For the Parents, Staff, and Students of Wellington High School
Volume 22 / Issue 3
Beliefs
u Students’ learning needs are the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of the school because each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
u A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning.
u Teachers, administrators, parents, students, and the community share the responsibility for advancing the school’s mission.
u Students learn in different ways and will be provided with a variety of instructional approaches to support their learning styles.
u Cultural diversity can increase students’ understanding of different peoples and cultures.
u Students need to not only demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills but also to be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work.
u A student’s self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among and between students & staff.
Mission Statement
Class of 2024
PROM
Saturday April 6, 2024 (7:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
This year’s prom is at the National Polo Center in Wellington. Participants should keep the dress code for prom in mind. Dresses with extremely plunging necklines or backs or with excessively revealing cutouts are not permitted. Hats and canes are also prohibited. The crowning of the prom king and queen will take place around 9:00pm. Additional information will be announced soon!
GRAD BASH
April 19, 2024
Grad Bash will be at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL.
Grad Bash will include the Mix-In and Grad Bash event.
CAP & GOWN DISTRIBUTION / SALES
Senior Checkout
Thursday May 14, 2024
Graduation caps and gowns will be distributed during senior checkout. Gowns may be purchased via cash, credit card, check/money order payable to Herff Jones. Graduates must wear the correct royal blue gown in order to participate in the graduation ceremony! Information about Senior Check-out will be announced closer to time. You may still order graduation caps and gowns online at: www. herffjonespalmbeach.com
GRADUATION CEREMONY
May 20, 2024 (8:00 AM)
April 2024
SENIOR OBLIGATIONS
May 1, 2024 (Deadline)
Prior to participating in any senior activity, all obligations must be cleared through Mrs. Diaz in the main office. Obligations for Prom and Grad Bash must be cleared before turning in paperwork, the deadlines vary based on the date of the event.
The final deadline for clearing obligations is May 1, 2024
SENIOR EXAMS AND LAST DAY
Senior exams will be held on May 9 and May 10, 2024
GRADUATION REHEARSAL
Friday May 16, 2024 (3:30-5:30 PM)
Rehearsal will be held at Wellington High School in the Gym. Graduates who wish to participate in the graduation ceremony MUST attend rehearsal. Seniors should plan to be seated by 3:35 PM.
SENIOR AWARDS CEREMONY
Friday May 16, 2024 (7:00 PM)
Students who are receiving awards will be notified and invitations will be sent out. Awards will take place in gym.
Details will be announced once the information is available. Graduation is held at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center is located on Southern Boulevard, west of the turnpike. Ample parking is available. Please note that no other activity or senior trip is sponsored or authorized by Wellington High School or the School District of Palm Beach County.
Should you have additional questions regarding senior activities or the graduation ceremony, please email Ms. Ford at gemma.ford@palmbeachschools.org .
Mrs. Diaz may be reached for questions concerning obligations at 795-4901.
Wellington Community High School seeks to provide a safe environment conducive to promoting lifelong learners and productive citizens who contribute to the community as a whole. School District of Palm Beach County’s Nondiscrimination Policy: The School District of Palm Beach County prohibits discrimination against students, employees, and applicants on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, marital status, age, parental status and disability in any of its educational activities and services and employment practices.
GO WOLVERINES
To download a pdf version of this newsletter, go to www.academypublishing.com
Superintendent of Schools
Mike Burke
School Board Members
Karen M. Brill, Board Chair
Barbara McQuinn, Vice-Chair
Marcia Andrews
Alexandria Ayala
Edwin Ferguson, Esq.
