Weekly Recap: December 14

by Raymond Rodriguez

It was an exciting week at OCP! On Tuesday, December 11, both our blue and gold 8th grade boys basketball teams traveled to TFA, and they both won. Meanwhile, our JV and Varsity boys basketball teams played at Cocoa High School. Our JV team played a hard fought game, but was defeated 52-84. Our Varsity team, however, took home the win. 

On Thursday, December 13, all three of our high school basketball teams played in their first district game of the season, at home against Real Life Christian. The JV team started the day off, defeating Real Life with a final score of 67-12. The Varsity girls followed that up by beating them 57-29. The Varsity boys finished off the night by easily defeating Real Life, with a final score of 80-20.

That evening was also a good one for middle school basketball. Both the 6th grade and 8th grade blue teams defeated St. Luke's. Our Varsity soccer team played on Thursday, as well, but sadly took the loss to ICS with a score of 1-4.

Thursday was the night of the elementary Christmas program, Star of Wonder. The program was well attended and enjoyed by all. Congratulations, Miss Thomas, for a job-well-done.

On Friday, December 14, the Varsity boys basketball team played at home against Life Christian from Georgia, taking the win with a score of 64-52.

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

by Christian Smith

So the word on the street is that this new Spider-Man movie is pretty good so I'm going to debrief you on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with my opinion. 

The movie is animated yet feels real life -- like a comic book coming to life right before you. The animation is high-tech, but not too high tech... it definitely satisfies in that department. In addition to the good animation style, the film also has a good amount of appropriate humor. Despite this being an animated Spider-Man movie, it just may be the best Spider-Man ever.

Set in the usual Queens, New York, Into The Spider-Verse, still features the "friendly neighborhood" Peter Parker who wears the mask, saves his city, and loves his wife. However, this film's hero is not Peter Parker, but teenager Miles Morales, and this Spider-Man is from Brooklyn. Parker and Morales team up and meet other spider-men/women/etc. throughout their adventure.

Although many of us may wish this was a live-action movie, there are also those of us who are thankful for the animation because it brings out our inner child. In my opinion, this Into the Spider-Verse is a different, family-friendly, and amazing perspective on a Spider-Man movie, which, after the dozens of super-hero films we've seen recently, is well-needed and much appreciated.

Coach of the Week: Guershom "Coach D" Demosthenes

by Nick Bell

For Coach of the Week, we chose to highlight Coach Guerschom Demosthenes, or "Coach D" as he's known here at OCP, where he's been working since 2013. He is extremely deserving, as he led our football team to claim the SSAC State Championship title this year!

Coach D began his career not knowing he was going to coach. In 2001,  he had just finished college and was not sure what he wanted to do. His high school football coach gave him a call and offered him an opportunity to coach under him at Dr. Philips High School. He began coaching in 2002, where he found his passion in molding and developing young men into better players and citizens of this world.

Coach D has picked up years of experience, coaching at six different schools. When he was offered the head coaching job at Orlando Christian Prep, it was an offer he couldn't refuse, and has proved to be the right fit for him. During the first practice Coach held at OCP, only eight players showed up. Many would have been discouraged, but Coach kept faith in God and repeatedly said to players and coaches “Jesus gon' bring 'em,” and indeed He did! 

During Coach D's first year at OCP, the football team made it to the SSAC State Championship, but unfortunately suffered a defeat, coming home runners-up. The next year they did the same. After that, it took a few years before he got the team back to the dance, but when he did they made the most out of the opportunity -- winning the State Championship against St. Stephens with a score of 35-14! Coach D had this to say about the season: "This was a special season, in which we had great players, great administration, and [it showed] what hard work and dedication can do when you trust and believe in God."

OCP is very lucky to have coaches like Coach D on staff. He has established a legacy of excellence with a record (so far) of 49-12. He teaches his players faith in the Lord, as well as great techniques on the field. He also works very hard trying to find them opportunities to play football in college so they can have a discounted or free education. Coach D is a walking image of a true OCP Warrior!

Christmas in Orlando

by Aaron Bass

With Christmas quickly approaching, there are a lot of events that will be happening around Orlando during this special time of the year.

At Walt Disney World, Mickey’s "Very Merry Christmas Party" runs until December 21. This special after-hours event allows you to go and spend the day with Mickey and all the others at Disney! Sea World will be hosting a variety of unique, themed animal shows to celebrate the holidays - some have never been shown at Sea World before! 

If you and your family want to enjoy a nice holiday buffet with a special Christmas show, The Rosen Plaza is the place to be. There will be buffets, shows and guest speakers from 12:00-4:00 pm on Christmas Day. "Light Up UCF" is going on now until January 1st. There are many attractions such as a ferris wheel, movies, new music and a world class light show presented by Duke Energy. There is also ice skating, sledding, and more. Light Up UCF is fun for all ages so be sure to check out before it is over!

Finally, if you want to spend some time with God and with your church, Orlando Baptist Church will be having a Christmas Eve service at 5:00 pm.

Merry Christmas from the Warrior Weekly!

Coach of the Week: Ryan Hopkins

by Aaron Bass

This week we decided to feature our new coach, Mr. Ryan Hopkins. Coach Hopkins is in his second year as a teacher here at Orlando Christian, with math classes such as Algebra and Financial Agebra. This is his first year as the new head coach of the varsity soccer team.

Coach Hopkins has a passion for soccer, not only as a coach but as a player as well. He played competitive soccer in high school team, and played a lot of pick up during his time in college at UCF. This season, Coach Hopkins hopes to put more wins on the table and advance, to the district tournament, as well. He and his players train extremely hard and are looking forward to the season progressing. 

All of us here at OCP are excited to have Coach Hopkins on board, and we wish him and his team the best of luck.

Basketball Recap, December 7

by Raymond Rodriguez

This was a busy week for basketball in the Warrior Nation. Our 7th and 8th grade "Gold" basketball team started it off for us, playing two games on Monday night, winning the first game against Montverde Academy’s middle school team by 11 points, and losing the second game to Montverde Academy’s 9th grade team by only 3 points. 

On Tuesday night, our 7th and 8th grade "Blue Team" demolished Bishop Moore’s Freshman team. Varsity Girls followed them, but unfortunately took the loss to Hagerty High School by a close score of 35-39. 

