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Happy New Year! As we prepare to begin week #2 of the new year, I hope this finds your 2021 off to an excellent start!
You may have already seen in the media that our Grenadier Class of 2020 received some positive news this past week from the Florida Department of Education. The FLDOE just released the 2019-2020 graduation rates and our seniors finished with a 98.1% graduation rate based upon the federal graduation rate method. (Please click here to access a spreadsheet with all of the Florida high schools' graduation rates as posted by the FLDOE.) While the initial impact of Covid-19 on the 2019-2020 school year took place in mid March, by this point our seniors had nearly finished 3/4 of the school year with classes continuing virtually up to graduation. Moreover, they had already completed three years of high school prior to that point.
Please remember that our monthly SAC meeting will be held Thursday, January 14 at 6:00pm on the Freshman Campus. All members of our school community are welcome and encouraged to attend. And if you have a student at Colonial, please be sure to take a close look at some of the upcoming parent sessions being offered online over the next two weeks (below). OCPS does a first rate job with each of these events and they are offered in both English and Spanish.
Best wishes for a healthy and successful New Year to our wonderful Colonial Community! It's Great To Be A Grenadier!
Dr. Maestre
Principal
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Main Campus:
6100 Oleander Drive
Orlando, FL 32807
(407) 482-6300
Freshman Campus:
7775 Valencia Collage Lane
Orlando, FL 32807
(407) 249-6369
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National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (Jan. 9) |
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Welcome to our newest addition, Deputy Lappas! |
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And an always heartfelt thank you to Deputy Deshuk!
We are so happy to have you as Grenadiers with us!!
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Jan. 14: First SAC meeting of 2021, 6pm on the Freshman Campus
Jan. 18: Dr. MLK, Jr. Holiday (No school)
Jan. 27: OCPS Annual Stellar Awards (this year virtual, 7pm)
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2021 Campus Reminders . . . |
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MASKS ARE REQUIRED: ALL students, faculty, staff, and visitors on campus are required to wear a mask on the school campus. A copy of the full district policy can be found on the OCPS website.
NO FOOD delivery service is allowed on campus
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS In accordance with OCPS policy, all students must be off campus within 30 minutes of the school day ending. Students will be ushered off campus at 3:00 p.m.
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Student Spotlight: Mineily Rivera Nieves |
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Quest Bridge Super Scholar Grenadier!
Mineily Rivera Nieves has the honor of being our Super Scholar through Quest Bridge. She has been matched with Colby College through the Quest Bridge program. This is an amazing honor since this Scholarship provides Mineily a full ride to Colby. (Colby College is ranked #15 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report's 2021 rankings among national liberal arts colleges.)
Mineily is a hard-working and passionate learner. Mineily will be a First Gen College student and we cannot wait to see how far Mineily will go with her lifetime goal of becoming a doctor. This amazing scholar also played volleyball, golf, track & field, lacrosse, and was President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Congratulations to this amazing Grenadier and for this major accomplishment!
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Pictured here in the autumn, Colby College is located in Waterville, Maine. |
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Social & Emotional Learning Corner |
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- Please click here for a larger view of this week's SEL message.
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Please click here for a larger view of the Freshman Campus calendar
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School Advisory Council (SAC)
January's meeting is this coming Thursday . . .
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SAC meets the second Thursday of each month at 6pm on Freshman Campus. |
- January 14
- February 11
- March 11
- April 8
- May 13
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Virtual Learning Events – Save the Dates! |
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Two sessions are planned for this coming Wednesday . . . |
OCPS Parent and Family Engagement will be offering the following virtual opportunities. All families are welcome. Click here to register for any of the four sessions listed below or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net
These events will be offered in English and in Spanish.
*** Wednesday, January 13th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ***
(Two sessions to choose from)
Children and Culture Shock
The OCPS Multilingual Services department will be sharing information about culture Schick and how it affects your child’s education. Strategies will be shared to help students throughout the process of adjusting to school. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net/
Math and Reading for ALL Students
The OCPS Curriculum and Digital Learning department will be sharing information on resources and strategies for elementary, middle, and high school Math and English Language Arts curriculum. Click here to register or visit http://www.parentacademy.ocps.net/
*** Wednesday, January 20th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ***
(Two sessions to choose from)
Benefits and Dangers of Social Media
Creating Healthy Social Emotional Environments at Home
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Students - speak up using the link on your Grenadier Gate Canvas page. |
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Herff Jones graduation links and information:
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* Please note the Jan. 28 application deadline.
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Important Links (updated regularly) |
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JAN. 2021 FAFSA REMINDER: |
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Atkins Pathway to Success Scholarship - Female, first generation college student attending a Florida, four-year public university. Covers the remaining cost of college, offers mentorship and will cover cost of one summer learning opportunity (summer abroad, internship, etc.).
Deadline to apply is 2/14/21.
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Virtual College Fair Opportunity for 10th and 11th Graders |
Please click here for a larger view of the College Board's "Big Future Days" |
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Upcoming Food Pantry Opportunities
Every Saturday
- The Gathering Place - 8287 Curry Ford Rd., Orlando, FL 32822
- 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Every 2ND Saturday of the Month
- Healing Hunger Food Pantry - 26 Willow Drive, Orlando, FL 32807
Every 4th Saturday of the Month
- Prince of Peace Church - 1515 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32807
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Monday's Motivational Moment! |
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America's Founding Father of Compounding |
Most Americans know that Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, author, printer, scientist, and inventor, Franklin’s accomplishments are nothing short of inspirational. However, what many do not know is that upon his death in 1790 he left $4,400 to each of the two cities of Boston and Philadelphia.
This original total of $8,800 grew to nearly $6.5 million by 1990, the 200th anniversary of Franklin’s death, thanks to the power of "compound interest." Using Franklin's story as an example, compound interest is the result of the continuous adding of interest to the amount of an initial deposit; here the $4,400 to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia. Two hundred years later, those two $4,400 gifts were worth millions just from the additional interest added over time!
Franklin once referred to the concept of compounding as "The 8th wonder of the world." Albert Einstein also said, "Compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe."
The lesson for our Grenadiers? As you think about your 2021 goals, give some thought to saving some of your money when you can. While interest rates are quite low right now, this will not always be the case. If you can discipline yourself to put aside even a small amount on a regular basis, it will to grow a balance so that when interest rates do rise, their impact will be even greater. The real trick is just getting started and having the willpower to stick with it. The payoff will surprise you down the line!
It's Great To Be A Grenadier in 2021!
Dr. Maestre, Principal
Colonial High School
Sunday, January 10, 2021
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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. |
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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-Colonial High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and OCPS-Colonial High School. Please contact Ms. Mary Vetter (assistant principal) at mary.vetter@ocps.net with any questions.
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