Class Notes: All visitors to school venues will receive a metal-detector check

On the evening of Oct. 7, at the DeLand High School football game, it was evident that many were not aware of the new policy that spectators will be screened to ensure firearms are kept out of the stadium. This new policy caused many to arrive late for the kickoff. This policy will be continued and, from what this reporter is led to believe, will be taking place at all Volusia County Schools venues.
The only access to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium for high-school football games will be through the south gate on East Hubbard Avenue, and all visitors to the stadium will receive a metal-detector check before entry.
The DeLand Police Department stressed that bags are not allowed in the stadium, except for small purses and diaper bags, which are subject to search. Therefore, spectators need to arrive early and be prepared to go through this inspection. Otherwise, spectators can expect to be slowed in their entry to the games.
FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools has hired Elizabeth Falero as its Take Stock in Children student-services and mentor coordinator. Falero will be responsible for all operations relating to the Volusia Take Stock in Children mentoring and scholarship programs.
Falero attended the University of Florida, where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She recently served as the court-services officer for Volusia County Teen Court, managing cases referred to the Teen Court Program and assisting the Teen Court coordinator with managing teen volunteers.
TSIC provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. TSIC offers students college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors and hope for a better life. TSIC scholars are selected in eighth grade through an application and selection-committee review process.
There will be no classes at any Volusia County public school on Tuesday, Nov. 8, so that teachers, staff and parents may vote.
On Friday, Nov. 11, there is also no school so all can observe Veterans Day.
The Thanksgiving Holiday is scheduled to start Monday, Nov. 21; however, Nov. 21 and 22 are slated as makeup days for inclement weather if needed, which they probably will be after losing five days for Hurricane Ian.

Blue Lake Elementary School
Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand thanks the DeLand Rotary Club for donating a dictionary to every third-grade student at the school. The students also enjoyed the lesson about how to use their dictionary.

Forest Lake Elementary School
Forest Lake Elementary School in Deltona has a school store, which is open 7:20-7:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday so students can purchase school supplies. All items cost $1 or less.

Southwestern Middle School
Southwestern Middle School in DeLand will have Spirit Night at Sonny’s BBQ 5-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. Sonny’s is at 1500 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Southwestern Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization. This includes dine-in and to-go orders.

DeLand High School
DeLand High School congratulates social studies teacher Lindsay Brinkmann, who is now Dr. Brinkmann. She earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and assessment.

Deltona High School
The Deltona High School FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) program was recognized at the 94th State FFA Convention and Expo as one of Florida’s Finest Chapters and as a Premier Chapter.
Three of the chapter members participated in the University of Florida’s Agriculture Institute: Emily Bellis, Nancy Fischer and Zoe Warrensford. This program is to promote and recognize students who want to pursue a career in agricultural education.
Open House for Deltona High has been rescheduled to 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Pine Ridge High School
Pine Ridge High School in Deltona is a Florida Power-Library School.

University High School
Open House at University High School in Orange City also has been moved to 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. Families are asked to park by the gym and enter campus through the gym. Families are encouraged to preregister for the Open House at the school’s website, at www.uhstitans.com, up through noon Monday, Oct. 24. From 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 25, there will be a junior/senior presentation by counselors regarding applying to college.
The Homecoming Dance has been rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 22. No new tickets will be sold, and there is no transferring of tickets. Students may request a refund if unable to attend. Students must show ID at the door.
On Monday, Oct. 31, the University Titans football team will play host to New Smyrna Beach. This is the makeup game due to Hurricane Ian. No costumes will be permitted, nor will bags. Visitors are reminded to bring lawn chairs for the hillside.

West Volusia high-school football
On Oct. 7, DeLand High School handed Deltona High School its first loss of the season, 58-42, while all the rest of the West Volusia teams lost. Pine Ridge of Deltona was topped by Mount Dora, 42-0; Interlachen downed Pierson Taylor, 44-0; Orange City University was defeated by Mainland, 37-0; and Deltona Trinity Christian Academy saw Bronson win, 28-6.
Deltona’s record now is 5-1, while DeLand moved to 3-2 and Orange City University is 3-3. Pierson Taylor and Deltona Trinity are 1-4, while Pine Ridge still looks for its first win of the season.
The games scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21, have DeLand hosting Orange City University for Homecoming, Pierson Taylor traveling to Keystone Heights, and Deltona Trinity going to Mount Dora Christian Academy. Deltona and Pine Ridge have an open date. All games are at 7 p.m., except Pierson Taylor’s, which begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Oct. 28 schedule has DeLand at New Smyrna Beach, Deltona at Pine Ridge, Pierson Taylor at Port Orange Atlantic, and Deltona Trinity opening in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs. Orange City University has an open night.
Those games missed because of Hurricane Ian are being made up; check with your school as to when these games will be played.

