A huge thank you to our wonderful PTSO for providing a delicious holiday breakfast on Wednesday and for giving each employee a gift card. Thank you to every family who donated to make the faculty and staff at Nease feel appreciated this holiday season!

Please remember that this Thursday is the last day of the 2nd quarter and we have a 2:50pm dismissal. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a restful and safe winter break. We will see everyone on Monday, January 8th.

Teachers are administering their last summative assessment this past week and next week. The last day, Thursday, December 21st is a make-up/retake summative day. We understand that all students will not have an assessment to make-up or retake in each period. Students will not be allowed to leave and return but with parent permission may leave after their last make-up/retake of the day. To help ease the check-out process in the main office, we are asking that parents/guardians complete this early dismissal form for their student to submit at the front gate if/when checking out early on this day. Absences for the 21^st will be unexcused unless documentation is submitted for the absence. (Forms may also be picked up in the main office.)

Thu, Dec 14 (Green) & Fri, Dec 15 (Gold)– Science, English & World Language

Mon, Dec 18^th (Green) & Tue, Dec 19^th (Gold) – Math, Social Studies & electives, if giving a paper/pencil summative.

Wed, Dec 20^th w/EXCEL – Students will receive test scores and be provided remediation if needed.

Thu, Dec 21^st – 2:50pm holiday release, so Wed bell schedule w/EXCEL. Retakes need to occur during class time.

Remediation for 7^th will need to occur during EXCEL on Wed, Dec 20^th.

Retakes for 7^th will need to occur during EXCEL on Thu, Dec 21^st.

Virtual Course update

If your child is currently taking a virtual course, they MUST have the course completed by January 4th for the course grade to be calculated into their semester GPA. The cumulative GPA after 1st semester of senior year determines final class rank and is used to issue graduation honor cords.

A YEARBOOK MAKES A GREAT GIFT! Get yours before prices go up on Dec. 31. Go to yearbookordercenter.com and enter code 15476.

NEASE LANYARDS FOR SALE!

Support the Boys’ Basketball team and purchase a Nike Nease Lanyard for $15 In Ms Gebauer’s room PH203

Exact Cash or Venmo the team @Nease-Boysbasketball (center of the gym floor for verification picture). If you Venmo just come up to Ms. G’s room and grab your awesome lanyard! If parents purchase for a great stocking stuffer, we can leave it in the front office for you with your name on it. Email Kelli.Gebauer@stjohns.k12.fl.us with any questions. THANK YOU for your support.

Phase I: Learner Permit Preparation – $30.00

A classroom lecture designed to assist a student preparing to obtain a Learner Permit. The classes are conducted prior to school from 8am-9am for a total of 10 consecutive school days. On the last day, students will be administered the Learner Permit Knowledge Exam that is required to obtain a Learner Permit. In addition to the Phase I course, students must also complete a state required 4-hour online drug and alcohol course prior to obtaining a Learner Permit.

Link to register: SJCTC DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAM – St. Johns County Tax Collector (sjctax.us)

Upcoming class at Nease:

02/14-02/28/2024

Join us Tuesday night, Dec 19th, in the stadium for a family Christmas movie night!

Event starts at 6:00pm, we will start Elf at 6:15pm!

There will be free hot chocolate and snacks available for purchase! We also have some coloring books available if your kid (or spouse, or you) start to get a little restless!



Feel free to invite all your family, friends, and community members!

Last call to get your Class of 2024 t-shirt! The last day to pick up your shirt is Wednesday, December 21^st during Excel A and B in Ms. Morrison’s room, B107, and Ms. Mietzner’s room, D021. Have a conflict? Reach out Mrs. Mietzner or Ms. Morrison via Schoology for alternative pick up. Are you a dual enrollment student? Please contact Ms. Jordan, the senior guidance counselor, for pick up. 

There are still 40 students who have not paid their senior dues! If you have not paid your senior dues, please look out for a Schoology message from Mrs. Mietzner. As a reminder, all seniors must pay their dues in order to attend Grad Bash, prom, and graduation.