On Thursday night, both our JV and Varsity Boys basketball teams played. JV took the win in a very close game against Cypress Creek that came down to the buzzer, ending with a final score of 62-59! RJ Morgan hit the winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of the game, and finished of with 21 total points. The Varsity team easily defeated Cypress Creek, as well, with a score of 73-60. Junior Eric Butler, guard, finished with 21 points.

UCF: Champions Again!

by Aaron Bass

The University of Central Florida has done again, securing back-to-back undefeated seasons and AAC conference championships!

After a horrific knee injury to the starting quarterback Mckenzie Milton, the UCF Knights were able to defeat Memphis this weekend to secure themselves another AAC championship. Memphis and UCF took last year’s championship game to double overtime, and earlier this year their regular-season match-up was decided by one point. Saturday’s championship game proved to be just as exciting! After a weak opening, UCF dug deep to prevail, outscoring the Tigers 35-3 in the second half. 

UCF has been undefeated for two seasons now, with 25 straight wins now. Last year, they made history as the first team to go from a 0-12 record to 12-0 in only two years! After taking out strong opponents such as Navy, USF and Maryland this season, UCF is currently ranked 7th in NCAA football and number 1 in the American East district. They will be playing #11 LSU in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1st in Glenade, Arizona. 

We are all so proud of our local college for performing so well again this year, and we will be rooting for them in the Fiesta Bowl! Go Knights!

OCP Football: Championship Season Re-Cap

by Nick Bell

On Saturday, November 17, the 2018 OCP football season came to an end on a great note, with the Warriors being declared 2018 SSAC State Champions! The Warriors had a great season that got off to a slow 1-2 start, but caught some fire and finished with an eight game winning streak, and only one of those eight games was won with less than a two-touchdown lead!

Amidst the Warriors' great season, there was some individuals that stood out along the way. Senior quarterback Connor Edel completed 74 passes of 135 attempts for 23 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Senior Athlete and Illinois State commit Jalen Carr had 94 carries for 1073 yards, boasting an impressive 11 yards per carry and adding 15 touchdowns on the ground, as well as another 300 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. Senior wide receiver and University of South Florida commit Xavier Weaver had 34 catches for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns. These are just a few of the many standout players on this year's OCP football team.

If you ask Coach D, he would say the Warriors won the championship long before the season even began. It started through much prayer, and a powerful event that brought this team closer to God, and each other, than any OCP team has been in the past. The team sacrificed some preseason practice and conditioning time to have sermons preached by Pastor Mike, Mr. Groves, and a few others. This resulted in over half the team and one coach being baptized on the 50 yard line of our very own football field. Many players' spiritual lives have changed much as they have grown much closer to God. This was just one step in making a public dedication of their lives to Christ.

The Warriors had a tough road to the state championship, facing Windermere Prep, who defeated the Warriors last year in a shootout 48-49. This year was different, as Coach D felt God calling him to show an act of trust in Him. The whole team marched around the middle of the field 7 times to represent the Israelites being given the win in the battle of Jericho. Coach D declared, “the battle is already won fellas, we just gotta trust in God and execute. I believe in this team!” All the players and coaches believed and it showed, God truly gave them the victory, with a score of 44-10!

This season impacted the whole team, with many players receiving college scholarships and all of the players making memories that they will never forget. A state championship is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and this year our Warriors made the most of it. Let's continue to congratulate them on such an amazing season. 

From the OCP student news staff to all the football players and coaches: Congratulations, Warriors!

College Decision Highlight

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week, we decided to highlight some college decisions as they begin to occur in the Warrior Nation. We sat down with two of our varsity football players, who were each a part of our 2018 State Championship team: Xavier Weaver and Jalen Carr.

Xavier Weaver is currently committed to the University of South Florida. Xavier had offers from several schools, like Troy University, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Tennessee State, and many other offers. He chose USF over the others because he felt like it was the right fit when he visited the campus, he felt very strong about the coaching staff, and believes he'll get some good playing time. 

Jalen Carr, this year’s FACA "Player of the Year," has decided to attend Illinois State University. Jalen is very excited to be playing for Illinois State's Coach Spack and becoming a Redbird. It meant a lot to him that the coaching staff at Illinois State wanted him, despite his size. “Big things come in small packages," Coach Spack told Jalen.

Weekly Re-Cap: November 30

by Aaron Bass

It was a busy week for Orlando Christian Prep!

On Monday, after a 130-105 win over The First Academy, our Quiz Team was able to qualify for the playoffs of the Orange County Quiz Bowl League, for the first time in our school's history. Be sure to congratulate all of the coaches and players on the quiz bowl team! In the first round in the playoffs, they will play the 1st seed Trinity Prep, so wish them luck! 

On Tuesday, our Soccer Team was unfortunate to take a loss against Faith Christian Academy in a 5-1 defeat. The soccer team's next outing is against Circle Christian at 7:00 pm on Friday night. The JV Boys Basketball Team was victorious in Tuesday's game against Forest Lake. The Girls Varsity Basketball Team, unfortunately, lost to Forest Lake by only 3 points. 

Our Varsity Boys Basketball Team was in action on Wednesday against a strong and mighty Winter Springs High School, and were able to take a destructive win. The Warriors face Cypress Creek on Friday. Also on Wednesday, our Middle School Boys Basketball players were in action in Winter Springs, as well, and they were also able to come out on top of the scoreboard and take home the win.

On Thursday, the Quiz Team participated in an online national tournament called "3-2-1," participating in the high school, middle school, and, for the first time, elementary, divisions. The students had a great time, ate pizza, and performed well!

Next week proves to be another exciting one for OCP. Go Warriors!

Quiz Team Highlight

by Christian Smith

Quiz bowl is an academic, team based competition that tests students on different areas of knowledge. The Orlando Christian Prep quiz team was established during the 2011-2012 school year by Mr. Soucie, where two middle school teams competed in the FACCS Brain Bowl. A high school team started the following year with the help of Mr. Salomon. Mr. Sango came on as a co-coach in 2013, which was also the first year that OCP competed in the Orange County Quiz Bowl League. The OCP quiz team competes in various formats and tournaments in addition to the FACCS Brain Bowl and the Orange County league, and has even been to national competitions on several occasions.

So far this year, OCP’s quiz team has experienced ups and downs, finishing their fall season 5-6. Some peaks this season include winning their first two games, which put them “undefeated” for a time, and winning their final game against the higher-ranked First Academy. The hardest loss was against Trinity Prep, primarily because OCP was up at the half, but then Trinity Prep caught a second wind and took the win. 

