verobeachhs_jul16

J U LY 2016 ISSUE 3VOLUME 11 Vero Beach A Message From The Chief High School Dear VBHS family Members: 1707 16th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 We are looking forward to a tremendous 2016-2017 school year at Main: 564-5400 Vero Beach High School! Summer is an ideal break and an opportunity Attendance: 564-5555 to reflect on the past school year and to set goals for this coming year. ADMINISTRATION At VBHS our teachers and staff are actively engaged to Principal Shawn O’Keefe consummately improve and inspire student learning. No matter our Assistant Principals job title, we are all educators at VBHS, working diligently to provide Greg Ahrens Anne Bieber the best instruction, learning environment, and facility possible for our Rachel Daulby students and families. Our school supports the goals of our school Shawn O’Keefe David Erickson district, and community as an asset. Our Indian families are proud toDavid “Chip” Humphrey say that their child attends VBHS. With great pride in their school, our Hilary Poole students are happy and exhibit honorable qualities of respect, tolerance, hard work, and perseverance www.vbhs.org in all that they do. Working collaboratively, our instructional staff seeks to answer the critical questions Home of the Fighting of learning and to develop learning goals that are strategic, specific, measurable, attainable, results Indians oriented, and time bound in order to realize our collective educational aspirations. Together, we are ‘Smoke Signals’ Published Five Times Per Year goal oriented and supportive, and our decisions and actions keep the best interests of our students Feb., Apr., Jul., Oct., Dec. 2016 and stakeholders at heart. School District of Indian River County In such collaboration last school year between students and faculty, we started a major “graduation 1990 25th Street rate” initiative called C2G (Commit to Graduate). We held grade level assemblies where each class, Vero Beach, FL 32960 grades 9-12 signed their name to our C2G commitment symbols. These assemblies provide students Issue #3 with a connection experience and opportunity with their class cohort, a commitment to graduate by signing their name upon their symbolic class specific banner, and exposure to motivational talk and content. Students and staff all promised to continue our collective efforts, in commitment to graduation. We are carefully monitoring our students in all grades 9-12 to ensure that they are meeting their graduation requirements. We have ongoing meetings with underclassmen to educate them on their specific cohort graduation requirements, encourage them to strive for success, and not fall behind. For our seniors, early senior year is the critical time for students to be well aware of where they stand academically in final preparations for graduation, and their post-graduation plans. Students will return for this school year on Wednesday, August 10th! Please review this newsletter carefully, so that you are adequately prepared for the first days of school. Please make use of our website, www.vbhs.org for additional and updated information in order to “stay tuned.” I hope you enjoy the last days of summer and return to us in August with renewed energy and enthusiasm for what promises to be another outstanding school year. Together we are Vero Beach High School and it is great to be a Fighting Indian! For the VBHS Family, Shawn O’Keefe Shawn O’Keefe

2 Visitors Bell Schedule Orientation, Open House, 2016-2017 and Parent Conferences Visitors are welcome (First Bell at 7:05;Orientation on campus if they are on Late Bell at 7:10)• Seniors - Wednesday, August 3rd, 8am-10am – main campus cafeteria official school business. All Period Time• Juniors - Thursday, August 4th, 8am-10am – main campus cafeteria 1st 7:10-8:00 visitors must secure a visitor’s Passing 8:00-8:05• Sophomores – Friday, August 5th, 8am-10am – main campus cafeteria 2nd 8:05-9:00 pass/badge from the main Passing 9:00-9:05• Freshmen - Tuesday, August 9th, 8am-10am – FLC cafeteriaOpen House - Tuesday, August 23rd, 6pm-8pm office. To better protect ourConference Nights:• Wednesday, September 28th, 2:30pm – 5:30pm students, all visitors will be• Thursday, September 29th, 2:30pm – 7pm screened for registered sex offenders. No visitor will be admitted unless a valid, 3rd 9:05-9:55 government issued photo Passing 9:55-10:00Guidance Counselor Assignments ID is presented. Students are 4th 10:00-10:50 not permitted to bring visitors Lunch A 10:50-11:20 Passing 11:20-11:25ROOM PHONE # COUNSELOR’S NAME STUDENT’S to school without PRIOR 5th 11:25-12:152-110 772-564-55322-114 772-564-5489 Rachel Holderman A-Cro (MC) administrative approval. Passing 10:50-10:552-108 