Erica Whitfield
Central Region Superintendent
Valerie Haines
Principal
Cara Hayden
Assistant Principal, Administration
Dr. E. Calvente-Torres
Assistant Principals, Grade Level Support Center
Magda Dominique
Tonya Grant
Mike Kozlowski
Dr. Eric Moore
John Rejc
Assistant Principal, Community School
Chris Romano
Academy Program
Vanessa Douglass
Athletic Director
Robert Callovi
School Nurse
Safina Bansee
DATA Counselor
Christine Ranieri
2023-2024 School Counselors
Laquania Avant
Megan Donelley
Danielle Fairclough
Travis Gray
Rosemyrtle Jean
Terry Roberto
Andrew Saperstein
Julia Saye
Claudia Gallardo (ESOL)
AICE Coordinator
Mierka Drucker
MARCH 2024
BAND
Our “Mighty Wolverine Sound” Band members had an extremely busy and successful 3rd quarter.
On February 9 and 10, 101 members of the band performed in the District Solo/ Ensemble/Auxiliary Assessments at John I Leonard HS. Our band members earned a total of 115 Superior medals in solo, ensemble, and auxiliary performances. Congratulations also to the Wellington High School Jazz Band 1, which earned an overall Superior rating in the District Jazz Assessments.
On March 12 and 13, the WHS Band hosted the District High School Concert Band Music Performance Assessments in our theater. Our 2 concert bands performed in this event; both our Symphonic Band and our Wind Ensemble earned straight Superior ratings, and our Wind Ensemble earned all “A” grades from the adjudicators. Senior Tobias Smith also earned a Superior rating in Student Conductor at this assessment. Senior Ezra Seelaus has continued earning national honors in jazz. He was selected for the 2nd time to the 2024 Jazz Band of America, and was recently named an alternate for the 2024 National Youth Ensembles Jazz Band
We invite the entire community to our spring concerts, which are always free admission:
• ‘Surround Sound 12.0,’ a 360-degree concert experience featuring all of our small and large ensembles, on Friday April 26 at 6:30PM in the Wellington High School Theater; and
• ‘Jazz Under the Stars,’ featuring the Wellington HS Jazz Bands 1 and 2 and the Wellington Landings Middle School Jazz Band, on Tuesday April 30 at 6:30PM in the Wellington Amphitheater
To help support the Wellington High School Band, the Wolverine Band Boosters Association has a Corporate Sponsorship Program. Sponsorship recognition rewards are available for $500 and include your Sponsorship Banner display on the school fences. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. For more information and a sponsorship form, please visit our web site, www.whsband.com, or email sponsorship@whsband.com
And finally, a note from Ms Oser, Director of Bands 1991-2024... I want to express my sincere gratitude to Wellington High School and the Village of Wellington for your support of our band program during my 33-year tenure here. It has been an incredible honor to serve these wonderful student musicians and this great community. I hope you will continue to enthusiastically support this program and its new Director of Bands in the years ahead. Thank you all.
Dance Marathon
School-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support
We have implemented two positive behavior programs at Wellington Community High School: Wellington Way and Character Counts. Students are being recognized for the positive choices they are making while they are on campus. The following students have been nominated for a PBIS award so far this school year. Please make sure your child is following our Universal Guidelines every day they are on campus.
Akosua Achanfour-Yeboah
Cayden Andujar
Sean Askari
Sara Avila Hernandez
Ryan Balliram
Jaden Bedoya
KJ Benham
Gustavo Calderon
Abby Cole
Dakobi Coleman
Remmon Coley
Tiago Copley
Jaidyn Daniels
Carmine Deloreto
Jacob Desautel
Joshua Dimaiwat
Anthony DiPalermo
Hayden Gawaran
Johnathan Glenn
Ana Godoy
Ryan Haggerty
Kayden Harris
Yoali Hernandez Leon
Brayden Humphreys
Haley Hutchinson
Emma Johnson
Mackenzy Kane
Justin Lewis
Brielle Macvane
Ava Manley
Georgeia Mareska
Manuel Marichal
Anthony Mazzella
Anthony Morgan
Grace Norick
Paige Novack
Kendall Palfenier
Juliana Parker
Andrew Perez
Adrian Perez-Rodriguez
Isaiah Pierre-Paul
Connor Pulver
Brentton Pruitt
Brody Quilleon
Ashley Quintero
Sophia Ramirez
Ronan Reisinger
Juliana Resende
Johnny Robinson
Emilia Rocha
Adrian Rubio-Martinez
Hayden Ryan
John Michael Sabbatino
Samadhi St. Louis
Ashlin Torres
Christopher Torres
Isabell Vaccari
Erick Valdez
Gabriel Vargas
Ella Varvarigos
Monserrath Vega
Alexandra Versailles
Payton White
Teruko Zarrella
On March 1st, 2024, students from Wellington High School hosted Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon at Wellington High School is an annual philanthropic event that benefits Children’s Miracle Network and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and provides participating students interaction with miracle families, games, and a fun uplifting night. Wellington High School students have been working to fundraise this school year for Dance Marathon as profits go directly to treatments, equipment, and other medical supplies for kids at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Dance Marathon at Wellington High School is proud to announce that students raised a total of $23,591.40 this year! This incredible amount of money raised could not have been accomplished without the dedication of our students, parents, WHS faculty, WHS staff and local sponsors. Dance Marathon at Wellington High School would like to recognize our local sponsors who so graciously donated food, time, and money to support Children’s Miracle Network.