OCP is headed to the Orange County playoffs for the first team this year. They will play at Olympia High on Monday and face the #1-ranked Trinity Prep in the first round. They will then shift gears as they begin to prepare for the FACCS Brain Bowl, which is a two-day state-level tournament held in Daytona in January. 

The OCP Quiz Team continues to improve. We hope they follow their best fall season to date with their best Brain Bowl performance ever this winter!

Florida Election Results 2018

by Nick Bell

The past few weeks have been very important for our country and state. Tuesday, November 6 was voting day for our midterm elections, and Florida residents voted for a new governor and a US senate position. Many amendments were on the ballot, as well. 

With Rick Scott’s term over, our two primary candidates for a new governor were Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis. Election night results put DeSantis on top, but the race was so close that it went to a recount. For the US Senate race, the main candidates were Republican Rick Scott and the incumbent, Democrat Bill Nelson. This race was also extremely close, with Rick Scott winning the initial count. But, with Nelson’s refusal to concede, it too went to a recount. In the end, after the recounts were settled, DeSantis was named governor with a margin of less than 33,000 votes out of 8 million cast, and Scott is headed to the Senate, with a margin of just over 10,000 votes! In true Florida fashion, even our race for agriculture commissioner went to a recount.

One of the most talked about constitutional amendments on the ballot was Amendment 3, which allows voters to control the right to authorize expansions of casino gambling. This amendment received a lot of attention and voters took notice by passing it. Amendment 4 was passed, allowing non-violent felons the right to vote after they have served their time. Amendment 13 was also passed, which will end dog racing in Florida starting in 2020. Proponents say this will help end cruelty towards racing greyhounds.

Even though most of us students cannot vote yet, it is good to stay informed on political issues in our world. We encourage everyone to stay informed on all politics in our state and country. When we're 18, let's be sure to head to the polls ourselves. In today's day of tiny margins and recounts, it's clear that every vote matters! Let's all continue to pray for our country as new leaders come into power.

New Teacher Highlight: Mrs. April Holmes

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week in the Warrior Nation, my team and I sat down with Mrs. April Holmes for this week’s New Teacher Highlight. Mrs. Holmes was born in 1980 in North Carolina. She attended East Lincoln High School, where she played softball, basketball, and ran cross country. After graduating high school, Mrs. Holmes attended the University of Florida, where she majored in sports science. 

Mrs. Holmes and her husband Frederick have been married for sixteen years. She is a mother to two boys named Cody and Titus, and in her spare time enjoys watching her boys play soccer and baseball.

Mrs. Holmes has been teaching for fifteen years, and is currently a fourth grade teacher here at Orlando Christian Prep. If you see Mrs. Holmes around the halls or with her class, make sure to stop and say hello and welcome her to OCP!

OCP Students Headed to Israel!

by Nick Bell

This winter, OCP will be sending a group of students to Israel for a student leadership conference. They will be learning about leadership, as well as doing some sightseeing. Last year, some of the same students also attended a leadership trip to Germany. These trips are offered through a company called Global Next, which is an Christian organization run by Dr. Phil Johnson dedicated to teaching leadership skills to young people. Last year, during the Germany trip he taught our students life skills and how to build a better life. This year, he is focusing on middle eastern history, Jewish conflict, and the impact of various views of Biblical prophecy.

Being selected to represent OCP for this trip is an honor. Students had to meet academic qualifications (3.5 GPA or higher) as well as have no disciplinary write-ups. Students then had to submit a minimum 500 word essay explaining who influenced them to be a leader in life and how that affects them. The students had their essays reviewed by Mrs. Jacobson and Mrs. Millett, who then narrowed down the students who would be invited.

Sophomore Jacob Brommer, who will be a first-timer on an OCP leadership trip, commented he was extremely excited to partake in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to another country, and added that he has always wanted to see the western wall in Jerusalem. Jacob is hoping to learn more about Israel's history and learn new ways to lead in his community and make a positive impact. He is grateful for Global Next and Dr. Phil Johnson, as well as OCP, for giving him this great opportunity.

Junior Megan Soucie, who attended the trip to Germany and is also attending the Israel trip this year, commented that she was grateful for the Germany trip, where she learned about her strengths and passions. She also learned a lot of the history of Germany that she had not previously known. Regarding the upcoming trip, she says she is excited to walk where Jesus walked when he was on Earth, as well as to float in the Dead Sea. She also added she is excited to learn more about the Israeli culture, and as far as leadership aspects such as how to communicate better with people and relate to them on a more personal level. Megan would like to thank Mrs. Jacobson, Global Next, and anyone donates money or buys popcorn to support the trip.

Overall, the students attending the trip are very excited and grateful for the opportunity to experience another country and learn new leadership skills that can be applied to their lives. They are thankful to God, Global Next, and anyone involved in the process of sending them to Israel. Our students still need our help, however. They each have to raise about $3,200, so we encourage all Warriors to pitch in and help out. The students attending the trip are currently selling gourmet popcorn, and they also appreciate donations of any amount. This is a great time to show Warrior spirit in giving to a great cause! Let’s also support them with prayer: that they’ll raise the money they need, have a great experience, and safe travels. Go Warriors!

Athlete of the Week: Carlos Tavares

by Christian Smith

This week, we chose to highlight OCP student Carlos Tavarez for our athlete feature. Carlos was chosen because of his outstanding performance on the football field. 

Carlos has played football since he was five years old, having been introduced to the sport by his father, who was also a player. He came to Orlando Christian Prep in the 6th grade, and has been playing football as a Warrior since 7th grade. Carlos is a driven football player he won't stop working until the outcome he desires is reached, and is one of the most competitive players I have ever played with. Carlos is 150 lbs “soaking wet,” but still takes down his opponents, in fact he regularly conquers men on the football field who are two to three times his size. 

Carlos is an encouraging teammate to all his fellow athletes. He’s also willing to do what is best for the team -- even though he hates running the play "tiger rip," he runs the play without error. These are just a couple characteristics that make him an outstanding athlete. 

When asked about the upcoming playoffs, Carlos said, "I have the same mindset as any football player, you know? Once I step on that field, I lock in... ain't nothing stopping me from reaching my goal -- and that's getting that dub on Friday nights."

New Teacher Highlight: Miss Pittman

by Jerahmeel King

This week in the Warrior nation, we interviewed Miss Sierra Pittman, a new first grade teacher here at Orlando Christian Prep. Miss Pittman was born in 1996, and raised right here in Orlando, where she attended Eastland Christian School. 

