The Volusia County School-Choice Fair will be taking place on two different dates, one for East Volusia and the other for West Volusia. The School-Choice Fair allows parents and students to learn about the many academic and extracurricular activities that each Volusia County high school has to offer. Priority placement, based on capacity, for the 2023-24 school year will be available for those who attend the fair.
The westside School-Choice Fair will be 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at The Center at Deltona, 1640 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., and the eastside fair will be Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Lemerand Student Center at Daytona State College, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach.
The month of January also brings about an extension of the High School Showcase, in which schools will be hosting their own rising ninth-grade events. The purpose of the extension is to allow incoming ninth-grade students to meet the faculty and administration while experiencing the campus.
Opportunities and programs will be highlighted during these events, including Cambridge/AICE, IB, AP, Career Academies, Career and Technical Education courses, JROTC, extracurricular clubs and activities, and fine and performing arts. Contact the individual school for additional information.
These extensions of the High School Showcase will take place at the following times and dates for the West Volusia high schools: Deltona’s Pine Ridge High’s Sneak Peek 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12; Deltona High’s Ninth-Grade Showcase 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17; Orange City University High’s Sneak Peek 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18; and DeLand High’s Bulldog Palooza 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23.
Pierson Taylor Middle-High’s incoming ninth-graders need to contact Dr. Jose Colon at jacolon@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Those interested in Volusia Online Learning need to contact Renee Scarborough at rmscarbo@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Home-schooled students will be able to boost their environmental IQ by taking part in nature walks and classroom learning through Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona. This is only for home-schooled students, at a cost of $8 per child per program.
The January event is Wednesday, Jan. 11, for first through ninth grades, and involves a Florida scrub eco-buggy ride from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required by calling Shari Smith at 386-789-7207, ext. 21026. Go to www.volusia.org/lecprograms for additional information.
With the return of students to school, the third grading period is now underway. Grades from the second grading period will be available on the Parent Portal, as well as be distributed Monday, Jan. 9. The next school holiday is Monday, Jan. 16, Martin Luther King’s Birthday Holiday.
Deltona Middle School
Deltona Middle School has a new assistant principal, Hannah Hendricks, who is in charge of ESE.
Deltona High School
The School Advisory Council at Deltona High School will have its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Learning Commons.
Deltona High graduate Blake Hinson, who now plays basketball for the University of Pittsburgh, is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game. He also averages 7.2 rebounds per game. His highest point production was against the University of Tennessee-Martin, when he scored 27 points.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School varsity girls’ weightlifting team collected five medals at the Five Star Conference Girls’ Weightlifting Championships. Mia Rhodes won two medals by taking first in both the Olympic and traditional competition; Addison Ruocco lifted twice, with second-place finishes in the two categories; and Leah Jensen was third in Olympic lifting and fourth in traditional.
at Flagler Palm Coast, DeLand High School had three lifters reach the podium for medal presentation. They are Mia Rhodes, at left, who won two first-place medals;
Addison Ruocco, center, who gained two silver medals; and Leah Jensen, who earned one third-place and one fourth-place medal. Other teammates scoring points at the meet were Kaia Horn, Katyah Ross, Hollee Brady and Jaliyah Powell.
PHOTO COURTESY COACH DAMION DUNN
In the junior-varsity competition, DeLand had six out of 10 lifters earn honors: Alexis Berriozabal grabbed two firsts; Charity Rank, Simone Stephenson, Abigail Walczer and Jennifer Grusz each gained one second-place finish; and Kathleen Hulsman earned a third-place finish.
The team is coached by Damion Dunn.
The DeLand High bowling teams had their season-ending awards presentation, with Jesse Barger and Alyssa Burns earning Most Valuable honors. Barger, Sam Martin, Tyler Sprague, Josh Barger, JR Peterson and Sebastian Baldwin earned All Area/Honorable Mention, while Burns, Carlie Cayton, Aaliyah Alexander and Alisyn Sprague gained the same honors.
The DeLand Bulldog boys’ soccer team was stopped by the Taylor Wildcats, 2-0, with the Taylor goals being tallied by Anthony Perez and Rayli Hernandez; Ricardo Jaimes and Steven Aguirre were credited with assists. The Bulldogs were also stopped by Spruce Creek, 2-0.
Prior to the holiday season, the Lady Bulldog soccer team was stopped by Flagler Palm Coast, 4-0; Spruce Creek, 7-0; and Lake Brantley, 3-1.
The DeLand girls’ basketball team was downed by Lake Mary, 48-12; Ransom Everglades, 48-23; North Marion, 29-26; and Rockledge, 63-28.
The DeLand boys’ basketball team was also stopped three times before hosting their annual Holiday Tournament. The Bulldogs lost to Oviedo, 54-37; Dr. Phillips, 58-28; and Central Florida Christian Academy, 64-38.
The Bulldog sports calendar places the boys’ basketball team at Pine Ridge at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, while the Bulldog wrestlers play host to the DeLand Duals in the Bulldog gym on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6 and 7, with action starting at noon Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.
The boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will be competing in the Five Star Tournament. Monday, Jan. 9, has the Bulldog soccer players hosting Lake Mary at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., while the girls’ basketball team plays Forest Lake Academy at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the girls play host to University at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the girls’ weightlifting team welcomes Father Lopez at 4 p.m., with the junior-varsity wrestlers hosting a quad meet at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. That same day, the boys’ basketball team plays at Seabreeze at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and the girls’ basketball team hosts Matanzas at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 12, places the Bulldog soccer team at home against Eustis at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., while the wrestlers go to the regional duals.
Also on Jan. 12, the girls’ soccer team plays host to University at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the boys’ basketball team competes at University at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The girls’ basketball team plays Hagerty at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., also on Jan. 12.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Lady Hatter basketball team was stopped by North Carolina-Greensboro, 65- 58, in the last minutes of the game. Kiya Turner scored 15 points and had eight rebounds, and Jaelyn Talley totaled 15 points, 11 rebounds and one blocked shot. Khamya McNeal led the way with 17 points.
Greensboro has a former DeLand player on the team, Jay’lin Hastings, who collected two rebounds in her two minutes of play.
In the Lady Hatter Classic Tournament, Stetson was stopped by Akron, 58-50, with McNeal scoring 13 points with three steals, and Talley getting 11 points and eight rebounds.
The women then defeated Winthrop, 53-38, with McNeal and Jordan Peete each scoring 13 points. Talley added 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
The Hatter men’s basketball team was stopped by Ohio University, 85-66, with Jalen Blackmon scoring 21 points and Josh Smith hitting for 15 points, 12 rebounds and one block.
The Hats then were stopped by the College of Charleston, 65-60, with Smith scoring 11 points and Stephan Swenson adding 10 points. UCF also topped the Hats, 73-58, with Smith scoring 16 points and Luke Brown adding 11 points.
Two former Hatter basketball players who transferred are Chase Johnston at Florida Gulf Coast, where he is averaging 11.4 points per game, and Rob Perry at Murray State, where he is averaging 16 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, the Lady Hatter basketball team will play at Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m., and the men’s basketball team will be at home against Jacksonville at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 12, the women play host to Central Arkansas at 7 p.m., with the men in Kentucky to face Bellarmine at 6:30 p.m.
College honors
Nicholas Christiano, of Deltona, was named to the Vice President’s List for the fall 2022 term at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Christiano is majoring in accounting.
Kylianne Philip, of DeLand, was named to the dean’s list for the 2022 fall semester at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