2024 Dance Marathon Sponsors: Agliolios, Anthony Coal Fire Pizza, Bascilico’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Brooklyn Water Bagels, Champ’s, Chicken Salad Chicks, Chili’s, CR Chicks, CPK, Dominos Pizza, Dunkin, Flanigans, Great American Cookie, Lutinas, Massage Envy, Orange Theory, Olive Garden, PA BBQ, PDQ, Publix, Poke Company, Taylor Made Café, Texas Roadhouse
WHS Dance Department
Congratulations to Mrs. Simmers and dancers from the Wellington High School Dance Company who participated in the Florida Dance Performance Assessment in St. Petersburg on February 3, 2024. They received Straight Superior ratings in Movement Acquisition. Dancers had the opportunity to participate in an Honors Concert, master classes and a college scholarship dance audition.
UPCOMING DANCE CONCERTS AND AUDITION DATES
Spring Dance Concert
April 12, 2024
WCHS Theater
7 PM
Student Dance Concert
May 2, 2024
WCHS Theater 6:30 PM
Tickets may be purchased at https://wellingtonhs. booktix.com/ Email Jennifer Simmers if you have any questions at Jennifer.simmers@ palmbeachschools.org
Dance Company Auditions
May 7, 2024
Dance Studio, Room 6-104 3:15-6:15 PM
HOSA
BY NATALIA FIGUREOA AND SOPHIE STRICKLEROver the past school year, HOSA has been one of the most active clubs on campus! Having food drives for local food pantries, drives for local hospitals, and their blood drives, they love engaging in their community and giving back to those who need it most. In their recent January blood drive, HOSA had a total of 70 successful donors, hoping to see just as many participating in their March blood drive. By working as a team, the students that participate in HOSA gain valuable cooperation skills, as well as knowledge of the Medical Field. Throughout the year, they participate in hands-on learning activities such as first aid labs, and Seniors each year are able to receive CPR training and certification. They also get to interact with smaller groups of peers, coming together to inform the club on specific issues, such as the diabetes awareness activity that was done, or to help the members gain healthier habits, such as the health presentation that was done informing members of how beneficial sleeping and eating well is to the body. If you’re interested in joining the HOSA club at Wellington High School, make sure to keep a lookout for applications at the beginning of the school year. Old members also have to reapply to ensure you still have interest in the club.
WELLINGTON SPEECH & DEBATE
Wellington’s Red Dawn Debaters have been on top of their game this year, racking up numerous accolades and recognition on the local, state, and national level.
At the 2024 Liberty Bell Classic at UPenn in February, the Public Forum Debate team of Ewa Tryniszewski & Emma Gardner advanced to the octafinal round, finishing 16th out of 150 entries. In Congressional Debate, senators Patrick McDermott and Adrian Perez-Rodriguez advanced to semifinals, with Adrian finishing 14th and Patrick 16th out of roughly 100 student legislators.
