Go RED!
===APMS Redlines===
THE NEWSLETTER OF AVON PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Avon Park, Florida
Seth Lambert, Principal
MAY 2015
Go RED - Reaching for Excellence Daily!
COLMAN TO RETIRE
David Colman has
been teaching since 1998.
He became a part of Avon
Park Middle School in
2002. At the end of this
school year, he will retire.
Mr. Colman was led to
the field of education because he believed that he
could make a difference in students’ lives by
providing structure and education.
Prior to
becoming a teacher, he served in the U.S. Military.
He first taught 5th grade at Bartow Elementary
Academy, moving to teach 5th grade at Sun ‘n Lake
Elementary in 2000 Coming to APMS in 2002, he
taught social studies and 6th grade math. He has
also been the resource technology teacher, taught
8th grade math and business education.
Asked what changes he has seen since he first
started teaching, Mr. Colman stated “an increased
amount of rigor in instruction, and increased
student accountability - both of which lend to
more productive students.”
Colman said “to see the growth and progress
of students through some of the toughest times of
their life (middle school)” has been the best part of
being a teacher. “When I see a former student in
town working and they say thank you, that makes
my time worthwhile.”
He has been the voice of the Red Devils since
around 1996, announcing the APMS home football
games. He has been doing the school web page off
and on for ten years.
After retirement, Mr. Colman and his wife “are
going to become gypsies and RV full time around
our great country.”
Principal Lambert met Mr. Colman several
years ago, as Colman’s son was a coach at Avon
Park High School. (continued above)
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 9
6
Mr. Lambert commented on him saying, “He has
always had a good attitude, and is just a happy person
who loved working with kids. This year was great
having the chance to work in the same building as
Mr. Colman. He is a neat guy who has many talents
and interests that are the same as mine. I want to
thank Mr. Colman for his years of service to our
country and to the students of Avon Park Middle
School. I wish you well on your many excursions you
have ahead of you”.
Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Colman,
and best wishes for much happiness in your future.
We will miss you and your “Hawaiian Shirt” Fridays.
APMS STUDENT SCHLOSSER
CROWNED JR. MISS AVON PARK
Amy Schlosser, an 8th grade
student at APMS, was crowned
Junior Miss Avon Park at the annual pageant held April 18 at Union Congregational Church.
This was the 29th annual Miss
and Junior Miss Avon Park
Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Pageant. This year’s theme
was “Hollywood Nights.”
Participants are divided into two age divisions: Junior
Miss for girls in grades 6 to 8 and Miss for older teens
in grades 9 to 12. The girls must reside in the greater
Avon Park area.
Other APMS winners include: Na’Talya Perry, 1st
Runner Up; Kylla Wall, 2nd Runner Up and Miss
Congeniality;
Caitlin Rose, Most Photogenic;
Taylor Wiggins, Best Personality Wear; and Emilie
Mason, Most Improved. Congratulations to these students and to all who were involved.
Standing up for what
you believe in, even if
people laugh at you.
MAY 2015 Redlines
Go RED!
BREAKFAST WINNERS
The APMS Cafeteria participated in the two week
National School Breakfast Promotion to encourage
more students to come and eat a free breakfast each
morning before school. Between March 24 to April
7, students who ate breakfast received a ticket for a
chance to win great prizes. Brian Drummond,
Cafeteria Manager, announced the winners.
Week One Winners - $20 Wal-Mart Gift Card
From left: Karelia Maldonado, Madison Downing, Madison Coceano, and Dianiris Navarro.
Not pictured, Marcus Smith.
Week Two Winners - $20 Wal-Mart Gift Card
From left; Mr. Drummond, Kessim Dokam,
Breanna Yacinthe, Shelby Marshall, Natalie
Hernandez and Jayden Megnauth.
NJHS
There were 74 seventh grade students who
qualified to apply for NJHS for next year. Eligible
students had to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2
from the 1st to 3rd nine weeks. Potential candidates who elected to apply were required to have
all of their teachers complete a teacher evaluation.
The announcement for students selected is
expected the first week of May. The Induction
Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 21 at
9 am in the Commons.
On Saturday, May 30 from 7:15 am to 7 pm,
NJHS will be going to Busch Gardens. Bring extra
spending money and a big smile.
SGA
SGA participated in the annual Avon Park Relay for
Life held at the high school on Saturday, March 28.
Money was raised for the cause by a rib sale held at
APMS on March 26, and also activities held at the
event. Ms. Davis reports that they met their goal
of $1000 to give to Relay for Life, and SGA will also
be donating $200 to the Swaine family to help with
expenses during Hunter’s illness. Saturday, May 2
SGA went to Wet ’n Wild for their year end trip.
Both SGA and NJHS will be helping on May 5
when area 5th grade students come to APMS for
orientation. Both groups will also be providing an
appreciation breakfast to APMS staff on June 2.
Grand Prize Winners - I-Pad Mini
From left: Mr. Drummond, Lois Pralo and
Dianiris Navarro.
CAFETERIA CHARGES
In an effort to clear out account balances by the end
of the school year, the cafeteria will not allow meal
charges starting May 18. This will apply to both students and staff. The cafeteria appreciates your business and support of the food and nutrition program.
MAY 2015 Redlines
Go RED!
APMS CONGRATULATES
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Dawn
Miller who was selected as
the outstanding Volunteer
of the Year for APMS this
school year. She was recognized in April at a School
Board of Highlands County
meeting. Mrs. Miller is very
active at APMS, where she is involved with PTO,
SAC and DSAC.
This school year, PTO started a volunteer group of
moms who come to the school and help teachers
with an assortment of tasks. Mrs. Miller has been
coordinating “Moms in the Middle”, as well as
volunteering with the group each week. Thank you
to Mrs. Miller and all of our volunteers.