The presentation from our Financial Aid Night can be accessed using the following link: 

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:7c92c3fc-4a80-31b5-8b4d-68289ea57010

Thank you to all who joined us virtually

Friday, May 10^th is the last day for seniors who have met all graduation requirements.

MANDATORY Graduation Rehearsal - Thursday, May 16th from 9am to 11am at UNF Arena.

Graduation - Tuesday, May 21st at 6pm at UNF - students will receive 7 graduation tickets.

Monday, December 18^th – Green Day – 1, 3, 5, 7

• HOME: 6pm/7:30pm – JV/V Boys’ Basketball vs Creekside

Tuesday, December 19^th - Gold Day – 2, 4, 6, 7

• 7pm – Winter Movie Night at stadium
• AWAY: 5:30pm/7:20pm – JV/V Girls’ Soccer at Beachside
• HOME: 6pm/7:30pm – JV/V Girls’ Basketball vs BK & Columbia

 Wednesday, December 20^th – 1, 2, 3, 4, EXCEL, 5 & 6 – 2:50pm dismissal

• 4pm – Athletic Signing Day in auditorium
• HOME: 6pm – Boys’ Wrestling vs First Coast & Fletcher “Alumni Night”

Thursday, December 21^st – 1, 2, 3, 4, EXCEL, 5 & 6 – 2:50pm dismissal

• AWAY: 6pm/7:30pm – JV/V Boys’ Basketball at Riverside
• AWAY: 4:30pm - V Girls' Basketball at Riverside
• HOME: 5:30pm/7:20pm – V Boys’ Soccer – Holiday Cup

Mandarin vs BK and Nease vs Creekside

• AWAY: 5:30pm/7:20pm – JV/V Girls’ Soccer at Fletcher

Friday, December 15^th through Wednesday, January 3^rd – Winter Break!!

Wed, Dec 27^th – Sat, Dec 30^th – Girls’ Basketball in Tampa – Wiregrass Ranch Tournament

Wed, Dec 27^th – Sat, Dec 30^th – Boys’ Basketball in Alachua – Hitchcock Classic

Wednesday, January 3^rd

• HOME: 6pm/7:30pm – JV/V Boys’ Basketball vs Flagler Palm Coast

Friday, January 5^th

• AWAY: 12pm – Boys’ Wrestling at Yulee for Joe Bees Memorial
• AWAY: 5:30pm/7:pm – JV/V Boys’ Soccer at Mandarin
• AWAY: 5:30pm – V Girls’ Basketball at Keystone Heights
• HOME: 6pm/7:30pm – JV/V Boys’ Basketball vs Clay

 Saturday, January 6^th

• AWAY: 8am – Boys’ Wrestling at Yulee
• AWAY: 10am – V Girls’ Basketball at Atlantic Coast HS
• HOME: 4-7:30pm - MiniPantherette camp

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL NEASE STUDENTS 9^th through 12^th grades!

2024 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest! OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 9th grade through 12th grade! Deadline for submission is January 12, 2024. Click on the link below for all details. GOOD LUCK!! 

JFK Profiles in Courage Essay Contest

The top 25 students receive the following awards: 

·        1st place - $10,000

·        2nd place - $3,000

·        5 finalists - $1,000 each 

·        10 semi-finalists - $100 each 

·        8 honorable mentions

NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY

• Optional Writing Workshop – Monday, Dec. 18th from 4pm-5pm in B102
•  Submit all required winter writing to Schoology by Dec. 22nd. You’ll be notified via email if your writing was selected for the national submission.
• Please see Schoology for meeting notes and directions on submissions.

Contact Mrs. Lewis or Mrs. Lopez via Schoology with any questions or concerns. 

Nease's Anti Human Trafficking is hosting a donation drive. We are accepting hygiene products, canned goods, and bedsheets through December 20th. Donation box is located in C-pod.