Wellington’s debaters put on a stellar performance at the 69th Barkley Forum for High Schools at Emory University in January. Ahna Guillaume advanced to quarterfinals in Program of Oral Interpretation, finishing 23rd overall, while Olivia Winton placed 30th in Original Oratory.
At the December 2023 George Mason University Patriot Games Invitational, Ahna Guillaume placed fifth in both Program of Oral Interpretation and Impromptu Speaking, and Madison Neltner finished sixth in Informative Speaking. In addition, both Patrick McDermott and Adrian PerezRodriguez represented Wellington in semifinals of Congressional Debate.
Within Florida, at the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative’s 2023 National Civics and Debate Championship tournament in Orlando, senior Ewa Tryniszewski won the Congressional Debate national championship trophy, besting more than 320 other high school students from across the nation. In addition, junior Adrian Perez-Rodriguez went 6-0 and finished 22nd in Extemporaneous Debate, and 10th in the overall individual sweepstakes based on results in Congress, Extemp Debate, and Impromptu Speaking.
Patrick McDermott advanced to the semifinal round of Congressional Debate at the October 2023 Florida Blue Key Invitational in Gainesville.
Wellington also had four semifinalists at the 2024 Florida Forensic League State Championship in March: Ahna Guillaume, in Program of Oral Interpretation; Melody Pratzin United States Extemporaneous Speaking; and the Duo Interpretation team of Diego Calderon and Michael Diaz. They were among the 10 Red Dawn Debaters qualified to represent Wolverine Nation at the state championship, took place on the campus of Wellington Community High School; also qualifying were Ahna Guillaume in Dramatic Interpretation, Izzy Parissos in Humorous Interpretation, Connor Mack in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, Olivia Winton in Original Oratory, and the Public Forum Debate team of Emma Gardner & Ewa Tryniszewski.
Coach Paul Gaba was chosen as the new Florida Forensic League Vice President, Operations in. Gaba has previously served as FFL Vice President, Webmaster, Secretary, and FFL Macaw Region Director, for most of the past 20 years. He looks forward to what the future of Florida high and middle school speech and debate looks like!
Follow Wellington Debate on Instagram (@RedDawnDebaters) to keep up to date on the team’s successes!
