3/2/18
ROBOTICS SUCCESS
Our engineering and robotics students traveled to Lockheed Martin to compete in their E-Weeks competition, Escape from Mars. These students have been building their robots since January with mentors from Lockheed Martin providing guidance and support. Out of over 20 teams from Central Florida schools, AHS took both the 1st and 3rd place awards. When not competing, the students toured the Lockheed Martin Sand Lake facilities. They saw a ton of inspiring engineering departments and cool stuff. In addition to competing with their robots, students had to answer and solve STEM challenges. This event came on heels of Tuesday’s Quiz Bowl competition at Lockheed Martin (4th place) and the VEX State competition Monday where our teams placed 5th.
1/26/18
DEBATE SUCCESS
Last week, freshman Thai Mack took 4th place in Oral Interpretation of Literature, and this was a prelude to even greater things:
Brody and Tatiana Beauchamp took First in Duo Interpretation, picket fencing the rounds (meaning they got straight firsts in all rounds).
Chris Hamilton took First in Congress, and Kendall Lindsay took both Second in Congress and Best Novice.
Alya Sharpe took second in Varsity Lincoln Douglas.
Xavier Andersen and Cody Jackson took Second in Novice Public Forum, and Avery Alfred and Alexis Page took Fourth in Novice Public Forum.
1/26/18
On January 18, our Land Judging team competed in the Florida FFA District 7 Land Judging Contest hosted by the Florida Soil & Water Conservation, Orange County Farm Bureau, and Orange County FFA Alumni. Despite the below freezing temperatures (it was 26 degrees at the start of the contest), our students did a fabulous job.
This CDE requires students to evaluate 3 soil pits by observing the texture, permeability, erosion, and other factors to determine the soil class and type. The 4th soil pit (Homesite Evaluation) that these students observe, requires them to determine if the land (soil) is suitable to build a home on and whether or not is is suitable for either a septic system or certain landscape (all which depend on the soil). Although they may have not placed in the top 3, their scores weren’t too far behind. These kids will have the skills to one day make a land decision, and Mrs. Sanchez is confident that they all have the skills to determine whether or not they should build on a particular lot, which is important here in Apopka with the growing number of sinkholes in this area of Florida.
Team members include (from L to R): Hannah Taylor (9th); Christopher Nelson (10th); Gabbriell Cohen (11th); Rachel Ballard (12th).
1/26/18
ROBOTICS
On January 13, Apopka High competed at the first Eagles Nest robotics tournament at Edgewater High School. Teams 550Z (Bruce Hicks, Tim Ervin) and 550G (Anthony Antunez, Anthony Rico) were tournament champions. 500Z was the Excellence Award winner as well as the skills champions. 550Z is currently ranked #3 in the State and #42 in the world. Team 550E (Madison Delvechio, Erin Chou, Ethan Hess) won the Design Award.
AHS robotics coach, Mike MacWithey, Bruce Hicks, and Jayden Terrell were awarded the Volunteers of the Year for assisting in setup and logistics of the tournament. Apopka now has 5 teams qualified for the State Championship in Mid February.
1/26/18
Beta Convention Success!
Mrs. Conyers and Mrs. Hough brought 87 students to the state convention in Orlando. WOW!!! We could not be any prouder of them. We came home with 10 awards, 5 of which were 1st place!!!
Congratulations to the following students:
Show Choir – 1st place – Taylor Emery, Jeffery Laux, Angel Fernando, Julianna Domenech, Robert Sumpter, Elizabeth Spurlock, Kevin Osano, Dazhir Walker, Brittany & Bianca Beckwith, Charity Graham, Ashton Merbach and Abby Bankson. Thank you, Mrs. Shafer, for guiding them!!!!!
Sculpture – 3rd place – Alex Nguyen
Recycled Art – 2nd place – Emma Treadwell, Melanie Halem, Cassidy Proctor & Kaitlyn Usher
Math test – 3rd place – Jenelle Fernando
Science test – 1st place – Kendall Lindsey
Agriculture test – 1st place – Gabi Cohen
Social Studies test – 2nd place – Emma Treadwell
Spanish test – 2nd place – Jesus Gonzalez
Beta Build – 1st place – Kyle Lee, Ariana Jimenez, Taylor Bornstein and Ryan Kempsey
Fresh Look at Beta – 1st place – Isabella Urena, Jenny Lin, Michelle Ramirez
Beta Club would like to send a huge thank you to Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Wilson, Ms. Bercegeay and Mrs. Thompson for chaperoning and helping us make this trip possible.
12/11/17
DEBATE
Please congratulate Kendall Lindsay for winning first place in Student Congress at the Olympia High School debate scrimmage. Also, please congratulate Althaiya Mack for winning best novice at the Hagerty High School debate tournament this past Saturday. Finally, please congratulate Chris Hamilton, Brody Beauchamp, and Tatiana Beauchamp for earning spots at the prestigious Barkley Forum debate tournament at Emory University in Atlanta.
11/6/17
DEBATE
Please congratulate the following AHS Speech & Debate students for their achievements at Florida Blue Key, which is a National Circuit Debate Tournament:
Brody Beauchamp–Quarter Finalist in Program Oral Interpretation
Brody and Tatiana Beauchamp–Semi-finalists in Duo Interpretation of Literature (Brody double-entered)
Christopher Hamilton–Semi-finalist in Student Congress and a bid to the Tournament of Champions
Also congratulate Jordan Jenkins and Jamari Saint Cyr for winning a difficult round of Public Forum, and Nate Douglas, who won two challenging rounds of progressive Lincoln-Douglas debate.
