Community Brief
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Glenridge Middle Community Member

As we prepare for the second semester ahead, I am hoping that everyone is healthy and home from any adventures that you may have had. The Kempingers stayed home for the break, and I was able to tackle a bunch of projects that I had been putting off for a while. So, I come back invigorated with the energy of knowing my “to do list” has gotten smaller...for now. 
 
We finished the first semester with so much excitement and enthusiasm, I am looking forward to a great second half. We will take the second state monitoring assessment for math and reading on January 9th and 10th. These progress monitoring tests are an opportunity to compare ourselves to other schools statewide and see how our students are progressing towards the state expectations. These assessments are adapted to each student and give us an insight into strengths and weaknesses in the respected areas.  

I also want to remind all students that are interested in trying out for boys or girls basketball that we will begin after school on January 4th. All students that are trying out need to have completed and submitted their physical before they can participate. Ms. Hodges will be holding a meeting after school on January 5th in the MPR for any student that wants to be part of the spring musical. 

Report card grades will be finalized on Tuesday. However, they will not be accessible until the end of next week. Please continue to check Skyward for up-to-date information on grades and attendance.  
OCPS Boys Volleyball Team Championship Trophy
Glenridge Middle School Lions — 2022-2023 County Champions!
Happy New Year and I am looking forward to seeing all of our Lions back on campus tomorrow morning, Wednesday, January 4, 2023!

Mr. Kempinger
Proud Principal
Glenridge Middle School

Pictured very top: Glenridge Middle School Boys Volleyball Championship Team
Dates to Watch For
Jan. 4: Classes resume / Start of Quarter 3
Jan. 4: Basketball tryouts
Jan. 5: Spring Musical tryouts 
Jan. 9 & 10: State monitoring assessments (Math & Reading)
Staff Spotlight
Coach Stock
Congratulations to our boys volleyball team and of course their amazing coach, that guy Stock. They all worked really hard for this impressive, not to mention nail biting, win!
~ Phil Moreton,
Glenridge Middle 8th Grade Physical Science Honors, Aerospace Technology
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Email from Coach Stock to all Glenridge staff (Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022):

I wanted to share the wonderful news to those of you who were unable to attend the game last night that the boys brought home the first boys volleyball championship in the history of Glenridge (1955).

The three games were ALL nail biters: 27-29 / 25-23 / 16-14. The boys lost the first game, but where able to hold their heads up and win the second to take it to a tiebreaker game. The Lions were down 11-14 and fought off THREE consecutive chances that Blankner had to hand us a loss. The INSANE crowd and support from the kids, parents, staff and alumni all helped rally the boys and give them the energy to win the last FIVE consecutive points to bring the title home for our school.

The boys and I cannot thank you all enough for the support all year, but especially last night. I have been coaching for 26 years now and that energy last night would rival anything I have ever witnessed in my career. Without that energy, things may have not gone the way we wanted.

My heart truly goes out to all of you who were a part of this very special night for our kids.

GO LIONS!!!!
Student Spotlight
Artwork selected for the 2023 OUC calendar
The following students' artwork was selected for reproduction in the 2023 OUC Water Conservation Calendar:

  • Katie Bobolts
  • Addie Osbahr
  • Olivia Sibley
  • Sophia Sibley
This Week's Motivational Moment!
Four Degrees of Action
Many of our Lions will be or have already set out goals for 2023. That is a good thing and a positive first step. However, once this is done they must decide upon just how much "action" is necessary to create success. Not surprisingly, many people are always looking for the secret shortcut—and equally unsurprisingly is the following fact: There are no shortcuts. The more action you take, the better the chances of achieving your 2023 goals. 

Your four degrees of action to choose from are:

1. Do nothing.
2. Retreat.
3. Take normal levels of action.
4. Take massive action. 

Most people on the planet spend their time in the first through third degrees: doing nothing, retreating completely, or just operating at normal levels of activity. The first two degrees of action (do nothing and retreat) are the basis for failure, and the third degree (normal levels) will create no meaningful progress. It is the fourth degree, taking massive action, which will blow life into your goals this year. 

Henry Cloud On Taking Action
An excuse is a way of promising ourselves today that we will have the same issue again tomorrow.
~ Henry Cloud, psychologist

For our Lions to attain their new goals or to even maintain many of the successes they achieved during the 1st semester, they should start thinking about the action steps needed today. Every student and adult will know they are on the track to success when (1) new challenges pop up as the weeks go by or (2) they hear from naysayers that their goals are too lofty or other negative comments.

It is very important to also take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way from this first week of 2023 forward. Staying alert to opportunities combined with taking massive action on your goals will breed success. Massive action does require discipline, but our Lions have what it takes to do it.
~ FROM THE 10X RULE
Beyonce Knowles On Investment
I don't like to gamble, but if there's one thing I'm willing to bet on, it's myself.
~ Beyonce Knowles, award-winning performer
Florida flag
Welcome back Lions!
Daniel Kempinger, Principal
Glenridge Middle School
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Glenridge Leadership Team
Principal: Mr. Daniel Kempinger - Daniel.Kempinger@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Dr. Kimberly Bispott - Kimberly.Bispott@ocps.net
Assistant Principal of Instruction: Mr. Thomas Hames - Thomas.Hames@ocps.net
8th Grade Dean: Mr. Michael Glenn - Michael.Glenn@ocps.net
7th Grade Dean: Ms. Camille Cassara - Camille.Cassara@ocps.net
6th Grade Dean: Ms. Cynthia Santana-Greer - Cynthia.Santana-Greer@ocps.net
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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 - Glenridge Middle School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Glenridge Middle School. Please contact daniel.kempinger@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.
Glenridge Middle School
2900 Upper Park Road,
Orlando, FL 32814
Phone 407-623-1415
Fax 407-623-1417