Liberty Middle School
-Waterford gets a makeover
Flourishing Crape Myrtles, fresh mulch and blossoming flowers now line the front of Waterford Elementary School, thanks to the Waterford Lakes Homeowners Association. The last week in April, the HOA revamped the landscape along Lake Underhill Road. “It certainly makes our school look more welcoming,” Principal Charles Lindlau said.
-Flags honored at CHS
Unserviceable U.S. flags were retired in a patriotic event for students, parents and the community on April 28 at Colonial High School. The Air Force Junior ROTC unit conducted the ceremony for the first time with hopes that it will become an annual event.
-Free compost at Sunrise
Free compost is available for the families, friends and neighbors of Sunrise Elementary and the Eastwood community. Located in the back of the school, come by after school or on the weekend. Make sure to bring your own shovels or buckets.
-Cans needed
Donate canned goods to Avalon Middle School for the CANstruction event on Wednesday, May 4, which will benefit the East Learning Community's Emergency Food Pantry. The school is collecting yellow label cans but welcomes all donations. For more information, visit www.avalonmiddle.ocps.net
-Avalon Middle girl wins scholarship
Savannah Braud of Avalon Middle School won a $1,500 scholarship from the Southeast region of Pop Warner Scholastics in April.
-Strip to clothe the homeless
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida received more than 1,000 pounds of clothes from the Second Annual "Undie Classic" — an event hosted by UCF fraternity Sigma Nu. The "Undie Classic" is a one-mile run in which students shed clothes to donate to Goodwill.
-Valencia wins for less waste
Valencia Community College placed second among nearly 200 colleges and universities that competed in the waste minimization category of RecycleMania. Schools competed in various categories highlighting ways to handle recyclables. The waste minimization category recognized efforts to reduce waste at the source.
-Help Liberty win national recipe contest
Help support Liberty Middle School in the Best Healthy Recipe contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture before judges vote on May 5. The school became a finalist for their fish wrap, which contains tilapia, avocado and bok choy, because of its nutritional content and its popularity with students. Cast a vote at www.recipesforkidschallenge.com/challenges/22/submissions
-VCC seeking singers
Valencia Community College is seeking summer session singers. Voices of Valencia is open to everyone and runs 7-9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting May 10. Valencia A Cappella runs 7-9:30 p.m. on Mondays starting May 9. Both are on the east campus. For more information, contact James Jones at jjones2@mail.valenciacc.edu
-Programmers take home the prize
Valencia’s computer programming students took on students from Seminole State College and Brevard and Lake Sumter community colleges at the first annual Intercollegiate Computer Programming Competition held in March. Valencia’s Gabriel Arvam won first place and a $500 prize.
-TCHS Color Guard top in the nation
Timber Creek High School Color Guard placed third among 40 teams in April’s Winter Guard National competition. The ensemble members are: Lindsay Brown, Alyssa Burella, Alex Cook, Christa Haggerty, Katie Hamilton, Cassandra Hernandez, Erin Hoolihan, Amber McCurry, Alissa Novoa, Emily Paulino, Kara Reed, Rosie Reitze, Charlenne Rodriguez, Yamelis Sanchez, Giselle Soldado, Megan Tolley and Salina Velez.
-Avalon Middle scored with Hoops for the Heart
Avalon Middle School raised nearly $11,000 for the American Heart Association’s Hoops for Heart event last month. The school was one of the top raisers in the country.
-East River’s Honor Roll nets 105
On April 7, 105 East River High juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. These students met the requirements of a weighted 3.50 or better G.P.A., 20 hours of community service, outstanding character and teacher recommendations.
-Top attorney at Timber Creek
Nasser Almulla, a Timber Creek High School senior, was named the best high school trial attorney in the state during the 2011 Florida Mock Trial Competition. Almulla also won a $2,500 college scholarship.
-East River generous with pasta
East River High School was the top raiser in Central Florida for the Pasta for Pennies Program, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
-East River took seventh place in science competition
In March, four of East River High's top academic students took seventh place in a game show-type competition against other high schools at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Facility. Questions ranged from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, computer programming and mathematics.
-Prof in top 100 researchers
UCF Professor Challapalli Suryanarayna was recently ranked 40th among the top 100 researchers of the past decade, according to Thomas Reuters, formerly the Institute for Scientific Information. He was selected from a field of 500,000 materials scientists.
-Teacher of the Month
Each month during the school year, teachers from East Orlando schools are honored with a gift card to local restaurants, supported by the Avalon Park Kiwanis Club and many local businesses. Each winner is presented with a plaque and has their picture hanging in each participating restaurant. April's winners are Avalon Elementary's Kelly Bryant, Camelot Elementary's Sara Salyers, Castle Creek Elementary's Rebecca Burgood, Timber Lakes Elementary's Tiffany Moody, Avalon Middle's Leanne King, Lake Nona High's Gail Chase and Timber Creek High's Catherine Ownes.
-Avalon vocals reign supreme
The Avalon Middle School Chorus was rated “superior” at the Florida Vocal Association's Middle School “Music Performance Assessment” (MPA) held at Apopka High School in March.