Volusia County Schools has announced that Spirit Elementary School in Deltona will be offering a Dual-Language Program, in which English- and Spanish-speaking students receive 50 percent of their instruction in English and 50 percent in Spanish.
The program aims to cultivate bilingual, biliterate and bicultural global citizens. This is the first time this has been done in Volusia County.
A signing day took place, with guests that included city officials and sponsors. There was a brief presentation and the distribution of school materials for the students already registered. Parents signed contracts to maintain their child in the program until completion.
Congratulations go to Eilene Ahr, principal of Starke Elementary School in DeLand, and John DeVito, principal of DeLand Middle School, for being named Principals of the Year by Volusia County Schools and FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools.
At the same time, Juanita Tomlinson, a paraprofessional at Hinson Middle School in Daytona Beach, was named the Superintendent’s Outstanding Achievement Award-winner for school-based personnel. Nicole Yates, a data analyst in the School Choice and Charter Schools Department, received the same honor for non-school-based personnel. Each received a plaque and a $250 check.
Those West Volusia nominees for the SOAA were Nikole Zielinski of Citrus Grove Elementary School in DeLand; Damion Dunn, DeLand High; Cynthia Fricks, DeLand Middle; Karina Dalik, Deltona High; Evelyn Navarro, Enterprise Elementary; Tina Sutton, Hospital and Homebound; Donna Sandroni, McInnis Elementary in DeLeon Springs; Brittny Karnes, Pride Elementary in Deltona; Noevia Cooke, River Springs Middle in Orange City; Allison Utterback-Norton, Sunrise Elementary in Deltona; Tammy Tressa, Timbercrest Elementary in Deltona; and Jessica Herbold, University High in Orange City.
West Volusia high-school football
The first official games of the 2022 high-school football season will be played Friday, Aug. 26. All six West Volusia teams will be in action.
The DeLand High School Bulldogs will play against Mainland High at Daytona Stadium, the Deltona Wolves will greet Winter Springs, and the Pine Ridge Panthers (of Deltona) travel to Palm Coast Matanzas.
The Pierson Taylor Middle-High School Wildcats host Winter Park Trinity Prep, the Orange City University Titans play at Oviedo Hagerty, and the Trinity Christian Academy Eagles (of Deltona) have an away game at Halifax Academy in Daytona Beach.
All these games begin at 7 p.m.
The following week, Friday, Sept. 2, has DeLand hosting Port St. Lucie Centennial, Deltona greeting Mount Dora, Pine Ridge hosting St. Cloud, University hosting Oviedo, Taylor at Ocoee Legacy Charter, and Deltona Trinity greeting First Academy-Leesburg. All these games are at 7 p.m., except that Taylor plays at 6 p.m.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School athletic calendar sends the cross-country teams to the Flagler Palm Coast meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.
On Monday, Aug. 29, the boys’ golf team meets Mainland and Father Lopez on the Daytona Beach Golf Course at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldog golfers host Seabreeze at 4 p.m. on the Victoria Hills course.
The Bulldog bowlers roll at Flagler Palm Coast at 3:45 p.m. Aug. 29.
Tuesday, Aug. 30, has the Lady Bulldog volleyball team at home facing Winter Springs at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Bulldog boys’ golf team heads to Riviera Country Club in Ormond Beach to face Seabreeze at 3:15 p.m. That same day, the Lady Bulldog girls’ golf team meets Father Lopez on the Daytona Municipal Course South at 3:30 p.m.
Also on Aug. 31, the Bulldog bowling team greets University at Sunshine Bowling Center in DeLand at 3:45 p.m.
That very same day, the DeLand High swim team greets Father Lopez at 4 p.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 1, the DeLand junior-varsity football team goes to Orange City to face University at 6 p.m.
DeLand varsity volleyball will compete at the Nike Tournament of Champions on Sept. 2 and 3, with times to be determined.
DeLand Lightning Bolt Track Club
The DeLand Lightning Bolt Track Club traveled to the University of North Carolina A&T to compete in the AAU National Junior Olympics, and came home with three of their athletes having reached the podium.
Krista Hansen placed first among the 12-year-old girls in the turbo-javelin event, with a 28.66-meter (94 feet) throw, defeating 72 other athletes. She also finished 33rd out of 88 in the shot put.
Marvin Walker Jr. placed second among 76 athletes in the running long jump. His 5.13-meter (16 feet, 10 inches) effort made him second-best among the 12-year-old competitors. He also placed 11th out of 88 in the 100 meters, and 12th out of 88 in the 200 meters.
Saleigh Simpson finished fifth among 44 14-year-olds in the pentathlon. In this event, the athletes compete in five different field and running events. Saleigh scored 2,829 points to earn her medal. Each athlete had to qualify at a regional meet to be allowed to compete in the nationals.
Saleigh also finished 22nd out of 94 in the 200-meter hurdles, 32nd out of 64 in the high jump, and 14th out of 93 in the running long jump.
Other Lightning Bolts competing and noted nationally were Delise Johnson in the 8-and-under 800 meters, finishing 69th out of 91 athletes; Cornelius Dunn Jr., who finished 13th of 84; Alan Allen, who finished 14th in the 8-and-under boys’ long jump; Tyshalee Pagan, 11, who finished 73rd out of 77 in the shot put, and 60th out of 63 in the turbo-javelin; Caiden Adams, who finished 28th, and Amir Allen, who finished 32nd, out of 68 in the 11-year-old boys’ 80-meter hurdles; Avian Edwards-Pla, who finished 17th out of 120 in the 100 meters; and Fabian McKnight, who was 64th out of 99 in the 110-high hurdles.
The DeLand Lightning Bolt Track Club is led by Deke Harris and assisted by Kay Brewster, Dwayne Brewster and Steven Simpson.
The group practices at 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday on the DeLand High School track.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Hatter football team opens its 2022 season Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Hatters play host to Concordia of Michigan at 6 p.m. in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
The Stetson squad had five players named to the Preseason All-PFL (Pioneer Football League). Those on the offensive team are Alex Piccirilli, Dominic Carlucci and Nazeviah Burris; those on the defensive team are Fermon Reid and Majesté Hansberry.
Teresa Brown has been named the new women’s golf head coach. She served last season as a volunteer assistant coach.
The Stetson home athletic calendar has the men’s soccer team playing host to Detroit Mercy at noon Sunday, Aug. 28, on the campus field.
On Thursday, Sept. 1, the women’s soccer squad hosts The University of Texas at San Antonio at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 3, the men’s soccer team greets Queens University at 7 p.m.
College honors
Caroline Tichenor, of DeLand, has been named to the Dean’s Academic Honor List for the spring 2022 semester in the College of Arts & Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.