Need to book an appointment with your counselor?

Visit our website at https://windermerehs.ocps.net/student_services/contact_us

All students will have the opportunity to meet with their counselor to discuss course selection for next year. Students need to complete the Google Form at least 24 hours prior to their scheduled meeting with their counselor. If students are unsure of course decisions or make a mistake on the Google Form, they can discuss their concerns with their counselor in their meeting and make any necessary changes.

Parents and students should watch the video below to assist in making course selections. The video is only 15 minutes long and will help minimize mistakes and questions.

We strongly encourage students to take this process seriously, as this is their opportunity to choose the classes they want to take next year. The courses we offer next year are based on the classes students choose during this process. Counselors will not make changes to selections until drop/add at the beginning of the school year; however, those changes are never guaranteed.

• Tuesday, January 28: Mrs. Ray
• Wednesday, January 29: Mr. Johnson
• Friday, January 31: Ms. Washington
• Monday, February 10: Ms. Jones
• Tuesday, February 11: Mr. Smith
• Thursday, February 13: Mrs. Moore
• Tuesday, February 18: Mrs. Gandia
• Thursday, February 20: Mrs. Persaud
• Friday, February 21: Mrs. Boyd
• Monday, February 24: Mr. Pittman
• Tuesday, February 25: Mr. Rawling
• Thursday, February 27: Ms. Smedley

Required for all students, starting with the class of 2027.

Students will explore how personal values and cognitive biases impact financial decision-making, including loss aversion and herd mentality. They will learn to evaluate job opportunities based on potential income and non-income factors, understand the significance of education and training in career choices, and analyze the benefits and costs associated with various financial decisions. Additionally, students will investigate the role of taxes, the nature of interest and investment income, and the principles of budgeting and spending. They will also cover topics such as the importance of credit, the implications of debt, and the various forms of insurance and their relevance. By the end of the course, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding of personal finance concepts, enabling them to make informed financial decisions and prepare for future economic challenges.

Personal Finance & Money Management

Personal Finance & Money Management Honors

Each year, OCPS celebrates its "Super Scholars," those graduating seniors who were accepted into the nation's top 20 colleges and universities (as ranked by U.S. News and World Report) and U.S. service academies.

Top 20 National Universities

Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, California Institute of Technology, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Brown University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, University of California - Los Angeles, University of California - Berkeley, Rice University, University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University.

Top 20 Liberal Arts Colleges

Williams College, Amherst College, Swarthmore College, United States Naval Academy, Bowdoin College, Pomona College, Wellesley College, Carleton College, Claremont McKenna College, United States Military Academy at West Point, Harvey Mudd College, Vassar College, Barnard College, Davidson College, Hamilton College, Smith College, Wesleyan University, Grinnell College, Middlebury College, Washington and Lee University.

U.S. Service Academies

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy,

U. S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy

Congratulations to the following Windermere High School Super Scholars:

Florida law requires life skills instruction through resiliency education in grades K-12. "Resiliency" means overcoming obstacles, so students will participate in activities that celebrate citizenship, mentorship, and making responsible choices.

Ms. WIlson is here to helps students plan for their future after high school, including their career and college plans.

• Post-Secondary Planning: Help students explore career options or find the right schools and apply to college
• Financial aid: Help students with scholarships and the financial aid process
• Provide resources: Give students resources and information to help them achieve their goals

Ms. Wilson can be reached at Cynthia.Wilson@ocps.net. You can also stop by the College and Career Center in 8-101B during your scheduled lunch.

Calling all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders - Planning for college starts now! Seniors still looking for the right career path - This is for you!

Don’t miss these FREE college and career fairs for high school students and families.

OCPS Parent Academy College & Career Fair - Meet admissions representatives from Florida state universities, the University of Alabama, Advent Health, the University of Pittsburgh, Bethune Cookman University, SCAD, UTampa, the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, Stetson, and more. You can also meet reps from local apprenticeship programs and technical/trade schools such as OTC, Paul Mitchell, and the National Aviation Academy.

• Friday, February 21, 4:30-6:30 PM
• Location: Orange Technical College West Campus (2010 Ocoee Apopka Rd, Ocoee, FL 34761)
• Registration Link: https://forms.gle/szKYvAxCArdEumCU6

Go to https://www.nacacattend.org/fairs to register for each program and to see the list of participating colleges. Then log in on any fair date to attend sessions, chat your questions, download informational resources, and demonstrate interest… all without leaving home. It’s a great way to connect with several colleges in a short amount of time to learn about majors, scholarships, and more.

• Sunday, February 16, 1:00-6:00 PM
• Sunday, March 23, 1:00-6:00 PM
• Sunday, April 27, 1:00-6:00 PM

Meet admissions representatives from the Florida Regional Admissions Counselors, embers from out-of-state institutions such as Bentley University, Indiana University Bloomington, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Temple University, The Ohio State University, Tulane, and more.

