The Bear Pride
Deputy Garcia
Deputy Betchan
Cypress Creek High School Community Brief
CCHS Community Member,

We have successfully completed week #1 of the second semester to 2020-2021 and I hope this finds your new year off on a positive note. As you may have already heard, CCHS received some very positive news from the Florida Department of Education on the Class of 2020 graduation rate. Our 2020 seniors finished with a 99.2% graduation rate based upon the federal graduation rate method. (Click here to access a spreadsheet with all of the Florida high schools' graduation rates as posted by the FLDOE.) While the Covid pandemic took full stride in the middle on March 2020, by this point our seniors had nearly completed 3/4 of the 2019-2020 school year with classes continuing virtually up to graduation. Moreover, they had already completed three years of high school prior to that point.

Please remember that we will be releasing report cards this week. If you have a student at CCHS, please take care to review their progress with them as soon as possible keeping in mind our tutoring opportunities if help is needed.

We were all so glad to have our Bears back this past Tuesday whether it be on campus or online via LaunchEd. Welcome back and best wishes for a healthy, safe, and successful New Year!

In Bear Pride,

Dr. W. John McHale
Principal
Cypress Creek High School

Pictured very top: CCHS would like to recognize our two SROs on National Law Enforcement Day (Saturday, January 9, 2021). Meet Deputy Garcia and Deputy Betchan of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Thank you for looking out for our Bears and your service at CCHS!
Monday, Jan. 11, 2021
Useful Links 
Dates to Watch For
Jan. 13: Report Cards
Jan. 19: CCHS IB Open House
Jan. 27: OCPS Stellar Awards (virtual this year)
Feb. 15: Last day for 2021-2022 Magnet Choice
Connect with CCHS
1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, FL 32824
(407) 852-3400
Monday, January 11
2021 Reminder: Student Health & Safety
Cypress Creek High School Clinic Information
The clinic at CCHS is staffed by a full time Registered Nurse and a Health Assistant. Clinic hours are from 7:05am - 2:30pm. Parents are required to complete the Emergency Information Form each year and provide current working phone numbers for all listed contacts. Chronic medical conditions such as, but not limited to, asthma, diabetes, or life threatening allergies should be discussed at the beginning of the school year with the school nurse and health assistant.
Medication Procedures:
Due to COVID-19, appointments must be made before visiting the Clinic.

PARENTS must bring the medication to school and complete the authorization form.

If a student needs to take medication during the school day, the following procedures must be followed:
~ ALL medication must be administered by the school nurse or a designated ~ trained individual.
~ Whenever possible, medication should be taken at home.
~ Prescription medications must be in the original pharmacy labeled container.
  • Parents can ask their pharmacist to provide them with two containers: one for school and one for home.
  • Medications including eye drops cannot be transferred to and from school.

~ Over the counter medications (Tylenol, Motrin, and Midol for example) will only be accepted in the original factory sealed container.
~ Inhalers, diabetic supplies, and Epi-pens may be carried by the student, provided the proper authorization forms are on file with the school. These forms require a physician’s signature and are available from the school nurse.

To set up an appointment: 
Curriculum: Attn. 8th Grade & 9 Grade
2021-2021 International Baccalaureate Programme at CCHS
Jan. 19: CCHS IB Programme Open House (please check CCHS website for link just prior to the event)

Feb. 15: 2021-2022 School Choice Magnet deadline more info. at www.ocps.net/departments/school_choice

A 2021 Message from our Cafe Team . . .
2021, What blessing will we have?
New Month....January, New Year...2021, New Semester....2nd!
We are proudly your partner on getting the kids fed.
Because hungry kids cannot learn.
Ready for you on Monday 1/11/21 to feed all of your amazing kids (18 and under)
Curbside....don't forget 1/2 hour after school ends.

