THE MENENDEZ MESSAGE

Volume 1 Issue 37

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

904.547.8660

Office: 8:30am- 4:45pm

Good morning Menendez Nation!

We hope you have had a wonderful start to the week. The school year is quickly coming to a close. Graduation rehearsal has taken place with our Commencement Ceremony taking place next week. Teachers are finalizing assignments, assessments and grades next week as well. All of our athletic teams have finished there seasons for the 23-24 school year and we have had a number of teams with increased success. Spring football will have its Spring game on May 23rd.

IB testing and Florida state testing are finishing this week. Final grades and assessments will be closing next week. This is the time for students to stay focused and finish the race well. Please make sure to read below regarding IB testing dates as well as FAST and EOC test dates.

We are also ramping up for a number of projects and improvements here at PMHS this summer. We are excited to share that this summer we will be completing facility improvements in our gymnasium and auditorium which will include seating and sound in the gymnasium and seating and flooring in the auditorium. We are also installing a number of upgrades in our courtyard. We will be sending out pictures as these projects are completed in the Menendez Message.

We are very excited about our recent partnership with SportClips of St. Augustine. For every ultimate VIP haircut, SportClips will donate $5.00 for the benefit of Pedro Menendez High School. Please see the flyer below.

We recently had a faculty and staff meeting where we discussed the four tenets that will serve as the foundation for PMHS moving forward.

• Communication
• Clarity of Standards/ Expectations
• Consistency
• Commitment

These foundational practices will help all of us as we move forward for the rest of this school year. Furthermore, we have emphasized the importance of clear and consistent standards and expectations. As the wise Hall of Fame baseball coach, John Scolinos, once said, "don't widen the plate."

Please make sure to read through the entire newsletter and please pay particular attention to the assessment section as we are in the annual testing season. All testing dates can be found at https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/testing/ For senior parents, please make sure to read about upcoming events.

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.

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.

Please make sure to subscribe to The Menendez Message at the link below.

RISE UP FALCONS!

Respectfully,

Ted Banton

Principal

Pedro Menendez High School

• May 10th - Last Day for Seniors
• May 14th - Graduation Rehearsal 7:00AM
• May 15th - IB Senior Banquet
• May 22nd - Graduation 7:00PM
• May 23rd- Spring Football Game 7:00PM

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

Congratulations to our Menendez Seniors who were recognized on April 17th, 2024 for being tin the top three percent academically in St. Johns County

STAR AWARD Winners

Sierra Alva

Collin Beese

Brooke Biermann

Kari Spilling

Kylee Schneider

Bozhena Korol

Irielle Florez

Quinn Larson

Kristian Bayless

Nicole Loeffler

Trenton Stasky

Evan Colsant

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/

IB exams have begun! Please make sure your student knows their testing dates and times!

The schedule is as follows:

May 13 & 14 - Biology

May 14 & 15 - Spanish

Seniors testing in Biology will unfortunately miss Graduation Rehearsal. Mrs. Toffaletti will have their rehearsal packets for them at the conclusion of the exam that morning.

FAST Gr. 9-10 PM3. & All EOCs:

Parents/Guardians will have access to student scores for FAST grades 9-10 and all EOCs in the Family Portal. The log-on process pdf is under Testing Resources on the PMHS Testing webpage.

Student scores will start populating after a one-week validation window, so completed tests should begin to have reported scores beginning May 8th and scores will continue to be available during the testing window as tests are completed. The last day to make up missed EOCs is May 24th.

High School Students are responsible for knowing when/where they test in April/May! Parents can verify by going to https://www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/testing/ and clicking on the



PMHS Spring Testing Schedule 24

Gr 11 ACT scores from March 26 will post to HAC after the district receives them. Students can access their scores mid-April by going to the account they created using the sheet inside the ACT info book given March 6^th before spring break. Please DO NOT contact Mrs. Purtill to ask about student scores - you will know them before she does.

Dear Falcon Families,

Testing season is upon us, and during this time we would love to have parents who have the gift of calm and Falcon-sharp eyes to proctor state testing sessions. Please use the link below to sign up to be a proctor if you are an approved volunteer

https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/volunteer/

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B0B4EA4A923ABFB6-spring1

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).   

Students who want to leave campus 1 or more periods early next year need to have turned in the correct paperwork. If your student did not receive the paperwork needed for a modified schedule (seniors only), executive internship (juniors and seniors), or voluntary public service (seniors only), please print off the correct paperwork from the school website or send your student to ask their counselor. Thank you for your help with this!

Congratulations to all of our seniors that have been accepted into college! Make sure you are following all the required steps outlined in your admissions offers, like housing deposits and residency verification. Final decisions on which school you are attending are due to the colleges by May 1st. Final transcripts will need to be requested from Menendez in July via www.parchment.com

Mrs. Toffaletti posts scholarship opportunities regularly on the guidance Schoology page, check it often if you're on the hunt for money for college!

A reminder that Bright Futures requirements must be met by graduation, which includes the unweighted GPA and community service and/or work hours. You can check your hours on HAC, see your counselor if you need assistance. Qualifying test scores on the ACT or SAT will be accepted thru June. Please make sure seniors have applied for this scholarship if they are planning to attend any college in the state of Florida.

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

Dalene Pence

Students with the last name N-Z

dalene.pence@stjohns.k12.fl.us

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.”

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.*

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

Congratulations to the Pedro Menendez Girls Softball team for winning the first District Championship in school history!!!!

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.

Falcon Pride Store

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

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

Weather Kid of the Week

Beach 105.5 FM and St. Augustine Country 106.3 FM are launching Baptist Health and Wolfson Children's Hospital Weather Kid of the Week.

The program runs for 26 weeks starting May 10th. The Weather Kid will read the weekend weather on Friday mornings. Each kid will get a weather kid prize pack!

Parents can enter their child at https://bit.ly/3UO6PHv.

600 State Road 206 West

St. Augustine, FL 32086

Main: (904) 547-8660