Longhorns have
won 23 games in a row over the past 3 seasons but Wednesday nights
game was as close as it gets as the Longhorns edge the Cyclones 1 to
0. By Anthony V. Masella Jr.
Becky Jenkins, sixth-grade Geography Teacher at
John Long Middle School, instructs incoming sixth grade students Mikayla
Sanchez (from left) and Maddie Sawyer (transitioning from Double Branch
Elementary) at the Summer Warm Up Camp held at the school. Over seventy
incoming sixth graders attended two sessions held in June and July.
Jenkins came up with the idea as she has seen students struggle with the
transition from Elementary School to Middle School. The Summer Warm Up
Camp is the first in the area and is designed to help them with
organization, familiarity with the campus, sharpen their skills, and to
get more comfortable with their new school. She took the idea to
Principal Beth Brown and the first camp was an overwhelming success.
They hope to have more students next year. .....
Kim
Monbarren, sixth-grade Science Teacher at John Long Middle School, helps
students (including Keval Patel, on right), during the first Summer Warm
Up held at the school. Over seventy incoming sixth graders attended two
sessions held in June and July.
July
30,
2009-01
_____________________Scroll
Down
____________________
_____________________Scroll
Down
____________________
John Long Middle School Play 60 with NFL players
Work ethic pays off for students
By
Michele Miller,
Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, January 28, 2009
WESLEY CHAPEL — Alexus Rodriguez, 11, played basketball.
Jada Walker, 12, walked her dog, Sasha, around the block a few
times every day.
Coner Deweese, 11, played a lot of baseball. And Terell Strong,
11, who is a linebacker for his school's football team, spent many an
afternoon tossing a ball "and tackling each other and stuff" with
friends like Branden McLeod, 12.
Those were just some of the ways sixth-grade students from John
Long Middle School met a special challenge posed by physical education
teacher Melissa Brain and the NFL.
To read more,
_____________________Scroll
Down
____________________
Kathryn Bylsma, a science teacher at John Long
Middle School, named Pasco County's top teacher
Kathryn
Bylsma was
always too
engrossed in
working with
her students
to pay much
attention to
the whole
Teacher of
the Year
process. She
had no
choice but
to pay
attention
this year.
Bylsma, a
science
teacher at
Long Middle
School, was
named Pasco
County's top
teacher
Saturday
night at a
dinner that
also
recognized
other school
district
employees.
"This whole
event just
boggles my
mind, it
truly does,"
Bylsma said
in an
interview
before
learning she
had won.
"That we
acknowledge
what happens
in the
classroom is
pretty
important."
In addition
to the
Teacher of
the Year
award, the
Pasco
Education
Foundation
also honored
Terry Rhum,
the school
district's
director of
employee
relations,
as
Administrator
of the Year;
Donna Lyons,
the
principal's
secretary at
Giella
Elementary,
as
School-Related
Personnel of
the Year;
and Leroy
Christopher,
plant
manager at
Stewart
Middle
School, as
Non-Instructional
Non-Bargaining
Employee of
the Year.
The
awards
ceremony was
held at the
Pasco
Schools
Center for
the Arts at
Wesley
Chapel High
School.
Here is the
type of
educator
Bylsma is:
When asked
to describe
the greatest
classroom
challenges
she faces,
she enlisted
a couple of
her students
to discuss
what they
thought
those
challenges
were. Bylsma
liked their
answers.
Dr. John Long Middle School Cheerleaders performed during the
ribbon-cutting ceremony at the grand opening of Macy Department Store
located in the Shops of Wiregrass.
Dr. John Long Middle School Band performed during the ribbon-cutting
ceremony at the grand opening of Macy Department Store located in the
Shops of Wiregrass.
Pasco running back
Janarian Grant tries to break a tackle from John Long’s Josh Plummer and
Mike Love. Pasco running back Janarian Grant. Pasco defensive back
Damien Wilson prepares to put a hit on John Long quarterback KJ Hopkins.
Pasco running back Josh Zifer. John Long back
Joevani Brown makes his way around Pasco’s Josh Zifer.
Joevani Brown
0226…John Long back Joevani Brown makes his way around Pasco’s John
Brown. John Long quarterback KJ Hopkins. John Long kicker Dayton
Wetherby picks up a fumble and makes a run for the goal line following a
botched extra point.
John Long kicker Dayton Wetherby begins a successful on sides kick.
6th grade Mustang
Team of Dr. John Long Middle School celebrates the last few days of
school with a fieldtrip to Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse. This group of
students was playing a game called “Snot River” or “Magic Shoes.
6th grader
Alejandra Delgado from Dr. John Long Middle School celebrates the last
few days of school with a fieldtrip to Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse.
