Happy Friday!

SCHOOL PICTURE UPDATE -- Students may already see their updated photos in the ID app, but final proofs will be sent via email in the next 2-3 weeks. Parents will be able to view and order photo packages then. If a package was pre-ordered, those will be mailed to your home. If orders were placed after photo day, they will be sent to the school for distribution. Should students decide to have a retake, those can be done on October 25 in the auditorium.

PSAT Date is Wednesday, Oct 11th. Since the exam is digital this year, we initially planned for 9th graders to test on planning day, Monday, October 16th. Since registration has closed, we have determined that we have enough computers to test ALL of 10th and the 9th & 11th who registered on Wednesday, October 11th. To provide the best testing environment for students and to have enough teachers to administer the exams, students not testing have the option to take a digital learning day at home. All students will be given an assignment from their teacher that will be submitted. Students not taking the PSAT who choose to attend school, will sit in the cafeteria and use a laptop to complete online assignments.

If you would like your child to leave after testing at 12:45pm on October 11th, an early release form MUST be signed and submitted on Oct 11th for your child to leave campus. You can print the form or have your child pick up a form from the main office.

YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW! We sold out last year, so make sure to reserve yours while they are at the lowest price of the year. Go to yearbookordercenter.com and enter code 15476

Grad Bash Update: We have very few tickets remaining for Grad Bash! Students who paid their senior dues by the deadline of August 18^th are eligible to purchase a ticket at this time. If tickets sell out, a waitlist will be available at a later date. 

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

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

SENIOR PARENT ADS -- Don't miss out on your opportunity to honor your special senior with an ad in the 2024 yearbook! You can purchase, upload photos and design your ad with ease on yearbookordercenter.com. (Code 15476). Ad sizes are a quarter page, half page or full page. Space is limited and our plant deadline requires a cutoff of Nov. 1.

DEADLINE TO ORDER CAP & GOWN - December 1, 2023 www.hjjax.com

Monday, September 25th – GREEN Day – 1, 3, 5 & 7

• 6:30pm – Fall Jazz Concert in auditorium
• HOME: 6/7pm – JV/V Volleyball vs Trinity

Tuesday, September 26^th – GOLD Day – 2, 4, 6 & 7

• 9:45am – IB Booster Mtg in MC 146
• AWAY: 6/7pm – JV/V Volleyball at Yulee

Wednesday, September 27^th – 1, 2, 3, 4, EXCEL, 5 & 6 – 2:50pm dismissal

• AWAY: 8am – Boys’ Golf at Creekside Invitational at Deerwood CC
• AWAY: 9am – Girls’ Golf at Creekside Invitational at Deerwood CC
• EXCEL A & B in labs in upstairs PH – Students attend whatever they need.

Computer Lab PH 222 – Naviance: Strength Explorer

Computer Lab PH230 – Naviance: Career Cluster

Computer Lab PH232 – College Resume Building

Computer Lab PH 234 - Gold envelope process for applying to college

Thursday, September 28^th – GREEN Day – 1, 3, 5 & 7

• Lunches: IB Social behind PH
• 6:30pm – Concert Ensemble’s Fall Concert in auditorium
• HOME: 6/7pm – JV/V Volleyball vs Fletcher
• HOME: 5:30pm/7pm – JV Green & Gold Football vs Ponte Vedra

Friday, September 29^th – GOLD Day – 2, 4, 6 & 7

• AWAY: all day – Boys’ Golf in Kissimmee
• AWAY: 6pm – V Football at Sandalwood

Saturday, September 30^th 

• AWAY: all day – Boys’ Golf in Kissimmee
• AWAY: Cross Country – FSU meet (Tallahassee)
• NJROTC FT – Orienteering Meet in Brunswick, GA

Sunday, October 1^st 

• 8am – 1pm – PTSO Math Boot Camp in PH203 (Gebauer)

Juniors and Seniors can register for college visits through Naviance. A list of all available visits is available in Naviance. Students are allowed 5 visits per year. All visits will receive a pass in the first/second period. This pass should be shown to the teacher PRIOR to the visit. Students should NOT miss summative assessments to attend a college visit. Visits will take place in the media center, unless otherwise indicated. 

