I hope this edition finds both the final quarter of 2022-2023 and the month of April off to an excellent start for you. In what seems like a flash, we are now down to only seven school weeks remaining in the school year. Report cards for the 3rd quarter went out last week (posted to Skyward for any parents/guardians who might not as yet reviewed them with their student) and we have already begun 4th quarter testing this month. 

By the time we reach this point in the school year, much of our Pioneers' past efforts in their studies, in their athletic endeavors, from their many practices & rehearsals, and from their community service begins to pay off large dividends. You will see some of these below as we recognize not only our students, but also members of our faculty and leadership team. If you should see any of the Pioneers featured in this week's issue over the coming days, please pause for a moment to congratulate them on their success. I also ask that our Oak Ridge community keep in mind that we have hundreds of individual and team success stories this year, but due to space here we can only spotlight a few at a time. 

Finally, please try to make it out for one of our remaining Pioneer athletic competitions or our upcoming Spring Orchestra Concert. These are wonderful opportunities which given today's inflationary environment, make for some fun, but affordable family evenings! 

Thank you very much for reading and have a wonderful weekend. 

Mr. Alvarado

Principal

Oak Ridge High School

Pictured very top: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

Thank you for all of your leadership in the education industry and for helping pioneer us to greatness! We appreciate you guys. Happy assistant principal appreciation week! Kelsey Bergh, Wendy Duroseau, Dwight Hutchinson, Nora Pachnik

Due to the number of instructional minutes already built into the student schedule throughout the year, the following make-up days will satisfy the remaining instructional minutes lost due to the school closures caused by Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole.

Last One! No-Early-Dismissal Wednesday

We continue to remind students of the electronic policy of no headphones, no AirPods and no cellphones. We have seen vast improvements, and the goal is to make it part of our school culture. The policy is in place from 7:20a-2:20p. Please assist us in enforcing this necessary policy.

Students who arrive AFTER 7:20AM will need to go through the attendance office, 6-102 or 5-111 to receive a pass to class. This is the same procedure for students that are late to a class period. Please assist us in having your students arrive on time.

Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) is ranked #7 among National Universities by US News & World Report. Pictured above are students taking their class outside on the Baltimore campus. Johns Hopkins was one of two very prestigious universities accepting Lola Jean! Congratulations!

Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) is ranked #18 among National Liberal Arts Colleges by US News & World Report. Pictured above is Wesleyan's Olin Memorial Library during the winter season. Congratulations Yu!

Congratulations to Keyla I and Ranferi P! These juniors were among the selected few that have be accepted into Elevation Scholars. This pre-collegiate program with provide countless resources to support our pioneers in their Collegiate plans #boundforglORy

Congratulations to our Lady Pioneer Basketball players Zahariah for making 1^st Team and Zora for making 2nd Team All Metro East! #thisisoakridge #boundforglORy

This past weekend, we competed in the Brian Jaeger Invitational. This was our 7th meet of the season and we had some great performances! Here is a list of our top performers.

We have 13 athletes ranked top 10 in the FHSAA 4A-District 9 (First round to advance to the State Finals). We will compete in the District meet on April 22 at Boone HS. 

Shout to Ms. Pascale, No matter the task, she takes it on and makes it her own. From pulling data, to covering another teacher's class, to lunch or hall duty, Ms. Pascale is the jack of all trades.

Shout out to Mr. Owens, for stepping into the Geometry class and immediately taking control; students are being held accountable for behavior as well as academics. When asked, students are saying they are learning more than they were! Thank you for all that you do.

Congratulations to our very own Ermano Maximin who was selected to showcase his amazing talents at OCPS’ Top Talent Live 2023 Event! He will be performing at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 29th at 2pm!

 #WeAreOakRidge #OakRidgeSeniors #ORHS

Shoutout to our amazing Oak Ridge @3de_oakridge_fl students that competed in UCF’s 3rd Annual Integrated Business Case Competition! One hundred fifty students from Seminole and Orange Counties came together to collaborate and prepare solutions to a Case Scenario while being coached by UCF students. There were 8 student winners and 33 total that participated from Oak Ridge.

Our AFJROTC had a great trip to Kennedy Space Center. Our students had the opportunity to see the visionary designs paving the way for human deep space travel while discovering the current cutting-edge space exploration innovations from NASA and commercial partners.

Each year @oakridgejrotc does a commemorative Bataan Death March, 14-mile hike to remember the prisoners who suffered and died as a result of their captivity during WW2. #thisisoakridge

The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. The Festival debuted in March 1960 as a community project to bring local artists and art lovers together. It is produced by an all-volunteer board and draws more than 250,000 visitors each year. The Pioneers had 30 talented artists who took part in the exhibit.

Congratulations to Leslye B! Leslye's artwork titled “Masterpiece REMIXED” received the award for Honorable Mention! (Instructor: Ronald Godwin)

Mr. Richard West, blazed a collaborative trail with The Carter Family and Platform and Wendell Carter Jr. of the Orlando Magic (#34) to secure $10,000.00 for the Aviation and Aerospace Engineering Magnet Program. They have also agreed to provide a wish list of items for Mr. West’s students, to bring the flight simulators up to date and other hardware.

Mr. Dontrell Richardson paved a partnered trail with First Orlando Baptist Church. First Orlando Baptist Church launched the FOR Orlando initiative, which focuses on supporting community members who desire to love people, care for the marginalized, support those who need help, and do good in our city. Gratefully, they awarded our school with $25,000.00.

Superintendent Maria Vazquez talks with Kelly Crumbaker, president of the Orange County Council of PTA/PTSAs to discuss the amazing partnership between OCPS and OCCPTA.

1) Creating a Positive Learning Environment for your ELL Student (April 13)

2) Involving the Whole Family: Game Nights with a Purpose (April 20)

**** Link for more information and to register for all Parent Academy events -- https://ParentAcademy.ocps.net ****

There is also a Parent Academy scheduled for May 6 on-site at Evans High School which would be very helpful to any Oak Ridge family with transitioning students.

 National Scholarship searches- Fast Web and Scholarships.com

You may qualify to participate in the Horizon Scholars - Take Stock in Children Program! The Horizon Scholars – Take Stock in Children Program is a college readiness and mentoring program that culminates in a 2-year Florida Prepaid scholarship that can be used at any public university, college, or vocational/technical school in Florida.

The Valencia Horizon Scholars – Take Stock in Children Program is looking for students who are enthusiastic about pursuing post-secondary education. Please review the eligibility guidelines and submit an application if you are interested.

May 6, 2023 Test Date

June 3, 2023 Test Date

June 10, 2023 Test Date

July 15, 2023 Test Date

This site has been created to link families with needed existing local resources.

Need to Locate Resources? You can search for free or reduced cost programs such as food, housing, mental health, education programs, and other social services provided directly by Community Based Organizations.

Thank you to all of our PTSA & SAC members and to every single Oak Ridge volunteer this 2022-2023 school year. Your service has been deeply appreciated!

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

“Every person can make a difference, and every person should try.”

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

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