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The Official Source for Plant High School Information
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January 14, 2015
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 Academic Foundation
Happy New Year Plant Panthers! The Academic Foundation had a great 2014 and we are looking forward to continued growth in 2015. Be a part of our success by becoming a member, attending a meeting or even joining the 2015-16 board. Our nominating committee will meet soon; if you are interested in a board position or have any questions, please email Kristy Hall. Willingness to serve forms will be posted by the end of the month.
The Academic Foundation does not meet in January. Our next meeting is February 10th at 9:15 am, and our guest speaker will be U.S. Representative Kathy Castor. Please make plans to join us!
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 Athletic Foundation
The Athletic Foundation is currently accepting applications for new board member volunteers. A Willingness to Serve form should be completed and submitted as outlined. The Foundation is specifically looking for applicants with retail and accounting experience. Please direct any questions to Nancy Hankin.
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 PTSA News
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Now that we are starting the new year, I want to detail all that PTSA has provided for students, and teachers so far this year.
We have funded the teacher back to school breakfast, given teachers PAKS in October, provided refreshments for the Beta reception, supported the vendors with dinner at College Night, held our first ever volunteer fair, supported students with treats and props at Panther Prowl, welcomed 8th graders with refreshments at Panther Preview, and provided many outreach meals and support to Plant students in need and Metropolitan Ministries. We continue to keep everyone updated and informed with the Panther Press newsletter throughout the school year.
With that being said, we still have many programs to fund before the year is out. We will be hosting a teacher breakfast in January, our first ever vocational fair, conference night dinner for the teachers in March, Volunteer of the Year, Healthy Families Healthy Kids forum in April, and senior awards and scholarships to deserving students in May, as well as celebrating our teachers and support staff throughout Teacher Appreciation Week.
If you haven't already joined or donated, please go to our website today and become a member. We need your membership and your donations to fund the programs we have paid for already and will continue to support for the rest of the year. We are trying to reach 1000 members this year (which would be a new record) and we need you to get this accomplished. Please join today!
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 AP Forum
The AP Forum will take place on January 22nd beginning at 4:00 pm in the auditorium, and ending at 6:00 pm after four mini sessions. The Forum is an opportunity for students and parents to obtain information regarding Advanced Placement courses offered at Plant High School for the 2015-2016 school year. Click here to register. |
 Yearbook Order Deadline Fast Approaching
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 PTSA Scholarships for Students and Teachers
Plant's PTSA is excited to announce that it will award $9,000 in continuing education scholarships to graduating seniors. Applications can be picked up in the College Resource Room (101) beginning January 16th. The deadline for all student applications is March 3rd. Click here for a list of all the scholarships.
Winners will be announced at the Plant Awards Ceremony in May. All applicants this year must be a member of the PTSA. Membership is available online or you may put $6 in an envelope and take it to the PTSA mailbox in the front office (include the student's name, parent's name and email address).
Attention Plant teachers: Plant's PTSA is also pleased to announce that it will award a Teacher Scholarship (up to $1,000) to help offset costs associated with the pursuit of educational opportunities for professional development. This scholarship will honor one or more faculty members whose professional development will have a direct, positive impact on PHS students within the classroom setting.
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 2015-2016 PTSA Executive Board Search
The PTSA Nominating Committee will begin the selection process for our 2015-2016 Executive Board members. If you would like to nominate a candidate for President-Elect, VP Membership, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Recording Secretary, or Corresponding Secretary, please email Lisa Turner. In addition to Lisa, other volunteers serving on this year's Nominating Committee are Amy Tamargo, Nelson Guagliardo, Tricia Hancock and Debbie Brock. |
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 Important Senior Reminders
If a college has requested that you send your first semester senior year grades (also called a midyear transcript), you are required to fill out the Midyear Report Request and turn it in to Mrs. Wilson, Registrar, in Guidance. The form is also available in the College Resource room and Guidance. Important note: Florida public universities do not require midyear reports unless specifically requested. The form is due by February 5th.
If you have not done so already, fill out the application for Bright Futures. Remember, you have until graduation to meet the requirements, but you should fill out the application now. Click here for the instructions on completing the application online.
