Land O Lakes High School
Encyclopedia
Land O' Lakes High School is a four-year public high school
in Land O' Lakes, Florida
. It is a part of the District School Board of Pasco County
. The school mascot is the Fighting Gators.
The class of 2008 was the largest graduating class in school history, with nearly 600 graduates.
Land O' Lakes High has had six principals in its history.
Ric Mellin, formerly the principal of J.W. Mitchell High School, became the school's sixth principal in March 2009. Mr. Mellin replaces Monica Ilse, who was appointed principal of the new Anclote High School
in Holiday, opened in August 2009.
Ever shall we stand.
With every heart and hand
Do we pledge to uphold
Thy noble name and worthy colors.
Proudly may they fly
As wings against the sky
Brilliant BLUE AND GOLD.
And when our term's complete,
If we should chance to meet,
For every kin elite our arms enfold:
And every heart will stir with pride,
Every soul awakes
As we hail our Alma Mater,
LAND O' LAKES
, the other being Gulf High School. High school students in Central and East Pasco attend LOLHS for the IB Programme. This program draws exclusive demands from teachers and mostly students. (IB is also offered at Gulf High School for students in West Pasco.)
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Land O' Lakes, Florida
Land O' Lakes, Florida
Land O' Lakes is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, in the United States. Land O' Lakes is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida MSA. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 31,145. The city grew rapidly during the 1990s, growing from 7,800 residents to...
. It is a part of the District School Board of Pasco County
Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...
. The school mascot is the Fighting Gators.
History
Construction of Land O' Lakes High School began in 1973. Leroy McClain was named principal and began hiring staff. Because of critical overcrowding across the county due to a population jump, classes we're held in double sessions at nearby Sanders Memorial Elementary School while the school was being built. When the school finally opened two years later, it welcomed 1,400 students grades 7 through 12. Five years later, Pine View Middle School was built to hold grades 6 through 8. From 2003 to 2007, Land O' Lakes operated on a 10-period bell schedule to ease crowding with most freshmen attending classes from 10:25 AM to 4:45 PM and sophomores, juniors and seniors attending from 7:35 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This was discontinued in 2007, when Sunlake High School opened.The class of 2008 was the largest graduating class in school history, with nearly 600 graduates.
Land O' Lakes High has had six principals in its history.
Ric Mellin, formerly the principal of J.W. Mitchell High School, became the school's sixth principal in March 2009. Mr. Mellin replaces Monica Ilse, who was appointed principal of the new Anclote High School
Anclote High School
Anclote High School is a public high school in Holiday, Florida. The school opened in August 2009 with grades 9 through 11; the first graduating class will be in 2011...
in Holiday, opened in August 2009.
| Name | Begin | End |
|---|---|---|
| Leroy McClain | 1975 | 1985 |
| Faruk Al-Bashir | 1985 | 1997 |
| Max Ramos | 1997 | 2003 |
| Ray Bonti | 2003 | 2006 |
| Monica Ilse | 2006 | 2009 |
| Ric Mellin | 2009 | Present |
Alma Mater
For Land O' Lakes, our Alma MaterEver shall we stand.
With every heart and hand
Do we pledge to uphold
Thy noble name and worthy colors.
Proudly may they fly
As wings against the sky
Brilliant BLUE AND GOLD.
And when our term's complete,
If we should chance to meet,
For every kin elite our arms enfold:
And every heart will stir with pride,
Every soul awakes
As we hail our Alma Mater,
LAND O' LAKES
Recognitions
In 2005, the school received a grade of A from the state of Florida for the first time. It was also the first time a high school in Pasco County received the ranking. That same year, the school made a list of the top 1000 high schools in the country in an issue of Newsweek Magazine. The school was listed as number 312 out of 1,000 high schools. In 2006 and 2007, the school had kept its A grade and had remained on Newsweek's annual list of the top high schools. In 2008, the school once again remained on the list. The school also received an A grade for 2009.International baccalaureate
Land O' Lakes High School is one of two high schools in Pasco County to offer the IB Diploma ProgrammeIB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
, the other being Gulf High School. High school students in Central and East Pasco attend LOLHS for the IB Programme. This program draws exclusive demands from teachers and mostly students. (IB is also offered at Gulf High School for students in West Pasco.)
Attendance policy controversy
In 2007 more than 100 juniors and seniors were banned from attending prom due to an attendance policy that states that if students have more than six absences in a quarter or 10 in a semester, they will lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities. This is a district rule enforced by all other schools in Pasco County. Many students affected by this rule claimed that it was not enforced before and were allowed to attend Homecoming, even with excessive absences. They tried to start a petition and tried to organize their own prom.Notable alumni
- Derek Schiffer, Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter MMAMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, Abu Dhabi Pro winner ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
US OPEN Night of Champions Absolut Winner - Jeff BaisleyJeff BaisleyJeffrey Scot Baisley is a professional baseball third baseman who played in the Major Leagues with the Oakland Athletics in 2008.-Professional career:...
, baseball player drafted by Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in 2005 out of the University of South FloridaUniversity of South FloridaThe University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA... - Logan PayneLogan PayneLogan Payne is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, wide-receiver for the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Drew WeatherfordDrew WeatherfordAndrew Skillern Weatherford is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Florida State University.-High school career:...
, class of 2004. Named all-American by ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
on November, 2006. Former starting quarterback for Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and is now the Back-Up quarterback for Tampa Bay StormTampa Bay StormThe Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
. - Will W. WeatherfordWill W. WeatherfordWill W. Weatherford is a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He received his Bachelors degree from the Jacksonville University in 2002. He lives in Wesley Chapel with his family and is the brother of Florida State Seminoles Quarterback Drew...
, State of Florida House of Representatives - Derek ThompsonDerek Thompson (baseball)Derek Ryan Thompson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft and pitched in the Indians minor league system for the Burlington Indians , Columbus Indians and Kinston Indians...
, baseball player drafted by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the 1st round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. - Stacy BishopStacy BishopStacy Leigh Bishop is a former American college and professional soccer midfielder who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer.- College career :...
, current professional soccer player for the Atlanta Beat. - Stephen Bobick, runner up in the 2010 Land O' Lakes, FL mayoral election.