Daniella Browne,
Courtney Randolph, Tylyn Hobaugh, Alejandra Delgado, and Brittney
Moncion 6th graders at Dr. John Long Middle School celebrate the last
few days of school with a fieldtrip to Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse.6th
grade math teacher Lisa Grey shoots hoops with student Sayquon King
during their fieldtrip to Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse.
Meadow Pointe
resident Spencer Weiss and his daughter Samantha, age three, at Meadow
Pointe III Clubhouse after Little Chefs Club class.
Little
Chefs Club owners Tiffany Hernandez and Kristen Nyilas pose with student
Anabella Avila and sisters Clarabella and Isabella Avila at Meadow
Pointe III Clubhouse after Little Chefs Club class.
Leo Casey Jr., a 7th grader at Dr. John Long middle school recently
attended a ceremony at University of Florida to be recognized for his
achievement in the Duke University Talented Identification Program.
Leo was chosen to participate in the program because of his academic
excellence and he received the award because of his ACT test scores,
which were comparable or higher than many of the high school juniors who
took the exam. Pictured with Leo Casey Jr. is Teresa Porter from the
Duke University in Durham, NC.
Wesley Chapel- LEADING THE PACK! Jamal Roberts,
a student at Weightman Middle School, placed 1st in the 110
hurdles, 100m, and 2nd place in the long jump and 200m at the
Conference Championship. Hanna Mitchell a student at Weightman Middle
School, placed 1st in discus at the Conference Championship
at Wesley Chapel High School. Devin Piper, a student at Weightman Middle
School, placed 1st in shot put at the Conference Championship
held Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Wesley Chapel High School. … Dade City-
AMAZING AIR! Ales Garcia, a student at Pasco Middle School, took first
place in the high jump by clearing 6‘ 2“ at the Conference
Championship.… Dade City- AMAZING AIR! Ales Garcia, a student at Pasco
Middle School, took first place in the high jump by clearing 6‘ 2“ at
the Conference Championship held Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Wesley
Chapel High School.
Miss
Zephyrhills, Brittany Monbarren joins John Long MS science teacher, Kim
Monbarren’s sixth grade class to celebrate Earth Day by recycling
tee-shirts and tie-dyeing them. Marissa Moyer and Tiffany Paloma show
their creations.
Tuesday, March 4 John Long Middle invited nationally recognized speaker
Coach D to help with FCAT motivation. Coach D states, “Young people must
be challenged to develop themselves to their fullest potential, or they
face hopelessness and the frustration of unfulfilled dreams.” Darrell
“Coach D” Andrews, nationally known speaker and author of several books
including, “Believing the HYPE: 7 Keys to Motivating Students of
Color” and “The Purpose Living Teen: A Teen’s Guide to Living
Your Dreams,” will push students to press on towards inspired
attitudes and high expectation so they can do well on their upcoming
FCAT. Coach D regularly shares with students how to connect tomorrow’s
dream to today’s education.
“The
challenges we are seeing in today’s schools create a sense of urgency in
showing students the significance of individual dreams combined with
hope and attitude. That is what really will help them excel on tests and
in life,” said Andrews. “I know that a student with a dream is a student
with a future. My desire is for all students to have a dream, live it
and fully understand the importance that education plays in living it.”
Using humor and real life
metaphors to remove negative, non-productive attitudes, Coach D relates
to pre-teens and teenagers in a unique way. Andrews was raised by a
single mother who was also a high school dropout, but despite his
challenging background, he determined to change his life and became a
three-sport all-star in high school, the captain of his college football
team and the first in his family to graduate from college. …...When
asked by Coach D what she wanted to be, JLMS student Michelle Dowling
answered, “A doctor or a lawyer.” ….Following the assembly Amber
Kutscher stated, “I really liked the program and I feel I am going to do
better on the FCAT.”
The
Longhorns shut out the Bulldogs early in the first half with a
two-point lead. In the second half the Longhorns scored another two
goals before games end leaving the score 4 to 0. 1926.jpg…Between
Stewart players # 4 and #2. Longhorn’s Linsee Newby
contributed to the win by showing nice footwork on the field.
Weightman Wildcats faced off against the John Long Longhorns at Dr. John
Long Middle School. By the end of the first half the longhorns were
trailing the wildcats 21-20. Under pressure from Longhorn Captain
Jonathan Economou, Wildcat Davon Henry moves the ball down the court
helping his team defeat the Longhorns with the final score of Wildcats
46 Longhorns 39. …Getting
the crowd pumped up was announcer Alex Luck Olkhovsky. (RT) Keeping him
company were Abner Barrios on clock and Tracy Ferguson running the
scoreboard.