West Volusia middle-school cross-country

During the first week after the hurricane, Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts in Lake Helen was the host school for the third cross-country race. A lot of credit needs to be given to the Ivy Hawn staff, as they learned three days prior to the race that they would not be able to use their normal course because of debris and water on the course. There were 118 competitors in both races.
The boys’ race was won by Ivy Hawn, with 47 points. The other West Volusia teams were Southwestern of DeLand in sixth place, DeLand Middle in seventh, Galaxy Middle of Deltona in ninth, River Springs of Orange City in 10th, and Heritage Middle of Deltona in 11th; Deltona Middle didn’t have a team score. There are 14 schools competing in the series.
The young ladies’ race was won by Hinson Middle School of Daytona Beach, while Ivy Hawn was second overall. The other West Volusia schools finished in the following order: DeLand Middle in third, River Springs in sixth, Galaxy Middle in seventh, Southwestern in eighth, and Deltona Middle in ninth; Heritage Middle didn’t have a team score.
The girls’ race was won by sixth-grader Alice Acuna of Ivy Hawn, with a time of 14:48.40. The other top finishers for the West Volusia middle schools were Samantha Mott in fifth for DeLand Middle, with a time of 15:06.48; Sophia
Weinrich from River Springs in 10th, with a 15:34.26 clocking; Yanichel Gonzalez of Galaxy Middle in 22nd at
16:39.52; and Alexis Davis from Southwestern in 24th
place at 16:52.92. Hurtado Viviana of Deltona Middle was in 14th place at 15:58.20, while Heritage’s best runner was Haxeleigh Zillman, with a time of 18:29.50.
The young men were led to the finish line by eighth-grader Connor York, who ran for Ivy Hawn and covered
the course in 11:49.33. The other top runners from West Volusia were Solomon Lorenzo of Southwestern, who finished fourth, with a 12:17.06 clocking; Roch Sias of DeLand Middle in 36th at 14:49.33; Kaden Garcia in 31st for Galaxy Middle at 14:34.16; Israel Mullins from River Springs in 43rd at 15:41.02; and Jaden Simmonds of Heritage Middle in 27th at 15:31.98. Connor Rivera was in fifth place for Deltona, with a 12:38.85 clocking.
The Volusia County Middle-School Cross-Country Championship will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at DeLand Middle School.

DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School volleyball team shut out
University, 3-0. The match scores were 25-10, 25-12 and 25-9. The DeLand Bulldog boys’ swim team topped
University, 114-48, while the Lady Bulldogs won 116-44. The DeLand swim teams, both the girls and the boys, are the Five Star Conference Swim champions.
Things on the athletic calendar for DeLand High now slow down, as the fall sports schedules wind down to FHSAA district competition.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, the DeLand High cross-country teams travel to West Orange for the FHSAA district meet and the right to advance to the regional meet and the state championship.
The Bulldog swimmers also compete in their district meet.
On Monday, Oct. 24, both the DeLand High boys’ and girls’ golf teams compete in their district meets.

Stetson University
“Light for a New Day” is the 2022 theme for Stetson
University’s Christmas Candlelight Concerts. Tickets are on sale online only, and advance tickets are required. There will be three performances: at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Thursday, Dec. 1, and Friday, Dec. 2, in the Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall on the
DeLand campus. A final performance will be at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3, at First United Methodist Church of Orlando.
The 2022 concert will showcase more than 150 student
musicians, including the Stetson University Concert Choir, the Hatter Choir and the Stetson Chorale. There will also be instrumentalists from the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band performing.

Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Hatter football team was stopped by Marist, 45-31, on Oct. 8.
The Stetson volleyball team went the distance with Austin Peay, before winning 3-2. The match scores were 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7.
The men’s cross-country team placed 12th among 30 teams at the FSU Invite 8K cross-country race. Jakob
McConnell led the Hatter runners in 34th place with a 25:12.1 time.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams faced Bellarmine, with the men tying, 0-0, while the Lady Hats
went down to defeat, 3-0.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Stetson football team travels to the University of Dayton, while Saturday, Oct. 29, the Hatters greet Drake for Homecoming. Both games are at 1 p.m.
The Stetson home athletic calendar has the volleyball team hosting Queens University of Charlotte at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the Edmunds Center.
The men’s golf team competes in the Daytona Beach
Intercollegiate on the LPGA course on Monday, Oct. 24.
The Hatter basketball team brings the University of Tampa team into the Edmunds Center for an exhibition game at 7 p.m.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.