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Announcer: Welcome to Mondays with Maria, presented by ADDITION Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS, superintendent, Dr. Maria Vasquez.
Maria Vazquez: Hi everyone. Welcome back. Nancy Alvarez is here with me today. Nancy, thanks for coming. And happy 2025
Nancy Alvarez: Please. Yes. Happy New Year to you. I can't believe we're already here tomorrow. Second semester begins, students will be back.
Maria Vazquez: I know. Like half the year is gone. Right. So this is a time where families are a little, especially families of our seniors because graduation dates, they're anxious. When are those dates coming? Because we want family and friends to be able to have the dates and mm-hmm <affirmative>. Have plans to come and see the seniors graduate. And so those were actually released. The dates and locations were released right before the break. And so if they haven't, families haven't seen them, please go online or you can reach out to your high school. I'm sure that's also posted prominently. Mm-Hmm <affirmative>. The first ceremony is Tuesday, May 20th. And the dates run for over the next two weeks. For families that don't know most of our graduations are held either at the Kia Center mm-hmm <affirmative>. Or at the UCF Addition arena. So exciting times.
Nancy Alvarez: Graduation is such a special time for so many. And before that there was a lot going on. I feel like people should be watching this with their planners out with their phones. Yes. And just get your calendar and we're going to plug it all in together. Stellar Awards next week. I'm excited to be MCing again this year. I love this event. I call it teacher Prom. It's one of my favorites.
Maria Vazquez: Yes, it is. And we are so excited to this year roll out a new category. So in addition to announcing our teacher of the year, our support person of the year, our principal of the year, we've added a new category, and that is the District Administrator of the year. And you're right, I love seeing the energy, all the beautiful attire that people are wearing. I already have my outfit ready <laugh>. So exciting times. And I think this year we have about 1600 attendees. Wow. It is, it's great. And so happy that you're going to be MCing. And I believe the date is Friday, January the 17th. That's right. Also, this month we're launching another new initiative and it's, let's read OCPS and it's a countywide challenge to read 20 million. I'll say that again. <Laugh>. 20 million minutes by April 30th. And I want to credit our board member Melissa Byrd from District seven. She has had a reading challenge in her district for a number of years, and it's been so successful that we now are making it part of a countywide challenge. More information is coming Monday, January 27th, which is the beginning of literacy week.
Nancy Alvarez: It's always a lot of fun in schools, right? Yes. Literacy week, especially elementary school. It's so sweet. They do the coolest things. At the end of the month there is also the annual countywide hands-only CPR training day. Such an important event saves lives, right? Yeah, absolutely. That's happening at the end of the month. And then moving on to February, because we are nonstop around here, <laugh>, OCPS Food and Nutrition Services is hosting its annual food show, which is always popular for the lucky students getting to taste test, new menu items they can sign up to run off those extra calories. Then in the fourth annual school spirit run. See, I'm telling you, we're nonstop. So after you eat and do the taste test, mark your calendar and join us for this run. It's at SeaWorld, it’s a high energy Event Saturday, February 8th.
Maria Vazquez: Yeah, it Is a great event. If you have not attended to see the school teams, the mascots, great energy you get to run through the Park Sea World's great partners. It's hosted by the foundation for OCPS, and it's powered by Delta Dental. You can sign up by visiting foundation for ocps.org. And we can't forget, and Nancy, I know this is a big one for you, <laugh> the annual OCPS Magnet Applications window the deadline to apply for one of our 41 magnet programs is February 17th. And if you have any questions, you can email
[email protected]. Yeah. And Nancy, I think this year you're living it.
Nancy Alvarez: I'm living it. I'm living it. I have an eighth grader who doesn't know what he wants to do, where he wants to go. So I think it's important for parents to remember that you can go to these magnet fairs in person as well. They have them virtually online, but many of the schools are holding magnet fairs in person in January. So go to that OCPS magnet page and they have all the dates there. Maybe I'll run into some parents, because I'll be at a couple of them. <Laugh>. So, it's going to be, it's going to be great. And then the deadline comes in February and February is also the deadline for top talent auditions. The auditions have to be received by February 21st for judging. The top talent show airs Saturday May 3rd. And it is always an incredible display of just that. I mean, really gifted kids that are in OCBS. Yeah. I they're so talented.
Maria Vazquez: I'm always amazed, amazed at the talent that we have. And we have students that are in elementary Yeah. All the way to high school. Yeah. So it's a great event. And then, I mean, all those events, we're going to need a break. And so March is spring break. Mark your calendars. March 17th through March 21st. Also, March 14th is the Friday before it's a student holiday, which ends the third marking period. So it gives you a, a little extra mm-hmm. Time off. But students remember, have all of your assignments turned in. Yes. Because at the end of the marking period, grades are coming.
Nancy Alvarez: It’s just a better spring break. Right?
Maria Vazquez: Absolutely. Yes. Everything is done.
Nancy Alvarez: All right. March is also the countywide spelling bee. Fingers crossed that we were sending some students to the National Spelling Bee again this year. I don't know. Can we fit in anything else? I, I don't know. <Laugh>. <Laugh>.
Maria Vazquez: Well, this one's wild because I can't believe that we're going to have the 100th episode, <laugh> of Mondays with Maria. And I think that takes place in April. And for folks out there that are watching us you may not know. The team doesn't always share all the details for the shows. They like to surprise me. And so I hear that there are surprises for that show. So I'm looking forward to it.
Nancy Alvarez: I'm sure they have bloopers they can put together. <Laugh>, I'm just saying. I don't know many. There, there, there have been quite a few. Yes.
Maria Vazquez: So we'll see. We'll have to stay tuned to watch. Nancy, thank you so much for joining us. Again. As you can see, the second half of the year is jam packed. Yeah. And we will keep our fingers crossed that everything goes well with your magnet experience.
Nancy Alvarez: I'll let you know where we end up. <Laugh>,
Maria Vazquez: Thank you all for watching. Don't forget to like, follow and subscribe and get notified. We will have more of our conversation on our podcast. Just go to wherever you get your podcast and search for Mondays with Maria. Have a great day, and we'll see you next week. See you. Bye.
Announcer: For an extended conversation on today's topic. Listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Mondays with Maria is presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at Additionfi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit TheSlice.ocps.net. I'm your announcer. Kaleb Priester, a senior at Jones High School. Thanks for watching and have a great week.