The Bear Pride
Cypress Creek High School Community Brief
Dates To Watch For
April 5: Test scores due for Valencia College Dual Enrollment students (please see below)

April 7: No early release on this Wednesday

April 8: FSA ELA Writing exam (9th and 10th only)
Spring Testing
April 8: FSA ELA Writing - ALL 9th and 10th grade students
April 27: ACT School Day - ALL 11th grade students

May 3-5: Senior CFE Days (including PERT)
May 3-14: AP Testing
TBD: IB Testing
May 6 & May 7: FSA ELA Reading - ALL 9th and 10th grade students
May 10 & May 11: Algebra 1 (2 sessions)
May 10 & May 11: Geometry (2 sessions)
May 13: U.S. History EOC
May 13: Biology EOC
May 18-20: End of Year CFE Days

Acronyms:
CFE - Common Final Exam
ELA - English Language Arts
EOC - End of Course Exam
FSA - Florida Standards Assessment
PERT - Postsecondary Education Readiness Test
Special Events
"Bears in the Woods"
Kristin Bausch (Class of 2018)

My name is Kristin Bausch, and I am a junior at the University of Florida studying journalism and political science.

I graduated from CCHS in 2018.

Journalism was not the first route out of high school. I started as a pre-nursing student at UCF but felt like it wasn't what I wanted. When I realized the importance of journalism in our country, as well as what freedom of the press truly meant, I decided to go to UF, which has a top tier journalism program.

Since my journey as a journalism student began, I've done a variety of hard news stories and lifestyle and entertainment stories. I am currently a reporter and digital producer for WUFT News, which is an NPR affiliate here at UF. Additionally, I write for a student-run publication call The Alligator, where I cover lifestyle, entertainment and cultural stories.

My favorite part about journalism is being able to give a voice to the voiceless!
University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications in Gainesville where Kristin (Class of 2018) is now a junior. In addition to having a top journalism program, UF is ranked #30 among all US national universities based on U.S. News & World Report's 2021 rankings.
Calling All CCHS Alumni!
Cypress Creek wants to encourage our current students to keeping pushing towards success even during the Covid pandemic.

If you graduated from Cypress Creek and would like to be feature in our "Bear in the Woods" section of future of this community brief and in our social media, please click on this link: https://forms.gle/aYgEZr81YpCFqPs88 and complete the Google form.

Your story can benefit our current students as they can draw insight from your message. Thank you and GO BEARS!
Academic Support
Tutoring: LaunchED and Face-to-Face
Weekly SEL Update
Social Emotional Learning
College and Career
1) Valencia Week (April 5-9) Resources for all Students

2) Valencia Week - Application Workshops for Seniors Only - Friday, April 9th

Seniors, check out the resources and information that will help you transition to college, including videos to help you explore degree programs, links to help you apply to Valencia and what to do after you graduate from high school
3) Vital Signs
Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor (March 2021 report; released last Friday, April 2) - lower percentages here are more favorable; Read full report
4) ATTENTION Orange County Public Schools seniors - OTC is now offering EARLY ENROLLMENT for graduating seniors!

Seats are available in high-demand programs like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, building construction, digital media, and more. These programs provide students relevant technical skills to prepare them for immediate employment with reputable employers throughout the region, all at a fraction of the cost of other colleges.

Call, register online or visit an Orange Technical College campus for more information. Discover your #EssentialPotential today!
5) REMINDER: Valencia College Dual Enrollment test scores are due this Monday, April 5.
Apply for School Meal Benefits by April 15
Even though all students are receiving meals at no charge right now due to USDA waivers, there are many reasons for families to continue to apply for free or reduced meal benefits.

If the application is approved, families may qualify for:

  • Discounts on Internet services and utilities
  • Reduced student financial obligation fees
  • Discounts on after school programs and camps
  • Fee waivers for college applications
  • Fee waivers for exams

The deadline to submit applications is April 15th.
Community Resources
This information is from the Primary Care Action Network (PCAN). They assist families with navigating the marketplace for healthcare insurance. There have been significant changes in terms of affordability of plans as part of the COVID relief bill. Visit https://www.coveringcfl.net/ to get started.
Food For Thought
1) Submissions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form for college tuition assistance have declined markedly this school year across the country. If any of our Bears is seeking financial aid for college and has questions, please see talani.nelson@ocps.net, Cypress Creek's College and Career Specialist.
2) Growth in STEM college degrees:
Note for our Bears: The growth in STEM degree recipients has far outpaced that for all degrees. Between 2010 and 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, the number of STEM bachelor’s degrees awarded grew by 62%, compared with 20% growth for all degrees.
Source: Pew Research Center (April 1, 2021); Read full article
3) Wisdom To Live By:
Sofia Vergara On Rejection
Never take no personally. Sometimes people tell you no for a reason that has nothing to do with you. You must keep going.
Sofia Vergara, actress

Phil Knight On Humility
It's all right to be Goliath but always act like David.
Phil Knight, co-founder, Nike

Gary Oldman On Confidence
What other people think of me is none of my business.
Gary Oldman, actor

Darrell Royal On Persistence
As long as a person doesn't admit he's defeated, he is not defeated — he's just a little behind, and isn't through fighting.
Darrell Royal, football coach

Michael Bloomberg On Effort
I am not smarter than anybody else, but I can outwork you.
Michael Bloomberg, businessman
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.