The Bear Pride
Cypress Creek High School Community Brief
CCHS Community Member,

This past week we celebrated our wonderful Senior Class of 2021 with two special events: Senior Drive Through on Thursday and Prom on Saturday evening. We've included a few pictures below which capture the success of these events, but I am just so proud of the spirit I saw as we worked to produce traditional senior activities despite the lingering effects of Covid. Thank you again to all of the students, faculty, and staff that worked so hard to make sure both the Drive Through and Prom came off successfully for our Seniors.

This week we continue spring testing with Common Final Exams. For those of our Bears that will be testing, please be sure to get a good night's sleep the evening before the test and to eat a healthy breakfast the morning of a test. The CFEs represent a lot of study to this point, so those two actions can help you perform at your best.

In this edition we have rerun some important information for our Class of 2021 pertaining to Senior Clearance and Graduation. Please look this over very carefully if this pertains to you or your student.

Have a great week and again, thank you for your continued support as we turn into what will be our last regular five-day school week of 2020-2021.

In Bear Pride,

Dr. McHale

Pictured above right: Principal McHale celebrates during this year's Senior Drive Through (please see story below).

Pictured very top and just below: Congratulations to our U.S. Navy Junior ROTC for earning the Unit Achievement Award for the 3rd year in a row!
Monday, May 17, 2021
Florida flag
Useful Links 
Connect with CCHS
1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, FL 32824
(407) 852-3400
Testing: 2020-2021 CFEs
May 18-20: End of Year Common Final Exams
Meals
Wednesday May 19th: Supper and after-school snack (face to face) - last day

Monday May 24th: Curbside meals give away (14 days breakfast and lunch, plus 1 day of supper and snack - distant learners) - last day
Theatre
Congratulations to the Cypress Creek Theatre Department as they were selected to perform at the Orlando International Fringe Festival with an original piece called:

The Day the Sky Fell

Please come out and support our troupe.

Go Bears!
Senior Drive Through Highlights
Dr. McHale, the administrative team, teachers, and staff celebrated the Class of 2021 during this year's Senior Drive Through. Congratulations to our 2021 Senior Class!

We also want to congratulate Ms. Roviero, our Senior Class sponsor, for another successful Senior Drive Through.

Go Bears!!
Senior Prom Highlights
Bear Athletics
FREE Sports Physicals
ALL OCPS ATHLETES will now be REQUIRED to also have an ECG before being allowed to participate. For FALL Athletes the deadline is August 2 – The first day of the official start of Fall practices.

On June 26th from 9:00am-1:00pm “Be A Player” is offering free physicals and ECGs to OCPS athletes from any school. This event will take place at Jones High School. This event is limited to the first 800 athletes with a pre-registration line opening at 8:00am. Attached you will see the pre-registration form that can be filled out and submitted in advance to Jordan Klarfeld at JSJKlarfeld@beaplayer.org. Walk ups will only be accepted if there is still availability.
Track & Field
Please congratulate the 3 State Qualifiers who ran at the State Meet on Saturday, May 8th:

  • Jaden Mathieu - completed in the High Jump and place 4th clearing 1.97m (about 6’ 5 1/2”)
  • Nyasia Rivera – ran 59.65 in the 400m finished 14th
  • Kerry Ann Francis – threw 10.21 finished 16th
Thank You SROs!
Last week was National Police Week across the United States. We would like to thank those law enforcement officers who presently serve as well as to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Here at Cypress Creek, we appreciate our two SROs, Deputy Betchan and Deputy Garcia. Thank you for helping to keep our campus safe!
During this special week, Cypress Creek High School also remembers those Orange County Sheriff's Deputies who have lost their lives in the line of duty - list and profiles of.
Top row from left: Deputy First Class Norman Cecil Lewis (motorcycle crash), Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Scott Pine (gunfire), Detective Michael K. Erickson (heart attack), Deputy Sheriff Sebastian Edward Diana (related illness from action), Deputy First Class Brandon Lee Coates (gunfire), Master Deputy Craig A. Heber (heart attack), Corrections Officer Mark Lindsey Parker (gunfire), Deputy Sheriff Michael Anthony Callin (vehicular assault).