ASUNCION, ROWAN
BARBOSA, CEALLACH
BARR, SAVANNAH
BELONY, SCHUYLER
BORRELLO, MAXWELL
BROWN, PARISSA
BROWNING, TAYLOR
BURGESS, SIENNA
BUTLER, GALICIA
CAMPAGNUOLO, JAYCIE
CAMPIONE, ANTHONY
CARMONA, ISABELLA
CARVALHO, ARIANA
CASANOVA, NATHALIA
CHAVEZ, JAYDEN
CIEZAK, MIA
CONDE SALAS, SEBASTIAN
DE LOS REYES, GABRIELLA
DE OLIVEIRA, PIETRA
DELGADO, PAOLA
DELLAVECCHIA, AUDREY
DIAZ, AYLIN
DIAZ, YVELISSE
DITTFURTH, ALEXANDER
DITTFURTH, RAYA
DOWD, WYATT
FERNANDEZ CASTILLO, LEONARDO
FERRIS, AMY
FIGUEROA, CHAS
FREUND, SETH
FRITZ, JACQUILYN
GALLO, MICHAEL
GARCIA RAMIREZ, LUCIANA
GARCIA, MILAGROS
GRAY, TYLER
GUERREIRO, GABRIELA
GUEST, BRAYDEN
GUEST, ETHAN
GUSTAVSSON, JACKSON
HILL, ABIGAIL
KALISZ, KLAUDIA
KINNEY, GAVIN
LACEY, EMERSYN
LOPEZ, ADELYNN
LOPEZ, MATEO
MAIDA, ABRIANNA
MALEC, KAYA
MARTINEZ , ANTHONY
MCDONALD, VICTORIA
MENTZER, ALLISON
NORMANN, REESE
PALTZIK, ZAKARY
PARDO DE FIGUEROA, LUCIANA
PATEL, KEYA
PEREZ-ORTEGA, VIVIANA
PLATT, JACKSON
ROLAND, JARRETT
ROSEN, NOAH
SAAKE, KAITLYN
SAFRIET, ELLA
SANDOBAL RUBIANO, VALENTINA
SANTORO, KADEN
SARRIA, EMILY
SCHLOTH, BAYLEE
SCHROEDER, NATASCHA
SCHUBE, BRADLEY
SHERMAN, CASSIDY
SINGSON, RYLEE
SOKOLOV, SEBASTIIAN
TONG, ETHAN
TOSCANO CRUZ, ISABELLA
TOUCHET, PAIGE
VARVARIGOS, ELLA
VERA, MELANIE
WILLS, SOPHIA
ANDREWS, MACULLACH
BACH, EMILIE
BELLO, SANTIAGO
BENEDETTI ALIZO, OCEAN
BENITEZ, RILEY
BHATIA, REINA
BURNETT, SEBASTIAN
CALANCHE, VALERIA
CHOW, ZYA
CHUNG, HANNAH
CROSBY, LAURA
CRUM, MAGGIE
DEMAROIS, AVA
DERAS, CAMILA
DIAZ, BRISA
DIMARIA, FAITH
ELLIS, SAMANTHA
EVANS, KYLIE
FERREIRA, GABRIEL
FEUER, NATHAN
FONTICIELLA, OLIVIA
GAINER, AMELIA
GIRALDO, MARYANNE
GREWAL, ROHAN
GRULLON, KEILANI
GUTIERREZ, DANIEL
HENNESSEY, DANIEL
HO, JASON
HONZIK, NATALIE
HOOVER, JAIDA
IGLESIAS, DANIELLA
IRELAND, ZACHARY
JACOB, LINDSEY
JEZEWSKI, JAZMIN
JIANG, SHIRNA
JIVEH, ELLA
KANE, JALAINA
KITLAS, ABIGAIL
KOCAK, POYRAZ
KOCH, NICOLE
KORNEGAY, BERKLIE
LANDRY, TALAN
LEE, MATTHEW
LOPEZ FRAUSTO, XIMENA
MAARSINGH, KIRSTEN
MAGDALENO, TIFFANY
MAIN, SAVANNAH
MANLEY, NINA
MINACAPELLI SMITH, SAPHIRA
MONZON, MIA
MOYA, ANDREA
NEAMA, LILY
OMAR, IBRAHIM
PARDO, HANNAH
PREVILLE, JAKE
PRZYBYLOWICZ, LOGAN
QUINTERO, ASHLEY
RADMAN, RYAN
REYES, NATALIA
RODRIGUEZ, ISABELLA
RUBINO ZAPATA, VICTORIA
SCOTT, REID
SHARMIN, SAMUEL
SIEGEL, JUSTIN
SILVEIRA, DANIEL
SIMPSON-GAY, LOLA
SULLIVAN, VICTORIA
TRERA, MARYAM
VERSAILLES, IZABELLA
VITAL, REBECCA
WAGNER, JAKE
WASILEWSKI, OLIVER
