Today we conclude National School Counseling Week — a special week set out where we recognize the outstanding efforts of our Oak Ridge Student Services team (please see the segment just below). The counselors have an amazing impact on the lives of our Pioneers as they wear so many different hats during the school year: college prep, guidance, scheduling, mental health, discipline, and more. They are faced with multiple priorities which have since been amplified by the pandemic. Our Student Services staff performs a vital role in support of student achievement and I hope they feel our deep gratitude. If you come into contact with one of counselors today or in the coming days, kindly take a moment to thank them for the incredible work they do for our students and the difference they are making in their lives. It would mean a lot and I thank you for doing so. 

Parents & guardians, if you have not yet reviewed your students 3rd quarter progress report, please do so right away (now posted online to Skyward). We have seen how fast these weeks have gone by and the next progress report that comes out will be during the mandatory state assessments. This is a very important update ahead of the spring exams. 

Thank you for reading about some of most recent successes and other important events which affect our ORHS families. And if you or your student has dual enrollment or other college plans, please pay particular attention to any upcoming deadlines.

Mr. Alvarado

Principal

Oak Ridge High School

Pictured very top: February is Black History Month!

A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2022 from the White House: Each February, National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history, Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America — our faults, our struggles, our progress, and our aspirations. Shining a light on Black history today is as important to understanding ourselves, and growing stronger as a Nation, as it has ever been. That is why it is essential that we take time to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of Black Americans, honor the legacies and achievements of generations past, reckon with centuries of injustice, and confront those injustices that still fester today.

Tuesday & Wednesday, February 15 & 16

Friday, February 18

Monday, February 21

Wednesday, February 23

Friday, February 25

We took time to say thank you and to celebrate our wonderful Student Services department. This week is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Thank you to our entire Student Services department- we appreciate you!

Every year Orange County Public Schools awards certificates of recognition to students who have excelled in the Advanced Placement program. This AP program offers students the opportunity to earn college credit for a variety of courses while still in high school. The AP Scholar award is given to students who managed to maintain a 3.5 average score on all AP exams taken, and earned scores of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams.

This year, Oak Ridge High School has the honor of sending the following students to receive recognition as an OCPS AP Scholar: Yullian Perez, Vince Shi, Jenny Tran, and Lola Jean Baptiste. This is a tremendous accomplishment and is a testament to their hard work and dedication. We are proud to add these outstanding Pioneers to this year’s list of OCPS AP Scholars.

This is Lengee Hive, an Aerospace Technology 2 student, preparing to operate a STEM based IMEX Brick Flyer. The drone was assembled by the students using building blocks (China based Legos).

Junior & Senior 2022 PROM – Tickets are on sale - Buy early & save. Prices go up as of Monday to $70.00.

Our student leaders and directors from the Environmental Science Club met with Karena Bozarth and OCPS faculty to promote food sustainability and zero waste efforts. Planning our next steps on how to make our school more sustainable!!

Thank you to Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Vazquez for spending the morning with City Year @cyo_oakridge as she shows appreciation for all the support they give our students.

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration.

Source: Statista Read full article

More than 300,000 Americans registered to vote on the inaugural day of the observance in 2012. That number jumped to 800,000 in 2018. The day helps to ensure eligible voters register in their districts each year. The awareness campaign provides valuable information for each state, too. Timed ideally a few months before some of the bigger elections of the year, the day places information in the hands of the voters at the right time. Make your vote count!

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 10, Orange County Public Schools invites all students and families to participate in the 2021-22 annual stakeholder survey. This year, students and families will be surveyed on a variety of topics such as school climate, safety and engagement as we work to ensure every student has a promising and successful future.

OCPS has partnered with Panorama for a second year to help us collect this confidential feedback. Students in grades 3-12 will be asked to complete this voluntary survey during the school day. Families that do not want their child to participate can notify their school of their preference.

Surveys are also available for any family with a student in grades K-12. They can be completed using any electronic device with internet access by clicking on the anonymous link on the district’s website, OCPS.net.

The family survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. For additional questions, please visit OCPS.net or reach out to your child’s school for assistance.

* OCPS Magnet application

Parents will be provided strategies to help their children identify individual strengths, build self-confidence and self-awareness in order to accelerate learning. Register here.

