08.10.17 Windermere High School Special Section

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WOLVERINE COUNTRY

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FOUNDING FACULTY AND STAFF PRINCIPAL Douglas Guthrie ESE/SUCCESS Brian Adkins Erma Brathwaite-Lamotta Vonnie Breuhl Redgie Franklin Ashley Hoffman Leticia Lamar Sally Lanier Wendy Lawhorn Tagiya Mitchell Debbie Veit PHYSICAL EDUCATION Misty Cox Mark Grisek Eric Lassiter Eric Olson Layla West

Wolverine Nation At long last, Windermere High School will welcome its first students for the 2017-18 school year.

MATH Eric Bacon Teran Barr Stacy Bishop Hillary Church Rebecca Holland-Germanski Teresa Ludder Melissa Marschall Mark Maxwell Jillian Terry Luke Watkins Keith Wood

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER HORIZON WEST

The rain let up just in time for Windermere High’s big reveal.

It was Wednesday, Aug. 2, and an early-afternoon downpour threatened to ruin the Wolverines’ long-awaited coming-out party. But, the clouds parted with an hour to spare, and within minutes, the halls, courtyards and classroom buildings were filled with future students, parents and community members who, from this day forward, will be known collectively as Wolverine Nation.

As hundreds of sets of impressed eyes took everything in, Douglas Guthrie, Windermere’s inaugural principal, stood in the middle of the courtyard.

For Guthrie, this day is more than a year in the making. And despite the gleaming floors, brand-new

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT Michelle Crawford Keyonata Granberry Stephanie Greene Mike Grenci Marques Griseck Brandi Heidelberg Lyle Heinz Roxana Hernando Natalie Kalo LeAnn Lloyd John Linehan Kelly McCormick Whitney Michielssen Amanda Newcomer Nancy Nielson Fred Priest Sheri Robb Jennifer Rogers Danielle Stokes Trey Taunton Kristin Wilkin Kelly Williams Russell Williams Jr.

Photos by Amy Quesinberry

technology and sparkling cafeteria, he knows the most important aspect of Windermere High — its heart and soul — won’t be fully implemented until Aug. 14.

“It’s not the buildings themselves; it’s the students and the parents and community that will be utilizing these buildings and these walls,” he said. “That’s the uniqueness of each high school — a reflection of the community that it’s in. I miss the students: It’s been 12 months now since I’ve had

students, and that’s the heart and soul of the school. That makes it the heart and soul of the principal, too.”

TECHNOLOGY AND AESTHETICS

As is standard with most new OCPS school projects, Windermere High is packed with an array of technology to enhance learning.

SEE PAGE 20

SCIENCE Kier Ancona-Rocheleau Brian Boylan Annette Brewster-Frederick Allyn Brice Melissa Brisbin Alejandra Torres Capistran Tori Chance Fernando Febres Elke Harris Michael Maguire Steven Norman Jennifer Ovando Graig Smith Michael Soapes Carroll Stoner Jillian Sutton

CLASSIFIED Marjorie Zayas Alarez Wendy Carver Margaret Beadle Estrella Benazar Wendy Chicoye Lynsey Darragh Alex Ferreira Bilma Glester Roberta Hughes Contreras Miosotiz Jay Murray Consuella Pockett Tangela Reaves Viridiana Lopez Sanchez Marilyn Sims Michael Stringer-Bratton Desiree Traylor-McKenzie WORLD LANGUAGES Mayrna Benitez-Garcia Edwin Berrios-Alicea Jelkica Glisic Madeline Jamie Alyssa Kenney Kelly Leeper Raymundo Mota Yachiyo Yates ARTS Stephanie Adolph Patricia Barra Linda Boot Thomas Butler Emmaleigh Carr Robert Darragh James Fowler Bradley Gill Jonathan Jackson PROJECT LEAD THE WAY/CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION Lori Farber Jason Greer Todd Hauser Katherine Norton Amy Paterson Steve Perri Alan Rasmussen Kelly Wade Adam Zupkoff ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS Ashley Beckman Darlene Brown Don Cary Linda Currie Andrea Frohmberg Lamanda Farrar Renee Graham Amanda Greco Derek Ihnenfeld Michelle Krause Kathleen McOwen Talera Thompson Sara Venezia SOCIAL STUDIES James Baker Dawn Bolton Tammy Delgado Jenell Greer Eileen Hannigan Ricky Kaetzel Kristen Kushner Grace Maxeiner Greg Miller Christian Voltzke Mike Weaver

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TIMELINE November 2013: Orange County Board of County Commissioners denies specialexception application for West Orange relief school February 2014: The County Commission and Orange County Public Schools hold joint meeting, agree on mediation

YOU CAN’T HIDE THAT WOLVERINE PRIDE!

