Florida High Happenings- October
Florida State University Schools Grades 9-12
Principal's Message
It's Time to Fall into Learning!
Welcome to October! I’m looking forward to cooler autumn days ahead (hopefully 🤗). September flew by in a whirlwind of exciting activities and fantastic learning. As we step into October, we have a lot of fun festivities to look forward to—and we’re already kicking off the 2nd nine weeks this month!
Some Key Highlights Include:
- 10/6 PSAT (all sophomores and juniors that signed up)
- 10/9 End of 1st 9-Weeks
- 10/12 No School For Students
- 10/16- Homecoming Week!!!
- 10/19- Red Ribbon Week (Healthy Habits)
- 10/22- World of Works
- 10/30- Carnival and Early Release!
Megan Brink
High School Principal
Grades 9-12 use Remind to communicate to students and families via text message. Each class has a Remind code to enter in your phone, so you can receive communication regarding class trips, testing information, school events or any other important announcements and reminders. If FOCUS and Remind did not automatically place you into one of the following groups, feel free to add yourself in the Remind app or text the code below to 81010.
Each class/cohort for Grades 9-12 has a Google class account managed by our student services team. Please make sure your student has added the class to their google account by using the codes below. Information includes a checklist with things to review/complete for each year in high school, our FSUS Course Directory, a template to plan your student's courses throughout high school, testing and scholarship information and other resources.
For information on menus, pricing, payments, and free/reduced lunch applications, please go to the website below.
Senior News
Helpful Hints:
College Applications & Deadlines
Finalize your college list: Balance reach, match, and safety schools so you are confident in every option on your list.
Track Early Action/Early Decision dates: EA/ED deadlines hit November 1–15—finish your main essays, supplementals, and activity descriptions now.
Confirm recommendation letters: Politely check in with the teachers and counselor writing your letters to ensure they have your brag sheet and submission links.
Fill out financial aid forms: Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as they open to secure aid before funds run out.
Academics & Transcript Protection
Avoid senioritis early: Colleges care about senior year grades—a steep drop in first-semester marks can risk admission or scholarship offers.
Request official transcripts early: Check your school’s guidance portal to ensure transcript and counselor report requests are submitted weeks before deadlines.
Mindset & Momentum
Apply early, stress less: Submitting applications a week ahead of deadlines prevents website crashes and last-minute panic.
Celebrate the process: Acknowledge small wins along the way, and stay focused on enjoying your last year of high school.
Seniors - Best and Brightest interest meeting on Oct 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Your Class Sponsors
Ms. Bickel, Ms. Axtell, Ms. Russell
Junior News
Helpful Reminders:
Academics & Recommendation Letters
Protect your GPA: Junior year grades carry the heaviest weight on transcripts—stay ahead before AP/IB workloads peak.
Build teacher relationships: Target 2–3 teachers this semester who can write strong college recommendation letters next spring.
Address drops immediately: Seek tutoring or help as soon as a grade dips rather than waiting for midterms.
Testing & Planning
Prepare for the October PSAT: Treat it seriously—it is the qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships.
Map your SAT/ACT dates: Choose your winter/spring test dates now so you can plan an 8-to-12-week study schedule.
Extracurriculars & Balance
Focus on depth and leadership: Aim for meaningful impact in 2–3 key activities rather than adding new clubs.
Log your achievements: Track volunteer hours, awards, and leadership roles in a dedicated resume doc.
Pace yourself: Schedule non-negotiable sleep and downtime to avoid mid-semester burnout.
Junior Class Sponsor:
Ms. Prater
Sophomore News
.Sophomores! It is time to register for the sophomore trip! We will be going to Kennedy Space Center, Fun Spot, and SeaWorld April 1st-2nd.
To be eligible to go, you MUST have at least a 2.0 GPA, may NOT be on a behavior nor an attendance contract at the time of the trip, and MUST have paid all activity fees for the 2026-27 school year.
The cost is $252 per student. Cost include 3 meals per day (6).
All funds for the trip are collected through a third party (Green Light / Group Collect). The ONLY way to get a refund for the trip is to purchase the TRIP PROTECTION through Group Collect. I highly recommend the enhanced protection due to the fact that much can change in your schedule (especially sports) between now and April 1-2.
You must register and pay the $50 deposit + any optional trip protection by 5pm on 10/28. Here is the link to register: https://greenlight.grcoll.co/v2/go/fsuss27ksc
Sophomore Class Sponsor
Mr. Mello
Freshman News
Helpful Reminders
Academics & Midterms
Check gradebooks now: Audit your portal today so you know where you stand with time left to recover.
Use active recall: Swap re-reading and highlighting for flashcards, practice problems, and self-quizzing.
Visit teachers early: Check with your teachers about when you can come get help if needed before you fall behind, not the night before an exam.