Miss Pittman’s favorite subject in school was English, and she was also involved in speech and drama. In high school, she also played volleyball and worked on the yearbook. After high school, Miss Pittman attended the University of Central Florida, where she studied early child education. She came to teach here at OCP because she knew some of the people who worked here, and she felt this was where God wanted her.

Miss Pittman is currently engaged, and is really happy with her fiancé. In her spare time, she likes to hang out with friends and spend quality time with her fiancé. She also spends time tutoring. Please join us here at the Warrior Weekly in giving Miss Pittman a big OCP welcome!

O-Town Highlights: October 30

by Aaron Bass

It’s been another exciting week in O-Town! Our Orlando Magic basketball team faced a lot of action as they took on the Bucks and the Trail Blazers. They were unfortunate to lose both games, but they will definitely be prepared to take on the Kings and the Clippers in their upcoming games. There was no football game for UCF, as this was a bye week. They are back in action on Thursday against the Temple Owls at home. 

Last week, in nearby Bartow, FL, a terrifying knife plot was uncovered. Two middle school girls had planned to kill their classmates and intended to cause other harm, as well. Thankfully, the school staff noticed suspicious behavior and were able to get the authorities to make arrests before any dangerous and harmful activity was done. 

We have Halloween Horror Nights approaching their final days, so plan your visit now if you’re a fan of some big scares! Halloween is this week, so be sure to check out your local listings for events such as festivals and trick or treating, which will be happening all over Orlando!

Dress Code Changes

by Christian Smith

Various changes were made to the dress code at Orlando Christian Prep this year. The most notable change has been regarding outerwear. Some may say last year’s dress code was more open, but that caused some problems. For example, OCP students previously were allowed to wear any of several solid-colored hoodies, with only a small logo being acceptable. That policy, however, was abused by many students. Currently, only official OCP outerwear is allowed, which can be purchased from Dennis Uniforms or the brand new Warrior Wear spirit store located in the gym lobby.

Mrs. Jacobson has updated this, along with other dress code rules, many of which turned in the students’ favor. She changed the “Dickies and Dennis only” rule to allow for any brand of pants or shorts. OCP student Nick Bell said, “I like how I am able to shop at different stores for different brands.”

Another rule that changed is the one regarding tattoos. Last year, student tattoos had to be covered, while some teachers and staff had theirs showing. Mrs. Jacobson recognized this inconsistency and changed the tattoo policy. Students may now have tattoos, so long as they are not deemed inappropriate, in which case they must remain covered. 

Dress code changes were made in an attempt to better this school and provide fairness and consistency. While some students may not be in favor of the outerwear change, they must admit the other changes have been positive. Dress code is important because it helps keep people in line and remove distractions from the learning environment. If OCP didn't have a dress code, standards would be hard to define, and it could be difficult to uphold our Christian reputation. It is important to represent a Christian school as such, as well as show school spirit in general.

The cool weather is coming, so get your Warrior hoodie today!

Basketball Tryouts!

by Raymond Rodriguez

Orlando Christian Prep’s fall sports are coming to an end, so it’s about time for our winter sports to begin. One of those sports is, of course, boys' basketball! OCP has a fine tradition of outstanding basketball, having just won two state championships in a row, along with several others in the past. The Warriors have also been home to some fine players. Nassir Little is currently playing division one basketball at the University of North Carolina, who are recent National Champions. As an OCP senior, Nassir played in both the McDonald’s All American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic Game, winning the MVP honor for each. Ronaldo Segu, another former Warrior, is playing division one ball for the University of Buffalo.

With the recent loss of seniors Nassir Little, Ronaldo Segu, Jordan Goodson, Dejuan Lockett, Jordan Rodriguez, and Kai Jones, along with several other players, many spots have opened up on our varsity basketball team, which is a great opportunity for students wanting to play basketball at OCP. Head Coach Treig Burke will be hosting tryouts on November 5th and 6th, from 5:30-7:00pm for all Juniors and Seniors, and 7:00-8:30pm for all Freshman and Sophomores. 

Coach Thomas believes that this upcoming season will be a great one, with all the new students he’s met so far. And despite the fact that the players before them left big shoes to fill, he can’t wait for tryouts and is looking forward to coaching these new players this season, continuing OCP's great basketball legacy.

Sports Re-Cap: October 25

by Aaron Bass & Jerahmeel King

It's been a great couple weeks for OCP. On Monday, October 18, The Varsity Volleyball Team were able to defeat the higher-ranked Mt. Dora team in their first playoff game, advancing the newly-energized underdog team to the next round. This was an outstanding result for our warrior girls, and an upset for Mt. Dora. OCP were unfortunate to lose their next match against Foundation in a tough game that went the full five sets. We are extremely proud of our Warriors for a hard fought and good season! 

On the 18th, our Middle School Football Team defeated Foundation Academy with a score of 24-8 to clench the Championship Title. This was the first playoff appearance and the first championship for OCP middle school football.

The Varsity Football Team faced a strong Kingdom Prep on Friday 19th, who opened the score 6-0 with a quick touchdown against the Warriors. The Warriors showed heart and came back, dominating the scoreline and taking the win at 44-14! This is a bye week this week for 2nd-ranked OCP. Join us as they begin the playoffs with a home game on November 2nd.

The 4th/5th grade Volleyball Team played in the playoffs tournament at Faith Christian. The Warriors had a great day and finished 2nd overall!

Our Quiz Team played against University and Cypress Creek on Monday. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to come out with the wins, but they fought extremely hard and never gave up! Both times it was anybody's game at the half, and the OCP/University game stayed close right up to the last couple questions. The final scores were 170-125 against Cypress Creek and 190-160 against University. The Quiz Team plays in a tournament this Saturday, and will have another regular-season match at home on November 5th.

O-Town Highlights: October 25

by Nick Bell

It's been another great week in the books here in the city, which brings us even more events to report. 

The Orlando Magic started off their season strong with a 104-101 win against the Miami Heat. Two days later they took a tough loss against the Charlotte Hornets, as well as the following night against the Philadelphia 76ers. They bounced back against a very talented Boston Celtics team by a score of 93-90 in a game filled with very good defense. Thursday night, the Magic suffered a tough loss against the Trailblazers. Damian Lillard was dominant in this game, scoring 34 points in the second half and leaving the Magic little chance to win. The final score was 128-114. The Magic will look for redemption as they take on the Bucks on Saturday in Milwaukee.

