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Volume 10, Issue 2
October 2014
Dear Gaither Families,
We have had a wonderful start to the new school year and
I would like to thank everyone for the hard work,
planning, and preparation to ensure a smooth opening.
Thank you to all the students, parents, staff members and
community members who have joined our Parent Teacher
Student Association (PTSA) and Booster organizations.
With all stakeholders working together to be partners in education, great things
will continue to happen at Gaither High School!
Published by Gaither High School, a Hillsborough County Public School, and Gaither PTSA
The School Advisory Council (SAC) reviews multiple sources of data about our
school to develop the School Improvement Plan goals and objectives. If you would
like to be involved with the SAC, please contact Mrs. Amber Minutillo, SAC
chair, at [email protected] or call 975-7340.
Our first Conference Night for the school year will be held on Thursday,
September 18th from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Progress Reports will be distributed
through homeroom on Tuesday, September 16th. At the conclusion of Conference
Night, a Senior Information meeting will be held for all seniors and parents in the
auditorium. Edsby parent access information is on our school website. Please refer
to this information for regular grade updates and academic progress.
On Wednesday, September 24, we will be hosting a presentation on PSAT tips and
strategies for parents in the media center at 6:00 p.m. and on October 8 at 6:00
p.m. in the media center, we will be conducting a presentation on the college
admissions process. These events are free of charge and open to all Gaither High
School parents.
The PSAT will be given to students on Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Since the
Florida/College Board Partnership began, Hillsborough County Public Schools
have been recognized as leaders in the state regarding the participation rate of
students taking the PSAT. It is extremely important all 9th, 10th and 11th grade
students test except those who would normally be exempted from taking a normreferenced test such as FCAT 2.0. Please ensure your student is at school on time
and eats free breakfast to prepare for this important assessment. Seniors will
participate in a special senior meeting during the testing period and are expected to
be in attendance the entire day.
Our College and Career counselor, Mrs. Theresa Nissen, is seeking speakers for
the Great American Teach-In which will be held on Thursday, November 20,
2014. Please contact her at 813-975-7340 extension 233 or via email at
[email protected].
Research shows that students who attend school every day and are on time
perform better academically. Your expectation and support of these life-long work
habits in your student are greatly appreciated.
Again, thank you for being our partners in education as we work
together to ensure our learners are college and career
ready. If there is anything you need, please feel free to
contact my office or any of our staff members.
PSAT
Octobe
r
Go Cowboys!
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Thomas Morrill
Principal and GHS Class of 1987
Contents
On the Cover
From the Principal’s Desk
Gaither Roundup Information ..................................... 2
A Word or Two from the PTSA ................................. 3
Birthday Marquee ....................................................... 3
PTSA Membership ..................................................... 4
Volunteer Note............................................................ 4
Cowboy Express ......................................................... 4
Celebrate My Drive .................................................... 4
Guidance News ........................................................ 5-6
Chorus News ............................................................... 7
GHS Orchestra ............................................................ 7
Cheerleading ............................................................... 8
Updates from the Senate ............................................. 9
Senior Portraits ........................................................... 9
Pony Express .............................................................. 9
Homecoming Details .................................................10
Athletic Booster Club Scholarships ...........................11
Cowboy Closet...........................................................11
Are You College Ready? ...........................................12
Financial Aid Night ...................................................13
ACT Test Dates .........................................................14
SAT Test Dates ..........................................................15
SAT Prep ...................................................................16
Guidmii ......................................................................17
Eligibility Requirements for
Extracurricular Participation 2014-15 .................18
Fall Athletic Schedule ................................................19
High School Years ............................................... 20-23
2014-2015 School Calendar.......................................24
2014-2015 Calendario del Estudiante .......................25
Strategic Plan .............................................................26
Yearbook Order Form................................................27
PTSA Membership Form ...........................................28
PTSA Volunteer Form ...............................................29
Need Information? .....................................................30
Dates to Remember....................................................30
Gaither Roundup
The Gaither Roundup is a publication of
Gaither High School and Gaither PTSA.
It is published in 8 issues: August/September,
October, November, December/January,
February, March, April, and May/June.
The deadline for submission is the 5th of the
month prior to publication date. Submissions
should be e-mailed to [email protected]
Principal: Thomas Morrill
PTSA President: Stephanie Woychowski
Editor: Susan Raabe
Staff Consultant: Matthew Smith
Gaither High School
Gaither PTSA
16200 N. Dale Mabry,
Tampa, FL 33618
813.975.7340
PTSA Office 813.975.7340 ext. 330
http://gaither.mysdhc.org
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Welcome to the Fall Gaither families!
We hope everyone had a great transition into the new school year and all
of our new students and families are beginning to experience the many
wonderful things that Gaither has to offer!
The Gaither PTSA is in full swing as we have already had many
opportunities for students and parents alike to get involved. We have put
the newsletter together, sold lockers, parking decals, spirit wear and
homecoming tickets, and by the way, we love our volunteers!
Additionally, our 2nd Annual Grandparents Breakfast was held on
September 15 and we really enjoyed meeting all of you. Grandparents serve such a vital role in the life
of a child and we are blessed to have so many that want to be involved. We had a great breakfast and
discussed the many opportunities to serve here at Gaither. The PTSA also supports our teachers by
providing a meal for them on conference nights so they can focus on their students and families, and we
always appreciate those of you who contribute to that effort. We assure you, the teachers truly appreciate
it!
th
Finally, we are off to a great start with our PTSA membership goals and are confident
that we will exceed those goals during this school year. Your support of the PTSA is
the only way we are able to provide the many programs and events for the
students and teachers and know that you want to be a part of that support,
as well. Membership forms are always in the main office and can be
turned in any time, along with your payment of $6/member. We are going
to have our first membership incentive coming up, so every student will
want to turn in their membership forms in order to participate. So, look for
those posters around school for details!! We are looking forward to
working with you and hope that you will take advantage of the many
opportunities to get involved here at Gaither. You won’t regret it!
