Jule F. Sumner High School

**PLEASE BE SURE TO REFER BACK TO THIS NEWSLETTER OFTEN FOR UPDATES!!**

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PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU OPT OUT OF THE PARENT LINK SERVICE, YOU WILL BE OPTING OUT OF ALL COMMUNICATION FROM SUMNER HS AND THE HCPS DISTRICT.

August 9, 2026

Hello Sumner Families,

Welcome Back to the 2026-2027 school year! Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open House. It was wonderful to welcome our Stingray Families back to campus and begin another exciting year together.

A special thank you to our incredible PTSA, Student Government, Sunshine Committee, Sumner Saves Lives, Senior Class, and Bell Shoals Church for helping us celebrate and recognize our teachers with breakfast and lunch this week. Your generosity and support makes Sumner a special place.

Back to School Forms: Families, please log into the HCPS Focus Parent Portal to complete all required back to school forms through the Focus App. Completing these forms ensures we have the most current information to support your student throughout the school year.

First Day of School, August 10th: We are excited to welcome students on Monday, August 10th for the first day of school! Students will report to their 1st period class. We encourage all students to review their schedules in Focus before Monday and come prepared for a successful start to the year.

Semester 2 Exam Make-Up: Students who need to complete a Semester 2 exam may do so on August 12th and August 13th. Please see your teacher for specific testing information.

Get involved through PTSA: One of Sumner's greatest strengths is the partnership between our school, families, and community. We invite you to become involved through our PTSA, School Advisory Council (SAC), and Booster organizations. Your involvement helps support our students, strengthen school programs, and foster a positive school culture.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference for every Stingray.

As we begin a new year, we remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive. We look forward to partnering with you as we continue to build a strong sense of belonging, achievement, and success across our Stingray community.

To help ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process, we ask for your patience and cooperation, especially during the first few weeks of school as traffic patterns settle. All student drop-off and pick-up will occur through the student parking lot only. The visitor parking lot is reserved for families and students who may require additional support during arrival and dismissal and have a special placard. Additionally, the bus ramp is designated exclusively for school buses and not to be used for student drop-off or pick-up.

Please remain alert and exercise caution when driving on and around campus, particularly near crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike paths.

We look forward to seeing our Stingrays on campus Monday.

Sincerely,

Christine Wasylkiw

Principal

Families, please use the designated Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off location accessible through the student parking lot near the baseball field. For safety and efficiency, we will continue redirecting vehicles that attempt to enter through the bus ramp at the traffic light. This is a district-mandated safety protocol that must be followed.

The visitor lot before and after school is reserved exclusively for families with a special car plate approved by administration.

Additionally, do not park in neighboring communities or along CR 672 to drop off or pick up students. These areas are not safe or permitted for school traffic. Student safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our campus secure and orderly.

Students who wish to park on campus must download, read, and sign the parking application and agreement below to receive a student parking hang tag. Parking permits and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to the first 350 eligible student drivers. Students should complete all requirements as soon as possible to secure a parking permit for the school year. Students must have a valid driver's license, current insurance, and $25.00 cash to purchase a hang tag. Student drivers that do not comply with the parking rules will be booted.

Please note: a valid student hang tag must be displayed at all times while parked on campus.

Hillsborough County Public Schools Parents and Guardians,

We want to make you aware of a new state requirement that will impact some high school athletes beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Under Florida Statute 1006.20, known as the Second Chance Act, and effective July 1, 2026, students who are participating in Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) athletics for the first time must have a cleared Electrocardiogram (ECG) before they can participate.

This requirement applies to:

• Rising 9th grade students who plan to participate in an FHSAA athletic program in high school

• Students in grades 10–12 who plan to participate in FHSAA athletics and have not previously played a high school sport

This requirement does not apply to:

• Students participating in Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Color Guard, or ROTC

• Middle school athletes

An ECG completed within two (2) years prior to July 1 of the participation year will satisfy this requirement. Students who have cardiac symptoms should consult with their healthcare provider. If an ECG requires additional evaluation, the student must be cleared by a licensed medical practitioner trained in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of ECGs before participating in any FHSAA athletic competition, practice, tryouts, or workouts.

Hillsborough County Public Schools has partnered with local healthcare providers to offer regional ECG screening opportunities for students. Click on the link below for free or low-cost opportunities to schedule an ECG.

http://hillsboroughschools.org/ecgscreenings

Thank you for your attention to this important update and for your continued support of student health and safety.

Follow the steps below to login to Focus.

Students will report to their 1st period class on August 10. Students should reference their FOCUS app to determine the room # of their first period class.

The State of Florida DOE has mandated that students may only participate in the graduation ceremony if they have met all requirements for graduation. Students who have not completed all requirements for graduation, including benchmark assessment achievement, will not be able to participate in the graduation commencement ceremonies.

Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) will

implement an updated curriculum frameworks for Cooperative Education On-the-Job Training

(OJT) course.

Under the revised framework, OJT becomes a CTE-restricted capstone course serving as the

culminating experience in a CTE program sequence. It will include several important requirements. To meet the capstone requirement, students must have completed two CTE courses in the same

program.

Join the Sumner High School PTSA and be a vital part of our mission to support students and staff! Your involvement helps fund important programs and strengthen our school community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and those who educate them. Visit our website to join the PTSA, become a business sponsor, or order spirit gear.

https://share.google/ZFo360jC9vCPI7G6Z

Only $15. Get yours now!

https://flpta-sumnerhs.givebacks.com/shop

To support the health and safety of our students, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) has begun installed vaping detectors in high school bathrooms.

At a School Board meeting last school year, the Board approved a contract with Secure US Solutions, the exclusive provider of VapeEd - a comprehensive prevention and intervention system.

As a reminder, smoking and vaping are prohibited on all school campuses at all times. Vaping among students continues to be a growing concern both nationwide and within HCPS. So far this school year, high schools across the district have recorded more than 1,000 vaping-related referrals.

The VapeEd devices detect airborne vapor and immediately notify school administrators, so staff can promptly check the area. The detectors do not record audio or video.

Electronic vaping devices carry significant health risks, including nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and exposure to harmful chemicals. Expanding our initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce vaping and ensure swift responses when incidents occur.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in keeping our campuses safe and healthy.

School hours start at 8:35 am and dismissal time is at 3:35 pm on a regular bell schedule.

Parents, please ensure your child is at school ON TIME BEFORE 8:25 am each day. We need you to commit to getting your student to school ON TIME! If you have a student driver, please discuss with them your expectation to be at school prior to the 8:25 bell.

Students may arrive on campus as early as 8:10 am. Free breakfast is served in the Stingray Cafe each day, 8:10 am - 8:30 am. First bell is at 8:25 am. Students have 10 minutes to arrive on time to 1st period. Tardy bell for 1st period is at 8:35 am, all students should be in their classrooms ready to learn!

Absences shall be reported to the school attendance office by the parent/legal guardian on the day the absence occurred. Utilize the attendance reporting link above.

Please refer to the Attendance Policy and information found in the HCPS Student Code of Conduct.