Sunlake Weekly Update

Highest points of all traditional high schools in Pasco County!

Student Hours: 7:10 AM-1:44 PM

Email: kmerlin@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: https://slhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O' Lakes, FL, USA
Phone: (813) 346-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/SLHSseahawk
Twitter: @SLHSseahawks

Dear Sunlake Families,

As we wrap up another incredible semester and head into a well-deserved winter break, I want to take a moment to share how truly grateful I am to be part of this amazing community. Working at Sunlake High School is a gift—one I never take for granted. Every day, I’m surrounded by students who are respectful, kind, and full of potential. Honestly, there’s no place I’d rather spend my days (and that’s saying something, because...beach life!).

As we recharge over the holidays, I hope your homes are filled with laughter, warmth, and maybe just a few extra desserts and cookies. We’ll return ready to soar on January 7, 2026, and I can’t wait to see all the bright faces back in the halls. And Senior Parents, this is the final run so stock up on those tissues!

Thank you for sharing your incredible kids with us—they make Sunlake the special place it is. Wishing you joy, peace, good vibes.

Happy Holidays! It's Great to be a Sunlake Seahawk!

Warmly,

Ms. Merlin

TESTING CONTINUES MONDAY & TUESDAY!!!

(See schedule change below)

Monday, Dec. 15th- Day 5-Period 5 Test Day

1:45 PM-2:30 PM- Spanish Tutoring: Room 3-113

2:00 PM-3:00 PM- Hawkeye Meeting: Media Center

6:00 PM-11:00 PM- JV & World Color Guard Auditions: Sunlake Gym & Music Suite

Tuesday, Dec. 16th- Day 6-Period 6 Test Day **

7:50 AM-10:00 AM- Period 1 Testing Block

1:50 PM-3:00 PM- First Priority Meeting: 4 Right Commons

6:00 PM-9:30 PM- HOME Boys Soccer vs. Cypress Creek High School (Senior Night)

6:30 PM-8:00 PM- AWAY Girls Basketball @ Zephyrhills High School (Varsity Only)

6:30 PM-8:00 PM- AWAY Girls Soccer @ Cypress Creek High School (Varsity Only)

6:00 PM-7:30 PM- Football FAFSA & Recruiting Night: Cafeteria

Wednesday, Dec. 17th- FCLE & ELA GRADE 9 & GRADE 10 PM2 MAKE-UP TESTING

8:00 AM-10:10 AM- FCLE & ELA Make-Up Testing: Media Center

2:00 PM-6:00 PM- HOME Girls Weightlifting Dual Meet vs. Pasco High School

6:00 PM-9:30 PM- HOME Boys Basketball vs. Cypress Creek HS

Thursday, Dec. 18th- DISTRICT FINALS MAKE-UP TESTING

6:40 AM-7:05 AM- Student Council Hot Cocoa Day

8:00 AM-10:10 AM- District Finals Make-Up Testing: Media Center

1:45 PM-2:30 PM- Mu Alpha Theta Math Society Meeting- Location TBD

2:00 PM-3:00 PM- Hispanic Honor Society: Officer's Meeting- Location TBD

2:15 PM-4:00 PM- Spring Musical Auditions: Portable 1

3:30 PM-5:20 PM- Girls Soccer Senior Dinner: Cafeteria

6:30 PM-10:00 PM- AWAY Boys Soccer @ Zephyrhills High School

6:30 PM-10:00 PM- HOME Girls Soccer vs. Zephyrhills High School (Senior Night)

Friday, Dec. 19th- End of Quarter 2 & Semester 1

8:00 AM-6:00 PM- AWAY Girls Wrestling @ Knockout Invitational (Silver Spurs Arena)

12:00 PM-8:00 PM- AWAY Boys Wrestling @ Rumble Of The Ranch (The Villages)

2:15 PM-4:00 PM- Spring Musical Auditions: Portable 1

6:00 PM-9:30 PM- AWAY Boys Soccer @ Nature Coast

6:00 PM-9:30 PM- AWAY Boys Basketball @ Christmas Tournament

Saturday, Dec. 20th-

8:00 AM-6:00 PM- AWAY Boys Wrestling @ Rumble Of The Ranch (The Villages)

8:00 AM-6:00 PM- AWAY Girls Weightlifting @ Power of Christmas @ Suwannee

8:00 AM-6:00 PM- AWAY Girls Wrestling @ Knockout Invitational (Silver Spurs Arena)

