To cap off this 26th week of the 2021-2022 school year, our spectacular Varsity Basketball team plays Seminole Sanford in the District 7A Region 1 Finals playoff game at 7:00 pm tonight! I know that most members of our Oak Ridge community have been following the team's many successes especially after their huge overtime victory vs. Lake Brantley earlier this week. We all wish Coach Reece and the Pioneers the best of luck vs. the Noles this evening! (Purchase your tickets through Gofan.co)

Please join us in congratulating the following seniors who are the Top Ten in the graduating class of 2022. Proud to be a Pioneer! The students are listed in order of ranking and are pictured just above:

We are very proud of these ten seniors as the Top Ten ranking represents an incredible academic achievement spanning four years of high school. Of course, we have other seniors that have also enjoyed remarkable success during their time at Oak Ridge. We will spotlight additional Class of 2022 Pioneer success stories in upcoming editions. 

As a reminder to our parents, on Thursday, March 3, 2022 all OCPS students in grades 7-12 will participate in our Spring CFE Infrastructure Trial. The infrastructure trial is a simulated computer-based test designed to mimic the stress placed on the district's digital network in order to determine and resolve technical issues that could possibly interfere with upcoming Course Final Exams. All students will need to make sure they bring their fully charged, school issued digital device with them to school on that day. 

The infrastructure trial also serves as a reminder that after today we only have nine school days remaining in the 3rd quarter and prior to spring break. Once classes resume after spring break, state exams (FSA) and end of course exams (EOC) will not be far off which is why every day of instruction is so important. I encourage all of our Pioneers to make the most of these next two weeks and to please take advantage of our tutoring opportunities if needed.

Thank you very much for reading and please don't forget about this evening's special Black History Month event at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium – "The Beauty of Black Culture."

Mr. Alvarado

Principal

Oak Ridge High School

Congratulations to our Varsity Boys Basketball team for winning 52-49 over Lake Brantley in over-time. It was a high stakes game and our boys never stopped fighting for the win. They have the heart of champions! We are moving on to the Elite Eight! First game is today at Seminole High School - come out and show your support! Proud to be a Pioneer! (Tickets though Gofan.co)

Orlando Sentinel (Feb. 22 by Lynn Ramsey) - "Oak Ridge tops Lake Brantley in OT to advance in FHSAA basketball playoffs"

TONIGHT!! Black History Month Special Event (Feb. 25)

Thank you to Twin Peaks in Altamonte Springs for generously hosting the varsity boys basketball team before the Lake Brantley game. The boys were fueled up and ready to win!

ORHS Friends, a community service student led organization, prepared 48 Valentine's Day goodie bags for students and staff! They certainly spread a little love this week and reminded each of the individuals that they "blow us away" (bubbles included).

Pioneer Pride is spreading throughout the city! Thank you to our NHS who volunteered and helped Shingle Creek Elementary in planting some gardens. #pioneerpride #thisisoakridge

Junior & Senior 2022 PROM – Tickets are on sale - Buy early & save - Prices go up after Spring Break to $75.00.

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 – Cafeteria – During A & B Lunches

Alexis Wilkerson is a Super Scholar! As a Questbridge Scholarship recipient, Alexis will be attending Colby College, ranked #17 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Alexis wants to study biology/anatomy and the animal science field. While still deciding on her dream job, she is thinking about becoming a Nurse Anesthetist, Travel Nurse, or Zoologist/Veterinarian.

In her spare time, Alexis enjoys tutoring, volunteering, and taking trips to theme parks and other local tourist areas. Some of her favorite hobbies include collecting and trading K-pop photo cards and albums as well as thrift shopping.

Oak Ridge FAFSA Nights

The College & Career Specialists have scheduled to have a monthly FAFSA Night to better serve our students. The proposed dates are listed below. Time for each event will be 5:00-8:00PM and take place in the cafeteria. Dates are subject to change - events will be announced monthly as well. We hope to see you there!

