Sunlake Weekly Update
Issue 11- 2026-2027
Connect with us!
Highest points of all traditional high schools in Pasco County!
Student Hours: 7:05 AM-1:39 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
BUTTER BOWL WEEK!
Monday, Oct. 19th
1:45 PM-2:30 PM- ASL Honor Society Induction Ceremony: Media
5:00 PM-7:00 PM- Boys Soccer Parent Meeting: Media
6:00 PM-7:30 PM- Girls Soccer Parent Meeting: Cafeteria
6:30 PM-9:30 PM- AWAY JV Football @ River Ridge High School
Tuesday, Oct. 20th
10:00 AM-12:00 PM- PHSC Free Application Day: Room 3-166 (Mrs. Black's Office)
11:00 AM-11:00 PM- Band Spirit Night @ Bubba's 33 (See Below)
1:45 PM-2:30 PM- Hispanic Honor Society Meeting: Room 3-113
2:00 PM-3:00 PM- Girls Flag Football Interest Meeting: Teal Patio
6:00 PM-7:00 PM- Summer 2028 Trip: Room 4-156
Wednesday, Oct. 21st
7:05 AM- PSAT/NMSQT for 10th grade and registered students
1:45 PM-2:30 PM- Dual Enrollment Student Group: Room 10-207
2:30 PM-4:30 PM- Boys Soccer Fundraising Activity: Media
2:00 PM-4:00 PM- Boys Soccer Tryouts: Bill Browning Field
3:30 PM-6:00 PM- AWAY Girls Weightlifting Tri-Meet @ River Ridge High School
7:00 PM-9:00 PM- HOME Regional Volleyball vs. TBA: Sunlake Gymnasium
Thursday, Oct. 22nd
1:45 PM-2:30 PM- Faith & Purpose Student Group Meeting: Portable 3
Friday, Oct. 23rd- Activity Bell Schedule
9:28 AM-10:28 AM- Butter Bowl Pep Rally: Gymnasium (Students Only)
7:30 PM-10:30 PM- AWAY Butter Bowl Football Game @ Land O'Lakes High School
Saturday, Oct. 24th
7:00 AM-11:00 AM- AWAY Cross-Country Conference Meet @ Wiregrass Ranch High School
8:00 AM-1:00 PM- Marching Band MPAs
9:00 AM-11:00 PM- Marching Band @ Tarpon Springs Outdoor Music Festival
9:00 AM-2:00 PM- Trick or Treat Around the Track: Sunlake Stadium
10:00 AM-4:00 PM- AWAY Girls Weightlifting @ Auburndale Invitational
7:00 PM-9:30 PM- HOME Volleyball Regional Game: Sunlake Gymansium
Sunday, Oct. 25th-
Happy Sunday!!
BUTTER BOWL EXPLAINED
The Butter Bowl is a highly anticipated game between neighbors and long-time friends— an electric matchup that brings the town of Land O'Lakes together for one of the best Friday Night Lights atmospheres in the state. Spirited fans decked out in school colors will pack the stands to witness the annual football game between your Sunlake Seahawks and the Land O'Lakes Gators. While the Seahawks own the most amount of wins in the overall matchup (10-9), the Gators have kept the trophy since 2021, winning the last 5 games straight.
IT'S TIME TO BRING THAT TROPHY BACK HOME!
We will hold our Annual Butter Bowl Pep Rally on Friday (see the activity schedule above) to help pump up the team and the student section. This is a game you do NOT want to miss so join the "white-out" and make plans to join in the fun over at Land O'Lakes High School. Come be part of the "12th" man on Friday night to help the team bring the trophy back to "The Lake"!
PSAT/NMSQT Testing This Wednesday!
Sunlake High School will administer the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, beginning at 7:05AM to our sophomores and registered students ONLY. However, please review the information below to help ensure a smooth testing day as many students will have their normal classrooms displaced as a result of this large testing event.
Student Testing & Locations
Sophomores and other registered students will participate in testing.
Students should report directly to their assigned testing locations at the beginning of the school day.
