Principal’s Message

AdministrationPrincipal

Robert C. FlorioAssistant Principals

Luke KademoffLisa Sinatra

Mary J. TaylorEric Zebley

Pinellas CountySchool Board

ChairpersonPeggy L. O’SheaVice ChairpersonTerry Krassner

Janet R. ClarkCarol J. CookRene Flowers

Linda S. LernerKen Peluso

For the parents, students, staff & community of Dixie Hollins High School May 2016

Volume 17 • Issue 4

CounselorsCynthia BurnettJennifer Figliozzi

David SingerSusan Stone

Superintendent Of Schools

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

Area III SuperintendentRobert Poth

To download a PDF version of this newsletter, go to http://academypublishing.com/schools/

dixiehollins/dixiehollins.php

continued on page 2...

Dear Parents & Community of Dixie Hollins High School Aswemake thefinal steps in ourjourney to the end of the school year we are thrilled by our accomplishments, yet understand we have many more steps on our journey to greatness – becoming the best public high school in the state of Florida. A school community is a vibrant and rich community with many different people from many differentbackgrounds,reflectiveofthemosaicoftheworld in which we live. In life, as in school, we have trials and tribulations setbacks and accomplishments. This school year was all of that and more. I have learned that our school is a place where any student fromanybackgroundcancomeandbejoyfullywelcomedandfindinterest in the variety of classes, activities and events that we offer. I have learned we have a vibrant alumni community who cares deeply about our school and is invested in our success. I have learned that our strength is in our diversity. I have learned to appreciate this school and love its people. And I know Iwanttocontinuetowork,strive,fight,advocate,pushandpullforthewellbeingof this school, its students and community.• Our academy magnet programs continue to grow and thrive. We have received

more initial applications in our Culinary, Arts and Entertainment and Cambridge programs than ever before. We will have over 700 students on our campus in one of these programs for the 2016/17 school year

• Remember we have a shortened summer this year. Teachers will return to school on August 1andstudentswillreturnforthefirstdayonWednesdayAugust10.Thelastdayofschoolwill be Thursday May 25, 2017.

• Our JROTC program continues to be a beacon of pride and accomplishment. For the 3rd timeinfiveyears,ourDrillTeamwonthedistrictchampionship!Theyalsodefeated32otherschools inan invitationalatBrandonHSwinning thechampionship!Competingagainst over 100 schools in the Florida State Drill Meet our cadets took 2nd in Female Armed Platoon commanded by Chynnel Price and Nicolas Garcia took 5th in Male Individual Exhibition

• Our Drama Department took their one act, The Crimson Hotel – The American Premier, to State Competition and performed in front of thousands of adoring patrons.

• Our Wrestling team took second in our District, in one of the toughest districts instate,qualifiedforRegionalsandtookfivewrestlerstostates.SeniorCaptain Brandon Nevitt was runner up in the 180 pound division.

2Principal’s Message Continues...• CoachNickSpatarowasvotedCoachoftheYearbyhispeers!• AldoOrtizwasourveryfirstAcademyofArtsandEntertainmentstudenttowinascriptwriting

award, taking an Honorable Mention at the 2016 Scholastics Southeastern US writing awards. LyndsieZimmerman’s film “WhySheLeftMe”was accepted into the Sunscreen FilmCompetition – where she competed with college students. And for the third straight year we havewontheNationalScholasticAwards!RyanMolterwongoldforfilmmaking,andStephaniHyde and Justin Pentith won Gold for photography. These three students will represent our AcademyandschoolatNewYorkCity’sCarnegieHallthisMayl!!!

• We are expanding our Culinary Arts Academy – adding a restaurant and two additional teaching classrooms ready for the beginning of next school year.

• We have received approval to reconstruct our Academy of Arts and Entertainment building, which will allow the facility to catch up to the artistry and magic that is created there daily

• Adult Education portables have been moved to the back (Western) part of our campus. This willallowustofullysecureourcampusdailyandbettermonitorfoottrafficinandout.Thiswillalsoallowustoconstructastateoftheartmulti-practicefieldonourcampusforoursports teams and PE classes.

