Class Notes 09.10.15

+ Home-schooled students enjoy party

Students at Humphreys Junior High jumpstarted the school year with a back-to-school party at Rebounderz Orlando where they met new friends and renewed old friendships.

This year they will study world history and geography and will write research papers about countries of the world and famous people from world history. HJH students are homeschooled by their mothers and attend classes one day a week at Pine Ridge Church on Hiawassee Road.

+ OCPS Parent Academy returns

Registration is open for the first Parent Academy event of the new school year. This is a free event for parents to learn more about the district and how to help their child be successful in school. During the Parent Academy events, parents can attend several breakout sessions to learn how to become full partners in their child’s education.

The first event theme is “Leading Our Students to Success: A Parent’s Guide to OCPS.” It will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Edgewater High School, 3100 Edgewater Drive, Orlando.

This Parent Academy will provide an array of sessions, including Elementary Standards and Assessments, the Value of OCPS Tech Centers, Digital Resources, Financial Literacy and a Survival Guide for the Beginning of School.

There will be activities for the entire family. The Parent Academy is free, and lunch is included. An interactive childcare is available for children ages 4 to 12.

Parents can register electronically at ParentAcademy.ocps.net, obtain a registration form from the main office of their child’s school, or call (407) 317-3300. Registration is also available on-site the day of the OCPS Parent Academy.

+ DPHS’s Chery receives honor

Samantha B. Chery, of Ocoee, has been selected to become a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. She is a student at Dr. Phillips High School.

The society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment.

NSHSS members become lifetime members. At each step along the way, from high school to college to career, NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resouces they need to develop their strength and pursue their passions.

+ College Board honors MVA scholars

The College Board has recognized 53 Montverde Academy students for their outstanding performance on the 2015 Advanced Placement examinations held in May.  Troy Urquhart, dean of the upper-school, said several students received special distinction with their excellent scores on the spring AP exams:

• Twenty-two students were recognized as AP Scholars after receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

• Seven students were recognized as AP Scholars with Honor. These students received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

• Twenty-one students were recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction. These students received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and they received scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

Three MVA 2014-15 students also were recognized as National AP Scholars: Skylar Knight, Class of 2015 valedictorian, who earned scores of 4 or 5 on eight AP exams; and Shuya Zhan, Class of 2015 salutatorian, and Qiannan Zhu, who each earned scores of 4 or 5 on 10 AP exams.

+ Area students earn college kudos

Four West Orange County students were named to the dean’s list at Virginia Tech for the spring semester.

Brianna J. Harb, of Windermere, is a senior majoring in international studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.​ Emma D. Tum Suden, of Orlando, is a sophomore majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. Karan P. Kotadia, of Orlando, is a junior majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. Eric A. Bruning, of Orlando, is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.

The school is in Blacksburg, Virginia.

+ Douglas Cooley earns scholarship

Douglas Cooley, of Winter Garden, has been awarded a Fred and Waunee Walker Scholarship at Valdosta State University for the 2015-16 academic year.

Thirty-nine new and returning students were selected to receive a scholarship through VSU Foundation Inc. These scholarships were established by private donors and are awarded each year to students with excellent academic achievement and/or financial need. Each recipient represents the high standards of the university.

The school is in Valdosta, Ga.

+ Retired O.C. educators to meet

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando, for a program on the Orange County History Center.

Anyone who has worked in education is invited to join.

For more information, call (407) 677-0446.