1. Welcome to Felix Varela Orientation Stay Informed!
The Varela Activities Office will keep the entire Varela community updated through “Remind”
If you want to receive text messages regarding student activities simply to the number 81010
Varela Website – varelahighschool.org
Twitter
Instagram:
Activities- viperactivities
Athletics-varela_athletics

2. Felix Varela Senior High
Welcome to
Senior Parent Night
Home of the Vipers

3. Who’s Who at FVHS? Graduation Coach: Ms. Cathy Sanabria
Principal: Mrs. Nery Fins
Assistant Principals
Mr. Alvin Brown
Mrs. Lisa Aviles-Knight
Mrs. Angela Holbrook
Graduation Coach: Ms. Cathy Sanabria
Head Counselor: Mrs. Madeleine Yero
Director of Student Activities: Mrs. Jennifer Gambale
Director of Student Athletics: Mr. Ryan Schneider
Test Chairperson: Mrs. Monica Babich

4. Be prompt and in school every day!
Attendance Policy School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.041
Be prompt and in school every day!
After 10 absences (excused or unexcused) students
cannot participate in activities or athletics,
may receive no academic credit
may lose drivers license

5. Tardy Policy
If tardy, they must report to the attendance office for a late pass.
All tardies are UNEXCUSED unless you bring in a doctors note at the time of the tardy
After 3 unexcused tardies the student will receive a detention/CSI
Be in class, seated & ready at 7:20 am! D

6. EARLY RELEASE FROM SCHOOL
Try to schedule appointments after school hours.
Any person picking up a student during school hours must present picture identification and be listed on the Student Data Card
If a Student Data Card is not on file, the student will not be released from school.
School Board Policy states that no student shall be released within the first and final thirty (30) minutes of the school day.
Students will not be released after 1:50 pm.
NOTE: Students cannot be signed into school after 12:20 pm …students must be in school a minimum of two hours to get credit for the day.

7. School Assessment Office
Mrs. Monica Babich, Test Chair
Mrs. Sara Scheckner, Assistant Test Chair
Office: Rm 170

8. Electronic Devices
Felix Varela is not responsible for any lost or stolen electronic devices.
BYOD Policy is on the school website and student will fill out a contract the 1st week of school
Protect your device at ALL times
Buy insurance from school website

9. Be Responsible On Social Media
THINK
T is it True?
H is it Hurtful?
I is it Illegal?
N is it Necessary?
K is it Kind?
THINK 3 times before you push the send button.
Be Responsible On Social Media H

10. Uniforms Tops: Bottoms Hoodies Shoes Must be in school colors
Polos (Hunter green, white, gray or black)
T-shirts must be Varela sold(Activities, athletics, clubs or teams)
Bottoms
Pants: kakis, black or jeans allowed
Shorts: same colors as above and must be longer than fingertips
Hoodies
Must be in school colors
Logo can not be bigger than a fist
Must be worn over a Varela approved shirt
Shoes
Must be close toed
Sandals must have straps

11. Uniforms NOT ALLOWED: Hats/caps or hoods on Slides
Jeans with rips (either store bought or made)
Leggings & Athletic Type pants
No Varela shirts that have been cut
Crocs
Blankets

12. And now for the many senior year activities
And now for the many senior year activities! It’s time to make some more memories!

13. Cap and Gown
Ordered through government and economic classes on November 8th and 9th
ALL students should order at this time!!!!
Payment of $25, cash only
When we prepare for graduation, students who did not order a gown are not put into the initial line of march
If you wait until May, the cost goes up to $50 AND you must go to Herff Jones to get the gown
Our gowns are white
The Graduate will keep the cap, medallion and tassel, but will return the gown
Cap and gowns will be distributed in the end of May to those seniors that are cleared at the time

14. GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcements, stationary, mugs, key chains, and a lot more will be ordered at the same as the cap and gowns
These items are purchased directly through Herff Jones and thus you can also pay with a check
Announcements are NOT tickets into graduation, they are simply announcements
Please remember November is the month to order these! Many students don’t tell their parents about this and then the parents are disappointed that they don’t have them in May to send out to family and friends

15. SENIOR DEBT MONTH December ALL DEBTS MUST BE CLEARED BEFORE 12/31/18
Seniors owe over $30,000
BUT, why wait?? Why not pay it off in the November and not deal with the long lines!!!!