The UCF Knights took on East Carolina without starting QB Mckenzie Milton. They started freshman Daryl Mack, who did a good job filling in. UCF won, with a strong game from the defense, and a final score of 38-10. The Knights continued their streak of winning games, and they are currently 7-0 this season. They play Temple on Thursday at home, so if you are attending the game look to be loud!

All the theme parks still have Halloween events going on, but not for much longer. So, if you are wanting to go get a last minute scare, you're running out of time! Halloween is this Wednesday, so be safe while you're out getting lots of candy with your friends and family. 

The end of October is coming, and before long it will be Thanksgiving, so enjoy your week in the City Beautiful.

Athlete of the Week: Xavier Weaver

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week in the Warrior Nation, we sat down with another player of the week: Xavier Weaver. Xavier, who goes by "Zay" to his friends, is a senior and a wide receiver for our varsity football team. 

Xavier has loved football his entire life. He started playing flag football at the age of five, moving to tackle football at the age of seven. Zay came to OCP in the eighth grade and joined the varsity football team his freshman year. Xavier’s impressive stats for the 2017 season include 18 carries, 105 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 43 receptions, 929 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns. Some 2018 season stats include 5 carries for 82 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown, 26 receptions, 399 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. Xavier holds OCP school records for the most receiving yards in a single season, as well as the most receiving yards in a single game. 

After graduation this spring, Xavier is committed to attend the University of South Florida. Make sure to congratulate Zay on his commitment to USF and on all of his accomplishments.

Soccer Tryouts!

By Nick Bell

As OCP’s fall sports are wrapping up it is almost time for the start of our winter sports, and there is growing excitement for OCP’s soccer season. Last year, our soccer team had a disappointing record of 2-8, but under new head coach Ryan Hopkins, and a year of experience of playing together as a team, they are optimistic. There are many new players participating this year, as well as many returning players, and everyone is coming in with a fresh attitude.

Aaron Bass, who planned to be team captain, has unfortunately suffered a possible season-ending injury. Although he is fighting very hard to be able to play his senior year, there is still no guarantee he will be able to play. Even though these events are unfortunate, it opens up new opportunities for other players to step up and take a much larger role than what was originally expected. 

Coach Hopkins commented he is extremely ambitious for this season and expects improvement on last season. He loves the game of soccer and is passionate about his new position as coach. He would also like to encourage anyone who is interested to come try out. Anyone with or without soccer experience is welcome, so long as they have positive attitudes, a coachable spirit, and a willingness to learn. 

Try-outs are Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd from 4:00-6:00 pm. Come prepared with cleats, shin guards, and a good attitude!

O-Town Highlights - October 18

by Aaron Bass

A lot has happened in the past week here in Orlando!

The Magic played a dominant San Antonio Spurs in one of their last preseason games of the NBA season. Spurs were able to come away victorious with a score of a 100-81. The Magic get their regular season underway with their first games against the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets this week.

Orlando City soccer played away in New England and were unfortunate to lose 2-0, giving away some goals due to goal-keeping errors. Our Lions are back in action this weekend against Captain America Clint Dempsey and a mighty Seattle Sounders here at home at the Orlando City Stadium.

Last weekend at Lake Eola, there was an Orlando pride parade to raise awareness for the Pulse shooting. The event was organised to remember those who lost their lives and were affected by this terrible tragedy.

Disney’s annual event, “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party,” has been a big success with record numbers of people attending the park and lots of laughs and giggles spread around by everyone. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights has been underway for a few weeks now after they added five new mazes for people to explore and face their fear! Be sure to check it out now before it finishes in November!

FACCS Competitions Program

by Aaron Bass

With the FACCS Spelling Bee almost here, we decided it was a good time to highlight the FACCS competitions programs. Along with legal services, school accreditation, and teacher certification, FACCS developed a competitions program, providing a way for Christian schools to get together, compete, and win prizes and trophies to take back to their schools. These competitions include Spelling Bee, Brain Bowl, Creative Writing, Junior Fine Arts, and High School Fine Arts, all of which offer a variety of ways for student to shine, from 1st all the way through 12th grade. Here at OCP, we are delighted to participate in FACCS competitions every year, and over the years we have had some outstanding achievements and a lot of successes.

Last year at HSFA, Megan Soucie and Andrea Castro placed third for Duet Acting, and Megan also placed second in the essay category. Former senior Parker Smith and current senior Briela Salisbury, also entered some outstanding work into the competition. Current freshman Rachel Soucie took home two prizes at last year’s JFA, along with a Creative Writing win. Several of our current middle schoolers also placed in a variety of art and vocal categories. OCP sent five students to the State Spelling Bee last year, and OCP’s Quiz Team competes in the FACCS Brain Bowl every winter. 

We are thankful for what FACCS has done for Christian education, and for the opportunities they afford students to be able to compete and showcase their talents. We are delighted to be able to keep participating in such an amazing and positive events every year, and are hopeful to bring back many more awards this year! If you are interested in participating, keep your eyes and ears out for information from your teachers as each event comes closer.

New Student Highlight: Angie Flores

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week in the Warrior Nation, we sat down with freshman Angelina Trinity Flores. Angelina, who goes by Angie to her friends, is fourteen years old. She is originally from Queens, New York, and has two younger brothers, both of whom also started OCP this year, in the 1st and 5th grades. 

Angie came to Orlando Christian Prep from Living Word Academy, which she attended for all of middle school. She says she transferred here because she has friends who attended OCP in previous years. 

Make sure to introduce yourself to Angie and say hi if you see her around the halls this year.

New Teacher Highlight: Coach G.

by Jerahmeel King

This week in at The Warrior Weekly, we interviewed OCP’s new elementary PE teacher, Ms. Rackell Goldson, or “Coach G.,” as the students call her. Ms. Goldson grew up in Orlando, FL - moving here at the age of four. She graduated from Pine Castle Christian Academy, where she played high school basketball. She then went to Allen College in Kansas, and also attended USF.

Coach G. decided to come work at OCP when Mr. Cenicola, who had been her basketball coach in high school, told her there was an open position. Ms. Goldson is twenty-seven years old, has a boyfriend, and two nieces. She likes to play basketball, read, and watch movies during her spare time. She's also a sports assistant at the YMCA and a High School basketball referee. 

Coach G. loves working with students at OCP hopes to stay here for a long time. Let’s all give her a big Warrior Welcome!

