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Hawks Herald Issue 14

Posted Date: 11/08/26 (07:57 PM)
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Hawks Herald

Issue Fourteen

November 9, 2026
Windy Ridge School

Leadership Team Contacts

A school staff directory table with columns for Role, First name, Last name, and Email address.
 

Week at a Glance

A colorful, autumn-themed 'Week at a Glance' calendar for November 9th through November 13th, outlining school events.

Look Ahead

  • November 16th- Volleyball Game Away at Horizon West MS at 5:30pm 
  • November 18th- Volleyball Game Away at Water Spring MS at 5:00pm 
  • November 19th- Teach In, Q2 Progress Reports Accessible in Skyward
  • November 23rd-27th- Thanksgiving Break
A Thanksgiving-themed graphic displays the text 'HAPPY Thanksgiving' over a background of sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, a small pumpkin, and a pecan pie.
 

Field Trip Reminder for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Students

A promotional flyer for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra's 'Bach to the Future' concert on Monday, November 9th, 2026.
 

Q2 Parent Consent Form Reminder

A colorful flyer titled Q2 Parent Consent Form detailing school events for October and November.
Thank you to all of our Silverhawk families who have already completed the Quarter 2 Parent Consent Form! We appreciate you taking the time to help us prepare for our upcoming school events.

Our next event is Teach-In on Thursday, November 19th! 📚🍎

We have not yet reached 100% completion across our school, and we need your help! If you have not completed the Q2 Parent Consent Form for your student, please take a few minutes to do so.

📝 Complete the Q2 Parent Consent Form here: https://tinyurl.com/WRK8Q2

Thank you for your continued support in helping our Silverhawks participate in these exciting school experiences!
 

Silverhawk Veterans

A patriotic graphic honoring Silverhawk Veterans features portraits of Mr. Meehan of the U.S. Army and Dr. Strawser of the U.S. Navy.
 
A colorful flyer for Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks, reading 'Give Thanks' and inviting messages for staff by November 17th.

🍂💙 Silverhawks Give Thanks!

This Thanksgiving season, let's spread a little gratitude! We invite our Silverhawk students and families to submit a special message of thanks to a Windy Ridge faculty or staff member who has made a difference. 💌 All messages will be printed and shared with the recipients before Thanksgiving Break!

🗓️ Messages are due by November 17th!

💙 Submit your message here: https://tinyurl.com/WRThanks

Let's show our amazing Silverhawk faculty and staff just how thankful we are for all they do! 🍁
 

SAC

A promotional flyer for the Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks SAC Meeting on Tuesday, November 10th at 5:30 pm in Mrs. Salgado's Art Room.
The regularly scheduled SAC meeting will be moved to Mrs. Salgado's art room this month due to the Book Fair in the Media Center. 
 

Teach In Information

A colorful flyer for the Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks Teach In on Thursday, November 19th, featuring options to share a career or read a book.
Teach In Presenter ADDitions

Teach In- QR Code Added

Please scan the QR code or complete this Google Form  if you would like to present at Teach In. This is a reminder you must also be ADDitions approved. Please email Mr. Ly if you have any questions about being a Teach In presenter. We are excited to have you on campus sharing your careers or reading stories to our Silverhawks.  
 

Competition Opportunities

A promotional flyer for the ChessKid-OCPS District Competition detailing event dates, rules, and participation steps.
A colorful flyer announces the Windy Ridge K-8 Spelling Bee for grades 3-8, detailing dates and rules.
A promotional flyer for the Florida 4-H School Speech Competition, featuring event details, rules, and topic options against a bright blue sky background.
A digital standings chart titled 'OCPS Chess Qualifiers Week 2 Standings' displays school rankings in the Combined Secondary Division.

♟️ChessKid Competition – Week 2 Update! ♟️

Way to go, Silverhawks! After Week 2 of the OCPS ChessKid Competition, Windy Ridge K-8 is still holding strong in 13th place! The competition continues next week, so keep playing those games and earning points!

🌟 Did you know we could win some really cool prizes?

