Class Notes: ESE Family Event will be Saturday, April 27, in Daytona

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Class Notes: ESE Family Event will be Saturday, April 27, in Daytona
PHOTO COURTESY TIM SHEA<br> VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS’ PITCH CONTESTANTS ARE VINCENT STREET AND JUSTICE GELLER (DREAM HAVEN COMMUNITY CENTER), MARC VARADA FOR AUDIO/ VISUAL AND TEAM SUPPORT, LANE ROBERTS AND CAROLINA PUJOL.

Volusia County Schools will be offering an ESE Family Event for families of students with disabilities, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in the Willie Miller Instructional Center on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus, 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach. This is an all-day conference-style event, including scheduled presentations and a resource fair.

Presentations, a resource fair and community connections will be presented, along with prizes. Some of the topics covered will be accommodations for students with disabilities, assistive technology, autism spectrum disorder, career and technical education, child abuse awareness, college opportunities, diploma and deferment options, dyslexia, early childhood resources, financial planning for special needs, guardianship, individual education plan (IEP), Project Search and vocational rehabilitation.

Participants need to register for the event by going to the Volusia County Schools website at www.vcsedu.org. No child care is provided, but children are welcome.

For assistance, accommodations or further information, contact jpdwyer@volusia.k12.fl.us or call 386-255-6475 ext. 38337.

 

The DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce recently named the winners and nominees of the 11th annual Crystal Apple Awards. The awards celebrate and honor West Volusia educators, recognizing them for their excellence in preparing the future West Volusia workforce.

The four winners this year were Caroline Sarmiento of Volusia Pines Elementary School in Lake Helen; Kim Krupinsky, Deltona High School; Janirette Chaves, River Springs Middle School of Technology and Innovation in Orange City; and Nikolitsa Taylor, University High School in Orange City.

The nominees for the four awards besides the award winners were Gina Klimas of Blue Lake Elementary in DeLand; Kayla Whidden, Citrus Grove Elementary in DeLand; Shari Hazelton, DeBary Elementary; Kathryn Battaglino, DeLand High; Austin Halterman, DeLand Middle; William McCormick, Deltona Middle; Jordyn Lee, Discovery Elementary in Deltona; Colleen Murphy, Forest Lake Elementary in Deltona; Heather Allen, Freedom Elementary in DeLand; Michelle Kelley, Friendship Elementary in Deltona; Jeanne Hill, Galaxy Middle in Deltona; Laura Jean Matthews, George Marks Elementary in DeLand; Shaunn Smith, Highbanks Learning Center in DeBary; Jennifer Eunice, Manatee Cove Elementary in Orange City; Sara Montalvo, McInnis Elementary in DeLeon Springs; Steven Sanders, Orange City Elementary, Sharon Brown, Pierson Elementary; Danielle Gregory, Pine Ridge High in Deltona; Michelle Gaetjens, Spirit Elementary in Deltona; Carmen Abell, St. Peter Catholic School in DeLand; Frenchie Rollins, Sunrise Elementary in Deltona; Nicoleta Wells, Timbercrest Elementary in Deltona; and Abigail Fisher, Woodward Avenue Elementary in DeLand.

 

High-school students from the Volusia County School District recently pitched entrepreneurial ideas in a Shark Tank-style event. Those participating in the event were Arianna Tilley from Seabreeze High in Daytona Beach; Karina Morales-Herrera, Jarrett Cervantes and Briana Campos, all from Taylor Middle-High in Pierson; and Carolina Pujol and Lane Roberts, DeLand High.

 

Volusia County Schools named Amanda Silva, an aerospace teacher at Atlantic High School in Port Orange, as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. The finalists for this award from West Volusia were Latrease Carruthers of Taylor Middle-High in Pierson; Chris Folsom, DeLand High; Andrea Erthal, River Springs Middle in Orange City; Jacqueline Ficco, University High in Orange City; Leland Wilbert, Pine Ridge High in Deltona; Kimberly Torres, Deltona High; and Stacey Horn, Volusia Online Learning.

