The Pioneer Express
Oak Ridge High School
Friday, December 3, 2021
ORHS Community Member,

'Tis the Season! I hope this early December edition finds you having enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving among family and friends. After today, we only have two school weeks remaining in this first semester and next week many of our students will continue on with testing (please see calendar below). I challenge all of our Pioneers to also continue to do their very best and complete any open assignments/projects as semester-end final grades will be part of their permanent record. Please keep in mind that we do offer after-school tutoring three days a week for any student needing extra help.

Already underway this week are two of our traditional Holiday Season Drives to help our students and families in need: the SGA Canned Food Drive and the Winter Coat Drive. Please see details below, but anything you might do for either effort is greatly appreciated. This is always a special time of year, but this season is more challenging due to the rising inflation we have all experienced in one form or another over recent months. Therefore, I thank you in advance for your kind help this year.

Thank you for reading and in the spirit of good Pioneer sportsmanship, best of luck to the Jones High School Tigers (6A) and the Apopka High School Blue Darters (8A) this evening as they both play away in their respective football state championship semi-final games. They represent OCPS and we wish them the best. Have a great weekend and don't forget to wear your "ugly sweater" on Monday as part of our Twelve Days of the Holidays!

In Pioneer Pride,

Mr. Alvarado
Principal
Oak Ridge High School

Pictured above right: Pioneer of the Month for November 2021.
Congratulations to Dr. Ortiz! Pictured with Principal Alvarado, he is our Pioneer of the Month. His dedication to beautifying our campus and keeping our campus green is amazing! πŸ’šπŸ’› #pioneerpride

Pictured very top: City Year Celebration.
ο»ΏThank you to OCPS Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Maria Vazquez for providing our @cyo_oakridge team breakfast in appreciation for all their hard work! Thank you Dr. Vazquez! #pioneerpride
Dates to Watch For
Friday, December 3
  • Annual Winter Coat Drive began this week
  • Annual SGA Canned Food Drive continues through Friday, December 10
  • Girls Varsity Basketball vs Lake Highland – Home – 6:00PM
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Poinciana – Home – 7:30PM

Saturday, December 4
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Evans – Home – 7:30PM

Monday, December 6
  • FSA Geometry Test – For students who have previously taken Geometry/Geometry Honors, but have yet to earn an Algebra I concordance score and were scheduled to take both the Algebra I and Geometry tests (Grades 10-12 / Students seeking Scholar Diploma)
  • Girls Soccer vs Cocoa – Home – 6:30PM

Tuesday, December 7
  • FSA Geometry Test – For students who have previously taken Geometry/Geometry Honors, but have yet to earn an Algebra I concordance score and were scheduled to take both the Algebra I and Geometry tests (Grades 10-12 / Students seeking Scholar Diploma)
  • Boys JV & Varsity Soccer vs Colonial – Colonial HS – 6:00PM
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Lake Nona – Home – 6:00PM
  • Girls Soccer vs Osceola – Home – 6:30PM
  • Girls Varsity Basketball vs Wekiva – Wekiva HS – 6:30PM

Wednesday, December 8
  • Civic Literacy Test - First semester US Government students (Seniors)
  • Senior Movie Night – Auditorium – 6:00PM
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Jones – Jones HS – 6:00PM

Thursday, December 9
  • FAFSA Night – Cafeteria – 5:00-8:00PM (Help with college financial aid for 2022-2023)
  • Winter Showcase – Auditorium – 7:00PM
  • SAC Meeting – Media Center – 5:30PM (School Advisory Council)
  • Boys JV & Varsity Soccer vs Winter Park – Home – 6:00PM
  • Girls Varsity Basketball vs Ocoee – Home – 6:00PM

Friday, December 10
  • SGA Canned Food Drive Goal = 10,000 cans by this Friday
  • Girls Soccer vs University – University HS – 6:30PM
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Tampa Catholic – Home – 7:30PM

Saturday, December 11
  • Boys Varsity Basketball vs Vero Beach – Oviedo HS – 6:00PM

Monday, December 13
  • Girls Varsity Basketball vs Colonial – Home – 6:00PM
  • Girls Soccer vs Ocoee – Ocoee HS – 6:30PM

Tuesday, December 14
  • Boy JV & Varsity Soccer vs Cypress Creek- Home – 6:00PM
  • Girls Basketball vs Gateway – Gateway – 6:00PM
  • Girls Soccer vs Cypress Creek – Cypress Creek- 6:30PM

