Wednesday, October 20, 2021
AEHS Community Member,

This is still very early in the second nine-week quarter of 2021-2022 and I have been thinking about adjustments. We don't make forward progress without adjusting our thoughts, plans and actions. No matter the field of endeavor, academics, sports, performing arts, military service, business administration, even space exploration, adjustments are made to overcome challenges. Your teachers and administrative staff have been making these adjustments as we navigate the unique challenges of this year to ensure academic success for our students. With respect to student success, report cards for the 1st quarter are now available on Skyward. Parents, please invest some time to talk to your child about their grades and set some goals for the 2nd quarter.
A pair of our Phoenixes writing in their journals yesterday morning while in Ms. Ker's class (please see story below). All students and parents now have access to 1st quarter grades.
If you haven't taken a moment to thank a teacher or mentor for the extraordinary work they have done this year, please consider doing so. It is in pulling together as a family and being surrounded by encouragement that our teachers can continue to push our students to success. They need you more now than ever to show up in their corner.

"The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day." ~ Todd Whitaker, author

Enjoy the rest of your week and, as always, thank you for your continued support.

Douglas K. Loftus, M.S. Ed.
Principal

Pictured very top: Small group sessions like this are conducted by several teachers here at AEHS. Mrs. Singh is pictured tutoring a pair of her biology students.
Academic Excellence!
2021-2022: 1st Quarter
Summa Cum Laude
(All A's)

  • Javielez Aponte
  • Spencer Bagley
  • Amber Eutsey
  • Ethan Laloo
  • Daniella Midence
  • Nyla Delgado Montan
  • Skylar Mowatt
  • Summer Mowatt
  • Claudia Romulo
  • Karla Solano
  • Bree Stockton
  • Xin Tan
  • Valerie Torres
Magna Cum Laude
(All A's and B's)
  • Yael Alfonso
  • Marrieda Barrios
  • Kiaraliz Barrios
  • Keren Bravo
  • Veronica Casanova
  • Vensky Desriveaux
  • Erik Diaz
  • Angel Filete
  • Gianelys Garcia Marcano
  • Ivan Hernandez
  • Christopher Jean Pierre
  • Isaac Lopez
  • Kiana Mangual
  • Daisy Nolasco
  • Ryan Perez
  • Ashley Perez Gonzalez
  • Miguel Ramos
  • Alexis Rodriguez
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez
  • Sebastian Rodriguez
  • Alis Romero
  • Alanie Rosado
  • Genesis Rosario
  • Japhet Ruiz
  • Sophie Smith
  • Isabella Suarez
  • Mauricio Tirado
  • Joshua Torres
  • Hector Varada
  • Alexandra Vargas
  • Javier Williams
Attention AEHS Parent & Guardians
Teacher qualifications
The following letter was sent to our families regarding teacher qualifications. Parents and guardians have the right to know information pertaining to teacher licensing, educational background, etc. Please click here for a larger view of this letter and for a copy in other languages.
Report Cards
Classroom Highlights: Week #11
Mathematics with Mr. DeMarco:
Mr. DeMarco's intensive math class has been working on solving systems of equations. In the business world such as with commercial banking, an algebraic process similar to what Mr. DeMarco's students have been studying is used by analysts to optimize a mix of critical banking variables. This is done in order to improve organizational performance and profitability.
HOPE with Ms. Wilson:
Earlier this Wednesday morning, students were practicing CPR in HOPE (Health Opportunities through Physical Education).
English with Ms. Ker:
Students in Ms. Ker's class are pictured below writing responses in their journals with respect to the following prompt:
Immediately above and then below are snapshots taken of a "gallery walk" in Ms. Ker's English class on Tuesday. This was part of the lesson mentioned above: social media as a main source of news and how this could potentially be problematic on a large scale.
Above and just below: these students are examining other students' essays on social media being the primary source of news via the gallery walk. Again, the essays/journaling were related to the prompt featured above.
Chris Rosario pointing at his essay.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Weekly Update
Decision Making (English):
Decision Making (Spanish):
"The Extra Mile"
Acceleration East's Brag Wall going strong heading into the 2nd half of October . . .
For some years now, AEHS has utilized its "Brag Wall" as an opportunity for staff to recognize one another for traveling that "extra mile" to help others. Ours is a close knit campus and the culture at AEHS is one of mutual support as needed.
Example of one of the Brag Sheets posted this month: "Delia, Thank you for covering a class. We were short handed and you stepped up!" (Delia Martinez Adrover is AEHS' registrar)
Go the extra mile. It's never crowded there.
Special Events
SHPE college planning event to help parents - Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (English):
SHPE college planning event to help parents - Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (Spanish):
Community Resources
Neighborhood Centers for Families (NCF) are one-stop centers that provide residents with a multitude of valuable services within their communities. Funded by the Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children, services are offered at 13 locations throughout the County. They offer counseling programs, tutoring, employment skills, case management, senior activities, limited health services, and so much more.

Each NCF is made up of non-profit organizations, government agencies, churches and community groups working together to address the specific needs of the surrounding community. These organizations collaborate to provide intergenerational programs, services and activities that address the needs of the entire family. Most services are offered free of charge.

Each NCF is uniquely designed to address the needs of its surrounding community and offers flexible hours of service in a family-friendly and accessible location. Child care stipends, through Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) are also available for clients who are actively enrolled in services.
Food for Thought
1) Differences in weekly paychecks during the 3rd quarter of 2021 by educational attainment:
Source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (released Tuesday, Oct. 19th) - Read report
2) Binge drinking and marijuana use at US colleges:
For many years now, campuses throughout OCPS hold their October Red Ribbon Weeks to educate students about the many problems coming from alcohol and drug abuse. The chart below illustrates one disturbing trend as it relates to college drinking. It is our hope that our college bound Phoenixes will stay clear of this danger while in college and beyond.
Source: Michael Cembalest; J.P. Morgan Asset Management 
3) Americans getting their news from social media. Above we spotlighted Ms. Ker's class which worked on a "prompt" regarding this topic on Tuesday. When it comes to where Americans regularly get news on social media, Facebook outpaces all other social media sites:
Source: Pew Research - Read full article
4) WISDOM TO LIVE BY:
Pablo Picasso On Wisdom
We don't grow older, we grow riper.
~ Pablo Picasso, artist

Mary Oliver on Vision
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.
~ Mary Oliver, poet

T.S. Eliot On Boldness
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
~ T.S. Eliot, poet

Roger Corman On Planning
I am a strong, strong believer in preparation and I instill this in everybody that is working with me, to the fullest extent before starting production. You prepare everything; you anticipate every possible problem and try to solve them before you actually go into production.
~ Roger Corman, movie producer

H. Jackson Brown On Action
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
~ H. Jackson Brown, author
Florida flag
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Douglas K. Loftus, Principal
Acceleration East High School
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
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.

OCPS EEO Non-Discrimination Statement:
The School Board of Orange County, Florida, does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs  and activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law. The following individuals at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, 445 West Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, attend to compliance matters: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer & Title IX Coordinator:   Keshara Cowans; ADA Coordinator; ADA Coordinator: Jay Cardinali; Section 504 Coordinator: Tajuana Lee-Wenze. (407.317.3200)
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 - Acceleration East High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Acceleration East High School. Please contact douglas.loftus@ocps.net (principal) with any questions or for further information.
2274 S. Semoran Blvd.,
Orlando, FL 32822-2704
Phone 407-992-0917
Fax 407-207-4961