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 Junior Updates
All 11th graders will take a free SAT on February 25th at Plant. The district has automatically registered students for the test. It is important that students begin practicing now for the test. Click here for instructions on how to access the SAT online practice test from home.Starting January 6th, juniors will participate in a hands-on seminar where they will create a Family Connection account and explore all the features of the online tool. Family Connection is our one-stop-shop college planning tool. Students will also get connected to the Guidmii internet tool to review their academic overview, see where their grades and test scores will take them, and explore colleges. Login to Guidmii with your Edsby login to explore all of the tools available. Students will also receive test prep resources for the SAT and ACT. Click here to view the seminar packet. |
 Freshmen and Sophomores Will Take the Practice ACT
All 9th and 10th graders will take a full-length Practice ACT on February 25th at Plant. This will expose students to another type of college admission test so they can better determine which test (SAT or ACT) is right for them. In order for students to get a detailed score report for the Practice ACT, there will be a fee which will be collected in homeroom. Further details about the fee collection will be sent out in the next edition of the Panther Press. |
 Programming Information
Counselors will begin meeting with students individually starting January and continuing through February to review academic recommendations and elective choices for the 2015-16 school year. A copy of the course selections will be sent home with students for parents to review. Parents are welcome to email their child's counselor with any questions. In March, counselors will be available by appointment for schedule discussions as needed. Students will have yet another opportunity to review their course selections and make any necessary changes in April. Once the April adjustments are completed, schedules are finalized and will be mailed out in early August. |
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 One Night, Two Great Information Sessions -- January 29th at 6:30 & 7:15 pm in the Auditorium
PSAT Interpretation Session
Please join us at the PSAT Interpretation Session to learn how to best use your child's PSAT Score Report. This session is for students and parents in grades 9-11. Bring your PSAT score report to follow along. These reports were mailed home the first week in January. We will discuss resources for test preparation, National Merit Scholarship Information, and more. Underclassmen will be excused from the auditorium when the junior college night meeting begins.
Junior College Night
Junior College Night begins at 7:15 pm, right after the PSAT session. This session is for juniors and their parents only. Juniors can attend only this session or both. Learn about resources and online tools for college preparation and planning as well as the application process and timeline. Be prepared for your senior year!
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 National College Fair & Financial Aid Night
All students and parents are invited to attend the National College Fair which will be held on Sunday, March 1st from 12:00 to 3:00 pm at the Tampa Convention Center. Hundreds of college representatives will be available to provide information and answer your admissions questions. Click here to register for the event.
All students and parents are invited to attend the district financial aid night offered at Jefferson on January 27th at 6:00 pm in the school auditorium. If you cannot make this meeting, click here for additional dates and locations. |
 Lightning Community Hero Award
The 3rd Lightning Community Hero Award deadline is fast approaching. The award is for $50,000 per person, granted to their favorite charity (501(c)(3)). This is an amazing opportunity and subsequent way to honor a person or organization that goes above and beyond for children and/or students. The Lightning is particularly interested in honoring educators and school based personnel and programs.
There are 14 more awards left ($50,000 each) to be given for the remainder of the playing season. It is a very easy process! Click here for the application. Be aware that there are word limitations when completing the form.
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 Art News
Congratulations to Claire Anderson, Lindsey Linardic, Micah Lomel, and Justin Miller! Their art work has been accepted into the 2015 State Fair High School Art Exhibit. You can see their art in the Family Living building at the State Fair from February 5-16. This year's State Fair theme is Discover the Fun.
Plant's Winter Art Show will be on display in the main hall trophy cases until February 9th. Students in the AP Studio Art class have worked hard on this exhibit. The theme of this year's show is Living Things, represented through both 2D and 3D art. Please come see their beautiful work.
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 Night of Stars
See the award winning Plant thespians at Night of Stars! On January 20th,
Act 1: State Festival Competitors and Act 2: Ruthless! The Musical will be performed. On January 21st, see Act 1 & Act 2 starring the District Superiors.
Both performances start at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. A $5 donation is suggested. See you there!
