Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Knights Find A Way!
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Ocoee Community Member
One of the most popular Wall Street Journal articles generating a major buzz online this week is titled "It's Getting Too Expensive to Have Fun." It caught my attention as one of our Ocoee Knights' theatre productions begins this evening. In addition to this performance, we have five different athletic events on the schedule plus a pair of special events next week just ahead of Halloween. I mention this as a reminder to our Ocoee community that quality entertainment options still exist at a price students and families can manage. Plus, you will find that we have some very talented and gifted students whether it be on the stage or on the field/court/course/pool. When you or your family need some down time for fun without breaking the bank, please join us for one of our games or special events. I promise you that you will have an enjoyable time. |
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Ocoee Knights Theater Company's run of "The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens" opens tonight at 7:00 pm. Tickets and show times.
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Concertgoers are shelling out more for big-ticket live entertainment, such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. For the June quarter this year, the average face-value ticket price for a Swift show was $254, according to Pollstar, with the listed range before taxes and fees running from $49 to $449. The cost of having fun is now getting to be too much for most Americans. Ocoee offers all kinds of entertainment options such as this week's theatre production.
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Yesterday was the start of the 2023-2024 second quarter. Teachers have finalized grades and they will be posted to Skyward on Thursday, October 26th. If you are a parent and still are not accessing the online Skyward system, you are missing an excellent opportunity to follow your student's progress all along—not just when grades are released which is only 4X per year. Please, take advantage of Skyward and if you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to call or email and we will gladly help you.
Enjoy the rest of the week and thank you for reading.
In Knight Pride,
Dr. Karcinski
Principal
Ocoee High School
Pictured very top: Knights dressed out during Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week (please see this success story below).
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Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week |
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Mr. Fierro and his Spanish National Honor Society students put on a fantastic Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week! National Hispanic Heritage Month officially ended on October 15th and from October 9th to 13th our Spirit Week included dancing in the courtyard, flag celebrations, and of course themed-filled days. We hope everyone enjoyed the experience this year! |
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Diego dressed as Diego for Character Day. |
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Katia Cabrera Rodriguez 11th grade and Ciolyris Ortiz-Rivera 11th in their traditional clothes . |
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Halloween Dog Costume Contest (2 dates) |
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Trunk or Treat followed by a movie next Tuesday |
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Last weekend Ocoee hosted Metros for Track! Everyone from JROTC to our Athletic Trainers came out to assist! Another example of Knight pride in action. Thank you! |
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Chief Reid and his JROTC cadets assisted with parking. |
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Knight athletic trainers passing out waters. |
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Continuing Reminder
Tutoring
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Club Spotlight
Black Excellence / Fashion Club
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Black Excellence School held a carwash for their club on Saturday. |
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Fashion Club held their first meeting after school where they designed bags in the courtyard. |
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Ja’rya Scott planning out her designs. |
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Knight Academics
Culinary Arts
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Chef Crocker’s Culinary class opened up sandwich shops last week. They created wonderful delicacies including: breakfast sandwiches with house made bacon, Reubens, Cubans, soul food sandwiches, and even a kimchi grilled cheese. Our culinary Knights also served homemade pickles, sauerkraut, and fries on the side. |
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This 'Cuban' with fries looks pretty good right about now, doesn't it? |
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Culinary student Hailee Duncan with the breakfast sandwich she prepared. |
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Mikelo Alverez cooking up his meal. |
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Meet Mr. Crocker, Ocoee’s Culinary Teacher. |
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Where are you from?
Born and raised Orlando, FL and a Bishop Moore alum.
What is your degree in?
Culinary Arts Management
Where did you attend college?
The Culinary Institute of America
What's the coolest thing you have done with your degree?
I have done quite a bit... Chef on a 75’ sailing yacht in the Florida Keys for a year/owned and operated 2 restaurants and a catering business for 21 years in Hudson Valley, New York. One of my restaurants was mentioned in two James Patterson books.
How long have you been teaching?
I just celebrated my 1st year of teaching September 24th.
What is on your bucket list?
Raft through the Grand Canyon/Eat my way through Italy
And what's a fun fact about you?
Painting is one of my favorite past times (acrylic and canvas).
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Rigor in the Classroom
Biology with Ms. Rascoe
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Ms. Rascoe’s class utilized puzzle pieces to deepen their understanding of the functions, structures and examples of macromolecules. Students worked collaboratively to revise their knowledge and identify critical content. |
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Student Health
Teen Xpress is available for FREE medical services
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Teen Xpress at The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, a part of Orlando Health, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, is available at Ocoee High School to provide FREE health services to your students. Our program is offered to Orange County students ages 11-18 who are uninsured or underinsured.
Do you have challenges navigating healthcare for your child? We have case managers who can assist in providing resources and connecting you and your family to care. Has your child had a physical in the last year? If the answer is no, we can provide free well child checks and sports physicals at no cost to you. Has your child complained about emotional challenges or adjusting to high school? We have a licensed professional they can talk to. Does your child struggle with poor eating habits or lack of physical activity? We can have them speak to our registered dietitian.
