All the Volusia County public schools will have open houses during the month of September. The high-school open-house gatherings will be during the week of Sept. 23, while the elementary open-house meetings will be during the week of Sept. 16.
The middle-school open houses will be Wednesday, Sept. 4, and Thursday, Sept. 5. Here is the list:
DeLand Middle 5:30-7:45 p.m. Sept. 4; Deltona Middle 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 5; Galaxy Middle in Deltona 5:45-7:45 p.m. Sept. 5; Heritage Middle in Deltona 6-8 p.m Sept. 4; River Springs Middle in Orange City 6-8 p.m. Sept. 5; Southwestern Middle in DeLand 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 5; and Taylor Middle in Pierson 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 4.
Volusia County Schools
The first official holiday for Volusia County Schools comes on Monday, Sept. 2, so all can observe Labor Day. Classes resume Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the normal starting times.
The early-release days for the month of September will be the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th. Students will be released approximately one hour early on these days.
All the Volusia County schools will be forming or already have formed their School Advisory Council, which is made up of school staff, schoolteachers, school parents and community members. Their meetings are open to the public. Contact the school for its SAC schedule if you are interested in being a member of the council.
The final note of principal changes in West Volusia finds Christopher Mertz at Discovery Elementary in Deltona, Carrie Ann Devaney at Pride Elementary in Deltona, Melissa Fratus at Sunrise Elementary in Deltona, Tai Swift at Southwestern Middle in DeLand, Dr. Christina Lapnow at Deltona High, Julian Doster at Pine Ridge High in Deltona and Amanda Wiles at University High in Orange City.
The latest administrative assignment has Logan Whitmore becoming the ESE assistant principal at Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson.
West Volusia high-school football
On Aug. 16, area high schools participated in a preseason football game. DeLand High downed Eustis 55-0, Deltona High was stopped by Flagler Palm Coast 7-42, Deltona Trinity Christian was shut out by St. Joseph Academy 0-32, Pine Ridge High held Halifax Academy scoreless at 22-0, and University High topped Matanzas 32-0.
The Friday, Aug. 30, schedule has DeLand at New Smyrna Beach, Deltona greeting Bayside from Palm Harbor, Deltona Trinity hosting Joshua Christian of Jacksonville, Pine Ridge meeting St. Cloud at home, Taylor bringing St. Francis of Gainesville home, and University at home against North Miami. All games are at 7 p.m.
Youth football
The DeLand Dawgs youth-football program goes to Lake Wales for a series of age-group games Saturday, Aug. 31.
The DeLand Pop Warner Football Program has changed its name to DeLand Bulldogs Youth Football and Cheerleading. Its schedule has not been released as of this writing.
Earlier this year, the program named Amanda Gingerich as the Female Volunteer of the Year and Junior Gonzalez as the Male Volunteer of the Year. Also being honored were the Rogers family as the Family Volunteers of the Year, Ruben Santiago as Football Coach of the Year, and Jennifer Arrington as the Cheer Coach of the Year.
DeLand High School
The Class of 2028, the freshmen, of DeLand High School have $20 dues as class members. Payments with credit cards are done through the V-Portal/Parent Portal, while cash or check payments are made through the Activities Office. Dues include class events, ceremonies, publications, celebrations and more.
The Class of 2027, the sophom*ores, also have dues, which include the same things as the freshmen and the same payment methods; however, their dues are $25.
The DHS volleyball team travels to Osceola High in Kissimmee at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, and to Winter Park at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.
Deltona High School
Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. recently presented a Key to the City of Deltona to former Principal Mike Micallef for his achievements at Deltona High School. The school received its first “A” grade and had the highest graduation rate of all Florida Title I high schools.
Micallef is now the executive director of graduation assurance and student services for Volusia County Schools.
Dr. Christina Lapnow is currently the principal of Deltona High.
Pine Ridge High School
Senior Kristen Desmond of Pine Ridge High School in Deltona has been honored for being the winner of the Superintendent’s Summer Reading Challenge.
Stetson University
For the second year in a row, Stetson University has received national recognition as a College of Distinction, with additional awards for its business and education programs, initiatives for equity and inclusion, and career development.
The Max Cleland Leadership Program is modeled after leadership programs offered by local Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. The purpose is to educate alumni about the inner workings of the university and provide an avenue for them to become involved in the volunteer roles that are most appropriate for them.
Leadership Stetson has become a prestigious and competitive opportunity for Stetson alumni to engage with their alma mater and university leaders on an in-depth personal level. The next Leadership Stetson will take place in early 2025 on the DeLand campus. If you want to learn more about this program, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 386-822-7480 or alumni@stetson.edu.
The Stetson University Alumni Board has named Joanna “JJ” Payette ’06, now in her seventh year on the board, as the president-elect for 2025. She follows Scott Boore ’76 in her new role.
Nine new members were also named to the Alumni Board, with the list including Gwen Azama-Edwards of Daytona Beach, Class of 1971, who earned a Master of Arts in 1983; Allyne Ettner of Atlanta, Class of 2009; Victoria Greer of Tallahassee, Class of 2009; Tony Gilotti of Sanford, Class of 2020; Lon Hershey of Jacksonville, Class of 1987; Nancy Jordahl of Orlando, Class of 1986; Betsy Joyner of Charlotte, Class of 1989; Alayna Mines of Orlando, Class of 2014; and Ahmad Yakzan of Tampa/St. Pete, Class of 2003, MBA 2005, J.D. 2008 and L.L.M. 2009.
Homecoming is Oct. 25-27. Classes ending with a 4 or 9, will celebrate their reunion year. If you’re part of a class celebrating a reunion and are interested in helping contact classmates or planning your special event for Homecoming 2024, email the Alumni Engagement office at alumni@stetson.edu.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University softball program has added Amanda Chambers to the assistant coaching staff, as the pitching coach. She comes from the University of Tennessee – Martin, where she served as an assistant coach. She played her college softball at Georgia Southern and St. Petersburg College.
Incoming junior Stetson men’s golfer Gaspar Glaudas has been named among the inaugural recipients of the Gary Player International Golfer of the Year Award. This was announced by the Golf Coaches Association of American in partnership with FlightScope. The award is given to five outstanding collegiate golfers from outside the United States, one each for the NCAA Division I, II and III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA.
The Gary Player Award is selected by GCAA International member coaches with representation from around the world. Glaudas hails from Sainte-Tulle, France, and played golf at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.
The Stetson Lady Hatter soccer team opened its 2024 season with a 2-1 win over Gardner-Webb. Annika Seem and Payton Quinones scored the Lady Hatter goals.
The Stetson athletic calendar has the men’s soccer team playing at FAU at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, while the Lady Hatter team plays host to FIU at 7 p.m. Aug. 29.
On Friday, Aug. 30, the volleyball team is at Bethune-Cookman to face Portland at 10 a.m., Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m., and Manhattan at 4 p.m.
Aug. 30 also has the football team greeting Ave Maria in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 2, the men’s soccer team goes to Charleston for a 6 p.m. match. On Thursday, Sept. 5, the women’s soccer players go to the University of Oklahoma for a 7 p.m. match, and that same day, the volleyball team greets UCF in the Edmunds Center at 6 p.m.
