Laker Life Newsletter - October 16, 2025

Laker Nation, It’s Time to Paint the Stands RED!

Tomorrow night, Lakers Field will be electric as we come together for one of the most spirited events of the year: Homecoming and our Fall Sports Senior Night Celebration. This isn’t just a game—it’s a community tradition that brings Lakers of all ages together to celebrate pride, unity, and everything that makes Windermere Prep special.

This year, we’re calling on our entire community to “Red Out” the stands. We want to see a sea of red filling every seat as we rally behind our Lakers under the Friday night lights. Whether you’re a student, parent, alum, faculty member, or friend of the program, your presence and energy make this night unforgettable.

Homecoming is more than the big game. It’s about honoring the Lakers who have paved the way. We’ll proudly recognize our senior student-athletes from football, cheer, cross country, and golf. These seniors have represented our school with heart, leadership, and unwavering commitment. Senior Night is our opportunity to celebrate their impact and thank them and their families for their dedication to Windermere Prep Athletics.

Senior Night Recognition Schedule

Pre-Game Recognition: Senior Football Players

Senior football players and their families will be recognized at 5:40 PM, just prior to kickoff.
Families are asked to arrive on campus by 5:15 PM for check-in and lineup.

Halftime Recognition: Cheer, Golf, and Cross Country Seniors

Senior members of the cheer, golf, and cross country teams will be honored during halftime.
Families should gather on the track near the WPS sideline with approximately five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Livestream

For those unable to attend in person, the game and senior recognition ceremonies will be livestreamed - Watch Live on Hudl.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 17

WPS vs. Bronson High School

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Theme: RED OUT

Wear red. Head-to-toe Laker red.
Bring your voice. Get loud and proud.
Pack the stands. Show our seniors the full strength of the Laker community.

Let’s fill the night with energy, tradition, and Laker pride. Together, we’ll celebrate our seniors, cheer on our team, and create an atmosphere that shows what UNITAS truly means.

Go Lakers! Let’s make it a night to remember!

Mr. Patrick Hollern

Director of Athletics

IMPORTANT

DATES

11/11

Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL (Hurricane Make-Up Day)

11/24-11/28

Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

12/18

Early Dismissal

12/19

Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL

12/22-1/2

Winter Break - NO SCHOOL

1/5

Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL

1/6

Classes Resume - Semester 2 Begins

Exciting News: Windermere Preparatory School Ranks Among America’s Top Private Schools!

We’re thrilled to announce that Windermere Preparatory School is proud to once again be recognized among the nation’s best in the 2026 Niche Best Schools Rankings, a reflection of our school’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student growth, and a learning community built on heart and purpose.

This year, we earned distinctions that place us among the top schools in the nation:

Top 5% of College Prep Private High Schools in the U.S.
Top 6% of Private K-12 Schools in the U.S.
Top 6% of Private High Schools in the U.S.
#1 Best Private High School in Orange County, Florida
#1 Best Private K-12 School in Orange County, Florida
Top 3 Best Private Schools in the Orlando Area

A big thank you to our dedicated students, exceptional faculty and staff, and supportive Laker parent community for making this possible. Your hard work and enthusiasm are truly what sets us apart!

Our Admissions Office encourages all current Laker families interested in applying for an additional child (not currently attending WPS) for the 2026-27 school year to submit your application by Friday, November 14 to be placed on the priority list.

Please note: This only applies to NEW students and not current students. Do not submit an application if your child is currently enrolled at Windermere Prep. This is not re-enrollment.

We have already received numerous applications, and we are expecting to reach full capacity again this year, so it is important to complete the full application process now.

As a current family, you will be placed on the priority list if seats become available and your child meets the admissions requirements. Although applying now will get you on the priority list, there are no guarantees of admission.

Click here to apply for a NEW student.

Laker Families,

As we enter the Winter Athletics Season, we’d like to share the start dates and tryout information for each sport, as well as remind families of the athletic participation requirements.

WINTER SPORTS

Girls Basketball - Varsity/MS (Grades 6-12)

Head Coach: Darren Evans (darren.evans@windermereprep.com)

Varsity Tryouts:
Monday, October 27 - 5:00-6:45pm
Tuesday, October 28 - 5:00-6:45pm
Middle School Tryouts:
November 12, 2025 - Time TBD

Boys Basketball - Varsity/JV/Freshman/8th Grade/7th Grade/6th Grade

Head Coach: Brian Hoff (brian.hoff@windermereprep.com)

Varsity/JV/Freshman Tryouts:
Begin Monday, October 27 - 3:15-5:00pm
Middle School Tryouts:
November 12, 2025 - Time TBD

Competitive Cheer - Varsity (Grades 6-12)

Head Coach: Audrey Petterson (audrey.petterson@windermereprep.com)

Tryouts are complete.

ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

To participate in a sport at WPS, all student-athletes must have all athletic requirements completed and uploaded to the Magnus Health Portal prior to the first day of tryouts including an updated Physical Form.
To view the full list of requirements, participating in sports must be indicated in the “Conditional Questions” section in Magnus.
International Students: Additional FHSAA forms are required and will become visible in Magnus after selecting that the student is an international athlete. Students at WPS on a visa must contact Cheryl or Rob in the athletic office to make sure all additional requirements are completed (cheryl.coppolella@windermereprep.com or robert.oquinn@windermereprep.com)

All forms can also be found at WPSAthletics.com and within the Magnus Health Portal.

NEED ASSISTANCE?

For help with athletic requirements or the Magnus Health Portal:

Cheryl Coppolella – cheryl.coppolella@windermereprep.com
Robert O’Quinn – robert.oquinn@windermereprep.com

For general athletic questions:

Patrick Hollern, Director of Athletics – patrick.hollern@windermereprep.com

Stay Connected with WPS Athletics!

Stay up to date with all things Lakers by following Windermere Prep Athletics online. Catch livestreams, find scores and stats, purchase tickets, and see the latest highlights and student-athlete features.

Visit WPSAthletics.com and follow @wps_lakers on Instagram for news, schedules, and exclusive content.