Thursday, December 16
  • Girls Varsity Basketball vs Lake Mary – Lake Mary HS – 6:00PM
  • Girls Varsity Soccer vs Foundation Academy – Foundation Academy (Winter Garden) – 6:00PM

Monday, December 20 thru Monday, January 3
  • Winter Break – School Closed – Students Return Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Twelve Days of the Holidays
The events listed are sponsored by our Student Government Association led by their Sponsor, Coach Noel. If you need further information, ask any SGA member or see Coach Noel in Portable 2. Be sure to join in the festivities!
Winter Coat Drive
The Winter Season is here..... Cold weather has set in!
One of our most important drives is the coat drive for our students. Usually, we give away 300 new and gently used coats and jackets. Our students are extremely appreciative for a warm jacket when they are cold. If you would like to contribute a coat, jacket, or heavy sweatshirt - please drop off in our main campus anytime between 7:30am-3:00pm, Monday thru Friday. Thank you for your help!
β€œFor it is in giving that we receive.”
Canned Food Drive
The SGA is presently hosting their annual canned food drive. Canned goods donations are graciously accepted. Any donation can be brought to school with your student, or dropped off in the main office. Thank you for your kindness!

Our goal is 10,000 cans by December 10th!
Pioneer Athletics
Girls Basketball Schedule:
Boys Basketball Schedule:
Continuing Reminder - After School Tutoring
School Advisory Council (SAC) Meetings
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:
  • December 9, January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14 and May 12

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

We invite parents, students, faculty, staff and community members to join us and be a part of SAC.
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.
College and Career Resource Center
College Acceptances and Scholarships:
Congratulations to the Senior Class of 2022 for 98 college acceptances and $672,000 in scholarships to date. We are off to a great start! Stay tuned for updates… #proudtobeapioneer
FAFSA Help Sessions:
The College & Career Specialists have scheduled FAFSA Nights to better serve our students. The proposed dates are listed below. Time for each event will be 5:00-8:00PM and will take place in the cafeteria. Dates are subject to change and events will also be announced monthly. We hope to see you there!

  • December 9, 2021
  • January 13, 2022
  • February 10, 2022
  • March 10, 2022
  • April 14, 2022
  • May 12, 2022
GREAT WORK CLASS OF 2022 SENIORS!
So far, the number of seniors having completed their FAFSA paperwork is up +43.1% from the same time 1 year ago:
Source: Florida College Access Network - All Florida schools' data through Nov. 19
SAT / ACT registration dates:
SAT Test Date- Dec 4, 2021

SAT Test Date- March 12, 2022

ACT Test Date- Dec 11, 2021

ACT Test Date- February 12, 2022
  • Registration deadline is January 7, 2022
  • Late Registration deadline is January 21, 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.
GRADUATION - Save the Date:
Valencia FAFCA Frenzy (Dec. 7):
Sign up for the The Pioneer Express - Community News Brief
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:
Community Resources
Nemours Mobile Health Clinic for uninsured children (Dec. 4):
Friday's Motivational Moment!
WISDOM TO LIVE BY
Kevin Hart On Taking Action
The best tip I could tell you is to be active. So many people talk about what they want to do and they just love words. Put actions behind your words. Don’t be a talker, be a doer.
~ Kevin Hart, actor

Tony Dungy On Helping Others
You should never be defined by what you do, by the things you have; you've got to define yourself by who you impact and you help other people.
~ Tony Dungy, NFL football coach

Eleanor Roosevelt On Compassion
To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady

Sam Huff On Discipline
Discipline is the whole key to being successful. We all get 24 hours each day. That's the only fair thing; it's the only thing that's equal. What we do with those 24 hours is up to us.
~ Sam Huff, football player

Mary Kay Ash On Objectives
A good goal is like a strenuous exercise β€” it makes you stretch.
~ Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics entrepreneur
Florida flag
Have a great weekend and thank you for your support with the SGA Canned Food Drive and our Coat Drive next week!
Mr. Alvarado, Principal
Oak Ridge High School
Friday, December 3, 2021
Oak Ridge High School Senior Leadership Team
Principal: Benjamin Alvarado Benjamin.Alvarado@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Michele Browne michele.brown@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Luz Gonzalez Cartagena luz.gonzalezcartagena@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Johndrell Jones johndrell.jones@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Nora Pachnik Nora.Pachnik@ocps.net
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 - 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