16. Community Service Due
Absolute last day to turn it in is Friday December 14th
Seniors can turn their community service packet in at ANY TIME before then to their counselor!
Packet must be turned in before Dec 14th to be eligible for spring senior events and to graduate

17. SENIOR LUNCHEON Friday March 1st
Tickets on sale starting in February for approximately $50
Students come to school that day, dressed appropriately & will be taken to the venue in an air conditioned bus.
Senior superlatives (categories that the students vote on), will be announced
A sneak peak of the senior video will be shown
And a few more surprises

18. GRAD BASH
Seniors who are eligible can pick up their card during lunch on February 19, 20 or 21st. On Friday February 22nd, we will have an informational grad bash meeting for all of those that have the cleared card
Eligibility includes
Must be declared a senior by January 17th
Must have a 2.0 GPA
Must have a signed senior contract on file (absolute last day is November 30th)
Must have completed & Turned in the community service packet on or before December 14th
Cannot have any financial obligations. All obligations must be paid by the last day of senior debt month (Dec 31st)
Must have sold 2 magazines during junior year, or 3 catalog items during senior year
Student must personally come to Grad Bash ticket sales on February 28th at 4:00pm
Administration has the final say as to who is eligible to attend grad bash!

19. GRAD BASH
April 26th
Will leave school around noon & will return around 7:00 am on Saturday
Cost will be approximately $160 and must be paid in cash
There are administrators & many teachers chaperoning the trip
We have very strict guidelines set as to dress and behavior
We check students before they get on the bus to make sure we will not have any problems
If a student gets into any trouble, Universal will arrest the student and hold them. A parent is required to go to Orlando to get them! We are not allowed to bring them back with us!

20. GRAD BASH
There is very heavy security that night! You have no idea who is undercover and who is a real senior, so students MUST BE ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR!
A detailed list will be given to students in February that are to be signed by YOU and brought on February 28th to buy their tickets
Students will need to bring all of the papers filled out, cash and photo ID
ID will also be needed to get on the bus
This is the only SENIOR trip sponsored by the school

21. PROM Saturday May 18th 2018 Jungle Island from 7:30 until midnight
There is no after party sponsored by Felix Varela
Tickets go on sale approximately April 17th during lunch
Tickets will be approximately $100 each S

22. GRADUATION
County policy states ALL students must complete ALL of the requirements to graduate with a diploma
Graduation will be held sometime between May 28th–June 6th
No extra tickets will be given unless they earned them through the magazine drive
This is a very special ceremony and we hope everyone will have courteous behavior. Please be respectful.
It is stated in the senior contract that any disruptive behavior during graduation will results in their diploma being withheld until 40 hours of community service is completed at Varela

23. Student Clubs & Activities
If you get involved… you will improve your grades, grow intellectually, and make positive long-lasting high school memories.
Fact – people who get involved whether it’s a sport, drama, band, a club, or an honor society do much better academically on average.
Why??? – because it encourages responsibility, time management, and brain stimulation – ALL GOOD
It just makes school much, much, much more fun!!!
Get involved and be active!!

25. Activities Director Mrs. Jennifer Gambale Office: Rm 302

26. Mrs. Nery Fins, Principal
Mrs. Madeleine Yero Department Chair, A-CI, and iPrep
Ms. Giselle Guia CL-MAL
Mrs. Michelle Plasencia MAM-SA ESE Liaison
Mrs. Jacqueline Santos SE-Z ESOL Counselor
Mrs. Clara Gonzalez CAP Advisor
Welcome Parents of
Seniors Class of 2019

27. Graduation Requirements
24 Total credits
2.0 Cumulative Unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA)
Take the Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History EOC and the results constitute 30% of the final course grade.
Pass the Algebra I EOC or a comparative score on the P.E.R.T.; PSAT Math; SAT Math; and ACT Math.
Pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FSA Reading) or Obtain SAT/ACT Concordant Score
Take and Pass an Online Course
Complete a Community Service Project

