Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Colonial High School
CHS Community Member,
This week our seniors took their Common Final Exams. Next Monday we continue with state exams beginning with FSA Reading for our 9th and 10th grade Grenadiers (please see schedule below). If you have not done so, please check out the FSA website for more insight: https://fsassessments.org/families.html Here there are practice tests and additional resources for students and families.

Thank you to every that participated in our Earth Spirit Week which culminated on Friday's annual Earth Day. This coming week is National Teacher Appreciation Week across the United States (May 2-6). If you know of a Colonial teacher or staff member that in your opinion has done a particularly fine job, please consider sending them an email or note. It would mean a great deal as they been working very hard for our Grenadiers since their pre-planning week which began Monday, August 2, 2021. (Colonial teacher and staff emails.)

Thank you for reading and enjoy the rest of your week!

Dr. Maestre

Pictured just above: 2021-2022 Beach Volleyball team (please see story below).
Florida flag
Useful Links
Connect with CHS
Main Campus:
6100 Oleander Drive
Orlando, FL 32807
(407) 482-6300

Freshman Campus:
7775 Valencia Collage Lane
Orlando, FL 32807
(407) 249-6369
Dates to Watch For
April 27: Senior Awards Ceremony
April 28-29 and May 2: Senior Clearance
May 2-6: National Teacher Appreciation Week
Testing
Main Campus:
April 25-27: Common Final Exams (Seniors)
May 2 & 3: FSA ELA Reading (10th grade)
May 5: Biology (enrolled)
May 5: History (enrolled)
May 9 & 10: FSA Algebra 1/Geometry EOC (enrolled)
May 16-19: Common Final Exams (CFE)

9th Grade Center:
May 2 & 3: FSA ELA Reading
May 5: Biology (enrolled)
May 9 & 10: FSA Algebra 1/Geometry EOC (enrolled)
May 16-19: Common Final Exams (CFE)

AICE/AP Testing:
Colonial Program Spotlight
Culinary Arts
Last Friday, Chef Tony and Chef Kenneth from The Grand Floridian Resort stopped by to talk with students and to visit their former high school. Ms. Almestica and Mrs. Rodriguez, our Culinary Arts teachers, are excited to turn up the heat as our alumni Grenadier chefs committed to sponsor our program for the next year: 2022-23.
Pay for Chefs and Head Cooks in 2021
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $50,160 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,910, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $84,570.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for chefs and head cooks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

  • Hotels and resorts $61,900
  • Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries $ 61,170
  • Special food services $59,910
  • Restaurants and other eating places $48,390

The level of pay for chefs and head cooks varies by region and employer. Pay is usually highest in upscale restaurants and hotels, where many executive chefs work, as well as in major metropolitan and resort areas.
Senior Spotlight
Grenadiers graduating with an Associate’s Degree!
Tessa Adamopoulos
Briana Alvarez Perez
Kyra Bandy
Adara Bautista
Dariel Cruz Rodriguez
Marie Cuevas
Alexa Holtzapple
Alejandro Moyeno York
Mateo Ramirez
Joel Reyes
Colonial community footnote: In Florida, among former dual enrollment (DE) students who started at a four-year college after high school the college graduation rate was much higher. Seventy-five percent of Florida's DE high school students finished their bachelor's degree or beyond within five years.

Source: The Wall Street Journal and "What Happens to Students Who Take Community College "Dual Enrollment" Courses in High School?" by Community College Research Center and National Student Clearinghouse Research Center 
Our DE graduates are part of an elite group . . .
Colonial's DE students are part of an elite group of high school graduates this spring as in Florida only 14% of high school students participate in a DE program. Plus, our seniors you see pictured above are more than just enrolled, they actually earned a two-year associate's degree while still in high school!
Speech and Debate State Tournament
On Saturday we hosted the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship at Colonial. We had over 500 guests from all over the state. I am beyond proud to announce that every member of our Speech and Debate team went home with a trophy. Katie Klinkhammer, Sahiry Vazquez, and Shekinah Henriette all competed in Impromptu Speaking. All three ladies advanced to semi- finals. Katie and Sahiry advanced to finals. Katie is ranked 6th and Sahiry 4th in the state. This is a huge accomplishment for these young ladies and our school. This was our last tournament of the year, and we ended on a high note.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement! Here's to growing our team next year!
Grenadier Athletics
Beach Volleyball
Did you know that this was the first year that Colonial created a Beach Volleyball team? Our girls played against Freedom this past week (below). Although they did not win this match, the team had a great time playing and learning new moves.
About Beach Volleyball
Beach and indoor volleyball are played by many of the same rules; the one exception being the sand sport has just two players on either side of the net rather than six teaming up indoors with substitutes also coming off the bench to participate.

The dimensions of a standard gymnasium volleyball court are 30 feet by 60 feet. Beach court dimensions are slightly smaller at 26.25 by 52.5 feet — a lot of ground for two players to cover.

Like the college format, FHSAA dual matches have five pairs representing each school. They each play best-of-three set matches.
Summer 2022
Summer Tips for Parents - Virtual Workshop (May 11):
Orange County Virtual School:
Cyber safety this summer: 21 Social Media apps parents should know about:
Source: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office - Read Orlando Sentinel article
OCSO Teen Camp:
Special Olympics Summer Volunteer Opportunity (June 5-12):
Summer Lifeguards at Orlando Pools
The City of Orlando is hiring lifeguards for the summer for its 11 pools which pays $15-$17 per hour. They will train the applicants in one of the certification classes, so no certification is needed to apply. However, the applicant must be able to pass a swim test to get into the class. 

The swim test consists of a 300-yard (12 laps) swim (100 yards’ freestyle, 100 yards’ breaststroke, and 100 yards’ choice of the two), 2-minute tread with hands out of water, and a timed brick dive.  
Media Center Calendar
Community Resources
This Saturday, April 30:
Several Community agencies will be providing various supports to individuals and families in housing transition.
May 11 Job Fair:
Speak Up Grenadiers!
It's Great To Be A Grenadier!
Dr. Maestre, Principal
Colonial High School
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Social Media
Stay Connected with Us
Leadership Team
Principal: Dr. Hector Maestre Hector.Maestre@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Mr. Michael Cecere michael.cercere@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Ms. Rochelle Conyers rochelle.conyers@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Ms. Joann Dorries joanne.dorries@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Dr. Timothy Flynn timothy.flynn@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Dr. Mary Vetter mary.vetter@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Mr. Jonathan Zenzel jonathan.zenzel@ocps.net
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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)
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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 Dr. Mary Vetter (assistant principal) at mary.vetter@ocps.net with any questions.
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