Freedom High School
Community Brief
1
Monday, November 25, 2019
  
Thank you for your continuous support of Freedom High School where our focus is on literacy, rigor and relationships.  Our students and staff are working daily to have Patriot PRIDE on display:  Preparedness, Resilience, Integrity, Dedication, and Encouragement.
 
Graduation Date
I would like to begin by informing our senior parents of a very important announcement....We have a graduation date!!! It is official, the Freedom High School Class of 2020 will commence on Wednesday, May 20 at 2:00 pm at the Amway Center. All senior information, including the senior calendar and cap and gown order information, will be made available when we return from the winter break.
 
Prism
I am so excited for Prism 2019! This has become one of the most anticipated events of each school year, and for good reason. Our incredible performing arts department will come together for three spectacular holiday performances on Saturday, December 14.
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
Finally, as we converge on a much needed and well deserved break, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very restful and Happy Thanksgiving. Please take this time not only to rest but to also enjoy spending time with family and loved ones. And as we transition from the fall into the winter calendar, I look forward to seeing you at our many upcoming concerts, shows and athletic events.
 
I look forward to doing "whatever it takes" alongside our students, faculty, staff, families, and community to enrich our founding principles of honor, excellence, and tradition throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
 
Ms. Cheryl Neely
Principal

Pictured very top:  Teacher team, STR8 Out of Class, wins fifth annual "Freedom Feud" game show. Pictured left to right: Ms. Thompson, Ms. Schroeder, Mr. Rasmussen, Mr. Panzano, Mr. Lang, Ms. Kraemer.
 
Upcoming Events 
Nov. 25 - 29 Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 2 PTSA Meeting, 5:00 pm
Dec. 3 Girls Basketball vs Poinciana, 6:00 pm
Dec. 3 Boys Basketball vs Poinciana, 7:30 pm
Dec. 6 Boys Basketball vs Timber Creek, 6:00 pm
Dec. 6 Boys Soccer vs Lake Nona, 6:00 pm
Dec. 6 Monticello Lip Sync Battle (in PAC), 6:30 pm
Dec. 7 Saturday School, 9:00 am
Dec. 10 Boys Basketball vs Lake Highland, 6:00 pm
Dec. 13 Girls Soccer vs Osceola, 6:00 pm
Dec. 14 Let Freedom Ring Wrestling Tournament, 7:00 am
Dec. 14 Saturday School, 9:00 am
Dec. 14 Prism, 1:30, 4:00, 7:00 pm


Not everyone can go home for Thanksgiving. Please remember those that can't be with their families this week.

OCPS 2019-2020 Calendar


Featured Department
Social Studies    
 
Bottom left to right: Mr. Walker (BLA), Ms. Christiano, Ms. Villaruel, Ms. Beovich, Mr. Bennett (Dept. Chair), Ms. Grace.
Second row: Mr. Gray, Ms. Tolram, Ms. Egan, Mr. Domenz, Mr. DiBuono, Mr. Kallal, Mr. Rasmussen, Mr. Kennedy.
Third row: Mr. Thompson, Mr. Chambers, Ms. Radtka, Ms. Doll, Mr. Durgin, Mr. LaFontaine, Ms. Suarez.
Top row: Mr. Castano, Ms. Thurlow, Mr. Panzano, Mr. True, Mr. Brunswick, Mr. Beck, N/A, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Leatherwood.

Patriot Spotlight!
Dr. Michael Antmann
Grammy Music Educator Award

   
 
For the second year in a row, Freedom's band director, Dr. Michael Antmann, has been announced as a semifinalist for the Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum®. Dr. Antmann is one of 25 music teachers from 25 cities across 18 states to be nominated for this prestigious award. In total, more than 3,300 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2020. To see a featured video aired on WESH TV news, click https://www.wesh.com/article/orange-county-teacher-nominated-for-grammy-second-straight-year/29863338

Academy of Information Technology
The NAF Academy of Information Technology students were exposed to engineering and information technology leaders from across Central Florida last Friday. They listened to the inspiring keynote speaker, Jason J. "Scotty" Denney, a former test pilot and now Program Director for Air Dominance at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. They participated in a panel discussion and observed demonstrations provided by the presenting organizations. These students experienced a step in becoming future ready.



Special Recognition
AVID Essay Contest Winners


Left to right: Seif Alyosef and Macy Johnson (both Class of 2021)

FHS AVID juniors, Seif Alyosef and Macy Johnson, recently attended the Week of the Family which recognized Orange County students who participated in an essay contest this past school year. This year's theme was "Family: Be Present", with the focus of the essay being the importance of spending time and being present with your family. Seif and Macy, who wrote their essays as part of an AVID writing assignment, received recognition with Macy awarded first place, and Seif receiving an honorable mention. Both received recognition medals and posters of their essays, and Macy received a cash prize for her winning submission. Also, FHS senior, Sarah Bayarchuluun, won the second place award.

