THE MENENDEZ MESSAGE Volume 1 Issue 22

https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

904.547.8660

Office: 8:30am- 4:45pm

Good evening Falcon Families,

We welcome you all back tomorrow for the start of the second semester and the start of 2024 at PMHS. We hope that you all got to spend time with friends and family over this holiday break. We also hope that all students are rested and rejuvenated for the remainder of this school year. Over the winter break, many of our teachers engaged in professional learning to improve the learning experience for all students. I am very confident that our teachers will be providing our students with high quality, engaging instruction. We believe that these adjustments will pay incredible dividends for our students and community.

It is great to see a growing number of students engaging in our student-based organizations and student-focused events. Being connected has a tremendous impact on how students view school and learning. Please note the Spirit Week information below. Tomorrow is Color Wars where each class wears a different color.

We were also noticing an uptick in the appearance of cell phones during class time. Please remind your child, that there is to be NO cell phone usage during class times unless specifically directed by the teacher for instructional purposes. We are committed to protecting your child's instructional time.

So many of our students have risen to the occasion and we want to help ALL students. We are seeing grades improve as well as behavior and attendance. We want EVERY student at Pedro Menendez High School to achieve success. This will happen if all of us partner for the betterment of the community. We are incredibly thankful for the partnerships we have had thus far this year and look forward to growing an even stronger community during the second semester.

Senior parents, please make sure to look through the entire newsletter as there is important information for the coming weeks. As of now, Senior Dues are open for payment. Please see the flyer below.

Please see the flyer below regarding digital IDs. These will be utilized this year for students in the media center, cafeteria, checking in and out and other school events. If your child does not have a cell phone, we do have alternative options. In addition, all students must complete the form below to access the SJCSD network and acknowledge access to the SJCSD student code of conduct.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=V9CzsxL8P0-S9HK-boRDUeKKGqBOENVEqvS-DZFzgwNURFRJTEZEWjZVSVoxRlVaUTk1MVQ3UEo3Uy4u

Visitors to campus MUST complete a School Access Form which can be found on the SJCSD website at https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/volunteer/.

• This clearance is for entry on campus during school hours such as a morning meeting with teachers or counselors, volunteering, or other events.

As the year progresses, the message will fill with information for our students, parents and our community. Please make sure to subscribe to The Menendez Message at the link below.

We look forward to unlocking the potential of each student and Menendez High School this coming school year. RISE UP FALCONS!

Respectfully,

Ted Banton

Principal

Pedro Menendez High School

• January 8th - Classes resume for students
• January 10th - Ring ceremony
• January 15th - Martin Luther King Day - No School
• January 17th - Report card release

Report Card Release Date Changes



Quarter 2 report card release has been shifted to Jan 17. (from Jan 19)

Quarter 3 report card release has been shifted to March 22. (from March 26)

The Pedro Menendez High School

Class Ring Ceremony

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

8:30 a.m.

The PMHS Student Services office asks that families review the SJCSD Student Code of Conduct at https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schoolservices/conduct/

We especially ask that students and parents review cell phone policies. Please remember that phone are only allowed out during class time under the direction of the teacher for instructional purposes only. This is a change from year's past, but now aligns to Florida State Law.

Please take the time below the start of school to review and complete the survey link below. Completion of this form indicates review of the SJCSD Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Policies for the 2023- 2024 school year.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=V9CzsxL8P0-S9HK-boRDUeKKGqBOENVEqvS-DZFzgwNURFRJTEZEWjZVSVoxRlVaUTk1MVQ3UEo3Uy4u

For more information regarding the Deans' office, please visit https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/deans/

Yanetta (Arnold) Smith

Dean, Attendance and Tardies

Yanetta.Arnold@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Danielle Waldrop

Dean, Students A-L

Danielle.waldrop@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Kevin Leonard

Dean, Students M-Z

kevin.leonard@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Check out our academy newsletter for a glimpse into the great things our students are doing in their academies. https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/academies/newsletters/

Check out our academy website https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/academies/

SAT & ACT

Reminder: Students who have signed up for the SAT or ACT at PMHS or any other testing location, you must have a physical, government or school issued, photo ID to be permitted entrance to the test. Digital ID is not accepted for SAT or ACT testing. See the SAT or ACT websites for other forms of acceptable ID

*March 4-6 ALG/ELA10 FSA (Seniors only)

*March 26 ACT college reportable in school paid for by state (Juniors/Eng3 only) 

*April 9 ACT NCR (Seniors by invite only)

PSAT Results

As this was the very first time giving the digital PSAT, we could only estimate the times/schedule. We are thankful for the opportunity to give students a Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test experience during the school day. Students entered an email or contact before the test began, that is where they will receive an email when scores are ready. It will also be in their HAC account under grades->test scores->psat nmsqt no later than Dec 21.