 

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez has announced the third annual Spring 2024 Florida Space Art Contest for K-5 students. These students from kindergarten through fifth grade are encouraged to create an art piece inspired by the theme Suit Up! Florida’s Space Suit of the Future. Space Florida, a sponsor of the contest, believes supporting science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) education initiatives is an integral part of its mission.

Students entering are to submit an original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Submissions will be broken down into two categories: K-2 and 3-5. Six art pieces from each group (12 total) will be selected as finalists. Finalists will win two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; two grand-prize winners, one selected from each group, will have their artwork launched into space on an upcoming mission.

Contest rules and guidelines can be found at www.FloridaSpaceArt.com. Artwork is to be submitted to Space Florida, ATTN: Space Art Contest, 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Exploration Park, Florida 32953. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2024.

 

Early this year, Volusia County Schools’ World Languages Festival took place under the direction of Dr. Grace Kellermeier. There were many winners at this festival in many different categories. This column will start listing these winners in next week’s column.

 

All-area athlete nominees

At the end of competition in each sport, The Daytona Beach News-Journal makes a list of all-area nominees from which the Outstanding Athlete will be named later in the spring. These nominees are from Volusia and Flagler counties. The following nominees represent West Volusia: wrestlers — MJ Smokes of DeLand High, Kyle Yasses of Deltona High, Bry Kaminsky and MaryEllen Wingate of University High in Orange City, and Grace Lashinsky of DeLand High; boys soccer — Isaiah Harper of DeLand High; and girls basketball — Calise Chisholm and Iniya Reddicks of Deltona High, Haylee Morelli of Trinity Christian Academy, and Mi’yauna Ross of DeLand High.

 

College athletes from local high schools

Alize Munn, who played basketball at DeLand High School and now plays for Salem College, averaged 15.5 points per game and collected 96 rebounds before injuring her knee in January, putting her on the bench for the rest of the season.

Jiya Hastings, who ran track and played basketball and volleyball at DeLand High and is now on the track team at Mercer University, has turned in her best efforts of 12.56 for the 100, 26.91 for the 200 and 17 feet, 2.75 inches for the long jump.

Jay’lin Hastings, who played basketball and participated in field events at DeLand High and is now playing basketball at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, has seen very limited time on the floor but did play in the first round of the WNIT Tournament against North Carolina A&T.

Bridgette Gordon, who played basketball and volleyball at DeLand High and is now the head women’s basketball coach at Florida A&M, finished the season with a 9-20 record. She also directed Ahriahna Grizzle, who was named the Player of the Year for the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Royce Eggert, who played basketball as well as running track and cross-country at University High in Orange City and is now at Valdosta State, had his best time for the past cross-country season at the college level at 28:50.5 for the 8K race.

Brandon Neely, who is from Seville and played high-school baseball at Spruce Creek High, is the grandson of Jimmy Neely, who was a top hurdler at DeLand High back in the 1970s. Brandon Neely is now a right-handed pitcher for the University of Florida. He has been named a Pre-Season 3rd Team All-American, and was recently named SEC Pitcher of the Week.

 

Deltona High School

Deltona High School will be holding its prom on Saturday, April 13, in Daytona Beach.

 

Pine Ridge High School

On April 3 and 4, Pine Ridge High School in Deltona will have cap-and-gown pickup at lunch in the archway.

 

West Volusia high-school track

At the Big D Relays, the following DeLand High School athletes were on winning relays: Owen York, Connor York, Lane Roberts, Owen Smith, Chico Apakama, Marceles Carey, Aiden Degraff, Tauren Nicholson, Jennel Brown, Evelyn Cifuentes, Madilyn Russell and Savannah Hatfield.

Those on winning relays for Deltona High were Hadassah Cepeda, Khalema Christopher, Mia Fernandez, Tatianna Greene, Katie Berrios, Amber East, Iniya Reddicks and Dashmarie Jackson.