🏆 District Champion: The top school earns an in-person ChessKid celebration on March 23, 2027, potentially featuring a trophy, prizes, and even a surprise guest!
♟️ Highest Engagement Award: Awarded to the school with the most games played per enrolled student!
🥇 Top Player: Special recognition for the student who plays the most games at the District Champion school!
Plus, additional special awards may be announced! Keep playing, keep learning, and keep climbing the leaderboard, Silverhawks! Every game counts! ♟️
 

Student Services

A promotional flyer for Orange County Public Schools announces the 2027-28 application window opening October 15, featuring a smiling student and a timeline of important dates.

Windy Ridge Middle School Academy Application Clarification

We wanted to share some important information and clarify the application process for the Windy Ridge K-8 Middle School Academy for the 2027–2028 school year.

🏫 Who Can Apply?

Windy Ridge Middle School Academy is not a traditional magnet program or scholastic academy. Applications are limited to:

Current Windy Ridge K-8 fifth-grade students.

Middle school-aged students who are zoned for Windy Ridge Elementary.

📝 How to Apply

Although our academy is not listed on the OCPS Magnet Programs information page, our application and lottery process is managed through the OCPS Magnet Programs Office.

Families must complete the Magnet Schools & Programs Application to apply for our middle school academy.

🔗 Application Link: https://schoolchoicemagnet.ocps.net/

Helpful Tips When Applying:

✅ Select the Magnet School Application.

✅ Have your child's OCPS student number ready.

✅ Enter your child's name exactly as it appears in Skyward.

✅ When selecting a school, scroll all the way to the bottom of the school list to find Windy Ridge K-8

📅 Application Deadline: December 18, 2026

⚠️ Experiencing Issues with the Application?

We know several families have encountered red error messages while completing the application for various reasons. If you receive an error message, have difficulty finding Windy Ridge K-8 on the school list, or need assistance with the application process, please reach out to us. We are happy to help!

We hope this clears up any confusion and helps make the application process easier for our families. Thank you for your patience as we work to assist everyone through this process!
A promotional graphic for Windy Ridge K-8 Middle School Academy with a blue sky background and white clouds.

Kelso the Frog Visiting Elementary Classes

Members of our student services team will be visiting our elementary classrooms starting this week to introduce the Kelso's Choice curriculum. Kelso is a friendly frog who helps young students distinguish between a "big problem" and a "small problem".
  • Big Problems: Situations that are dangerous, scary, or where someone could get hurt (students learn to get help from a trusted adult right away).
  • Small Problems: Everyday conflicts that kids are strong enough and smart enough to handle on their own by trying at least two of Kelso’s 9 Choices (such as sharing, taking turns, talking it over, or walking away) before asking an adult for help.

Quarter 2 Progress Reports

A digital announcement for Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks stating teachers are submitting Q2 progress report grades this week.
 

Discipline

Middle School Student Assemblies for Silverhawk Expectations & Semester 1 Success

This past week, our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Silverhawks participated in grade-level meetings after lunch to review school-wide expectations and set goals for a successful finish to Semester 1! During these sessions, students were provided the opportunity to listen to Silverhawk expectations, which serve as the foundation for a positive and productive learning environment.

Administrators and staff walked students through the core pillars of being a Silverhawk: 

  • 🤝 Respect: Being respectful of adults and peers throughout the school day.
  • 📚 Academic Responsibility: Complete all assignments and submit work on time.
  • 🎯 Grades Matter: Strive to maintain a C or higher in every class.
  • ⏰ Be on Time: Minimize tardies to maximize instructional time and be ready to learn.
  • 💬 Student Support: Our school counselor, Ms. Bensen, reviewed important information about credit recovery and reminded students that she is available to support their academic and social needs.

Our goal is to help every Silverhawk finish Semester 1 strong! We encourage families to continue having conversations at home about grades, missing assignments, attendance, and making positive choices at school.
 

Arts

A promotional flyer for Square 1 Art featuring an easel, paintbrushes, and information about art packets coming home this week.