To the neighbors, friends and families of Windermere High School: I am so excited to celebrate the opening of Windermere High School Aug. 14, 2017.

This long-awaited school continues the proud tradition that began when Lakeview High School opened as the first high school in West Orange County in 1933.

I have no doubt Windermere High will be an anchor in our community, just as West Orange High School is and Lakeview High was before it.

Today, we are seeing educational opportunities expand as families flock to Horizon West, Windermere and West Orange County. The Wolverines will continue this tradition of academic excellence.

With Windermere High open, Orange County Public Schools will better be able to meet the needs of our community, families and businesses. Starting out with a great learning environment, the latest technology and topnotch teachers and administrators, Windermere High will produce the next generation of 21st-century learners and workers. I encourage you to be part of our success.

PAM GOULD ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 4

BY THE NUMBERS 18 Months of construction 2,776 Student capacity 376,016 Gross floor area in square feet

65.5 Site acreage 860 Parking spaces 85 Bus loop capacity 93.5 Budget in millions of dollars

7 Pre-majors 4 Pathways to Success

July/August 2014: Former Orange County Commissioner S. Scott Boyd meets with citizens, OCPS district representative Pam Gould and Orange County and OCPS officials to discuss modifications to the original plan submitted by OCPS regarding the Beck site Courtesy of Orange County Public Schools

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Collaborative spaces, labs, the media center and classrooms are equipped with interactive touchpanel television screens, much like SMART boards. All classrooms have audio enhancement, allowing teachers to speak into microphones and be heard anywhere in the room. Crews also will be installing security cameras and card readers on campus. When they are finished, they will have installed 129 cameras throughout the campus.

Windermere High is also a digital-first school, with a one-toone device ratio that ensures each student has a laptop. There is WiFi throughout the school for seamless internet connection, and the school is built to Green Globe sustainability standards.

“We take into consideration all the products that go into the building, like flooring and paint,” said Tom Widener, project executive with Wharton-Smith Con-

struction Group. “(We look at) things that save energy — plumbing and light fixtures. This campus has a lot more LED fixtures, which is a large energy savings for a campus of this size. Throughout the building, (we do) anything we can do to help lower energy costs.”

Another feature unique to the high school is a 1,000-gallon cistern, housed in the courtyard.

It collects rain running from the rooftop, and a pump directly adjacent to it will automatically kick on when there is a demand for irrigation in the school’s greenhouse. If the cistern’s water supply runs low, the irrigation will switch from the rainwater to potable irrigation water.

“We set that up with an indicator so students in the agriculture program can see that when the light is green, it’s running off the cistern (supply),” Widener said. “The idea of putting it in the courtyard is so everyone can see it. That’s the opportunity for the agriculture students to teach oth-

er students about the metal can in the middle of their courtyard and teach them about sustainable landscaping and growth.”

As for the architecture, SchenkelShultz Associate Principal Mo Arthur said it’s similar to other OCPS high-school prototypes, but they were able to add even more aesthetically pleasing features.

“On this one in particular we were able to use some features on the exterior like towers, trellises, the formliner in the concrete that gives it that wood look, which is a local Florida characteristic — just those little nuances helps accentuate the architecture of the campus,” Arthur said.

The overall project was expedited to have it ready to relieve West Orange High this year. The process took about 18 months overall, 16 of which were for building. The typical high-school construction timeline is anywhere from 20 to 24 months.

“This project was delivered faster than most of the highschool projects are delivered,” Widener said. “It was fun to be a part of and to partner with the district on it. Sixteen months ago, we were walking out into an orange grove, and to have it look like it does now, that was fun to be a part of it. I like seeing the facility in use. From a construction standpoint we’ve seen it ugly gray, and whenever we get to see it utilized like it’s supposed to be, it’s satisfying.”

