Olympia High School (Orlando, Florida)

Olympia High School
Location
4301 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd.
Orlando, Florida

Information
Type Public
Motto Where Our Core Business is Teaching and Learning
Established 2001
School district Orange County Public Schools
Principal Jenny Gibson-Linkh
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 3063
Color(s) Black and Silver
Mascot Titan
Rival Dr. Phillips High School (Panthers)
Newspaper The Oracle
Information 407.905.6400
Website

Olympia High School was opened in the fall of 2001 in Orlando, Florida. The first principal was Dr. Janice Pratt, the second was Robert Avossa, and the current principal is Mrs. Jenny Gibson-Linkh. Olympia serves Windermere and Metro West areas as well as some Dr. Phillips area students. As of the 2007–2008 school year, there was an enrollment of 3,063, with a racial makeup of 48% White, 24% Black, 17% Hispanic, 9% Asian, and 2% multiracial.

Contents

School programs

APEX Academy

The Advanced Placement Experience Scholars Academy (APEX) at Olympia High School offers a rigorous, comprehensive four-year curriculum filled with Advanced Placement courses to a select group of academically talented students. Students are selected at the end of the eighth grade. Selection is based on student application, teacher recommendation, standardized testing, student essay, and interview. This application process must be completed prior to July 1 so that appropriate summer reading can be assigned and completed. Required APEX courses are designed to help students reach their academic goals, to facilitate interdisciplinary learning, and to encourage a cohort approach. With these requirements, students are still able to exercise considerable freedom to emphasize course work of their own choosing.

Graduation Prep

Graduation Prep allows students to earn credits and improve GPA by attending classes on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the first semester. The curriculum is designed to improve reading and mathematics skills as well as study skills.

FCAT Prep

The FCAT prep program is designed to provide Olympia High students with additional FCAT preparation. The classes are taught by highly qualified Olympia teachers. These teachers deliver assistance in both Mathematics and reading. They utilize the computer based FCAT explorer program in addition to Princeton Review FCAT workbooks. The teachers guide the students through the specific activities and strategies found in the two sources. This program is an excellent opportunity for students to obtain additional assistance as they prepare for the FCAT. Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, Olympia plans to offer FCAT Prep classes during the day for credit.

SAT Prep

The SAT prep program is designed to provide free assistance to Olympia High students as they prepare for the SAT. Students are required to purchase a copy of Cracking the New SAT by the Princeton Review. They are also required to attend every class during the five-week time frame. The instructors are trained in all of the latest strategies in increasing SAT scores. This program is a superb way to gain a better grasp of SAT testing skills. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year Olympia plans to offer SAT/ACT Prep classes during the day for credit.

AVID

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is an “untracking” program designed to help underachieving students with high academic potential prepare for entrance to colleges and universities. The AVID approach to untracking places previously underachieving students in the same college preparation academic program as high-achieving students. AVID features a rigorous academic elective course with a sequential curriculum for grades 7 through 12 which focuses on writing, inquiry, and collaboration as methodologies to accelerate student progress.

Administration

Principal

Jenny Gibson-Linkh

Assistant Principals

Ava Green, Guy Swenson, Sasha Russ, Nicholas Zambri

Administrative Deans

Stevie Oliver, Andrea Cherry-Lee, Michele Browne, Christine Rogers, Jason Greer

Athletic Directors

Tom Curran

Media Specialists

Charlotte Barber, Nancy Bardoe, Tammie Travis

Guidance

Tamara Pettengell, Holly Berry, Diana Ramos, August Perrotti Jr., Hope Sims, Jennifer Fine, TwaQuana Gibson

Clubs

Animal Activist Club

Anime Club

Artisans Art Club

Athletic Training

AVID

Be the Change

Bella Voce

BETA Club

Board game Club

Business Pro of Amer

Amaralys Valle

Butterfly Club

Chess Club

Circolo Italiano

Contemporary Music Ensemble

Debate Club

DECA

Democratic Club

Drama

Engineering

Fashion Club

FCA

Fishing Club

French NHS

Freshman Class

Golf Club

Gospel Choir

GSA

Harry Potter

Italian Club/INSH

Junior Class

Latin Club/LNHS

Master Singers

Mu Alpha Theta

National Tech

NHS

National Art Honor Society

National Eng Honor Soc

Newspaper

Peer Mediation

Pre-Med

Photography (Wait, this club isn't good.)

Quill and Scroll

Quiz Bowl

SADD

SAFE

Science NHS

Betty Vail

Science Olympiad

Senior Class

Societa Onoraria Italica

Sophomore Class

Spanish NHS

Sports Media

SGA (Student Government)

Student Support Found

Thespians

Titan TV

Titan Up

Tri-M Music Honor Society

Truth Antismoking Club

Umoja

Varsity Club

Video Club

Yearbook

Young Life

Young Republicans

Athletics

Home of the Olympia Titans. They have many sports including football, basketball, baseball, golf, bowling, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, water polo, swimming & diving, cross country, track, softball, soccer, wrestling, and weightlifting. The Titans have won many championships in the following sports:

Volleyball (Women's) 2010 District Champions

Notable alumni

Notes and references