● Late Registration deadline is March 1, 2022

● Website for registration: https://www.collegeboard.org/

● Registration deadline is Feb 25, 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.

Representatives from the participating institutions will be available for individual information sessions. All sessions will be virtual, free, and open to all interested students. Links to register for all sessions are available on each district’s website.

Information about this event is available on our OCPS Facebook page. To see a calendar of sessions with meeting dates, times, and links, click here.

Due March 4: AKA Petals Of Hope Scholarship 

All materials must be RECEIVED by this deadline…and must be MAILED so please account for mailing time. $1,000 – seven awards will be given to Orange/Osceola female graduates. Three are designated for students attending HBCUs. Qualified candidates must have 3.0 UNWEIGHTED GPA and 1100 SAT or 22 ACT.

Due March 8: The Coite and Mildred Hill Scholarship

$1,000 / For students attending either FSU or UF in the fall of 2022 / Application

Due March 11 (Postmarked): Orlando CHUM Scholarship 

$1,000 / Females of African descent / Leadership, academic achievement & community involvement are key criteria.

Due March 25, 2022 at 5 PM PEO Chapter BQ Scholarship

For women with an unweighted 3.0-3.5 GPA. This scholarship is open to Orange and Seminole counties only. / Applications must be emailed by 5 PM on due date. / Application, transcript and letters of recommendation must be emailed at the same time.

Due March 25: Baxter & Woodman Civil Engineering Scholarship 

$1,000 (renewable) / recipients get priority consideration for internships and future employment / Essay, resume, LOR, transcripts & college acceptance letter required. This application must be delivered, received via USPS or emailed by 4 PM.

Due April 1, 2022: Southern Scholarship Foundation 

One of the most expensive things about going away to college is the cost of housing. The Southern Scholarship Foundation is a WONDERFUL way to offset these costs.

Through rent-free housing and cooperative living, Southern Scholarship Foundation supports students who lack financial resources, demonstrate excellent academic merit, and exemplify good character attend institutions of higher education.

Apply Here: https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/southern_scholar

* Please contact Ms. Gittens in the ORHS College and Career Resource Center with scholarship and college financial aid questions (scholarships shown above only a partial list).

The labor market for recent college graduates by major ranked by the median annual wage earned early on in their career:

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Feb. 9, 2022) - Read full article

Caution note for our Pioneers: While important, the choice of college majors should not be chosen by income alone. For example, students should consider their passion, which schools offer the major they want, how much it will cost, and what the work load will be like. ORHS Student Services can help any student with insights as they begin to think about a college major while they are still in high school. 

College & Career at Black History Month - Did You Know???

Some of our Pioneers might want to own their own business some day. The latest research from Wells Fargo Bank Economics shows that Black-owned businesses have been doing quite well vs. others:

Source: Wells Fargo Bank Economics Read full article

*** Black-owned firms had experienced rapid growth in the years leading up to the pandemic. The share of Black-owned firms grew nearly 11% between 2016 and 2019, about three-and-a-half times as fast as total businesses in the U.S. economy over the same period. Business formation is also not the only area where Black business owners outpaced the nation; employment at Black-owned businesses outpaced those of all firms as did average revenues received over the period.

The Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department is excited to host its annual Big IDEA Conference for the 2021-2022 school year March 26, 2022. The Big IDEA Conference is for families of students with exceptionalities. Below are the event overview details:

• Event: Big IDEA Conference

• Date: Saturday, March 26, 2022

• Location: WebEx

• Event Time: 9:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m.

• Audience: Families of students with exceptionalities

• The purpose of the conference is to help the families of exceptional students Celebrate their abilities of today, while preparing for tomorrow’s possibilities.

• All families of students with exceptionalities are invited to attend this virtual event.

• Participants will have the opportunity to select breakout sessions to attend based on their interests and needs.

To register for the conference, please visit https://www.ocps.net/cms/one.aspx?pageId=93220

Continuing Reminder - After School Tutoring

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:

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

Continuing Reminder - 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.

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:

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