11/6/17
Beta Induction was held on Monday 10/30. 75 new members were inducted!! Congratulations to all new members!
10/27/17
Junior ROTC Competition News–
On 14 Oct, JROTC competed at Nease High School’s Drill/Physical Fitness competition. There was 16 schools in attendance. We came home with 6th trophies and 1 individual Medal:
3rd Place Team Sit-ups
3rd place Team Push-ups
2nd place 16×100 Relay.
2nd place 8×220 Relay
2nd Place Over-all Physical Fitness
2nd Place Armed Drill
1st place Individual Push-ups (Medal)–Matthew Ricardo performed 145 push-ups!
10/27/17
National Honor Society
This month, National Honor Society had the honor to participate in the Steven Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K. The proceeds from this race help to fund the Steven Siller Foundation which helps those affected by attacks of 9/11 and helps provide assistance to those wounded in combat.
We are grateful to have had the Mayor of Apopka, Joe Kilsheimer, and his wife Cheryl Kilsheimer, Apopka Police, and Apopka Fire Department come out to show their support for first responders and our troops.
10/10/17
Debate News
Please congratulate Christopher Hamilton on making it to congressional semi-finals at the Crestian Tradition Debate Tournament (independently entered, in South Florida) earlier this month. In addition, Christopher has been accepted into two prestigious Round Robin debate events (Crestian and Blue Key). This is a first time for Apopka, as Round Robin competitions are reserved for the most successful debaters!
From competition at Cypress Creek High: Please congratulate our brother-sister Duo Interpretation team of Brody and Tatiana Beauchamp for earning first place for their performance of “The Prometheus Project!”
10/6/17
Future Farmers of America
On Wednesday, September 27, 2017 our 7 elected FFA officer team attended the Area 4 Florida FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Training at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City. At this training, officers learned how to improve their leadership skills to run an FFA chapter. Our chapter officers are as follows:
President- Gabbriell Cohen
Vice President- Alyssa Terry
Secretary- Kendall Lindsay
Treasurer- Raven Parham
Reporter- Lorelei Bachmann
Sentinel- Andrea Jimenez
Parliamentarian- CJ Nelson
9/22/17
FCA
Students, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is having our very first rally next Monday, September 25th @ 6 pm in the cafeteria. Come out and have fun with good food, games and an awesome guest! You don’t want to miss it! Come out and have a good time! Spread the word!!!
8/28/17
NEHS–National English Honors Society
Interested students should join the Google Classroom using code: oqxln1
There will also be a meeting for all interested students (past members included) in room 406 on Thursday 8/31 immediately after school.
8/28/17
Beta Club
Students can pick up applications in room 1607. Return them to the front office, 620, or 1607. They are due no later than September 8th.
8-28-17
2017 – 2018 Drama Department Officers
President – Matthew Zenon
Vice President – Sheila Smith
Secretary – Nick Lane
Treasurer – Catalina Sandoval
Historian – Bryanna Paul
Master Technician – Arden Lee
Freshman Representative – Greyson Smith
8/21/17
Drama Club
Wednesday, August 23 in the Drama Room (Room 836)
1:30 – 3:00 pm (1st mtg./election of officers)
ANYONE INTERESTED IN THEATRE IS INVITED TO JOIN!
8/21/17
Latin Club
Apopka High School is forming a Latin Club this year.
Our 1st meeting will be Thursday, August 24th, in Mrs. Katz’s room (North Campus 417) from 2:05-2:30.
Latin club is a social club open to any current or former Latin students. Our focus is to celebrate the culture of the ancient Romans and the influence their civilization had on the development of the Western world. Students who would like to run for office should especially plan to come.
8/21/17
Gay-Straight Alliance
The Apopka High GSA is under new sponsorship! Any students interested in becoming a member of our group of welcoming, all-inclusive, and community-minded individuals is invited to attend our first meeting on Wednesday, August 30th, directly after school in Ms. Amburgey’s room – room 521 – and/or to join our Remind group with the code @APKGSA.
8/21/17
Debate
Please see the schedule of upcoming Debate tournaments below. Students interested in Debate should see Mrs. Brown in room 537.
| Date | Place |
| Sept. 23, 2017 | Trinity Prep |
| Sept. 27, 2017 | TBD |
| Oct 7, 2017 | Cypress Creek HS |
| Oct. 18, 2017 | TBD |
| Oct. 21, 2017 | Lake Mary Prep |
| Nov. 8, 2017 | TBD |
| Nov. 11, 2017 | TBD |
| Dec. 6, 2017 | Hagerty HS |
| Dec. 16, 2017 | Hagerty HS |
| Jan. 17, 2018 | TBD |
| Jan. 20, 2018 | Eastside HS |
| Feb. 3, 2018 | Trinity Prep |
| Feb. 23-24, 2018 | Timber Creek HS |
| March 3-4 2018 | West Orange HS |
| March 9-10, 2018 | TBD |
| April 7, 2018 | TBD |
| April 13-15, 2018 | Cypress Bay HS |
Travel Team
| 9/14-18/2017 | Yale |
| 10/26-29/2017 | Blue Key/UF |
| 11/17-20/2017 | Glenbrooks/Chicago |
| 11/30-12/4/2017 | Princeton |
| 1/12-14/2018 | Sunvitational/Ft. Lauderdale |
| **1/25-29-2018 | Barkley Forum/Emory |
| 2/8-12/18 | Liberty Bell Classic/UPenn |
| 2/15-19/2018 | UC Berkley |
**Tournament of Champions at Univ. of Kentucky-4/27-30/2018
**CFL Nationals in Washington, DC 5/25-28/2018
**NSDA Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, FL June 17-23/2018