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The DPHS chapter of National Honor Society held its annual induction ceremony during the last week of October—this week's Panther Spotlight below!

The DPHS chapter of National Honor Society held its annual induction service on Tuesday, October 27. The 68 new members accepted have an average cumulative GPA of 4.59, and those students have contributed more than 6,000 hours of community service. Their accomplishments in scholarship, leadership, service, and character are certainly one way to show that our Panthers are Never Less Than the Best!

Helena Galatto Pedro, (Patricia Contreras is hiding behind her), Caroline Free, and inductee James Lozano

Principal Ramsey speaks to the new National Honor Society inductees 

CIS and VPA Special Events this Monday, Nov. 9:

Current 8th-9th grade students and families are invited to attend the CIS Open House on Nov 9th from 6-7pm in the DPHS Media Center. Come learn more about the magnet and how to join. See you there!

DPHS Center for International Studies

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DPHS Visual and Performing Arts Magnet

November is:

November 11

This Wednesday, DPHS will welcome one of our former students and current midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, who will speak with students about the opportunities available at USNA. If you are interested in attending, please sign up by scanning the QR code below.

November 13 & 14: DP Theatre's District Showcase feature of Poor Clare and Thespys

The Dr. Phillips Theatre Magnet is proud to present Poor Clare. It’s 1211 in Assisi, Italy, and Clare’s got beauty, wealth and a rich suitor who showers her with expensive presents. So why is she so drawn to this guy Francis who gave up all his possessions just because poor people are suffering? Everyone in town says he’s crazy. And yet she starts seeing everything in her life differently. This hilarious, anachronistic telling of the real story of St. Clare considers the cost of doing good – and how little has changed for the haves and the have-nots in almost a millennium.

On November 13 and 14 at 7 pm, we will present our annual District Showcase featuring our competition one-act, Poor Clare, along with our selection of individual events, or Thespys.

This is the only public performance of both our Thespy events and Poor Clare before competition. Each evening will feature a different selection of Thespys, including monologues, musical performances, duets, dance pieces, student-directed events, and ensemble performances, so be sure to come out and support our students on both nights.

November 13 & 14 at 7:00 PM

Tickets available at www.teachtix.com/dphs 

Creative Futures: SCAD Visits Dr. Phillips High School

Art students at Dr. Phillips High School explored the possibilities of a future in the arts during a special guest presentation from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The visiting speaker introduced students to SCAD’s educational offerings and shared an encouraging message: Creative and design industries are alive, well, and growing. The presentation connected students’ interests in art and design with opportunities for continued education and future careers, helping them consider how the skills they develop in the classroom can become the foundation for a professional path.

For young artists, learning about these possibilities is an important part of planning what comes next. Experiences like this help students look beyond their current projects and begin asking meaningful questions about their interests, goals, and the education needed to pursue them.

The visual art department looks forward to welcoming representatives from additional colleges and schools that offer creative, artistic, and design programs. By introducing students to a range of educational pathways, we hope to help them make informed decisions and envision futures where their creativity can thrive.

Thank you to SCAD for sharing its opportunities and helping our students imagine where their artistic talents might take them.

Para-Boo-Las is a project for extra credit for Algebra 2 Honors.

Students have to graph the Spook family and dress them up to go to a Halloween party. The family has six members, and each is a quadratic function whose graph is a parabola.

The concept of the parabola is about 2,400 years old, dating back to ancient Greece. Parabolas are used today by engineers, economists, and in the automotive industry. 

On Friday, October 30th the Chemistry department hosted their annual Halloween lab, "Introduction into Chemical Reactions."

Mr. Turner setting off the exploding Jack o' Lanterns.

The exploding pumpkins is a favorite lab at DP. To blow up the pumpkin there is a chemical reaction that’s occurring, producing a gas that will combust.

The Dance Magnet spent Sunday, November 1 at Orlando Ballet taking classes, and performing.

Featured in this picture is the group production, “The Sign,” a Prince tribute, choreographed by Gina Hatch.

