Post on 25-Mar-2020
APRIL, 2019
PRIDE THE NEWSLETTER OF AVON PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Avon Park, Florida
April, 2019 Leading Together to Achieve Excellence! Volume 4, Issue 8
Danielle Erwin, Principal
PRINCIPAL OF THE DAY RELAY OF LIFE
RETURNS TO APHS
Highlands County has not held a
Relay for Life event in three years,
but the public is invited to come to
APHS, join in the fun, and “Spring Into Action 2019”.
The event will be held at the football field and track at
APHS on Saturday, April 13 from 4 to 10 p.m. The
purpose of the relay is to support life-saving cancer
research for people struggling with cancer in Highlands
County. Besides research, the money also supports
free rides to chemo and a cancer helpline that is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
One way to help is to sponsor the APHS AFJROTC
team and cadets who will be participating. The easiest
way to give to the American Cancer Society and
support the cadets’ team (RED ACES) is
to go the Relay-for-Life website and
donate. They are walking for Michael
Loomis, Mrs. Loomis’ late husband. The cadets will also
be conducting a 50/50 raffle and selling pulled pork
sandwiches for their on-site fundraising efforts.
The event begins with an opening ceremony, followed
by the first lap around the track being taken by cancer
survivors and their caregivers, who walk while every-
one gathers together to cheer them on. There are fun
activities throughout the event. At dark, there is a
Luminaria ceremony, with each light representing a life
- a life taken by cancer, a survivor of cancer, or a sup-
port for a person still fighting the disease. The cadets
have sign-up cards for survivors that can be invited to
attend the ceremony, and cards for the luminaries.
Contact SMSgt. Northcutt for more information.
Congratulations to sophomore
Ashari McDermott (pictured left
with Principal Erwin), who was
selected as Principal of the Day
for March. During her day,
McDermott did duties with Mrs.
Erwin, including going into a
teacher’s classroom to observe
and evaluate, helping with the Night of Stars event
flyer, and sitting in on an administrators meeting.
Her favorite parts of the day also involved giving
the morning announcements on the intercom.
She learned that to be a Principal “it is mandatory
to have a strong mentality, superior organization
skills, great memory and quick decision making
proficiency.” McDermott feels that Mrs. Erwin
brings “leadership, kindness and determination to
the job.”
Her advice to incoming freshman would be “to
take their work seriously, because that is what
sets their GPA to graduate. Once they kid
around, by the time they’re a senior, it’s going to
be very difficult to bring their GPA back up.”
Ashari’s favorite subject is math, because her
Algebra 2 teacher makes sure they understand the
lesson before moving on. She hopes to attend
college to become an Orthodontist, and says her
mom encourages her to do her very best in
everything. “Sometimes when I feel like I’m not
good at something, she’ll tell me otherwise and
cause me to regain hope.” Ashari is glad she got
the opportunity to become principal for the day.
“My day with Mrs. Erwin was fantastic!”
APRIL, 2019
NEED GUIDANCE?
See your Counselor
TESTING DATES
SAT May 4 - registration deadline April 5
- late registration deadline April 24
Register for SAT at account.collegeboard.org.login
SENIORS - SCHOLARSHIP INFO
Please check the Guidance page on the APHS site for
Scholarship Information. Click on the link for
Scholarships Quick Look to view the upcoming due
dates and application links.
SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT
By invitation, Monday, April 29 in the Auditorium.
COLLEGE ROOM VISIT
Come talk to a rep from South Florida State College
and ask questions about what opportunities are
available to you right here in Highlands County. The
rep will be Friday, April 5 in the College Room 303
during both lunches.
DECISION DAY 2019
On Wednesday, May 1 we will celebrate seniors for
their post-secondary plans, whether they are attend-
ing 4-year college, 2-year college, technical school or
the military. There will be drawings for prizes,
photo booths, and the assembly will be attended by
the Junior and Senior classes. In order to be recog-
nized and eligible for prizes, seniors MUST submit an
acceptance letter to Mrs. Crow in person or on the
Graduation Coach Google Classroom by April 18.
GRAD WALK 2019
We are planning the Grad Walk for Avon and Park
Elementary schools on Wednesday, May 22.
Graduates will meet at Park Elementary at 10:30 a.m.
and Avon Elementary at 1:15 p.m. Seniors who
choose to participate wear their cap and gown to
celebrate their achievements with cheers from the
students at each school.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
SOLOIST’S RECEIVE EXCELLENT
The 2019 Band State Solo and Ensemble Contest
was held at Seminole High School in March.
Congratulations go to: Janelle Dague, receiving an
Excellent for her flag solo and Hannah Loomis,
receiving an Excellent for her Oboe Solo. Great
job, and way to represent APHS!
LIVESTOCK WINNERS AT HCF
Congratulations to APHS students who participated
in the junior livestock show at the Highlands
County Fair this year. Recognitions went to:
Kinsey Bachman, Grand Champion Showmanship,
Swine (pictured left); and Jordan Frazier, Reserve
Grand Champion Steer (pictured right).
WICOR WIZARD WINNER
Congratulations to Mrs. Guerrero (pictured above
with her class) who is the most recent recipient of
the APHS WICOR Wizard trophy. Principal Erwin
noted that Mrs. Guerrero is doing some awesome
things with her students. She received a sash for
her door and will display the trophy until the next
winner is announced.
AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING
Monday thru Thursday 801 Lab, 3:15-4:45 p.m.
APRIL, 2019
KEY CLUB meets 3:15 p.m. Fridays, Room 231.
New members are welcome. Electing new
officers the first week of April. MANDATORY
SERVICE PROJECT - Relay for Life on April 13.
FBLA meets the 2nd and 4th Friday of each
month Room 804 at 8 a.m.
ROBOTICS meets every Monday and Wednes-
day at 3:15 p.m., Rooms 804/807.
NHS: Next meeting 8 a.m. Friday, April 5.
NHS Induction is April 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the
APHS Auditorium, required for all members.
NHS Scholarship application deadline is April 12.
NHS Senior service hours due April 19.
FFA: FFA meets first Thursday every month,
Room 251 at 8 a.m.
INTERACT meets during advisement first
Tuesday of each month.
SGA meets Tuesdays at 8 a.m., Room 10-118.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road…..to the Auditorium!
Join Dorothy, Toto and the Avon Park High School
Theater classes as they proudly present “The Wizard
of Oz” on Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are
only $5, and may be purchased from any theater
student, Mrs. Macbeth, or at the door.
http://www.tinyurl.com/aphs-afjrotc
FBLA GOES TO STATE
The APHS Future Business Leaders of
America recently attended the State
Leadership Conference in Orlando.
Congratulations to Amy Schlosser
(pictured left) on placing first in Job
Interview. She will travel to San Antonio
to compete at the National Leadership
Conference. Amy is a senior and has been in FBLA for
four years, serving as Secretary her Sophomore year,
President her Junior and Senior years, as well as
District 18 President.
FBLA members who attended pictured above were:
(back row left to right) Zach Best, Tony King, Joshua
Donald, Javed Hassan, Cedric Bullard, Amy Schlosser;
(front row left to right) Nathan Ahrens, William
Parker, Kristen Oca, Hannah Loomis and Victor Tellez.
MUSIC NOTES Highlands County Chorus Festival - April 19
Choir Spring Concert - May 7 at FBC, AP at 7 p.m.
Thanks to the AP Community and Bill Jarrett Ford for
a successful drive fundraiser on March 23. There were
over 200 drives, raising thousands of dollars for the
arts at APHS.
APRIL, 2019
APHS Web Page calendar of upcoming events has
schedule information for Red Devil sports.
APHS: WHERE EXCELLENCE
IS A TRADITION
Come out and support your Red Devils when they
play at home during April:
GIRLS SOFTBALL: April 2 vs. Mulberry 7:30
p.m., April 9 vs. Tenoroc TBA, April 23 vs. DeSoto
6:30 p.m. VARSITY BASEBALL: April 4 vs. Ft.
Meade 7 p.m., April 12 vs. Mulberry 7 p.m., April 13
vs. DeSoto 1 p.m., April 18 vs. McKeel 7 p.m., April
22 vs. Lake Placid 7 p.m., April 25 vs. Sebring 7 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: April 1 vs. DeSoto 6 p.m., April
2 vs. Hardee 6 p.m., April 5 vs. Lake Placid 6 p.m.,
April 11 vs. Ft. Meade 6 p.m., April 15 vs. DeSoto 6
p.m., April 16 vs. Ft. Meade 6 p.m. BOYS
TENNIS: April 2 vs. Mulberry 4 p.m. TRACK
AND FIELD: April 2 Home Meet 5:30 p.m.
SWIM AND DIVE
The Swim and Dive Banquet will be held Monday,
April 8 at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of
Avon Park.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 4- NHS Induction Ceremony
April 6 - Junior/Senior PROM
April 8 to 12 - Cheer Tryouts
April 9 - Seniors Pick up Cap & Gowns Room 302
(Both Lunches - bring ID and any balance you owe)
April 13 - Relay for Life
April 17 - Senior Meeting Auditorium 11-11:30 a.m.
April 19 - NO SCHOOL Holiday
April 26 - Progress Reports go home
April 26 - Seniors GRAD BASH - (meet in cafeteria
at 4pm if you have purchased a ticket)
April 29 - Senior Awards Night
May 1 - Senior Decision Day
May 2 - Commanders Call
May 2 - Senior Pool Party
May 2 - Theater Performance
May 3 - Senior Sick Day
May 4 - SAT
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
World’s Finest Chocolate Choir - April 1 to 12
Candy Grams Key Club - April 8 to 18
Lollipops Robotics/GBLA - April 15 to 26
Congratulations to the students who were chosen
as Students of the Month for March. Pictured
below, from left: Summer Robinson, 9th; Dalila
Eugenio, 10th; Alyssa Prieto, 11th; and Emperatriz
Benegas, 12th.
AP WRESTLER
PLACES AT
STATE
Two Red Devil wrestlers
competed at the Class
1A state wrestling tour-
nament in March.
AP senior Javier Arango
competed in the 285-
pound weight class and
finished an outstanding season with a sixth place win.
He suffered a dislocated elbow while wrestling for
third and fourth place, and was unable to wrestle for
fifth place because of the injury. He is pictured above
standing on the podium in 6th place along with the
best wrestlers in the state. AP sophomore Elvis
Rodriguez also competed at state, wrestling in the
113-pound weight class. Congratulations!