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Hello Patriots. Welcome to the five time, "A" rated, Freedom High School where learning is our top priority and our focus is on literacy, rigor and relationships. Our school's pillars of honor, excellence and tradition continue to be on display on a daily basis by our students, staff and community.
Welcome Back
As you are aware, January 4th officially started the new year for OCPS and the 3rd marking period commencing the second semester of
2016-2017. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with friends and family and that your New Year is off to a fantastic start.
Reflections
As I reflect on the New Year, it is with much pride that I enjoy serving as Principal of Freedom High. FHS is indeed a community built on inclusivity where students thrive, where all personalities, perspectives, and dreams are cultivated and nurtured. Each of our Patriots come here to learn, grow, and discover who they are and who they have the potential to become. This would not be possible without an incredibly dedicated group of teachers, and a very hard working support staff.
Culture
Every day, our teachers, support staff, and administrators come to school prepared to provide the best possible experience for our students. Not only do we work together to help students learn, but we also provide a safe, nurturing place focused on learning daily.
Each school week I visit classrooms throughout our campus. I continuously find our teachers giving their very best and high levels of student engagement. I am very thankful for creative teachers looking for ways to motivate and excite our students.
2nd Semester
Parents, currently we are 2 weeks into the 3rd marking period. Please take time out to review your son/daughter progress by visiting our ProgressBook portal. Every parent/student has a login to ParentAccess, a component of ProgressBook. As a parent, you are empowered to check grades and have that conversation with your child. These conversations with your child are crucial. They teach your child about high expectations, ownership and self-advocacy.
Graduation Rate
As recently as last month, the Florida Department of Education released the federal uniform graduation rates. I am pleased to announce that Freedom High has a current graduation rate of 94%. FHS has increased in grad rate each year since 2010. Our goal is to achieve 100%! Listed below are the rates published for Freedom over the last 6 years.
- 2010/11 - 87%
- 2011/12 - 90%
- 2012/13 - 91%
- 2013/14 - 91%
- 2014/15 - 93%
- 2015/16 - 94%
Sincerely,
Rolando R. Bailey
Principal
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 Jan. 16: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Jan. 17: Blood Drive, 7:00 am
Jan. 17: Boys Basketball (vs Winter Park), 4:30/6/7:30 pm
Jan. 17: Boys Soccer (vs George Jenkins), 7:00 pm
Jan. 18: Senior Social (cafeteria), 6:00 pm
Jan. 18: Wrestling (Senior Night), 6:00 pm
Jan. 19: JV Basketball (vs Cypress Creek), 4:30/6/7:30 pm
Jan. 20: Theatre Backwards Broadway Show, 7:00 pm
Jan. 21: Saturday School, 9:00 am
Jan. 21: OCPS Parent Academy at Boone HS (STEM) -
Details
Jan. 23: Boys Basketball (vs Boone), 6/7:30 pm
Jan. 24: Girls Basketball (Senior Night vs University), 6/7:30 pm
Jan. 25: Rho Kappa Induction Ceremony, 6:30 pm
Jan. 28: Saturday School, 9:00am
Jan. 28: Cap and Gown Orders, 9:00 am
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OCPS 2016-2017 School Calendar
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Click on the
OCPS website link to access the Orange County Public Schools 2016-17 calendar.
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Featured Department
Physical Education
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Bottom left to right: Mr. Walker (BLA), Ms. McFerren (Dept. Chair), Ms. Los, Ms. Lansing, Ms. Abner.
Top left to right: Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Olson, Mr. Brinson, Mr. Bush.
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Curriculum: 'Rigor in the Classroom'
An on-going look at student engagement from around campus . . .
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AP Music Theory
Our AP students have begun the push toward the exams. In AP Music Theory,
Mr. Brian Hellhake is preparing his students for the exam by studying previously used free response questions. On the exam, students will compose an original melody, harmony and bass line using stylistic practices developed in the time period of J.S. Bach. Mr. Hellhake's students enjoy his approach to teaching AP Music Theory. One student, senior
Hunter Dalton, says "the class is helping me understand the basics for music and how to build chord structures."