SEE PAGE 22

April 2015: Public hearing held discussing proposed options for a settlement agreement between OCPS and Orange County May 2015: Orange County Commission approves final plan for Windermere High September 2015: School groundbreaking

March 2016: OCPS announces all pending lawsuits regarding the school have been dismissed June 2016: Doug Guthrie named inaugural principal October 2016: School is named, colors and mascot follow shortly after December 2016: First school logo released January 2017: Hiring begins July 2017: Project completed August 2017: School opens to public July 2018: Off-site stadium set to open

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Stadium talk: Build it, and Wolverines will come STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

As part of the negotiation process that ultimately allowed Windermere High School to become a reality, its football stadium will be off campus.

That facility, which will be about one mile away from campus as part of Deputy Scott Pine Community Park, promises to be impressive and will feature a synthetic turf playing surface and a rubberized track.

And although a brand-new facility is enough to get any football fan excited, Wolverine fans will have to wait another season before cheering on the home team at a true home game.

According to Lauren Roth, communications manager for Orange County Public Schools,

the facility will not be ready until December. That means that Windermere High’s football team will have to play its five scheduled home games on the campus of its opponents this fall.

Considering the district in which Windermere has been placed, that means a healthy bit of driving for Wolverine fans.

Windermere has initially been placed in Class 7A, District 5 for football, a district that largely has schools based in east Orange County and Osceola County. For example, a “home” game against district opponent Harmony will involve a drive of more than 40 miles.

With a December completion timetable, sports such as soccer, which takes place from November through January, and lacrosse, which takes place in the

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Technically, the Windermere High Wolverines have five home football games this fall. Without a home facility, that means playing those games on the home field of their opponents. Here’s a look at how far fans will have to travel to see the Wolverines in their home uniforms.

Sept. 1 — vs. Wekiva High School Mustangs (distance: 18.3 miles) Sept. 8 — vs. University High School Cougars (distance: 29.8 miles) Sept. 29 — vs. Lake Nona High School Lions (distance: 35.3 miles) Oct. 6 — vs. Harmony High School Longhorns (distance: 44.4 miles) Oct. 27 — vs Celebration High School Storm (distance: 17.0 miles)

spring, should be able to enjoy the new facility this school year and on-site parking should be adequate to accommodate the typical crowds for those sports.

There have been questions concerning next fall, when the football team plays its first true home games, and whether park-

ing on-site would be adequate or whether the school would have to shuttle fans from campus to the games. According to Roth, though, there are currently no plans to offer shuttles provided

by OCPS.

WHAT MAKES WINDERMERE HIGH UNIQUE? When the “new-school smell” that currently permeates the halls of Windermere High wears off, here is what will remain that sets it apart from other schools in the county.

UNIQUELY FLORIDA While the general layout of Windermere High has a somewhat similar feel to other recently constructed high schools in Orange County, it is distinct in a number of subtle — and not so subtle — ways. More subtle is the unique, Florida-style architecture used that is modeled after SunRidge Middle and SunRidge Elementary in Winter Garden. Less subtle is the three-story classroom building, distinguishing the campus from the majority of high schools in Central Florida that are only two stories.

DIGITAL DREAMS As one might expect of the most recently constructed high school in Orange County, Windermere High has some of the latest trends in technology usage on campus. For instance, the school features an interactive, touchpanel, flatscreen television in every classroom. Additionally, there is a one-to-one digital device-tostudent ratio, WiFi throughout the campus and audio enhancement in each classroom.

GOING GREEN Here are two things you don’t see every day on a high school campus: a cistern and a greenhouse. Windermere High is the first OCPS school to feature an on-campus cistern that will be used to gather rainwater and pump it into the campus greenhouse. Additionally, the school was built with the environment in mind, meeting Green Gloves Building Standards.

LET’S DO LUNCH This isn’t your grandparents’ school cafeteria. The cafeteria at Windermere High features restaurant-style seating and décor.

IT’S FAB TO COLLAB A more subtle, but important touch is the way each classroom was designed. The classrooms were designed around collaborative spaces that encourage teamwork and group learning.

SPEEDY SERVICE Speaking of the building, Windermere High also can boast of its accelerated schedule from groundbreaking to opening.

