at 54-34.   Three players delivered a strong performance with Rachel Aspinwall and Megan Piggott leading the team with 13-points apiece.  A single-shot behind was Mandi Koski at 12.  The team scoring was rounded out with Begeman at nine points, Landis with four, Miriam Grant hit for two, and Storm added a free-throw.  

The girls will enjoy a two week school vacation with practice sessions, and a four-day trip to Disney World to play in three-tournament games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  The Lady Sharks will return to local action the week of January 6 with a game hosting highly state-ranked Palatka on Tuesday, January 7, followed a trip to Ridgeview on Thursday evening January 9.  The Lady Sharks finished the 2013 portion of their regular schedule with a record of 9 wins and five losses.      

 

Boys' Basketball:

Sharks exit the Holiday break with a 9-5 record.

Ponte Vedra's boy's basketball team will resume action Wednesday night at archrival Nease after posting a 3-2 record over the Holiday break.

The Sharks defeated Bartlesville 66-57, one of the top ranked teams in Oklahoma, on December 27th before losing to a hot shooting McDowell, Pennsylvania team the following afternoon at the ESPN complex near Orlando.

The Sharks were denied a three game sweep at last weekend's St. Augustine County Challenge in their final game Saturday when a talented Oakleaf team nipped PVHS 70-66.

Ponte Vedra tipped off the County Challenge Tournament with a solid 54-47 victory over a very athletic Atlantic Coast five on Thursday and followed up with a commanding 58-41 defeat of Middleburg the following evening.

The opener against Atlantic Coast, following a evenly balanced first half that saw Atlantic Coast leading by one slim point, turned into a topsy-turvy second half of action.

Trailing 24-23 after the halftime break, the Sharks played defense that would have made Michigan State's vaunted football team envious with their play in the third period.

The Sharks went on a 15-0 run in the third stanza with six of the Shark players denting the scoring column.  

Not until Atlantic Coast's Jarvaris Mosley netted a three point shot at the buzzer would the Sting Rays score.

However, Moseley's 3 pointer would begin an Atlantic Coast 14-1 run of their own that closed a 11 point Shark lead down to but a single digit at 38-37.

It was this point in the contest, with about 3 minutes left in the game, that Shark guard Corey Russi came up with the big play in the contest.

The always-hustling Russi surprised a Sting Ray ball handler by diving on the floor to tip the ball into the hands of a Shark teammate. Russi's steal was converted into a Ponte Vedra basket that extended the margin to three points.

From that point on the Sharks put the ball in the hands of their point guard Jackson Johnson to preserve the lead.  Unable to take the ball away from Johnson, Atlantic Coast was forced to foul and the area's leading free throw leader connected on 8 straight free throws to insure the 54-47 victory.

Junior Quinn Carey had a big offensive game for the 8-4 Sharks by netting a game high 21 points, 14 of those markers coming in the first half.

Johnson netted 18 points to go along with 8 assists and 4 rebounds for the victors while Donovan Garrard pulled down 8 rebounds.

On Friday night the Sharks used a stifling defense to post their second straight victory at the County Challenge by coasting to a 58-41 victory over Middleburg.

Ponte Vedra had a commanding 48-22 lead early in the 4th quarter when PVHS head coach Bud Beech emptied his bench.  Middleburg responded by going on a 17-2 run but the damage had already been done.

Quinn Carey continued his fine play for the Sharks by netting 19 points while Corey Russi came off the bench to net a season high 11 as nine Sharks dented the scoring column.

Ponte Vedra point guard Jackson Johnson had his season low of 8 points but was able to get his teammates involved by dishing off 10 assists.  

The Sharks were poised to post a three game sweep in their final game on Saturday but ran into an Oakleaf team that was at the top of their game in defeating the Sharks 70-66.

The never say die Sharks trailed Oakleaf by as many as 11 points midway through the second half before mounting a comeback that whittled the lead down to 1 in the final quarter.

The Sharks trailed by only two points, 68-66 following a Quinn Carey lay-up from a Jackson Johnson feed with ten seconds remaining in the contest.

Forced to foul Dewayne Jackson converted both of his free throws to make the final score read 70-66.

The difference in the game was at the free throw line where the 8-5 Knights connected on 18 of their 23 attempts, 9 more than the Sharks.

Kevin Thomas-Griffin led Oakleaf in scoring with a season high 19 points, including 4 thunderous dunks, while Vincent Hill-Estepp chipped in with 16 and DeWayne Jackson also had a season high with 15.

Quinn Carey tallied a career high 23 points for the 9-5 Sharks to go along with a team high 8 rebounds.  Jackson Johnson netted 16 points and added 12 assists for the Sharks who will next travel to arch rival Nease for their next game on Wed. January 8.

Girls' Soccer:
Senior Night this Thursday vs Episcopal. Come celebrate with seniors - Amy Dorsen, Bailey Dotsikas, Hanna Parada, Victoria Agramonte and Kari Davidson.  

District games begin next week at home. 

 

Wrestling:

The PV boys competed at the Clay Rotary wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday.  It was a highly competitive meet with 39 teams from all over Florida attending the tournament.


Ponte Vedra's Matt Norton took 4th place in the 126 pound weight class and Junior classmate Colin Peaks took 3rd place in the152 pound weight class. Sophomore Tony Giordano wrestled into the consolation matches.
In past meets, the  team defeated district rival, Bartram Trail High School, at home on December 7th by a score of 42-39.


Next up for the grapplers is their final home, dual meet against St. Augustine this Wednesday night (January 8) with matches beginning at 6 sharp.


Their remaining meets include the Army Duals at Terry Parker on January 10/11, Menendez on January 15, Bartram Duals at Bartram on January 18 and Nease on January 22. District competition is set to begin February 1 at Creekside.


Come support the boys!  

In the Community
PONTE VEDRA PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Founded in 1983 by a group of locals interested in enhancing the public school experience, the Ponte Vedra Public Education Foundation raises funds to bring professional programs in the arts and academics to our community schools.

This year of 2013-2014 our in-school performances planned for Ponte Vedra High School are:

Grades 9-12    "Macbeth"        Jan. 23, 2014
Grades 9-12    "Yale Bakers Dozen"    March 2014
Grades 9-12    Chris Beaulieu: "Physical Theatre-Ensemble Building Workshop"   Oct. 2013
Grades 9-12     ArtWorks 2014 at Sawgrass Marriott   May 4, 2014   1:00-2:30PM

The Teacher Mini-Grant Program gave a total of $17,700 to Ponte Vedra teachers for their innovative classroom ideas.  Those receiving grants at Ponte Vedra High School were:
  • Marissa Leonard: "Contagious"...$750.00
  • Jodi Rolison:  "Real World"...$1342.38
  • C. Winrow, T. Fordham, L. Gaul: "Book Clubs"...$1005.00
  • All English I, English II, AP Lit/Language Teachers & Dept. Head:  "How to Read Literature"...$649.25
  • Beth McBride: "Wooden Toy Kits"...$240.00
The Foundation relies on contributions from large and small businesses and from individuals in our community.  Your donations directly fund the programs we offer to our students.  We are an all volunteer organization (501�3) with no paid staff.  Please make your tax deductible gift to:

    Ponte Vedra Public Education Foundation (PVPEF)
    PO BOX 2861
    Ponte Vedra Bch., FL  32004

Thank you,
Marilyn Hoener, President


 

In This Issue
School News and Announcements
PTO Update
Shark Sports
In the Community
PVHS Links


 
Other Useful Links
 
 

 

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