• Tuesday, March 25, 11:00AM-12:30PM (Lunches A + B)
• Location: Courtyard

The following new scholarships have been added to the OCPS Scholarship Bulletin: https://bit.ly/ocps_scholarships

Applying to national and local scholarships takes time, and most require an essay on a specific topic; please review the requirements and apply to the ones that are a good fit for you. You may also use scholarship finders and create profiles for each; the better the profile the student develops, the closer match the scholarships they will send. Remember that the best scholarships come directly from colleges in the form of merit/institutional aid; make sure to work hard on your academic performance.

OCPS Foundation Scholarships - 17 new scholarships available to students. Eligibility can vary for each scholarship.

• Deadline: Most scholarships are due by February 28, 2025
• Award: Varies
• https://focps.grantplatform.com/

Addition Financial Joseph A. Melbourne Scholarship - For six high school seniors attending a trade school/college/university in Florida. Applicant must be a primary or joint current account holder with Addition Financial and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

• Deadline: February 28, 2025
• Award: $10,000
• AdditionFi.com/ScholarshipsLinks to an external site.

2025 Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) - Open to Seniors of all races that identify as being of Hispanic Heritage; U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA; minimum of 3.0 unweighted GPA; planning to enroll full-time in a 4-year university, submit FAFSA. Selected scholars will have access to HSF’s invaluable support services and be eligible to receive a scholarship, depending on available funds.

• Deadline: February 15, 2025
• Award: $500-$5,000
• https://www.hsf.net/Links to an external site.

Rotary Club of Orlando Foundation Scholarship - Offering two-year full tuition scholarships to Valencia State College beginning for the fall 2025 semester. Applicant must have a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA of 2.5, show financial need as evidenced by FAFSA, and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

• Deadline: April 11, 2025
• Award: Two years full tuition at Valencia College
• https://www.rotarycluboforlando.org/scholarshipsLinks to an external site.

Chi Tau Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholarship - Competitive scholarship available to OCPS graduating African American male candidates, minimum 2.5 GPA, and demonstrated achievement through extracurricular and community activities.

• Deadline: April 25, 2025
• Award: $1,000
• https://www.orlandoques.org/scholarship

Career One Stop - Resource for students to explore career options, find training and education, and assist with job planning. They have a Scholarship Finder, where students can search for more than 9,500 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid award opportunities.

For Seniors in good standing, current PTSO members, 2.5 unweighted GPA, accepted to any accredited university/college/technical/trade school, participated in at least one PTSO event and attended at least one meeting during the school year. Amount varies. Deadline: March 31, 2025

Seniors, micro scholarship available! The Atwood Leadership & Service Scholarship recognizes and supports outstanding graduating seniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to service. Award $500. Deadline: April 9, 2025.

Senior, do you hold a primary or joint bank account with Addition Financial?

If so, they are offering SIX scholarships to high school seniors! The Joseph A. Melbourne Jr. Annual Scholarship Program awards college scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to be distributed over four years ($2,500 per year). All application requirements and details can be found via the scholarship webpage: AdditionFi.com/ScholarshipsLinks to an external site.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant must be a primary or joint current account holder with Addition Financial at the time of application submission and scholarship award payout.
• Applicant must be accepted into or enrolled into a four-year, accredited bachelor’s degree program at a college, trade school or university in Florida.
• 3.0 or higher GPA.

Deadline: February 28, 2025

A list of scholarships and deadlines is also available to all students and parent observers on the Windermere High School Student Body Page under Modules >> Scholarships

Go to https://studentaid.gov/ to complete your 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application! The FAFSA is a federal government application used to determine eligibility for a variety of aid: federal, state, college-based, as well as grants and scholarships. Most colleges require it in order to calculate their own institutional scholarship amounts, and the sooner the FAFSA is completed, the sooner you can make informed college choices. FAFSA can help pay for college and technical/trade schools!

Are you self-motivated? Do you have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0?

You may qualify to apply to Valencia’s Dual Enrollment Fall 2025 term! Application opened January 27th!

Valencia’s Dual Enrollment is an acceleration program that allows OCPS students to take the challenge of college-level coursework and simultaneously earn credit toward a high school diploma. Tuition and fees are waived for students in dual enrollment courses. Additionally, textbooks are provided free of charge to students from public high schools. Most dual enrollment students take one or two college courses per semester; however, many Florida students earn enough credit to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree.

Characteristics of Successful Dual Enrollment Students:

• Reading and writing proficiency
• Independent
• Motivated
• Self-directed
• Good time management skills
• Personally responsible for learning
• Effectively communicates with counselors
  
  

IMPORTANT: To qualify to apply, students must have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA & college-ready test scores (SAT, ACT, or PERT). Visit this link for more information: https://valenciacollege.edu/admissions/dual-enrollment/. If admitted, students must maintain an unweighted cumulative 3.0 high school GPA (weighted for Seniors) and a 2.0 Valencia College GPA in order to continue participating in the DE program. Failing DE classes may negatively impact your college admissions and future renewal of Bright Futures.

Are you hoping to enroll in the Valencia College Dual Enrollment Program? All applicants must have eligible test scores from SAT, ACT, or the Florida's Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) on file at Valencia College by the test score deadline in order to be accepted for Dual Enrollment.