🎨✨ Square1 Art Packets Are Sent Home This Week! ✨🎨

If your Silverhawk has Mrs. Salgado or Mrs. Guiang for Art, be on the lookout for their Square1 Art packet coming home this week! Our students are so proud of their amazing artwork and are especially excited about the stickers featuring their creations! 🖼️

Looking for a special holiday gift or keepsake? You can order personalized items featuring your child's artwork! Simply check the back of the packet for easy ordering instructions. Each student has a unique QR code to make ordering quick and simple. Items will be shipped directly to your home in time for the December holidays!

🛍️ Order Online: https://www.square1art.com/
A flyer announcing the Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks Winter Orchestra and Band Concerts on December 14 and 15, decorated with musical notes and winter graphics.
A flyer announces winter music concerts for the Silverhawks, featuring orchestra and band performances on December 14th and 15th.
A flyer announcing the Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks Winter Concerts in Spanish for December 14th and 15th.
 

Athletics

A sports schedule flyer for Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks Volleyball, featuring game dates and times.

🏐Silverhawk Volleyball Update! 🏐

Our Windy Ridge Silverhawk Volleyball teams have been working hard and showing incredible determination on the court! Check out our recent results:

🏐 Against Robinswood: Girls WIN! 🎉 | Boys Loss
🏐 Against Carver: Girls WIN! 🎉 | Boys WIN! 🎉
🏐 Against Gotha: Girls WIN! 🎉 | Boys Loss after a very competitive match!
🏐 Against Lakeview: Girls WIN! 🎉 | Boys Loss after another incredibly competitive match!

Our girls are on a roll with FOUR consecutive wins! Our boys continue to show tremendous effort, teamwork, and determination in some very competitive matches!

📣 UP NEXT: MONDAY AT OCOEE MIDDLE SCHOOL!

🏆 This is a BIG one! Our girls will be battling for 1st or 2nd place in our cluster! Let's pack the stands with Silverhawk spirit and cheer on BOTH teams as they continue their season!

Come out, wear your Silverhawk colors, and show our athletes your support! GO SILVERHAWKS! 🏐
A sports poster features Miranda holding a volleyball, with the text 'MVP' and 'Windy Ridge K-8 vs Robinswood'.
A sports graphic featuring volleyball players Itzel and Caleb, with the text 'MVP' and 'Windy Ridge K-8 vs Carver'.
A sports graphic featuring Carly, a player in a blue Windy Ridge jersey holding a volleyball, with the text 'MVP', 'WINDY RIDGE K-8 VS GOTHA', and 'CARLY'.
A sports graphic featuring two Windy Ridge K-8 volleyball players, Joslyn and Jonathan, with blue and white designs and a volleyball net background.

Show Your Silverhawk Pride!

  1. We currently have our Volleyball spirit wear shop available!
  2. 🏆 Silverhawk Athletics Gear – Show your school spirit and support our Silverhawk athletes!
  3. 30% of every purchase goes directly toward supporting Windy Ridge Athletics!

Silverhawk Athletic Gear: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/QP7ZdSG5j7
A promotional flyer for Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks athletic gear, featuring apparel and a QR code.

Westly's Mile Run Club

Poster announcing Windy Ridge K-8 School's Westly's Mile Run Club, a partnership between American Heart Association and Healthy West Orange.
Join Westly's Mile Runner's Club for the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge.
Form to Join Westly's Mile
Soccer and basketball
A promotional flyer for the Orlando Area Rowing Society featuring four rowers on the water and text inviting new athletes with no experience necessary.
A promotional flyer for a youth volleyball season, featuring a photo of children playing volleyball outdoors.
 

Media Center

A colorful poster for the Windy Ridge K-8 Literati Book Fair, featuring woodland animals reading books in a forest setting.
A colorful poster for the Windy Ridge K-8 Literati book fair, featuring cute animal illustrations in a forest setting with event details in Portuguese and Spanish.

📚🏕️ Camp Windy Ridge: Fall Book Fair is HERE! ✨

Our Fall Literati Book Fair is happening November 9th–13th! 📖  We are excited for our Silverhawks to discover new books and grow their love of reading!