• Weareintheprocessofturningtheareabyoursoftballfieldintoapark.ItwillbenamedAlumni Park in honor of our great students of the past and serve as a bridge from our rich history to our present. The Class of 1965 has donated a commemorative plaque and funds that will be used to purchase a tree in their class’s name. We will add a beach volley ball court in the park and add picnic tables for students’ and staff’s enjoyment.

• I want to especially thank the time, service and commitment of teachers that will be retiring this year.

○ Donna Morgen – has taught ESE and Math at Dixie Hollins for over 14 years – has been in education for over 35 years. She has single handedly helped hundreds of students pass the PERT test and thus graduate from high school

○ Jeannie Wallace – English Teacher and Media Specialist for 30 years at Dixie Hollins High School ○ Cynthia Hanley – over 35 years of teaching in Math and Art – which has been at Dixie Hollins ○ LynnKeiser–PE,DriversEdteacherforover37years–oursoftballcoachfor26years! ○ Teresa Myrick our Senior DMT – who has spent her entire illustrious career of 43 years hereatDixieHollinsHighSchool–SheisRebelStrong!

That is over 175 years of dedication, devotion and experience to our school, students and education–Thankyouforyourservice!Wewishyouthebestofhealth,luckandhappiness

• Our bell schedule will stay the same for next year – there is a one page Blue/White calendar on that contains every day of the year, including teacher training days, vacation days and the days for each quarter that is posted on our website for your convenience.

• We will not be offering GradPoint during the regular school day next year. We will be utilizing Adult Education for credit recovery and grade forgiveness purposes.

• Our areas of growth are in attendance and graduation. It all starts with attendance. Collectively – our community needs to stress the importance of education, attending school and graduating. We will re-double our efforts and do everything we can to enhance our school, facilities, programs and curriculum to make our school attractive for all of our students.

Thank you for your continued support of our endeavors. Thank you for trusting your student’s education and future with us. We honor that relationship.

Seeyouatthetop!

Payments to School At this time all payments to the school must be by cash or money order. The bookkeeping office is unable to make change, please bring the exact amount.

Student Activities Supervision of students on school grounds is provided only from 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after a school activity is scheduled or actually begins or ends, whichever period is longer. Parents should not expect supervision before or after these time periods.

Parent Input Pinellas County Schools welcomes input of parents regarding the job performance of district employees. A Parent Input Form is available for parents to give input regarding teacher performance. Also available is a Parent/ Teacher Input Form for input regarding administrative performance. Each form requires a signature. A copy of the form will be shared with the employee. Forms are available in the schooloffice.

Media Center The media center requests that all books be returned by May 14. It will then be closed to do inventory for the rest of the year. Seniors who have outstandingfinesor overduebookswill be placed on the obligation list.

Final Grades and Report Cards

Final grades and exams will be posted in Portal Wednesday June 15th. We will not be mailing home report cards , parents may come to Student Services and pick up a hard copy with a photo ID.

3Senior Information

• Senior Class Sponsor: Mrs. Jennifer Sinphay, sinphayj@pcsb.org or Mrs. Crystal Rockne, rocknec@pcsb.org . Please feel free to contact with any Senior or graduation related questions.

• Grad Fees: $90. Cash Only. These fees are due by the close of business on Thursday, May 5th. Caps and Gowns are going to be distributed following the senior breakfast on Friday, May 13th . Fees and obligations must be taken care of by then in order to receive cap and gown at that time. NO EXCEPTIONS

• Graduation Student Participation Guidelines: All student obligations must be cleared by the close of school on Friday, May 29th . This date must be strictly adhered to so that all necessary arrangements can be made for graduation ceremony. Please contact Mrs. Sinphay or Mrs. Rockne if you have any questions.

Graduation frequently asked questions: When and where to report: To be announced once we receive the information – will be distributed to seniors and will be posted on our website.• Guests: Guests with disabilities who may not be able to walk

the distance from the parking lots may be dropped off at Gate 4, driverswillthenneedtofindparkinginoneoftheadjacentlots.Tropicana will NOT have wheelchairs available so please provide your own if necessary.