Elizabeth Paddy
FHS Substitute Teacher


Left to right: Dr. Jessica Torres, Ms. Elizabeth Paddy

Freedom High School values, celebrates and honors their substitute teachers. For the month of November we celebrate Ms. Elizabeth Paddy. Ms. Paddy has chosen to volunteer exclusively at Freedom for over 3 years and goes over and beyond to support our teachers and students. She has been honored as an ADDitions mentor and volunteer for the district. She is a part of the GenWow mentoring program and every year participates in the Teach-in program sharing her many talents and career path as educator, author, and founder of Turn Up Children's Ministry Foundation.

Rigor in the Classroom
AP French Language and Culture with Mr. Miscannon

Rigor in the classroom is displayed in Mr. Matthew Miscannon's AP French Language and Culture classes as his students participated in a real world project centered on the theme of science and technology. The students were given the task to create an invention and develop all the details related to the production and sale of their invention.

As a team, students created a full presentation in which the goal was to convince investors to support them. Students were also responsible to create and edit a commercial for their invention.

During all phases of the project students were challenged to only communicate in French. Through this work, the students were able to explore French expressions related to technology, business, and entrepreneurship.

Click https://youtu.be/tA3605ZTqQY to see Mr. Miscannon's students in action!


Vive la France!

Credit: Mr. Charles Youtz, Dean
Student Services
Counselor Assignments
School Counselor alphabet assignments have been updated. To view the Updated Counselor List click on the link.

Tutoring at FHS
Click https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Grql-t6MinGi5OGpZcwtk4MMDniiiIa3dZZUhMQr9LA/edit?usp=sharing for tutoring opportunities available to our students.

General Information
Tinyurl.com/PatriotStudentServices - The Guidance team has a new website where parents and students can find out information on upcoming events, college visits, scholarships, etc.

College application help sessions will take place every Wednesday after school (1:15-2:45pm) - students can come in to work on anything college related and get their questions answered.

Athletics
Visit the FHS Athletics Website at www.freedomhighathletics.com for up to date information including athletic physical forms.
Stay Connected!
FreedomHighAthletics.com is your window into the PATRIOT NATION. From schedules, to scores, news updates, and photo galleries of our phenomenal Student-Athletes in action - FreedomHighAthletics.com offers you everything you need to keep up with your favorite athletes, teams, and coaches at Freedom High School. As an added bonus for our fans, we are getting ready to launch Rapid Replay - featuring highlights of some of our favorite moments for you to enjoy and to share.

VNN Sports, our web provider, offers area businesses the opportunity to support Freedom Athletics by purchasing advertising on the site. FreedomHighAthletics.com averages nearly 12,000+ views a month, and will soon be one of the Top Ten High School Athletics websites in Florida. To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities, contact Athletic Director Robert Rego at Robert.Rego@ocps.net

Stay in the know on all things Freedom Athletics, and visit FreedomHighAthletics.com today!

#WeArePatriotNation

Girls Basketball - "Finish The Work" 
 
 
The Freedom girls basketball team is gearing up for a great 2019-20 campaign. Their motto this season is "Finish The Work" which is a reminder of all the hard work they have put into this season dating back to last February - and how important it will be to make sure they stay committed to their goals both on and off the court. The team is working to build a strong defensive presence, and got off to a solid start splitting the first two games of the season.

Freedom dropped a tough 46-38 opener to Celebration, but then bounced back to beat a tough OCP team 43-42 this past Thursday. After the Thanksgiving break, the Patriots will host Poinciana in a girls and boys varsity doubleheader on Dec. 3rd, and then taking their first trip as they visit Tohopekaliga HS in Dec. 5th. For scores and updates on girls basketball, visit FreedomHighAthletics.com  
 
Swimming - Leah Gentry  
 
 
Congratulations to Leah Gentry for placing 3rd in the 100 breaststroke and 5th in the 100 freestyle at the state championship swim meet.  
 
Fall Sports at FHS 
Below is a list of our fall sports at FHS along with their respective head coach. Feel free to contact the head coach for information related to their sport.

* Football - Robert Mahoney Robert.Mahoney@ocps.net
* Girls' Volleyball - Keith Hageman Keith.Hageman@ocps.net
* Swimming - Lynn Kelly-McClish Lynn.Kelly-McClish@ocps.net
* Bowling - Tawn Tooks Tawn.Tooks@ocps.net
* Golf - Collin Kennedy Collin.Kennedy@ocps.net
* Cross Country - David Bush David.Bush@ocps.net 
 
Athletic Director - Bobby Rego Robert.Rego@ocps.net
Asst. Athletic Director - Maurice Allen Maurice.Allen@ocps.net
Asst. Athletic Director - Nathan Kallal Nathan.Kallal@ocps.net
Athletic Trainer - Joe Gonzalez Joseph.Gonzalez2@ocps.net
Athletic Trainer - Terri Charlock Terri.Charlock@ocps.net
Athletic Trainer - Peterson Francois Peterson.Francois@ocps.net  


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Copyright Notice 
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Freedom High School is forbidden without written consent.  Thank you for your support of OCPS - Freedom High School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Charles Youtz at  charles.youtz@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.