The winning relays for University High in Orange City were staffed by Nyrania Barr-Miller, Hannah Judge, Morgan Harvill, Julianna Supernaw, Jazilyn Bryant, Amya Orr and Hailey Theodore.

Deltona High held the Deltona Spectacular, which was won by the Pine Ridge boys and the Father Lopez girls. Deltona High and Trinity Christian Academy also were among the competitors. Those winning events for the Panthers of Pine Ridge were Tyler Haywood (2), Elijah Thompson, Elijah Laird, Ethan White, Kheron Duprat and Marcqus Numa. Iniya Reddicks won two for Deltona High.

 

DeLand High School Athletics

The DeLand High School Bulldog baseball team was stopped by Bartram Trail 5-2, but the Bulldogs bounced back with an 8-4 win over New Smyrna Beach.

The Lady Bulldog softball team lost to New Smyrna Beach 8-7, with DHS scoring 3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to draw near. Payton Mathis had a triple and three RBIs. The softball team was also stopped by Ocala Forest 9-3, which saw De-Niya Padgett hitting a Lady Bulldog home run.

The DeLand High tennis teams lost to Father Lopez 7-0 for the boys and 4-3 for the girls.

The Lady Bulldog flag-football team won one and lost one. They topped University 13-6, with Tashia Williams passing for 119 yards and running for 50, while Kenna Harkness and Kaysha Hill each caught a pass for a TD. They lost to Belleview 7-6.

The spring sports calendar finds teams returning from Spring Holiday with a full calendar. On April 4, the softball team greets Seabreeze at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., the track team is at the Five Star Championships at Flagler Palm Coast at 3 p.m., the baseball team plays host to Flagler Palm Coast at 4:30 p.m., the flag-football team competes at Seabreeze at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the beach volleyball team plays at New Smyrna Beach at 5 p.m.

On April 5, the baseball team travels to Orangewood for a 6:30 p.m. game.

On April 8, the flag-football team is at the district tournament, the JV baseball team plays at University at 4:30 p.m., and the JV softball team greets Forest at 4:30 p.m.

April 9 places the tennis teams at Spruce Creek at 3:15 p.m., the JV baseball team is at Deltona at 5 p.m., and the baseball team moves into Conrad Park for a game with Eustis at 7 p.m.

 

Stetson University Athletics

Stetson University basketball player Jalen Blackmon has been named a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award.

The Hatter men’s basketball team wrote history by earning a slot in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. They faced overall No. 1 Connecticut, to whom they lost 91-52. Stephan Swenson scored 20, collected six rebounds, and had one block and one steal. Blackmon scored 14 with eight rebounds. The Hats finished the year with a 22-13 overall record and an ASUN record of 11-5.

The Lady Hatter women’s basketball team went to the WNIT Tournament, where the Lady Hats were stopped by FIU 60-47, with Jamiya Turner scoring 17. The team finished with a season mark of 17-15 and an ASUN mark of 12-4.

The Hatter baseball team lost to FSU 1-0, with the winners scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Hatters then topped Lipscomb 9-8 while scoring five times in the ninth inning, with Landon Moran going 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and three RBIs.

The Stetson women’s golf team placed eighth out of 15 at the Spring Break Shootout at Lake Jovita, Florida, and the men’s tennis team topped Austin Peay 7-0.

The Stetson softball team competes at Eastern Kentucky on April 6 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and on April 7 at 1 p.m.

The baseball team greets USF at 6:30 p.m. April 2, then has a home series April 5-7 with Kennesaw State; those games will be at 6:30 p.m. April 5 and 6 and at 1 p.m. April 7. The Hatters then play host to UCF at 6:30 p.m. April 10.

The lacrosse team greets Lindenwood at 3 p.m. April 4.

The rowing team hosts the Stetson Invitational Regatta at 8 a.m. April 6.

On April 10, the women’s tennis team greets FGCU at 10 a.m.

On April 11, the lacrosse team faces Longwood at noon.

— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.

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