Best Regards,
Stephanie Woychowski
Gaither H.S. PTSA President
Birthday Marquee
Celebrate your student’s birthday by having their name
and age on the Gaither High School marquee, located at
the main entrance of the school on Dale Mabry Hwy.
Names are displayed on both sides of the sign for one
week, from Friday to Friday.
Please DO NOT leave reservations/payments at
Gaither High School unless you have already
received a conformation email saying we have
reserved a spot for your student! Reservations must
be confirmed on line or by phone BEFORE sending
your check. Payment must be received before name
is posted on the marquee. If payment is not received
prior to the student’s birthday week, reservations will
be forfeited. List the name/age of the student(s) to be
recognized on your check, following confirmation of
reservation.
Contact: Angela Hobson at 813.382.8107 or
[email protected]
What: Include first/last name of student and age
When: ASAP
Cost:
$25.00 (make checks payable to GHS PTSA)
Mail payment to:
GHS PTSA - Attn. Birthday Marquee
16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33624
Thank you for supporting Gaither High School
and Happy Birthday!
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PTSA Membership
Cowboy Express
Parents, Teachers and Students-
The Cowboy Express is an academic achievement
incentive program at Gaither High School
sponsored by the PTSA. It is divided into 2
categories: Blue and Silver.
We are well into the first quarter of school and have
had a great initial response to joining the Gaither
PTSA! Your financial support is crucial to providing
PTSA programs and events during the school year.
A Blue Cowboy Express Card allows a student to
attend home athletic games free of charge and
purchase dance and qualified event tickets at
discounted prices.
Students, we will be having our first membership
incentive/giveaway before homecoming, so make sure
you have joined so you can benefit from our first
opportunity to thank you for being a member. Be on
the lookout for the date and time of the incentive!! As
always, membership forms are located in the main
office and the cost is only $6/person. Remember, it’s
everyone’s responsibility to “make every child’s
potential a reality!”
A Silver Cowboy Express Card allows a student to
attend home athletic games free of charge and
allows free admittance to dances and qualified
events.
A student must have attended Gaither High School
the previous semester in order to apply. A Cowboy
Express Card is good for 1 semester only. Students
must submit an application each semester. The
application period is open one week in August/
September for Semester 1, and one week in
February/March for Semester 2. Applications are
available in the Main Office.
Angela Hobson
Gaither High School, PTSA VP Membership
Qualifications are printed on the application.
Grade qualifications are based on the previous
semester at Gaither High School.
Celebrate My Drive
Volunteers
Between October 15-24 2014, you’ll be able to
make safe driving commitments for a registered
high school. The 100 high schools with the most
commitments made can win some pretty amazing
prizes, with the two top schools winning grand
prize concerts by GRAMMY® Nominated The
Band Perry. 10 schools will win a $100,000 grant
and 90 schools will win a $25,000 grant. To
increase your chances of winning and to help your
students be safer drivers, you should encourage
students, staff and community members to visit
celebratemydrive.com daily between 12:00 a.m.
Central Time on October 15, 2014 through 11:59
p.m. Central Time on October 24, 2014, and
commit to safe driving.
THANK YOU to all of our volunteers for helping out
with Gaither’s Welcome Back Breakfast, Roundup
Newsletter, Freshman Open House and Locker
sales….
Annette Campbell, Siti Cunningham, Angela Hobson,
Diana Mazur, Tricia McManus, Libby Mills, Suzy
O'Neal, Susan Raabe, Lori Samson, Desiree Young,
Taylor Woychowski, Stephanie Woychowski
We welcome you to get involved!
So don’t delay! Contact Libby Mills
at [email protected].
Libby Mills
GHS PTSA VP/Volunteers
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Guidance News
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
The Counselors have visited all freshman and
sophomore homerooms to share information
regarding the importance of earning good grades in
high school. Students were advised to complete
every assignment, on time, every day, and hand it in
to their teachers. They learned that Grade Point
Averages are updated at the end of each semester,
and appear on February and June report cards. They
know to visit the Guidance lobby and sign-in “the
book,” if they want to see their counselor. Their
counselor will send a pass for them in class within a
three-day period.
TESTING
The FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test) will be given the week of October 6th to 12th
and 11th graders who have not yet received a passing
score. Students must pass this test in order to receive
a diploma. A student will repeat only the portion of
the test that they have failed.
Freshman and
sophomore students will be tested in April 2015.
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT and
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a
scholastic assessment test given once a year in
October. All college bound juniors, sophomores, and
freshmen should take the PSAT. By taking the
PSAT/NMSQT, a student can:
~practice for the SAT I
~enter scholarship competitions (Juniors only)
~tell colleges to send you information about
programs, activities, and financial aid
~find out if you have the reading and math skills
you'll need to succeed in college
The PSAT will be administered at Gaither on
Wednesday, October 15th, at approximately 8:00
a.m. All 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will take the
test free of charge!
GRADE QUESTIONS
After viewing Edsby, if parents have a question about
a grade, teacher’s names appear on your son or
daughter’s schedule. To contact a teacher, email
addresses are configuered as follows:
[email protected]
(note the dot between first and last names)
Please note that teachers do not have access to phones
in their classrooms, so using email will result in a
faster response!
GRADE POINT AVERAGES (GPAS)
Students (and their parents) may see their GPA by
accessing Guidmii at www.guidmii.com. Your user
name and password is the same as the one used for
Edsby.
The SAT Reasoning Test is a verbal, math, and
writing test administered by the College Board. It
should be taken by college bound juniors and seniors.
