Dear Colonial High School Families,
It’s with great excitement that the Colonial High School Leadership Team (pictured above) and I welcome back all of our students and families. We are exceptionally proud to share a major achievement: Colonial High School received a school grade of B during the last school year! The last time Colonial HS achieved this goal was in 2019. This success is a direct result of the combined hard work of all our families, students, teachers, and staff. Our goal this year is to build on this incredible momentum and maintain our B rating.
As we kick off a fantastic year, please note these important upcoming events and schedule changes:
Progress Monitoring Activity 1 (PMA 1): On Monday, September 29, 2025, we will begin to administer the PMA 1 for students taking Algebra, Geometry, Biology, and US History. It is essential that students are present all week for these important exams.
2025 Fall Stakeholder Survey: Beginning Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Orange County Public Schools invites all families to participate in the 2025 Fall Stakeholder Survey. Your input is vital, and you will receive an email or text with the survey link.
Modified Schedule: On Friday, October 3rd we will be on a modified bell schedule for our Digital Readiness Check for PSAT/SAT and Connectivity Day. The digital readiness check verifies that your student's testing device is technically ready, familiarizes them with the digital format, and is a required step for all test-takers. Connectivity Day is an exciting new initiative designed to provide dedicated time during the school day for students to connect over shared hobbies, interests, or specific club activities.
Picture Retake Day: Mark your calendars for Picture Retake Day on October 3, 2025 on both campuses (Note: This is the same day as the modified schedule.) Please bring your picture package from the first picture day. Also, if you missed your original photo opportunity, this is your chance to have your picture taken.
Finally, get ready to cheer on your Grenadiers! Next week is packed with exciting athletic events. Our Golf, Bowling, and Swim teams will be celebrating Senior Night this Friday—come out and support our graduating athletes!
It's Great to "B" a Grenadier!
With Grenadier Pride,
Betzabeth Reussow
Principal
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Beginning Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Orange County Public Schools invites all families to participate in the 2025 Fall Stakeholder Survey. Your participation is important because the results will be used as we work to ensure our families’ experiences align with our core values.
You will receive an email or text with the link to the survey. You can also use the QR code below. Please take a moment to answer the questions about your satisfaction with our school. The family survey is available in English, Spanish (Español), Portuguese (Português), Haitian Creole (Kreyòl), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), and Arabic (عربي).
The survey begins September 30, 2025, and closes on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The survey is anonymous, which means no one will know how you answered the questions, so please provide honest, thoughtful feedback.
We thank you for your time.
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Join us for Picture Retake Day! If you missed your original photo opportunity, join us at PAC on October 3, 2025, for your chance to capture the perfect shot. Don't miss out! |
Get ready for the 2025-2026 school year by checking out our bell schedules! You can find all the details for both the Main Campus and the 9th-Grade Center on our school website. Stay organized and prepared for a successful year ahead! |
Get ready to cheer on your Grenadiers! Next week is packed with exciting athletic events. Our Golf, Bowling, and Swim teams will be celebrating Senior Night this Friday – come out and support our graduating athletes! Stay tuned for more details on specific game times and locations for all our upcoming matchups. Go Grenadiers! |
All student-athletes MUST have a completed physical on AthleticClearance.com prior to participating in any tryouts. The physical process includes an EL2 (physical), an EL3 (student and parent signature section), and an ECG. All of the necessary forms can be found on AthleticClearance.com. Please note that the EL2 physical form is different than the school physical, and a school physical will not satisfy the requirements for athletics.
All athletes must maintain a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for athletics. Freshmen are exempt from this requirement for the first semester only since they do not have a high school GPA. Cumulative GPAs are only updated at the conclusion of a semester, so an ineligible athlete cannot become eligible until the following semester begins. Below is the list of our Fall Sports contacts.
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Parents, planning your child's route to and from school just got easier! You can quickly look up bus routes and request new bus cards using the convenient QR codes provided below. Stay informed and ensure a smooth commute for your Grenadiers! |
Parents and community members want to stay informed about all the exciting things happening at our school. ParentSquare is your go-to source for the latest school, classroom, and district updates!
How to connect:
1. Visit www.parentsquare.com.
2. Click "Sign In."
3. Use the email or phone number you provided during registration.
Pro-Tip: Download the ParentSquare app for real-time updates straight to your phone! You won't miss a beat!