They’re off…over 165 runners take off for
the finish line at the ‘Long Run at the Ranch 5K Run’ to raise funds for
Wiregrass Ranch HS and Dr John Long MS athletics.
The JLMS PTSA raised over $10,000 on the event that
included Bingo, Bounce Houses, a Dunk Tank, 18ft
Slide, a DJ with dancing. Remote Control Car Races
provided by Wesley Chapel Toyota and an Obstacle
Course provided by Sports + Field.
Dr. John Long Middle School students
Justin Velasquez, Emma Jernizan and Frankie Nunoz show their school
spirit at the Longhorn Round-Up Carnival on October 26 where over
$10,000 was raised for the schools PTSA. … Dr. John Long Middle
School teachers Torrina Mauradian, Rose Mary Culp, Stephanie Fucito
with Virginia Comaz helped raise funds on a Silent Auction with the
help of business partner, the Beauty Center & Salon at the Longhorn
Round-Up Carnival on October 26. …Having a great time at the
Longhorn Round-Up at Dr. John Long Middle School are students Andres
Villagomez, Noel Mulcahy and Gabe Visoria and in back, parent
volunteers Annette Cooper, Carolina Rosenbadr of the PTSA, Asia
Thomas and Cherise Baker of Wiregrass Ranch High School and parent
volunteer Teresa Finch..
…
Dr. John Long Middle School student Anabelle Martinez had fun
hanging around at the Longhorn Round-Up.
6730… Dr. John Long Middle School took first place in the Florida
Odyssey of the Mind with both Team A and Team B, earning over 311
points. Odyssey of the Mind is where kids get a chance to express their
creativity, support the arts, and to learn new things in a fun
environment. Representing the winning team is Jesse Hu 13, Jennifer
Osterman 13, Andrew Park 13, Lindsey Cucore 12, Nathan Tindall 13 and
Tori Quaglia 13. 6740…Student Peers, all eighth graders, Bianca Scrimali,
Paul Forsey,
Kayla
Stiftinger, Caily Bronson, Tyler Price 8th standing, Guidance
Counselor Christina Prince, Shavaun Walker, Christian Alvarez, Xavier
Bostick, Martia Wood and Anatasia Stroup, will help lead Dr. John Long
Middle School to great heights this year and met together with their
advisor on the first day of school August 20, 2007.
6950…Quite a
Principled affair at the Dr John Long Middle School Dedication Day, held
March 27th, when this group got together. They are Tina Tiede
Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools, Stan Trapp, the new
Principal of Gulf Middle School, Shae Davis of Thomas Weightman Middle
School, Beth Brown, Principal of the new Dr. John Long Middle School,
Andrew Frelick, Principal of Wesley Chapel High School, Kathy Rushe,
Principal of Trinity Elementary School, David Estabrook, Principal of
the new of Charles Rushe Middle School and Ray Bonti, Principal of the
new of Wiregrass Ranch High School. 6946…Beth Brown,
Principal of the newly dedicated Dr. John Long Middle School shares a
moment with those that knew Dr. John Long the best, his family, Jessica
Long, Marsha Long, Jennifer Long and Superintendent Heather Fiorentino.
6935…The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce held a
ribbon cutting for the area’s newest Middle School, Dr John Long Middle
School on March 27th. JLMS Band 6920… JLMS Chorus
6920…Essays were written and recited by Zac Serota, 8th
grade, Joshua Harding, 8th grade, Danielle Marie Long, 6th
grade, Emily Payne, 6th grade, Nathan Parke, 6th
grade and a poem called ‘Our School’ by Lauren Brown, 7th
grade. Dr. John Long Bandand Chorus ended the ceremony with a
new tradition for the Longhorns, Happy Trails to you, till we meet
again.
1550..Tori Grau (# 12), of
the Pine View Middle School 7th grade girls basketball team takes the
ball down court trying to fend off John Long Middle School’s Jennifer
Osterman while Pine View player Courtney Durbin (# 11) offers backup
during their last game of the season on February 27. The Longhorns won
the exciting match 35-30 in double overtime.
1414..John Long Middle School
7th grade basketball players Jasmine Boykin (# 13) and Lauren Medina (#
14) appear to be dancing during their game against the Pine View Middle
School Panthers on February 27. The Longhorns took the match in double
overtime 35-30. Pine View players (from left) Kendra Sheets Nicole
Bristol, and Jessi Johnson set up looking to get the ball. This looks to
be quite a rivalry already and the Longhorns are in their inaugural
season.