ABDO, MUNYA
ALESSI, SOFIA
BAIG, DANIELLE
BARAJAS, PAOLA
BEAULIEU, DANIELLE
BECHALANY, EMILIA
BELLORIN, GIULIANNA
BOBB, ALYSSA
BRESCIA, BRIANNA
BRUNSMAN, AVA
CENTOFANTI, RAYA
DANIELS, JAIDYN
DESAUTEL, JACOB
DONOSO, MARCO
ESSERY, GRACE
FLEISCH, KYLE
GARDNER, EMMA
GODOY, ANA
GONZALEZ TORRES, ANANDA
HU-MANNING, ARTHUR
HU-MANNING, JASPER
IANNONE, ALEXA
KANE, MACKENZY
KAYNOR, SOPHIA
KOCH, TYLER
LAIBLE, LOGAN
LEANDRO, MAIARA
LEES, DYLAN
LORUSSO, LUCAS
MAIS, WINTER
MARTIN, BENJAMIN
MARTIN, KELLI
MEDINA, ROMAN
MEMBERG, LOGAN
MILAZZI, CHIARA
MITCHELL, GARRETT
MUNOZ, AZUCENA
MYERS, MORGAN
PENARANDA, ISABELA
PERA, THOMAS
PEREZ, AMANDA
PLATT, PORTER
RAMIREZ, SOPHIA
RIDDLE, ALEXANDRA
ROBBERT, DANIEL
RODRIGUEZ, ALEXANDER
ROSARIO, LOGAN
RUSSELL, MAKAILA
SAENZ, LUCAS
SEGFELDT, EMMA
SHEINKIN, XIAO
SIEGELWAX, ARIN
SOBERAL, DALTON
STEPHENS, SCARLETT
TAYLOR, MCKINLEY
TERRANA, NOAH
TRENTO, AIDAN
TRIESTE, AVERY
TRINEMEYER, SHAWN
URRUTIA, NICOLAS
VACCARI, ISABELLA
WALL, DOMENIC
WINTON, OLIVIA
ALVIAR, DESTINY
APOLITO, LOUIS
ASHMAN, LOGAN
BALLARD, DALTON
BARNETT, JADE
BAUTISTA PEREZ, PAULA
BELLO, ORIANA
BENITEZ, KIRSTEN
BENT, VAEJA
BINKELMAN, ALEXIS
BROWN, KATELYN
BROWN, ORCHID
BUSTILLO, ANDREA
BYCK, CAMERON
COLEMAN, KEELIN
COLEMAN, SERENA
CONTRERAS-VASQUEZ, ANABEL
DALTON, HANNAH
DANIK, MAX
DEOTO, SOLONIA
DYMKOWSKI, RAYNA
FEUER, AVERI
FIGUEREDO, LAURA
FIGUEROA, NATALIA
GESANG, NICLAS
GORMLEY, JENNIFER
GRULLON, NAILAH
GUTIERREZ RODRIGUEZ, ISSABELLA
HAMZE, EMILEEN
HENAO, CADEN
HOROWITZ, BRIANNA
HUMPHREY, RANDALL
HUTCHINSON, JAMIR
IRELAND, RACHEL
JAFFE, ALEXA
JOHNSON, JACK
KATON, HANNAH
LAIBLE, MASON
LARTITEGUI, MARIA
LEON, CATERINA
LEWIS, OCEAN
LIZARAZO BAEZ, SARAH
MACE, SEGUNDO
MARGIOTTA, ALYSSA
MARTINEZ, ZAILYN
MATLOSZ, THOMAS
MELUCCI, HAILEY
MENARD, CARTER
MOHAMMED, ELANI
MOHSIN, ISHFAQ
MORALES, MATTHEW
MORY, MARIA
NUNES, JULIE- ANNE
O’CONNOR, EMMA
PARENT, PAUL
PAWLYK, OWEN
PINDER, KAILYN
RESENDE, JULIANA
RIABOUKHA, ARELIS
RICHARDS, KEIRA
ROCHA-AGUILAR, EMILIA
RODRIGUEZ, JULLIET
ROLF, MATTHEW
ROLLO, ALEXANDRA
RUSSELL, AUSTIN
SANCHEZ, ISABELLA
SANCHEZ-VIZCAINO, ISABELLA
SHAHAK, VICTORIA
SHEA, RYAN
SHOWALTER, LOGAN
SIERRA MARQUEZ, SOFIA
SILVEIRA, SARAH
SILVESTRI, OLIVIA
SMITH, TOBIAS
TEEBAGY, HANNAH
THEROS, SOFIA
THOMPSON, AUDREY
TRYNISZEWSKI, EWA
URDANETA, SEBASTIAN
VERSAILLES, ALEXANDRA
VULLO, GIANA
WADE, ALESSANDRA
WATERS, KRYSTAL
WESTENBERGER, CIERA
WILLIAMS, DEDRA
WINK, TYLER
WINTER, MAX