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We're thrilled to welcome our newest educators to the Colonial family! Our new teachers (pictured on the left) recently participated in an informative meeting covering essential policies like ESE, 504, and ELL, along with testing procedures and all things unique to Colonial. We're excited to see the positive impact they'll have on our students! |
Our community tours continued during pre-planning week. We had the pleasure of hosting another wonderful group (pictured). A big thank you to Mr. Miranda, Ms. Carro, Ms. Paioff-Sause, Ms. Settle, Mr. Prescott, Ms. Sobol, Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Solis, Ms. Marinas, Ms. Hylton, Mr. Kloth, Dr. Pagan, and Ms. Hamoui for joining us. We love connecting with our community and showcasing all the great things happening at Colonial! |
Numerous staff members participated in community tours. Pictured above on the left are counselors Ms. Mercedes, Ms. Hernandez Ogonowski, Ms. Maguire, and Ms. Romero-Escobar. Pictured above on the right are Ms. Sobol, Ms. Settle, Ms. Marinas, Ms. Hylton, Mr. Prescott, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Paioff-Sause. The tour included a stop at a local business. |
Professional Development Day was a huge success last Wednesday! Our dedicated teachers had the opportunity to visit other high schools and collaborate with the district's Curriculum Department. They spent valuable time diving deeper into their curriculum for the upcoming year, ensuring our students will receive the best possible learning experience. We're excited about the innovative approaches and enriched lessons they'll bring to the classroom!
Pictured above are our fantastic Ninth Grade Algebra and Main and Ninth Grade Campus Bio teams. Their commitment to excellence is truly inspiring!
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As we kick off an exciting new school year, we are thrilled to introduce our dedicated team of Deans of Discipline! These individuals play a vital role in ensuring a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment for every student. Their leadership is instrumental in helping our entire school community thrive, and we eagerly anticipate their guidance in making this a truly successful year for all.
Our Dean Team for the upcoming school year includes:
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Mr. Thomas (Main Campus)
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Ms. Roebuck (Main Campus)
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Mr. Solomon (Ninth Grade Center)
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Mr. Jordan (Main Campus)
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Ms. Becker (Ninth Grade Center)
We are incredibly fortunate to have such a committed group of professionals dedicated to our students' well-being and success. Please join us in welcoming them and looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!
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Pictured above:
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Top Row: Ms. Rivera and Briana Read from Summit Church.
- Bottom Row: Volunteers from the Bible Church of Orlando donating groceries (left), Pastor Darius from Love Gospel Church (center), and Summit Church volunteers with teacher wish list items (right).
Community Rallies to Support Our Grenadiers
Our Grenadier family received an incredible outpouring of support from some truly generous community partners. As we kicked off the new school year with "Grenadiers Marching Back" and teacher pre-planning, Summit Church, Bible Church of Orlando, and Love Gospel Church went above and beyond to show their commitment to our students and staff.
Summit Church welcomed our teachers back on their first day with a much-needed coffee boost and went on to fulfill over 60 teachers' Amazon wish lists. Their generosity resulted in a total of 122 boxes of supplies being delivered to our dedicated educators. Talk about starting the year strong!
Bible Church of Orlando provided invaluable support to our families, donating 40 bags of groceries that were distributed during the "Grenadiers Marching Back" event. Meanwhile, Love Gospel Church also stepped up to assist families by giving out grocery gift cards.
This incredible collaboration is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. A huge thank you to our community partners for helping us build a supportive and encouraging environment for our students and teachers.
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Did you know that one of the largest programs at Colonial High School is dedicated to fostering character, leadership, and self-discipline in our students? The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is a citizenship program that's much more than what its name suggests. It's a vibrant community where over 250 students participate in impactful community service, develop essential leadership skills, and gain unique experiences like college campus and military base visits. It's not a military recruiting program, but it does equip students with the life skills they need to thrive long after high school. |
The success of our AFJROTC program is thanks to our team of dedicated instructors—retired Air Force service members and experienced educators who bring a wealth of real-world experience and a passion for mentoring.
Colonel Andy Ladd, our new Senior Instructor, leads the program with a remarkable background. A career pilot with over 2,500 flight hours, he brings college-level ROTC teaching experience to our Grenadiers. Colonel Ladd is ready to answer your questions about the many benefits of AFJROTC, flight training, and opportunities for college ROTC scholarships and service academy appointments. He even teaches dual enrollment courses through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University!
Master Sergeant Michael DiChiara is in his fourth year as an Aerospace Science Instructor. With 22 years of experience in heavy aircraft maintenance, he has worked on iconic planes like the C-130 Hercules and the newest KC-46 Pegasus. Master Sergeant DiChiara is a huge supporter of our students' aspirations in community service and futures in aviation or the military.