TANGERINES AT APMS
MARCH MADNESS
March Madness offered another
chance to win with Boxtops.
Every 5 coupons that were
turned in placed the student
into a drawing for a $10 WalMart gift card. Tyler Frazier,
pictured right, was the lucky
winner. Congratulations Tyler,
who turns in Boxtops regularly.
STUNKARD’S CLASS WINS
For the second time this school year, the homeroom
class that collected the most Boxtops was Mrs.
Stunkard. They celebrated with a donut party.
Thank you for helping us raise money for our school.
The last week of April, seventh grade Language
Arts students read the young adult novel
“Tangerine” by Edward Bloor.
According to Mrs. Eures, APMS Reading Coach,
one of the first activities in the curriculum to support the novel was to have each student peel a
tangerine. Students examined tangerines, using
sensory details to create imagery.
A big thank you goes to Mr. Drummond, Cafeteria Manger, and the Food Service Department at
APMS for their generous donation of 243 tangerines so students could participate in this activity.
AVID FIELD
TRIP TO UF
In April, seven of the 8th grade AVID students
visited the University of Florida in Gainesville.
APMS AVID students, from left to right:
Torrence Joyner, Johnathan Sellers, Gabriel
Cordero, Johneisha Rowe, Hailey Helms,
Shaneria Williams and Shamari Holdman.
Mrs. Stunkard traveled with the group. The students took an extensive tour of the campus that
included the Century Tower, the Science Library,
“Friendship Walk”, and the Hub, where most college
student eat. During an admissions session they
learned what it takes to become a UF student, and
were able to ask questions about the application
process. They also attended a session where about
twenty different campus
clubs showed what they
do. The day ended with
the Orange and Blue
Game at the “SWAMP”,
the UF football stadium.
AVID will have their end
of the year banquet on
Thursday, MAY 28
from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
MAY 2015 Redlines
Go RED!
APMS UPCOMING
EVENTS
AR LEADERS as of 4-24-15
800 POINT CLUB: Esmeralda Espino-Salaices, 825.2
500 POINT CLUB: Kinsey Bachman, 504.5; Sam Chen,
707.3; Naomi Mitchell, 680.2; Kei-Anya Young, 779.4
400 POINT CLUB: Agustin Ancelmo, 444.9; Brooklyn
Hargrove, 419.8
300 POINT CLUB: Sharah Beadle, 337.8; Heaven-Leigh
Egan, 382.9; Torielle Filer, 360
200 POINT CLUB: Christian Biberstein, 268.4; Marco
Castillo, 239.7; Kellie Cole, 212.8; Briesyda Eugenio
Hernandez, 219.9;
Dalila Eugenio-Badillo, 231.5;
Francisco Garcia, 227.1;
Madison Knowles, 260.3;
Alexander Melzark, 223.2; Breana Yacinthe, 268.4
100 POINT CLUB: Amiah Anderson; Donald Brogden;
Joshua Brown; Angelica Cruz Castillo; Leawna Egan;
Javier Gomez-Badillo; Jocelyn Hernandez; Alyssa Hicks;
Daisy Landress; Toby Light; Hannah Loomis; Kyron
Martel; Kamarri McGhee; Macy McWhorter; Abigail
Penfield; Martin Perez-Badillo; Rosa Pineda; Jacoria
Pressley; Kenzie Russ; Gabriella Sboto; Trenitee
Stephens; Esteban Vega; Thane Voskian; Samuel
Westrick; Emily Wilkins
There are 44 students who have reached at least 100 AR points
this school year so far. Congratulations! Keep reading, there is
still time to reach your AR goal. The final AR Social of the
year is scheduled for Friday, May 29. More details will be announced later. Remember that May 8 is the last day to check
out a book from the APMS Media Center. ALL BOOKS are
due by May 15.
21ST CENTURY SUMMER PROGRAM
Starting June 15 through July 2, the 21st Century Community Learning Center will offer a summer program available to all
APMS current 6th and 7th grade students. The program is
offered at APMS Monday thru Friday during the dates above,
between 7:30 am and 1:30 pm. Breakfast and lunch are
provided. Bus transportation is not available. Applications for
enrollment in this program are available in the front office.
21st Century is offered at no cost, and a minimum enrollment
of 25 students is needed. For more information, contact Ms.
Veith or Ms. Albritton at the school.
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MAY
PTO Staff Appreciation Lunch
5th Grade Orientation 9 am
Last Day to Check Out a Book
SAC Meeting Media Ctr 5:30 pm
PTO Meeting Media Ctr 6 pm
School Tropicana Speech
EARLY RELEASE 1pm
Parent Night 5-6:30 pm
Band and Chorus Concert 7 pm
GRADVENTURE 4:30 pm
All Books Due to Media Center
Academic Team Challenge
Media Center Closed for Year
Cafeteria No Meal Charges
Ag Literacy Day
FFA Banquet 6 pm
AVID College Day
District Tropicana Speech
NJHS Induction Ceremony 9am
NO SCHOOL - Holiday
Yearbooks go on Sale
AVID Banquet 5:30-6:30 pm
BOXTOPS DUE
AR Social
NJHS Trip to Busch Gardens
JUNE
NJHS/SGA Staff Breakfast
8th Grade Awards 6 pm
EARLY RELEASE 1pm
Last Day of School
Pick-up Report Cards at APMS
YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE MAY 26
The 2015 APMS yearbook will go on sale May 26.
Students
may purchase them in the morning before school at the ticket
booth window outside the cafeteria hall. Parents may purchase
them in the front office. The cost of this year’s book is $35.
For more information, contact Mrs. Simpson.
MAY 2015 Redlines