Monday, September 25, 2023

Clemson University: 12:10

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

American University: 11:00

Wofford College: 11:35

Johns Hopkins University: 12:10

Fairfield University: 12:45

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

New York University: 12:30

Marist College: 1:00

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Valdosta State University: 11:00

St. Johns River State College: 12:10

SGA NEWS:

Elections for Freshmen President, Freshmen Vice President, Freshmen Secretary, SGA Treasurer, and SGA Secretary will be this Wednesday September 27. Voting will be via Microsoft Forms and QR codes will be posted around school and on Wired for students to access the form. Voting is open to all students! To get to know our candidates please check out this link: Meet the Freshmen Officer Candidates

There will be an election for class representatives on October 4. Those candidates will be sent out next week!

Homecoming 2023 Information:

Nease Homecoming Dance 2023 “A Night in Greece” will be Saturday October 14, 2023 from 7:00-10:30pm. The dance will take place outdoors in the school courtyards. Tickets will be $25 for Nease students and $30 for guests.

Guest Forms will be available starting Monday in the front office or outside D-27. Tickets will go on sale for all grade levels starting Monday October 2 and will close on Thursday October 12. Guest tickets must be purchased before school, after school, or during Excel in D-27. Guest forms must be complete in order to purchase the guest tickets.

Ticket links will be shared next week! Make sure to pay all school debts before purchasing a ticket!

Homecoming Spirit Week! Get ready for the homecoming game and dance with spirit week October 9-13. The spirit days are listed below. Students are encouraged to dress up (within dress code) and show their school spirit! 

Monday – Barbie and Ken

Tuesday – Crazy Hat or Crazy Hair Day 

Wednesday – Western Wednesday

Thursday – Celebrity v. Paparazzi 

Friday – Class Colors (12^th – Black / 11^th – White / 10^th – Green / 9^th – Gold)

For questions contact Coach Case: Amy.Case@stjohns.k12.fl.us 

Mu Alpha Theta applications are now open for the 2023-2024 school year. Students that have completed Algebra 2, have a 4.0 weighted GPA in math classes, and a 3.5 overall weighted GPA are eligible to join! Click the link below to access the application. The deadline to apply is 4:00 PM on September 29^th! PREVIOUS MEMBERS MUST REAPPLY! Email Ms. Baran (Nicole.baran@stjohns.k12.fl.us) if you have questions.

https://forms.office.com/r/Zydy5vYqTM

National English Honor Society

Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Lopez are excited to reestablish a chapter of the National English Honor Society at Nease. Applications are available from Mrs. Lewis in B102 before school or during EXCEL. Application deadline is October 13, 2023.

What is NEHS? It is an organization for those with exceptional ability and interest in such areas as literary analysis, media studies, composition, linguistic study, and creative writing, and who meet the requirements of membership.

Scholarships and contests are available through NEHS. The organization also focuses on quarterly projects and literary discussions.

How do I know if I am eligible?

• You must currently be a junior or a senior. 
• You must have an overall cumulative. 3.0 GPA.
• You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in all English courses. (You must have received above a B in all secondary English classes and in your current English course.)
• You must currently be enrolled in an Honors/AP/IB/Dual-Enrollment English class.)

Are there dues? Each student pays a one-time induction fee of $15.00, which covers national registration and a membership certificate, and which makes the member eligible for full Society benefits. Dues will be collected at a later date after acceptance letters are distributed. 

Football Home Game Themes

9/22 vs Orange Park – Gold Rush

10/6 vs St. Augustine – Pink Out

10/13 vs Flagler Palm Coast – Let’s Glow (Homecoming)

10/27 vs PV – White Out

11/3 vs Tocoi – Aliens vs Cowboys (Senior Night)

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES!

Several organizations have reached out looking for student volunteers and awarding community service hours. These are not Nease HS sanctioned events so if you have any questions about these opportunities please reach out to the organizations directly.