772-564-54962-107 772-564-5515 Andrea Cosner Cru-Has (MC) Students are prohibited from 5th 10:55-11:442-109 772-564-55162-104 772-564-5536 TBA Hat-McC (MC) visiting other campuses Lunch B 11:45-12:15FLC 772-564-5717 Passing 12:15-12:20FLC 772-562-5722 Jackie Loughry McD-Rolle (MC) during school hours unless 6th 12:20-1:10 Sophie Calixte Rolli-Z (MC) accompanied by school Passing 1:10-1:15 Jessica Wood PBD/OP 1 (MC) personnel. Social visitation 7th 1:15-2:05 is not allowed. No take-out food, balloons, flowers, etc. will be accepted on behalf of students. Bethany Blume A-K (FLC) Mariann Davis L-Z (FLC) Has Your Phone Number SAC Seeking Members Or Address Changed? Our School Advisory Council is seeking members for the 2016-2017 It is vital that you inform the school of any change of address or anyschool year. The Council meets monthly and is an advisory body that provides home or cell phone number changes. Having a current address enables usadvice and recommendations to the school principal and, where appropriate, to contact you by mail and a valid phone number is important for your child’sthe local School Board on matters related to student achievement and school safety. Please call 772-564-5526 on main campus and or 772-564-5677 atimprovement. Anyone interested in being a member of the Council should the FLC to report a change.contact Cindy Jorgensen at [email protected].

NEW Attendance Policy Requirement (APR) 3 Vero Beach High School is committed to providing an environment conducive to learning. Students Medicationsmust be in attendance and in their classes in order for them to receive classroom instruction from their Students are NOT permitted to carry medications on their person. Thisteacher. This will facilitate learning and increase student achievement. includes prescription and over the counter drugs (Tylenol, cough drops and eye drops Effective for the 2016-2017 school year, VBHS has adopted a 90% Attendance Policy, which means are examples of over the counter drugs). The only exception to this rule is for students whostudents must attend 90% of their classes in order to participate in sports, extra-curricular activities, and carry a metered dose inhaler or epipen kit AND have a permission form signed by theirclubs and to acquire certain privileges. parent and physician. Medication should be brought to school only if it is necessary to give The 90% Attendance Policy will be monitored by the total number of classes scheduled per student. the medication during school hours. Parents should seek medical attention for their childAll students must attend 90% of their classes. Monitoring will begin on the 30th day of each semester. if a health condition requires the use of over the counter medication at school for 3 days.Scheduled monitoring will take place every ten days of the semester after the first thirty days; random School board policy indicates that: • Medication must be brought to schoolmonitoring may be done at any time. Compliance can be achieved on any single day. by an adult. Students who fall below the APR will be limited in their participation in any of the following sports, • A written permission form must beextra-curricular activities, or privileges. Other school related activities may be added to this list by the completed and signed by the parent/ guardian.administration at VBHS. • Medication must be brought to school in its original container.EXTRA-CURRICULAR, PERFORMING ARTS, ATHLETICS & CLUBS • Medicines and treatments considered outside medical protocols as establishedØØ A students may participate in practices, rehearsals, etc. in preparation for athletic contests, performances, by the Health Department such as aloe for burns, meat tenderizer for bee stings,clubs and extra-curricular events even though the student’s attendance is below the 90% APR. etc. require a physician’s note. • All medications will be dispensed inØØ A students may not play, participate, compete or perform in interscholastic athletic contests (games, the school Clinic unless a specific individual need is being addressed.matches, etc.) performances (concerts, plays, etc.) and extra-curricular events (Math Club, FBLA, club Accommodations must be approved by the school administrator.competitions etc.) if the student’s attendance is below the 90% APR.ØØ Playing, participating, or performing privileges are earned or restored when the student meets the 90% APR.PARTICIPATION AS A SPECTATOR & SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS• A students may attend athletic events and performances as a spectator for the price of admissioneven though the student is below the 90% APR.