School News - 08/16/12

At the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year, Lake Whitney Elementary fifth-graders performed A Walk Through America — A Historical Musical. The children were under the direction of Denise Mock, LWES’s new music teacher.

Lake Whitney Elementary PTO members held an event to thank the school’s 2011-12 volunteers. Congratulations to Gayle Fitzpatrick, grand volunteer of the year; Karyn Hewett, Additions coordinator; Cheryl Roesch, Crystal Dolphin Excellence Award recipient; Blakely Meyers, outstanding volunteer of the year; and Katie Whiffen, student volunteer of the year.

Dr. Phillips High dance instructor Kathy Follensbee was honored at the 11th annual Orange County Public Schools and Kessler Grand Bohemian Hotel Excellence in Teaching Fine Arts awards ceremony and luncheon. The event included a Les Miserables performance by students from University High and the presentation of five awards to OCPS faculty members. Ms. Follensbee received a $2,000 stipend, crystal apple, two-night stay for two at Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, and recognition at the OCPS board meeting.

Central Florida Christian Academy students in grades six through 12 attended youth camp at First Baptist Church Central Florida, CFCA’s sponsor church. This year’s theme was “Give Yourself Away,” and events included volunteering in the community and ministering to others.

Lake Highland Preparatory School student Serena Young placed first in the kindergarten through second grade division of the Central Florida Education Guide Art Contest sponsored by CFE Federal Credit Union. She was awarded a cash prize, and LHPS received a $250 art supply gift certificate. Serena has studied at Xinlin Fan Art Studio since the age of 4.

Orange County School Board members recognized the county’s Super Scholars. To receive this honor, a student must be accepted to a top-20 university or liberal arts college, as ranked by US News & World Report; or a military academy. Congratulations to the following Southwest Orlando honorees:
Dr. Phillips High — Lorrin Brubaker and Jake Chabot, The Juilliard School; Iulia Gheorghita, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University; Saskia Groenewald, Duke University; Tina Huang, Emory University; Logan Kruse, Rice University; Surya Martin, Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, University of South Carolina; John Orchard, U.S. Naval Academy; Jalen Phillips, Duke University; Riddhi Ramanlal, Emory University; Marina Walters, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis; and Jacqueline Wheelock, University of Edinburgh.
Ocoee High — Parbattie Balkaran, University of Central Florida; Neshka Dantinor, Haverford College; and Shalenie Sanker, University of Chicago.
Olympia High — Sergiy Bokhnyak, Wesleyan College, Williams College; Radhika Gupta, Columbia University, Duke University, Rice University; Elizabeth Kelley, University of Notre Dame; Kenneth McClain, U.S. Military Academy; Lauren McNaughton, Emory University; Monica Rex, Johns Hopkins University; Sasha Tettenhorst, Washington University in St. Louis; and Belle Yau, Emory University.
West Orange High — Esteban Peralta Chacon, Duke University; Sara Herrick, Northwestern University; and Wheeler Reiss, Duke University, Washington and Lee University.

Members of Foundation Academy’s Student Leadership Institute traveled to Haiti, where they handed out shoeboxes provided by FA and First Baptist Church of Winter Garden. The group visited with sponsored children at New Mission schools. The students receive proper nutrition, a school uniform and solid education. For more information or to sponsor a child, visit www.newmissions.org on the Web.

Orlando Science Schools 2011-12 eighth-grader Daniella Gutierrez of Dr. Phillips, along with her two teammates, placed sixth in the experimental design category at the 2012 Science Olympiad National Tournament held in Orlando. Rising freshmen Carlos Barea of Winter Garden and Isaac Gordon of Southwest placed ninth in the awesome aquifer category. OSC is an Orlando-based charter school with a focus on science and mathematics
education.

A Gift For Teaching hosted a backpack stuff to benefit Fifth Third Bank’s Summer of Dreams program. The 700 backpacks filled with school supplies were delivered to Summer of Dreams camp locations for distribution to homeless children in Central Florida. Now in its second year, Fifth Third Bank’s Summer of Dreams program provided children with food, summer camp experiences, financial counseling and other resources. For more information or to make a donation, visit
www.agiftforteaching.org on the Web.