Time & Energy
Block out study time: Put study sessions on your calendar as non-negotiable appointments.
Prioritize sleep: Pulling all-nighters backfires—7 to 8 hours of sleep is essential for memory retention.
Use the 50/10 rule: Study with total focus for 50 minutes, then take a strict 10-minute break.
Social & Campus Life
Expect friend dynamics to shift: Friendships naturally shuffle after the first few weeks; keep joining groups and meeting people.
Separate work and rest spaces: Study in the library or at a desk, never in bed.
Learn to say no: Decline social invites when you need to focus on heavy assignment weeks.
Freshman Class Meeting is Oct 8!
Freshman Sponsor:
Ms. Piris
Giants and Bighead Sculptures
Inspired by the traditional Giants & Bigheads Sculptures of the San Fermín (Pamplona, Spain) and La SanSe (San Juan, Puerto Rico) festivals, our Level 1 Sculpture students are exploring the role of exaggeration, proportion, and character in sculptural design. After researching the traditions and developing their own character sketches, students used various cardboard construction techniques to transform flat cardboard into expressive 3D sculptures. We love seeing our students experiment with materials, think like sculptors, and turn a simple box into something completely their own!
Students will be participating in their own mini parade at the completion of the project to show off their hard work!
🎨 Where Research Meets Student Achievement & Leadership!
Today, we were proud to spotlight our National Art Honor Society as students presented their proposal for an exciting campus art installation project.
This is what a lab school experience looks like—students taking their ideas from concept to research, from research to proposal, and from proposal to possibility. Through this process, our students are developing their artistic voice while strengthening skills in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and leadership.
Their work reminds us that student achievement extends far beyond the classroom. When we empower students to identify opportunities, conduct research, develop solutions, and present their ideas, we create opportunities for them to become innovators, leaders, and contributors to their learning community.
We can’t wait to see where this idea takes us!
Instruction that moves. Research that inspires. Students who lead.
Baseball Renno
Families and students, we’re excited to share that demolition is officially underway as we begin the next phase of our upcoming FSUS Baseball & Softball Complex renovation!
This project will bring exciting improvements to our athletic spaces, including a second concession stand, batting cages, and additional restroom facilities, creating an enhanced experience for our student-athletes, families, fans, and guests.
While demolition may mean a little dust and disruption today, it represents something much bigger—progress toward a facility designed to better serve our FSUS community for years to come.
And there’s an opportunity to be part of the legacy!
Coming soon, we’ll share information about sponsorship opportunities and Legacy Wall recognition opportunities that will allow families, alumni, businesses, and friends of FSUS to help support this exciting project while leaving a lasting mark on our campus.
We’re excited to watch this vision take shape and can’t wait to welcome everyone back to an improved Baseball & Softball Complex!
Building better spaces. Creating better experiences. Leaving a lasting legacy. ⚾🥎
🎉 CLUB RUSH 2026! 🎉
A huge THANK YOU to our incredible student organizations, sponsors, and administrative team for hosting today’s Club Rush and showcasing 40+ student groups across our campus!
These organizations are so much more than extracurricular activities—they are opportunities for students to connect, belong, lead, communicate, collaborate, and grow as members of their learning community.
From academic and service organizations to special-interest clubs and everything in between, our students have countless opportunities to discover their passions and develop skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
We are proud to create a school culture where Every Student, Every Day has opportunities to get involved, find their people, and make a difference.
Thank you to everyone who made today possible! Let’s keep building community, developing leaders, and making the most of the Nole experience!
Future CEOs in the making! 💼💡
Our new AP Business class is diving straight into the deep end of entrepreneurship! Students are collaborating in teams to draft full business plans for innovative startup ideas—from temperature-controlled smart water bottles to an app connecting parents with skilled college mentors for their kids.
They're tackling everything from market analysis to product design, building the real-world skills needed to launch the next big thing. Watch out, Shark Tank! 🚀📊
Brain Walk in Psychology!
Debate and Evidence Defense in English I Hon
Students in Ms. Cornell's class read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," created their own analytical questions, and engaged in vibrant class debates. To support their claims, students cited direct textual evidence and made deep connections—I was so impressed by how thoughtfully they defended and supported their arguments back and forth!
9/11 Remembrance in Social Studies
On 9/11, our students took a step back in time with Mr. Mello and our social studies team as they led impactful lessons on the history and legacy of 9/11.
I was able to sit in on the lesson as a moment of remembrance.
Teaching history on the day it occurred gives our students a powerful opportunity to reflect, understand, and honor the lives lost, the heroes who responded, and the resilience that followed. Thank you to our dedicated educators for helping the next generation remember and learn from these pivotal moments.