• A students may not purchase tickets for any dances, homecoming events, prom, Grad Bash, etc. ifthe student is below the 90% APR. The privilege to purchase these tickets is earned or restoredwhen the student meets the 90% APR.• Students purchasing more than one ticket for dances, homecoming events, prom, etc. must providethe name of the guest to enable confirmation of compliance with the 90% APR. Tickets will not besold for students who are below the requirement.• Students may not attend field trips if they are below the 90% APR. The privilege to attend field tripsis earned or restored when the student meets the 90% APR.PARKING PRIVILEGES• Students who have met the requirements to purchase a parking sticker must meet the 90% APRto maintain parking privileges. Parking privileges will be suspended for students who fall belowthe 90% APR. Their vehicle is not permitted on campus during school hours while privileges aresuspended. Also, no vehicle may park in that student’s parking space. Parking privileges will beearned or restored when the student meets the 90% APR. School Security will monitor the Parkingprivileges of all student drivers.• Students must meet the 90% APR for the current school year to purchase a parking sticker for thefollowing school year.• Two parking permit suspensions may result in a loss of parking privileges for the remainder of schoolyear. This will be decided on a case by case basis. ALL of the following are subject to adherence tothe 90% APR: ○○ senior activities ○○ performances○○ interscholastic sports○○ intramural sports ○○ Grad Bash ○○ National Honor Society○○ clubs ○○ Mock DUI participation ○○ Scholars Ceremony○○ homecoming activities ○○ extra-curricular activities ○○ parking permits○○ prom activities ○○ field trips ○○ Pep Rally participation.○○ dances ○○ concerts○○ SGA candidacy ○○ playsOther school related activities may be added to this list at the sole discretion of the VBHS administration.

4 Student Parking The Parent Teacher Student Association welcomes you to join us for the 2016-2017 school year! Our purpose is to support teachers, recognize our students for their superior efforts, and enrich the Parking permit applications can relationship between parents and their children.be picked up at the front desk on main By joining the PTSA, you will also become a member of the Florida PTA and the National PTA,campus. All forms must be completely filled the largest child advocacy group in the nation. This group supports programs and legislation thatout and signed by the student and a parent/ benefit our children.guardian. The following must be brought in at We are excited about the events we have planned this year. What better way to share in thethe time the application is submitted: $40.00 experience of your high school student, who will soon be off to college, than to volunteer and be a(cash or check made payable to VBHS), valid part of this vibrant school community!driver’s license, current insurance card, andcurrent vehicle registration. VBHS-PTSA You must come on the date and time $5.00 Annual Duesspecified based upon your end of yearunweighted GPA for advance parking selection. Name: ______________________________________________ Phone: _____________________If you are unavailable on the assigned date, youmay send all documentation with a third party. Address: ________________________________________________________________________Keep in mind that the person who represents youwill be choosing your parking spot. After the date Email: __________________________________________________________________________assigned, you can get a parking spot from 9 amuntil 1 pm beginning on July 29th. Once school Student(s)/Grade level(s): __________________________________________________________starts, you can get a parking spot only beforeschool, after school, or during lunch. __________________________________________________________SENIORS ONLY: July 26th Can you volunteer your time for the PTSA? __________JUNIORS ONLY: July 27th Please return form to the front desk either on main campus or at the FLC.SOPHOMORES ONLY: July 28th3.5 -4.0 GPA - 8:00am-9:30am3.0 -3.49 GPA - 9:30am-11:00am2.5 - 2.99 GPA - 12:30pm-1:30pm2.0 - 2.49 GPA - 1:30pm-2:30pm