📚 Student Shopping Information
  • Students visited the Book Fair with their classes last week to explore the selection and create their wish lists!
  • Students wishing to purchase books or other items may shop during designated times throughout the school day.
  • Families can also shop from home through the Literati Online Store!
  • ⏰ The Book Fair closes Friday, November 13th, at 12:00 PM!
🛍️ Shop Online: Visit the Literati Online Store
🙋‍♀️ Volunteers Still Needed!
We are still looking for wonderful volunteers to help make our Fall Book Fair a success! Whether you can spare a little time or a few hours, your help makes a big difference!
✅ All volunteers must be ADDitions approved.
💙 Thank you for supporting the Windy Ridge K–8 Media Center and helping us inspire a love of reading in our Silverhawks! 📚✨
Book Fair Volunteers
Link to Online Store
Several children sit and stand on the carpeted floor of a bookstore, looking at books they have selected from nearby display shelves.
A young person kneels at a table in a library or bookstore, writing on a clipboard, while two children watch.
Students explore books and clipboards at a school book fair in a library.
Three children stand by a table filled with books inside a library, looking over selections.
A huge thank you to our amazing Middle School Student Government Association (SGA) students for helping our Kindergarten and 1st Grade Silverhawks create their Book Fair wish lists! 🏕️
A colorful, illustrated infographic titled 'Windy Ridge K-8 Library Snapshot October' displays reading statistics, top students, and classes.
 

News from Our PTA

A flyer for a PTA meeting on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:00 AM in Cottage 70, decorated with autumn leaves and pumpkins.
Mark you calendars the next PTA meeting is on Wednesday, November 11th at 9am in Cottage 70. 
 

Silverhawks: Join the OCPS Math Textbook Selection Committee

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is forming Textbook Selection Committees for the upcoming Math Textbook Adoption, and we encourage our Windy Ridge K–8 families to get involved!

🌟 This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to have a voice in selecting instructional materials and helping shape the future of education for our students!

📅 Application Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026

Parents interested in serving on the Instructional Materials Review Committee are encouraged to apply! Those selected will receive additional communication from OCPS.

📝 Apply Here: Parent Committee Application
🔗 Learn More: https://im.ocps.net/
A smiling young person sits outdoors with a laptop, next to text that reads OCPS Parents: Apply Today!
 

Math Tutoring

A flyer for free math tutoring featuring algebra and geometry, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 AM in Mr. Vargas' room.
 

Upcoming Clubs

A poster for Windy Ridge Astronomy Club featuring the silhouette of a person looking through a telescope against a starry sky and a large moon.
For more information about Astronomy Club, please email Dr. Strawser at: corydon.strawser@ocps.net. 
A colorful autumn-themed flyer announces an FCA meeting on Friday, November 13, at 8:00 A.M. in Room 559.
 

Testing News

A winter-themed schedule titled 'December Testing' lists dates and exams from December 1st to December 15th.

📅 Silverhawks, Mark Your Calendars!

December testing is right around the corner! All December testing dates, including FAST STAR testing for our K–2 students, have now been added! ⭐

Please take a moment to review the updated testing schedule to see when your Silverhawk will be testing and plan accordingly. We want all our Silverhawks to feel prepared and ready to do their best! 

If you have any testing-related questions, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Ms. Wendy Setzer, at wendy.setzer@ocps.net.
 

Silverhawk Birthdays & Appreciation Days

A celebratory graphic titled "November Birthdays" for Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks, listing faculty and staff birthdays.
A digital flyer titled 'November Monthly Observances' from Windy Ridge K-8 Silverhawks, detailing school events against a sky background with autumn leaves.
 

Soaring Hawks

 

Partners in Education

A fall-themed flyer with autumn leaves encourages donating gently used items, featuring a QR code, website, and the OCPS Foundation logo.
Promotional poster for the 'ice!' Christmas experience featuring 'The Polar Express' at Gaylord Palms, including a ticket offer.
A promotional poster for the 'Pom Snow & Cirqueumstance' holiday show, featuring performers, acrobats, and a festive Christmas tree topped with a Santa hat.