Athlete of the Week: Aaron Bass

by Nick Bell

The Warrior Weekly is introducing a new feature: the OCP Athlete of the Week. This week we chose our very own Aaron Bass because he demonstrates everything an OCP Warrior stands for. Aaron moved to America from England in the summer of 2017, when his family decided to relocate for a new opportunity. He played soccer for OCP last year after clearing up some eligibility issues, and will play this year as well.

Aaron is grateful for the opportunity to play soccer for OCP because there was a time that he believed he might never be able to play high school soccer in America. The FHSAA claimed he had already graduated high school, due to some paperwork mix-ups that occurred during the move from England. Aaron and his family had to make many phone calls back to his old school in England, trying to get paperwork sent over to prove he had not yet graduated and still had two remaining years of eligibility. After a court hearing, during which he sat down with his father and coach Treig, he finally got the eligibility he sought. The FHSAA board voted 7 to 2 that Aaron could play sports in the FHSAA. His perseverance and strong will display the perfect characteristics of an OCP Warrior.

Aaron is a devoted soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City Soccer Club as a central defensive midfielder. Aaron also plays baseball as a center fielder and pinch runner. He is a very talented athlete who is known to carry himself to a high standard. After high school, he plans to probably return to England to play soccer in college, and is considering the University of Northampton. 

We look forward to the start of OCP’s soccer season this year, and to how far our Warriors can go together!

O-Town Highlights: October 5

by Christian Smith

This week in O-Town, the Orlando Magic started their pre-season this Monday in a grudge match versus the Philadelphia 76ers. The win went to the Sizers, with a final score of 120-114. Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic put 20pts up, earning himself a spot on the game leaderboard along with Joel Embiid.

Don't forget to attend Universal's’ Halloween Horror Nights lasting until early November. I’ve heard from a few people who have attended HHN already and were very happy, so I can highly recommend this year’s event.

This Saturday, from 8:00-11:00am, a car show called “Cars and Coffee” is being held at the Sam’s Club in Lake Nona. Hundreds of sports cars and supercars will be on display. And here is the kicker: it’s FREE! Some friends and I are definitely going, so come and hangout.

These are just a few of the things to do around Orlando this week, so try and get outside the house and do something fun.

FACCS 50th Anniversary

by Aaron Bass

Fifty years ago, a new Christian school association started here in Florida. The Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, or FACCS, is now the oldest, state-level association of Christian schools in the nation. The mission of FACCS is “to advance the cause of Christian education by providing school accreditation, legislative, and program services to member schools and their constituents.” (faccs.org) A fun OCP Warrior "claim-to-fame" is that among the FACCS founders was Dr. Al Janney, grandfather to OCP president, Dustin Janney.

One thing that sets FACCS apart are its four core values. The first of these is Biblical authority, meaning they affirm the Bible is their sole rule of faith, and that Biblical principles guide all their practices. Another value is Religious liberty: they are committed to protecting Christian school freedom. Their next value is Excellence, and what they mean by this is to inspire and make sure academic excellence is achieved by all the schools involved with FACCS. The final value is Services. Along with the aforementioned legal and accreditation services, FACCS program services include teacher certification and a diverse and robust student competitions program.

Next week, our OCP teachers will be meeting for a time of training and fellowship at the annual FACCS Teachers Convention here in Orlando. FACCS will celebrate their 50th anniversary in style, and Dr. Al and other founders will be honored. The teachers will return to school refreshed and inspired to teach, and will be equipped with more tools to do so.

We are thankful for all that FACCS has done for Christian schools, and we pray they have another fifty successful years of promoting excellence and defending educational freedom.

Sports Recap - October 4

by Aaron Bass and Nick Bell

It has been an outstanding couple of weeks for our OCP Warriors! On Monday, September 24, our Quiz Bowl team kicked off their season with wins over West Orange in overtime and a cool and collected win against Boone High. We are excited for our Warrior Quiz Team and their great start, showing a lot of potential for an amazing season.


On Thursday, September 27, both the Middle School and Varsity Volleyball teams were victorious over Real Life Christian Christian Academy. The varsity girls went the full five sets but were able to grab the win in this exciting game! We are tremendously proud of our girls for their well-deserved win!


On Friday night, our Varsity Football Team defeated Holy Trinity in our annual Homecoming Game. Jalen Carr had nine carries for 147 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Gabe Tejada also had nine carries, totaling 89 yards. This was our first homecoming game in our new bleachers, Janney Roofing Stadium, and it certainly proved to be an exciting evening. Many alumni were in attendance, as well as many current OCP students.


Tuesday night featured our annual Dig Pink Volleyball Games. Unfortunately, the Middle School and Varsity teams did not take the wins, although the Varsity Team fought the full five sets. It was a very close contest against an extremely talented Legacy volleyball team. The Dig Pink game is to raise breast cancer awareness, and was devoted the memory of Mrs. Missy Stancil. OCP was proud to donate all proceeds from the game to the Stancil family.

New Student Highlight: Eric Butler

by Jerahmeel King

For this week's New Student Highlight, we'd like to introduce you to Eric Butler, a new student athlete here at Orlando Christian Prep. Eric was born on Oct 2, 2001 in the state of Washington. Before moving to Florida, he also lived in Alabama, where he attended Smith's Station High School. 

Eric is sixteen years old and lives with his mother, stepfather, and little brother who is three years old. He moved down to Orlando to follow his dreams and play basketball at our school. Eric likes to play 2k in his spare time, and his favorite subject in school is history. After graduation, he hopes to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Let's all say Hi! to Eric and make him feel welcome at OCP!

OCP's Student Government

by Aaron Bass

Recently at Orlando Christian Prep, we have launched a student government. Each high school grade has two representatives, who will meet with our head staff and teachers to help find ways to

improve our school and make the year go more smoothly. 

We got the chance to talk to some of our representatives, starting with seniors Valeria Rojas and Briela Salisbury. We asked about their intentions for not only the seniors but the whole of the high school and student body in general. Briela wants all student voices to be heard and wants more college preparation to help our seniors be ready for life after high school. She also plans to push for more frequent spirit weeks, as they boost the morale and spirit of students. Valeria wants to make senior year the best year of every student's life in school.

Our 11th grade representatives are Jonthy Candelario and Anna Knight, and they are very thankful and blessed to have the chance to speak for their class.  Among their goals are exempting honors students from midterms and finals, as it relieves a lot of stress and frees a lot of time for them. They also want to push for more field trips for individual grade levels, and high school as a whole, agreeing that there are not enough field trips that are done. Anna personally wants to help her fellow junior classmates prepare for senior year, since time flies by and senior year is right around the corner.