Parking The cost to park is $10. There are numerous parking lots within walkingdistanceofthefield.Youmayalsousestreetparkingthathaspay meters. Remember there is a graduation ceremony before ours.

Dress Code • Boys: Wear a white or light colored shirt with a dark tie, dark

socks,darkshoesanddarktrousers(flipflopsarenotacceptable).• Girls: Wearafulllightcoloredoutfit(dress)andlightcoloredshoes

undertheirwhitegown(flipflopsarenotacceptable).• Please note: Shorts are not permitted. Flowers and jewelry are not

to be worn on graduation gowns and each student will be checked for appropriate attire and appearance.

All purses, cell phones, cameras and any other electronic devices will be collected, tagged and returned to you after the ceremony. It is recommended that graduates leave purses and electronic devices with a family member.

You will not participate in the ceremony if you are in violation of the dress code.

Yearbooks Yearbooks are selling out fast. Don’t wait until the last minute. See Mrs. Zemaitis in Room 322 to purchase. Cost $80.00, cash only.

Student Literacy Team News W.O.R@D has been busy this semester. In January we participated in Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida by distributing Free Little Libraries to 18 lucky teachers around the school and gave away dozens of donated books to our students. In February, ten of our students hosted and attended the District Literacy Conference at the Largo Library. We had teen spoken word poets perform, a presentation about literacy efforts at each school, a published author speak, and an adult spoken word poet give a workshop. Also in February, Poets Align, our spoken word poetry team, performed at two middle schools – Pinellas Park and Morgan Fitzgerald. They continued to have weekly poetry jams at lunch. Twelve poets also performed at the March 31 4940 Expo. ThebookclubfinishedtheirlastbookfortheyearinMarch.Nextyear’sfirstbookwillbeChallenger Deep by Neal Shusterman. April was National Poetry Month. Our poets performed at Barnes and Noble on April 9 as a fundraiser for the literacy club. On April 14weheldour6thannualOnPoint!PoetrySlam.1stplace:KatrinaBeaucage; 2nd place, Mallory Rambler; 3rd place, Thayer Tymon. Our top two poets will compete in the district literacy slam on May 24 at the Largo Cultural Center, which is a free event and open to the public. Our club president, Mallory Rambler, was asked to speak at the district’s kick off breakfast for the summer reading program. She did an excellent job and as a result, will be working with the summer reading program this year. Elections for next year’s club will be held May 25. Any student who is interested in joining the literacy club for next year should see Mrs. Wallace in the media center.

Football News• PDQ Family Night Fundraiser – Monday, May 16th, beginning at 4 pm 4601 Park Blvd• Football Spring Classic vs. Hudson – May 26th, Hudson High

School - 7 pm Tickets Approx. $6• Football Conditioning – June 6 – July 22nd (All football players) Monday thru Thursday 7:30 am – 11:30 am• Football Practice will begin August 1st 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm• Any questions please contact Coach Wheeler, wheelers@pcsb.org

or leave message at 547-7876 ext 2080 ** Pick up and drop off location for football players is at the

football stadium

4Cambridge News

CongratulationstoCambridgeC/O2015-2016!Ohtheplacestheywillgo!FromasfarNorthasUniversityofMassachusettstoasfarSouthasFloridaInternational University and all the places in between. Our program graduates will be recognized during The Dixie Program Celebration Ceremony on May 26, 2016 at SPC Seminole Campus at 7 p.m. Bull (USF)Riley AndersonZoe Basheska PJ MaharatboutdySamuel Pontello

Gator (UF)Martin CarrHony KeooudomMarielisa Rivera Angelina TranRobert Watson

Knight (UCF)Abedullah Abdel LatifStephanie AnagnosArianna Kongsine Dante Lovullo

Nole (FSU)Jaclyn Even Gabrielius Garmus Dorin Muchitello

Titan (SPC)Nicole Anderson Reigha Clark Dayana GonzalezMarcus NavalesJoseph Shaver

Warrior (SWU)Bedford Fleuriot

Wildcat (UNH) Gessica Sammaciccia

Panther (FIU)Danielle Morris

Triton (Eckerd)Kassandra Englmann

Wildcat (J&W)Ashley Scott

Dual Enrollment Dixie continues to offer dual enrollment courses to students on the Dixie campus as well as the various SPC campuses. Students must have college readiness qualifying test scores, a 3.0 gpa, and acceptable attendance. All paperwork must be turned in by June 1 to be eligible for fall classes. Please see your child’s counselor for additional information and the paperwork.

