Here's to a NEW School Year!

The Back to School Bash, Teeing up for Success, was held this year on August 16 at the Omni Amelia Island. The event is mandatory for 8th -10th grade students with their parents/guardians. Eleventh and 12th grade students and parents/guardians were also invited. A special thank you goes out to Omni, for allowing us to use their facilities, staff to help with all activities and events, and for the donation of school supplies for all our students.

LUMINARY AWARD ACHIEVEMENT

TSICN Earns PERFECT SCORE for 6th straight year!

Wow! Take Stock Nassau has done it again—earning 100% GOLD status on the 2024/2025 Balanced Score Card and receiving the Luminary Award for the 6th year in a row! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 From matching students with the right mentors to keeping families engaged and boosting College & Career Readiness, our team continues to shine. With 100% compliance in student selection, we’ve also secured maximum grant funding from the Florida Department of Education. Huge thanks to our amazing mentors and dedicated CRCs—your hard work makes this success possible. Keep soaring, team!

Award Presentation

Left to right: Ally Schaerf-Yulee College Readiness Coach, Jacque Banks-Program Director, Sandra Giles-Callahan and Hilliard College Readiness Coach, Nora Wood-Fernandina Beach College Readiness Coach

Not in photo: Special thanks also goes out to Robin Lentz (former Executive Director) and Johnnie Green (former Callahan College Readiness Coach) for their efforts in the work that went into gaining the recognition.

Over the Summer......

Lucy Dufault, rising 8th grader HMSHS: In June, Lucy traveled to Inman, SC to perform in The Baillie Players production of their original “Homesquad: the Musical." Next summer, she will perform with the same cast off-Broadway in New York City!

Passion Roberts, FBHS rising senior, attended ALA Girls State. High school students who have completed their junior year are competitively selected and sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary units for this program, where they learn about the political process by electing officials for all levels of state government and actively running a mock government. The participants are assigned to mock cities and either the “Federalist Party” or “Nationalist Party.”

Marley Head, HMSHS, rising junior: Marley spent her summer working at Bennett's Pharmacy.

In this awesome snapshot, we’ve got the incredible Ricardo Rosales, a superstar from TSICN, standing tall with his brother Remi, who’s just about to rock the 10th grade at WNHS! They’re at the super exciting soccer letter ceremony, and guess what? Ricardo’s got that shiny trophy in hand for being the most improved player of the year! 🏆 Talk about leveling up! This moment is all about hard work, dedication, and brotherly love – let’s give it up for these two champs!

🙌⚽️

This month's student-mentor spotlight features mentor Mary Trino and her mentee, Zoe Placzkowski, from Fernandina Beach High School. The two have been matched since June 2023.

Mary Trino, Mentor

What do you consider to be your hometown? How long have you lived in Fernandina Beach?

I was born in Rome, NY. That is smack dab in the middle of New York State (snow country). It snowed every day during the winter. I have lived in Delaware, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, London and 29 years in Atlanta.

I have lived in Amelia Island for eight years now. We love it here.

What made you decide to mentor with Take Stock?

My dear friend Regina Lee introduced me to TSIC over seven years ago. I have said this before, mentoring these kids is the most important thing I do.

How many students have you mentored?

Two. I have had two students so far. My first student is a rising junior at UCF. She is an amazing student and a gifted artist.

Zoe Placzkowski is my student now. She is a rising junior. Zoe is an absolute joy.

What have you gained from mentoring Zoe?

I love her eagerness to learn and achieve success. This young woman is bound and determined! When she tells me she wants to do something she does it! What I love so much about Zoe is her positive attitude.

I feel truly Blessed.

Zoe Placzkowski, Fernandina Beach High School Junior

Why did you want to apply for Take Stock? I applied to Take Stock before I even knew what it was because I knew I was going to need scholarships if I wanted to go to university. Little did I know, it was way more than just a scholarship.

What have you learned from your relationship with your mentor, Mary? Mary ad I have gotten to know each other very well over our time spent together. This time has shown me how much Mary is really there for me.

What is your favorite memory from TSIC? My favorite memory with Take Stock would have to be playing The Game of Life. It showed me it's not easy in the real world world and taught me some very valuable lessons.

What are your plans after you graduate high school and TSIC? After I graduate high school, I plan on attending UCF in Orlando to major in business, minor in Spanish, and to study the pre-law program there. After my bachelor's degree, my goal is to to finish out my masters and potentially my doctorate out of state. The dream is to study at Harvard or Columbia University. Long term, I would eventually like to use both my business and law background to start my own law firm.

Student-to-Student Advice

As our mentees journey through the maze of student life, it's important to remind them that they are not alone! They have teachers, counselors, and TSICN mentors/staff. They also have friends and fellow students. As mentors, we can remind our students of these "pearls" shared by fellow Take Stock students.

MARLEY HEAD, HMSHS, rising junior: Never skimp out. Do the extra credit. Put your best foot forward. Smile even when you don’t want to. Be nice to yourself, freshman year is harsh. As long as you believe in yourself and know that you are capable of what you put your mind to, then you will do amazing things :))

PASSION ROBERTS, FBHS, rising senior: I wish I had known on day 1 of high school to take in every moment. Yes, your grades and responsibilities matter, but so does being present. Get involved, try new things, and don’t spend all your time wishing for what’s next. High school goes by so much faster than you think, and if you’re always waiting for the next chapter, you’ll miss the significance of the one you’re in now.

From our Board

Our mentors are truly the heart and soul of our organization, serving as invaluable assets that inspire and uplift our community. Remarkably, most of our new volunteers come through your enthusiastic referrals, so we encourage you to continue spreading the word! Feel free to share with your friends and neighbors that we are a proud independent 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to making a difference right here in Nassau County. While we do receive some support from the state office to further our mission, it's important to note that every dollar raised locally goes directly to benefit Nassau County students. Together, let's continue to build a brighter future for our youth!