On Friday, October 30th students and staff got into the Halloween spirit, with students participating in our DPCon costume contest.

Ian Briceno, Elizabeth Brown, Rex Clark, Alexa Phillips, Nghi Pham, Khang Nguyen, and Ms. Dizeu

Malika Dghirni, Athena Amador, Naya Clark, Daniela Angel, and Ms. Dizeu

Jazmine Thompson, Mrs. Burgos, Dante Massey

Mr. Williams, Ms. Stavdal, Ms. Golub, Ms. Paul, Ms. Bezold, Mrs. Wells, and Dr. Amador

Imani James, Amelie England, Kei'neisha Huggins, Mia Elidrissi and Reese Emerson

Michelle McKenzie and her mom, Gina McKenzie

Ms. McKenzie and Mrs. Baker

Porter Spencer and Rylee Porter, who won 1st place in the DPCon contest!

Adrieli Da Silva Melo

Ethan Shingles and Omario Williams

Kenley Owens

Zane Soper

Jaeda Thomas

Natalie Gentry

Alex Kwan

Clara Smith

Iyonnah Johnson and Allison Ramos-Licona

DECA

DECA is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Pantry from now-November 13th. Please bring any of the listed items, such as canned corn or green beans, boxed cake mix, turkey or chicken stuffing, etc, to Ms. Doud in room 2-101. 

STUCO

The Student Council is sponsoring a Winter Book Drive from now through December 9th. Please drop off new or gently used children's books in room 3-103. We will also be collecting toys until Thanksgiving break.

Did you know Dr. Phillips has a school store? 

Located right behind the Panther statue in the South Campus courtyard and open every day from 7:30-1:30, the store sells a variety of DP merchandise. Currently, all Awareness Hoodies are $20!

In honor of Veterans Day this week, Dr. Phillips High School would like to thank all of the veterans who have served in the United States military. Below, you will find highlights of some of our Panthers who are veterans, but please know there are also others who did not wish to be featured. We are very proud of our Panther veterans who have served both as members of the armed forces and then as educators. Thank you all for your service to our country! 

* Name of teacher: Steve Countryman

* Current job title at DP: Aerospace Science Instructor

* Branch of the US Military: U.S. Air Force

* Years of service: 32

* Final rank: Chief Master Sergeant (E-9)

* Favorite aspect of time while in the US armed forces: Being able to travel all over the world, make some great lifelong friends, and serve my country.

* Combat action (if it applies): No direct combat action, but deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Oman for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

* Name of teacher: Jack Santos

* Current job title at DP: Art Teacher/ Painting 1&2; 2D art 1&2

* Branch of the US Military: US Army 

* Years of service: 8

* Final rank: Staff Sergeant E-6

* Favorite aspect of time while in the US armed forces: I made friends who I consider extended family and had the opportunity to be stationed in South Korea (from there I was able to visit Japan) 

* Combat action (if it applies): Yes, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Non-combat Expeditionary force Kuwait. 

* Name of teacher: Rick Proctor

* Current job at DP: Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (JROTC Teacher)

* Branch of the US Military: US Air Force

* Years of service: 22 years on active duty

* Final rank: Lieutenant Colonel

* Favorite aspect of time while in the US armed forces: As a Navigator on a C-130 cargo plane, I flew around the world and was able to see places that I would not be able to see if I had to pay for it all. The picture of me above is near an airfield in Columbia. I spent lots of time in South America and Europe, deployed to Qatar, and spent some time in the Far East.

* Combat action (if it applies): No combat action

* Name of teacher: Rhonda Williams

* Current job title at DP: English 2

* Branch of the US military: US Army Reserve

* Years of service: 2 years

* Final rank: SPC (still serving)

* Favorite aspect of time in the US armed forces: Traveling across states for different training events

* Combat action? (if it applies) Fun fact - I was the last of 117 trainees to meet weapons qualification requirements. Today I am an expert shooter recording 36/40 target hits.