5School Schedules Schedule Changes Students with Modified Schedules VBHS begins its general scheduling process for the upcoming school year during the secondsemester of the current school year. Students and parents are involved in the scheduling process, Students who have a modifiedwhich is completed with an acceptance signature on the jointly developed class selection schedule schedule because of senior privilege,form. Once the schedule is approved and signed, it will be set and added to the school wide “master dual enrollment, or off-campusschedule.” If wanted, a student should request a schedule change by June 15th each year. Due completion of a FLVS course areto availability, the later the request, the less likely there will be available space for changes. A final required to have a pass when arriving oncall for change requests/ schedule concerns will occur at the orientation meeting/day published for or leaving campus outside of traditionaleach grade level during the summer. Counselors will work to solve scheduling issues, and change arrival and departure times. Leavingrequests will be granted based on availability at the time of the request. Please note that, although campus without this pass may result inthere may be seats available in the requested course, a change is not always possible based on seat disciplinary action for non-complianceavailability in courses that need to be moved around. A student’s best selection and opportunity for with school rules. This personalized,courses is at their scheduling appointment. Any requests for schedule changes past the orientation laminated pass can be obtained atdates will be brought before the VBHS Ed. Review Committee. This committee is generally made the attendance desk in the front officeup of school counselors, education specialists, teachers, administrator(s), and the principal. The and must be picked up either beforescheduling decision made by the Committee can be appealed by a parent. If an appeal is filed, the school, after school, or during lunch byparent must meet with the Ed. Review Committee in person at a scheduled time to present any the end of the first week of school. Theconcerns. The committee will deliberate following this meeting and will render their final committee pass will be provided free of charge; adecision. Parents and students are encouraged to make careful decisions when selecting courses, replacement pass will be available inas schedule changes are done on a very limited basis once school begins. Once the official school the same location for $1.00.year starts, changes to course selections are made only for the following errors in student schedules.Approved changes Changes not approvedDuplicate course Desire for a different teacherCredit already received for the course Desire for a different lunch periodCourse Prerequisites not met Desire to raise GPAIncorrect course sequence Do not like electiveCourse needed for graduation Failure to earn passing grade in a courseHonors Graduate To graduate with honors students are required to receive a minimum of 11 honors credits in Level3 courses, such as, Advanced Placement, Honors, or Academic Dual Enrollment. Additionally, thestudent must have 3.0 unweighted GPA and received a grade of a C or higher in all Level 3 courses.Advanced Placement Graduate In order to be an Advanced Placement Graduate students must complete a total of 6 AP courses,have a 3.0 GPA, and no grades lower than a C in all Level 3 courses.

6 Crew Team Getting Oared up for a Successful Third Season Athleticism, tenacity, endurance, precision, teamwork, strong work ethic…just a few of the qualities needed to become a member of the VBHS Crew Team. This year, one of the youngest teams in the state of Florida will continue to stake its ground within one of the oldest sports in the world - competitive rowing. Rowing actually began as a method of transport and warfare, with the earliest references to rowing and oarsmanship dating back to Egyptian inscriptions in 1430 BC. In the 13th century, Venetian boat races were called ‘regatas’, and rowing competitions are still called regattas today. The first boat race between Oxford and Cambridge University took place in 1829, and the U.S. quickly took up the sport with the Harvard-Yale Regatta being the oldest intercollegiate sporting event in the U.S., beginning in 1852. Today, rowing is an international amateur sport and an Olympic event, and, coming into its third season, the VBHS Crew Team is poised to carry on the legacy of this sporting tradition and put Vero Beach on the map within the rowing world. The team won an astounding 32 medals this past season, two of which were from the State Championship, and also qualified and competed for the first time on a national level at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta (the largest High School regatta in the world) where they finished 5th. The revered and sometimes feared Coach Gary Marra leads the VBHS Crew Team and,under his sharp eye and unwavering tutelage, the team has achieved Boys in the Boat style success in an incredibly short amount of time. “I have no doubt we will go even further this year,” says Coach Marra. VBHS Crew currently trains under the 17th Street Bridge; but, given the enormous success of the club and community support of this eco-friendly sport as well as the potential for