A good score on this test is important because it is a
major factor in college admission. Students may
also register on-line at www.collegeboard.org.
Students must put Gaither's high school code
101738 and their social security number on the form
when registering. The SAT is offered 7 times a year
at various locations. “Taking the SAT," is a booklet
which contains test taking tips and practice SAT tests.
It is available in the Guidance Office.
THE GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN
The Great American Teach-In will be held
Thursday, November 20th at Gaither High School.
Speakers will be making presentations to classes
regarding their careers and hobbies. If you are
interested in speaking to classes, please contact Terri
Nissen by phone at 813-975-7340 ext. 233 or by
email at [email protected] by Monday,
November 18th.
The ACT is a college placement test battery that
includes English, math, reading, and science
reasoning, with an optional writing exam. It should
be taken during the junior or senior year in high
school. The ACT registration booklet and the
practice test may be picked up in the Guidance Office
Continued on Next Page
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Guidance News
Continued from Previous Page
or on-line at www.act.org. Students must again
record the high school code 101738 and their social
security number. The ACT is offered 6 times a year
at various locations.
TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS FOR
FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS
AND FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS
(2013-2014 high school graduates and later)
FREE SAT COURSES AVAILABLE FOR 11TH
AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS!
SAT Prep courses will be held at Gaither on selected
Saturdays. October 11 – November 1, 2014 for the
November 8, 2014 test date. Classes will be held
from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Interested students must
complete a registration form, which may be obtained
in the Guidance Office or on the Gaither High School
Web site. The completed form should be returned to
Mrs. Nissen, our College and Career Counselor. The
following are dates for the SAT Prep Classes for the
remainder of the 2014-2015 school year: February
14 – March 7, 2015 for the March 14, 2015 test; May
2 – May 13 for the June 6, 2015 test.
High School Graduation Year
2013-14 and thereafter
1290
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1170
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Florida Medallion Scholars
2013-14 and thereafter
TRANSCRIPTS
Seniors need to send transcripts to colleges and
universities as part of their application process. They
complete a “Transcript Request Form” in the
Guidance Lobby and give it to our Registrar, Miss
Levis (her name will soon be changing to Mrs.
Caponero). Transcripts are sent to most public
institutions electronically for free. For private or out
-of-state schools there is a $2.00 fee per transcript to
cover mailing costs.
ACT and SAT test scores do not appear on the
transcript, and need to be ordered separately from
www.act.org and www.collegeboard.com.
TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY
When your student has an issue at school, (i.e.
requests for schedule changes, difficulties
understanding assignments, questions about applying
for college) it is suggested that parents encourage
them to handle it themselves. Even though parents
would like to solve all of their teenagers concerns for
them, learning to navigate the proper channels is a
necessary life-long skill. Students have been told to
use the Guidance Office “book” to sign-up to see
their School Counselor.
Community service requirement for all three
Bright Futures award levels. Bright Futures Florida
Academic Scholars (FAS), Florida Medallion
Scholars (FMS), and Florida Gold Seal Vocational
Scholars (GSV) must complete:
FMS - 75 hours
ACT
Florida Academic Scholars
BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS
AND FLVC.ORG
Bright Futures requirements and information can be
found online at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/
SSFAD/bf/bfmain.htm. Please be aware of the
updates to the scholarship program.
The online application will be available for Seniors to
apply beginning December 1st and Community
Service hours for all Bright Futures Scholarships
should be submitted by December 15th for first
semester evaluation. Students’ transcripts will be
evaluated after first semester grades have been posted
and again after graduation.
Students in grades 9-12 may access their Bright
Futures grade point average and evaluations through
the website at www.flvc.org.
FAS - 100 hours
SAT
GSV - 30 hours
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GHS Chorus News
Gaither's vocal groups have already been performing around campus and in the community, but the first major
concert of the year is coming up!
Who: Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, Concert Chorus, Barbershop quartets and SHOWCASE 2015!
What: FALL CONCERT
When: Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7:00 P.M.
Where: Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave. Tampa, 33618
How: Purchase a ticket for only $6.00 from any chorus member
(or at the door, while they last. . .)
We promise you an enjoyable evening of music and fun - don't miss it!!
Future Dates of "Note":
Holiday Concert - Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:00 P.M.
SPECTRUM - Thur/Fri, Apr. 23 & 24, 7:00 P.M.
Women's Pop Show - Thur. May 7, 7:00 P.M.
SHOWCASE 2015 "FINALE" - Thur. May 14, 7:00 P.M.
Mrs. C.
Chorus Director
Phone: 813.975.7340 ext. 267
[email protected]
GHS Orchestra
The Orchestra is off to a busy start this school year. 106 members strong, we once again have the largest orchestra in school history and are growing bigger every year!
On September 6th, the Gaither High School Orhcestra hosted its first back to school orchestra camp with Ben
Hill and Buchanan Middle School. We had amazing clinicians from Florida State Univeristy, Florida Gulf
Coast University and members of the Florida Orchestra.
Our first Concert is fast approaching and our students have been practicing hard and preparing some beautiful
music for your enjoyment. Please come support the Orchestra, Guitar and
Band Program on Monday, September 29th at 7pm in the Gaither High School
Auditorium.
We are also excited to be playing and attending an instrumental workshop at
Walt Disney World on Saturday, October 4th, 2014.
For more orchestra information you can go to www.gaitherorchestra.com
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Cheerleaders Make a Difference
in the Local Community
Over the summer our Gaither Cheerleaders have been striving to make a difference in the local area. During
the month of July some of our girls volunteered at the Community Food Pantry located in Carrollwood Village
at Village Presbyterian Church. The Community Food Pantry originally opened its doors in 2008 and near
serves 350 working poor families each month. It is run fully by
volunteers and relies heavily on donations from the community,
schools, youth sport food drives, local businesses and Feeding
America Tampa Bay. The volunteers at the pantry assist and allow
the families, based on the number in their household, to shop like
they are at Publix and get to choose items their families will enjoy.