The OCP class representatives all have a big role to fulfill, and it's clear they all want the best for our school.  The Warrior Weekly wishes them much success as they attempt to help our school, their classes, and every single student grow and achieve great things!

New Teacher Highlight: Mrs. Betty Berrios

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week in the Warrior Nation we sat down and talked with Mrs. Betty Berrios. Mrs.Berrios was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1982, to Puerto Rican parents. As a child she moved to St. Cloud, Florida and attended St. Cloud High School. Mrs.Berrios then attended Valencia College for two years, and transferred to Ana Mendez University for her last two years.

Mrs. Berrios is a wife of 15 years and a mother to twin 6th grade boys, who both attend Orlando Christian Prep. She has been teaching for six years, and decided to come teach at OCP for a better education for her sons. In her spare time, Mrs. Berrios loves to four-wheel in the mud and watch her boys play flag football. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Mrs. Berrios currently attends a Spanish church, where she was recently named the co-pastor. Be sure to say hi to Mrs. Berrios if you see her. Let’s give her a big Warrior welcome!

Introducing: Janney Roofing Stadium

by Christian Smith

Having their own football stadium has been a dream of OCP’s that dates back several years, to the start of our football program in 2010, followed by getting our own football field a few years after that, and finally getting our own lights. Getting new seating was the next step. In the spring of 2018, Orlando Christian Prep completed this new football stadium, thanks to the work of our athletic boosters and several donors, the largest of which was the Janney Roofing Company, owned by OCP alumni, Derek Janney. It was a long process from dream to completion, but it was well deserved for OCP athletics. 

The build itself took approximately three weeks, and went very smoothly with next to no hiccups. May 22, 2018, for a spring exhibition game, was the first time “Janney Roofing Stadium” got put to use, which is to say packed out… there was not one seat left! The first fall season varsity football game in Janney Stadium was held on August 19, which also served as the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the complex. 

This upcoming Friday, September 28, is the first homecoming game for Janney Stadium. It’s no more “bring your own chairs” for OCP… instead, football and soccer games can be watched from our beautiful new bleachers! At the game’s halftime, the homecoming king and queen will be announced, so it’s an event you don’t want to miss. Show up in your blue and gold to support your OCP Warriors!

O-Town Highlights: September 27

by Nick Bell

Many exciting things are going on in Orlando and all over Florida right now. On Friday night, UCF played against FAU. The first half was a close contest and at halftime UCF lead with a score of 21-17. UCF came out of halftime rejuvenated and scored quickly. They finished the game with a score of 56-36. On Saturday, Miami played FIU and won with a score of 31-17. FSU played Northern Illinois and earned a good win for the struggling Seminoles. UF had a rivalry game against Tennessee and won with a lopsided score of 47-21.

Heading into the weekend all Florida NFL teams were 2-0 but after this week only one team remains. The Dolphins are the lone Florida team, and one of only three teams in the entire NFL, left undefeated. They beat the Raiders 20-28. The Jaguars lost in a close game that came down to field goals, losing to the Titans with a score of 9-6. Monday night football was headlined by a matchup between the flaming hot Buccaneers offense and the spiraling Steeler defense. The first half was a disaster for the Bucs, as they found themselves down 30-10. After some second half “Fitzmagic” the Bucs found themselves down by only 3 points. Unfortunately, a last minute drive would stall and they lost 30-27.

It is the end of September, which means Halloween is coming soon. All of the Orlando theme parks have exciting Halloween fun. Halloween Horror Nights is here and can be an exciting time for anyone a little older who like a good scare. At Disney, Mickey's “Not So Scary Halloween Party” provides more family-friendly fun. Seaworld's Halloween Spooktacular is also going on now. All of these events last through the end of October and some into early November.

Father Daughter Dance & Mother Son Movie Night

On Saturday, October 6, OCP will be hosting both a Father Daughter Dance and a Mother Son Movie Night.  The dance will feature a live DJ and drinks and desserts will be served.  Fathers have the option of pre-purchasing a souvenir photo and/or flower for their daughter(s).  The movie night will come with free drinks, popcorn and candy.  There is an option for a souvenir photo here, as well.  The big event starts at 6:30.  Tickets are $20 per couple in advance, and $25 at the door.  Advance tickets are available in the school office.  All proceeds will benefit the student leadership trip to Israel this winter.

New Student Highlight: Willie Oliver

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week in the Warrior Nation, we sat down with another new student, 11th grader Willie Oliver, and asked him a few a questions. Willie was raised here in Orlando, Florida, and has two siblings, one of whom also attends Orlando Christian Prep and is in the 5th grade.

Willie comes from Boone High School. He transferred here because he didn’t think Boone was a good school. At OCP, he plans to play basketball and run track. In his free time, Willie likes to play the new Spider-Man game and eat chicken wings. After high school, Willie hopes to attend his dream school, Florida State University.

Join us in greeting Willie in the halls and giving him a warm Warrior welcome!

New Teacher Highlight: Mrs. Renita Atwater

by Jerahmeel King

This we'd like to introduce you to another new teacher here at Orlando Christian Prep. Her name is Mrs. Renita Atwater. Mrs. Atwater grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. She attended Taylor Allderdice High School, where she played basketball and ran track. She graduated in 1980, and after high school she served in the US Army. 

Mrs. Atwater moved to Orlando in 1988.  She has attended both the University of Central Florida and Southern New Hampshire College. Mrs. Atwater wasn’t initially interested in teaching, but she felt the Lord was calling to her to consider it. While she didn’t think that feel she had a lot to offer in the field of teaching, she says it was the Lord's idea. 

Mrs. Atwater has two adult sons and will celebrate thirty-one years of marriage in November.  Join us in giving her a big Warrior welcome to OCP!

OCP Homecoming Court - 2018

by Christian Smith

This week at OCP, six seniors were chosen as Homecoming representatives for their class. The Homecoming King and Queen will be selected from this group. We at the Warrior Weekly sat down with these students to find out their thoughts on the Homecoming court and why they should win King or Queen.

When asked why Briela Salisbury feels she should win, she said, “I think I should win Homecoming Queen because I’m funny, I love this school, and I have tons of school spirit. Vote Briela!!” Bryanna Miller said, “I have been at this school for a long time. Also, my brother has been on the court multiple times so I guess I’m just trying to carry the legacy that my brother started.” Finally, Nathalie Arango admitted, “I am only doing this because it looks good on my college resume.”