·        St. Johns Cares

·        Sol Margin Fishing and Conservation Foundation

The St. Johns County Education Foundation d/b/a Investing in Kids (INK!) is once again hosting our annual Jail Break 5K – starting at the Old Jail in downtown St. Augustine and finishing at Vilano Beach. We’d love to have your students assist INK! with our Jail Break 5K on Saturday, October 21^st AND earn service hours for their time. We will need groups for cheering runners and handing water to runners along the race course. All student volunteers will receive a letter documenting their volunteer hours.

Here is the sign-up link for volunteers: https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/FL/SaintAugustine/EscapeFromStAugustine

You will see a list of cheer and water stations we need volunteers to sign-up for. If you click on the yellow volunteer button for a station, it will open a window to register for that station. If anyone has problems registering on the site, I can always add them manually. I just need a list of names that you want me to register. I’d love to have volunteers registered or your list of names by October 6^th.

I do ask that volunteers register (in pairs, etc.) at different stations. We’d like to have a few volunteers at each station first, before filling up a single station.

Volunteers will need to check in at volunteer registration at 6:45 a.m. at The Old Jail, 167 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (I know it is early, but they will be finished by 9:30/10:00). At 7:00 a.m., they will be shuttled from the Old Jail to their station location along the race course. A shuttle will return them to The Old Jail after the race for post-race festivities. Student volunteers in need of service hours will go home with a documentation letter at the end of their volunteer time on race day.

FRESHMEN/LINK CREW TAILGATE CELEBRATION!! 

Friday, Oct. 6^th is our home game against St. Augustine High and our Link Crew Leaders are planning a fun pre-game tailgate party behind Panther Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Freshmen will need to complete the online form below, and donate $5 to cover the cost of food, snacks, and drinks. This does not include tickets to the game. Those must be purchased separately. Students can bring the money to Mrs. Milian in the media center. Please understand-students CANNOT remain on campus after school because there will be no supervision for them. They must go home and can return to campus after 5:15 p.m. and meet us under the pavilion next to C-pod. We’ll have corn-hole, ladder toss, and other

fun activities for them as they get hyped for the game. At approximately 6:45 p.m. the Link leaders will escort the freshmen attending the football game to the stadium. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Milian at carolyn.milian@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Freshmen/Link Crew Tailgate!

PSAT PRACTICE!! 

The Princeton Review is offering FREE webinars on practice for the PSAT in addition to other valuable information for your students. ALL sophomores will be taking the PSAT on Oct. 11^th so this is a great opportunity to get them familiar with what the PSAT is about and some testing strategies. Please scan the QR code to learn more. 

Tutoring: The National Honor Society hosts afterschool tutoring on Wednesdays from 3pm-4pm in A107. If your student needs help in math, science, social studies, foreign language, or English, please use the link below to sign up for a tutor!

https://forms.office.com/r/njRJDfUVkQ

Girls Volleyball

The Girls Volleyball team had 4 wins - 1 loss last weekend at the JJVA tournament and now have a 6-6 overall record. Next week they will take on Yulee (away) and Fletcher (home).

The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams headed to Cary, NC to race in the Adidas Challenge to face national level competition. The girls Varsity and Junior Varsity teams produced solid performances at the with over seventy five percent of the athletes establishing new personal records. The Varsity team was led by Kendall Wampler running a 20:14 and on the JV side Ava Thomas finished at the front of the Nease pack with a 23:21. 

The boys Varsity team finished second overall beating over 90+ teams from the Southeast and Midwest. Matt Ryan ran 15:02 over the 5k course to establish himself as the second fastest cross country runner in Nease history.  He was followed by Sai Jayaraman 15:50, Finn Thomas 16:07, Nate Corkran 16:13, Wyatt Pittman 16:21, Gavin Voils 16:50 and Jacob Schroeder in 17:39. The only team to finish ahead of Nease is currently ranked 23^rd in the nation.  The boys JV team also finished 2^nd with several runners setting new personal records as they look to claim varsity positions in the near future.  The boys and girls return to action at the Bale-n-Trail Original hosted by Bartram Trail on Saturday September 23.