Please mark your calendars for the 2023 Soccer Holiday Cup hosted at Nease High School on Thursday 12/21/23.

(Nease will play Creekside at the 7:20 game)



Admission is waived and donations will be collected to support Soaring High and the Ronald McDonald House.

Specific donation requests include gift cards for Publix and Walmart, blankets, stuffed animals and bedding. Cash and Venmo donations will also accepted at the game. 

All donated items will be equally split between the receiving organizations.

Hope to see everyone there supporting the soccer teams, the community and the organizations.  

Girls Weightlifting Meet Results

Dec 6th - Pedro Menendez & Creekside

Olympic

Nease – 42

Creekside – 35

Pedro – 33

Traditional

Creekside – 37

Pedro – 37

Nease – 35

Mackie Cherry (154) extended her school records in the Snatch, Bench Press and Olympic Total.

Haven Boyer (139) broke the school record in the Snatch.

Dec 13th - County Championships Results

Olympic

Izzy Knight (101) – 2^nd place

Ari Lopez (110) – 1^st place

Alaina Modansky (119) – 3^rd place

Sydney Anthony (129) – 3^rd place

Haven Boyer (139) – 3^rd place

Traditional

Izzy Knight (101) – 1^st place

Ari Lopez (110) – 3^rd place

Emma Tolly (183) – 3^rd place

Dec 14th – Mandarin / FSDB

Olympic

Nease – 49

Mandarin – 38

Traditional

Nease – 39

Mandarin – 52

FSDB – 8

Congratulations to the Pantherettes for their two regional championship wins this past weekend! The girls faced off against many well-established programs in the Orlando area and came out on top! They have been working very hard to prepare for competition season with practices over 4-5xs per week.

The Pantherettes are continuing their journey to the DTU National Championship in February!



If you get a chance, please check out our social media page to vote for us as “Fan Favorite” by commenting and liking the post on @danceteamunion ‘s Orlando I post!

Nease at Tom Coughlin Jay Fund

Nease students – Demarco Blackmon, Careal Carter, Cade Papineau, and Sloan Davis volunteered at the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation Holiday Party at WJCT for pediatric cancer patients. The Jay Fund is a non-profit organization that helps families tackling childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional, and practical support from diagnosis to recovery. There were 90+ children with cancer and their families at the event. These Nease students boxed 550 meals to serve at the event. Way to go Panthers!

A big congratulations to Nease Cheer for bringing home two 1^st place wins from Clay Classic this past Saturday!

Congratulations to Matt Ryan for earning 2023 Honorable Mention All-American finishing as the 39^th best cross country runner in the nation at the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships.  Matt earned a trip to race in San Diego this past weekend against the best in the nation from 4 different qualifying regions. Matt helped the south region win the regional team competition. Matt is the first boy in the history of the Nease to qualify for the national meet and the second ever from St. Johns County.  In addition to Honorable Mention All-American this closes out his high school cross country career as a member of the 2023 state team championship along with his 2022 individual state cross country championship.  

🌟 Gold Level Plus Business Partner 🌟

Oasis Boatyard & Marina has been family-owned and operated since 1999. John & Jodi Spires, the owners, have been part of the Panther Community since 2006. Oasis Boatyard offers a wide variety of marine services, from quick hauls to full refits. With a combined experience of 30+ years in the industry, you can count on Oasis for all of your boating needs. For more information or questions regarding work, don't hesitate to get in touch with John or Jodi Spires at @904 824-2520

Thank you, Oasis Boat Yard and Marina, for supporting Nease High School since 2006!

www.oasisboatyardandmarina.com

1 904-824-2520

🌟 Gold Level Plus Business Partner 🌟

Part of Publix's mission is to be involved as responsible citizens in our communities. For over 90 years, Publix has been a company our schools & communities can count on. Publix is honored to be a part of the Nease family.

Thank you, Publix, for supporting Nease Hiigh School.