“We are pleased to have the support of our local community and
schools to help serve those in need of food. Thank you again to the
2014 – 2015 Gaither High School cheerleaders for their service
this summer,” said Monica Adkins Wilson, Community Food Pantry Director. While the experience for the families is very rewarding, the cheerleaders were able to make new friends with other volunteers and helped strengthen their relationship with their other teammates. “It means the world to me that I get to help out people in my community who
don’t have the same opportunities and blessings as others. Knowing that I helped put a meal in someone’s belly puts a smile on my face. I also have an even bigger smile knowing that my Gaither teammates and I were
together, side by side, helping the community one person at a time,” says Rachael Campbell, Freshman Cheerleader.
While some girls were working hard in the Community Food
Pantry, others were diligently working with younger cheerleaders who are a part of the Northside Dolphins Tampa Bay Youth
Football League (TBYFL). The TBYFL gives children ages 4 –
14 a chance to gain competitive athletic skills, learn the importance of teamwork, as well as individual commitment and the
value of good sportsmanship and leadership. Our cheerleaders
have dedicated their time out at the Northdale Soccer Field
where the Dolphins practice three days during the week, where
they show the younger girls’ new stunts, techniques, cheers or
anything else that could help them excel at their games and their
future competitions. “Being able to help others just gives me great joy. Overtime volunteering becomes a passion, and this is a feeling I want my girls to have. I want to help them show others that cheerleaders are more
than symbols of spirt, they can also be great leaders and major contributors to the community. Having our
Gaither girls help out the Dolphins gives them a chance
to not only become a mentor but a huge role model for
these young girls and show them what they can aspire to
later become,” said Jacalyn Muir, Gaither High School
Head Cheerleading Coach. While the summer may be
over, the Gaither Cheerleaders will continue to make a
difference in the community and hope to show off their
hard work soon.
Article By: Alexis Pastore
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Updates from the Senate
(All dates subject to change)
Senior Portraits
September
09/19 Homecoming Court Announced
Freshman Class Election results announced
09/26 Homecoming permission slips due to SAO
Court paperwork due to Mrs. Trumbach
TBA HC Court Rehearsal for assembly
Senior portraits can be arranged by
contacting Lifetouch at 1-800-749-2796
or online at www.prestigeportraitsfl.com.
October
10/1-15 Homecoming Ticket Sales (Wed. & Thurs. only)**
10/03 Homecoming Assembly (parents w/ personal invite only)
10/04-13 School-wide vote for HC Court
TBA HC Court Rehearsal w/band (walk-through)
10/17 Friday - Round-Up Pep Rally
10/17 Friday - Homecoming Game vs. Sickles
10/18 Saturday - HC Starlight Dance @ The Hilton Tampa
Downtown (formerly The Hyatt: 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa, FL 33602)
The deadline to be photographed for
inclusion in the yearbook is October 5.
We are obligated, by contract, to use
photos taken by Prestige in our yearbook.
November
11/01 Senior Night for Football, Cheerleaders & Band
TBA Senior Class Meeting - Graduation/Upcoming Events
TBA Order Announcements/Caps/Gowns at all Lunches
December
TBA Sales of Senior Name Shirts
*All Voting for Homecoming Court, Senior Notables and Class
Officers will be done online. All students will receive instructions during class orientations and announcements
** Homecoming and Prom Ticket Prices are tiered. The earlier
you buy the more you’ll $ave.
HOMECOMING TICKET SALES:
10/01-02 $40, Blue CBX = $35 Silver CBX = $25
(Discount only on GHS student ticket. Guest ticket is full price)
10/07-08 $45, Blue CBX = $40 Silver CBX = $30
(Discount only on GHS student ticket. Guest ticket is full price)
10/14-15 $50, Blue CBX = $45 Silver CBX = $35
(Discount only on GHS student ticket. Guest ticket is full price)
Reminders:
1. How many service hours have you logged?
2. SAT/ACT test dates are rapidly approaching
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GHS Pony Express
The Pony Express
school newspaper is online!
Visit us at www.GHSPonyExpress.com.
We have been ranked All-Southern two
years in a row by the Southern
Interscholastic Press Association.
Check us out today!
If you own a business and would like to
advertise in The Pony Express, please
contact Ms. Lowe at (813) 975-7340 ext.
254 or [email protected].
Homecoming Details
Gaither Starlight Homecoming Dance
2014 Information Sheet
When: Saturday, October 18, 2014 7:30 PM- 11:30 PM
Where: “The Hilton Tampa Downtown” (formerly The Hyatt: 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa, FL 33602)
Colors: Silver, White & Blue
How to Buy Homecoming Tickets:
Step 1: Students and Parents complete and turn in to the SAO repository the signed Homecoming Permission & Signature form in order to get Administrative disciplinary approval to buy tickets. Permission slips
are available in the student cafe and the final date to turn them into SAO for approval is Friday, September
26th – at 3:05 PM.
Step 2: Make sure ALL school Debts and Parking Tickets to Gaither are paid off prior to attempting to
purchase a dance ticket. (Please see Mrs. Lee in the main office to pay your debt.) ONLY STUDENTS
WITH AN APPROVED PERMISSION SLIP ON FILE AND ARE DEBT-FREE WILL BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE TICKETS. A list will be posted indicating your clearance status so that you
may take care of debts immediately.
Step 3: Buy your tickets early and save $$$. Tickets are limited to 800 to be sold, due to room capacity.
Ticket Sales Dates:
10/01/14— 10/02/14 -- $40/ticket. Blue CBX is $35 Silver CBX is $25 and (Discount only on GHS
student ticket. Guest ticket is full price).