Summer Camp Elements in Chemistry
Ms. Jonsson's students got a new job as summer camp office assistants!
'Summer Camp for Elements' activity was an outstanding example of rigorous, inquiry-based learning. Students navigated a complex sorting activity to uncover patterns about elements. By guiding them to discover the logic behind electron configuration on their own, she transformed a difficult concept into a deeply meaningful learning experience—ensuring every student reached mastery by the end. This will only set the stage for future exploration of chemistry!
Press The Chest
Our 9th and 11th graders stepped up for Press the Chest CPR training with our local EMS team. Learning how to perform high-quality CPR and handle emergency situations gives our students the confidence and skills to save a life when every second counts.
A massive thank you to our local paramedics and EMTs for taking the time to teach, empower, and inspire our school community! 🚑✨
Brains on, hats on! 🧠🎨
Our Psychology students got hands-on with neuroscience by creating their very own "brain hats"! By color-coding and mapping out the frontal lobe, cerebellum, and everything in between, they're bringing functional anatomy off the textbook page and straight into 3D.
Who knew learning where your memories, motor skills, and emotions are processed could look this stylish? 🎩✨
9th Grade Discovering Theme Statements
It was a pleasure to observe Ms. King's classroom during her thematic development lesson! I was so impressed by the depth of thought her students demonstrated. Requiring them to craft rich, elaborated theme statements forced them to look beyond the surface, and linking those themes to narrative tension via graphic organizers made a complex concept wonderfully concrete. Great job students ---on your way to literary analysis work!
Taking learning off the field! ⚾️🧠
Our baseball team teamed up with Graduate Assistants from FSU Sport Psychology to level up their mental game—with a twist! The guys traded bats for bingo cards to master key sport psych vocabulary.
Big thanks to the GAs for making performance psychology hands-on and engaging. Mastering the mental side of the game, one square at a time! 🎯📋
Part 2 of Thematic Development
Students in Ms. Russell's English I class, engaged in a collaborative activity to analyze moments of narrative tension within anchor texts.
Students had to evaluate:
- Narrative Impact: How specific tension drives plot and character dynamics
- Thematic Synthesis: How isolated moments of tension connect to the text's overall message.
I was so proud of the students in her class that pushed beyond into beginning the analytical process for high school English and came up with some really insightful statements! Well done!
Please welcome Mayed Robertson who started this past month as our new Spanish teacher for high school. Please extend open arms and say hello! She will be teaching Spanish 1 and 2 this year.
Ms. Robertson- Welcome to the Florida High Family! :)
HOMETOWN TICKETING
The fall sports season has begun. If you are interested in coming out to support our teams, please go to the following link to purchase tickets on line https://fsus.hometownticketing.com/embed/all
ATHLETIC GAME DAY UPDATES
1. All students (including guests) under grade 8th grade must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Clear bags only for football games.
3. Metal detectors will be used for entry into the football game.
As we have discussed with our students, it's important to notify a teacher, counselor, administrator, or police officer if a student is in need of help, if there is a concerning behavior, or a student is in crisis. Sometimes as parents, we hear concerns from our students at home. Please contact us immediately if you hear any concerning reports. Besides reaching out to an administrator, we have an online anonymous reporting tool on our website at the bottom of the home page (fsus.school).
Fortify Florida (https://getfortifyfl.com/) is also a tool available for reporting. Fortify Florida is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials across the state. Please note that someone who knowingly submits a false tip through FortifyFL may be subject to further investigation by law enforcement and may be subject to criminal penalties under section 837.05, F.S.
April McGriff, Academic Dean 9th-10th
Todd McNeil, Academic Dean 11th-12th
Jennifer Kinney, Counselor 9-12
Ruth Bickel, Career and Technical Education
Megan Crombie, AP Coordinator
Kevin Helms, Dean of Discipline
We have many different supportive resources for our students. Please note the following and reach out as needed:
- Bullying/Anonymous Reporting- (https://airtable.com/appSnRUYeEyLL2Cb7/pagqaSyuclVKoCUit/form)
- Counseling Services- https://www.fsus.school/health
- ESE Information- Lindsay Randolph and Monica Broome, mbroome@fsu.edu
- 504 Information- April McGriff (9-10), Todd McNeil (11), Jennifer Kinney (12)
- Free & Reduced Lunch- Click cafeteria and set up through PayPams (https://www.fsus.school/payment)
- Title I Coordinator- The goal of the FSUS Title I program is to increase student achievement by supporting students, families, and teachers.- Dr. Small, clsmall@fsu.edu
- Title IX Deputy Coordinator (Harassment)- Monica Broome, mbroome@fsu.edu (https://www.fsus.school/parent2)
- Homeless Liaison- Jennifer Kinney (jkinney@fsu.edu)
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