28. State Requirements for Graduation
Academics
State Requirements for Graduation
English
Mathematics (Must have Algebra I, Geometry) 4
Science (Must have Biology and 2 other courses, one having lab) 3
Social Studies (W. History, US History, Gov’t/Econ.) 3
Fine Art (Any Visual or Performing art) 1
Physical Education (Pers. Fitness and ½ cr. PE elective) 1
General Electives (Must include 1 Online Course) 8
2.0 Cumulative Unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA)

29. ACCELERATION/FORGIVENESS… AVENUES TO YOUR DESTINATION
Florida Virtual School (
A way to earn high school credits online. Challenging curriculum, flexible scheduling, one-to-one instruction for the focused and motivated student. Check out the website for course offerings. Parent and guidance counselor approval required.
7th Period, Summer School, Virtual School
These are ways to make up credit and forgive any F’s you may have earned in the past. You must see your guidance counselor for a registration form.

30. Required Testing
Pass the Algebra I EOC or a comparative score on the P.E.R.T.; PSAT Math; SAT Math and ACT Math.
Pass the Florida Standards Assessment English Language Arts (FSA ELA) or Obtain SAT/ACT Concordant Score
Take the Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History EOC; Results constitute 30% of the final course grade.
Assessment
Reading
Mathematics
FSA ELA
350
N/A
SAT
430
420
ACT 19 16
ALGEBRA 1 EOC
497
P.E.R.T
PSAT
SAT Reading Subtest 24 97

31. Virtual Class Requirement
All students need to take a virtual class before graduation. This can be fulfilled through Florida Virtual School.
The course can be worth .5 credit or 1 credit.
PLEASE NOTE: If you elect to take a 1 credit course you MUST complete the FULL course to fulfill the requirement.
To sign up for Florida Virtual School go to:

32. Community Service Due December 14th, 2018
Community service opportunities:
Community service hours must be completed with a non-profit or governmental institution.
Remember to complete your community service packet and attach all required documents. Don’t forget the essay!
In-House Camillus Project Due Nov. 9th, 2018
Due December 14th, 2018

33. Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Community service is a requirement for all three Bright Futures award levels.
The required community service hours to be completed for the following awards are:
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) hours
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) hours
Test Score Requirements
GPA
SAT
ACT
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
3.5
1290 29
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
3.0
1170 26
* SAT based on Critical Reading and Math sections only.
** ACT based on English, Reading, Math, and Science section only.

34. Are You College Ready? Check out these minimum scores:
Skill Area
Minimum Pert Scores
Minimum SAT Scores
Minimum ACT Scores
Reading
106
440 19
Writing
103
N/A
Mathematics
114
English 17
* Each university has it’s own minimum entrance scores.

35. 2018-2019 ACT & SAT National Test Dates
HIGH SCHOOL CODE: NCAA CODE: 9999
ACT Test Dates
Registration Deadline
October 27, 2018
September 28, 2018
December 8th, 2018
November 2, 2018
February 9th, 2019
January 11th, 2019
April 13th, 2019
March 8th, 2019
June 8th, 2019
May 3th, 2019
July 13th, 2019
June 14th, 2019
SAT Test Dates
Registration Deadline
October 6th, 2018
September 7th, 2018
November 3th, 2018
October 5th, 2018
December 1, 2018
November 2, 2018
March 9, 2019
February 8th, 2019
May 4th, 2019
April 5th, 2019
June 1, 2019
May 3, 2019
FOR FEE WAIVERS MS. GONZALEZ!!!!

36. Airport Hotel & Convention Center
National College Fair
February 24th, 2019
Free Admission!
Noon – 4 pm
Doubletree Miami Mart
Airport Hotel & Convention Center
777 NW 72 Avenue

37. Thank you!

38. We wish you an AMAZING SENIOR YEAR!
Thank You for Coming!
We wish you an AMAZING SENIOR YEAR!
Make it Count!!!!

39. Varela Website – varelahighschool.org Twitter - @FelixVarelaHS
We wish your son or daughter an AMAZING year and Thank you for Joining Us Tonight! Stay Informed!
The Varela Activities Office will keep the entire Varela community updated through “Remind”
If you want to receive text messages regarding student activities simply to the number 81010
Varela Website – varelahighschool.org
Twitter
Instagram
Activities- viperactivities
Athletics-varela_athletics