Academy Intent to Return Process: Continuing in a program or dropping one for 2024-25

Before winter break, all Communications, Hospitality, and Engineering Academy students will be asked to indicate if they want to remain in their current Academy for the 2024-25 school year by signing an Intent to Return roster. If the student checked “Yes,” than that student will be automatically re-enrolled in the Academy for 2024-25. The student will also receive a recommendation to move on to the next level Academy course, as long as they are meeting Academy requirements. If an Academy student checks “No” on the roster to indicate that they do not want to continue in the Academy next year, a Program of Choice Drop Form will be sent home with those students in January. The drop form must be completed by the student and parent and returned to Mrs. Combs. If you have any questions about the Intent to Return process, please reach out to Jaime Combs at Jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Academy Application Process for the 2024-25 School Year

If you are a rising 10^th grader interested in joining a Career Academy or Program of Interest for the 2024-25 school year (a program you’re not already enrolled in this school year), the application window opens up on January 4^th and lasts the entire month of January, through January 31st. Students will apply by logging into their HAC account and selecting up to three Programs of Interest/Career Academies. Once the application window opens, here are directions to apply—

Step 1: Log into STUDENT’S HAC account      Step 2: Click on “Classes”      Step 3: Click on “Requests” tab      Step 4: Select “Edit” for Academy/Program of Interest Application         Step 5: Select/check 1, 2, or 3 choices (can select only one or two programs, if the student is not interested in three)       Step 6: Click “Save”

Citi Women In IT one-week PAID Summer Internship Application Window Closes Dec 31^st

This is a one-week internship for female-identifying students who are 16 years or older as of June 1, 2024. Students do not have to be 16 at the time of application. This internship is seeking candidates who are passionate about pursuing a technology-based career.

There are two steps to apply: 1. Fill out a survey with your info (QR code to survey link is on the flyer) 2. Submit an essay by attaching it to an email and emailing the email address as seen on the flyer.

Those accepted into the one-week internship will have opportunities in the future to apply to our WIT 6-week high school and/or the WIT 10-week college program. Many past WIT one-weekers go into one or both and then move on to other internships at Citi and even full-time roles! It is a great opportunity, but it all starts with applying to the one-week internship. Students do not have to be in an Academy to apply. This is an in-person internship, so students must be able to attend on-site at the Citi campus off of Old. St. Augustine Rd, near Baptist South (address in flyer). Please see flyer for full details of eligibility: (paste in attachment here please)

If you have any questions about the Communications Academy, Stellar Academy of Engineering, or the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, reach out to Mrs. Combs at jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Fidelity Scholars Program

The Fidelity Scholars program is open to underrepresented collegiate populations and serves students living in a select number of states, including Florida. To be eligible for the Fidelity Scholars Program, all applicants must live and plan to attend a college or university in their home states of MA, NC, TX, FL, NM , and NJ, and Washington, D.C. Last year, the Fidelity Scholars Program awarded 200 Scholars with more than $2.8 million in scholarships, with 65% of those Scholars as first-generation college goers. Individual awards vary. Application Deadline: 1/11/2024 11:59 PM. Learn more and apply here. 

If you have any questions about the Communications Academy, Stellar Academy of Engineering, or the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, reach out to Mrs. Combs at jaime.combs@stjohns.k12.fl.us

IB Seniors

All IB seniors received their college application “gold envelope.” There is at least a 2-week (14 working days) turnaround for the processing of the envelope. Please allow for this prior to submission.

Reminder: The FFAA (Bright Futures) Application is now open. The FAFSA is scheduled to open at some point in December. Click here for more information on changes to the FAFSA and the reason for the delay in release. Please be mindful, that you must complete these applications in order to be evaluated for postsecondary financial aid eligibility.

If a senior is currently taking a virtual course, they MUST have the course completed by January 4th for the course grade to be calculated into their first semester GPA. The cumulative GPA after 1st semester of senior year determines final class rank and is used to issue graduation honor cords.