1524..John Long
Middle School 7th grade girl’s basketball players fought fiercely to
defeat the Pine View Middle School team during their game at the
beautiful new Longhorn Gym on February 27. In one of the most exciting
games this photographer has seen in middle school basketball (double
overtime and a brief power outage leaving everyone in the dark), the
Longhorns battled to victory in the final game of their Inaugural
Season. With a tie score of 27-27, the game went into overtime until
the score was 30-30 at the buzzer. More overtime and the battle of the
Panthers and the Longhorns continued until the final buzzer put the
Longhorns ahead 35-30. Players pictured are (from left) Longhorn player
Tori Quaglia, Pine View player Nicole Bristol, Longhorn Hema Gude, Pine
View player Teresa Della Penna, and Longhorn player Shantal Desvignes
(with ball). Great game girls! Looking forward to a brand new rivalry!
1195…Pine View Middle School guard Julia
Della Penna drives to the hoop in their 35 to 22 victory over the Lady
Longhorns on February 8th. 1189…Lady Panther Morgan Crescent makes her
way up to the lane but find her shot to the hoop a little obscured by
the Lady Longhorn defender in a game played on February 8th.
1219…Lady Longhorn Brianna Friedrich has the ball but Lady Panther
Gabrielle Brown has her as they wrestle for position in a game played on
February 8th. 1175… Lady Longhorn Ariel Grey drives by the line to
the lane to the hoop for two in a game played on February 8th. 1180…
Ashley Grates of John Long Middle School takes a set shot against a
stingy Panther defense Thursday in a tough intercity battle with Pine
View Middle School February 8th. 1166…Dr. John Long Middle School
8th grader Danielle Kluender takes a jump shot as the Panthers converge
on her in a game played on February 8th.
0603 John Long Middle School’s Andres
Ceasar goes for the ball during the game against Pasco Middle School on
February 8. Pasco won the match 6-0. 0555 Jordan Clements kicks it high
for his John Long Middle School Longhorns during the soccer match
against Pasco Middle School on February 8. Pasco won the match 6-0.
0559 Kolby Kruger (# 3), heads the ball for his John Long Middle School
Longhorns as Pasco Middle School’s Anthony Plourde plots his next move
during the game on February 8. Pasco won 6-0. 0593 John Long Middle
School’s Lex Krautheim runs for the soccer ball during the game against
Pasco Middle School on February 8. Pasco won 6-0. 0550 Matt Baldwin (#
21), of John Long Middle School and Pasco Middle School’s Efrain
Uriostegue wait for the soccer ball during their game on February 8 at
Wesley Chapel High School. Pasco won 6-0. 0534 Pasco Middle School’s
Daniel Corono got at least a couple of the six goals for his Pirates as
they took on the Longhorns of John Long Middle School on February 8.
The “faceball” belongs to John Long Middle School’s Robert Tirbene.
Pasco won the match 6-0. 0542 Pasco Middle School’s Jose Paniagua
controls the ball during action against the John Long Middle School
Longhorns on February 8. The Pirates took the match 6-0.
Stewart Middle School story coming soon. Rebecca
Lloyd follows threw on her serve for the Bulldogs in action against the
Longhorns of John Long, who went on to take the hotly contested
match.…Bulldog Jennifer Patria looks for an empty spot on the Longhorn
side of the net to drop her serve.…Gotta-get-it-over-time for Alexandra
Correia of Stewart Middle School as she uses a two-handed reverse set
shot to get the ball over on the third touch. …Bulldog server Jennifer
Baer slaps the ball over to get the play started for Stewart Middle
School in the game against new inter county rival, John Long Middle
School of Wesley Chapel.
…8th
grader Leanne Gill of Stewart Middle School keeps an eye on the ball as
she holds down her position for the Bulldogs.
7601…John
Long Middle School Cheerleading Coach Kim Monbarren, with coaching help
from Sharon Morris, and student help from Taylor McKelvey, Shelby
Kaplan, Chelsea Boyett, and Brittany Monbarren held a cheer camp at
Weightman Middle in Wesley Chapel for the new school. They chose girls
who had outstanding performances and were nominated for All American
included Malia Mudge, Nicole Eiland, Captain Jessica Lum, Co-Captain
Anastasia Stroup, Rachel Jardine, Brianna Campbell, Abbie Crawford,
Meagan Farkas, Courtney Murray, Co-Captain Alyssa Eckstein, Marissa
Tucker, Heather Ford, Brittany Cox, Kayla Fitzsimmons. Remaining team
members are Captain Katie Stephens, Kelli Richter, Ashley Bradford,
Caroline McCaffrey, Stephanie Collin, Danielle Fleri, Angelica Mendoza,
Abbie Peltier, Ashley DeRigo, D.J. Halligan, Stacey Rossman, Tori
Quaglia, Shaina Carwise, Sarah Salsona, Caitlin Lane.