Mr. Hellhake, Jan. 2017 |
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FHS would like to spotlight junior, Tyler Youtz, as he is featured in this month's issue of Orlando Magazine. For the past 11 years Tyler's charity, Toys From Tyler, Inc., has collected then delivered toys to children who are undergoing cancer treatment at Arnold Palmer Hospital.
To read the article, please click http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/January-2017/Helping-Hands/
Tyler Youtz, Class of 2018
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Special Recognition
Dayja Joiner & Alicia Balderas, Culinary Art Winners
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FHS students,
Dayja Joiner (11th) and
Alicia Balderas (12th) attend Gateway School and are in the Culinary Arts program. This is a CTE program for students in Exceptional Student Education. Recently, Dayja (right) and Alicia (2nd from right), competed in a culinary competition at the
Marriott World Center against other culinary students from OCPS tech centers. Their "O-Town Rocks Centerpiece" earned them a 1st place trophy. Their team includes two students from other OCPS High Schools and their Culinary Arts teacher,
Ms. Debra Taylor. Congratulations Dayja and Alicia!
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Next Year's Courses
Counselors will visit our middle schools this month and next to meet with eighth grade students and help them with high school transition, including choosing high school classes. The middle school students will work with the high school counselors to choose their classes and students will receive their course request forms to bring home so they can discuss their choices with their parents. If changes are needed, parents can make them directly on the course request form. Whether changes are needed or not, parents are asked to sign the form and return it to the eighth grade counselor. There are additional opportunities to reconsider course choices: at Eighth Grade Student Open House in the spring and during schedule pickup in August. Current ninth through eleventh grade students will choose their courses for next year later this month. Parents will be able to review the selections and make changes up until schedule pickup in August.
Seniors
 All seniors are strongly encouraged to get their financial aid applications done. The applications can be found at:
www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
www.FAFSA.gov
Prizes for completing the FAFSA
Students who show proof of 2017-2018 FAFSA completion may receive a T-shirt or cup in the College Room, plus they can take a picture of themselves and tweet it to #OCPSGoes2College. Fun! Flash!! Their names will be entered into a drawing for a laptop!!! Thanks to OCPS!
Scholarship Search
Looking for scholarships? Wednesday after school is a time to come to the College Room and receive help searching for scholarships, filling out college application, and anything else related to postsecondary plans. Many scholarships are posted on the College Information Edmodo page. The code to join is
vb9har.
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Testing
ASVAB on February 2
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Freedom will be hosting the ASVAB on February 2nd. Interested students must be at least 16 years old and at least in the 10th grade to sign up for the ASVAB. If you are interested, you can sign up at: http://tinyurl.com/FHS-ASVABsignup. You must be logged into your school account to sign up. The google form will be open for signups until January 27th.
* Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
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Boys Basketball
Over the holiday break, the boys varsity basketball team finished 3rd in the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament in Kentucky. Geraldo Rivera won the dunk contest while Darren Mitchell finished in second place. Also, Kevin Polanco, Caesar Barrios and Jonathan Gonzales received all tournament selections.
Since returning from the break the varsity team lost to Apopka 53-55 (January 5), followed by wins against St. Cloud 67-54 (January 7) and an overtime victory over Lake Nona 64-57 (January 10).
Girls Basketball
The Freedom High School Girls Basketball team continues taking steps forward this season in their overall goal of building a successful program for years to come. Freshman Point Guard Alanis Barriera-Rodriguez has proven herself as a leader on the floor and threat from the 3-point line knocking down 30 this season, while Senior Kayla Bell has stepped up in leading the Patriots in scoring by averaging 15.5 points per game over the last month. The Patriots will host rival Cypress Creek at home on January 20th at 6PM, and will celebrate Senior Night on January 24th against University.
Boys Soccer
Currently, the FHS soccer team's record is 16-3-1, with a 4-2-1 record in the district which is good enough for the 2nd seed going into the last district game of the season. The team has some big wins this year versus previously unbeaten and top rank state teams such as Lake Nona (2-0) and Winter Park (1-0). The team followed those wins the following week with a win versus Oak Ridge (3-1). Prior to a 2-2 tie versus Timber Creek, the team had won 9 straight games and has not lost since December 1. Top performers are Giancarlo DeGregorio who has 19 goals and 5 assist and JP Vinha who has 15 goals and 9 assists. Currently, the team is ranked #4 in the state class 5A division.
