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Orange Park High School – http://www.clay.k12.fl.us/oph
March 2015 Knowledge is the Key to Life & Happiness
Welcome to the spring newsletter; graduation will be here
before we know it. Our VERY long 3rd quarter ended
March 12th. Students have completed the FSA Writing
test and we are gearing up for FSA Reading, EOC’s and AP
test. Spring is the testing season!!!!
There is always help here at OP. Our very own National
Honor Society members offer free tutoring in the Media Center on Thursdays
for any subject. We have Biology and Algebra 1 tutoring every Monday,
Tuesday, and Thursday after school and teachers are willing to tutor after
school most any day. With all the help available here at OP, there is NO
EXCUSE for students to struggle. Please encourage your child to seek help
in any subject in which they are having difficulty. Parents, also please check
FOCUS at least once/week for updates on your child’s academic progress.
Our goal here at OP is for EVERY student to be successful!!!!!!
We are looking forward to a beautiful Prom on April 18th at UNF, a fun Grad Bash on May 1st and a memorable
graduation on May 29th.
Parents of seniors, please make sure you visit the OPHS website click student links and then senior class to stay
abreast of important deadlines and dates such as May 29th.
Mrs. Pickett
SENIORS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Sunday, May 17,2015 at 3:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Orange Park on Kingsley Avenue marks Baccalaureate Service which is a series of speeches, sort of a
prelude to your graduation ceremony. This will be the first time you will wear your
graduation gown, so wear it proudly as you come hear the words of the Reverend
James Price of Celebration Church as you begin the next phase of your life. See
Mrs. McLelland in Main room 112 for further information.
Orange Park High
School will not accept
personal checks
after 02/28/15.
Please keep this in mind when
paying for any fines or lost items.
If you have any questions, please call
Carole Lowe at 272-8110.
When you are thinking about giving, consider the gift of time, talent and your experience! Take Stock in Children, a state-wide
mentoring program for low-income public
school students, is in need of adult mentors in Clay County. After the training and
application process is completed, the time
commitment is approximately one hour per
week in a public school during the regular
school year.
Interested? Call (904) 272-8144 or
go to www.takestockinchildren.org for
more information.
Kampus Kids held their annual holiday party on December 11th. Families enjoyed cookies
and milk with Santa and had lots of laughs while acting out The Twelve Days of Christmas. Early
Childhood students and FCCLA members assisted children with Christmas centers: make and take
picture frames, reindeer games, sensory boxes, paper chains, tree ornaments, and a photo booth.
Squeals of delight filled the room as our special guest, donning a red cap, made his surprise visit.
The children couldn’t wait to climb on Santa’s lap and whisper in his ear their toy wish list while a
portrait was taken of each child’s family.
During the holiday season Level One students had great fun planning for and creating Christmas
wreaths and trees with the children. Directed Studies students planned and taught an entire month of holiday theme lessons. As always, the high
school students enjoyed the activities as much as the children did.
Some of our FCCLA members spread a little holiday cheer by visiting residents and caroling at Life Care Center in Orange Park. FCCLA
members also celebrated the season by making ornaments and enjoying refreshments and fellowship at their own holiday party.
The New Year has started off with lots of winter fun for Kampus Kids. FCCLA members planned an exciting afternoon of winter activities.
High school students created a chilly slushy sensory table for children to get the real “feel” of winter weather. Together, children and students skated
on our indoor ice rink with wax paper skates. For refreshments children squeezed lemons and mixed up icy lemonade then rolled up Rice Krispy
treats into snowballs dipped in powdered snow (sugar). There seemed to be a lot of children covered in powdered snow as well!
Our Early Childhood Directed Studies students began the second half of their school year by continuing in their commitment to help our VPK
children become “kindergarten ready”. By designing standard based activities and often working with children one on one, these students assist our
VPK teacher with targeting individual learning needs while at the same time learning how to become a quality early childhood teacher.
To close out January Kampus Kids celebrated Literacy Week with a variety of activities which encourage a love for books and promote emergent
reading skills. Upper level students planned hibernating and other bear activities to accompany the book, Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming. Level
One students spent quality one on one time reading many other delightful winter storybooks with the children.
Beginning in February Early Childhood students as a part of their ECPC developed lesson plans to coincide with Competency II requirements.
