This past week we implemented the updated OCPS face mask policy as set out by the School Board along with other social distancing measures for the safety of all students, staff, and visitors (please see below).

Parents and family members, please remember, if you or your student is exhibiting Covid symptoms OR have tested positive for Covid, OR waiting on results from a Covid test OR have been in direct exposure of a positive case, please stay home and communicate with the school and your student’s teachers so students can work from home through Canvas for the time being. We want to ensure that everyone’s safety is a priority, therefore, please follow the district Covid procedures. You can find the link for more information on ocps.net and click on the Covid Procedures’ Guide. We appreciate your cooperation as we continue to work diligently to stop the spread! Remember parents, masks are mandatory for students unless they have submitted an “opt out” note to the school.

Monday, September 6th is the first major holiday of this school year and already marks the end of four weeks of school. We will be issuing progress reports soon and I encourage our Pioneers to do their best in keeping current with all assignments. As another important reminder, we are still having a few challenges with both student tardies and dress code (please see below). Please remember that these policies exist so that our Pioneers can get all of the instructional time they deserve and with few distractions.

The varsity football team will play away this evening vs. the Evans Trojans and we wish them the best of luck. Enjoy your Labor Day and I look forward to seeing everyone back on campus Tuesday, September 7th when we kick off HBCU week!

Mr. Ben Alvarado, Principal

Oak Ridge High School

Pictured very top: Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September in any given year to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.

Friday, September 3

Oak Ridge vs Evans - Game begins at 7:00PM @ Evans HS

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

The two discipline clerk’s offices: 6-102 (Mrs. Forsberg) and 5-111 (Ms. Wider) will write tardy passes throughout the day.

The dress and grooming of Orange County Public Schools’ students shall contribute to the health and safety of the individual, promote a positive educational environment, and not disrupt the educational activities and processes of the school. These standards of dress and grooming apply to all students in the public schools of Orange County, unless a specific exemption is granted by the principal. Any request for an exemption shall be made to the principal.

1. Clothes shall be worn as they are designed. For example, suspenders should be over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed.

2. Clothing must cover the body from one armpit across to the other armpit and down to approximately mid-thigh. Tops must have straps. Undergarments must not be viewable. Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.

3. Shoes shall be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment. The following shoes are not acceptable for any OCPS student: cleated shoes or shoes with wheels.

4. Headgear shall not be worn on campus during the school day, unless the headgear is approved by the principal.

5. Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms, or safety gear and must be approved by the principal before being worn during the school day.

6. See-through, revealing, or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of this dress code.

7. Gang paraphernalia, garments and/or jewelry, tattoos, or other insignias, which display or suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, alcohol, or tobacco-related wording/graphics or may tend to provoke violence or disruption in school shall not be worn.

8. Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected class.

9. Clothing and accessories that endanger students or staff shall not be worn.

10. Students shall wear a face mask/face covering/face shield if required by the Board, OCPS, Principal, or other official with authority to mandate the wearing of this protective gear. This requirement may be waived with approval from the principal only if a student is medically unable to wear a face mask/face covering/face shield.

If students have laptop issues, please submit their concern to tinyurl.com/ORHSLapTop

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Ms. Pressley has definitely made SEL a priority in her classroom. She made it part of her daily routine to ask her students how they are doing at the beginning of class. The students who use their computers to do their work can let her know privately and can let her know whatever they want to. Sometimes it’s funny things, sometimes serious. Other times, it’s stuff that reassures her that her students are on the right path.

Ms. Granley also maintains a strong focus on SEL starting every day with a daily quote while students are writing in their journal. We know the power our words hold and the impact it can have on developing minds. This is a great practice in her classroom, as it allows students to do some reflection, reset for the day and engage in some writing.

This chart helps to explain why given the events of these past 18 months discussion of SEL is important in the schools today.

Source: Statista Read full article

Shout out to @bo.outlaw45 for giving our own Ms. Francis a shopping spree at Academy Sports for some new equipment for the PE department! Way to go…….. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Congratulations to Tasheki Hall for getting our first college acceptance of the 2021-2022 school year. She was accepted to Wingate University and also received $26,000 per year in scholarship award money!

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.

The QuestBridge scholarship application is open for eligible students. The deadline for the scholarship is September 28, 2021. This scholarship is for students that are in the top 5% of their class and demonstrate financial need. Students must be Pell grant eligible. (Family’s income must be below $65,000 annually.)

Here is the link for information about the scholarship. https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match

The deadline for the Gates Scholarship is approaching. Applications are due on September 15, 2021. This scholarship is for high achieving students that are Pell grant eligible. (Family’s income must be below $65,000 annually.)

Here is the link for information about the scholarship. https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship

Source: College Board - Read full report

Note: In 2020-21, the average public four-year in-state tuition and fee price is 2.78 times as high as it was 30 years ago. By comparison, at private nonprofit four-year and public two-year institutions, average tuition and fees have doubled in the last 30 years. (These figures as seen in the chart are after adjusting for inflation.) It is important that our Pioneers take advantage of all the resources the College and Career Resource Center offers when it comes to college financial planning. And you can always email Ms. Evans with any questions at Gena.Evans@ocps.net or email Ms. Gittens at Mercedes.Gittens@ocps.net

Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity - Access all data

Congratulations to Irving Rodriguez, Class of 2016 – JA Academy Alumnus!

Irving earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Kentucky AND graduated Summa Cum Laude! Way to go – Proud to be a Pioneer!

Dear OCPS families,

Most of our school community are probably already aware of the OCPS mask mandate which begins on Monday. This is the message from the district sent out last week;

Last week during the Tuesday board meeting the School Board gave direction to mandate masks for all preK-12 students and adults starting Monday, August 30 until October 30. All children and adults will be required to wear a face mask during the school day while inside school board buildings or vehicles including buses. The mandate will not be required for any student with a note from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant or an employee with a medical exemption.

The face mask requirement was added to the Code of Student Conduct last year and is under the Dress Code on page 25. Effective Monday, August 30 any student not in compliance with the face mask mandate may be disciplined according to the Code of Student Conduct.

Thank you for your continued support.

Superintendent’s most recent community message: Click here to watch

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:

OUR Florida is a program of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Funding is provided by the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Should applicants have questions regarding their eligibility, the application process or concerns about the program, the compiled Frequently Asked Questions is a great place to start.

For questions about the program, call 833.493.0594, 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

Christian Service Center’s flagship program, Family & Emergency Services (FES) provides immediate emergency assistance and relief to families and individuals who are faced with an unexpected financial crisis*. Assistance available only to residents of Orange County, Florida. The primary goal of FES is to help families maintain their residence and prevent them from being forced into homelessness.

At the onset of an emergency, FES is available to offer direct, immediate assistance in the form of food, clothing, rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance or other services that meet immediate, pressing needs. FES works with individuals in a comfortable case-by-case basis to help develop a sustainable action plan aimed at improving the long-term situation of families and individuals.

FES operates out of all three Christian Service Center locations in Downtown Orlando, West Orange (Ocoee) and Winter Park. Visit our Contact Us pages for location addresses and hours.

*Note: Assistance available only to residents of Orange County, Florida.

For more information, go to https://www.christianservicecenter.org/crisiscare

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