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!

A Loving Goodbye to Mrs. Stancil

by Aaron Bass

During a hard-fought battle with cancer for ten years, we are sad to announce the passing of our beloved kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Missy Stancil. But, we rejoice in the knowledge that she is in heaven today with her creator and Lord, Jesus Christ!

Missy Stancil was born on September 15, 1973. She grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, then attended Bible Baptist College where she met her husband, Pastor Mike Stancil, while travelling with a singing group. They were married in 1993 and entered full-time ministry after graduating in 1996. Eventually that ministry brought them to Florida, where Mike co-pastors Life Church of Central Florida with Mr. Eric Groves. Together, Mike and Missy have three children: Beau, Paytin, and M’Leah. Mrs. Stancil joined OCP as a kindergarten teacher in 2013, where she was immediately loved by all her students and fellow teachers. She passed away on September 3, surrounded by family and loved ones in her home. Now she’s in her eternal home, healed and pain free!

Mrs. Stancil will be deeply missed by all of us here at Orlando Christian Prep. When asked for comments and favorite memories, several teachers and students had a lot to say. Mr. Groves’ favorite memory with Missy was at her daughter’s 16th birthday party. He loved how funny and how entertaining the night was. Mr. Schneider’s favorite memory was mentoring with Missy as he got to know her a lot more personally while their classes spent their “buddy time” together. Anna Knight recalls when she and the volleyball were able to raise money for Miss Stancil. Anna described the moment when they were able to present the money to Missy as priceless and an amazing reaction. Mrs. Jacobson had a lot to say, such as how she loved the way Mrs. Stancil was so passionate towards her students and that she was an amazing example of Christ. Mr. Soucie described how she always won the “guestbook challenge” in the book fair, but then would often share her winnings of free books. He also remembers the way Mrs. Stancil loved his son, Corban. She always had a hug for him and treated him - as she treated all her students - like they were the most special student in her class.

Friends at her memorial service shared that while we remember the sweet, smiling Missy, they also had the privilege of growing up with a trickster - the “wicked” and mischievous Missy! All together, we Warriors miss so many things about Mrs. Stancil, but a few things definitely stood out! Several people we interviewed described her laugh, her beautiful smile, her gentleness, her hugs, her love of Jesus, and her amazing passion towards not only her students, but everyone here at Orlando Christian Prep.

New Teacher Highlight: Mrs. Vanessa Beckwith

by Raymond Rodriguez

This week for our New Teacher Highlight, we’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Vanessa Beckwith, who has joined OCP this year as one of our 4th grade teachers. Mrs. Beckwith is a graduate of Florida State University, and she comes to us from Renaissance Charter School, where she started off as a 7th and 8th grade substitute teacher in 2012, eventually moving into full-time teaching. She teaches because she loves dealing with and mentoring children.

Mrs. Beckwith has five children, who all attend Orlando Christian Prep. Her eldest son, Arnell Walker, who you may already know, is an athlete here at OCP and is committed to the University of Idaho. On her off time, Mrs. Beckwith loves to dance and is a “sports mom” to her kids. Say “hello!” to Mrs. Beckwith and give her a warm Warrior welcome!

New Student Highlight: Junior Cesar

by Aaron Bass

At the Warrior Weekly we are continuing to meet some of the new students at our school. This week we'd like to introduce one our senior Warriors, Julio Cesar Bonfim, or "Junior" as he's known. 

Junior is not only new to our school but he is new to Orlando! Junior was born and raised in Brazil.  Junior's hopes to move to Florida started after visiting a sister who is living here.  He immediately fell in love with our beautiful city! It was also a big childhood dream of his to move to Florida and a goal to study in America and learn different things. 

Junior is still deciding whether to go back to Brazil after graduation, or further his education here in the United States and pursue a college degree. He is a very passionate person when it comes to learning about business, as his brother and father are both heavily involved in business, and he would love to follow his parents' path. 

During his time here at OCP, Junior plans to participate on the soccer team - his favorite sport is soccer! In his free time away from school, he loves to surf, go to church, and spend time at the beach with his girlfriend Leticia. Junior is described by others who know him as very friendly, outgoing, a very passionate and respectable Christian, and polite to everyone in his community. His childhood dreams are to become someone famous and impact the world. 

Be sure to introduce yourself in the hallways and welcome Junior into our Warrior environment here at Orlando Christian Prep!

Sports Recap - September 6

by Nick Bell

This week was an exciting week for OCP athletics!  First, our middle school football team won its game on Thursday night, August 30, by a score of 31-14 against defending SSAC champions Zephyrhills Christian.  The middle school volleyball team also won its match on Thursday against Foundation Academy. Unfortunately, the varsity volleyball team, while playing five full sets, lost its game against Foundation Academy. 

On Friday night, August 31, the varsity football team won its game against Mount Dora by a score of 42-13.  This Tuesday, September 4, the middle school volleyball team defeated Mount Dora, while the varsity team had another hard-fought loss.

New Teacher Highlight: Mrs. Harrison

by Christian Smith

The new teacher we selected to interview this week is 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Rachel Harrison. Mrs. Harrison went to elementary school right here at OCP, then attended Timber Creek High School. At Timber Creek she was a part of a Christian student club called CRU.

Mrs. Harrison started her teaching career as a preschool teacher at Lifesong church, where her husband served as a youth leader. She loves teaching because she can teach kids about God as well as the curriculum, and she feels like OCP is the perfect place for that. Say hello to Mrs. Harrison when you see her in the halls, and make her feel welcome to the Warrior family.