* Name of teacher: Alexander Serna

* Current job title at DP: JROTC Teacher

* Branch of the US military: US Air Force

* Years of service: 21 Years (1993-2014)

* Final rank: MSgt

* Favorite aspect of time in the US armed forces: Travel to many parts of the world with my family, while getting all my education for free.

* Combat action (if it applies): No direct combat action, but deployed to Incirlick Air Base in Turkey.

On October 26, the Air Force JROTC cadets had their annual Air Force-level inspection, showcasing their discipline and uniform wear, as well as proving it is a cadet-run program. Through their preparation and attention to detail, cadets demonstrated their commitment to excellence and represented the unit with pride. We easily passed the inspection with an Air Force “Meets Standards."

This Week in Panther Athletics:

In the News

Panthers in the final week of the regular football season Orlando Sentinel Super 16 Coaches Poll

Teams are listed with (record), number of votes, (first-place votes), and results from last week. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams.

1. DeLand (9-1) 14 (12): def. Spanish River 44-13.

2. Seminole (10-0) 34 (1): def. No, 9 Oviedo 30-29.

3. TFA (7-3) 46: lost to Lakeland 35-0; forfeited makeup game to West Boca Raton.

4. Jones (7-3) 55: lost to No. 6 West Orange 25-24.

5. Bishop Moore (8-2) 57: def. No. 14 Lake Mary 31-17.

6. West Orange (9-1) 66: def. No. 3 Jones 25-24.

7. Lake Nona (9-1) 71: def. No. 14 Innovation 40-0.

8. Edgewater (6-4) 93: def. 35-21; forfeited makeup game vs. No. 9 Evans.

9. Evans (7-3) 99: def. No. 13 Dr. Phillips 46-0; forfeit win over No. 8 Edgewater.

10. Oviedo (7-3) 104: lost to No. 4 Seminole 30-29.

11. East Ridge (8-2) 130: def. Tavares 49-7.

12. Ocoee (5-5) 154: lost to No. 16 Winter Park 40-15; def. Boone 21-13.

13. Lake Mary (2-8) 156: lost to No. 5 Bishop Moore 31-17.

14. Lake Howell (6-4) 158: def. St. Cloud 34-22; forfeit win over Viera.

15. Lake Brantley (5-5) 160: def. Hagerty 56-0.

16. Dr. Phillips (5-5) 161: lost to No. 9 Evans 46-0.

Coaching panel: Orange County — Patrick Browning (Edgewater), Karlos Odum (Evans), Tim Shifflet (Winter Park), Dennis Thomas (Horizon), Geno Thompson (West Orange), Elijah Williams (Jones). Seminole County — Karl Calhoun (Seminole), Dazzie Morris (Lake Howell), Greg Odierno (Oviedo). Lake County — Donnie Burchfield (East Ridge), Brad Lord (South Lake). Osceola County — Eric Pinellas (Osceola), Mike Short (St. Cloud).

Source: Orlando Sentinel, Thursday, Nov. 5

New Scholarships:

1) Military Child of the Year Award 2027 - Every year Operation Homefront hosts the Military Child of the Year Awards. The awards are open to military children between the ages of 13-18. There are 7 recipients (1 child from each branch of service-the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force) and each recipient receives $10,000 CASH, a laptop, other donated goodies, and a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C. With Operation Homefront and their families. Nominees will be looked at for their volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life.

* Children are entered by nominations. Anyone that knows a military child can nominate any military child. SO, you may nominate your students, friend's children, children can nominate siblings and best friends and so on.

* Open to children of: Active Duty, National Guard, Gold Star, Reserves, Retired

* Nominations are open now and will remain open until December 1, 2027

* Nominate here: https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/

2) GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship - The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program offers college scholarships of up to $40,000 for high school seniors nationwide who showcase leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship. Easy to apply and will change students’ lives.