Second row from left: Deputy Sheriff Mariano "Rocky" Lemus, Jr. (action related illness), Deputy Sheriff James Marcus "Jimmy" Weaver (struck by vehicle), Deputy Sheriff John Harold Holloman (automobile crash), Deputy Sheriff Grady Terrill Braddock (vehicular assault), Deputy Sheriff John Joseph Creegan (vehicular assault), Deputy Sheriff Harry Jordan Dalton, Jr. (gunfire), Deputy Sheriff Thomas Allen Ingram (vehicular assault), Deputy Sheriff Arnold William Wilkerson (gunfire).
Third row from left: Deputy Sheriff Frank Nelso Seton (fall), Deputy Sheriff Samuel Parker, Jr. (motorcycle crash), Deputy Sheriff Bobby L. Corley, Sr. (vehicular assault), Sheriff David William L. Mizell (gunfire, 1870).
FFA Bears Finish in the Top 5!
Congratulations to Ms. Constantino and Cypress Creek's FFA officers for earning our first awards for placing in the top 5 in 2 of the National FFA Organization's competitions. Go Bears!!!!
Student Device Update
As per OCPS policy, all students may keep their current devices this summer if they will return to the same school in the Fall or if they are moving from a middle school to their designated high school.

  • Students who graduate, plan on changing schools, or will be attending a magnet school outside of their designated zone must return their devices.
Textbooks and Laptops
LaunchEd Underclassmen:
Seniors:
Class of 2021 Graduation
Summer Opportunity
Summer Camp parameters:
  1. Current CTE Students who have not attained an industry certification aligned with their CTE program of study.
  2. Students who have not met the statutory limit of 3 testing attempts per industry certification, during the 2020-2021 school year.
  3. Students who are not required to attend other summer school sessions during June.
  4. Students must be able to attend the summer session in-person.
Bear in the Woods
Nataly Montealegre, Class of 2016
My name is Nataly Montealegre. I graduated from Cypress Creek in 2016. I was pretty involved in sports at Cypress - I played women's basketball for 3 years and women's tennis, but my true passion wasn't sports although I enjoyed them. I was part of TV production for 4 years and fell in love with the creating news for what is now CCTV (back when I was there we had TVs in the classrooms LOL). I wrote scripts, edited videos and produced a show all 4 years of high school.

I continued my passion and graduated from UCF in December with a bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in English Literature. I interned at WESH 2 News, covered the 2020 election for the Orlando Sentinel and shadowed Nancy Alvarez at WFTV.

Today I'm an associate producer for WESH 2 News. I write the news you hear from the anchors and create a newscast every day.

One thing I want to tell students... it sounds cliche and obvious, but sometimes the most unreal dreams can become the most real if you work hard for it!
Calling All CCHS Alumni!
Cypress Creek wants to encourage our current students to keeping pushing towards success even during the Covid pandemic.

If you graduated from Cypress Creek and would like to be feature in our "Bear in the Woods" section of future of this community brief and in our social media, please click on this link: https://forms.gle/aYgEZr81YpCFqPs88 and complete the Google form.

Your story can benefit our current students as they can draw insight from your message. Thank you and GO BEARS!
Weekly SEL Update
Social Emotional Learning
OCPS News
Face Masks Still Required:
The district is currently reviewing the most recent CDC guidance on face masks that was released today for individuals who have been fully vaccinated. The School Board will continue to consult with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County and the school board’s Medical Advisory Committee regarding any potential policy changes in the future. At this time, face masks are still required on school property.

Superintendent Jenkins' Latest Community Update:
Dr. Jenkins just released her YouTube Community Update which is only 4 minutes long, but touches upon a number of topics helpful to our Cypress Creek community such as the use of face masks, plans for LaunchEd learning at home in 2021-2022, summer school, and more. Please click here.

2021-2022 Calendar:
Seniors, Seniors, Seniors
Senior Clearance (Mandatory for Graduating Seniors):
May 19th, 8 am -12noon pm in the gym (You will not need to be there for the entire time, it's about a 30-45 minute process and you come at anytime between 8 am and 1 pm)

Graduation tickets will be handed out after you successfully complete all parts of the clearance process. There also may be some other goodies handed out that day for graduating seniors :).

Before Attending Senior Clearance:
* Textbooks - Turn in all textbooks to media center.
* Obligations - Pay all obligations at schoolpay.com (Mandatory to Graduate!)
* Laptop - Turn in laptop to media center before school (or at senior clearance).

** Student Services Senior Form
~ Must be signed in with your OCPS student account

** OCPS Senior Survey
1) In your Student LaunchPad, click on the SCOIR icon.
2) Click on the three lines at the top right hand corner of your screen, then click on “surveys” and complete the OCPS Senior Survey 2021.

** FAFSA-2021-2022
Did you complete your 2021-2022 FAFSA already?
Please forward me (talani.nelson@ocps.net) your “processed successfully” confirmation email you received from FAFSA. You can also email me a screenshot of your completed 2021-2022 FAFSA.

