School News - 07/05/12

Dr. Phillips Elementary hosted its fourth annual Orange County Public Schools Chess Tournament. More than 220 students from 21 OCPS elementary schools participated in the event. Each student played six rounds of chess, and the top 10 finishers each received a trophy. Congratulations to this year’s top five teams, who each received a crystal plaque: Avalon Elementary, first place; Dr. Phillips Elementary, second place; Hunter’s Creek Elementary, third place; Spring Lake Elementary, fourth place; and Thornebrooke Elementary, fifth place.

Lake Whitney Elementary students participated in the annual Modern Woodmen of America Civic Oration Contest. This year’s topic was “A Time in History When Volunteers Made a Difference.” Congratulations to winners Zoe Boykin, Amy Roesch and Grace Leach, who placed first through third, respectively. Zoe and Amy advanced to the county level of the competition.

Thornebrooke Elementary PTO President Kellie Kullich (far left) and Principal Christopher Daniels congratulate Trisha Engler, TES’s volunteer of the year.

Whispering Oak Elementary’s Art Club members designed and created unique life-size guitars that were displayed at the Drama Club and chorus’s presentation of Rock and Roll. The project was led by art teacher Dana Christopher.

Windermere Elementary student Cody Hansen received a SOAR — Students of Achievement and Renown — award from the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. The SOAR award program recognizes students who have shown initiative, good citizenship, commitment and personal growth in the classroom.

Gotha Middle’s volunteers and Partners in Education were treated to a breakfast at the school. The volunteers also received keepsake plates that were decorated by the school’s art students.

Samantha Hanley, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hanley, was named salutatorian of Foundation Academy’s Class of 2012. Samantha attended FA for seven years and served in many leadership roles, including president of the Student Government Association and editor of the yearbook, and she was a member of the Student Leadership Institute, mentors program, National Honor Society and more. She was accepted to more than 14 universities, including Duke University, The Johns Hopkins University, University of Florida, Dartmouth College, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and more. Samantha chose to attend Cornell University, her father’s alma mater, where she will major in pre-medicine.