* Deadline: January 7, 2027

* Award: $10,000 each year (renewable up to $40,000)

* https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarships/

3) Future of Stem Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) - We're looking for students interested in making an impact through science, technology, engineering, and math. Check the website for a list of preferred STEM majors below. If you're pursuing one of them, apply for FOSSI. The FOSSI scholarship can be used for tuition and university-provided room and board. A student may accept additional scholarships, but they cannot exceed the total cost of their education. 

* Deadline: January 8, 2027

* Award: $40,000

* https://futureofstemscholars.org/FOSSI/apply?utm_source=FOSSI nav&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=FOSSI-2026-Application  

4) Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship - The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a multi-faceted experience designed to not only address the financial needs of students who aspire to attend college but also guide them through the process of higher education.

* Deadline: January 14, 2027

* Award: up to $35,000 over four years

* https://jackierobinson.org/apply/

5) West Orange Junior Service League Scholarships. The annual West Orange Junior Service League Scholarships are based on academic achievement, good citizenship, and financial need. Each scholarship is $3,000 to a four-year university (Bachelor’s Degree) or $1,500 towards a two-year college (AA Degree or Technical School).

To be eligible, you must:

* Be a senior at Dr. Phillips HS< West Orange HS, Olympia, Windermere.

* Be a student in good standing who has applied for and is awaiting acceptance, or has been accepted, for further education at an accredited college, university, or trade school in the United States.**

* Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0

* Display traits of good citizenship

* Indicate involvement in school or community activities

* Personal Statements will be run through a plagiarism detector

** Applications are in the College and Career Office. Please see Mr. Petrusic for the West Orange Junior Service League Application!!!

6) Project Weather Scholarship - The Project Weather Scholarship is a one-time award given to one student attending a public, private, home, or parochial school in each of the following counties: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.

* Deadline: January 19, 2027

* Award: $1,000

* https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/community/project-weather

7) Florida Retired Educator Foundation Scholarship (FREF) - FREF has awarded scholarships for high school graduates who wish to teach in the State of Florida. The amount is $4,000 over a four-year period, $1,000 per year.

* Deadline: January 20, 2027

* Award: $1,000 (renewable over 4 years)

* https://www.frea.org/scholarships/

Upcoming Deadlines:

The following is Orange County Public Schools' attendance policy:

Absences shall be excused for the following:

o Illness, injury, or other insurmountable condition;

o Illness or death of a member of the student’s immediate family (OCPS practice has been to define immediate family as the student’s mother, father, brother, sister, stepmother, stepfather, step-siblings, and other relatives who live in the student’s home);

o Recognized (or established) religious holidays and/or religious instruction;

o Medical appointments;

o Legal appointments;

o Participation in an approved activity or class of instruction held at another site;

o Catastrophic disasters that significantly impact the life of the student (e.g. loss of residence from natural disaster).

The following ARE NOT excused absences:

● Car trouble

● Family vacations

● Family reunions

● Going out of town for a wedding

● Had an appointment – to be excused you must provide the proper documentation such as doctor/dentist/therapist’s note, USCIS appointment request, DMV paperwork, etc.

● Personal reasons/personal matters – to be excused something must be stated; for example, my mother is ill. We do not need a lengthy explanation, but we do need a little more than just “personal reasons”.

● Family emergency – to be excused something must be stated; for example, my mother is ill. We do not need a lengthy explanation, but we do need a little more than just “family emergency."

Thank you!

The Panther Attendance Team

OCPS Policy on Micromobility Devices

To promote student safety and maintain a secure learning environment, OCPS has adopted new guidelines regarding the use of micromobility devices on school property. 

Only high school students with a valid driver's license or learner’s driver license permit will be allowed to bring motorized micromobility devices on school property but must obtain a school-issued decal. They also must walk the device once they enter campus and must secure in designated bicycle racks or other approved locations. Riding on sidewalks, courtyards, athletic fields, grass areas, or other pedestrian spaces is prohibited. Charging batteries or bringing detached batteries onto school property is also prohibited.

Students will also be required to operate all devices safely and responsibly and must comply with all applicable laws, district policies, and school rules. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action and the loss of the privilege to bring a micromobility device onto school property.