Working in teams the students created science lesson plans for cognitive development. Some of the experiments included a simulated snow storm,
magnetic attraction, groundhog shadows, and a pink valentine slime mixture.
Our annual Sweetheart Family Dance was once again a very popular affair. FCCLA and Early Childhood students planned and hosted the event.
Parents, grandparents, and children had a blast dancing under the disco ball. The evening festivities also featured a trip to the candy shop, photos at
the Hugging Booth, strawberry shortcake bar, and a make and take valentine. This is one of our “sweetest events” of the year.
In celebration of George Washington’s birthday Level One students planned a colonial tea party for the children. Children created bonnets or
tricorn hats to wear to the patriotic themed party. High school students served “British tea” in china cups and encouraged children to bring their
“proper manners” to the party.
Digital Design “It’s in There”
“Left Brain Creations” is a new club this year that meets to make crafts
and holiday decorations. So far this year, we have made several crafts
that we found on Pinterest:
•“Sugar Skull masks,” “Ghosts in a Jar,” and “Leaf Lanterns”
for fall
•“Cars in Jars” and “Pinecone Christmas trees” for Dec.
•“Sharpie mugs” and “Collage frames” for Jan/Feb.
We average about 10 people per craft but we have supplies for 20 so we
need to advertise more. We meet in Ms. Parker’s room #107 in main on
the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 1:45-3:30, but we are taking a break for a couple months as Ms. Katz (other sponsor) is going to
be having a baby but we will resume and we will be here for next school
year too. There are no dues and snacks are provided! We really have fun
and you get to take your craft home with you!
OPH Digital Design students learned the importance of design planning
by competing in the classroom “Cereal Box Design Competition”. Students worked in teams to analyze an existing cereal box. They identified
the target audience, color theory, typography, and design principle(s)
utilized. Next, the students were challenged to design their own unique
cereal box. Teams sketched their design for approval and then went
to work creating their design using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Finally, select faculty members voted for the best design. Many commented that it was a “tough decision” and commended all of the students
on a job well done. The winning design was “Kool Kids Krunch” created by Sandrine Mangalindan , Ryan Nalepa and Metzli Sanchez.
Un-weighted gpa
OPHS SWAT has partnered with Orange Park Medical Center to share the dangers
of tobacco use with our local community. The students you see pictured are now
trained to go out to speak in our community about local statistics compared to national averages. An average of 88 Floridians die each day from tobacco related illnesses. Our goal is to reduce the number of Clay County residents who make up
that statistic. Please see Ms. Jump in portable K59 or visit quitdoc.com if you would
like to be smoke free in 2015!
Orange Park High School’s Imagination Players Troupe performed Twelve Angry Jurors on February 26th, 27th and 28th at 7PM each night.
They had the opportunity to visit the Clay County Courthouse to prepare for their roles as jurors.
They sat in on an actual Family Law Hearing in Judge Wilensky’s Courtroom, arranged by Star Mariano, his Judicial Assistant.
They also sat in the jury box and had the opportunity to practice their lines in an actual jury room.
The actors said it really opened their eyes to what their role really meant.
SPORTS
2015 2A-3 District Champs
RAIDERS ROCK SCIENCE FAIR!
BARTIE’S BIOLOGY BLOG
Mrs. Bartie’s Biology students have been busy now that the OPHS
Science Fair is completed (see separate article regarding the OPHS
Science Fair). Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of asexual
versus sexual reproduction using the Argumentation Driven Inquiry
approach kept us challenged! We put our newly acquired knowledge to
the test by learning how to respectfully question our peers during our
Gallery Walks and Peer Presentation of our Research Posters. Just like
professional scientists do!
Then it was on to Genetics! Learning about the Human Genome
Project and mastering the tools of the trade such as Punnett Squares,
Karyotypes, and Pedigree Analysis was great fun! We pursued
examining our own personal physical traits and compared them with
our fellow colleagues! Using what we had learned from Gregor Mendel
and alternate inheritance patterns was our next challenge. We found
time to sneak into the Computer Lab between all the Guidance testing
and practice our genetics vocabulary using Quizlet.com. We got really
proficient using Scatter and Space Race! Our times just dropped pronto!
Next, we dove into the Lab to study the characteristics of the ABO
Blood System using simulated blood and anti-sera with typing trays.
Our mission was to match up a potential blood donor from 4 volunteers
to transfuse with our ER patient. Keeping with the blood theme, we then
explored the sex-linked recessive disorder, hemophilia. And several
others, too.