10/07/14—10/08/14 -- $45/ticket. Blue CBX is $40 Silver CBX is $30 and (Discount only on GHS
student ticket. Guest ticket is full price).
10/14/14—10/15/14 -- $50/ ticket. Blue CBX is $45 Silver CBX is $35 and (Discount only on GHS
student ticket. Guest ticket is full price).
Parking:
Hotel Valet parking on Tampa Street is $14, street meter parking by the hour and the Ft. Brooke Garage
that connects into the building is also available. The Ft. Brooke Garage has 2500 spots and connects on the
3rd floor into the Hilton. $1.60 per hour up to $10 for 24 hours.
Reminders:
1. The dress code will be strictly enforced. Those not in compliance will not be admitted.
a. This is a semi-formal event and the attendees should dress accordingly.
b. Dresses should be semi-formal with no midriff showing. No low-cut dresses or dresses with large
“cut-outs” or extremely “short” dresses. If you have a question about the appropriateness of your
dress, do not wear that dress!
c. Gentlemen are to wear a tuxedo or a suit & tie.
d. No baseball caps or other head coverings will be allowed. No canes are allowed.
e. No sneakers, tennis shoes, or deck shoes/boat shoes will be allowed.
2. Backpacks will not be permitted.
3. External food/drinks will not be permitted.
4. Since this is a school function, all attendees and vehicles are subject to search.
5. You must present both the ticket and your photo ID at the door, to gain entrance into the dance.
6. NO refunds and tickets are non-transferable.
10
Athletic Booster Club Scholarships
Coaches and ABC Team Liaisons!!
There are 2 opportunities for a student to earn extra money for College!!
BOOSTER CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
4 SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED TO
2 MALE ATHLETES- $1500.00 each
2 FEMALE ATHLETES-$1500.00 each
WHEN: Application begins in January, 2015
ESSAY WRITING – March, 2015
Announcement of Winners at Spring Banquet
CRITERIA:
A. 3.0 GPA
B. ABC Member for 2 years of high school
C. Student Athletes with a FULL Athletic Scholarship are NOT eligible.
Joe Trumbach Scholarship
Details to be announced.
Please pass this information on to Senior Parents and Athletes!
Let the underclassmen and parents know of this opportunity as they become a Senior!
Feel free to contact Becky Marks-Scholarship Chair with any questions!!
Becky [email protected]
Cowboy Closet
Cowboy Closet is for Gaither students experiencing a need due to homelessness, house fire, family unemployment, or other family emergency.
To Donate: Visit the Cowboy Clothing Wish Rack in the Guidance Department and take a tag off the
hook. The tag will indicate sizes of clothing and/or any other items (shoes, school supplies, personal items,
etc.)
Clothing donated should be new or gently used (clean, no stains), conform to school dress code, and be of
the current style. Bring the item(s) to the Gaither High School Guidance Department during regular school
hours. Charitable donation receipts will be issued for the amount of new items only (please present receipt
when bringing in the item).
Family or student in need:
If you are a student or family in need or if you know of a family in need, please contact Mary Burke, Guidance Counselor or Rick Strickland, Social Worker.
All information will be kept confidential.
Mary C. Burke
Guidance Counselor
Phone: 975-7340 extension: 218
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Eligibility Requirements for Extracurricular Participation 2014-15
Eligibility Period
First semester
2014-15
Second semester
2014-15
Grade
Eligibility Requirements
Students first entering the
ninth grade in 2014-15
Must be regularly promoted from the 8th grade to the 9th
grade.
Students entering 10th
grade
Must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0
unweighted scale in all courses taken through the end of
the previous semester; OR must have earned a 2.0 grade
point average on a 4.0 unweighted scale in the courses
taken in the previous semester alone, provided he or she
signed an academic performance contract with his or her
school and attended summer school as necessary.
Students entering 11th and
12th grades
Must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0
unweighted scale in all courses taken through the end of
the previous semester
9th and 10th grade
Must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0
unweighted scale in all courses taken through the end of
the previous semester; OR must have earned a 2.0 grade
point average on a 4.0 unweighted scale in the courses
taken in the previous semester alone, provided he or she
signed an academic performance contract with his or her
school and attended summer school as necessary.
11th and 12th grades
Must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0
unweighted scale in all courses taken through the end of
the previous semester
A student shall be eligible for no more than four (4) consecutive academic years upon first successful completion of the eighth (8th) grade as defined by the pupil progression plan of the school in which the student is
enrolled. Four years from the date he or she first successfully completes the eighth grade, he or she shall become ineligible for further interscholastic athletic competition. A student who does not attend school, repeats
any grade, is declared ineligible to participate, or otherwise fails to exercise the opportunity to participate for
any reason for any length of time during this four-year period shall not be entitled to any additional period of
eligibility. Original school records shall be submitted to the Commissioner in the event of conflicting information as to the date of first successful completion of the eighth grade. (Article 9.5 FHSAA Handbook, Bylaws and Policies)
Note 1: A grading period is defined as one semester. A semester is defined as one half of a school year
(approximately 18 school weeks or 90 school days). This definition is applicable to all schools regardless of
the type of class scheduling format used (i.e. block, traditional, etc.)
Academic Performance Contract for Athletic Eligibility found at http://www.fhsaa.org/forms/pdf/
EL05_contract.pdf.