Congratulations to the Senior Class of 2022 for 230 college acceptances and $3,808,328 in scholarships. We are off and continue rising to the top!!!!!! Stay tuned for future updates… #proudtobeapioneer

Oak Ridge FAFSA Nights

The College & Career Specialists have scheduled to have a monthly FAFSA Night to better serve our students. The proposed dates are listed below. Time for each event will be 5:00-8:00PM and take place in the cafeteria. Dates are subject to change - events will be announced monthly as well. We hope to see you there!

Source: Hechinger Report - Read full article - "Inflation is coming to college campuses. Prepare to pay more."

Pioneer Senior reminder: College costs are now starting to rise sharply after having been unchanged for a few years. Please complete your FAFSA paperwork if you have yet to do so and attend the March 10 FAFSA Night if you and your family need help!

● Registration deadline is February 11, 2022 

● Website for registration: https://www.collegeboard.org/

● Registration deadline is Feb 25, 2022

● Website for registration: https://www.act.org/

To register, follow the links above and create a account on each site. From there you will be able to select a test date, submit payment*, and print your admission ticket.

* Students on free/reduced lunch are eligible to receive two fee waivers for each test at no charge. Please see your guidance counselor to obtain a waiver.

Thanks to generous individuals and families, the Foundation has awarded $3.1 million in scholarships since 1994 through unique scholarship funds that help support students in achieving their educational and professional goals.

Take the eligibility quiz today to determine which scholarships might be a good fit for you.

Who: Seniors - Applicant must be a first-generation female student entering freshman year.

First-generation is defined as a student whose parents, grandparents and siblings did not attend college.

The Atkins Educational Foundation commits to providing financial and personal support for first-generation female college students. We believe educating a woman not only allows her to improve her future but to change the trajectory of her family for generations to come.

Applicant must be a Florida resident applying to a 4-year, public in-state university.

Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range from $500 - $5,000, based on relative need.

Must be of Hispanic heritage

U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA

Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students

First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Essay Contest is open to all grade 4-12 students in Florida.

Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme.

Each winner will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

Students from across the U.S. are invited to apply for P.L.A.Y.’s annual Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship rewards one student who can tell the best story, describing the impact he or she made in the life of a rescue animal or animal welfare cause in general.

Male or female African-American high school seniors, who are in good academic and social standing within Orange and Seminole Counties, are invited to apply for this scholarship.

Must be accepted from a Historically Black College or University

Pick up an application in the CCC during your lunch.

Completion of a 250 word essay describing your reasons for applying for this scholarship

Submission of one letter of recommendation from a staff member at your high school. (i.e. principal, teacher, or counselor)

Submission of one letter of recommendation from a community figure. (ie. your spiritual leader/minister or community service coordinator)

Submission of an official transcript (sealed and stamped by school guidance counselor)

Submission of standardized test scores SAT or ACT (provide hard copy if not listed on official transcript)

GPA of 3.0 or higher

Please attach list of extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and/or community service involvement.

Pick up an application in the CCC during your lunch.

Continuing Reminder - After School Tutoring

Our School Advisory Council meetings are held at 5:30 PM, on the second Thursday of each month in the school’s Media Center.

Dates for the upcoming meetings are:

The School Advisory Council supports the principal in developing the school’s budget as well as providing input on the annual School Improvement Plan.

Continuing Reminder - Schoolwide Tardy Policy

Students who arrive AFTER 7:45AM will need to go through Ms. Echevarria in the attendance office to receive a pass to class.

Tardy passes during the day are no longer written. Students need to report directly to class where their teacher will mark them tardy in Skyward.

If you know any families or community members that would like to read about the happenings at ORHS please let them know how to sign up using the link:

Dr. Mae Jemison On Potential

Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee On Excellence

For me it's the challenge — the challenge to try to beat myself or do better than I did in the past. I try to keep in mind not what I have accomplished but what I have to try to accomplish in the future.

Will Smith On Self-Knowledge

Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions.

Serena Williams On Overcoming Fear

I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.

Michelle Obama On Real Success

Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.

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 - Oak Ridge High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Oak Ridge High School. Please contact Mrs. Laurene Householder at laurene.householder@ocps.net with any questions related to the program.

Oak Ridge High School | Mr. Alvarado, Principal | 407.852.3200 | ORHS Website