The school was completed in 18 months, while a high school usually takes 24 months to complete.

PRINCIPAL’S PICK While all of the above elements are exciting, Principal Doug Guthrie has a favorite unique feature of Windermere High — and, not surprisingly for a veteran educator, it has to do with academics. Windermere High will require students to each select one of its “Pre-Majors” — taking one class per year that focuses on an area of study geared toward a possible career path. Pre-Major choices include aerospace engineering, biomedical science, civil engineering and architecture, digital design, digital electronics, environmental sustainability, performing and visual arts and additional industry certifications such as digital photography, business entrepreneurship/accounting and more. In line with the purpose of the Pre-Majors — helping students identify possible career paths — students will have the ability to change their Pre-Major each year.

“I think it’s a unique opportunity for students to be able to focus in on a particular realm of education and that they actually have a choice,” Guthrie said.

FIRST PRINCIPAL EXCITED FOR FIRST YEAR

Dear Wolverines, Welcome to Windermere High School, where “Achieving Greatness with Honor” is our motto! The staff here at Windermere High School is excited to start the 2017-18 school year. We are awaiting the parents, community and especially the students to join us at this brand new state-ofthe-art facility.

Our staff has worked hard to establish a rigorous curriculum based on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).

We challenge our students to strive to achieve the highest levels in all their endeavors.

We believe all students have the potential to complete college level courses, earning an associate’s degree, and we encourage students to challenge themselves with honors, Advanced Placement, Orange Technical and Valencia College professional certifications. Course selection allows students to begin an adventure through which they will learn and define not only who they are but also what they can become.

Windermere High School is establishing a tradition of excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. We encourage students to participate fully in the high-school experience and to involve themselves in our school community. As students continue on their academic journey as a Wolverine we ask that they challenge themselves to become the best because we expect no less of them.

DOUGLAS J. GUTHRIE

PRINCIPAL, WINDERMERE HIGH

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WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL

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5523 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere PHONE: (407) 347-0980 PRINCIPAL: Doug Guthrie ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS: Lyle Heinz, John Linehan, Sheri Robb WEBSITE: windermerehs.ocps.net PTSO: windermereptso.org

When Principal Doug Guthrie looks around the brand-new high school, he can’t wait to see it filled with the students he’s set to lead to success.

“It’s been a real relief to get on campus, be able to walk the campus and see the classrooms and how they’re set up, rather than looking at them on a blueprint or under construction,” Guthrie said. “(It’s great) seeing the furniture and technology in the classrooms and how it’ll work and coordinate together.”

Guthrie spent the previous six years of his career at Apopka High School before being appointed as Windermere High’s inaugural principal in summer 2016. He’s been working hard to help put the pieces of the school puzzle together since last fall and has been hiring teachers and faculty members since January.

“A lot of planning happens — making sure that the course sequence is correct, working with Project Lead The Way’s national curriculum and the equipment and supplies that go along

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BACK TO SCHOOL

with those courses, making sure they’re ordered,” Guthrie said.

“It’s not just one thing. It’s multiple things and coordinating when they will arrive and how they’ll be organized.”

But now, just days before the first bell rings, Guthrie said his staff is ready for to begin Year One. “We’re going to start school off with teaching in every classroom, and there will be no delays in that,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here and excited to get started.”

Congratulations & Welcome to your new school!

WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL We will be following you!

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Creating creative excellence TAKING THE FIELD

Windermere’s teachers hope to strengthen and grow the arts programs as the first school year begins.

BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

Brand-new lighting equipment sits on the floor of a theater classroom. Polished tubas and drums sit against the wall in the band room. Boxes of sheet music wait to be unpacked.

And for the last two weeks, music has reverberated through the auditorium at Windermere High School as the marching band begins its preparations for a new school year.

It’s all about making a fresh start at the arts department at Windermere High, and the teachers already are anxious for school to start so they can begin to build their respective arts programs.

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Strong theater programs can be found at nearly every high school across West Orange, which means the bar for the theater department at Windermere High already has been set with high expectations.

But theater director Patricia Barra isn’t worried. She’s fully confident that Windermere High’s theater program will be as strong, she said, but she doesn’t plan to create a competitive atmosphere. Instead, she wants a collaborative one.