tourism, the City of Vero Beach has approved the lease for the construction of a state-of-the art boathouse and rowing facility at MacWilliam Park next to the Barber Bridge, an area with calmer waters ideal for rowing activities. The two-phased plan includes construction of boat racks, fence and floating docks, and the second phase is the actual boathouse construction. Once the floating docks have been built in the newly leased space, the team will begin training there, hopefully before the end of this year. Last year, five team members graduated from VBHS, one of whom received a full rowing scholarship at FIT, so VBHS Crew is constantly looking for the next wave of talented young athletes to solidify the team’s growing reputation. The team welcomes both experienced rowers and novices. Based on the team’s track record and last year’s incredible success, it is only expected that VBHS Crew will continue to shine as it solidifies its position as the team to watch out for on a state, regional and national level. For more information on how to try out for the VBHS Crew Team or take part in a Learn-to-Row session, write to [email protected]. For parents interested in taking up the sport, Learn-to-Row sessions are also available for adults. Reach out to [email protected]. Follow the team on Instagram @VBHSCrew. St. Helen Catholic Church proudly supports the staff and students of VBHS GO INDIANS! Weekend Masses: Sunday 7:1Sa5tau.rmda.;y84:4:050ap.m.m.;.1V0i:g3i0l Ma.amss. 12:15 p.m.; 5:00 p.m.; and Spanish Mass 7:00 p.m. 2000 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida www.sthelenvero.org 772.567.5129

Cheerleaders JV squad 7 Freshman squad Our cheerleaders brought home Coaches Go Countrythe gold from UCA Cheer Camp. All 3squads earned the 1st Place Extreme The VBHS Cheerleading coachesChampions title. Varsity also won traditionally perform a skit at camp toall gold Superior ribbons, Stunt Off create bonding and unity within theChamps, 2 x “Banana” Award, 5 All teams. The coach’s call this “self-inflictedAmericans, all 7 seniors recommended public embarrassment,” but are suchfor UCA Staff, 4 Pin It Forwards and good sports when it comes to creatingMOST IMPORTANLY, they kept up the memories for their girls.Vero Varsity tradition of earning theLeadership Award, which is the highesthonor to receive at camp. JV and Freshman also earned the1st Place title of Game Day Champions,JV 2 All AmericansWinners with all SuperiorRibbons including oneGold Superior Ribbonand Freshman 1 AllAmerican and a SuperiorRibbon. Each team wasalso awarded the Pin ItForward honors. We are very proudof our hardworking,dedicated cheerleaders. Pictured are Jenna Summers (Freshman Coach), Toni Kouns (Varsity Coach), Dawn Bradford (J.V. Coach), Dana Leslie (J.V. Assistant Coach), Allie Paulisin (J.V. Assistant Coach), Jenna Schepers (J.V. Assistant Coach), Crissie Zeigler (Assistant Varsity Coach). Front center is Nicole Hare (Freshman Assistant Coach). Varsity squadA few spots are left! Advertise in the Smoke Signals! This is a wonderful way for We need you! your company to get community recognition and exposure, and at the same time help support your local schools! Vero Beach High School Annette Hutchison [email protected]

School District of Indian River CountyVero Beach High School1707 16th StreetVero Beach, FL 32960 Return Service Requested8 2016-2017 School CalendarWed 8/10 First Day of School Wed 1/11 Report Card Distribution for 2nd QuarterWed 8/24 Early Release Day Mon 1/16 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; No School;Mon 9/05 Labor Day; No School Wed 1/25 Early Release DayMon 9/12 Progress Reports Distributed Mon 2/6 Progress Reports DistributedWed 9/21 Early Release Day Wed 2/15 Early Release DayFri 9/30 No School Fri 2/17 No SchoolWed 10/19 Early Release Day; Report Card Distribution for 1st Quarter Mon 2/20 Presidents’ Day; No SchoolFri 11/11 Veteran’s Day; No School Wed 3/15 Early Release Day; Report Card Distribution for 3rd QuarterWed 11/16 Early Release Day Mon 3/20 No School; Spring Break Begins (3/20/17 – 3/24/17)Wed 11/23 No School Fri 4/14 No SchoolThu 11/24 Thanksgiving; No School Wed 4/19 Early Release DayFri 11/25 No School Fri 5/19 Early Release DayThu 12/15 Early Release Day Sat 5/20 Graduation- 8:00 a.m.Fri 12/16 Final Exams; Early Release Day Mon 5/22 Final Exams; Early Release DayMon 12/19 Final Exams; Early Release Day Tue 5/23 Final Exams; Early Release DayTue 12/20 Final Exams; Early Release Day; End 1st Semester Wed 5/24 Final Exams; Early Release Day; Last Day of SchoolWed 12/21 No School; Winter Break Begins Wed 5/31 Report Card Distribution for 4th QuarterThu 1/5 Students Return from Winter Break Academy Publishing School Newsletter Program ™ 800-644-3541