IB Juniors

Juniors are working on selecting their extended essay topic for the upcoming mentor selection process. Ask them what they plan on writing on and what research they are interested in.

All IB Students & Parents

Lots of information is being posted on the Nease IB Schoology Page. All IB students have been placed in the group and provided the group code to join during the beginning of the year meetings. Please ask your student what has been posted lately.

Carolyn Milian – School Librarian Media Specialist

Lorna Patterson – Media Clerk

Media Center phone number – 904-547-8367

Email – carolyn.milian@stjohns.k12.fl.us

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our students and families a wonderful, blessed, and safe holiday season and a new year filled with much happiness and good fortune! Enjoy upcoming weeks with friends and family! 

COFFEE STATION DONATIONS!

With chilly temps on the rise, our student coffee station is in need of some supplies. The students absolutely love this little FREE perk we offer in our media center. We could still use some of the following items if you are willing and able to help donate so we can keep this going for our students.

·        10 oz. coffee cups

·        Hot chocolate packets

·        Tea bags (for our tea drinkers 😊 )

·        Creamer (individual packs or powdered. No refrigerated creamers please)

·        Sugar (individual small packets)

Thank you so much for anything you can help out with so we can continue this little “perk” for our students.

HOLIDAY READING BINGO!

If you missed out on “Summer Reading Bingo” and earning some cool gift cards like Starbucks, Amazon, or Gate – now’s your chance to earn them with our “Holiday Reading Bingo”!! Students will have the opportunity to read a variety of books, articles, listen to podcasts, etc. and earn some of these prizes in this year’s “Holiday Reading Bingo” program. Bingo boards and reading logs will be due on Friday, Jan. 26^th, 2024, so they have 3 FULL months to work on this and have fun doing it. Below is the Bingo board and the prizes students can earn. Students would need to complete the online “editable reading log” to document all their selections on our media center webpage. For more information, please click here to take you to our “Holiday Reading Bingo” page on our media center webpage. You can also contact me directly in the media center for additional questions. Have fun and let’s READ-READ-READ to SUCCEED! 

Follow Nease Athletics on Instagram #NeaseAthletics and Twitter @NeaseAthletics

You can support Nease Athletics by becoming a member of our Booster Club! Everyone is welcome to join. There are five membership levels. All funds will directly support Nease High School athletic programs. All athletes and coaches will benefit from the funding. Show your Panther Pride and sign up here https://neaseathletics.com/gpbc-membership/

Link Below for Apparel purchases:

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/florida/pontevedra/nease-high-school

Athletic Clearance

Prior to participating with a Nease High School athletic team, all students are required to complete the athletic clearance process.

Please keep in mind that the FHSAA requires all student athletes to view free NFHS video courses on concussions, heat illness, and sudden cardiac arrest (see instructions below). Signatures on the EL3 form indicate that your athlete has completed these three video courses. The FHSAA also requires that all student athletes have at least a 2.0 unweighted GPA to be eligible for participation.

For step-by-step athletic clearance instructions please visit: https://neaseathletics.com/athletic_clearance/

Athletic Fee/Pay to Participate

The purpose of the Nease Athletic Fee is to help address the costs associated with operating a high school athletic department. Currently the St. Johns County School Board pays each coach’s coaching supplement, and all remaining costs are the responsibility of the athletic department and teams. The athletic fee helps cover the following expenses:

·        Game officials

·        Indoor and Outdoor Athletic Facility maintenance

·        Sports Medicine

·        Security

·        Athletic Leadership Council activities

·        Student-Athlete Letters and Awards

·        FHSAA membership dues and other fees

The 2023-24 fee will be as follows: $75 Per Sport Played

This fee must be paid prior to the student-athlete participating in his/her first contest. Nease Athletics appreciates your attention and compliance regarding payment of this fee. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Nease Athletic Department.

Looking ahead:

Nease Boys Lacrosse Team Meeting-

Wednesday, December 20th, Excel A, Portable 24.