9:00 AM-7:00 PM- Sunlake Winds WGI

11:00 AM-7:00 PM- AWAY Competitive Cheer @ Hernando High School Classic

6:00 PM-9:30 PM- AWAY Boys Basketball @ Christmas Tournament

9:00 AM-9:00 PM- JV & World Colorguard Camp: Sunlake Gymnasium & Music Suite

9:00 AM-7:00 PM- Sunlake Winds WGI: Band Room & 400 Commons

Sunday, Dec. 14th-

9:00 AM-7:00 PM- Sunlake Winds WGI: Band Room & 400 Commons

***IMPORTANT***

On Tuesday (Day 6 of testing) we will have 5th period at the end of the day and students will need to go to their 5th period teacher's lunch.

For example- Student John Doe normally has B lunch, but his 5th period teacher has A lunch so John will go to A lunch on Tuesday.

We have two great opportunities for families to volunteer!

1. Registered Volunteers ONLY:

WHAT: Bike/Scooter Safety Morning - Hand out lights purchased by School Advisory Council

WHEN: This Wednesday, December 17th

6:15 AM-7:00 AM

WHERE: Sunlake Entrances

WHY: To keep our kids safe on the unlighted streets in our area

HOW MANY: 3-6 needed

HOW: Contact Ms. Merlin @ kmerlin@pasco.k12.fl.us with the subject Bike/Scooter Safety Morning

2. Any Parent Volunteer (Shhhh...Surprise for our Staff):

WHAT: Assembly Day

WHEN: Monday, January 5th

9:00 AM-???

WHERE: Sunlake Commons Areas

WHY: Some Assembly Required

HOW MANY: 25-50 needed

HOW: Contact Ms. Merlin @ kmerlin@pasco.k12.fl.us with the subject Assembly Day

• Fall 2025 textbooks must be returned before receiving Spring textbooks. ​See return dates and locations here.​
• Please review ​​THIS SPREADSHEET​​ for directions on how you will obtain your materials for Spring 2026.
• Students who are registered by December 12th in Banner and the course has a digital textbook that can be sent through email, it will be sent to their PHSC email address.
• Students who are registered by December 12th in Banner will have their physical materials delivered to their designated pick-up site, ​​LISTED HERE​​, on the dates and times listed below.
• If you register for a course after December 12th and a textbook is required, complete THIS FORM. Review ​​THIS SPREADSHEET​​ to verify if a textbook is required.

If students have questions regarding textbooks, please have them email dual_enrollment@k12-lets-talk.com

The Florida Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and another world language. This distinction not only celebrates multilingualism but also opens doors to college, career, and global opportunities.

Learn how your school can support students in earning this prestigious recognition and showcase the value of language learning in today’s world.

Check out the attached flyer for key details and visit the official website for additional resources and guidelines: https://www.fldoe.org/academics/eng-language-learners/world-languages-foreign-languages.stml

Help your students earn this prestigious distinction and showcase the value of multilingualism and biliteracy in today’s world!

The Department of Education introduced an exciting opportunity for high school fine arts students. The Seal of Fine Arts is available to high school seniors that meet the fine arts requirements. The Fine Arts Seal will become part of the student’s permanent record and attached to their diploma upon graduation.

For additional details, please visit:

https://pasco.k12.fl.us/finearts/page/florida-seal-of-fine-arts

NEW: Pasco "Everything You Need to Know About the FAST Adaptive Test" Student Video

• The new Pasco " Everything You Need to Know About the FAST Adaptive Test " student video has now been released and can be found on Assessment Resources for Families webpage (as stated above) or on the Cambium OneNote under Section 2 - Preparing for Testing/ Preparing Students for Testing .

• This video explains computer-adaptive testing and the importance of FAST testing through the eyes of students.

Assessment Resources for Families

SIA's Assessment Resources for Families page has been updated and can be accessed by going to the SIA Department webpage and then navigating to the right-hand side of the page under Assessments or going directly to the Assessment Resources for Pasco Families webpage.