Now, we are looking forward to a great Spring Break after which we
will come back refreshed to dive into Natural Selection, Classification,
and Plants! Never a dull moment in Biology! Bring it on!
AP SCIENCE STUDENTS ROCK THE
ELEMENTARY SCIENCE WORLD!
OP AP Science students have been moving and shaking the science
world representing OP in the community this Quarter! A team of
ten students from AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP
Chemistry got to showcase their science skills when they judged over 60
sixth grade science fair projects at Lakeside Elementary School. Whew!
Fun and creative projects were presented by the 6th grade students who
are learning the ins and outs of scientific experimentation!
Mr. Scott Torrens, LES Science Fair Director, said the Raider team
did an OUTSTANDING job judging their projects and represented
OPHS with CLASS! Congratulations to AP Biology students: Leanne
Parody, Katherine Davis, Shylexis Arrington, Acela Nieves, Misty
Weaver and Chance McLeod, AP Chemistry students: Meghann Wheeler
and Olivia Taff, and AP Environmental students: Helen Coutant and
Olivia Youhas for using their analytical science skills and Raider charm
in our community! GO RAIDERS!
OPHS science students conquered the science world with their finely
honed analytical and critical thinking skills! This year 49 projects representing the work of 113 students went toe to toe at the annual OPHS
Science Fair Competition held in the Media Center on Thursday, January 15, 2015. No less than 14 judges handled the onslaught of creative
scientific experimentation!
The cream of the crop, top projects covered music flow and tempos,
reading speeds, the mystery of ambiguous art, mneumonics, time
perception, the effect of temperature on assessment accuracy, the effect
of cheering on athletic performance, and even the impact of grunting
during volleyball in the Behavioral category. In Chemistry, students
experimented with nickel cadmium versus lithium ion batteries and
another project used honey as a method to preserve fruit, just like
in Egyptian times! Projects in Botany and Environmental Science
compared the effect of ocean pH on shells, the effect of magnetism on
bean seedlings, and the color of light on plant growth.
Medicine and Health projects experimented with the respiratory,
cardiovascular, and digestive systems, and the senses of vision and
sound. Not to be outdone, Physics projects tested speed of sound
through water, the angle of football throwing on distance travelled, and
again, another cheerleading project about sticking the landing from a
stunt. But the Academy of Engineering and Design hit the jackpot with
projects in the Engineering category on underwater robots, robotic arms,
making parenting easier with a custom designed sensory device, using a
Ruben’s tube for sound wave determination, and making batteries from
scratch! WOW!
Twenty projects were selected to compete with the best projects
from all the high schools in Clay County at the Clay County Rotary
Science Fair on February 3, 2015 held at the Clay County Fairgrounds.
OPHS projects earned three 3rd place trophies, one first place trophy,
numerous special awards, and even had a project selected to compete on
the County team at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Deland,
Florida! Yes, you guessed it… It was the underwater robot created and
tested by the team of Michael Nee, Cole Hewett, and Anthony Frecona
that got the nod for the State team from OPHS!
Kudos to all Raiders who entered the Fair this year! And a HUGE
shout-out goes to all who were involved in making this year’s science
fair such a great success!
RAIDER SCIENCE RULES!
AP2D Studio Art: Design
Teacher: Maristela Miller
Dallas Depriest
Samuel Caton
Shakarri Mack
Brandi Paradiso
Alexandrai McCalmant
Alexander Jacobson
Emily Belloso
Amanda May
AP3D Studio Art
Teacher: Maristela Miller
Emily Belloso
Tatiana Summerall
Peyton Jones
Esmith Yarza
Megan Hanlin
Peyton Jones
Brianna Brand
Dallas DePriest
Mallory Jarriel
Danielle Resto
Alexandria McCalmant
Alexandria McCalmant
The Physics classes investigate the controlling variable a
pendulum’s period. The students write their own procedures,
and predict the graph shape of final data.
Regional HOSA
Competitive Events
On Saturday, Jan 10th, our Health Academy HOSA
students participated in the annual Regional HOSA
competitive events. We had 47 students to place for
awards. All of our students are winners and we are
very proud of them. I would like to take this time to
thank our students for being so polite, competitive,
and presenting OPHS with extremely great behavior. Here is a list of our placed winners. Once again,
please pat our students on the back for a job well
done!!!!!