If you haven’t completed the 2021-2022 FAFSA, see the steps below to complete your FAFSA application!

Step 1: Create a FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov
~ You and your parent will need to create a FSA ID so you both can sign your FAFSA electronically.
Step 2: Complete your 2021-2022 FAFSA application at fafsa.ed.gov
Step 3: Once you complete your FAFSA, forward the “processed successfully” confirmation email to talani.nelson@ocps.net

Not planning on attending college, university, or technical college next year? Please email me at talani.nelson@ocps.net

** Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA/Bright Futures)
The FFAA application must be submitted prior to high school graduation in order to be considered for eligibility. Complete your application at: https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org

Graduation Cap and Gowns:
Face to Face Students: Graduation Caps and Gowns were delivered at lunches on May 4th for Face to Face students. If students needed to purchase them the cost was around $60 from Herff Jones.

LaunchEd Students: Graduation Caps and Gowns were delivered in the auditorium lobby on May 4th for LaunchEd students from 3-4pm. If students needed to purchase them the cost was around $60 from Herff Jones.

If you were unavailable to pick up/purchase your caps and gowns at these times: you may pick still them up/purchase them at Senior Clearance on May 19th from 8am-12noon in the gym.

Graduation:
Time: May 25th, 7:30 pm. Students need to be there no later than 6 pm.
Students must have their caps/gowns/cords (if applicable) with them graduation morning. Students who arrive with their gown on must have it unzipped for the duration of the lining up process.

Students must be on time and dressed appropriately.

Not acceptable for any student:
~ There will be absolutely no decorating caps or gowns allowed.
~ Flowers should not be carried or pinned to the gown
~ Sneakers, flip-flops, t-shirts, jeans are not acceptable
~ Cell phones

We will confiscate all cameras, video equipment, cell phones, keys and purses. Leave these items in the car or with a parent.

Students must cooperate in the lining up process. This is not the time to socialize and walk around. You must be wearing a mask for the whole process. When you are seated in your assigned seat during graduation, you must be paying attention to the directions given to you as you will not have a rehearsal.

Ceremony Set up: There will be two streamlined ceremonies back to back to allow for social distancing between students. The first half of the alphabet will graduate first followed immediately by the second half of the alphabet. The audience is encouraged to stay for both ceremonies.

Tickets: Just as a reminder, each graduating senior will receive a pod of 4 tickets to the graduation for their guests. Tickets will be handed out at senior clearance in a random fashion and will have specific seats assigned to them. At this time there is no availability for more tickets. There is no re entry if audience members leave the Amway.

Livestream: This event will be livestreamed.

Rehearsal: There will be no rehearsal.

Check in: Students will need to be in the GEICO Parking Garage for check in by 6pm.

Parking: Parking in the GEICO garage is free for students, parents, and staff.

Afterwards: Students will exit by the corner of Church Street and Division. They can meet their families back in the GEICO garage. All confiscated phones and keys will be available at the front of the AMWAY beginning when the first ceremony ends and for up to 30 minutes after the second ceremony concludes. All belongings not picked up thirty minutes after the ceremony ends will need to be picked up at Cypress Creek High School the next day.
Community Resources
Emergency Rental Assistance Program:
Source: Orange County Government; Click here for more details
Food For Thought
1) Sleep by country. We included this one as an importance of sleep reminder for any of our Bears getting ready to take their EOC final exams this week!
Source: Statista; Read full article
2) Fast food chain success. Some of our Bears may be considering summer jobs or even working part-time during high school.
Source: chartr
Footnote for our Bears: This past week McDonald's announced plans to raise wages by around 10% for more than 36,000 workers who work in its company-owned restaurants (not franchises). This is a big deal for McDonald's, which has more locations than any other fast food outlet except Subway and Starbucks, and it comes just after rival Chipotle announced a hike in its wages last week.
3) Wisdom To Live By:
Bruce Lee On Character
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
~ Bruce Lee, martial artist

Frida Kahlo On Perseverance
At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.
~ Frida Kahlo, artist

Miguel de Cervantes On High Standards
Virtue is the truest nobility.
~ Miguel de Cervantes, writer

Paul Meyer On Time Management
Time is usually wasted in the same way every day.
~ Paul Meyer, Author
Have a great week Bears!
Dr. McHale, Principal
Cypress Creek High School
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Leadership Team
Administrators and Deans
1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, FL 32824
Phone 407-852-3400
Fax 407-850-5160 | EEO Statement
This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that OCPS utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone.
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 - Cypress Creek High School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of Cypress Creek High School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Dr. McHale at walton.mchale@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.