On this site, parents will find information on the following topics:

• District Testing Calendars - Links to all the calendars

• Understanding Computer-Adaptive Testing - FAQs and videos including our new Pasco " Everything You Need to Know About the FAST Adaptive Test " student video

• Resources to Prepare for Testing - Tips to prepare for testing along with links to FDOE Test Fact Sheets, Test Design Summaries and Blueprints, and Sample Items and Released Tests

• Accessing Your Child's Test Results - Instructions to guide parents through the steps of accessing their child's test results

• Interpreting Your Child's Test Results - Links to DOE Family Guides for Understanding Reports

• Graduation Requirements for Florida's Statewide Assessments - Information about graduation requirements for assessments including concordant/comparative score information

Industry Certification = College Credit Opportunity

Families of students in grades 9–11 who have earned an industry certification should have received information on Monday, December 8 through myStudent about the potential opportunity to earn college credit. A sample letter which include the College Cost Saving report is linked below.

College Cost Savings Letter

FASFEPA 2026 Brian Schultz Student Scholarship Application

FASFEPA is honored to be able to offer the Brian Schultz STEM Career Student Scholarship to graduating high school seniors planning to further their education in Technology or STEM based careers in trade/ technical education.

Funding for this scholarship is made possible through the dedication of the FASFEPA members through their membership fees and from their commitment to quality education and building a brighter future for our educational system and youth.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the scholarship: · Be a senior who is on track to graduate in May/June of 2026 and planning to pursue a career in the area of technology / technical education; · Be eligible under current USDA guidelines as free or reduced-priced meals or Approved CEP Direct Certification for free or reduced lunch; and · Provide a picture with the application to be used in an announcement and on the FASFEPA webpage. (.jpg or .png format)

Completed application packets are to be emailed to ssherida@pasco.k12.fl.us no later than January 23, 2026. A Scholarship award announcement will be sent to both the recipient and district by March 13, 2026. The scholarship award amount is $2,500 per recipient.

You may read more about the scholarship by visiting the FASFEPA web site using this link: http://www.fasfepa.net/scholarships.html

What is the best gift a Sunlake staff member can receive during the holiday season?

LOVE!

Excellence is expected, achieved and repeated at Sunlake!

Please use the link below to let us know about someone at Sunlake who made your day or your child's first semester the best semester yet because of EXCELLENT service, teaching or caring!

Excellence Shout-Out

Pasco County Schools is committed to listening to families and using their insights to enhance the educational experience for all students. This year there will be a district-wide survey available to families from January 6th-January 27th.

Sunlake's goal is to have greater than 25% family participation so please start spreading the word now and then be on the lookout for a link in the January 5th Weekly Update.

If you would like to share your thoughts about a potential change in school start times you have the opportunity to do so between December 8th and December 19th. Use the link or the QR code to the side:

Start Time Survey

All voices welcome!

This is an incredible musical with many, many parts and our small and mighty Theatre Department would love to hear new voices and see new faces.

GET A HEAD START ON YOUR FUTURE: USE XELLO

&

EARN A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 AMAZON CARD!

Our winter sports athletes are working hard and can't wait to see you at their events, We love when our community comes out to support our student athletes!

Please remember that good sportsmanship is the standard at Sunlake High School and the district Patron Code of Conduct below applies to students, parents and ALL spectators. We want everyone to cheer loudly for our Seahawks!!!

While we all get passionate about scores and poor calls from officials it is NEVER appropriate to call officials names, curse or make personal comments about the coaches or players. None of our supervising administrators likes to direct spectators to leave a game so we urge you to review the expectations below. If you observe any spectators engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct please contact the supervising administrator so that they can address the concern.

Sunlake Winter sports include:

Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Girls Soccer

Boys Soccer

Girls Weightlifting

Boys Wrestling

Girls Wrestling

Competitive Cheerleading

All tickets to sporting events are available via GoFan. Yes! You can purchase prior to arriving at the game using the link below or, better yet, add the app to your phone.

GoFan link

1/13/26- Roadmap to Tomorrow: K-12 Curriculum Showcase

4/17/26- GradBash

5/9/26- Prom

6/5/26- Graduation (6:30 PM)

Click Here for the College & Career Specialist Newsletter

This link will remain in all future issues of the Weekly Update.

https://sunlakeperch.com/

The link above will take you to Sunlake's very own virtual newspaper with articles written by our talented student journalists! This link will stay active all year and be posted at the bottom of each newsletter so be sure to check it out each week. Who knows? Your child may end up in a feature article!!

Sunlake Handbook Edition of Weekly Update

2025-2026