Testing tickets with location information are being distributed through English teachers or the student's on-campus teacher.
Students need to check their assigned testing locations before Wednesday.
Testing students should not report to their regular first-period classroom.
Classroom Displacement (Periods 1-3)
Several classrooms will be used for testing, requiring temporary student locations.
Please review the attached PSAT Student Displacement Plan (below) to identify alternate classroom locations and determine if your child's schedule is impacted.
If no alternate locations are listed for a teacher and period, students should follow their normal schedules.
Normal classroom schedules resume at the beginning of Period 4 for all students.
Testing Environment & Student Reminders
Maintain quiet hallways near testing rooms during Period 1-3.
Students may not access cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, or other unauthorized electronic devices during testing, including breaks during testing.
Testing students do not need to bring a calculator. If a student chooses to bring one, the approved calculator list is on our website.
Please arrive on time!!
JUNIORS & SENIORS: TESTING- THE TICKET TO WALK...ACROSS THE STAGE!
• Grade 10 English Language Arts (ELA) or a concordant score
• Algebra 1 end of course (EOC) or a comparative score
Students enrolled in the following courses must participate in the corresponding EOC assessment, which constitutes 30 percent of the final course grade+: • Algebra 1 • Geometry • Biology 1 • U.S. History.
Sunlake offers numerous opportunities for your junior or senior to retake the Grade 10 ELA and Algebra 1 state assessment or earn a concordant score if they have not already met this requirement. Check out the Junior & Senior Testing Opportunities flyer below.
If you have any questions about testing please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Vanessa Cordt, at vcordt@pasco.k12.fl.us.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
To support the nationwide efforts to increase School Bus Safety, our district Transportation Department has provided a link to their School Bus Safety Video, which highlights essential safety procedures and serves as a valuable resource. This link can also be found on the District Transportation department page, School Bus Safety Video.
Please take a few moments to watch this video and share it with your child/children
School Bus Safety Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVfJ4IFJkUo
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RATE
Visual heatmap shows the average attendance rate (Percent Present) for all students by month by High school. The attendance rate is the percentage of the student population in the school physically present in school on any given day that month. This figure is calculated by dividing the total number of days students were present by the total number of days students were in membership (enrolled with schedule) for all students in the grade group.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
This table shows the number of students in grades 9-12 who were active at any time during the month and met state-defined unexcused absence thresholds of 3 in 30 days and 5 in 30 days for each high school. In addition, the chart shows the percentage and count of students identified as chronically absent (combined excused and unexcused absences totaling 10% or more of possible school days in the month).
DISCIPLINE DATA
This table displays monthly and year-to-date discipline referral activity for high school (grades 9–12) students. Discipline offenses represent acts of misconduct that have been assigned a disciplinary consequence (that is, a processed referral). Referrals that have not been processed or assigned a disciplinary action are not included. Monthly columns show the total number of processed discipline referrals by school. The Unique Referred column reflects the number of individual students with at least one referral year to date. Referrals per 100 standardizes referral volume relative to enrollment to allow comparisons across schools of different sizes, while Percent Referred shows the proportion of enrolled students who have received at least one referral year to date. Trend indicators summarize month to-month referral patterns.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE
UF is so excited to announce that their three-day conference will be February 5th- February 7th 2027 and they are inviting our students in grades 9-12 to apply for their annual Young Leaders Conference.
The Young Leaders Conference is a UF student-led event that guides student leaders through a variety of workshops intended to enhance their leadership skills, while interacting with and experiencing the UF campus. The Young Leaders Conference exists to educate and expand the minds of the leaders of tomorrow. In an effort to bring students who are truly passionate about developing their own leadership skills for the betterment of the world around them, UF is continuing an application process similar to previous years.
Details regarding payment, price and a link to their application can be found on their website using the link below:
Sponsorships are also available as needed; please feel free to reach out to me at kmerlin@pasco.k12.fl.us if you would like to apply, but would require a scholarship in order to attend.