Bright Futures and State of Florida Financial Aid

Opportunities Seniors must complete an application at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org to be considered for any scholarships through the State of Florida. Community Service paperwork toward Bright Future’s must be completed and turned into Mrs. Sinatra by May 27th.

Scholarships Please visit www.pcsb.org for a list of scholarship opportunities. The link is found under Financial Aid and Scholarships through the student tab. Scholarship criteria varies and may be based on need, academic merit, community involvement, athletics etc. All students are encouraged to begin looking at scholarship sites throughout their high school career.

You’llbeonyourwayup!You’llbeseeinggreatsights!You’lljointhehighfliersWho soar to high heights.– Dr. Seuss

October 19, 2016 The PSAT will be offered in October. All grade 9 and 10 students are automatically registered to take the test for free. Special Education students and 504 students interested in accommodations must return the letter given to them to havesignedbytheirparent/guardiantotheguidanceoffice.Thentherequest,alongwith the paperwork, can be submitted to the College Board before the end of the school year by the guidance counselor. The College Board determines eligibility for accommodations through their process. Risingjuniorsmustregisterseparatelythroughtheguidanceoffice.Thefee,as a junior, to take the PSAT is $15.00. This test is a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test for juniors and they are highly encouraged to participate. This is also a great practice tool for the SAT, a college entrance test which students usuallytakethefirsttimeduringtheirjunioryear.

Course Request Proof Sheets Students will be given a copy of their course requests for fall in May. Students are to review and sign their sheets, and make any notes of changes. Schedules will not be changed in the fall unless there is a mistake on their schedule. A student changing their mind about a course does not necessitate a schedule change.

Credit Recovery Summer credit recovery is offered through Dixie Hollins Adult Education. Failed academic courses can be made up through grad point, an online credit recovery program. The summer program begins June 8 and continues through July 14, on days Monday through Thursday. The lab hours are 8 am-noon and 4-8 pm. Important Note: NCAA will NOT accept credit recovered through the grad point credit recovery program for student athletes.

5Greetings from the Rebel Battalion!

The Battalion activities are coming to an end as the school year is almost over. States, our last Drill meet took place on Saturday April 16th. All of the hard work put in at practice every week paid off and it showed at States. The Female Armed regulation platoon, commanded by Chynnel Price took second placeoverall!CadetNicolasGarciatookfifthplaceinhisexhibitionsolo.Thewhole drill team has represented Dixie very well throughout the year. Another event we participate in was Military Ball. That event took place on March 18, 2016. Vincent Pease and Danielle Morris were announced King and Queen for the year of 2015-2016. The next event that took place was Awards night. Awards night happened on April 20, 2016 and the purpose of it was to recognize cadets for all of their hard work and dedication that was put in to our community and the JROTC program. Awards night also recognizes our Booster club members who put countless amount of hours and support in making everything in this program possible. Each year at Awards night, the new leadership for the following school year is announced and the outgoing leadershiprelinquishestheirresponsibility.CongratulationstoourfirstsemesterBattalion Commander Shannon Silk and Second semester Brittany Sekot. Another congratulations goes to our new Command Sergeant Major Kaitlin HempsteadandBattalionXODaltonBusch! As we say goodbye to our seniors and old leadership, we look forward to the accomplishments that next year’s battalion is going to achieve. Every year, the Rebel Battalion keeps improving. This year’s rebel battalion has set high expectations for next year but we know that they will achieve it and go above andbeyond!GoRebels!