Brittany Gaines

Chorus teacher Linda Boot and theater teachers Jonathan Jackson and Patricia Barra are excited to build the arts programs at Windermere High.

With many of her new students coming from West Orange High School, Barra hopes to establish a supportive friendship between the theater programs at both schools so her students can remain supportive of their friends still attending West Orange.

“We’ve started saying that we’re sister troupes, because we’re going to foster this supportive environment,” Barra said.

Already, Barra is working on the school’s first production, and with the opening night set for mid-December, rehearsals can’t start soon enough.

“I’m excited to meet a new,

fresh group of students, a new dynamic of fresh faces who are looking for new beginnings,” she said. “Everybody will be starting from square one.”

Assisting her with developing the theater program at Windermere High is Jonathan Jackson, already a whiz with the department’s new technical equipment.

Although the duo has met many of their theater students, the two expect that once school starts, the department will start to soar — and the kids will flourish.

“We’ll start to see their full silliness soon,” Jackson said.

WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER

EST.

2017

ASSEQUEN ORE DUM MAG TUDO CUM HON NI

All hail and praise to Windermere, where we unite from far and near.

The landscape of our school so fair reflects our values everywhere.

The hallowed halls and fields of play grow our passion every day.

As we prepare to lead and thrive we lift our song to thee with pride.

We sing and raise our colors high, set skies resounding with our cry.

I will ever loyal be.

Alma Mater we love thee.

We sing and raise our colors high, set skies resounding with our cry.

I will ever loyal be.

Alma Mater we love thee.

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MEET THE TEACHERS

Band director Rob Darragh is uniquely qualified to be a leader in Windermere High’s unique situation. As a teenager, he, too, was transferred to a newly opened high school in his area.

“I was in the same boat back then as some of these kids,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean he’ll go easy on them. With a military background, details are paramount to Darragh, because that’s what sets a band program apart.

After two weeks of band camp, Darragh drilled his students on proper marching techniques, how to properly hold their instruments and various aspects of music theory.

“This is just as much of a sport as anything else,” Darragh said of his band. “It’s really very challenging, and a lot of people don’t realize how challenging it is.”

Already, he has lofty goals for his students. He plans to take them to several competitions and hopes that they not only receive superiors but make the all-state band.

“I’d like to start that tradition,” he said.

And he’s already pushing his students to achieve their best — and more — and the students are rising to the challenge.

“It feels really special,” junior Brianna Szymanski said about helping start the new band program. “We get to start a new legacy. So far, we keep getting better and better. I definitely want us to come out strong because other bands judge you. I want us to surprise them.”

PATRICIA BARRA, THEATER: “I’d rather a student tell me the truth and give me the opportunity to be understanding than to fib and expect me to be OK with it later. I’m a very understanding person.”

LINDA BOOT, CHORUS: “I have high expectations, and they have to act professional. I treat them like adults because they’re almost there.”

ROB DARRAGH, BAND: “I’m a hard -ove kind of person. I’m about taking what (the students) do to the next level.”

BRADLEY GILL, CERAMICS: “Clay is elemental. It is the oldest form of art, and its limits are still being discovered. Besides, who doesn’t love playing with clay? (In my classroom), mistakes are mandatory.”

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES: Performing Arts Department Concert: October (date to be announced) “White Christmas”: Thursday, Dec. 7, to Sunday, Dec. 10

AN ALMA MATER Linda Boot always thought she would end her teaching career at Apopka High School. But with the opening of Windermere High School, Boot knew the opportunity to start her own chorus program at a new school was too good to pass up.

One of the coolest parts of her job was to write the school’s alma mater. The music for the song is a borrowed tune written by one of Boot’s childhood

teachers. The lyrics, on the other hand, were written by Boot and inspired by the spirit of Windermere.

Within the lyrics are odes to Windermere’s motto — Among the Lakes — and the old orange groves that once grew where the school is now located.

“I hope the community appreciates that I spent time to make this special for them,” she said.

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u o Y k n !

S a Th OCP

Congratulations to the students, parents and staff of the new Windermere High School — Go Wolverines!

750 Lake Monroe, Sanford, FL 32771 | 407.321.8410 | www.whartonsmith.com

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