As for the boys, Monroe Sanderson said, “I’m just here so I don’t get written up. I don’t need to be elected Homecoming King because me and my boys are already kings in my eyes.” Jalen Carr claims, “I don’t really care about getting the crown because me and my boys only care about getting that ‘dub’ on Friday night.” Lastly, Xavier Weaver also feels, “We really don’t care about getting the crown on Friday. Only thing we focusing on is that ‘dub’ and that’s the bottom line.”

As you can see, our seniors all have mixed feelings regarding their place on the Homecoming Court, but they obviously all care about OCP in their own way. If you want to see who is crowned King and Queen, be sure to come out to the Homecoming Football Game this Friday. Let’s pack those stands!!

Sports Recap - September 20, 2018

by Nick Bell

This past week was an exciting week for OCP sports. On Thursday, September 13, the Middle School Volleyball team won in two sets and the Varsity Volleyball team won in three sets against Real Life Christian Academy. Let’s continue to encourage our girls!

On Friday night, the varsity football team won in a hard fought game against IMG Academy, with a score of 34-28. It was physical game, and our Warriors had over 100 yards rushing. Middle School Volleyball won and Varsity lost against Foundation Academy on Monday, September 17. On Tuesday, both the Middle School and Varsity Volleyball teams lost against Legacy Charter. 

Overall, this week was a good week for OCP sports and will be a great building block for future success. Let's continue to show support for all our Warrior athletes as they represent OCP in their respective sports.

O-Town Highlights - September 20, 2018

by Aaron Bass

A lot has been going on in our beautiful city, so we wanted to feature some of these "O-town highlights."  To start off, our UCF Knights are leading the American West Conference in college football after a dominant win over South Carolina State with a cool and collected 38-0. In the NFL, for the first time in a long time, all three of the NFL teams in Florida are currently undefeated! The Bucs, for one, beat the Eagles with a touchdown as the final whistle was blown with a final score of 28-21. Our Orlando City Lions play at home on Saturday against a mighty Houston Dynamos, be sure to grab tickets now before they sell out! 

Halloween Horror Nights has started, so if you’re in for a scare be sure to head to Universal Orlando! At Disney this weekend, there will be a 5K run to support different charities and the theme is Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Many Orlando celebrities taking part, such as Magic players Mo Bamba and Orlando City player Dom Dyer! Be sure to check it out!

There is a new teen club in town. The Detour Teen Club is open on Saturday nights. If anyone interested in a club-style atmosphere and some good fun with friends, be sure to check it out! Drinks, food and a lot of entertainment will be available for you and your friends to take part in! Be sure to sign up on the Detour website for free tickets and admission.  

New Teacher Highlight (and New Club!): Mrs. Jae Tarplee

by Jerahmeel King

This week in the Warrior Nation, we interviewed one of our new fouth grade teachers, Mrs. Jae Tarplee.  Mrs. Tarplee grew up in West Palm Florida.  She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, and has been teaching since 2014. Mrs. Tarplee decided to teach here at Orlando Christian Prep after first hearing about it from her nephew, Tyler Towns, who is an OCP graduate and former Warrior football player.  She has four children, three of which three currently attend OCP.  Her oldest is a senior at Lake Nona High School.

MAD SCIENCE CLUB!
Almost as exciting as Mrs. Tarplee joining us is the club she is bringing with her.  She is starting a "Mad Science Club" that will begin here at OCP in October. Club members will learn science and have fun through hands-on experiments and more! The club is opened to all VPK through 9th graders. The cost is $50 for 1st-9th graders and $25 for VPK and Kindergarten. Monthly meetings will start in October, so check calendars for dates. Space is limited, so sign up soon!

Sports Recap - September 13

by Raymond Rodriguez

It was a rough week for sports in the Warrior Nation. First, the volleyball team lost their game on Tuesday, September 4. On Friday, September 7, our varsity football team traveled to The First Academy and played a hard-fought game that came down to the final second. Unfortunately, TFA took the win with a score of 15-20. One highlight of the game was when junior Luis Tejada broke out for a 40 yard touchdown in the 2nd quarter of the game.

On Tuesday, September 11th, the girls varsity volleyball team faced our school’s rival, Faith Christian Academy. The girls started off slow going down 0-2 in the first two sets of the game. We took the 3rd and 4th sets, with our Lady Warriors coming back to tie the game. Faith Christian took the final set 9-15 to win the match. Overall, however, OCP played very well. Way to go Warriors!

Homecoming 2018!!

by Christian Smith

Homecoming is almost here at OCP! The big game is here at home in Janney Roofing Stadium on September 28. The week of September 24 is Spirit Week, where students can dress up to different themes and earn points for their class. The winning class will earn a field trip of their choice (within reason). Here’s a list of our dress-up days:

* Monday = Merry Monday (so show some Christmas spirit!)

* Tuesday = Class Color Day (grades 6-12 will be assigned a color)

* Wednesday = Frat Day (show some Greek pride!)

* Thursday = Twin Day (work with a friend and match, match, match!)

* Friday = Warrior Day (rock the blue and gold!) 

Some OCP Warriors were selected by their fellow students to represent their class at the 2018 OCP homecoming game. This “Homecoming Court” includes Freshmen AJ Brown and Jasmyne Wright, Sophomores Jacob Brommer and Kayla Vaughn, and Juniors Jonthy Candelario and Emily Jacobson. The Senior class is being represented by Monroe Sanderson, Jalen Carr, Xavier Weaver, Nathalie Arango, Bryanna Miller, Briela Salisbury. A Homecoming King and Queen will be selected from the Seniors and announced during half-time of the Homecoming football game. We hope to see you all there!

New Student Highlight: Sophia DeLong

by Nick Bell

At The Warrior Weekly we are continuing to meet some new students at the school. This week we would like to introduce everyone to senior Sophia Delong. Sophia transferred from The Conrad Academy. She came to OCP for a better learning opportunity and new experiences, and to possibly get a scholarship to college. Sophia also lived in Colombia for a long time. There, she taught English to many people and helped others whenever possible.

Sophia enjoys being active… she plays basketball and loves running. She likes helping people and loves to makes others happy. Sophia also enjoys spending time with friends and doing adventurous things. Sophia plans on attending college to study English and Spanish. She is described by her peers as a very funny, caring person who is easy to talk to. Let’s all make Sophia feel very welcome and say hello to her in the halls!