Regardless of grade level, modified electric bicycles, Class 3 electric bicycles, and electronic motorcycles are prohibited on school property.

Student Drivers:

As you enter and exit the school parking lot, please remember that safety comes first. Put away cell phones and headphones, watch carefully for pedestrians, and follow the posted 10 MPH speed limit. These expectations help keep everyone safe—students, staff, and visitors. Thank you for doing your part to drive safely on our campus.

Family Drivers:

This is a reminder that student drop-off must take place at the designated entrance located at the Paw Street light and entryway. Recently, there has been an increase in some students being dropped off at other entry points, which creates safety and supervision concerns. Please do not use the student and staff parking lot for student drop off.

All families are expected to use the designated drop-off area each morning using the Paw Street entryway. Your cooperation helps us ensure a safe and smooth arrival for all students.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.”

Students, that arrive after 7:20am will come through the front office (not the gate) and receive a green late pass to 1st period.

Students, please remember that you are not allowed to leave your classroom in the first or last 10 minutes of every class period.

Students, your job here at school is to attend class and succeed in your studies and extracurriculars. Please make sure you are arriving to ALL of your classes on time and are attending each of your classes throughout the day, every day. Poor attendance, skipping and tardiness can and will have a negative impact on your grade. If you are absent for a doctor's visit or anything else that warrants an excused absence, please make sure to submit a signed note to the front attendance office as soon as possible once you return to school. If you have 5 unexcused absences in a calendar month or 10 in 90 days you are considered truant and can lead to school and legal consequences (driver license revoked for example).

Panther parents and student drivers, please remember that there is only ONE lane to turn right into the student parking lot and student drop off lanes. Please do not cut off other cars or attempt to turn right from the center lane. This not only can cause an accident but endangers yourself, the other drivers around you and anyone walking in the immediate area. As a reminder you should also NEVER be dropping your students off ON Turkey Lake Road. This is extremely dangerous, especially in the dark mornings and could cause you or your student to be harmed if other cars do not anticipate your stop or see your student. The only place your student can be dropped off is in the drop off lane on DPHS campus. Remember, arriving early means your student can be dropped off quicker and safer. Please plan accordingly!  

“Per OCPS: Delivery of food or beverages from off campus to students is not allowed during the school day. This includes food delivery from services such as Uber Eats, or Doordash. All students are able to eat free lunch and breakfast in our cafeteria every single day. After school meals are also available for students who attend after school programs. Parents/Guardians are not to bring food or drop off to students, unless documented as a dietary restriction or medical condition. Please reach out to drphillips_hs@ocps.net with any questions or concerns." https://drphillipshs.ocps.net/school_information/food_services

1) The US unemployment rates by education level for the month of October were released last Friday morning.

Source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics - Table A-4  Read full report

2) "Melt Rates" or the percentage of students who commit to a college in the spring, then don’t show up in the fall continues to rise at four-year institutions. 

Source: The Wall Street Journal (Nov. 6) Colleges Struggle to Stop ‘Melt’: Students Who Commit, Then Don’t Show Up

3) Earnings outcomes for the same college major can vary substantially by school.

Source: The New York Times  

4) This one is for our CIS Panthers. Which country has the highest share of adults holding a bachelor’s degree?

Source: Visual Capitalist

5) Read inspirational quotes for our Panthers about bringing positivity to others, personal motivation, and perseverance. 

Angelou On Positivity

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

~ Maya Angelou, author

Confucius On Persistence

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

~ Confucius, philosopher

Simone On Truth

It's an artist's duty to reflect the times in which we live.

~ Nina Simone, singer

DeGrasse Tyson On Curiosity

There is no greater education than one that is self-driven.

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson, scientist

Mandela On Tenacity

It always seems impossible until it's done.

~ Nelson Mandela, political leader

DPHS —Never Less Than The Best!

Ms. Ramsey, Principal

Dr. Phillips High School 

Sunday, November 8, 2026