Stay up to date on their latest announcements by following them on social media:
Facebook: @UFYLC
Instagram: @YLC_UF
Facebook: @YLC_UF
Thematic
Just for Fun
Cool
FRESHMEN COURT
Peyton Porter & Alfonzo Ruiz
SOPHOMORE COURT
Hailey Vega & JJ Jeffery
SOPHOMORE COURT
AC Rice & Peyton Ferlita
JUNIOR COURT
Clara Cole & Caden Flanagan
JUNIOR COURT
Ariel Powells
&
Samuel Edwards
JUNIOR COURT
Alexa Tedora & Easton Gerhart
SENIOR COURT
Guilia Pena & Graham Taylor
SENIOR COURT
Camelia Rivera
&
Isaiah Feliciano
SENIOR COURT
Alexis Keith & Tripp Pellowitz
District Champs!!
Your Seahawk Volleyball Team SWEPT Wharton on Thursday night to earn the title
5A District 9
CHAMPIONS
Congratulations, ladies!
Sunlake- come cheer them on during the Regional Playoffs starting this Wednesday at 7:00 PM
right here at Sunlake in the gymnasium!!
Girls Weightlifting Winning Before the Season Even Starts!
30 athletes competed in the Coyote Preseason Invitational at Cypress Creek High School
this past Thursday and finished 1st overall
in both Olympic (OLY) and Traditional!
What way to jump start your season, ladies!
Varsity Football Adds Another W!
Congratulations to your Varsity Football team for another district win this past Friday night.
This was the seniors last home game and their last Homecoming game
so this win tastes extra sweet!
SUNLAKE HALLOWEEN
Yes, you can wear costumes on Friday, October 30th! Please keep the "rules" below in mind while deciding on your school costume:
Dress Code Compliance
Costumes must follow the school’s regular dress code:
- No excessively short skirts/shorts/exposed undergarments
- Shirts/Tops must reach waistband of bottom layer, have straps and fabric on front and back
- No see-through clothing
Students should not wear full-face masks or anything that obscures their identity. Light makeup or face paint is usually acceptable.
No Weapons or Weapon Replicas
Even fake weapons (swords, guns, knives) are prohibited for safety reasons.
No Offensive or Inappropriate Themes
Costumes should not include:
- Racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory elements
- References to violence, drugs, or alcohol
No Costumes That Disrupt Learning
Outfits should not interfere with classroom activities or be distracting to others.
Footwear Must Be Safe
Students should wear shoes that are safe for walking and comply with dress code
Group Costume Guidance
Group themes should be inclusive and respectful of all students
DUAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Join us for a virtual dual enrollment parent information session on
November 5th,
from 6:00pm – 7:00pm!
This event will focus on the process students need to follow in order to register for Spring DE courses. RSVP by November 3rd by completing this form.
LEARN ABOUT THE REFERENDUM
The renewal of Pasco County Schools' Salary Referendum is on the ballot in November.
To learn how the Salary Referendum has impacted our schools, please visit
B Lunch Students ONLY
Yes, students with B Lunch may leave after their 6th period class instead of remaining on campus for lunch if...
- This is their regular disimissal plan
- The student is a car rider, walker, bike rider or scooter rider
- The student has a completed B Lunch Early Dismissal Form
11/17- Seahawk Showcase
5/8/27- Prom
6/2/27- Graduation (1:30 PM)
Shout-Outs Are Here To Stay!
Did a Sunlake employee make your day a little brighter? Go above and beyond to help a student, colleague, or family? Now’s your chance to share the appreciation!
Excellence Shout-Outs are a fun and easy way to recognize Sunlake employees who demonstrate excellence, kindness, teamwork, and dedication. Whether it was a small gesture or a big impact, your words of appreciation help celebrate the amazing people who make Sunlake such a special place to work and learn.
Take a moment to give a shout-out and help us recognize those who make a positive difference every day. After all, a little recognition can go a long way!
Once your shout-out is received it is printed on a certificate exactly as submitted, displayed on a board across from staff mailboxes then given directly to the employee after display.
College & Career Specialist Newsletter
Click Here for the College & Career Specialist Newsletter
This link will remain in all future issues of the Weekly Update.
The Perch
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!!