Consent forms are located in front of Ms. Edwards-Lee’s office for your child to pick up. Completed forms (please sign in ink) can be returned to the Teen Xpress mailbox at the same location. For more information, please call or text our Teen Xpress case manager Alejandra Blanco at 407-463-6592.
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Americans without health insurance (Florida above 10%, among the highest): |
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College and Career Center |
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Common App: the Common Application is an online platform designed for you to apply to multiple colleges with one system. This makes applying faster and easier! There are over 1,000 colleges/universities using Common App! Seniors can reference their student email (subject line: Common App How-To) for a Common App guide or you can use this Common App Walkthrough Video.
Common Black College Application: the Common Black College Application is an online platform designed for you to apply to over 60 Historically Black Colleges and Universities with one system and one $20 application fee! Students can apply here: https://commonblackcollegeapp.com.
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Scholarship Opportunities: |
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College and Career Fair (Oct. 21): |
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Florida colleges and universities with the highest SAT scores. Top 10:
1. University of Miami – 1402
2. University of Florida – 1385
3. Florida Polytechnic University – 1295
4. Florida State University – 1280
5. University of Central Florida – 1271
6. Florida Southern College – 1268
7. Florida Institute of Technology – 1253
8. University of South Florida – 1245
9. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – 1240
10. New College of Florida – 1236
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This Week in Knight Athletics: |
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JV Football - UNDEFEATED: |
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The Ocoee JV team remains unbeaten with a 28-6 victory over Horizon High School! |
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Track & Field Conditioning: |
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Congratulations to our swim team for making it to metros! |
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Varsity Football:
Our Varsity Knights are much respected. Despite a couple of tough losses, The Orlando Sentinel mentioned the Knight's alongside their Sentinel Super 16 in this week's update.
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More Varsity Football:
McClenton has had a total of 126 tackles — 31 for losses. Even better: He has 20 quarterback sacks in only six games. By Andrea Mujic (Oct. 6)
Excerpts from the Michael McClenton interview:
Ocoee High School sophomore outside linebacker Michael McClenton has had a season to remember with the Knights. McClenton has had a total of 126 tackles — 31 for losses. Even better: He has 20 quarterback sacks in only six games.
What do you believe has been working out for you defensively to get all those tackles?
Our new scheme, it’s just our scheme. We are just running around to get to the ball.
What is the highest number of tackles you’ve ever had in a game?
Twenty-six. It was actually at this field in little league last year.
How did you get into football?
All my brothers and my dad played in the NFL. I have a cousin in the NFL, so I’ve always been playing football.
What is your favorite thing about your team?
The brotherhood that we have built.
Have there been any challenges for you over the years?
Just getting over injuries that I have had in my recent past.
What do you love most about football as a sport?
I love bonding with my teammates — just coming together with new guys that you can just meet or just bringing out different people that you can just come together with and play as one.
What do you believe football has taught you on and off the field?
It teaches me a lot of leadership. Being able to lead other people or help other people out when they don’t know what they are doing, mostly by telling the other kids that if they see a teammate down, to pick him up, and if they see someone doing the wrong thing, tell them how to do it right.
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Cybersecurity Awareness Month |
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Meet Mr. Draggon, OCPS's new CIO |
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Maurice Draggon is the Chief Information Officer for Orange County Public Schools. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, along with a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology & Educational Media from the University of Central Florida. He is also a former School Teacher of the year, as well as a 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator. Maurice is a lifelong educator who has experience as a Classroom Teacher, Resource Teacher, District Administrator, Director, and Senior Director. Using the knowledge gained within each role, he was able to collaborate in the development, implementation, and management of the 1:1 Digital Device program for Orange County Public Schools. Maurice is excited to apply all of his previous experience toward the opportunities brought on by the role of CIO. |
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Cybersecurity tip from Mr. Draggon (Passwords / Password Managers): |
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KNIGHT WISDOM TO LIVE BY: Week of October 16, 2023 |
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Maya Angelou On Failure
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, the encountering may be the very experience which creates the vitality and the power to endure.
~ Maya Angelou, poet
Harry Truman On Challenges
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.
~ Harry Truman, 33rd U.S. president
Thomas Huxley On Education
Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.
~ Thomas Huxley, biologist
Whoopi Goldberg On Leadership
We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.
~ Whoopi Goldberg, actor
Benjamin Franklin On Persistence
He that can have patience can have what he will.
~ Benjamin Franklin, statesman
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Knights Find A Way!
Dr. Karcinski, Principal
Ocoee High School
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
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Ocoee High School Senior Leadership Team |
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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 - Ocoee High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Ocoee High School. Please contact lisa.karcinski@ocps.net (principal) with any questions or for further information.
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Ocoee High School
1925 Ocoee Crown Point Parkway,
Ocoee, FL 34761
Phone 407-905-3000
Fax 407-905-3099
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