18
GAITHER
COWBOYS
FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE 2014-2015
VARSITY FOOTBALL
GOLF (Boys & Girls)
DATE
8/22/14
8/29/14
OPPONENT
WHARTON
CHAMBERLAIN
LOCATION
HOME
HOME
TIME
7:30PM
7:30PM
9/5/14
9/12/14
NEWSOME
PLANT
NEWSOME
PLANT
7:30PM
7:30PM
9/19/14
9/26/14
FREEDOM
DURANT
HOME
HOME
7:30PM
7:30PM
10/2/14
10/17/14
WIREGRASS
SICKLES
WIREGRASS
HOME (HC)
7:30PM
7:30PM
10/24/14
10/31/14
11/7/14
TAMPA BAY TECH
STEINBRENNER
PLANT CITY
TBT
STEINBRENNER
HOME
7:30PM
7:30PM
7:30PM
JV FOOTBALL
DATE
9/4/14
9/11/14
9/17/14
9/23/14
10/1/14
10/9/14
OPPONENT
ALONSO
STEINBRENNER
WHARTON
HILLSBOROUGH
FREEDOM
PLANT
LOCATION
ALONSO
STEINBRENNER
HOME
HOME
FREEDOM
HOME
TIME
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
CHEERLEADING
DATE
12/11/14
HOST
STRAWBERRY
CREST
NEWSOME
12/16/14
BLOOMINGDALE
1/9/15
ROBINSON
12/4/14
LOCATION
STRAWBERRY
CREST
NEWSOME
BLOOMINGDALE
ROBINSON
TIME
6:30PM
6:30PM
6:30PM
6:30PM
SWIMMING ( BOYS AND GIRLS)
DATE
OPPONENT
LOCATION
TIME
8/26/14
8/28/14
9/2/14
9/4/14
9/11/14
9/16/14
9/18/14
9/23/14
WHARTON
SICKLES
STEINBRENNER
CHAM/HILLS
PLANT
MIDDLETON
CHAMBERLAIN
PLANT
HUNTERS GREEN
EMERALD GREEN
EMERALD GREEN
EMERALD GREEN
MACDILL
TBD
TBD
EMERALD GREEN
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
9/29/14
9/30/14
ROBINSON
STEIN/KING
MACDILL
EMERALD GREEN
3:00PM
3:00PM
10/1/14
CHAM/ALONSO
EMERALD GREEN
3:00PM
10/2/14
WHARTON
EMERALD GREEN
3:00PM
10/7/14
DURANT
RIVER HILLS
3:00PM
VOLLEYBALL
DATE
8/26/14
9/2/14
9/4/14
9/9/14
9/11/14
9/15/14
9/17/14
9/22/14
9/29/14
10/1/14
10/7/14
OPPONENT
CHAMBERLAIN**
FREEDOM
JEFFERSON
WIREGRASS
SICKLES
STEINBRENNER
ROBINSON
FREEDOM
WIREGRASS
SICKLES
STEINBRENNER
LOCATION
HOME
FREEDOM
JEFFERSON
HOME
SICKLES
HOME
ROBINSON
HOME
WIREGRASS
HOME
STEINBRENNER
TIME
7:00PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
6:15PM
10/13/14
KING**
HOME
7:00PM
10/15/14
ARMWOOD**
HOME
7:00PM
DATE
8/28/14
OPPONENT
WHARTON
LOCATION
BOB SIERRA
TIME
7:00PM
** Varsity Only
9/4/14
9/6/14
STEINBRENNER
CITY RELAYS
BOB SIERRA
BOBBY HICKS
7:00PM
TBD
CROSS COUNTRY (Boys and Girls)
9/11/14
9/18/14
TAMPA CATHOLIC
LETO/JEFFERSON
BOB SIERRA
BOB SIERRA
7:00PM
7:00PM
9/23/14
10/2/14
CHAMBERLAIN
ALONSO
BOB SIERRA
BOB SIERRA
7:00PM
7:00PM
10/8/14
10/10/14
WEST. CONF. SWIM
COUNTY CHAMPIONS
BOBBY HICKS
BOBBY HICKS
4:00PM
TBD
19
DATE
8/27/14
MEET
WATERMELON RUN
LOCATION
EQUEST TRAIL
TIME
5:30PM
9/10/14
9/27/14
WEST HILLS INV
MITCHELL INV
NEWSOME
STARKEY PARK
5:00PM
8:00AM
10/7/14
10/11/14
10/17/14
FRESH/SOPH
DISNEY CLASSIC
COUNTY CHAMPS
AL LOPEZ
DISNEY
LAKE PARK
5:00PM
5:00PM
4:00PM
20
21
22
23
2014-2015 Student Academic School Calendar
Below is the student academic calendar for the next school year (2014-2015 school year). Please save
a copy for future reference. This calendar and the calendar for the 2015-2016 school year are available
on the school district website at www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Students’ First Day of School
Tuesday, August 19
Labor Day Holiday/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday, September 1
End of 1st Grading Period
Friday, October 17
Non-Student Day
Monday, October 20
Veteran’s Day Holiday/Non-Student Day
Monday, November 11
Fall Break/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday – Friday, November 24-28
Students Return to School
Monday, December 1
Winter Break/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday – Friday, December 22 – January 2
Students Return to School
Monday, January 5
End of 2nd Grading Period (End of 1st Semester)
Friday, January 16
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday, January 19
Non-Student Day
Tuesday, January 20
Florida State Fair Day/Non-Student Day – West Hillsborough County
Friday, February 6
Strawberry Festival/Non-Student Day – East Hillsborough County
Monday, March 2
Spring Break/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday – Friday, March 9-13
Students Return to School
Monday, March 16
End of 3rd Grading Period
Friday, March 27
Non-Student Day
Friday, April 3
Memorial Day Holiday/Schools and District Offices Closed
Monday, May 25
Last Day of School/End of 4th Grading Period (End of 2nd Semester)
Friday, June 5
Early dismissal every Monday at 1:55 pm
24
Calendario del Año Escolar 2014 - 2015 del Estudiante
A continuación el calendario del próximo año escolar (2014-2015), aprobado. Guarde una copia para
futuras referencias. Éste y el calendario para el año escolar 2015-2016 están disponibles en la página
de la red del distrito escolar en www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Primer día de clases
Martes, 19 de Agosto
Día del Trabajo – Feriado /Escuelas y oficinas del distrito cerradas
Lunes, 01 de Septiembre
Fin del primer período de calificaciones
Viernes, 17 de Octubre
Día libre para los estudiantes
Lunes, 20 de Octubre