Technical Sergeant Ra’Sean Davis, a well-known and trusted instructor in his seventh year, brings over 20 years of experience in training Air Traffic Controllers. His deep knowledge of the FAA and his passion for mentoring make him a go-to resource for students. Whether you have questions about aviation, leadership, character development, or even basketball skills, Technical Sergeant Davis has a ton of insight to share.
Debra Arnoux brings 20 years of teaching experience, ranging from 6th-grade math to college physics, to the program. An accomplished aviator who has been flying airplanes for over 30 years, she teaches dual enrollment classes with both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Barry University, as well as AP Statistics. With degrees in both Engineering Physics and Education, Debra's varied career includes time as an engineer for Westinghouse and Mitsubishi Power Systems, where she performed thermal dynamic testing on steam turbine blade designs in the U.S. and Japan. She is passionate about helping students become the best versions of themselves and achieve their dreams. She is happy to answer any questions about aviation, engineering, or math.
We're proud to have such a dedicated team guiding our students. If you're interested in learning more about how your student can benefit from this inspiring program, we encourage you to reach out to one of our instructors!
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Congratulations to all the students who participated and won the dominoes tournament in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!
Winners
Main Campus
1st place - Geovany Fonseca
2nd place - Samiah Galarza
3rd place - Lian Figueroa
4th place - Jaydianis Vellon
NGC Winners
1st place - Yerren Vasquez
2nd place - Taniya Roxbury
3rd place - Teruel Echevarria
4th place - Santiago Gil
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Our hospitality marketing students were challenged to an escape room! Their "restaurant" was closed down and locked up by the health inspector. In order to reopen the doors, they needed to complete 6 challenges of riddles, puzzles, and tasks using their food safety knowledge. It was an exciting day in the kitchen! |
We hosted Landy Mitchell for the day as our guest speaker. He is a recruiter for Loews Hotels and helped our hospitality students learn about all the wonderful entry-level positions available and what stands out on a resume. |
On Wednesday, September 10, at Ocoee, two members from the Orlando Colonial FFA chapter participated in the Florida Farm Bureau Federation's Youth Speech Contest. With their speeches discussing the issues facing Florida Agriculture's Economic Viability, Emily Jose-Alamo earned 4th place, and Mariela Fuentes Medina earned 2nd place! Congrats to all the competitors! |
Before a volleyball game, Coach Dewrell awarded Bella Rodriguez a leadership lanyard. She received this recognition for her exceptional effort during pregame setup.
Yasemily Rosado was recognized by Deputy Dishuk and Deputy Lappas for her outstanding effort in after the game.
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Parents, your voice is crucial to our school community! We encourage all Colonial High School families to get involved by joining our School Advisory Council (SAC) and Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). These groups play a vital role in shaping our school's future, providing valuable input on everything from academic programs to school events. Your participation ensures that the needs and perspectives of our students and families are heard and addressed. Come be a part of the conversation and help us make Colonial High School the best it can be for every Grenadier! |
Families, as the new school year begins, we urge you to drive safely around campus, especially during drop-off and pick-up. Student safety is paramount, and your cooperation is vital. Please follow all traffic laws, speed limits, and designated zones. Avoid distractions and watch for pedestrians. Let's work together to ensure a safe and smooth experience for all Grenadiers. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe! |
Officers of the Orlando Colonial FFA Chapter kicked off their year of service with their officer retreat! FFA is a leadership organization for students in the Animal Science Magnet. Officers learned about their personal leadership styles, participated in team development activities, enhanced their public speaking skills, and collaborated on a year of events to provide social, service, and educational opportunities for their members.
Officer team members include:
Adrian Rivera Morales - President
Emily Jose-Alamo - Vice-President
Mariela Fuentes - Secretary
Deanna Treuren - Treasurer
Alissa Rigdon - Reporter
Jaylimar Serrano - Sentinel
Millinez Moret - Historian
Fabiana Jimenez Amesty - Service Officer
Makai Randall - Education Officer
Mervin Gonzalez Urdaneta - Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) Officer
Advisors include Emma Hamoui, James Prescott, Caela Sause, Izabella Smith.
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Betzabeth Reussow, Principal - Betzabeth.Reussow@ocps.net
Tayler Boyer, Assistant Principal - Tayler.Boyer@ops.net
Daniel Caliari, Assistant Principal - Daniel.Caliari@ocps.net
William King, Assistant Principal - William.King2@ocps.net
Paul Maldonado, Assistant Principal - Paul.Maldonado@ocps.net
Krystin Roviaro, Assistant Principal - Krystin.Roviaro@ocps.net
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