Standard setting took place in Summer 2023 to establish a new B.E.S.T. scale. Starting in Winter 2023, scores are being reported on the new scale approved by the State Board of Education. The scale score ranges differ by grade and subject. Achievement levels describe a student’s success with the content assessed. As required by state law, achievement levels range from 1 to 5, with Level 1 as the lowest and Level 5 as the highest. For all assessments, Level 3 indicates "on grade level" performance. Higher expectations were established with the adoption of the B.E.S.T. Standards, which are more rigorous than the previous standards, the Florida Standards. The adopted cut scores for the FAST assessments and B.E.S.T. EOC assessments set higher expectations that bring us a step closer to ensuring all our students are prepared for postsecondary success.

Because the two scales were established for two different assessment systems aligned to different standards and the B.E.S.T. Standards are more rigorous than the Florida Standards, performance comparisons should not be made.

Your student received a score for a test on the provisional scale during the 2022–2023 school year or for a fall 2023 assessment (PM2, B.E.S.T. EOC, or FAST Grade 10 ELA Reading Retake), this score will update in the Florida Reporting System and Family Portal to reflect how your student would have scored on the new B.E.S.T. scale. The previous provisional scores are being provided on the B.E.S.T. scale for informational purposes only, so that you can make “apples to apples” comparisons to see your student’s progress over time. The converted score will look different because the provisional and B.E.S.T. scales use different number ranges, and the number ranges for B.E.S.T. are lower. This does not mean that the test got easier or that the standard was lowered. The new score is simply placed on a new range of numbers (325–475) vs. the provisional range (425–575).   

DUAL ENROLLMENT INFO

Any student planning on taking a Dual Enrollment class at SJRSC or online, you will need to make an appointment with your counselor beginning next week. Please view the course offerings on the SJRSC website prior to your meeting. This includes all Early college students. 

The college application season is in full swing and our School Counselors are here to help! The first step is for seniors to make a free account on www.commonapp.org where they can fill out one application that gets sent to multiple colleges which saves quite a bit of time and effort. Once they have done that, please have them make an appointment with their School Counselor to go over specifics with transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores, so we can make sure they have everything they need in a timely manner. We highly recommend all applications be submitted by November 1^st as this is when most of the schools have set their priority deadlines. Check out www.naviance.com if your student doesn't know where they want to apply yet or is an underclassman looking for general information for the future - every student has a free account, they just need to log in with their S# and password - we can help get them logged in at school their first time if they need assistance.

The PMHS School Counselor Office looks forward to serving the academic and social needs of the students of PMHS. More information on services and supports can be found at https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/guidance/

Stephanie Toffaletti

IB Coordinator

stephanie.toffaletti@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Meredith Masiak

Early College Students and Students with the last name A-E

meredith.masiak@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Kathy Hamill

Students with the last name F-M

kathryn.hamill@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Jacqueline Cruz

Students with the last name N-Z 

jacqueline.cruz@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Seniors - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be opening in December, anyone attending a post-secondary school after high school must fill this out each year! The application can be found here: www.studentaid.gov 

The FAFSA is separate from the application for Bright Futures. This application has already opened but the School Counselors will be meeting with our Senior English classes later this month to help our students apply.

The School Counselors are diligently posting information about scholarships, Dual Enrollment, and more on their Schoology page. Please make sure you're checking it daily!

Celebrate Literacy Week, Pedro Menendez High School!

January 22-26, 2024

Monday – “Belief in Your Shelf” Character Day – Dress as a character that inspires you from any piece of literature and enter the costume contest.

Wednesday – “Riley the Right Whale” Book Signing – Book Signing in the Media Center with Gigi Mischele Miller and PMHS student illustrator Melia Baker.

Friday – “Decorate Your Shelf” Door Decorating Contest – 4^th period classes will decorate their classroom doors based on literature that inspires them and compete for a class prize.

Parents, you may have received a letter recently regarding overdue books. Please return any library or textbooks owed. 

Parents/guardians may limit what their own students can check out from the school library by filling out the Parental Choice Library Book Restriction Form. Restrictions from middle school are no longer valid. A new form must be filled out and returned to the high school to meet new state requirements.”

Application: https://sjcpls.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Southeast-TAB-Application.pdf

Medication Given in School

Per school board policy, all medications must be brought into the clinic by a parent/guardian, not the student and requires the Medication Authorization Form to be completed (see below). Please include a Medical Management Plan if applicable (see below).

New bottles must be brought in by parents for each refill. Medication cannot be given from an old bottle.

All medication must be in their original containers, labeled with the student’s name, dosage, frequency of administration and physician’s name.