Día del Veterano - Feriado /Día libre para los estudiantes
Los estudiantes regresan a la escuela
Lunes, 11 de Noviembre
Lunes a Viernes,
24 al 28 de Noviembre
Lunes, 01 de Diciembre
Lunes a Viernes,
22 de Diciembre al 2 de Enero
Lunes, 05 de Enero
Fin del segundo período de calificaciones (Fin del primer semestre)
Viernes, 16 de Enero
Martin Luther King, Jr. –Feriado/Escuelas y oficinas del distrito cerradas
Lunes,19 de Enero
Vacaciones de otoño /Escuelas y oficinas del distrito cerradas
Los estudiantes regresan a la escuela
Vacaciones de invierno /Escuelas y oficinas del distrito cerradas
Día libre para los estudiantes
Martes, 20 de Enero
Día de la Feria Estatal de Florida /Día libre para los estudiantes del Oeste
Viernes, 06 de Febrero
del Condado de Hillsborough
Festival de la Fresa /Día libre para los estudiantes del Este del Condado
Lunes, 02 de Marzo
de Hillsborough
Lunes a Viernes,
Vacaciones de primavera /Escuelas y oficinas del distrito cerradas
09 al 13 de Marzo
Los estudiantes regresan a la escuela
Lunes, 16 de Marzo
Fin del tercer período de calificaciones
Viernes, 27 de Marzo
Día libre para los estudiantes
Viernes, 03 de Abril
Día de Conmemoración de los Caídos – Feriado /Escuelas y oficinas del
Lunes, 25 de Mayo
distrito cerradas
Último día de clases /Fin del cuarto período de calificaciones (Fin del seViernes, 05 de Junio
gundo semestre)
Early dismissal every Monday at 1:55 pm
25
26
A Message from Our Award-Winning
Silver Star Yearbook
It’s back to school time and you know what that means: it’s the perfect time to pre-order your yearbook! Available for purchase at Open House on Thursday, August 14 from 4:30 - 7:30pm, yearbooks will be sold at a
one-night-only discounted price of $65 check or money order, NO CASH!!
Seniors who buy a full page senior ad ($250) will receive a $20 discount off the price of their yearbook.
(Senior ad order forms can be found online on the school website www.gaither.mysdhc.org Click on the link
Yearbook Order Forms)
These specials last through December. The earlier you buy, the more you save. We hope to see you at the
Yearbook booth in the cafeteria!
Gaither Silver Star Yearbook
Yearbook Order Form
Yearbooks will be on sale each Wednesday during all lunches. Completed order forms and payment may also
be dropped off in the Main Office. Only checks or money orders will be accepted! NO CASH! Make checks
payable to Gaither High School. The final deadline to purchase a yearbook is Wednesday, December 10,
2014. Books are NOT guaranteed for sale at delivery time.
Pricing Options:
Sale Period
Price of Yearbook
Open House
$65
September - October
$70
November - December
$75
May (Delivery Time - limited quantities)
$80
Customer Information:
Student’s Name: __________________________________________________________ Grade: __________
English Teacher (or 1st Period if none): ________________________________________ Date: ___________
Parent’s Name: _______________________________________ Phone Number: (
)_________________
Amount: $______________
27
GAITHERHSPTSA
2014-2015MEMBERSHIPFORM
Ourgoalis100%membership–Students,ParentsandFaculty!
Beingamember of thePTSAallowsyoutogainanationalvoicein thefutureof our
children. The National PTA is a group of over 6 million parents and teachers joined
togetherformingapowerfuladvocacygrouponbehalfofthechildrenacrossthisnation. By joining the PTSA you are not obligating yourself to take an active role,
but you are helping to support PTSA's goals and objectives. Your membership
dollarsanddonationshelpfundtheprogramsatGaither.
OurPTSAsponsorsmanyprogramseachyearthatbene"itallstudents.Someofthese
are:StarRevueTalentShow,CowboyExpressAcademicIncentiveProgram,SeniorAchievementAwards,Student&Faculty
Dodgeball Tournament, Splash Bash (an alcohol-free grad party at Adventure Island), and Senior Scholarships. ***Seniors
mustjoinPTSAbyDecember31stinordertobeeligibleforPTAand/orPTSAscholarships.***
Thecostformembershipis$6eachforstudents,parents,grandparents,andteachers.Donationsarealsogreatlyappreciated.
Pleasenotethat$3.50fromeverymembershipissenttotheState/NationalPTA,soonlyaportionofyourduessupportsour
schoolprograms.Studentsandteachersalsoenjoyspecialbene"itsasPTSAmembers...likefrozenyogurtduringlunchesonce
theyjoinPTSA!
Pleasemakeyourcheckpayableto:GHSPTSA.YoumaydropitoffattheMainOf"iceormailitto:GaitherHighSchool,
16200N.DaleMabryHwy.,Tampa,FL33618.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecall(813)975-7340,ext.330.
MembershipInformation:
Student:
Grade:
1stPer.Teacher:
Student:
Grade:
1stPer.Teacher:
Parent:
Email:
Parent:
Email:
Grandparent:
Email:
Grandparent:
Email:
FacultyMember:
Email:
Total#ofMemberships: ______x$6each= $__________
AdditionalDonation:
$__________
TotalEnclosed:
$__________
THANKYOUFORSUPPORTINGTHEGAITHERHIGHSCHOOLPTSA!