2016-2017 Calendar Pinellas County SchoolsWednesday, August 10 All schools open. All Pre-k and postsecondary schools’ classes begin. Monday, September 5 Labor Day Holiday - schools closed for staff and students. Tuesday,October11 Endoffirstquarter.Wednesday, October 12(a) Non-student day for 198- and 235-day instructional personnel. Monday, November 21(a) - Thanksgiving Holidays - schools closed for staff and students. Friday, November 25 Friday,December16 Endoffirstsemester.Monday, December 19 - Winter Holidays - schools closed for staff and students. Friday, December 30, 2016 Monday, January 2, 2017 Non-student day for 198- and 235-day instructional personnel. Tuesday, January 3 Second semester begins. Monday, January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday - schools closed for staff and students. Monday, February 20 Non-student day for 198- and 235-day instructional personnel. Friday, March 10 End of third quarter. Monday, March 13 Spring Holidays - schools closed for staff and student. Friday, March 17 Monday, March 20 Non-student day for 198- and 235-day instructional personnel. Tuesday, March 21 Schools reopen. Classes resume. Friday, April 14 Non-student day/non-work day for 198-day instructional personnel. Thursday, May 25 Last day for all students (with the exception of Adult students at the Postsecondary Centers). Friday, May 26 Non-student day/last day for 198-day instructional personnel. Monday, June 5 Four-day work week begins. (a)Hurricane make-up days * Professional development days, teacher planning days and trade days will be determined by District, PCTA, and Professional Development collaborative agreement and will be posted on the 2016-17 Staff Calendar.

For The Parents, Students, Staff and Community Of Dixie Hollins High School

Pinellas County Schools-Area IIIDixie Hollins High School4940 62 Street NorthSt. Petersburg, Florida 33709727-547-7876

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Orlando, FL Permit #2346

6

Academy of EntertainmentAcademy of Entertainment Arts students win Gold! We have some exciting news from the AEA. For the third straight year, we have won national Scholastic Awards. Actually we won three. Stephanie Hyde and Justin Pentith both wonGoldforphotography.RyanMolterwongoldforfilmmaking. ThestudentswillbeflowntoNYCtoCarnegieHallfortheredcarpetawardsshow.Itis extremely challenging to get gold at the national level. And Dixie AEA got three. In fact there were over 320,000 submissions nationwide. Very exciting. AEA students accepted in Gasparilla International Film Festival! AEAhadsixstudentfilmsgetacceptedintotheGasparillaInternationalFilmFestival.Thisisaverydifficultfilmcompetitiontogetacceptedinto.Thestudentsare:1. Lyndsie Zimmerman for What She Left Me2. Aaron Gauger, Dante Luvollo, Trey Thompson, Alexis Westmoreland, and Sidney

Wright for Could be Worse3. Haley Anderson, Chandon Addis, Crystal Miller, and Arianna Wright for My Little

Warrior4. Gage McCann, Dylan Maczis, and Tyler Majewski for Pitch Day5. ThomasErnst,SabrinaSchultz,SidneyWrightandAlexandraStimensforCut!6. Nathaniel Cleveland, Mikaela-Rose Piotrowski, Lyndsie Zimmerman, Gabbi Guzman,

and Phil Dvorak for Like MeAEA Student Film Accepted into the Sunscreen Film Festival! LyndsieZimmerman’sfilm“WhatSheLeftMe”wasacceptedintotheSunscreenFilmCompetition. Sunscreen has a student category that is only open to college students. Her filmwasenteredintotheprofessionalshortfilmcompetitionandsheplaced!

Performing Arts

Sweeney ToddThe Demon Barber of Fleet Street

May 19-21 at 7 pm in the Dixie Theatre Dixie Hollins High School’s theatre department is proud to present the dark and witty tale of London, love, murder, and revenge in“SweeneyTodd”.Aninfamoustale,SweeneyTodd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up, and the carnage has onlyjustbegun!UnderthecaptivatingdirectionofMr. Christopher Clark and the entrancing musical direction of Mr. Matthew Clear, this show is sure to be the highlight of the season. Show dates are May 19-21 at 7:00pm in the Dixie Theatre. Tickets are $10.00. This show is (PG-13).

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