Wear your Panther Pride!

The SPIRIT WEAR STORE is OPEN! 

Become a PTSO Member! Two Membership Options

1) Regular: includes a NEASE car magnet! - $40

2) Premium: includes a Panther Pride banner and a NEASE car magnet!- $125 Consider Joining Today!

https://neaseptsoboard.wixsite.com/nhs.../preimum-membership

Gold Level Plus Business Partner Spotlight

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 various 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 for supporting Nease High School since 2006! www.oasisboatyardandmarina.com

Academy Guest Speaker Permission Forms

The Academies are scheduling upcoming guest speakers to share their professional experiences with students in the Academy classes, or during Excel time. This year, students MUST submit a parent permission form to take part in a guest speaker event. These permission forms will be sent home with students within their Academy classes, and need to be turned in with parent signatures before the guest speaker event takes place. Please be sure to sign these forms and remind your student to turn them back in to their teachers. If we have a guest speaker event during an Academy class, and your student has not turned in their permission form, we will have to send the student out of the classroom to complete an alternative assignment in order to be in compliance with new state rules. This is a new process, and it will impact all Academy programs. 

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

Seniors were given their gold envelopes to begin their college application process with Nease. Please see the contents of the envelope so you are aware of how to request transcripts, secure letters of recommendations and get secondary school reports completed by Mrs. Kennedy. More information is located in the guidance section of this Panther Press.

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 meetings mentioned above. Please ask your student what has been posted lately.

College visits have begun. Juniors and Seniors can sign up to attend through Naviance. There is a limit of 5 per year. See guidance section for those listings.

Thank you to those that have joined our IB Booster Club.  They are a non-profit charitable organization run by a volunteer board of parents. All parents with students in the IB program are encouraged to join and participate in the IB Booster events. Parent participation, whether occasionally or on a routine basis, contributes to the success of our students in the IB program. Please visit the website at www.neaseibboosters.org for more information. We are looking forward to meeting you and hope to see you get involved! The next Booster Club meeting will be held at 9:45 on September 26th in the Nease Media Center. We look forward to seeing everyone there. All visitors are required to sign in, so please make sure you are an approved volunteer with the St. Johns County School District.

Carolyn Milian – School Librarian Media Specialist

Lorna Patterson – Media Clerk

Media Center phone number – 904-547-8367

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

ATTENTION ALL FAMILIES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE!! PLEASE READ!

We will be celebrating our 3^rd Annual “Hispanic Heritage Celebration” in our school media center and we need your help! 

To celebrate our culture, our heritage, and our people, we will be hosting this FUN event in our media center once again on Wednesday, Oct. 4^th during Excel time. We would LOVE parent support and help! We are hoping to have a showcase of hispanic foods, music, dress, flags, decorations, arts & crafts stations AND we will have TREMENDOUS Zumba instructor – Awilda Quezada – doing mini-Zumba sessions with our students! If you are able to help us out in some way, PLEASE email me as soon as possible so that I can count on you!! Thank you so much!!

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:

Girls Weightlifting

First Practice: Oct 9 (7:15am)

Girls Soccer

Anyone wanting to try out for girls’ soccer must be registered and have athletic clearance before October 16^th.

Tennis

Nease Tennis will have a Chick-fil-A Spirit night Thursday, October 12th from 5pm to 8pm. 10% of all proceeds will go the Nease Tennis Program.

Girls Basketball

• If anyone is interested in participating in the fall girls basketball workouts please contact Coach Anthony by email: Sherri.anthony@stjohns.k12.fl.us or phone (904)547-8405.
• Workouts are Monday – Thursday. A calendar will be available for anyone interested in joining. This pre-season time of conditioning and playing will help prepare you for team tryouts in the end of October. All participants must have a current physical.

 Hope to hear from you and see you on the court and in the weight room soon!

Coach Anthony

Nease Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach

(904)547-8405

Fall Sport Schedules:

To view the fall sports schedules visit https://neaseathletics.com/calendar/

Nease Athletic Ticket Sales will be GoFan this school year