PTSA – Office Use Only
AMOUNT RECEIVED: ____________________________
PAID BY: CHECK _______
CASH _______
CC __
CARD(S)# ___________________ ISSUE DATE: _______
28
Gaither High School PTSA
2014-2015 Volunteer Information
Active, involved PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, and STUDENTS have always been an important part of the Gaither High School community.
Please consider volunteering this school year. Your participation helps Gaither maintain its high standard of excellence. Please return this form
ASAP. Several committees need volunteers beginning in late August. Thank you!
Parent(s): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _
Student: ________________________________________________________________________ Grade:
Student: ________________________________________________________________________ Grade:
Address: _______________________________________________________________ City:
Zip:
Home Phone:____________________________________________________________________ Work/Cell:
_
Email:
Place an “X” by areas of interest and return this form to the Main Office. Our VP/Volunteers will follow up with additional information and/or
forward your information to the appropriate committee chair.
Newsletter: Prepare monthly newsletter using Publisher or In Design.
Talent Show: Assist talent show chairperson by selling tickets during lunch and the night of the performance, assist with the set, sound/
lighting, backstage at dress rehearsal and/or at the performance. Event held annually in February.
Hospitality: Assist by baking and/or set up, serving and clean-up for teacher’s welcome back breakfast, grandparent’s breakfast and
conference night teacher dinners.
Fundraising: Sell spirit items during lunch periods on Fridays and Homecoming Week.
Membership: Assist in signing up PTSA members at Open House and at other school wide events; assist with distribution of monthly
membership incentives for students.
Teacher Appreciation: Assist by soliciting gifts, baking, setup and/or serve at annual luncheon held in May.
Cowboy Express: Assist with the school’s academic incentive program by processing applications. Applications are processed twice a
year, in November and February.
Main Office: Assist with answering phones and greeting visitors.
Media Center: Assist with clerical duties, book shelving, etc. on a weekly basis.
Student IDs: Assist by using school equipment to take photos and make ID cards. The majority of these are done in August, but help is
also needed one day per week to create IDs for new students.
Legislation and Advocacy: Communicate important state/local government issues to our school.
Splash Bash (Project Graduation Committee): Assist chairperson by meeting monthly beginning in late fall to plan this event. It is
Gaither’s all night, safe, alcohol-free, supervised graduation party held at Adventure Island. An average of 500 students attend every year.
Splash Bash Volunteer: Assist the committee by doing any or all of the following: sell tickets in May; verify permission forms; gather
and/or solicit prizes and food donations; chaperone the night of the event. Parents of students in all grades traditionally participate
because senior parents are very busy on graduation night.
Annual Student/Faculty Dodgeball Tournament: Assist with the planning and set up of this fun event held each spring that unites
students, parents and faculty.
Great American Teach In: An event held in the fall that gives parents the rewarding opportunity to share their careers with the students.
Locker and Parking Decal Sales: Assist by selling lockers and/or parking decals to students during lunch hours in August./September.
Also, assist with once a week sales of parking decals for the duration of the school year.
Copy Help: Assist staff and faculty by copying class work and other school documents one to three hours one day per week.
Senior Achievement Banquet: Assist with planning, decorating and/or serving at this annual event to honor our outstanding seniors.
Over 500 people attend each year and parents of students in all grades are needed.
Reflections: Assist chairperson by encouraging participation, preparing entries for competition and honoring participants and winners of
this arts program sponsored by the National PTA.
Awards Committee: Assist chairperson in writing and submitting award applications for the annual PTA/PTSA awards program.
Scholarship Committee: Assist with promoting the PTSA scholarship program and serving on the selection committee.
Partners in Education: Liaison with area businesses to benefit Gaither High School students.
Spirit Nights Committee: Help organize and promote monthly “Spirit Nights” at area restaurants.
Dad’s Club: Let’s face it. Dad’s make a difference! Please consider being a part of this special group of volunteers.
General: Assist as needed; willing to be contacted on an “as needed” basis for any volunteer needs that arise.
If you have any questions regarding any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact the Gaither PTSA Mailbox at (813) 975-7340, ext. 330.
Thank you for your continued support of our school and the PTSA!
29
Need Information?
Gaither High School
16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33618
The Gaither Student Newspaper can be found at
my.hsj.org/fl/tampa/gaither and a link to the
Gaither Parent Newsletter can be found online at
gaither.mysdhc.org.
Athletic Booster Club information and forms
can be found on the Gaither website in the
Athletic Section under Extracurricular at
www.gaither.mysdhc.org/athletics
Dates to Remember
Orchestra/Guitar/Band Concert .................. September 29, 2014
FCAT Retakes .............................................. October 6-17, 2014
SAT Prep Course, Saturdays.................... Oct.11-Nov. 01, 2014
Chorus Fall Concert, 7pm ................................October 14, 2014
PSAT Test ........................................................October 15, 2014
Homecoming Game .........................................October 17, 2014
Homecoming Dance.........................................October 18, 2014
Professional Day/Non Student Day ................October 20, 2014
SAT Test ......................................................November 08, 2014
Great American Teach-In ............................November 20, 2014
Report Card Distribution
End Grading Periods
November 7, 2014
February 11, 2015
April 17, 2015
Last one mailed home
October 17, 2014
January16, 2015
March 27, 2015
June 5, 2015
Gaither Roundup
A Publication of Gaither High
School and Gaither PTSA
County School Board
Carol W. Kurdell, Chair
Susan L. Valdes, Vice Chair
Doretha W. Edgecomb,
Candy Olson,
Cindy Stuart,
Stacy R. White, Pharm. D
Superintendent of Schools
Mary Ellen Elia
www.sdhc.k12.fl.us