JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT’S “CAREER SUCCESS”
SPCHS students recently participated in Junior Achievement’s Career Success program during the SPCHS Junior Seminar.
This two-day workshop strives to equip students with the tools and skills required to earn and keep a job in high-growth career industries. The program was facilitated by Wells Fargo.
Zhane’ Grant, a junior at SPCHS, volunteers for Junior Achievement and had this to say about the experience of attending the workshop: “It was helpful. We interviewed each other and discussed job skills needed for specific jobs.”
When asked what she gained from the experience, Zhane’ shared that it was helpful to go through the interview process: “The Wells Fargo program hosts explained to participants that it is normal to be nervous during a job interview—and it is normal for interviewers to be nervous, too. This commonality makes the thought of going into an interview less threatening.”
Desmond Douglas, another SPCHS junior who participated in the program, applauded the event for its team building exercises: “The workshop provided suggestions and multiple ways to achieve goals.” Desmond shared: “I learned what it means to be professional in an interview and how to convey why I would be an asset to [the] company.”
High-growth career industries dominate the global market. Junior Achievement’s Career Success workshop is a new hands-on program that aims to help prepare today’s students by sharing skills needed to compete and succeed.
Students who participated in the JA Career Success program learned to apply the 4C’s of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
• Demonstrate strong “soft” skills
• Rank work priorities.
• Recognize STEM and other high-growth industries.
• Identify personal-brand and job-hunting tools—resumes, cover letters, interviews, and digital profiles.
SPCHS is thankful to Junior Achievement and Wells Fargo for providing this valuable training for our students.
SPCHS Seniors Named to the 2017 All-Florida Academic Team
Congratulations to Stephen Lee Delong and Natalie Moyer, SPCHS seniors, who were recently named to The Florida College System 2017 All-Florida Academic Team representing St. Petersburg College. Natalie and Stephen Lee were nominated by St. Petersburg College to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by USA Today and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, according to The Florida College System announcement. Selection for this prestigious honor is based on the students’ academic achievement, leadership and service to their communities. Natalie Moyer (pictured below on the left) and Stephen Lee Delong (pictured below on the right) were two of 127 students in the state who were recognized at an awards ceremony in Tallahassee, Florida on April 7, 2017.
SPCHS Prom “Escape to Neverland” A Night to Remember
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School students enjoyed a magnificent prom at the Bayou Club in Largo, on Saturday April 1, 2017. Students enjoyed a formal dinner, dancing, memorable pictures in the photo booth, and the coronation of Prom Court.
The SPCHS Student Government Association (SGA), under the leadership of SGA Senior Class President Laura Luc, planned the event. The theme, “Escape to Neverland” featured Peter Pan themed centerpieces, hanging lanterns, and an archway allowing students to enter Neverland. SPCHS students designed and made all of the decorations, transforming the Bayou Club into Neverland, including fog and twinkling lanterns creating a mysterious ambiance.
Mr. Hesting, SGA Faculty Advisor, and Mrs. Nikki Miller and Mrs. Krista Dupes, SPCHS parent Co-Chairs, also assisted with prom, as did several parent and faculty chaperones.
The students were on the dance floor all night and the consensus was that this prom was a huge success! SPCHS Sophomore Logan Neal stated, "I had a lot of fun! It was my first prom and we rented a limo. The decorations were really cool. I liked the food a lot and the DJ was fun. One of the highlights was when I was named ‘Duke’ and my girlfriend was named ‘Duchess.’ That was a surprise! Prom was a memorable experience."
Lina Fares, SPCHS Junior, exclaimed, "Prom was so much fun! I really enjoyed dancing the night away with friends. It was a pleasant surprise when first-time nominees were named as ‘Prince" and "Princess.’ I loved the decorations and the feel of the theme, Neverland, was amazing."
Furthermore, SPCHS Juniors liked the opportunity to take pictures on the golf course at the Bayou Club as expressed by Valarie Ramos when she shared, "I liked the venue for this year's prom. The Peter Pan theme of the decorations showed in the littlest details. I liked the jars with glitter in them. The DJ was good. I have to say that, overall, I enjoyed this year's prom more than last year's. The food was better last year, but this year's prom was special. I was happy that first-time nominees won for ‘Prince" and "Princess.’ It was fun and I enjoyed dancing. One of the highlights, for me, was the time of day. It was not too early or too late. Just before sunset. Making it the perfect time of day for taking pictures!"
Joey Lee, SPCHS junior, also liked the opportunity to take pictures as noted by his remarks when he stated, "One of the highlights from this year's prom was the sunset. I enjoy photography and the lighting was perfect for picture taking! I liked the decorations, especially the Neverland clock design on the tables. I was nominated as ‘Prince,’ but was happy first-time nominees won."
The students danced the night away leaving with a memento and wonderful memories of Prom!
SPCHS RECIPIENT OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HALL OF FAME “OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”
By Connie Langhorst and Starla Metz
SPCHS students and staff were on hand to accept the prestigious Junior Achievement “2017 Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award” that was presented to SPCHS at the recent Junior Achievement Hall of Fame event. The celebration took place at Busch Garden’s Tampa Bay, Dragon Fire Grill on Thursday, March 2. See the video played at the event honoring SPCHS students.