Sheila Brody
CCHS Food & Nutritional Manager

P.S. We missed you so much! 
Additional Virtual Learning Opportunities for CCHS Parents & Guardians
OCPS Parent and Family Engagement will be offering the following virtual opportunities. All families are welcome. Click here to register for any of the four sessions listed below or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net.

These events will be offered in English and in Spanish.

*** Wednesday, January 13th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ***
(Two sessions to choose from)

Children and Culture Shock
The OCPS Multilingual Services department will be sharing information about culture Schick and how it affects your child’s education. Strategies will be shared to help students throughout the process of adjusting to school. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net

Math and Reading for ALL Students
The OCPS Curriculum and Digital Learning department will be sharing information on resources and strategies for elementary, middle, and high school Math and English Language Arts curriculum. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net

*** Wednesday, January 20th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ***
(Two sessions to choose from)

Benefits and Dangers of Social Media
OCPS Curriculum and Digital Learning department will provide parents with the pros and cons of students using social media. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net

Creating Healthy Social Emotional Environments at Home
The OCPS Student Services department will inform parents how they can assist students from home and where to go for additional helpful resources. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net
College & Career
Virtual College Fair Opportunity for 10th and 11th Graders

Please click here for a larger view of the College Board's "Big Future Days"
Featured Scholarship   
Atkins Pathway to Success Scholarship - Female, first generation college student attending a Florida, four-year public university. Covers the remaining cost of college, offers mentorship and will cover cost of one summer learning opportunity (summer abroad, internship, etc.).

Deadline to apply is 2/14/21.
Monday's Motivational Moment!
Many of our Bears have no doubt been working on New Year's resolutions and goals for 2021. This week we wanted to close with a few tips to greatly increase your odds of success!

Free Yourself
One of the worst feelings in life is wondering "what if" you had acted on the things you were afraid to do. Never let your own doubts or the doubts of others stop you from doing the very things that could be the key to building the life you want to lead. Remember, even if something does not turn out the way you expected, at least you know you tried . . . you put yourself out there.
Mindy Kaling On Success
People get scared when you try to do something, especially when it looks like you're succeeding. People do not get scared when you're failing. It calms them. But when you're winning, it makes them feel like they're losing or, worse yet, that maybe they should've tried to do something too, but now it's too late. And since they didn't, they want to stop you. You can't let them.
~ Mindy Kaling, actress

Control What You Can
In 2021 work on developing a "can-do" mindset. What you want to do is strive for"unconditional confidence." Think of unconditional confidence as putting your confidence in the things you can control, like your attitude, activities, and school/personal schedule. A lot of things happened in 2020 that you could not control and there is still rollover into 2021 with some of these. Put these "noncontrollables" aside. Do your best every day and focus on the "controllables."

Patrick Mahomes On Setbacks
I just try to learn from every mistake that I make so I never make them again.
~ Patrick Mahomes, quarterback

Confront Fears
When you find yourself worrying about failure this year, start by asking yourself, "What's the worst that can happen?" You may find that usually, the worst isn't actually so bad. Then ask yourself, "What can I gain by moving forward?" I you pair up these two questions, and answer them honestly, odds are you will "go for it!"
Oprah Winfrey On Imagination
Create the highest, grandest vision of your life, because you become what you believe.
~ Oprah Winfrey, media mogul

Reach Out
Our Bears should always remember that every single teacher, staff member, and coach at Cypress Creek stands ready to help whenever they can. So when in doubt, or when you need some advice in achieving your 2021 goals, take advantage of the fact that they would be more than happy to help you in any way they can. Moreover, the odds are very high that they would be most delighted that you have marked out your plan for 2021!
Make it a great week Bears!
Dr. McHale, Principal
Cypress Creek High School
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Leadership Team
Administrators and Deans
1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, FL 32824
Phone 407-852-3400
Fax 407-850-5160 | EEO Statement
This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that OCPS utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone.
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 - Cypress Creek High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of Cypress Creek High School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Dr. McHale at walton.mchale@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.