1. Letha Adams/Alicia Bahr – 1st place – Forensic Medicine
2. Jumana Azer/Alisha Ali – 2nd place – CPR/First Aid
3. Julio Batista – 1st place – Biomedical Laboratory Science
Cameron LaMarre – 3rd place –Biomedical Laboratory
Science
4. Cameron Breu, Jeff Gainer, Karen Diaz, Yenerys Lima, Kayla
Prendergast – 5th place – Public Service Announcement
5. Alexandra Brignoni – Health Care Issues Exam
6. Lexus Thomas – 3rd place – Physical Therapy
Danielle Matuszek – 4th place
Madison Brooks – 5th place
7. Marissa Brown – 1st place – Knowledge Test - Pathophysiology
Acela Nieves – 2nd place
8. Joseph Buchman – 1st place – Prepared Speaking
9. Michaela Byrd – 5th place – Medical Reading
10. Brice Carpenter – 1st place – Medical Math
Caitlin Shaw – 3rd place
11. Allison Chu – 1st place – EW
12. Jennifer Collazo, Jade Tudor, Robert Williams – 2nd place –
Health Education
13. Carrington Craddock – 1st place - Knowledge Test
Misty Weber – 3rd place
14. Katharine Davis, Cheyanne Gonzalez – 2nd place – Career
Health Display
Haley White, Keerthana Yogaratnam – 5th place
15. Kennedi Etheridge – 1st place – Researched Prepared Speaking
16. Marie Fields – 1st place – Medical Spelling
Kenya Thomas – 3rd place
17. Mya Hardy – 3rd place – Veterinary Science
18. Kamiyah Rhone – 1st place – Home Health Aide
Alanah Lewis – 2nd place
Melanie Lopez – 3rd place
Heather Laroussi – 4th place
19. Samantha Wainwright – 1st place – Medical Photography
Alexandra Wheeler – 3rd place
Skylar McGlynn – 4th place
Paula Morga – 5th place
20. Shanel Sims – 3rd place – Medical Assisting
Nicole Welling – 4th place
Miss OPHS Scholarship Pageant
and Miss Clay County Teen Pageant
March 7, 2015
Tickets: $5 in advance
$10 at the door
Doors open at 5:30 PM
Pageant Starts at 6:00 PM
D rawing &C ommercial A rt
Teacher: Boyce McClain
Katherine Kempfert
AP 2D
Brittany Smith
Drawing 3
Briana Ojeda
AP 2D
Charles Thomas
Commercial Art 1
Carlie Lee
AP Drawing
Libby Leroy
AP2D
Alyssa Matuson
Commercial Art 3
Frank Byrne
Commercial Art 1
OPHS Administration
Orange Park High School
2300 Kingsley Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
Main 272-8100
Guidance 272-8101
Attendance 272-8120
Clinic 272-8106
Administration 272-8110
Ms. Treasure Pickett, Principal
Mr. Bill Fletcher, Vice Principal
Mr. Anthony Bradley, Asst. Principal
Clayton Anderson, Asst. Principal
Athletic Director: Martin Aftuck
District School Social Work Office:
272-8100 ext. 6590 or 272-6590
Clay County Sheriff’s Office:
264-6512/284-7575/473-7211
Clay Behavioral Heath Center:
291-5561
Youth Crisis Center:
725-6662
State Attorney’s Office Truancy Arbitration Program: 269-6319
School District of Clay County:
(904) 284-6500/272-8100/(352) 473-2011
Mission Statement
The distinctive mission of Orange Park High
School is to challenge our students to achieve
and demonstrate excellence, integrity, and
responsibility in all aspects of society.
Vision Statement
Seize an education to treasure Occupo an erudio ut thesaurus
Core Values
Honesty, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect,
Communication, Diversity, High Expectations,
Positivism, Responsibility, and Individuality
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Contact: Boyce McClain
525-2552
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[email protected]
OPHS News Production Staff
Administrator: Ms. Treasure Pickett
Art Director: Boyce McClain
Proactive, positive interactions are the best deterrents
to inappropriate behavior.
All students are the responsibility of all staff.
Create a positive, invitational environment using
encouragement procedures.
Keep the rate of positive interactions high:
3 positive for every negative.
Don’t underestimate the power of verbal
and non-verbal positive interactions.