At SPCHS, we are proud of our ten-year partnership with Junior Achievement (JA). The “Outstanding Achievement Award” presented to SPCHS honors our students for their volunteer contributions in support of financial literacy education.
During the 2015-16 school year, JA participating SPCHS students volunteered at 15 Pinellas County Schools, taught 96 classes and assisted 1,799 students with Financial Literacy Education. In total, our students contributed a total of 480 hours of community service to Pinellas County Schools.
At SPCHS, JA has changed from being an adult-led to a student-led program. As an example of a student project, SPCHS students created and implemented a recycling program two years ago that saves Junior Achievement money each year. The good work initiated by this SPCHS project, and others, has been replicated, as a “how to succeed”model, at other Junior Achievement-affiliated high schools.
We are proud of our four seniors who serve as JA Co-Presidents
: Meg Fister and Rebekah Wyant, shown in the photo on the left, and Aaliyah Miller and Desiree Stefanik featured in the photo below.
One of the co-presidents, Aaliyah Miller, accepted the award on behalf of SPCHS, and shared these comments:
I look forward to passing the baton on to the next group of students who are coming into the program. I have done my part, so it should be much easier for them. It was a nice experience in recognition of our hard work and for our high school to be recognized by major businesses, such as Bank of America and HSN. It was an honor to have our work recognized by these businesses and to be rewarded for our work in this way.
Bailey Willis, an SPCHS junior and JA member, attended the event and had this to say about the experience:
“It was an honor to be invited to be a part of this event and to see how the seniors do things.”
Baily Willis and Desmond Douglas
Julie Brecher, Vice President of Development for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, Inc., acknowledged our students in a follow up letter to SPCHS Principal Starla Metz:
Congratulations again. I hope you all enjoyed your evening, it was such an honor to award you and the students with the 2017 Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award last night at the Hall of Fame, I hope you enjoyed the evening. It has been a pleasure working with you and thank you for all you do!
JA's Legacy Award recipients and presenting sponsors for the Hall of Fame Awards included: HSN, PWC, SKYES, BUSCH GARDENS, OUTBACK, and TAMPA BAY TIMES.
Pictures and video are compliments of Junior Achievement.
SPCHS Students Experience Vietnamese Culture
By John Hesting
Trang Tran, Sithian Thach, and Jakob Le share their culture and heritage with their classmates with their presentation on Vietnam, wearing customary Áo dai holiday clothing and serving Banh tét, G?i cu?n, and Th?t núóng, and Chè accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music.
SPCHS Multicultural Club Mission Statement:
It is the goal of SPCHS Multicultural Club to educate our learning community regarding the multiple cultures at SPCHS as well as to encourage involvement of the school body in the celebration of a diverse community. We seek to promote positive attitudes and relationships at school and in the community and to help students and staff recognize and appreciate the cultural diversity within the school, local and world communities in order to foster understanding and eliminate discrimination and prejudice.
St. Patrick's Day Social
By Dr. Ian Call
On March 14th, the students of SPCHS got into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit by wearing lots of green and taking the opportunity to socialize and snack on some green goodies.
Every year, the National Honor Society hosts the St. Patrick’s Day Social to create an opportunity for students to do what teenagers do best, eat and talk. Students from all three grade levels gathered in the lobby of the Student Services building on Friday afternoon to chat and eat some (mostly) green food including pizza, cupcakes, cookies, and candy. There was even punch! At the beginning of the social, students were given a goody bag filled with, you guessed it, goodies.
In addition, the National Honor Society felt that SPCHS students were not eating enough Chick-fil-A, so ten lucky students won 5-dollar gift cards to the Chick-fil-A restaurant of their choice. Soon after the social was over, all ten Chick-fil-A gift cards had been redeemed. Unfortunately, no actual leprechauns were able to attend the social, but there is always next year!
Special thanks to the National Honor Society officers and Ms. Segall for their hard work and dedication in making this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Social an amazing success!
Game and Movie Night by Dr. Ian Call
At SPCHS, we have a special tradition of hosting a Game and Movie Night for our students here at the Collegiate High School. The tradition was started by students in our Student Government Association and everyone enjoyed the event so much that we have continued the tradition ever since. This year we even had two Game and Movie Nights! Part of the tradition of Game and Movie Night is that a movie is playing in the “Fishbowl” and few students actually watch it, so this year the students decided that the movie portion of Game and Movie Night would be replaced by Karaoke.
In addition to Karaoke, students played video games in the classrooms and were provided lessons on how to be crushed at four square by Dr. Call. Thanks to PTSA’s sponsorship of the event and donations from parents, students were able to munch on Domino’s Pizza and other goodies including chips and cookies.
Special thanks to everyone who made the event possible; Mr. Hesting for organizing the event, everyone who donated snacks and goodies for the event, and to our wonderful volunteers for chaperoning the event, especially those volunteers that chaperoned the Karaoke room.