Medication should not be transported between home and school daily. Separate containers should be kept at home and at school.

Parents will be responsible for delivery and retrieval of medication to and from the school nurse.

Student Authorization to Self-Carry Medication

Per Florida Statue 1002.20, The Medication Authorization Form allows the student to carry their own emergency medication (Epinephrine Pen, Auvi Q, Glucagon or Inhaler) if and only if the parent and physician sign in the Florida Statute box on the Med Auth Form. This form must be returned to the school nurse before the student is allowed to carry prescribed self-administered medications.

Over the counter medications may be taken/given at school. They must be in the original container and be within the current expiration date. Please complete an Over-the Counter Form found below.

If you have any questions regarding medication to be taken/given at school, please contact Mrs. Parrey, RN, at 904-547-8672 or Rosemary.Parrey@stjohns.k12.fl.us. Additional medical forms can be found on our website under Clinic.

Medication-Authorization-form-

Allergy MMP2023-2024

Asthma-Medical-Management-Plan-MMP (2)

Over-the-Counter-Non-Medical-Form (1)

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.*

Link to Pay Dues

All Senior YBK Dedication / ADS:

Please go to:

www.Yearbookordercenter.com

        School Code: 15723

Complete directions for AD’s

          Full Page: $300; ½ Page: $200; ¼ page: $100

Book Club

“The Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, January 16^th in the Media Center after school. 

This is also the last call for signed permission slips if you intend to participate on the Battle of the Books team in March. Please attend the meeting so we can put together our strategy for the competition. 

There will be cookies!”

Chess Club & Model UN

Chess Club and Model UN Club will be on Mondays after school, room 660 or Library.

 https://forms.office.com/r/2PZf3F8nja

Cross Country

ACRR uses the proceeds from the Matanzas 5K to support St. Johns County high school and middle schools, St. Joseph Academy and Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Since 1989, ACRR has donated more than $300,000 to youth running programs. Please support PMHS cross country by registering for this race! https://raceroster.com/events/2024/80126/matanzas-5000

Volleyball

Interested in playing boys volleyball in the Spring? Please contact Coach Crosby at alexis.crosby@stjohns.k12.fl.us.

Tennis

Anyone interested in playing tennis this spring should see Coach Seymour (Rm 655) or Coach Melgard in the gym. Conditioning will start once you have completed athletic Clearence.

Track & Field

The Pedro Menendez Track & Field Team will conduct strength training Wednesday mornings before school. If you have interest, please see Coach Ray in room 400 before school. 

The Menendez Athletic Department utilizes an online paperless registration system, AthleticClearance.com. The registration process is attached. Additional Menendez Athletics information, including coaches’ contact information, can be found at www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/athletics/. Our expectation is that every athlete will be registered by their parent/guardian before their desired sport’s start date.

 Athletic Clearance Instructions

Please ensure the following when completing the online process:

1.     Student ID should be entered WITHOUT a preceding “S”. Numeric ID only!

2.     Scan and upload physical as ONE document.

3.     Ensure that student information is complete on page 4 of the physical (EL2).

4.     Ensure that the MD has checked “Medically eligible for all sports without restriction” AND signed and dated page 4 of the physical.

5.     Ensure that student and parent signature/date is completed on bottom of page 4 of the physical.

The only type of physical we accept is the FHSAA EL2 physical form. The updated physical form is 4 pages. Starting the 23-24 school year, the old EL2 form WILL NOT be accepted.

Please keep in mind that the FHSAA requires all student athletes to view free 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.

Fall Sports Start Date - 7/31/23

Bowling

Cross Country - Boys

Cross Country - Girls

Dance

Football

Golf- Boys

Golf - Girls

Swim

Girls VB

Falcon Pride Store

Baker’s Sports has an online store open again for Menendez Merch. Click the link below to see what’s available. Ships Directly to your house.

https://bakerssport-falconpride.itemorder.com/

Looking to get your Learner’s Permit? Sign up for the Driver Education Program at Pedro Menendez High School. The program consists of classroom lecture designed to assist a student preparing to obtain a Learner Permit. The classes will be 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. Parents may sign up by visiting the Tax Collector website and clicking on resources, or there is a link to driver ed on your school’s home page. Students may take this course if they are at least 14 ½, to prepare for a learner license that may be obtained at 15 years old. The cost is only 30.00, and that includes the DMV Test on the last day. The next session begins Friday, January 26^th. Please see Mr. Tisdale in Portable 2 for more information.

Registration link: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/StAugustine/CHARACTERCOUNTSinStJohnsCountySixPillars6K3KRunWalk

600 State Road 206 West

St. Augustine, FL 32086

Main: (904) 547-8660