Girls Soccer
The Lady Patriots varsity soccer team went into the winter break with several players injured and unable to play the last week of games before the break, resulting in some tough losses to top teams in the district. After the break, the team has gotten players back and is now preparing for the district playoffs beginning the week of January 16. Make sure you come and support the team as they take on longtime rivals Boone in the first round.
Boys Wrestling
Last weekend, the varsity wrestling team continued their dominance with a decisive victory in the "Let Freedom Ring" wrestling tournament. Hosted by FHS, the wrestlers took the first place trophy by outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 337 to 30.
Girls Wrestling
Last night, girls traveled to Timber Creek for their first tournament of 2017. Fabiola Molina (who is undefeated on the season) and Ridlica Tataille went 3-0 on the night and Sophomore Caroline Cardenas wrestled the most matches, going 5-0. Girls Travel to East River tomorrow for the first ever girls Metro tournament.
Girls Weightlifting
The FHS girls weightlifting team finished the regular season with a 2-2 record. At the Metro Championship, the girls placed 7th, led by captain and Metro Champion Zeena Zayed (101, Jr). Next will be the district championships.
Winter Sports at FHS
Below is a list of our winter sports at FHS along with their respective head coach. Feel free to contact the head coach for information.
* Boys Basketball - Tyrhon Crawford Tyrhon.Crawford@ocps.net
* Girls Basketball -Robert Caraballo Robert.Caraballo@ocps.net
* Boys Soccer - Mark Higdon Mark.Higdon@ocps.net
* Girls Soccer - Eik Moesgaard Eik.Moesgaard@ocps.net
* Boys Wrestling - David Bush David.Bush@ocps.net
* Girls Wrestling - David Bush David.Bush@ocps.net
* Girls Weightlifting - Jeremy Jackson Jeremy.Jackson@ocps.net
Athletic Director - Roy Peters
roy.peters@ocps.net
Asst. Athletic Director - Tyrhon Crawford
tyrhon.crawford@ocps.net
Asst. Athletic Director - David Bush
david.bush@ocps.net
Athletic Trainer - Te Shondra Abner
teshondra.abner@ocps.net
Athletic Trainer - Tiffany Wattenbarger
tiffany.wattenbarger@ocps.net
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Senior Class of 2017 Dates & Events
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Jan. 18: Cap and Gown Orders
Jostens on campus during lunch shifts to take cap, gown and announcement orders.
Jan. 19: Cap and Gown Orders
Jostens on campus during lunch shifts to take cap, gown and announcement orders.
Jan. 27: Cap and Gown Orders
Jostens on campus during lunch shifts to take cap, gown and announcement orders.
Jan. 28: Saturday Cap and Gown Orders
Jostens on campus from 9 am - 1 pm to take cap, gown and announcement orders.
Mar. 13 - 16: Grad Night Ticket Sales
Grad Night 2017 tickets on sale after school in the cafeteria. Only FHS seniors may purchase a Grad Night ticket. Tickets are $80, cash only, and are non-refundable.
April 21: Grad Night
Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida. Attendees (FHS seniors only) will board coach buses (you must ride bus; no student driving) at 4:30 pm in bus loop of the school then return by 3:30 am. Attendees must ride the bus to and from. No exceptions.
May 1-5: Senior Day Ticket Sales
Tickets for Senior Day will be on sale after school inside the cafeteria for $30.00 each.
May 6: Prom
Rosen Plaza Hotel. Prom questions should be directed to Ms. Fierle.
Michele.Fierle@ocps.net
May 9: SENIORS' LAST DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL!!
Senior Walk-Out at the end of 7th period
* A traditional event when the senior class of 2017 will walk out of Freedom together, as a class, for the final time.
May 15: Senior Day at Renaissance Orlando at Sea World
Activities include senior breakfast (buffet), senior awards ceremony, yearbook distribution and signing party, SGA presidential address, senior video presentation, cap & gown distribution. You may also purchase a cap and gown at Senior Day. Senior Day begins at 8:00 am.
May 18: CLASS OF 2017 COMMENCEMENT, UCF ARENA, 7:00 pm
*** For updates and information, visit the FHS website at
www.freedom.ocps.net then click on "Class of 2017 Information and Dates" which is located at the bottom of the homepage.
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