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Administration
Robert M. Nelson III, Principal
Kimi Hellenberg, AP Curriculum
Lauren Otero, AP Administration
Erin Mellnick, AP Student Affairs A-G
David Webb, AP Student Affairs H-O
Napolean Wade, AP Student Affairs P-Z
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Submission Guidelines
Do you 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
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School Board
MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
Susan L. Valdes, Chair
Doretha W. Edgecomb, Vice Chair
Sally Harris Cindy Stuart Melissa Snively April Griffin Carol Kurdell |
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PHS Twitter Account
Link here:
Click here for a list of
Plant Twitter Accounts.
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School Calendar
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- 1/13-16 Semester Exams
- 1/16 End of 2nd Grading Period
- 1/19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
- 1/20 Non-Student Day
- 1/29 PSAT Interpretation & Junior College Night, 6:30 & 7:15 pm
- 2/6 Florida State Fair Day/Non-Student Day
- 2/10 Academic Foundation Meeting, 9:15 am
- 2/25 Free SAT administered at Plant for all junior students
- 2/25 Practice ACT for all freshmen and sophomore students at Plant
- 3/9-13 Spring Break/Schools and District Offices Closed
- 3/16 Students Return to School
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Clubs and Activities Calendar
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Band
- 1/24 All County Concert @ Robinson
- 1/31 Indoor Percussion Premier @ Oviedo High School, Orlando
- 2/3 PreJazz MPA Concert @ Plant
- 2/6 Jazz MPA @ Fairgrounds
- 2/14 Gasparilla Night Parade
Pantherettes - 1/31 Indoor Premier @ Oviedo High School, Orlando
- 2/28 Indoor Competition @ Gaither
- 3/7 Indoor Competition @ Seminole High School, Seminole
- 3/28 FFCC State Competition in Daytona Beach
Drama - 1/26-27 Open auditions for Cabaret. Interested students should prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song and will be asked to learn and perform a dance. Please contact Dan Franke between January 12-20, in the auditorium office, for a participation contract and to sign up for an audition time. Students must bring the contract signed by a parent/guardian to the audition.
- 2/5 Save the date for Plant's First Annual Faculty Idol at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Come out to hear your faculty members sing and dance for your votes.
National Honor Society
Click here for the NHS student procedures for the 2014-15 school year.
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Athletic Calendar
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Below you will find a complete listing of current Plant High School athletic events. Click on any highlighted sport to visit the team website. Go Panthers!
Boys Basketball As always, the first 20 students get in free to home games. - 1/16 Plant @ Bloomingdale, 8 pm
- 1/17 Plant vs. Alonso, 9:00 am (JV)
- 1/17 Plant vs. Sickles, Noon (JV)
- 1/20 Plant vs. Alonso, 7 pm (Smoothie King at game)
- 1/22 Plant @ Steinbrenner, 8 pm
- 1/29 Plant vs. Hillsborough, 7 pm
- 1/30 Plant vs. Gaither, 7 pm (Senior Night, Smoothie King at game)
- 2/3 District Tournament starts @ Newsome
Girls Basketball
The Lady Panther basketball program is in the middle of a very successful season. The varsity team is currently 13-6 overall, 7-1 in district play and in first place in district standings. The JV team is undefeated with a 6-0 mark with the next game at Strawberry Crest on January 17th. Get out and support the Lady Panthers and plan to celebrate the careers of our four seniors at their last home game on January 23rd (Senior Night).
Girls Soccer - 1/16 Plant vs. East Lake @ Steinbrenner, 6 pm (District Semifinal)
Hockey Come out and support the hockey team at our upcoming game. - 1/23 Plant vs. Seminole @ TBSA in Oldsmar, 8:45 pm
Boys Lacrosse The boys lacrosse team will hold tryouts from January 20th through the 22nd at Dad's Stadium. The specific time for each evening's activity is being confirmed. Check www.PlantLacrosse.com for specifics. To participate, you must complete the athletic packet which can be found in the front office. Girls Lacrosse
- 1/10 Sticks and Strikes Fundraiser, 9 am to Noon
- 1/15 Final pre-season conditioning session @ Plant, 4:15 pm
- 1/20 Tryouts @ Plant, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
- 1/21 Tryouts @ Plant, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
- 1/22 Tryouts @ Plant, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
- 1/23 Tryouts @ Anderson Elementary, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, results announced afterwards.
If you have not turned in your sports packet, please do so immediately. Contact Coach Chapman with any questions. |
Plant High School - Strength Through Unity
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